June 10, 2020 Hays Free Press by Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch

JUNE 10, 2020 WE’RE NOT DONE

HCISD BUDGET

Hays High alumnus experienced racism growing up, wishes better for community.

School board irons out $247,789,473 school budget.

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Hays Free Press © Barton Publications, Inc.

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Vol. 126 • No. 10

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Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX

County leaders condemed for sharing racist Facebook posts

Head of Hays CISD influenced by George Floyd’s daughter BY ANITA MILLER The gut-wrenching image of George Floyd as his life drained away under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer sent shock waves around the world. But for many, the reaction of his six-year-old daughter Gianna–“Daddy changed the world” – was equally impactful because it addressed the future. Hays CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright was among those struck by the little girl’s words. Wright released a statement to the public last week (it is printed in full on Page 3). In it, he promises the establishment of a Diversity Advisory Council to guide the district through this troubled time. “Over the course of

Hays County protests

BY PATRICK SVITEK THE TEXAS TRIBUNE

PHOTO BY ANITA MILLER

COUNCIL ON DIVERSITY, 2

IDing clusters

What you need to know about contact tracing BY SAHAR CHMAIS Hays County’s health department has been doing contact tracing since it found its first coronavirus-infected patient, and this method has helped the department hold down the spread of COVID-19 in several instances. “It has helped us to identify a couple of clusters that were linked back to people who tested positive and were asymptom-

CONTACT TRACING, 12

Republican leaders in five Texas counties shared racist Facebook posts, some of which also floated conspiracy theories, leading Gov. Greg Abbott to call for two of them to resign. Abbott and other top Texas Republicans called for the resignation of the GOP chairs in Bexar and Nueces counties after they shared on social media a conspiracy theory that Floyd’s death was a “staged event,” apparently to gin up opposition to President Donald Trump. There is no evidence to support that claim; Floyd, a black Minnesota man, died last week after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. “These comments are disgusting and have no

RACISTS POSTS, 12

PHOTO BY CHASE ROGERS

PHOTO BY ANITA MILLER

Hays High School students including Megan Desu (left in top photo) lined Main Street in Buda on Saturday in a show of support for nationwide demonstrations against police brutality. Similar gatherings have been held in Kyle and San Marcos over the course of the past week.

When life gives them Corona, newlyweds-to-be make lemonade

opening up their doors but have not yet hosted

CORONA WEDDINGS, 10

BURLESON ST. SNAG, 2

PHOTO BY KATHLYN DRAGNA

Dani Braun and her fiancé Patrick Sherek make the most of their wedding celebration by doing a social distancing photo shoot and sharing photos with friends and family.

dings look like and how do venues social distance these highly sociable events?

SPORTS

Soccer athletes earn post-season honors.

– Page 6

The News-Dispatch heard from two wedding venues in Dripping Springs which are

BY ANITA MILLER When voters approved Kyle’s $35 million road bond election in 2013, they were long past ready for improvements to Burleson Street. Especially for those shy of Interstate 35, Burleson affords an alternative north-south corridor. But it hasn’t been open in almost two years and the population of Kyle has grown considerably during that time. Seven years after that bond election the project, which has been fraught by issues including weather, may still be on tap for completion around the original projected time. That said, the required documentation surrounding the latest snag is a traffic jam all its own. Because the project involves crossing a Union Pacific Railroad line, it basically means going by the railroad’s rules. And the very specialized work

BY SAHAR CHMAIS Couples plan for their wedding day more than a year in advance. And they pay thousands of dollars and spend countless hours organizing little details of their special day. Hundreds of these large emotional and financial investments have been skewed by the coronavirus in Dripping Springs, the self-proclaimed “Wedding Capital of Texas.” Wedding venues are able to resume their work at 25 percent indoor capacity (and no outdoor limitations). Couples who already postponed their plans will not receive the wedding they originally had in mind, so there is the question of what will these wed-

Latest Burleson Street snag due to railroad crossing

Hays Free Press Barton Publications, Inc. 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

NEWS

Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch • June 10, 2020

Hays County COVID-19 Statistics • as of June 9

Hays County OKs military surplus for Pct. 4 Constable

40 40 Female Male

30 30 20 20 10 10 00

200

0-9 yrs 0-9 yrs

10-19 yrs 20-29 yrs 30-39 yrs 40-49 yrs 50-59 yrs 60-69 yrs 70-79 70-79yrs. yrs >>80 yrs 10-19 yrs. 20-29 yrs. 30-39 yrs. 40-49 yrs. 50-59 yrs. 60-69 yrs. 80 yrs.

