CASA ALDE FIRE
ON A HIGH NOTE
Matriarch of iconic Buda restaurant remembered.
Lady Lobo soccer crushes Akins 4-0 in regular season finale.
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Local official advise public to remain calm and go online for COVID-19 updates BY ANITA MILLER
In the interest of community health, we are putting COVID-19 stories in front of the pay wall. However, it does cost money to report these stories. Please consider subscribing so you can get all the news all the time.
With three presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Hays County and more expected, officials are calling for calm and cooperation, urging the public to place. observe social distancing County Judge Ruben and proper hygiene as local Becerra issued a state authorities rely on plans of disaster declaration and protocols already in
Park it
Texas Parks open during Spring Break STAFF REPORT
For families running out of options for Spring Break, the Texas Parks system has a message: Come visit. Texas State Parks are open and running, and note that “outdoor spaces are well suited to increased social distance.” There are, however, a few steps people can take to assure their part in keeping healthy. For one, potential park visitors can print day-use and camping permits at home and bring them, which will cut down on the time it takes to check in. Visit twpd.texas.gov and create an account to get started. Then select “Print Tickets & Daily Entrance” and follow instructions. This should be done 24 hours or more ahead of the expected visit. Also, visitors are advised to pack extra soap and hand sanitizers, even though both are stocked in park restrooms. Consult the Department of State Health Services for additional information on best practices. Parks are also waiving cancellation fees through March. To cancel without a fee, call 512-389-8900. Parks have implemented more stringent protocol for cleaning restrooms and other common areas, and will continue to monitor the developing situation.
on Sunday effective for seven days. On Monday, the Commissioner Court extended that for 120 days
unless it is suspended before then. Becerra’s declaration was announced at a Sunday
press conference in the rotunda of the county courthouse in downtown San Marcos. At the time, only one presumptive case had been identified, but officials were mum, however, on details of the specific patient, saying only that the person is 44
See how local officials are dealing with the Coronavirus PAGE 4
PHOTO BY ANITA MILLER
Rachel Ingle, Emergency Management coordinator for San Marcos, speaks about disaster preparedCOUNTY PROTOCOL, 4 ness.
COVID 19
Buda cancels/ postpones city events through April 12 Add the city of Buda to the list of entities who have postponed or canceled events due to the threat of COVID 19. While there are no confirmed cases of the coronavirus locally or in Hays County, the city is taking action as s a precautionary measure. This decision was made after careful consideration for the public’s health and well-being and because the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus.
PHOTOS BY MITCH PHILLIPS
CANCELED/POSTPONED EVENTS ARE: • Buda area Census Count Shindig, March 28 • Buda Trash-Off, April 4 • Easter Egg Hunt, April 4 • All programs at the Buda Library including storytimes, after school and homeschool programming, adult programming and maker space programming.
A freezer in the meat section of the Kyle H-E-B Plus that had once been filled with product is barren after hundreds rushed to the store Saturday to buy goods. Such a scene has played out at other grocery stores across the country this week as people react to the WHO's designation of COVID-19 as a pandemic. Political leaders, as well as grocery store chains, ask people to remain calm and to avoid stockpiling.
Following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control, the city is also committed to social distancing and encouraging residents to take preventative action like hand washing, disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and stay home when they feel sick. The city also taking a number of internal measures including boosting janitorial services to include disinfecting of all surfaces, canceling large staff gatherings and retreats and restricting employee travel. The city will continue to work with its regional partners to evaluate this evolving situation and make decisions about future events, meetings, etc., as warranted.
Morrow, Popp in runoff election for State Board of Education seat CHASE ROGERS
over Popp’s 33.9 percent, Morrow will face his own Robert Morrow, forparty, which opposes mer chairman of the Re- him obtaining the office, publican Party of Travis in addition to the DemCounty, is heading into a ocratic nominee for the runoff election with par- seat, Rebecca Bell-Mety-backed candidate Lani tereau, should she win Popp for a seat on the the runoff. 15-member State Board Morrow has an acof Education. knowledged history of Having garnered 40.1 making sexist, racist and percent of the vote in obscene remarks toward the March 3 primary athletes and major po-
TELECOMMUTE Our IT guy gives a few tips for working from home.
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MORROW
POPP
litical figures, including former first lady Michelle Obama and former Sec-
INDEX
E
MARCH 18, 2020
retary of State and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Because of this history, neither party wants to see Morrow elected to office. Morrrow is characteristically known for wearing a multi-colored jester’s hat, and for a top campaign issue that is unique to most Republi-
News……………… 2, 4, 5 Opinion Page………… 3 Community………… 6, 7 Sports…………………… 8
SBOE RUNOFF, 2
Service Directory…… Public Notices……… Classifieds…………… Police Blotter…………
BUDA CANCELATIONS, 12
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NEWS
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Hays Free Press • March 18, 2020
Iconic Buda restaurant lost in weekend fire
Hays Free Press
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The Hays Free Press (USPS 361-430) published weekly by Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. Periodicals postage paid at Buda, TX 78610 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. ISSN#1087-9323
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We welcome locally written letters to the editor on timely topics of community interest. We ask that you keep them to about 350 words in length and that you not indulge in personal attacks on private individuals. Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity. All letters should be signed by the author and include a daytime phone number where the author can be contacted for verification. Letter writers are limited to one letter per month. Letters can be emailed to csb@haysfreepress.com.
HISTORY
Founded April 10, 1903, by Thomas Fletcher Harwell as The Kyle News, with offices on the corner of Burleson and Miller streets in the town’s oldest remaining building. It merged into The Hays County Citizen in 1956. The paper consolidated with The Free Press in October, 1978. During its more than 100-year history the newspaper has maintained offices at more than a dozen locations in Kyle and Buda.
Buda fire authorities are continuing their investigation of a fire at a popular Mexican restaurant late Saturday night. Fire crews remained on the scene of Helen’s Casa Aldi until approximately 4:37 a.m. Sunday, the city of Buda said in a press release. Per the release, the structure was built on pier and beam, and portions of the wood floor had to be removed to further extinguish the fire. The building is considered to be a total loss, according to officials. Businesses adjacent to Casa Alde, which include a Farmers Insurance office and Mike’s Barber Shop, suffered “mild” smoke damage. A cause has not been determined and is under investigation. A gofundme page has been set up by members of the community to assist the Alcala family, who own Casa Alde. The link to the page can be found at https://
www.gofundme.com/f/ casa-alde-buda-helpingour-own?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_ campaign=p_cp%20 share-sheet&fbclid=IwAR0-iRJGIM_hzk1tstCXkg2l10mv1wnchprP2CSkDII-2ESZGTsm-sA0puk No one was injured. According to officials, emergency crews were dispatched to the scene, located in the 100 block of north Main Street in Buda, around 11:30 p.m. Saturday. When crews arrived, the interior of Casa Alde was engulfed in flames. Kyle Taylor, Kyle Fire Department chief, said the fire did not spread beyond the part of the structure that houses Casa Alde. The fire is believed to have originated in the kitchen of the restaurant before eventually going through the roof of the building, according to preliminary information from city officials. Two businesses adjacent to the restaurant suffered
PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III
Two Kyle Fire Department firefighters prepare to reenter Helen’s Casa Alde in Buda to check for hotspots early Sunday morning. No one was hurt after fire severely damaged the iconic Buda restaurant, which is a total loss. See Remembering Helen’s Casa Alde, page 4.
smoke damage of varying degrees. Taylor said the damage inside of Casa Alde was extensive; an exact estimate of damages is unknown
at this time. According to Buda officials, the restaurant is a “total loss.” No one was inside of Casa Alde at the time of the fire. A cause has not been de-
Two DAs refuse to prosecute former Precinct 3 employee BY ANITA MILLER The latest salvo in a years-old dispute between Hays County Pct. 3 Constable Ray Helm and his former employee Gary Griffin came last week when two Central Texas district attorneys declined to prosecute Griffin on charges he was arrested on in January. Helm had sought the warrants, which were signed in January by 453rd District Court Judge David Junkin. Junkin was appointed to his position in November 2018 by Governor Greg Abbott. They had accused Griffin, who served more than 20 years as a constable in Williamson County, with misuse of official information, which is a 3rd degree felony, as well as tampering with governmental records, a state jail felony, abuse of official capacity, a Class A Misdemeanor and two counts of theft by a public servant, both Class B Misdemeanors. Griffin turned himself in to authorities Jan. 9 and was released the same day on person recognizance
bonds. On March 10, both Hays County District Attorney Wes Mau and Caldwell County GRIFFIN District Attorney Fred Weber sent letters advising that “based on the totality of the circumstances the State believes there is insufficient credible evidence to prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.” Helm had accused Griffin of stealing public records during the time he worked for Helm, whose office he joined in 2017. Griffin left the position in June of last year. After Griffin’s arrest, Mau sent the case to Weber, who also declined to prosecute. For his part, Griffin had accused Helm of falsifying records as well, specifically regarding a training session on the use of body cameras. The situation came to a head in February, when Helm declined to answer questions about
Griffin asked by a KXAN news crew at a forum in Wimberley for Republican candidates ahead of the March 3 primary election. The crews’ footage shows Helm dismissing reporter Jody Barr and then, at the forum’s conclusion, Darrell Ayers, who is an employee in Helm’s office, putting his hands on Barr’s chest and shoving him backwards. Witnesses said Ayers also tripped the KXAN cameraman, causing him to fall forward and the heavy camera to hit forum attendee Michele Hart on the top of the head. Hart accused the news crew of assault, and Sheriff Gary Cutler said the Texas Rangers would be called in to investigate, since the incident involved someone in an elected official’s employ. However, it is unclear what happened. Helm handily won the Republican primary. He faces no Democratic opposition on the November General Election. Junkin, former an attorney in Wimberley will face Democrat Sherri Tibbe, a former Hays County DA.
