FEBRUARY 10, 2016 ANTIOCH
REALIGNED
Local Scouts refurbish Buda’s past.
Lobo, Rebel teams face new opponents in realignment
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Hays Free Press ©Barton Publications, Inc.
Vol. 119 • No. 46
HaysFreePress.com
Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX • 75¢
Kyle man killed in SH 21 accident Primary BY SAMANTHA SMITH
news@haysfreepress.com
A fatal car accident along Highway 21 near Uhland Monday killed a Kyle man after a car he was a passenger in collided with a tractor-trailer.
According to a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson, authorities identified the victim as Carlos Hernandez-Urrutia, 24, of Kyle. Authorities continue to investigate the accident. Monday’s accident occurred at approximately 3:39 p.m.
Hernandez-Urrutia was riding in the passenger seat of a 1999 Honda Civic, driven by Cristen Hernandez-Urrutia, 45, of Kyle, when he attempted to pass a vehicle in a no-passing zone. Upon returning to the appropriate lane abruptly, Cristen lost control of
the vehicle, which placed the Civic into oncoming traffic. The vehicle collided with a 2000 Peterbilt tractor-trailer hauling a flat bed trailer, which was driven by Daniel Gonzales, 36, of Elsa, TX. The Civic struck the tractor-trailer on the passenger side, killing Carlos
instantly. Cristen was airlifted to Brackenridge Hospital in critical condition. Gonzales was treated for minor injuries and released from an undetermined medical facility. A DPS investigation into the accident is ongoing.
Tree program takes root
PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III
Austin resident Donovan Epps carries two buckets of tree seedlings that were planted during TreeFolks’ Blanco River Resforestation Project at Five Mile Dam on Feb. 5, 2016. On Friday, TreeFolks planted 1,700 trees at File Mile Dam as part of their pilot project to reforest the Blanco River following the Memorial Day and Oct. 30 floods. On Friday, they planted various trees including cypress, palmetto, burr oak and buckthorn trees. TreeFolks plans to eventually reforest 60 miles of the Blanco River. Browse and buy photos online at www.haysfreepress.com under the photos link.
Dance hall looks to boot scoot to Buda news@haysfreepress.com
Entertainment options in Buda will grow this summer as a dance hall that ushered change in the city’s liquor laws breaks ground. Maverick’s Country
Rock Bar, which will be located in a section of Cabela’s parking lot, should be open for business by the end of the year, Mavericks owner Jeff Van Dalden said. According to Van Dalden, the business wanted to expand from its Pflugerville location,
but still be connected to a smaller community than south Austin. “We can do things that involve the community and draw more people in,” Van Dalden said. “We looked around Hays County and fell in love with a piece of land at Cabela’s.”
The business ultimately received approval from the City of Buda recently to set up shop at their desired location. But they discovered city ordinances didn’t match their business model. “Being an entertainment business we would have pulled people from
all over,” he said. “Kyle was our second choice but we wanted that tract of land and to be on the developing I-35 corridor.” Until November 2015, Buda businesses with permits from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage
BUDA DANCE HALL, 4A
COMING UP Texas Water Symposium
Head to Texas State University in San Marcos at 7 p.m. Feb. 11 for a conversation between leading groundwater scientists about the long-term health of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, and its ability to sustainably serve the needs of a thirsty region. Texas State University Geography Department, the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, and the Hill Country Alliance have gathered a highly qualified group of aquifer scientists to explore the various aspects of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer’s characteristics and carrying capacity. The event is free.
COOOKIES
Girl Scouts go digital with cookie sales. – Page 1D
INDEX
BY PAIGE LAMBERT
Run For the Love of It
Come on out and run for the love of it on Feb. 13. Run for the Love of It is a family-friendly event benefitting the missions outreach of The Connection Church, featuring a chip-timed 5k Fun Run/Walk, a Kid’s Dash, rocking music, inflatables for the kids, and the best re-fuel station in Central Texas. Pets and strollers are welcome. There will be many award categories. The Kids’ Dash will start and finish inside the Connection Church parking lot. Visit tinyurl.com/2016Run4Love for more information.
News……………… 1-4A Opinions……………… 3A Sports……………… 1-2B Education………… 3-4B Community……… 1-4C
Best Bets…………… 4C Business………… 1, 4D Service Directory…… 3D Classifieds……………2-3D Public Notices…… 2, 4D
debate missing sheriff BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
No punches were held by a challenger vying for Hays County Sheriff as he teed off on his incumbent opponent who didn’t attend Monday’s Hays County League of Women Voters debate. Tommy Ratliff, who is running in the Republican primary for Hays County Sheriff, further slung mud against incumbent Gary Cutler at the debate held at the San Marcos Activity Center. Cutler was not able to attend the event. Without Cutler there, Ratliff wasted little time going after the incumbent. Ratliff, who served as Hays County Sheriff from 2008-2010, said he brought the Hays County Jail into compliance within a two year span while he was sheriff. When he “handed the reins” to Cutler, he said within two months, two people escaped from jail. Ratliff claimed Cutler was a “part-time” sheriff. “I will be available to you and be there for you,” he told audience members. “Integrity will always be my priority.” Ratliff later went on to say that there is “not one sheriff that would have left the county” during a disaster. “Had they left the county, not one of them wouldn’t have come back,” he said. During the Memorial Day flood, Cutler was en route to Europe when the event hit. Cutler was unable to get a return flight home to Texas. Regarding overcrowding at the Hays County Jail, Ratliff said there were 100 inmates that are housed in four different counties. He claimed there were 100 empty beds in the jail. “If you have empty beds in the jail, we should be watching them here,” Ratliff later answered an audience member’s question on the topic. In a written statement, Cutler acknowledged the overcrowding in the Hays County Jail, but said outsourcing programs have saved taxpayers $5,000. Cutler wrote in a statement that he was the “only fully qualified candidate” for sheriff. He wrote that he has a proven track record for “transparency, fiscal conservancy, honesty, passion and integrity.” In addition, he wrote that he refers to the District Attorney, grand jury or Attorney General’s office for just decisions for citizens. He also said that his first priority is that citizens are safe and that “we remain vigilant in our efforts to be tough on crime.” “I have kept the promises I have made,” Cutler said.