FEBRUARY 12, 2020 GOLD FINISH
MODERN ROMANCE
Lehman powerlifters grab gold at Lobo Invitational Tournament.
Dating applications lead to the gamification of love.
– Page 4
– Page 6
Hays Free Press © Barton Publications, Inc.
75¢
Vol. 125 • No. 46
HaysFreePress.com
Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX
Finalized HCISD Bond prop up for vote in May BY CAMELIA JUAREZ
A bond election for a grand total of $217,30,413 will now be placed in the hands of Hays CISD voters. Hays CISD school board members finalized a list of projects and propositions that they will ask voters to approve of on the May
2020 ballot. District voters will decide which expenditures the district will use in the future. The board passed six propositions. Originally, the middle school tennis court resurfacing was on the list, but was removed because it could be paid for by operating funds.
The board passed six propositions totaling $217,300,413, down from the originally proposed $232 million.
“The new law that requires bond propositions to be structured in certain ways would have required it to be its own proposition.
Since it was a relatively small amount compared to the others - $120,000, the Board took it off of the list,” District spokesman
renovation. The complete list of finalized propositions includes:
PROPOSITION A Accommodating School District Growth is valued
HCISD BOND PROPS, 14
U.S. Marshals arrest murder suspect in Kyle
Central Texas man soda pops the question
STAFF REPORT The U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested a man wanted for murder Tuesday afternoon in the 300 block of Zebra Drive in Kyle. Francisco “Pako” Lopez Jr., 32, of Austin, was wanted in the June 23 deadly shooting at
BY ANITA MILLER
an apartment complex located at 3603 Southridge Drive in Austin, where a male victim was pronounced deceased on scene from a gunshot wound. The Austin Police Department filed a warrant in 299th District Court in Travis County
MURDER SUSPECT, 8
Kyle awards bid on wastewater plant expansion BY ANITA MILLER
“She’s always grown up as one of those authentic Texas girls. When her family would travel she would always have to have something from Texas — a Dr. Pepper, a Whataburger. That’s just how her family is.”
He contacted the museum in early January, before he and Rohde took a trip to Las Vegas. While she was enjoying the sights, he managed to keep the secret. “Our whole time in Vegas I knew I was going to propose — she had no idea.” Over the next weeks he was in contact with the museum, where the staff was eager to go along. “It was actually the first proposal there,” Lytle
Pepthey per –Brad Lytle, man who got proposed to his fiancee museat the Dr. Pepper their um was a Museum in Waco money’s place they’d worth,” often talked Lytle said. about visiting. It was a happy Lytle’s sister coincidence that Samantha took that he is from Waco, idea and ran with it — home of the iconic why not propose there, Texas soda, and the Dr. she asked him?
DR. PEPPER PROPOSAL, 7
COMING UP County offices to close for Presidents Day
Hays County offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 17, for Presidents’ Day, including the San Marcos Municipal Court, which is located in the county’s Government Center on South Stagecoach Road. County parks will be open for regular hours on the 17th. isit https:// hayscountytx.com/
departments/hays-countyparks-recreation/ for information on park hours and amenities at Five Mile Dam Parks, Jacob’s Well Natural Area, and Gay Ruby Dahlstrom Preserve.
Valentine’s Picnic Under the Stars
Pack your blanket, a picnic, and your loved ones and join your Buda neighbors for a night
BOND PROJECT UPDATE
Update on Buda City Park and road work projects that were approved under the 2014 bond package.
– Page 13
under the stars at the Buda Public Library on 405 E. Loop Street. The library is partnering with the Hill Country Backyard Astronomers to bring another amazing astronomy night. Take a photo in front of the themed backdrop, create a Valentine’s Day card for your loved ones, enjoy a picnic outside, and view the night sky through telescopes. The whole family is welcome to attend this special Valentine’s Day program.
INDEX
Crazy in love, Brad Lytle was facing a decision: How do you make extra special that moment when two people commit to love each other forever, when the someone you are committing to is a no-apologies fan of all things Texan? His decision was to do it in a place iconic to Texas culture, a place dedicated to “The Friendly Pepper Upper,” no less. Lytle’s new fiancee Haley Rohde is an Austin resident and Texas State graduate whose family lives in Kyle. He’s a manager at the Spec’s store in New Braunfels and the two had been dating about two years when he decided his birthday on Jan. 30 would be a good time to pop the question. “She’s always grown up as one of those authentic Texas girls,” Lytle explained. “When her family would travel she would always have to have something from Texas – a Dr. Pepper, a Whataburger. That’s just how her family is.” And that tradition has in fact paid off – Haley’s mother won a $2,000 scholarship from Dr. Pepper years ago and her daughter actually used the money for college. “It’s a running joke that
TimSavoy said. In addition, the administration center was moved out of the first proposition to become its own proposition, now titled “Proposition E.” The stadium proposition is now split into two propositions – stadium expansions and stadium
News………………… 2, 9 Opinion Page………… 3 Sports………………… 4-5 Community………… 6-9
In March or April, the city plans to issue $25 million in bonds for the plant expansion.
The Kyle City Council took a number of actions relative to the pending expansion of its wastewater treatment plant during its regular meeting on Feb. 4. First, council members voted to award the more than $30 million bid to Archer Western ConstrucThe city purchased tion LLC of Irving, which was the “lowest and most the plant on New Bridge responsible” bid received Drive from Aqua Texas on the project. The figure in 2015 and realized it includes a five percent WASTEWATER PLANT, 14 contingency.
Kyle stiffens animal control ordinance BY ANITA MILLER Just over six months after a Kyle family’s pet dog was killed by three pit bulls that broke into their backyard, the Kyle City Council toughened its animal control ordinance. The measure, which passed its second reading on a unanimous vote, would require dogs which have been caught running loose more than three times in a 12-month period to be removed from the city. It also calls for the owners of dogs deemed dangerous to prominently display signs, and authorized animal control officers to dic-
Community…………… 6 Classifieds………… 10-11 Public Notices…… 10-11 Service Directory…… 12
The measure includes requiring dogs who have been caught running loose more than three times in a 12-month period to be removed from the city. tate where those signs should be placed. It was July 29, 2019 when the Gordon
ANIMAL CONTROL, 13