SBOE Runoff
Continued from pg. 1 cans; “to impeach, convict and remove Donald Trump and throw his sorry ass in prison.” Morrow was unexpectedly elected chairperson of the Travis County Republican party in 2016 but was forced to resign the position after having filed to run for president as a write-in candidate that
same year. Ballot returns from Super Tuesday on March 3 showing Morrow’s lead over the two other Republican challengers and the possibility of a runoff prompted vehement responses from party leaders, with Travis County Republican chairman Matt Mackowiak tweeting
“(We) will crush him on May 26 or I will light myself on fire." Running along Interstate 35 between San Antonio and Austin, district 5 was held for 14 years by Republican incumbent Ken Mercer, who did not seek reelection. The runoff election will occur on May 26.
termined at this time. The Hays County Fire Marshal’s office is investigating. Helen’s Casa Alde opened in 1980 and was Buda’s first Mexican food restaurant.
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Opinion
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I guess it’s just the way we treat customers. We know nearly everybody that comes in here. If they’re new, we try to tell them that they’re welcome here, and they should come back. And they do, they do come back. –Helen Alcala, namesake of Helen’s Casa Alde. Story on page 5.
Hays Free Press • March 18, 2020
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Sun starting to shine again on Texas gov’t Guest Column by Kelley Shannon
T
exans have something to celebrate during Sunshine Week this year. But we also have more work to do to protect the public’s right to know about our government. Sunshine Week, March 15-21, is an annual national initiative proclaiming the importance of access to public information. First, the bright spot for Texas: Essential elements of contracts between governments and private companies – including pricing and promises – are public again under a law that took effect Jan. 1. It seems like those basics of how taxpayer dollars are spent should be easily accessible, doesn’t it? They were, for years, under our Texas Public Information Act. But the Texas Supreme Court in 2015 blocked the sunshine and in many cases banished that tax-dollar information into the darkness. The court’s action resulted in the Texas Attorney General’s Office issuing more than 4,000 rulings from mid-2015 through 2019 allowing governments and private entities to withhold contract details, sometimes even hiding the final price. Gone from public view were records on school construction contracts; prison supply purchases; Uber, Lyft and Yellow Cab licensing; naming rights agreements at public buildings and stadiums; marketing deals between governments and private firms; and many more tax-dollar expenditures. After working on it two legislative sessions, Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, and Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, passed Senate Bill 943 in 2019, reopening key contracting records. “If Texans are to hold their public officials accountable, access to public information is essential,” Watson said in a joint statement with Capriglione. Among the law’s early success stories is disclosure of the city of McAllen’s contract with entertainer Enrique Iglesias to perform at a holiday festival. For four years, the city refused to reveal what it paid and promised Iglesias, but the newly released contract reveals it paid $485,000. It agreed to charter a flight for the performer from Mexico and supply his backstage with steak, sushi, sashimi and aloe juice with pulp. Other previously concealed contracts are now coming to light across the state. Open government advocates and everyday Texans will be watching to make sure the new law works as intended. Meanwhile, still on the to-do list in the Texas Legislature are other important bills to open information. Accuracy is crucial, whether in news reporting, vetting political candidates or checking someone’s background for employment, credit scores or lending. Birthdates in public records allow for getting it right. Yet, another court ruling has been closing off this vital information. Legislation is needed in 2021 to respond to the court and enhance accuracy. When it comes to police records surrounding an in-custody death, families and the public need to know what transpired to hold law enforcement accountable. Many law enforcement agencies use part of the Public Information Act that was intended to protect the living who were arrested but never convicted to instead hide records when an arrested person dies in custody. It’s beyond time to close that loophole. It’s also time for a law to codify what the attorney general’s office has long stated: Electronic information shall be provided in the format a requestor prefers if it is stored that way and can be provided at no greater expense or time. For example, if government data is stored in a searchable and sortable electronic spreadsheet and it’s requested that way, it should be provided as a spreadsheet – not in some other less useful format. Stay tuned for additional public information initiatives in the months to come. If there’s one thing certain about the quest for open government in Texas, it’s that the effort never ends. We must remain vigilant and protect the public’s right to know.
Learning from my aunt’s polio experience
M
y Aunt Cecelia was just beginning the eighth grade when it happened. In late spring 1951, she came home from school with a high temperature, feeling very ill. The next morning, her legs gave out as she tried to get out of bed. By that evening, she was so weak she could barely move. She’d contracted polio. In the 1940s and 1950s, polio infected thousands of children annually. In 1952 alone, nearly 60,000 were infected, leaving thousands paralyzed and more than 3,000 dead. No one knew how polio was spread. Fear of the unknown ran rampant – with good reason. The day Cecelia was struck, the ambulance driver wouldn’t take her to the hospital for fear other patients might become infected. Cecelia’s home and family were quarantined for 14 days, polio’s lifespan. Within two weeks, polio ravaged her body. Her limbs were in various degrees of paralysis. She could barely lift her head. She was relocated to the D.T. Watson
America and worldwide are working around the clock Guest to stop its spread. Newsweek reports Column Australian researchers say by Tom Purcell they’ve identified a coronavirus cure, which they hope to roll out by the end of this Home for Crippled Children month. They say two existin Sewickley, Pa. Her long, ing drugs – one for HIV, the painful rehabilitation began. other for malaria – wipe out Had polio not been coronavirus in test tubes cured, say the authors of and has helped some of the Freakonomics, the United first COVID-19 patients to States would now be caring recover completely from for at least 250,000 longthe infection. term patients at an annual Rather than hoard toilet cost of $30 billion. paper and worry about But we did cure it. The what we cannot do, aren’t March of Dimes mobilized we better off focusing on millions to raise money. Nu- what we can do? merous researchers, includWe can make sure elderly ing Dr. Jonas Salk, sought the neighbors have food in cure. On April 12, 1955, Salk’s their pantries. We can make polio vaccine was declared good use of time at home by safe and effective. reading that book we’ve been Clarity about events of a wanting to read, or taking half-century ago is easy, but on that project we’ve been harder regarding current putting off, or starting that times. But as the coronavirus healthy eating plan. impacts the world, there’s We can learn from my no reason to lose our cool – Aunt Cecelia’s example. and every reason to remain Despite a year in the hospital hopeful and positive. – despite two years of rehab Coronavirus arrived at a and needing crutches for life time when we have incredi- – she didn’t let her bout with ble research capacity. Many polio define her. very talented people in In time, she walked to
Tom Purcell. Tom Purcell, author of “Misadventures of a 1970’s Childhood,” a humorous memoir available at amazon.com, is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review humor columnist and is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons Inc. Tom@TomPurcell.com
Let’s not let this crisis go to waste
Kelley Shannon is executive director of the non-profit Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, based in Austin. For more information about the foundation and regional open government seminars go to www.foift.org.
Shortly after President Barack Obama’s first inauguration in 2009, thenWhite House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel got into a bit of hot water when he observed to an interviewer, “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.” A decade-and-a-half ago, America was in the throes of The Great Recession, and Emanuel rightfully took a bit of heat for seeming to suggest that it was acceptable for the White House to capitalize on a time of great uncertainty to maximize its political advantage. However clunky Emanuel’s borrowing an epigram that may or may not have first been uttered by Winston Churchill, history has proven him correct. The administration’s stimulus package and economic policies set America on the course to what’s now a COVID-19 interrupted period of economic growth. And the administration’s signature healthcare law, despite its weaknesses, provably reduced the ranks of the uninsured. Now, faced with a historic public health crisis that’s devastated the stock market, closed schools and houses of worship, put an indefinite pause on the NBA and
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school every day. In time, she was no different than anyone else. Like her sisters, she was beautiful, lively and full of wit. She had many friends. Her senior year, her classmates voted her Queen of Carrick for a spring track event. Eventually, she married and had four children. Now 81, she has eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren who are incredibly vibrant and cheerful. By every measure, my Aunt Cecelia continues to enjoy a fantastic life – because she focused not on what happened to her, but what she could make happen. We can all learn from her experience as we navigate the days ahead.,
Reporters Camelia Juarez, Sahar Chmais Columnists Bartee Haile, Pauline Tom, Clint Younts
Guest Column by John L. Mycek
NHL and led to weeks-long delays for Major League Baseball and the English Premier League, policymakers in Washington and closer home are presented with similar opportunities arising out of crisis. With more and more things being placed on lockdown, we have a unique chance to stop what we’re doing and actually listen to each other. With the din of partisanship and the roar of the crowd silenced, at least temporarily, there’s a chance to put down our arms and remember all the good stuff that binds us together as a nation. We had a similar opportunity after the Sept. 11 attacks, when we were all stunned into collective silence by the enormity of a tragedy that still defies our efforts to be put into words. In those pained days, when it felt like a blanket had been throw over the whole world, and when raising your voice above a whisper felt like sacrilege, there
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was that profound sense of singularity of identity and commonality of purpose. Inevitably, that time passed. As the trauma of the attack subsided, the nation found itself tangled in a forever war on terror that persists to this day. The rancor of partisanship similarly divided us. But for a minute or two, anyway, I couldn’t escape the feeling that we’d missed the opportunity to finally get our act together as a people. With the COVID-19 outbreak, we’re at that pivot point again, where we can decide who we are, and who we want to be as a nation. We can hoard toilet paper, or we can check on the elderly neighbor across the way and make sure they have what they need to weather the storm. While there’s a temptation to stay glued to cable news and devices to keep up on the latest news, there’s also a chance to put down the screens, for busy families and couples to look each other in the eye, connect, and take a moment to be grateful for the chain of small miracles that brought them together in the first place. Because of the math of pandemics, it’s now not a
matter of if you’ll get the virus, it’s more likely a matter of when. And if you haven’t, the chances are good that someone you know is already contending with it. Or maybe you’re working from home, your kid’s school has been closed, or that Broadway play you’ve been looking forward to has been canceled. The ripple effects are endless and we’re only feeling them beginning of them. And unlike our wars, which are fought by a slender percentage of the population, where we are now means that everyone is affected in some way. There’s no bunkering down and pretending, as we do too often, that this is something that happens to someone else. As some sage on social media observed, fear, paranoia and misinformation easily multiplies at a time of crisis. But so too does the capacity for kindness, generosity and caring. We’re in a crisis. Let’s not waste it. John L. Micek is Editor-in-Chief of The Pennsylvania Capital-Star in Harrisburg, Pa. jmicek@penncapital-star.com
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Hays Free Press • March 18, 2020
Assisted living centers take dramatic precautions BY CAMELIA JUAREZ
“Given their congregate nature and residents As more events and served (e.g., older adults schools shut down to often with underlying follow social distancing chronic medical condiand prevention protocols, tions), nursing home popthe most vulnerable group, ulations are at the highest the elderly, are living in risk of being affected by close quarters in assisted COVID-19,” according living centers around Hays to the CDC website page County. about nursing homes.