500

Added cases

450

Confirmed cases

180 450

400

165165167 160

Total deaths

160

350

Total hospitalizations

350

Current hospitalizations

300

140 135 125127 121 117 109 103

9-Jun

7-Jun

Niederwald Niederwald Mountain MountainCity City Kyle Kyle Hays Hays Dripping Drip. Springs Springs Driftwood Driftwood Buda Buda Bear Bear Creek Creek

40 40

50 50

60 60

Council on Diversity Continued from pg. 1

Upcoming Road Closures One-day detour in downtown Buda June 11

ments. Traffic will be rerouted to Sequoyah Street. Railroad Street and Cedar Street will remain open to local traffic only.

There will be a detour through downtown Buda this week so Union Pacific Railroad can inspect and replace railroad ties and rails. The crossing at Main Street and Garison Road will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 11. The railroad said the work is routine maintenance and “plays a major role” in preventing derail-

Construction to close part of Mathias Lane through end of this week The southern end of Mathias Lane in Kyle will be closed to through traffic from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

through Friday, June 12. The office of Pct. 2 Commissioner Mark Jones announced the closure, which is required by J.L. Gray Construction for work along the right-ofway as they continue work for Trails at Windy Hill subdivision. The location is approximately 1,500 feet east of Windy Hill Road and only about 400 feet. Jones’ office said the company apologized for the late notice and said it will do a better job of notification in the future. Warning signs and flaggers are in place for the duration of the closure.

Burleson St. Snag: Due to railroad crossing Continued from pg. 1

of boring under a rail line requires a very experienced but relatively rare type of contractor. It takes “several months” for paperwork submitted by contractors to be processed, Project Engineer JoAnn Garcia said. The contractor selected for the bore submitted documents in the fall of last year, and has since been forced to take other jobs to keep employees on the payroll. “He should have started about a month and a half ago,” Garcia said. “Now he has to finish the jobs he started. We’re on his schedule,” she said, once those other obliga-

tions have been met. If a new contractor were selected, Garcia said they would have to start the whole process over, something that’s complicated since UPRR recently changed its own processes. City Engineer Leon Barba, however, had a different take. In his brief to the city council June 2, Barba acknowledged the situation and said the city may look at a different contractor because of the delay. Overall, he said the Burleson Street Project is 83 percent complete and a French drain is currently being installed to alleviate

“distress” along parts of the road due to groundwater. The project’s completion date is August of this year. Garcia said Burleson is a “major collector” with an average daily traffic of about 8,000 vehicles. The project will widen Burleson Street to 38 feet as it connects to the Interstate 35 southbound access road. In all, it encompasses 7,500 linear feet of roadway. Actual boring is estimated to take three to four weeks. After that is done, an additional three to four weeks will be required for paving.

several days I was moved by a lot of the things that I heard,” Wright told the Hays Free Press. “I felt like it was time for us to come up with solutions, to make sure we’re not perpetuating something that’s not in the best interest of our kids.” To be clear, the district has demonstrated such a willingness before. The school’s mascot is the Rebel, and although that has now been broadened, for decades it was specific to the cause of the South in the Civil War, complete with the prominent display of the Confederate flag and “Dixie” as the fight song. That happened incrementally. In 2000, the flag emblem was removed from football and band uniforms but not the dress code, meaning students could still display it on clothing and otherwise. That changed in 2012, and in 2015, the district dropped the fight song following the mass shooting at the Emanual African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. A statement released by the district at that time read in part: The district believes removing the confederate flag and “Dixie” divorces all symbols of the confederacy from the campus and returns the school to its original starting-point – a rebel culture free from historically negative associations. Rebels are people who have the courage to fight for their beliefs and the independence and integrity to bring about social change. History is full of rebels including the patriots who rose

