FEBRUARY 24, 2016 PRESERVATION
SEMI-PRO LOBOS
Local historians work to preserve Antioch Cemetery
Former Lehman athletes play for Texas Punishers football team
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Hays Free Press ©Barton Publications, Inc.
Vol. 119 • No. 48
HaysFreePress.com
Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX • 75¢
IH-35 wreck claims 4 lives Out of H Bounds? BY MOSES LEOS III
moses@haysfreepress.com
A Texas State student has been identified as the driver of a Honda Civic that drove the wrong way on Interstate 35 Friday and crashed head-on into a Ford Windstar, killing four people. Hays County Justice of the Peace Precinct No. 2 Judge Beth Smith identified the driver of the Civic as Wilson Rene Molinares, 22, of San Marcos. Texas State confirmed Friday Molinares is a On Tuesday, student. In a press Kyle Police conference, Smith said a confirmed blood search four arrest warrant was issued for warrants for Molinares, manslaughter who is at Brackenridge exist for Hospital in Austin in Molinares. critical condition. Smith said authorities hope to have results from the blood search warrant “pretty PHOTO BY BETH SMITH soon.” Depending on the The wreckage of a Ford Windstar minivan rests upside down along Interstate 35 northbound in results of the blood draw, Kyle after a major accident occurred early Friday morning. A wrong-way driver in a Honda Civic Molinares could face up collided head-on with the Windstar, killing four of the six occupants inside the van. According
FATALITY COLLISION, 4A
to Kyle Police, four arrest warrants exist for Wilson Rene Molinares, who was the wrong-way driver in the accident.
Buda to get park, swimming hole The purchase of roughly 40 acres of dedicated parkland Friday will allow Buda to take a step toward completing one of the city’s bond projects, and also give residents a natural swimming hole. Buda City Council by a 6-0 vote approved the purchase of dedicated parkland located at the end of Garrison Road. Buda Mayor Todd Ruge said the city purchased the land from the McCaughan family for roughly $1.1 million. “This land had been in their family for genera-
“This land had been in their family for generations. They found an opportunity to preserve that land as opposed to developing housing and condos.” –Todd Ruge, Mayor of Buda
tions,” Ruge said. “They found an opportunity to preserve that land as opposed to developing housing and condos.” Ruge said the city will make the purchase from the city’s parks fund. He said the city plans to reimburse itself with issuance from the 2014 bond initiative for parks improvements. In November 2014,
Buda voters approved all five bond propositions totaling $55 million. Proposition Five called for $8 million in parks and trails improvements. The property will be deed restrictive, with the McCaughan family wanting to preserve the land. “They could have made a lot more money if they wanted to sell the land for commerical use,” Ruge
said. “I’m pleased they saw the wisdom in taking a little less, but giving us the opportunity to preserve their family homestead in perpetuity.” With the purchase, the city gains a natural swimming hole which Ruge said is the “worst kept secret in town.” He said the swimming hole currently
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COMING UP Organic Gardening 101
On Feb. 27, head to the Buda Public Lirbary meeting room from 1-3 p.m. for this free workshop, in which expert gardener Jonas Jones shares his vast knowledge of growing vegetables organically. Participants are invited to tour Gray Gardens following the presentation.
Lady Bird: An opera A preview of an original opera based on the life of Lady Bird Johnson will be featured at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Museum of San Marcos spring lecture by Dr. Samuel Mungo, Director of Opera Studies at Texas State University on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the museum (131 N. Guadalupe Street, San Marcos). The public is invited to attend this free event. The work will focus on Lady Bird as a national figure during a tumultuous time in America, featuring her train trip through the Deep South when she defended the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
NEW BUSINESSES
Chuy’s and other businesses to come to San Marcos’ Springtown Center. – Page 1D
INDEX
BY MOSES LEOS III
moses@haysfreepress.com
News……………… 1-6A Opinions……………… 3A Sports……………… 1-2B Education………… 3-4B Community……… 1-6C
Potential site for new high school not in Hays County BY MOSES LEOS III
moses@haysfreepress.com
Concerns are rising over a potential location for Hays CISD’s proposed third high school after one proposed property wasn’t within Hays County borders. The property, located within the Sunfield Municipal Utility District (MUD), falls in Travis County, according to
Hays CISD public information officer Tim Savoy. If the site is chosen for the third high school, it would be the first Hays CISD school to be located outside of Hays County. But Emergency Service District No. 8 Chief Clay Huckaby said his district won’t be able to respond in case of emergencies, despite the fact that an ESD 8 station is less than
THIRD HIGH SCHOOL, 4A
Kyle truck stop battle continues BY SAMANTHA SMITH
news@haysfreepress.com
Debate over land rezoning at Yarrington Rd. has Kyle and San Marcos residents prepared for a fight. PGI Investment, LLC, the owner of the 47-acre tract of land off of I-35 in Kyle, has applied to the department of Planning four times for the land to be rezoned from agriculture (AG) to warehouse (W). Its motivation is to develop a large, commercial grade truck stop on the property. Texas has a law against “conditional” zoning, meaning a city can’t base a rezoning request on the specific intentions of the landowner. But overwhelming opposition to a possible truck stop from residents of the Blanco Vista neighborhood, as well as Kyle, influenced the January 26th denial of PGI’s application for a warehouse (W) zone. “We’re not opposed to land development, not at all”, says Blanco Vista spokesperson Omar Baca. Baca, and many others, have raised concerns such as increased traffic, crime, and environmental risks in the area if a sizable truck stop is allowed to occupy the land. Another concern he had was that property values would decrease as the pollution, noise, traffic, and crime increase. An effect Baca calls “social pollution.” Baca claims if PGI were to develop the land
Best Bets…………… 6C Business………… 1, 4D Service Directory…… 3D Classifieds…………… 2D Public Notices……… 2D
for retail purposes, citizens would “trap” their money in Kyle instead of driving to San Marcos. He added the city would retain the tax benefits on the developed land. Baca stressed the issue by describing the diverse group of people who have aligned under a common banner. The creation of a neighborhood alliance against a possible truck stop at Yarrington Rd. has attracted the attention of many people in both cities. It’s led to the establishment of a Facebook page, Kyle San Marcos United. The page is open to any interested individuals, whether they are for or against the truck stop. The page currently has approximately 250 people following it. Regardless of the social media presence, Baca echoed the sentiments of many concerned citizens. “Kyle is better than truck stops and tractor-trailers,” Baca said. A result of public opposition to the possibility of a truck stop at Yarrington Rd. has the landowner discussing possible compromises to the land development plan. Attorney Terry Irion, representative for PGI Investment, LLC, says they’re discussing possible involvement with a third party research firm to determine what the best options are for citizens, the landowners, and the city of Kyle. He
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