The Hays Free Press has called several assisted living centers and few have responded, but most are following strict CDC guidelines. Under guidelines issued on March 9, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) urged facilities that are in coun-
ties, or counties adjacent to other counties where a COVID-19 case has occurred to limit visitation to essential (medically necessary or extenuating circumstances) visits. Two days later, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared Coronavirus a pandemic.
During President Donald Trump’s coronavirus address that day, he stated that “…we are strongly advising that all nursing homes for the elderly suspend all medically unnecessary visits.” Although assisted living communities are not categorized as nursing homes,
they are considered longterm care facilities for the elderly, which is the most at-risk demographic for this virus. Therefore, due to the continued pattern of transmission of COVID-19 in the United States and the evidence of commu-
ASSISTED LIVING, 12
County jail has new protocol due to the Coronavirus BY CAMELIA JUAREZ
• Hand sanitizer and tissues in all areas in In the interest of comthe jail facility, where munity health, we are appropriate are available putting COVID-19 stories in to inmates. front of the pay wall. How• Increased cleaning proever, it does cost money to tocol report these stories. Please • Providing additional consider subscribing so you cleaning supplies to can get all the news all the inmates time. • In-person visitation is It can be difficult to social banned until further nodistance, if you behind bars tice, with the exception in jail and out of caution of attorney visits several regulations have • Signs have been posted been in place to prevent in English & Spanish spread of COVID-19 in the throughout the jail Hays County Jail. • All volunteer services However, criminal justice have been suspended activist group Mano Amiga until further notice. is asking for more preven• Access to the jail will be tative measures such as limited to persons with releasing inmates who pose a legitimate law enforcea high risk to the virus and ment purpose. do not pose a serious threat to the community. Families concerned According to Corrections about the lack of in-person Captain Julie Villalplando, visitation will have to resort the Hays County jail is folto writing letters, phone lowing CDC guidelines by calls or video visitation doing the following: with their loved one. Phone
Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace’s office suspends civil cases, evictions STAFF REPORT
The office of Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Beth Smith intends to stay open and says people cited with Class C Misdemeanors will have to proceed with their cases. However, all civil and non-essential court hearings and trials will be postponed until at least May 8. The action was taken in response to an emergency order by the Texas Supreme Court March 17 in response to the COVID-19 public health crisis sweeping the nation. Smith said evictions
are deemed nonessential and “will not be heard until further notice.” In reference to criminal cases, Smith said, “There will not be a disruption.” Her office is “available and ready to accept emails, take phone calls.” Criminal citations can “as always, be handled on the Hays County website. All adult (17 and over) traffic citation and Class C citations will be handled without disruption.” All cases that must be heard in front of the judge may be postponed, including juvenile and minor cases.”
calls will be charged $0.32 a minute, which makes a 15-minute phone call cost $4.80. Video call rates are $5.95 for a 20-minute video visit. To avoid anyone sick entering the jail, new and current inmates are screened as many other facilities are doing. The medical department will check the temperature of incoming inmates and inmates returning from an outsourced jail. If anyone has a temperature above 100.4, they will be diverted to the hospital, and the arrestee will have a mask placed over their mouth and nose and require clearance before they can be returned to the jail and accepted. Current inmates with a temperature above 100.4 will have a mask placed over their face and asked additional screening questions about their risk
to COVID-19. If any of their answers are yes, we will test them for influenza to rule that out; if the flu test is negative, the inmate will be put in isolation in a negative pressure cell, and the Health Department will be notified. A negative pressure room is used to contain airborne contaminants within the room, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. It is unclear how many negative pressure cells are available, but Villalpando said the new jail will have many more. It’s unclear when the expanded portion of the facility will be open. In an email, Villalpando said they will continue to change their protocol as the situation develops. The CDC recommends that long-term care facilities cancel communal dining, check the temperature of employees and sheriffs
before every shift. It is unclear if the jail is following these protocols. Some activists say that the preventative measures in place are not enough because inmates and adolescents in juvenile detention are at higher risk to an outbreak. At the press conference Sunday morning, Mano Amigo Policy Director Eric Martinez passed out a seven-page request of “the most urgent and necessary recommendations to ensure the well-being and safety of our communities.” In regards to medical attention, Mano Amiga requests that incarcerated individuals are not charged for medical visits during this period and the jail provide on-site testing free of charge for any person prior to booking. In case of family concerns, they recommend a
hot line be developed so family members can check the health of their loved one. The list asked for the immediate release of all of those sentenced to county jail sentences and all remaining incarcerated people, regardless of conviction status unless release would present an unreasonable risk to community safety The list requested that all pregnant, elderly people, regardless of conviction status, populations that CDC has classified as vulnerable (those with asthma, cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes) are released unless there is unless there is clear evidence it would present unreasonable risk to community safety. The Hays Free Press will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Hays CISD plans to provide hotspots and provide curbside lunches during COVID-19 BY CAMELIA JUAREZ
and devices to students without internet access and In the interest of commu- begin training teachers for online teaching lessons. nity health, we are putting All of the resolutions COVID-19 stories in front are in the early planning of the pay wall. However, it stages, but are expected to does cost money to report these stories. Please consider go into effect by March 30. Normal school operations subscribing so you can get will not begin until April 5. all the news all the time. You can subscribe by emailONLINE CLASSES ing paper@haysfreepress. com. We would appreciate The board announced your support. that spring break will be During an emergency extended and online classmeeting on Monday, Hays es will begin March 30. CISD board members It is important for parents passed several resolutions and students to respond to regarding COVID-19. a survey that will be sent by Among the resolutions teachers. The survey will ask passed were to provide about the studentss access school lunches via curbside to computers and their pick-up or deliver food via internet access because the bus routes, provide hotspots district is willing to provide
devices and hotspots so students can learn from home. Currently, Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright said he is in touch with vendors exploring this option. On March 23, teachers will begin to change their lesson plans and begin training to teach using Google classroom. They will continue to utilize the current digital tools in place that student are familiar with.
MEALS PROVIDED BY THE DISTRICT The survey will also ask families about their food needs. As people clean out grocery stores and working families are not provided
paid sick leave or compensated for shut downs, the school district is planning to provide food to families in the district by curbside pick-up or delivery through bus routes. The details are not fully in place, but families will be notified as the plan takes place. The Hays Free Press would like to remind families that there is no need to over buy. The CDC recommends buying what you need for a couple weeks and then stop to save food for your neighbors. In addition, HEB will now offer free next day curbside pick-up to encourage social distancing.
County Protocol Continued from pg. 1
and became symptomatic after returning from visiting several cities on the West Coast. Whoever it is, they were savvy enough to directly contact Eric Schneider, the county’s epidemiologist. Schneider said the patient then went to an unspecified hospital from an unspecified Hays County city. The hospital, he said, had all proper procedures in place, bringing the patient in through a side door. The patient was later discharged and is “recovering at home, as the majority of people will.” Schneider said the patient did not come into contact with anyone else in Hays County and that the CDC, which has been briefed on the case, will identify and inform anyone that shared a flight with the presumptive case. A definitive diagnosis, either positive or negative, is expected within days. No details were released following the second and third cases, both of which were announced Monday, citing federal HIPPA rules governing patient privacy. “What you see is only the tip of the spear,” County Judge Ruben Becerra said in the rotunda of the courthouse. He noted that unlike some natural disaster, water, electricity and the supply chain have not been affected, calling the plans in place “locally executed, state coordinated and federally supported.
This declaration is confusing but that’s why we’re doing this – to stay ahead of things and to solidify and open other channels of resources.” Kyle Mayor Travis Mitchell acknowledged the the city, like the “majority of the planet,” has “been through a wringer.” However, he added, “We’re in good hands … we’re very much prepared for whatever scenario comes forward.” He encouraged the public to remain calm and practice good hygiene, and called attention to the most vulnerable – the elderly and people with underlying conditions that put them at higher risk as well as those who might be food insecure or experiencing homelessness. “There are also significant consequences to the local business community,” Mitchell said, asking people to find ways to support those businesses “who are suffering economically.” “We’ve got this,” said Buda Mayor George Haehn said. “It’s not a declaration of emergency. Our hair is not on fire.” Calling for people not to panic, Haehn noted, “Will you get sick? Maybe. Will you still be able to buy stuff? Yes.” Rebecca Minnick, Wimberley major pro tem, noted that her community not only has an older demographic but is a tourist destination, both of which could place residents at
higher risk. “We are a small town and don’t have a hospital or a lot of medical resources, so it’s more important to coordinate,” she said. Kyle City Council member Alex Villalobos, who also serves as the county’s emergency management coordinator, assured the public that plans for this type of situation were made weeks ago. “My job is to coordinate, talk to agencies and continue to be a student of this particular incident so I can inform all my partners and we can stay out ahead of this as best we can.” He suggested people consult not only their city and county web sites but also haysinformed.com. State Rep. Erin Zwiener said her office is working with others to ensure resources reach local communities. “Encouage people to follow the advice of your local officials,” she said. Schneider went on to point out the COVID-19 virus is not always lethal. “It’s not ebola.” “A lot of people in Hays County will probably end up getting the disease, the majority can stay home like you would with a cold or the flu,” Schneider said. “Stay hydrated. Go back to your normal life after 48 hours of being fever free.” He did, however, stress that there’s “No magic cure for COVID-19. There’s not a pill they can give you …let it
run its course and you can go back to your daily life.” Officials with the Centers for Disease Control have since said that post-fever quarantine time should be increased to 72 hours without medication. Rachel Ingle, emergency management coordinator
for the city of San Marcos, said there were no plans to limit the size of gatherings. Within hours after the press conference, however, the CDC imposed a national ban on gathering of 50 people or more. And on Monday, San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson
announced a prohibition on gatherings of 50 people or more until May 11, and also ordered the closure of facilities including the public library, activity and senior center. On Tuesday, the county announced a COVID-19 hotline, 512,972-5555.