“Over the course of several days I was moved by a lot of the things that I heard. I felt like it was time for us to come up with solutions, to make sure we’re not perpetuating something that’s not in the best interest of our kids.” –Eric Wright, Hays CISD Superintendent

up against a tyrannical British Crown to form our country, the Texans who fought to form a republic, and a host of other movements and individuals who have challenged the status quo and changed the world. “I think it was a good decision,” said Wright, who was not affiliated with the district at the time. Wright said he intends to use this summer to redefine his concept of the Diversity Advisory Council in order to better represent the district’s students. Currently, the Hays CISD is 64 percent Hispanic, 30 percent white, 3 percent black, 1 percent Asian and 2 percent one or more races. He believes an understanding of diversity should be instilled in students from an early age. “No kid really has a bias against each other when they start school,” he said, and for that reason, diversity should be addressed as early as Pre-K. “Most kids don’t notice any difference” until it is pointed out to them, at home or elsewhere. “We need to analyze everything that we do from the time they enter as a Pre-K kid. We need to make sure we are

accounting for diversity, for different schools of thought.” He said his focus for now is on learning. “Really what I want to do is listen to the people who are going to be on the Council,” which he thinks will “impact everything we do from curriculum to advisement to career pathways – there are so many things we do we may not be aware of because we’ve been doing them for so long. Our current system and practices, are the the best for all kids? I really think it will lead to solid conversations about a lot of different issues.” Wright said he “wants to come up with solutions,” even for problems not on his radar. If there are things I already knew I would. Have tried to solve those.” He believes other area school districts may take similar action. “One of the positive things that COVID-19 has spurred is that superintendents have had opportunities to collaborate” as they faced an unprecedented situation. He hope his statement and Diversity Advisory Council will be something else districts can collaborate on one by one, like dominos falling.

3-May

5 1 2-May

1-May

30-Apr

29-Apr

28-Apr

26-Apr

45 5 55 5 52 1 1 1 10 1

San SanMarcos Marcos

Austin* Austin

27-Apr

5-Jun

3-Jun

1-Jun

14 15 15 16 16

65 6 5

22-Apr

21-Apr

20-Apr

19-Apr

17-Apr

16-Apr

14-Apr

12 14

4 1

68 67 3434

85 65 65 64 5 69 5

59 3 5 4 3

3234343434 24

13-Apr

25-Apr

32 29

30-May

24-May

22-May

20-May

18-May

16-May

14-May

12 14 14 14 14 10 10 8 8 6 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 1 2 4 1 1 12 1 1 0 1 1 1

12-Apr

8-May

12-May

11-Apr

8-Apr

7-Apr

2828

168 161164 160 152

23-Apr

68 67 70 69

28-May

144 129 115

9-Apr

6-Apr

10-May

6-May

10-Apr

2-May

30-Apr

28-Apr

26-Apr

24-Apr

0 0 02 0

5-Apr

4-Apr

3-Apr

2-Apr

1-Apr

31-Mar

Total 7

9297 8081

109

262728 28 54 202020 2020 2324 25 1819 16 14 12 12 8 64 2 77 12 63 68 3 6 59 1 53 3 44 2 41 2 45 35 35 3 450 43 2 3 1 11

41 43 43

Active

0 02 0 0

30-Mar

28-Mar

22-Apr

20-Apr

16-Apr

14-Apr

18-Apr

27-Mar

26-Mar

25-Mar

02 02 02

29-Mar

8-Apr

12-Apr

6-Apr

4-Apr

2-Apr

10-Apr

24 16 18

13 9 11 23-Mar

22-Mar

Uhland Uhland

21-Mar

6 01

20-Mar

1 01

19-Mar

Wimberley Wimberley 5 3

7 01

24-Mar

31-Mar

27-Mar

25-Mar

23-Mar

21-Mar

19-Mar

17-Mar

Woodcreek Woodcreek

13-Mar

13 6 7 911 3 02 5 02 01 01 02 02 02

18-Mar

13-Mar

01 01

77767273 6769 7274 6567

59 2832 34 54 16 161810 151616 141414 14 14 1415 1010 10 8 12 7 7 58 1 55 1 50 1 52 44 1 44 1 42 1 48 1 45 1 47 45 1 26 1 21 1 03 02 0 04 02 0 05 02 0 05 0 14 1 1 47

29-Mar

50 50

91 7881 6867

7681 75 65 6568677069 54 58 5059 43 43 41

4-May

100 100

17-Mar

18-Apr

150 150

210 203

26-May

200 200 100

24-Apr

250

120 250

152

147

15-Apr

140

Active cases

400

Thursday Road Closure

210

50 50

16-Mar

happening on our country today … When such equipment is used for law enforcement, what does that mean for the community?” She continued, “Images of weapons of war are pretty horrific, especially right now.” Fitzpatrick also referenced legislation pending in Congress that would “substantially limit” use of the program. “Is Hays County going to ignore that?” She also recalled public outcry when military weaponry was used by police in Ferguson, Missouri during riots that followed the fatal shooting by police of Michael Brown. In the wake of Ferguson, which Fitzpatrick called “an unmitigated disaster,” President Barak Obama scaled the program back. It was reinstated by Donald Trump in 2017.

