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An Austin man was arrested in connection with Carpenter Hill Elementary being damaged in August of 2018, which caused up to $300,000 in damages, including the destruction of an antique carousel colt in the library. The school and the colt have since been restored.

Restored antique carousel colt unveiled at Carpenter Hill

BY ANITA MILLER It took more than two years, but the carousel colt that used to stand near the entrance to the lobby at Carpenter Hill Elementary School is back in its rightful place. The antique colt was severely damaged when vandals struck the school in the early morning hours of Aug. 10, 2018. “Significant” damage was done, particularly in common areas of the school. There was no indication any classrooms were entered.

The colt, technically a “half and half” since it was made partially out of metal and partially out of wood, was first thought to be irreparable. However, BELFOR Property Restoration of Waco stepped up to oversee the project of putting it all back together.

The refurbished colt was unveiled to students on Friday, Feb. 14.

“The district is grateful for the compassion and care that went into restoring the antique carousel colt,” said Tim Savoy, spokesman for the Hays CISD. Carpenter Hill’s mascot is the colt. “Out of all the items that were destroyed in the vandalism, one that hit home for many people was the antique horse in the library.” Savoy thanked those who donated to the project, the artist who restored it and the “leadership of BELFOR Property Restoration.”

Actual restoration was done by Lourinda Bray of Running Horse Studio in Pasadena, California. Brass for the project was supplied by Mike Mendenhall of Carousel Memories in Los Gatos, California. Local donors include Lowe’s Home Improvement of Kyle, which supplied components for the standing base; Glen Davey and family of Davey Plumbing of Buda who supplied pipe, Sherwin Williams Paint of Kyle, which supplied paint. The colt’s base was built by Jeff and Laura Daly of Mockingbird Made Furniture of Buda and the stand and horse were assembled by Roland Garza of Mountain City.

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Education Foundation pares down Linebarger eligibility

BY ANITA MILLER

Last spring, 116 students from the Hays CISD were recognized with the Linebarger Academic Award, which, in addition to the prestige for scholastic achievement it signals, came with a $100 gift card. This year there will be only 53 to achieve that recognition, and whether there’s a cash award is anyone’s guess.

That’s because the Hays CISD Education Foundation, which bestows the awards, changed the eligibility this year from the top 10 percent of the graduating classes of Hays and Lehman high schools to the top 25 students, based on their grade point average.

The news didn’t sit well with all students, one of whom reached out to the Hays Free Press to express her displeasure. “It’s the middle of the school year,” the student said. “We are three and a half months away from graduation.” “We understand your disappointment with the change concerning the Linebarger Academic Recognition Reception,” Marisa Coon, president of the Hays CISD Education Foundation, said in a statement sent to the Hays Free Press. She cited the district’s “ever-increasing growth,” along with “calendar change, final ranking date and limited funds” in the decision, which was made after the school district’s winter break.

Coon went on to say that the foundation feels, with Johnson High School now open, (though not yet with a graduating class), now “is the best time for a change.” Tim Savoy, spokesman for the Hays CISD, also said he understands students who could be in the top 10 percent but not the top 25 might be disappointed. “The hard part about the decision is, it’s a disappointment no matter when you did it. I think it would have been the same if no matter when you did it. I think it would have been the same if it had been made in the summer. I know the top 10 percent have been working very hard for those grades.”

Savoy noted that each campus will continue to honor the top 10 percent of its graduating class. “They are all provided medals to wear at graduation and their names are highlighted in the programs,” he said. “Additionally, they stand and are honored at graduation, and they are the first to walk across the stage.”

The 53 to be honored at this year’s ceremony on May 15 represent 25 from both Hays and Lehman and three from Live Oak Academy.

Angie Mendez, liaison to the all-volunteer Foundation, said cash awards are dependent on donations and the status of such awards this year is unclear because one of the primary fundraisers, a golf tournament, is yet to occur. The decision to change eligibility for the Linebarger Award “was a hard one, I’m not going to lie,” she said.

Savoy said it was also a question of sustainability, particularly when seniors begin graduating from Johnson High School. “It’s not only where it is now but looking into the future. At some point the Foundation came to realize they had to make the change. I don’t think there’s ever an easy time to do it.”

The student who approached the Hays Free Press, however, questioned why Johnson would impact this year’s awards. “It’s just not fair to those who have worked their butts off and wanted to get this award for so long and being told never mind … All my entire high school career I’ve been pushing myself to get this award.” The Hays CISD Education Foundation, which bestows the awards, changed the eligibility this year from the top 10 percent of the graduating classes of Hays and Lehman high schools to the top 25 students, based on their grade point average. “It’s just not fair to those who have worked their butts off and wanted to get this award for so long and being told never mind … All my entire high school career I’ve been pushing myself to get this award.” –Student who anticipated earning this year’s award

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Lobo Boys Soccer: Falls to Austin High Continued from pg. 6

by Maroons Ronaldo Garcia in the sixth minute gave Austin its third and final lead change of the game. Garcia earned the hat-trick, three total goals, with his game winning shot.

“That goal was on the whole team,” said Medina. “I know Marshal (Dukett) was in the goal, but that was on the whole team.” In the first half Garcia got things going for the Maroons as he scored off a corner kick in the opening moments of the game. Medina sited a lack of focus from the Lobos that led to the early goal.

“They scored quick off a corner kick, we weren’t prepared for it,” Medina said. “We weren’t in a match focus to match that. But, then we come back and get (a goal), just some scrappy play right there in front of the goal by Isaac Salazar.”

Isaac Salazar, senior team captain for the Lobos, tied the game up at 1-1 a few minutes later on a physical play in the box. “A couple of missed touches from their defenders and we were able to kind of make one or two passes,” Medina said. “He finishes I think with his left, which is good. He’s a guy that really likes it on his right, but he can finish with his left. So we put it on him and said, ‘hey be ready to use that left in game time’, and he did it.”

Sitting at 1-6-2 in District-25, with a 6-8-3 overall record, Lehman will be looking for its first win in over a month during its final seven-game stretch of the season. In order to get over the hump and earn a win Medina mentioned one thing that he would like to see out of the Lobos – consistency.

“We need consistency in training,” Medina said.

“We need consistency in games. We need consistency in everything. It just boils down to consistency.”

Lehman’s next home match will be held at 7:45 p.m. Friday versus Westlake.