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Hays Free Press • March 18, 2020
Page 5
COMMUNITY
REMEMBERING
CASA ALDE
The matriarch behind Buda’s iconic Helen’s Casa Alde was Helen Alcala. Alcala died in June 2017. In 2005, Hays Free Press reporter Jen Biundo had the pleasure of interviewing Alcala. Below is a reprint of that interview.
BY JEN BIUNDO There’s something special about the tortillas at Helen’s Casa Alde. At first glance, you’ll see they measure about three times the thickness of a storebought tortilla, dense and substantial, with rough edges that make each as unique as a rustic snowflake. After one bite, you realize these sweet, chewy tortillas can hold their own against the drippiest chorizo or most liberal dousing of pico de gallo. By the time you’ve decimated the breakfast taco snugly contained in one of these homemade tortillas, you can understand why Helen’s Casa Alde has thrived on Main Street for more than 25 years. Helen Alcala calculates that she’s made about 4 million of those tortillas since July 1980, when she opened Casa Alde with her husband, Pedro “Pete” Alcala. And though Alcala is 81 years old (in 2005), she still rules the kitchen with vigor, rolling out tortillas to a new generation of Buda residents. What’s the secret to running such a successful business? “I guess it’s just the way we treat customers,” Alcala said. “We know nearly everybody that comes in here. If they’re new, we try to tell them that they’re welcome here, and they should to have to close. It was very slow but come back. And they do, they do come started picking up. Buda was so small, even when we opened. You knew back. And we have good help, people everyone.” who really care for their work,” That persistence paid off. Pedro When pressed, Alcala adds modAlcala died in 1992, leaving his widow estly, “Well, everyone says the food is a quietly thriving restaurant. great.” Today, Casa Alde is the oldest eatery Like her restaurant, Helen Alcala’s on Main Street, and perennially popown roots stretch way back in Buda. ular, doing a bustling trade on early Her grandfather and father, she said, were the first Mexicans to live in Buda. morning breakfast tacos and overThey arrived in 1913, found work on a flowing lunch plates. Though Alcala is 81 (in July 2005), local farm, and saved enough money to bring the rest of the Rodriguez fam- the beauty remains from the intense girl in the 1940s ily up from Mexico. photograph, in her “They said it was clear skin, bright eyes very hard,” Alcala “I guess it’s just and slow but graceful said. “They said they the way we treat movement. Alcala is a couldn’t even go out quietly gracious hostat night – somebody customers. We ess in her restaurant, would throw rocks know nearly welcoming customers at them. It’s really with a soft Spanish changed now. When everybody that accent and wide we were growing up it comes in here. If smile. was okay.” Alcala and her Helen Rodriguez they’re new, we try son Ernie arrive at 4 Alcala was born in to tell them that a.m. and begin the 1923 in the small two-hour process community of they’re welcome of making the day’s Goforth, which has here, and they supply of tortillas. since been absorbed into Buda. As the oldshould come back. Taking dough mixed the night before, est of 10 children, she And they do, they Alcala mixed in hot had to leave school water – as hot as you after junior high, as do come back. can stand it, she says did her younger sisAnd we have good – and forms rough ter, Cuca Rodriguez, balls, which she then and find work to help help, people who rolls into a flat circle support the family. really care for their with a metal pin and During World War stores in a cooler. II, the sisters worked work.” Throughout the day, at Buda Grocery, then the cooks throw the owned by Gerald and –Helen Alcala, namesake of rolled tortillas on the Mary Montague. (EdHelen’s Casa Alde grill, where they cook itor’s note: Buda Grobrown and bubbly. cery was located in It may seem like a big task when the building now housing Cleveland’s homemade tortillas are an exception Restaurant.) Alcala recalls the coffee rather than a rule, but Alcala wouldn’t and sugar shortage during the war. have it any other way. A photo of the young Helen Rodri“Store bought tortillas? We don’t like guez shows a beautiful young woman them,” Alcala says, just a touch primly with wavy jet black hair, creamy skin but with a humoring smile. “If we run and 1940s glamour, gazing brightout, somebody runs to the back and eyed into the camera. Buda residents remember her husband, Pedro Alcala, makes more.” When asked the secret to the perfect as one of the most dashingly handtortillas, Alcala pauses for a moment. some men in town. “I don’t know,” Alcala says. “We’re The Alcalas married in 1947 and so used to making them, we just make had three children, Ernest, Rene and them. The trick is to make them from Linda. Like true Budaites of the midscratch.” dle 1900s, all three were “Doc McCorWith business booming from the armick babies,” delivered by the beloved Buda family practitioner. Pedro Alcala ea’s growth, the Alcalas have cut back on the hours. worked as a handyman and janitor, Alcala has no intention of retiring while Helen Alcala took jobs as a cook, at the Hays School district and then at any time soon, if ever. “The work is good for me,” Alcala the Texas School for the Deaf in South said. “When I’m home, I lay down a Austin. lot. My bones get more tired doing In 1980, Cuca’s husband, Ezekial nothing than they do at work.” DeLeon, lent the Alcalas money to After 25 years in the restaurant busistart the restaurant. Casa Alde opened ness, Alcala says without hesitation in July 1980. At that time, Helen that she would do it all over again. Alcala was working one week on and She’s met so many nice people, she’s one week off at the Texas School for had the pride of owning a successful the Deaf. In her alternate weeks off, restaurant, and most of all, she’s had she would work all seven days at the the joy of watching people enjoy her restaurant. And in the other weeks, she recalled with a laugh, her husband cooking. “My favorite part is when somebody had to learn how to make tortillas. says, ‘This is the best meal I’ve had,’” “I worked for a while like that,” Alcala recalled. “The restaurant wasn’t Alcala says with a beaming smile. “Oh, it makes me feel so good. I really successful at first. At first we strugappreciate that.” gled, and thought maybe we’re going
PHOTO FROM 1968 REBEL YEARBOOK
Above is Helen Alcala, left, working as a cook for the Hays CISD in 1968.
HAYS FREE PRESS FILE PHOTO
Above is Helen Alcala at Casa Alde on Main Street in Buda.
HAYS FREE PRESS FILE PHOTO
Before Helen Alcala opened Casa Alde, the building housed Wyatt and Ada Green Green's grocery store. Above is the store in 1973.