Currently hospitalized

60 60

–Ron Hood, Pct. 4 Constable

allowed for more people to have been moved out of harm’s way. “There’s a substantial need in law enforcement for this equipment,” Hood told the court. “This is a great program for the county. Used right, this is a huge benefit.” Smith called the program “a good investment for the county and cost effective for taxpayers,” adding that the equipment acquired comes at literally “pnnies on th dollar.’ Prior to the vote, former Assistant Hays County District Attorney and League of Women Voters representative Shannon Fitzpatrick argued against the approval, especially in light of the protests against police brutality that are sweeping the nation. “This action is completely tone deaf,” she said, “considering what is

Active Cases

70 70

15-Mar

The Hays County Commissioners Court on Tuesday authorized Pct. 4 Constable Ron Hood to continue to receive surplus military equipment under a controversial program now before Congress. The 1033 program was begun in the wake of 9/11 and was originally intended to give local law enforcement the ability to respond to terrorist attacks. It has been in use by many agencies in Hays County in recent years and notably, an MRAP acquired under the program has been used by the San Marcos Police Department for evacuations during floods. Hood and Walt Smith, commissioners for Pct. 4, argued that they only intend to procure medical and first aid supplies including personal protective equipment (PPE) for use in training. The vote to approve was unanimous. Both men referred to the deadly flash flood that swamped much of Dripping Springs in May 2019, however, noting that a similar vehicle would have

Deaths

465

“There’s a substantial need in law enforcement for this equipment. This is a great program for the county. Used right, this is a huge benefit.”

15-Mar

BY ANITA MILLER

Confirmed cases

14-Mar

Page 2

Opinion

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Silence on the matter is no longer acceptable, because it is tantamount to complicity.” –Eric Wright, Hays CISD Superintendent. Pg. 3

Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch • June 10, 2020

Page 3

A MESSAGE FROM HAYS CISD SUPERINTENDENT DR. ERIC WRIGHT

Together, we are stronger Guest Letter by Dr. Eric Wright

Dear Hays CISD Family, Nine days ago, nearly nine heartbreaking minutes were captured on video. In those minutes, George Floyd was murdered. Today, all four of those responsible were finally criminally charged. Mr. Floyd’s murder has opened, yet again, a suffering in America that continues to wound our collective soul. Following the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his close confidant and Civil Rights Movement icon in his own right, former Atlanta Mayor and UN Ambassador Andrew Young, has said, “We were never concerned with who killed Martin Luther King, but what killed Martin Luther King” – an observation that still haunts us more than 50 years later. It is my hope and commitment that, this time, we can all do our part to unite in the cause of love and healing. Silence on the matter is no longer acceptable, because it is tantamount to complicity. Words are important, but it is action that matters most. So, today, I am announcing the creation of the Hays CISD Diversity Advisory Council. This group will be a standing committee that will include teachers, staff, parents, our partners in law enforcement, and students – all representing the different voices from our district. They will advise us on important policy and operational recommendations and decisions from the perspective of equity, social justice, fairness, understanding, and respect. We will work this summer to create the initial framework and scope of this advisory council so that it can be in place to begin accepting members when we return to school this fall. This new council is not the solution. It will not change hundreds of years of history overnight or by itself. And, it won’t have a global or national reach. It is, however, a start – a step our school district can take on this journey – something we can do right now, at home. Public education is the great equalizer that preserves and makes possible a strong democracy. We need to do all we can to ensure there is no place for hate, racism, or discrimination in Hays CISD. Our school district consists of nearly 21,000 students, twice as many parents, and some 3,000 employees. We are a rich tapestry of community with people who come from different life experiences, and who represent all colors, abilities, genders, orientations, and creeds. We, like all school districts and communities, are no strangers to past wrongs, but our hearts are pure and we remain steadfast in our desire to continue to bend the arc toward justice. Yesterday, we heard from George Floyd’s family for the first time, including his six-year-old daughter Gianna. She is the same age as some of our youngest students in Hays CISD. As the father of two daughters and two step-daughters myself, Gianna’s words struck right in the center of my heart. She said, “Daddy changed the world.” Through all of the tragedy, pain, and loss surrounding her father’s death and the deaths of so many others, it is from the eyes of a six-year-old girl that we see hope and possibility. In our own small way in Hays CISD, let us help guarantee that Gianna’s daddy does indeed leave a legacy of effecting real and lasting change. With sincerity and love, Eric Dr. Eric Wright Superintendent of Schools Hays CISD