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Page 6
Hays Free Press • March 18, 2020
COMMUNITY
Personal attack is just what Sam needed “Was the late secretary of war removed in conTexas sequence of his attempt fraudulently to give to Gov. History Houston the contract for by Bartee Haile the Indian rations?” an Ohio congressman asked on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives severe concussion, broken on March 24, 1832. hand and numerous cuts Three years had come and bruises in the one-sidand gone since Sam Hous- ed encounter. His detailed ton resigned as governor description of the incident of Tennessee following the was delivered to Speaker scandalous breakup of his Andrew Stevenson, who in marriage to a teenaged spite of his long association debutante. During his with the assailant had no self-imposed exile among choice but to put the matthe Cherokees, he lobbied ter to a vote. for a contract to feed sevAngered by the violent eral tribes on their western retaliation against a colrelocation league for under the an opinion Screaming Indian expressed Removal on the bloody murder, Act. But the floor of Stanbery potentially the House, profitable members pulled a pistol plan hit a voted 145and shoved the 25 in favor snag, when war secretary of arrest. Acbarrel against John Eaton companied his powerful froze the by attorney bids. Francis Scott opponent’s Houston Key, author chest. He happened of The Star to be in the Spangled squeezed the nation’s Banner, trigger, but the Houston capital on April 3, 1832, came in gun misfired. the day that person two a Washingdays later to ton newspaper published plead not guilty to a charge the text of Rep. William of assault. Stanbery’s speech. The The sensational trial former two-term congress- began in the House on Apr. man headed straight for 19 and brought Capitol Hill the House to confront his to a complete standstill. accuser, but friend and Chairs had to be placed in future president James K. the aisles to accommodate Polk persuaded him not to the overflow crowd, which go off half-cocked. packed the chamber for Instead, Houston sent every session. a formal note to Stanbery A week or so into the inquiring whether he had election-year circus, been quoted accurately President Andrew Jackson in the press. The Ohioan summoned the defendant added insult to injury by to the White House. “It’s not refusing to reply and, inter- you they are after, Sam,” preting the message as the Old Hickory explained to prelude to a duel, armed his protégé. “They wish himself with two pistols to injure your old comand a dagger. mander.” He gave Houston Ten days later on Friday several gold pieces with the 13th, Houston was instructions to trade his strolling along Pennsylvabuckskin garb for tailored nia Avenue with a senator attire befitting a gentleman. and a representative, when The night before the latter spotted StanHouston spoke on his own bery and changed course. behalf, he entertained a few Houston politely asked close friends in his hotel the stranger his name room. The guest list inand, upon learning he cluded Speaker Stevenson was indeed the character and Polk, “a victim of the assassin, shouted at the top of his lungs, “Then you are a damned rascal!” Houston struck the first blow creasing Stanbery’s skull with a hickory cane. ENTERTAINMENT Only after taking several more licks to the head and 3200 Kyle Crossing shoulder did the lawmaker (512) 523 9012 try to flee, but Houston Experience it in hopped on his back and ENHANCED VIEWING pinned him to the ground. EXPERIENCE Screaming bloody murder, Stanbery pulled a pistol and shoved the barrel For all showtimes and against his powerful oppolistings, please check our nent’s chest. He squeezed website or call showline! the trigger, but the gun misfired. Houston tore the weapon from his grasp, jumped 1180 Thorpe Lane to his feet and resumed the (512) 210 8600 thrashing. He continued Cinema Eatery & Social Haus to cane the congressman even in the presence of police, who ordered him to stop. Houston warned the officers at knifepoint not to interfere explaining he was 1250 WONDER WORLD DR. “whipping a scoundrel who (512) 805 8005 had insulted him but did EVO-ENTERTAINMENT.COM not intend to kill him.” Films. Lanes. Games. Stanberry suffered a
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use of water as a beverage” who retired at a reasonable hour. The rest, however, drank themselves into the customary stupor. Before losing consciousness, Houston told a barber to bring him coffee and his “shaving traps” at sunrise. Pointing to a pistol and a stack of coins, he joked, “If the coffee does not stick when I drink it, take the pistol and shoot me and the gold is yours.” The carouser saved his life by keeping down his third cup and hurried to the House where all Washington was waiting. He was at his oratorical best, despite a head-splitting hangover, and paused often to acknowledge applause from the adoring audience. During an especially enthusiastic ovation, a woman in the gallery tossed a bouquet at his feet and cried out, “I would rather be Sam Houston in a dungeon than Stanbery on a throne.” The House debated the case for four days before finding Houston guilty by a vote of 106 to 89. The punishment was the lightest possible – a reprimand from Speaker Stevenson which sounded more like a pat on the back than a slap on the wrist. Sam Houston frankly admitted years later than the Stanbery Affair was the best thing that could have happened to him. “I was dying out, and had they taken me before a justice of the peace and fined me ten dollars for assault and battery, they would have killed me. But they gave me a national tribunal for a theater and set me up again.” All five of Bartee’s books are available for purchase on his web site barteehaile@gmail.com.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CITY OF KYLE
Plum Creek Cleanup Plum Creek was the focus of 59 volunteers who turned out on Saturday, March to participate in the Great Texas River Cleanup. Volunteers, which included Kyle City Council members Michael Tobias, Dex Ellison and Tracy Scheel, collected, 1,367 pound of trash and 770 pounds of recyclables. The most common items collected were aluminum cans and plastic bottles. One tire was found, along with a submerged bicycle. “We are so grateful for the opportunity to join the city of San Marcos’ event to bring awareness and volunteers to help beautify the river, creeks and river banks,” saids Kathy Roecker, Stormwater Management Plan administrator.
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Hays Free Press • March 18, 2020
Page 7
OBITUARIES
A few considerations for working at home BY MIKE CATO
INTERNET SERVICE
In between washing our hands with soap for 20 seconds several times a day, many are having to work and study from home, some for the first time. There are some technology considerations. One is that there may be more people at home doing higher demand internet activity than normal. Not only are you working from home, but students are back at home and may not be able to return to their schools given the announcements of extended spring breaks, or to spend the remainder of the semester away from campus. The cheerful reply to “don’t come back to campus or work” announcement is “we’ll do remote learning and meetings.” But if you have a meeting at the same time as a student has a remote class, there may be congestion on your internet service, depending on the quality of service you have (or is even offered in your area). In addition, with your neighbors also working/schooling from home, the capacity the internet service provider has allocated to a specific geography may be stretched for the neighborhood And if you haven’t done video chats or meetings before, you may not have the equipment or space set aside for it.
Most of us have two internet service providers: our home internet (Spectrum, AT&T Uverse, Frontier, etc) and through our cell phone providers. The home internet generally has no data caps, so only overall speed is the major concern. If you have a higher level of service, you may not have problems with multiple people doing their internet work (or play) at the same time. Others with lower levels of service may need to coordinate with the household to avoid bottlenecks in internet service, or pay more. (“You can’t stream movies while I’m on a video conference, or your sibling is in a remote class.”) Mobile internet service through cell phone providers often has monthly data caps, though the trend is to have “unlimited” service. However, “unlimited” does not mean they will not slow down the speed after you reach the pre-determined amount of activity. If you want to use the mobile internet service to ease the load on the home internet service while still at home, remember to temporarily turn off WiFi in the phone’s settings. This of course depends on how good the mobile internet service is at your location. The FCC has asked
DUNN Captain Gerald Leo “Jerry” Dunn, 82, died on March 2, 2020 at his home in Kyle, Texas. Dunn was born in Seattle, Washington to George Lee Dunn and Mary Regina Johnson Dunn on Nov. 29, 1937. Dunn graduated from Gloucester Catholic High School in 1956 and Bullis Prep School in 1957. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1961, a Bachelor’s Degree in Math from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1967 and a Master’s Degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California in 1977, in addition to completing Defense Systems Management College in 1976 and Naval War College in 1984. He served his country as a distinguished officer in the United States Navy for 34 years. He achieved the rank of Captain and enjoyed much of his career at sea with 17 duty stations spanning the world. He was the Commanding Officer of the USS Decatur from ’79-81 and of the USS England from ’84-86. The USS England, a guided missile cruiser, was his pride and joy, and he credited their success to the amazing caliber of his crew. In addition to campaign medals and ribbons, Capt. Dunn’s decorations included: 3 Legion of Merit Medals, 1 Meritorious Service Medal, 2 Navy Commendation Medals, 1 Navy Achievement Medal and 1
internet service providers to suspend broadband data caps and not terminate service or apply late fees during the COVID-19 outbreak. The big ones such as Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Comcast & Charter (Spectrum’s parent) have all pledged support. If you’re not using one of them, you might check with your provider for their policy.
PRIVACY You may want to set aside or create a space that does not have any personal pictures or views of passing household traffic, and that it relatively quiet. (And yes, we’ve all seen viral videos of toddlers walking in on parents in the middle of a video meeting from the home office. Very professional!) With multiple people in the household doing work/study-fromhome limiting available quiet spaces, there may just have to be humorous apologies.
EQUIPMENT Your laptop and phone already have cameras and microphones built in. If you intend to use your desktop computer, you may need to purchase a video camera & microphone. Most come with the microphone built-in, but the cheaper ones may not. They are enough of a commodity
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1100 Main Street • Buda, Texas 78610 Office: 512-312-2520 • Fax: 512-295-2034 • santacruzcc.org Rev. David Leibham, Pastor • Rev. Amado Ramos, Assoc. Pastor CONFESSION Saturdays: 4 p.m.-5 p.m. MASS SCHEDULE: Saturday evening: 5:30 p.m. Sunday 8:30 a.m. (Spanish), 11 a.m. (English) 5 p.m. (English)
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Southern Hills Church of Christ 3740 FM 967, Buda EPISCOPAL St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church 725 RR 967, Buda St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church RR 3237 (Wimberley Rd.), Kyle St. Alban’s Episcopal Church 11819 IH-35 South JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses FM 2770, Kyle Jehovah’s Witnesses South 10802 Manchaca Rd., Manchaca LUTHERAN Living Word Lutheran ELCA 2315 FM 967, Buda Redeeming Grace Lutheran LCMS FM 1626 & Manchaca Rd., Manchaca Resurrection Church, CLBA 401 FM 967, Buda St. John Lutheran Church 9865 Camino Real, Uhland The Well Buda
CATHOLIC Santa Cruz Catholic Church 1100 Main Street, Buda
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kee, Wisconsin; daughter, Laurie (Joel); son, David; granddaughter, Mikayla (Christopher); grandson, Jaden; great-granddaughter, Leilani; brother, Lee (Kathy) and sister-in-law, Karen and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father, Commander George Lee Dunn; mother, Mary Regina Johnson Dunn and brothers, Bobby and Don. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Harrell Funeral Home, in Kyle on Friday, March 20 with Pastor Rusty Fletcher of A Fountain of Life Worship Center officiating. Public visitation will take place at 10 a.m. with memorial service held at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio.
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Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon. Dunn retired from the military in San Diego on June 30, 1991 and worked as a Senior Principal Engineer for Digital Systems Research until relocating to Austin in 1993 where he became a driver for Cook Walden Funeral Home. Dunn enjoyed singing, dancing and athletics and played basketball for the Naval Academy. He was an avid golfer and a member of the Plum Creek Golf Course. His favorite pastime was supporting his grandchildren in all of their athletic and academic endeavors. He was a devoted family man and friend who trusted in the Lord. Dunn is survived by his wife of 53 years, Karen Hansen Dunn of Milwau-
METHODIST Buda United Methodist Church San Marcos & Elm St., Buda Kyle United Methodist Church Sledge & Lockhart St., Kyle Journey United Methodist 4301 Benner Rd, Kyle, Tx St. Paul’s United Methodist Church 7206 Creedmoor Rd., Creedmoor
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Por Tu Gracia Fellowship 701 Roland Lane, Kyle Trinity United Chuch of Niederwald 13700 Camino Real, Hwy. 21, Niederwald PENTECOSTAL Mision de Casa de Oracion S. Hwy. 81, Kyle New Life Sanctuary Kyle Science Hall Elementary 1510 Bebee Rd. PRESBYTERIAN
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Baptist Church
Sunday School...........................................9:30 a.m. Morning Worship....................................10:45 a.m.
8:30 a.m. Traditional service 9:45 a.m. Contemporary service 11:00 a.m. Blended service Adult, teen, children’s classes • Children’s worship Professionally-staffed nursery & pre-school
Sudoku Puzzle, from page 6
Wednesday Bible Study/Youth Activities...6:00 p.m. AWANA’s (Wednesday)..........................6:00 p.m.
www.hayshills.org 1401 N. FM 1626
Nursery Provided www.firstbaptistbuda.com • fbcbuda@austin.rr.com
Page 8
Hays Free Press • March 18, 2020
SPORTS
UIL suspends all high school activities through March 29 BY MOSES LEOS III
PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III Lehman Lady Lobo Klarissa Lucio (18) searches for a teammate to celebrate with after she scored a goal with roughly five minutes left in the team’s March 11 game with Akins. While Lehman qualified for the playoffs, they now wait to see if their season continues after the UIL suspended play due to COVID-19.
Lady Lobos crush Akins 4-0 in regular season finale BY MOSES LEOS III
Achieving the chance to extend her senior season by an extra game is something Abby Gorostieta doesn’t take lightly. Several months ago, Gorostieta watched as other upperclassmen who had been a part of the Lehman Lady Lobos soccer team quit a program that was now playing under its third head coach in half a year and looked to be going nowhere. On March 11, Lehman crushed the Akins Eagles 4-0 in their regular season finale, solidifying a stunning thirdplace finish in a wildly competitive 25-6A and ending a five year playoff drought. While Lehman now awaits word if their season will continue at all, at that moment, the accomplishment meant the world for Gorostieta. “It’s a great accomplishment that I’ve made it this far. Now I’m making it to the playoffs,” Gorostieta said. “We never did that during my years here. I’m proud of that.” Equally proud was first year head coach Sean Dickson who assumed the leadership role only five months previous. Aiding his transition was understanding many of the strengths of his players. Dickson had served as Lehman’s assistant coach prior to his promotion. Ultimately, Dickson felt he didn’t want to be an “obstacle” for his players, understanding the raw talent and potential he knew they had. Gorotostieta said Dickson “stepped up and took great leadership,” carrying the program forward. “To watch them flourish and let them play like they wanted to play and acknowledge them as quality soccer players, I let them play the style I thought would be good for them,” Dickson said.
PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III Lehman Lady Lobo Faith Howell (11) gets the upper hand on a header as an Akins Eagle defender approaches March 11. Howell scored the games’ first goal as Lehman defeated Akins 4-0.
That style played out March 11 as Lehman utilized an unrelenting attack to punish Akins into submission. However, aggressive play didn’t translate to goals early on despite outshooting Akins by a ratio of nearly 3-1. A Lady Lobo goal scored by Faith Howell off of a corner kick gave Lehman a 1-0 advantage at halftime. The tone changed in the second half as Lehman’s persistence led to three additional unanswered goals scored by Jade Hickey in the 51st minute, Hannah Loya at the 67th minute and Klarissa Lucio at the 75th minute. Dickson pointed to the team’s high standards for first half struggles in finishing, citing players were frustrated they couldn’t get goals. The ability for his team to resolve the issue in the second half was a “sign of their growth,” Dickson said.
“We were a little frustrated. We have high standards for ourselves, especially this team,” Gorostieta said. “They stayed calm and played with their hearts and their heads.” But now all Lehman can do is wait and see. With the UIL shutting down athletics until March 29 due to COVID-19, the Lady Lobos’ season, as with all other soccer teams in Texas, is officially on hiatus. Even so, Dickson said he looks forward to whatever challenges might come their way. After all, he knows it won’t diminish the success the program has experienced to this point and the obstacles they’ve overcome. “I don’t take this as my last game. We still have more to go through,” Gorostieta said March 11. “We have to get mentally and physically ready for the playoffs.”
As school districts across Texas suspended extracurricular activities in wake of the novel Coronavirus outbreak, the state’s governing body over high school academic, athletic and musical competition is now following suit. On Friday, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) announced it will suspend all of its sanctioned contests from March 16-29 in order to support the health and safety of students and their communities, according to a release. Rehearsals and practices may be held at the discretion of the local school district during that time, per UIL officials. Charles Breithaupt, UIL Executive Director, said the league is urging member schools and their communities to stay vigilant and take “every possible precaution to remain safe and healthy.” “We understand there is a lot of uncertainty during this unprecedented time,” Breithaupt said. “Please know UIL leadership is working diligently to adjust to this rapidly evolving situation and will share updates as soon as possible.” The UIL’s announcement comes on the heels of decisions made by school districts in the past week to halt extracurricular activity as a precaution to COVID-19. Hays CISD Friday
So what’s next?
While the situation surrounding COVID-19 remains fluid, UIL officials offered several possible timetables for district certification, or the finalization of district standings, to take place. All dates are preliminary and subject to change.
ATHLETICS
• Soccer – District Certification by April 11, possible bi-district games April 14 • Golf – District Certification by April 14, possible regional semifinal and finals April 20-23 • Track and field – District certification by April 11, possible area meets April 18 • Tennis – District certification by April 18, Regional semifinals and finals April 27-30 • Softball (no change) – District certification by April 28, bi-district games May 2 • Baseball (no change) – District certification by May 5, bi-district games by May 9
ACADEMICS
• District Academic and Speech – meets scheduled for March 23-28 are rescheduled for March 30-April 11. That includes speaking events. • One Act Play – District/Bi-district certification deadline extended to April 7; Area certification deadline extended to April 14 • Regional Academic and Speech meets are scheduled for April 17-18; One Act Play regional meet is April 15-18. Sites are subject to change. • Robotics – The FIRST Division FRC State meet scheduled April 2-4 has been postponed.
MUSIC
• State Wind Ensemble Festival for May 9 has been canceled • State Solo and Ensemble Contest (no change) – May 30 and June 1 at Pflugerville ISD campuses.
canceled all non-instructional activities within the district until March 31, including UIL related events. Dripping Springs ISD canceled multiple contests taking place during the week of
Spring Break. On March 12, Austin ISD canceled classes for the day as a result of the outbreak. Houston ISD earlier this week opted to cancel classes until at least March 30.
Taking the bench A wise world leader once said the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Such has been difficult for many of us this week as we tried to make sense of Coronavirus and how it's going to impact our world. Long lines at the stores, social distancing (do it), bans on large outdoor activities. Yes, all the fun things in life we like to do are halted. At least for now. But as that wise man inferred, letting our fears get the better of us will do only more harm than good. Fearing that we’ll never get to experience those things again just isn’t a healthy disposition. We’ll get the chance to go back to DIsneyWorld and Six Flags, South by Southwest and much more one day, hopefully sooner rather than later. That mentality fits just as perfectly for the world of sports, a medium that’s dropped off the radar
From the Sidelines by Moses Leos III
within five days’ time. And understandably so. Regardless of your political position, one must agree curbing the spread of this novel disease takes high priority above all else. Where else can COVID-19 thrive more prevalently than a packed arena filled with 200 to 60,000 people? Sadly, it means sports must hit the bench, at least for now. It’s the right thing to do, for society’s sake. We will be taking a similar approach here at the Hays Free Press and News-Dispatch in our sports coverage in the coming weeks, too. Through at least March 31, we will be scaling back sports coverage due in part to the UIL’s deci-
sion to halt all competition until that point. But perhaps more importantly, we feel it necessary to give our outstanding news team the page space and resources available to keep our readership abreast of this rapidly evolving situation. Obviously, we are praying for a speedy resolution to this global issue. Once that happens, it’s our hope that we can cover our talented local high school athletes back on the field, representing our communities with pride. It’s okay to feel a little uneasy. Strange times, these are. But to fear that we will never get back to normal is just not true. While it might take some time to get there, normalcy will return. So please sit back, stay home and be safe. We'll get through this together. We will persevere. Thank you and we’ll see you in a few weeks.
Hays Free Press • March 18, 2020
Page 9
H-E-B limits hours for stores, pharmacies H-E-B is now observing new operating hours, opening all stores and pharmacies, including Central Market, at 8 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m. The grocery chain is also offering free curbside pickup and free home delivery of all prescription medications. Here was the company’s initial message: “To better serve our customers and increase product availability, all H-E-B stores, Cen-
tral Market and H-E-B Pharmacies will close tonight at 8 p.m. Beginning Sunday, March 15, all stores will open at 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. until further notice. “While we restock our shelves around the clock, much of our restocking and replenishment happens overnight when our stores are closed. This temporary change in store hours will give our Partners extra time to work diligently overnight to
better stock our shelves, allowing us to better serve our customers. “More information about this temporary change to store hours and operations is at H-E-B Newsroom: https:// newsroom.heb.com/ store-hours-and-operations/ We are working diligently to keep everyone informed. Follow us at H-E-B Newsroom for the latest updates and company news.
For all the latest local coverage of the Coronavirus and other news that matters to you, visit
.com
Butterfly Pie in the Sky
Tammie is a spayed female, 4 year old, Rottweiler Mix. She has giant, beautiful, brown eyes that she’ll use to win your heart (and your treats!). In fact, once she has your attention, she will do the “Tammie crazy dance”. It’s quite a sight! Tammie loves swimming, walks, and toys. In the right home, we know Tammie will flourish into a confident, amazing companion.
Local artist Jim Lapaso, left, posed with one of his newest kinetic sculptures, “Butterfly Pie in the Sky,” at its temporary location at the corner of Center Street and Rebel Drive, where it acts as a “welcome” to the city of Kyle. Lapaso is accompanied by Julie Albertson and Spencer Thomas, owners of Texas Pie Company. Lapaso hopes the city will want the 16-foot-tall piece for its annual “Pie in the Sky” celebration. The work’s kinetic feature is 4 feet by 6 feet, composed of stainless steel and glass. For more of his work, visit lapaso.com.
Mama Coco is a female, 3 ½ year old, Brown Tabby. Mama Coco may strike you as an average, plain tabby cat, but she has an extraordinary amount of love to give. She’s spent her time on this Earth honing her skills in purr-therapy and comfort-cuddles and at this point she’s an expert. She knows exactly how to distract you from the stresses of life and help you see the joy you create.