Brave walk from bunker to Bible-op

ccentuate the positive. Donald Trump had peaceful protesters gassed, had them flashbanged and chased by mounted park rangers, to clear his path for a two-bit photo-op. But at least he didn’t take a golf cart. He didn’t have his coterie of sycophants lay palm fronds before him. He didn’t ride the Popemobile. No, pluckily negotiating the grit of a paved walking surface and the traction of Godgiven wingtips, Trump made it to St. John’s Episcopal Church. There he held a Bible to the sky, much like a stunned first-time fisher-person for whom a – whatcha call it? A carp? – had taken his hook. As my son says, “What a poser.” All I can say as a citizen is that I’m glad someone had a camera. Once again, Americans were reminded of what a venal and out-of-touch figure has infested the White House for the last 3.5 years. The day before he had been in the White House bunker so as not to feel the hot breaths of real Americans concerned

Publisher Cyndy Slovak-Barton News Editor Anita Miller Sports Editor Moses Leos III Reporters Camelia Juarez, Sahar Chmais Columnists Bartee Haile, Pauline Tom, Clint Younts Proofreaders Jane Kirkham

NEWS TIPS

If you think it’s news, we probably do too! • Newsroom phone: 512-268-7862 • E-mail: news@haysfreepress.com • Mail: 113 W. Center St., Kyle, TX 78640

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CORRECTIONS

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by John Young

about real injustices. His explanation of this was fascinating. At first he said he hadn’t been in the bunker. Then he said he was there for a tour. “Well, as you can see, Mr. President, this is a wall, and this is a wall. We have two more walls just like this. And this is the door through which you came.” At this point we can hope at minimum that Donald Trump knows where the door is. He should not be where he is. He has no concept of the job for which he applied. The job was well explained by Joe Biden the other day in a speech that showed what it means to have actual human representation at the highest levels of government. A president “has a duty to care,” said Biden. Over the last few months Trump has indicated with every word and action, “Not my job.” Not a hint of compassion about

thousands of deaths of marginalized people struggling through a pandemic. Nor about oppression that strains the lives of many people of color. He cares about the stock market. He cares about the GDP. He cares about the meat supply. He wonders if anything will save his bacon. Streets molten with rage, two Politico headlines said it in so many words: “Racial wounds rip open under a president with a history of exploiting them.” “Trump confronts a culture war of his own making.” Let’s not interpret “confronts” in this case as one might a plumber who arrives for a burst pipe. Trump has confronted this situation much like one of the ProudBoys or any provocateur who flies a Confederate flag from his pickup aerial outside a Juneteenth gathering. With his inflammatory tweets and Hitler-like threats of deploying the military against American citizens, observed Trump’s one-time secretary of defense, James Mattis (to be dittoed by ex-chief of staff John Kelley):

“Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people – does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us.” If “law and order” Republicans are concerned about people flying off the handle, they should look at their chief role model. ABC News has documented 54 instances where perpetrators invoked Trump’s name in “violent acts, threats of violence and allegations assault.” Enough media and law enforcement witnesses were outside the gates of the White House that day to know that the protests Trump quelled with horses and gas were peaceful and not the “terrorists” former White House attorney John Dowd called them. Of course, safe in his shell, Trump shared the remarks by Twitter. Oh, well. You can take the man out of the bunker, but you can’t take the bunker out of the man. Longtime Texas newspaperman John Young now lives in Colorado. jyoungcolumn@gmail.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Barton Publications, Inc. News tips: news@haysfreepress.com Opinions: csb@haysfreepress.com 113 W. Center St., Kyle, TX 78640 www.haysfreepress.com 512-268-7862

Youngat-Large

PEC District 4 Election

PEC’s District 4 has a large field of 6 candidates this year. I tried to communicate with all 6 candidates to ask a few questions. Dan Stark and Lee Leffingwell did not give an email address or phone number and were not reachable, so I could not learn more about them. After contacting and communicating with the other 4 candidates, I can recommend

DEADLINES

Travis Cox. Mr. Cox wants board transparency and open communication between members and their board representatives. He is also a proponent of fiber/broadband for rural areas needing internet service. The most reliable, secure and safe (safe from a health and environmental standpoint) way to deliver internet service is fiber optics. Also, Mr. Cox is experienced in managing contracts with large entities such as the city of Austin, etc., and we are a very large co-op.