PAWS Shelter of Central Texas
is a non-profit, no-kill shelter operated primarily on donations and adoptions.
500 FM 150 E, Kyle, TX • 512 268-1611 • pawsshelter.org
All animals are fully vaccinated, spay/neutered, microchipped and dewormed.
sponsored by
Town & CounTry VeTerinary HospiTal Committed to your pet’s health since 1978
PHOTO BY DAVID WHITE
Bill Selman, DVM • Kayley Goldsmith, DVM • Ben Fox, DVM 6300 FM 1327 (East of I35 and Creedmoor) Austin, TX 78747 Give us a call at 512-385-0486
Service Directory
Page 10
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Home Improvement John’s Paint, Drywall & Carpentry Residential & Commercial Services
• Interior/Exterior Painting • Powerwashing • Tape & Float Texture • Popcorn Ceilings John Mendoza • Water Damage • Siding 512-214-5952 • Soffit 20 Years Experience • Facial References Available • Windows Free Estimates
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Want help selecting the best value? Office systems not maintained? Did your kids or employees leave your computer useless?
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Lawn Care
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Newspaper For all the latest news in Hays County, go to .com
Subscribe to the Hays Free Press for only $42 a year. Call 512-268-7862, email paper@haysfreepress.com or visit us on our website, www.haysfreepress.com.
Pool Service
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Over 10 years of experience Keith Miller, owner One Time & Weekly Cleanings Drain & Cleans Pressure Washing Full Service Repairs HIGH TIDE Pool Replastering POOL SERVICE
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Septic Services Serving HayS County Residential & Commercial
• All types of roofing • Seamless rain gutters • Attic and wall blown insulation
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Hays Free Press • March 18, 2020
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Working at Home Continued from pg. 7
that you generally get what you pay for (unless there’s a run on them, like toilet paper, with the shortage causing the price to go up). If you are going to use your phone, and don’t have a stand, lean it up against something and use some cardstock or a rubber/silicone mat to keep it from sliding. Your wired or wireless earbuds may give better sound than the phone’s speakers and built-in microphone which is now facing the mat instead of toward your mouth.
VIDEO CHAT (PERSON-TO-PERSON) You are face-to-face with one other (or a small num-
ber) of people. This is the simplest method. However, there can be privacy concerns, such as conferring with medical personnel, so you may have to use something other than your favorite choice, depending on what the medical office dictates. Here are some common face-to-face apps: Google Duo (was Hangouts); Microsoft Skype (personal); Microsoft Teams (incorporates “Skype for Business”); Facebook Messenger; Signal Private Messenger; WhatsApp Messenger; Apple FaceTime. It is not a complete list. I won’t go into the specifics of each one. Basically you call the other person using their cell phone
number or email address, and “hang up” when done. Simple, much like a voice phone call, but you can see them as well.
VIDEO CONFERENCE (JOIN A MULTI-PERSON MEETING OR CLASS) Video conferencing and remote learning is somewhat more complicated. The meeting coordinator or educator creates the meeting or class and invites people to attend. Recurring meetings/classes may have a membership that gets set up once for all subsequent meetings. The meeting creator gets to decide things such as whether anyone can talk at any time, or whether
you must do a virtual “raise your hand” and be acknowledged by the coordinator or educator. Small classes may be free-for-alls, larger ones may enforce the “raise your hand” paradigm, or may be one-way to the students. Some educators may decide to put the lecture on YouTube and have discussion sessions via video conference. Here are some of the common video conference apps: Zoom; Microsoft Teams; Webex; GoToMeeting. Note that corporations and educational institutions may choose something else entirely; that is up to them, and may be driven by priva-
cy, trade-secret, or other concerns.
same type of phone as you have whether iPhone or Android down to the same model so that it’s SENIORS easier to guide them: do Our seniors are the ones it on your phone first, who may need the most then tell them how to do help in navigating the it. Also, clear the home changes. (“What do you screen of all the stuff they mean I can’t go to the doc- don’t care about, just keep tor’s office if I’m sick?”) the necessary items such Even if you’ve already as an icons to call you & done video chats with sefriends, directly, contact niors, medical offices and list, text messages, LifeAlservices like Teledoc may ert or similar help service, have other apps that must and little else. Less used be used instead of the list apps can be on slide-left/ of their “normal” video right home screens. chat app. Privacy (HIPAA) Well, this was fun! And and other factors may by that I mean: keep a require this. You may need positive attitude as we to help overcome the nov- navigate through a “mielty of yet-another-app. nor” change in operations! An aside: I recommend Mike Cato your seniors have the Hays Technical Services
Classifieds Hays Free Press • March 18, 2020
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Hays Free Press
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Employment NOW HIRING:
Safety-Aware Caregiver Needed. $9.20/hr. Call (No text) 512-697-8734
TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
DIRECT CARE COUNSELORS Provide positive role modeling, structure, and supervision to adolescent boys. No exp. required, We train comprehensively. Pay starting at $12 per hour for flexible 8 & 16 hr shift schedules. Health/life/dental insurance after 60 days. Min. requirements: Must be 21 yrs old, HS/GED, clean TDL, clean criminal history, pre-employment TB skin test, and drug screen. Growing (20+ year old) non-profit organization. www.pegasusschool.net. Call (512)432-1678 for further information. Want to Buy WANT TO BUY TRAVEL TRAILER OR FIFTH WHEEL
Even if repairs are needed. Trailer must have title. Cell, 346-244-8907.
For Sale
12” MACBOOK FOR SALE Early 2016. 1.1 Ghz processor. 8 GB memory. $500. Call 512-753-2700.
For Sale CEMETERY PLOT FOR SALE 1 Plot at Live Oak Cemetery in Buda/Manchaca area. $3000 Please call Ramona 512-698-4193
TDS IS NOW HIRING! Find your career with us.
Opportunities Include: Paralegal, Welder, CDL Drivers, Temporary Special Event Workers, Mechanics, and more.
Visit our website www.texasdisposal.com/careers to view and apply! For more information call 512-329-1778
Texas Statewide Advertising Network NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Incapacitated Person. Address: c/o Marold Law Firm, PLLC, Attorneys, Attn: Burke C. Marold, 310 S. St. Mary’s St., Ste. 835, San Antonio, Texas 78205. Dated at San Antonio, Texas March 17, 2020.
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF LAURA MOORE BREAUX AS GUARDIAN OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES COLEMAN MOORE, III, a/k/a James Coleman Moore, AN INCAPACITATED PERSON. NOTICE OF PUBLIC Pending in the CounHEARING ON ADOPTION ty Court at Law No. 3, of Hays County, Texas, in the OF WASTEWATER IMPACT Matters of Guardianship No. FEES 19-0014-G. Notice is hereby given TO ALL PERSONS INpursuant to Texas Local TERESTED IN THE ABOVE Government Code, ChapESTATE: ter 395 that the Board of WHEREAS, on the 18th Directors of the County Line day of December, 2019, in Special Utility District will the County Court at Law hold a public hearing at its No. 3 of Hays County, Texas, the undersigned duly regular meeting, open to the public, on Monday, April 20, qualified as the Guardian of 2020, at 6:30 p.m., located the Estate of James Coleman Moore, an Incapacitat- at the County Line Special Utility District Office, 8870 ed Person. Camino Real, Uhland, Texas Notice is hereby given 78640. The purpose of the Public Notice that Letters of Guardianship hearing is to consider the on this estate were granted adoption of a wastewater Notice of Public Hearing and this is to notify all perimpact fee. The amount of sons having claims against NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO ALL said estate to present same the proposed impact fee per service unit for the County PERSONS, THAT: to INTERESTED the undersigned within Line Special Utility Disthe time and in the manner trict’s wastewater system prescribed by law. Any peris $1,250.00. The City to ofsaid Kyle shall service hold aarea public hearing son indebted estate Any member of the public is hereby notified to pay on a request by Deersa,has LLC. (Z-20-0054) to the right to appear at same to the undersigned. the hearing and present rezone approximately 0.023 acres of land Laura Moore Breaux, evidence for or against the Guardian the EstateService of from ofRetail District ‘RS’ plan and proposed fee. to James Coleman Moore, an
Telecommunication/Utility ‘T/U’ for property located at 23100 IH-35, in Hays County, Texas. Public Notice Notice of Public Hearing
The Council consider, assigning NoticeCity is hereby Given tomay all interested persons, that: any zoning district which is equivalent or The City of Kyle shall hold a public hearing on a remore restrictive. quest by Deersa, LLC. (Z-20-0054) to rezone approximately 0.023 acres of land from Retail Service District ‘RS’ to Telecommunication/Utility ‘T/U’by for property A public hearing will be held the Kyle located at 23100 IH-35, in Hays County, Texas. City Council on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at
7:00 P.M. The City Council may consider, assigning any zoning
district which is equivalent or more restrictive. A public hearing be held by the Kyle City Council Kyle City Hallwill Council Chambers on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at 7:00 P.M.
100 W Center St., Kyle, Texas Kyle City Hall Council Chambers 100 W Center St., Kyle, Texas Owner: Deersa, LLC.
Owner: Deersa, Agent: HugoLLC. Elizondo, Jr. Agent: Hugo Elizondo, Jr. Cuatro Consultants Cuatro Consultants (512) 312-5040 (512) 312-5040
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Publication Date: March 18, 2020 Publication Date: March 18, 2020 Z-20-0054 Z-20-0054
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
Pursuant to Chapter 59 of the Texas Property Code, TJO 10 X 10 Management, Ltd Managing properties listed below will hold a public auction of property being sold to satisfy a landlord’s lien. The sale will begin on or about the time indicated at www.selfstorageauction. com. Property will be sold to highest bidder for cash. Deposit for removal and cleanup may be temporarily required. Seller reserves the right to reject any bid and to withdraw property from sale. Property may be sold by the space. Property being sold includes contents in spaces of following tenants, with brief description of contents in each space. Wednesday, April 8, 2020 12:00 pm at Kyle Premiere Storage, 19580 IH 35, Kyle, TX 78640. www.SelfStorageAuction.com
Devon Brown: misc. items. Reyna Rodriguez misc. items. Sean Rowley: misc. items.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE is hereby given that original Letters of Guardianship for the Estate of Herbert Kenneth Acord, an Incapacitated Person, were issued on 11th day of March, 2020, in Cause No. 19-0024-G, pending in the County Court of Hays County, Texas, to: Lisa Acord Holzgrafe. The notice to the Permanent Guardian of the Estate with Full Authority may be delivered at the following address: c/o Barnes Lipscomb Stewart & Ott PLLC Attorneys at Law Rollingwood Center 2500 Bee Cave Road Building II, Suite 150 Austin, Texas 78746
CITY OF BUDA Buda, TX IFB 20-005 Sportsplex Wastewater Line Upsize Project ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed Bids, pursuant to Local Government Code Chapter 252, will be received for the Sportsplex Wastewater Line Upsize Project by the City of Buda - Finance Department, 405 E. Loop Street, Buda, Texas until 2:00 PM local time on April 16, 2020. Immediately thereafter, the bid proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud in the Multi-Purpose Room 1034 within Buda City Hall located at 405 E. Loop Street, Building 100, Buda, Texas. The project includes replacement of an existing 8-inch PVC Wastewater Line with a 12-inch PVC wastewater line, installation of manholes, utility adjustments, bypass pumping, traffic control, erosion and sediment control, and site restoration. Bids will be received for a single prime Contract. Bids shall be on a lump sum and unit price basis, with additive alternate bid items (if any) as indicated in the Bid Form. The Issuing Office for this Solicitation is the City of Buda - Finance Department, 405 E. Loop Street, Building 100, Buda, Texas 78610, Attn: Rosemary Esparza, Purchasing Manager; purchasing@ci.buda.tx.us. Prospective Bidders may examine the Bid Documents at the Issuing Office, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or copies of the Bidding Documents may be obtained from the Procurement Website as described below. Bid Documents may be viewed and accessed online through the Procurement Website as described at http:// ci.buda.tx.us/137/Purchasing. The City of Buda has partnered with BidNet as part of the Texas Purchasing Group and also posts bid opportunities to this site. The documents are made available for the sole purpose of obtaining Bids for completion of the Project and permission to download does not confer a license or grant permission or authorization for any other use. Authorization to download documents includes the right for Bidders to print documents for their sole use, provided they pay all costs associated with printing or reproduction. Printed documents may not be re-sold under any circumstances. All official notifications, addenda, and other documents will be offered only through the Procurement Website. The Procurement Website may be updated periodically with Addenda, meeting summaries, reports, or other information relevant to submitting a Bid for the Project. The cost of printed Bidding Documents from the Procurement Website will depend on the number and size of the Drawings and Project Manual, and method selected by the prospective Bidder. Any cost associated with accessing the Bid Documents is non-refundable. Upon Issuing Office's receipt of payment, printed Bidding Documents will be sent via the prospective Bidder's delivery method of choice; the shipping charge will depend on the shipping method chosen. The date that the Bidding Documents are transmitted by the Issuing Office will be considered the Bidder's date of receipt of the Bidding Documents Bid security shall be furnished in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders. Owner: City of Buda By: John Nett, PE Title: City Engineer Date: March 6, 2020
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law. Dated the 12th day of March, 2020. /s/ Ellen P. Stewart Ellen P. Stewart Attorney for Guardian of the Estate
PUBLIC SALE
Notice of Public Sale of property to satisfy landlord’s lien. Sale to be held at online at www.storagetreasures. com by competitive bid. Faciltiy is located at: 880 Windy Hill Rd. Kyle, TX 78640
Bidding will open 04/01/2020 at 11 a.m. and conclude 04/14/2020 at 11 a.m. Cleanup deposit is required. Seller reserves the right to withdraw the property at any time before the sale. Unit sold as-is to highest bidder. Property includes the contents of self-storage space of the following tenant: Abraham Muskyoka – (3) MAZDA sports cars. VINs: SA22C-564512, SA22C-625428, and SA22C-546203 Joni Bell – (1) BMW COUPE. VIN: WBAWB73558P156636
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING OFFICES, MEETING PLACES AND REGULAR MEETING TIMES STATE OF TEXAS § COUNTY OF HAYS SOUTH BUDA WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 1
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SOUTH BUDA WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 1 THAT: 1. The following is hereby designated as a regular office for conducting the business of the District and maintaining the records of the District: Willatt & Flickinger, PLLC 12912 Hill Country Boulevard, Suite F-232 Austin, Texas 78738
2. The following are hereby designated as places for conducting the meetings of the Board of Directors, they are declared to be public places, and the public is invited to attend any meeting of the Board: Gray Engineering, Inc. 8834 North Capital of Texas Highway, Suite 140 Austin, Texas 78759 AWR Services, Inc. 500 Capital of Texas Hwy. North Building 1, Suite 125 Austin, Texas 78746
Willatt & Flickinger, PLLC 12912 Hill Country Boulevard, Suite F-232 Austin, Texas 78738 3. The Board will hold a regular monthly meeting at 12:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month, the meeting to be held at 8834 North Capital of Texas Highway, Suite 140, Austin, Texas 78759, or such other place as may be designated by the President. 4. The Board of Directors has decided to meet at its regular meeting time and location at Gray Engineering, Inc., 8834 North Capital of Texas Highway, Suite 140, Austin, Texas 78759 for the following reasons:
a. There is no suitable enclosed meeting place within the District and the Board of Directors deems meeting in a residence within the District as not practical. b. Currently, the District is saving money by not having the consultants and the Board travel out to the District or to a location within 10-miles of the District.
5. A true copy of this Resolution shall be filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the District. ADOPTED this 12th day of March, 2020. /s/ Marvin B. Morgan, President ATTEST: /s/ Dante Angelini, Secretary
NEWS
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Hays Free Press • March 18, 2020
Assisted Living Continued from pg. 4
nity spread, local assisted living centers made the tough decision to stop allowing nonmedical visitors into the community. Community administration is instead urging residents and their families to employ technologies such as Skype or FaceTime to keep in direct touch, even though they are aware of the possible hardships that might present. Physicians, nurse practitioners, home health and hospice providers will still be granted access, and will undergo a travel screening, symptoms screening, and have their temperature checked prior to being allowed inside the community. If there are extenuating circumstances in which a family member needs to visit a loved one, the executive director should be contacted. Additionally, all community events have been cancelled for March and April. The Hays Free Press has not been able to contact corporate and learn more about what will happen if the resident has a high fever. The CDC encourages
family members of older adults, prone to the virus, to know what kind of medications your loved one needs and help them get extra supplies on hand, and to stock up on medical supplies such as oxygen, and items relating to incontinence, dialysis and wound care. The following statement was issued by Deer Creek of Wimberley: “We have been closely monitoring the situation and have reviewed the latest information provided by the Centers for Disease Control, the American Health Care Association, local health departments, and the Society for Post-Acute and Long Term Care Medicine. “We are using those protocols and the latest-available information to develop education and tools for the Centers related to the Coronavirus or COVID 19. We are screening our vendors and staff to be sure that they are safe to be in the Centers. “Furthermore, we are keeping in regular contact with our suppliers and vendors, as well as our pharmacy providers.”
Buda Cancellations Continued from pg. 1
The city has also created a website page with prevention tips and information on the coronavirus at https://www.ci.buda. tx.us/coronavirusinformation. The page will be updated with the latest information from the Hays County Health Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Texas Department of State Health Services, and the World Health Organization. Residents are also reminded that there are several ways to conduct City business online:
Pay Utility Bills or Citations (Municipal Court): https://www.municipalonlinepayments.com/ budatx Stream City Council Meetings and Other Board/Commission Meetings: https://www.ci.buda. tx.us/390/Council-BoardCommission-Meetings--VIEW Buda Public Library Electronic Resources: https://buda.biblionix. com/catalog/ Park/Softball/Soccer Field Rentals: https:// www.ci.buda.tx.us/154/ Renting-a-Buda-Park
These are unprecedented times. The World Health Organization has declared coronavirus a pandemic and multiple states and areas have made emergency or disaster declarations. First Lockhart National Bank is taking prudent steps to ensure our continued delivery of excellent banking services while keeping our Team members and valued customers as safe as possible. First Lockhart National Bank has made the decision to close all bank lobbies indefinitely effective March 16, 2020. We will continue to operate and serve our customers in our drive thru locations and through our online banking services. The drive through location’s hours will now be Monday through Friday 7:30am to 6:00pm and Saturday 8:30am-12:00pm to help better serve our customers. San Marcos drive through hours will remain the same, Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm. To access your safe deposit box, an appointment can be scheduled ahead of time by contacting a Banker at 512.398.3416. We would like to remind you that our state-of-the-art banking technology makes almost all your banking needs possible electronically. Our banking services that are available electronically include online and mobile banking where you can set up bill payments, funds transfer, mobile check deposit, stop payments, reorder checks, update your mailing address, send customer service a secure message for any inquiry and view account statements. On www.firstlockhart.com you can open and fund accounts as well as apply for a loan. If you are unfamiliar with the banking technology that we provide or need a refresher course on how to access these resources, please call us. We will provide updates to our COVID-19 response on our Facebook page, our website and by email as changing circumstances warrant. If you have any questions about this letter, please call me on my direct line at 512-6209139. If you have any questions about how you can handle your banking needs remotely, please call us at 512-398-3416. Sincerely,
Mark Sheffield President/CEO Austin 319 W Slaughter Ln Austin, TX 78748
Kyle 800 West FM 150 Kyle, TX 78640
Margaret Dailey Chairman of the Board Lockhart 111 S Main St Lockhart, TX 78644
San Marcos 2507 Hunter Rd San Marcos, TX 78666