• The deadline for display advertising and any contributed news copy is 5 p.m. Friday the week prior to publication. • The deadline for Letters to the Editor and classified word advertising is noon Monday the week of publication, though we encourage readers and advertisers to observe the Friday deadline.

Kip Averitt has past and current experience on many boards and committees including the Texas Water Foundation and the Texas Clean Energy Foundation. He also feels strongly about board transparency and member engagement (i.e. listening to and considering members ideas). Kathi Thomas is and has been very civically pro-active. Some of her interests include the environment, conservation and renewables. She is also committed to board transparency.

LETTERS GUIDELINES

Though one of Ms. Thomas’ stated goals for PEC is “high speed internet,” our group does not want our electric co-op to become an internet provider, directly or indirectly, unless by use of safe fiber optics only. I feel either Mr. Cox, Mr. Averitt or Ms.Thomas would be our best District 4 representative. Also, I do not have any personal or professional relationships with any of the 6 candidates. Early voting ends at 5 p.m. Friday, June 12. Leslie Hunt Dripping Springs

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.

Page 4

NEWS

Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch • June 10, 2020

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Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch • June 10, 2020

Page 5

Enduring racism growing up in Hays County BY SAHAR CHMAIS

being on the receiving end of racial slurs, hearing After finishing a varsity insults about his nose-size football game in his juand the n-word. He was nior year of high school, patted down by his 8th Rashaad O’Neal walked grade French teacher in into the locker room to front of the class before find a horrific scene; his an exam in fear that he teammates had hung a would cheat. After years of black doll with its neck students and sometimes in a noose on his locker. teachers separating O’NeWhen he started to look al from the bunch and around, everyone was shaming his blackness, laughing, not a single O’Neal had to become a person took O’Neal’s side. chameleon by assimilatNo, this did not occur in ing with his white counthe 1960s, this happened terparts. around 2005. This journey that O’Ne“That’s when I realized al did not want to take no one on my team had shaped him as an adolesmy back,” O’Neal said, cent and college student, vexed by his story. “I was a and a few years ago, he walking joke to them. All decided to untangle the I heard was years of ‘Rashaad, trauma and you cannot use it to “I will always take a joke.’ help those consider Kyle A joke is in a similar when both situation. my home, even parties are O’Neal though I was laughing, eventually and they born in Georgia. moved were the out of the I want what is only ones sports laughing.” journalism best; I want O’Neal’s field and Hays County was not became the an isolatLeadership to stop living ed case Developin the 50s and of racism ment Coorat Jack C. dinator for 60s, they are Hays High Washingstill light years School, ton State which has a behind of where School two percent Directors they need to black-stuAssociation. dent His end be. I want the population. goal is to be community I Living in a commuKyle benication grew up in to tween 1997 director for get with the to 2006, a school O’Neal district to times.” often found help with himself student –Rashaad O’Neal, left out; his inequity Hays High School family was issues. Alumna the only Before black famhe was able ily on his street, and he to feel comfortable in his recalled that there might skin, though, O’Neal’s have been a couple of reaction was to alter his other black families in his identity during his youth neighborhood. and young adult years. O’Neal’s bouts with rac“There were days where ism did not end at people I felt not proud to be black egging and paintballing because of what I went his home, constantly through,” O’Neal said.

Hays alumnus Rashaad O’Neal became Leadership Development Coordinator for Washington State School Directors Association. His end goal is to be a communication director for a school district to help with student inequity issues.

“Everyone that put me through that stuff made me feel like it was bad to be black. I had to talk, look and act like white people.” When O’Neal moved to San Angelo for university, he was able to mingle with more black people and they were questioning why he “acted white.” In a way, O’Neal’s identity has been split between two cultures without knowing where exactly he fit in. As an adult, O’Neal said he does not hear a lot of racism, but he knows a lot of black kids and teens living in majority-white communities receive this treatment. School districts in predominantly white communities, like Hays County, do not have a lot of equity, O’Neal said. In turn, when these students see black people, they are generally in the media in rap songs and videos, where they develop a sense of what black people are supposed to act like. But the representation issue is far beyond the current media industry; O’Neal spoke out about the way history is being taught to grade-school students and how it is a white-washed narrative.

PHOTO BY MOTHERS OF BLACK LIVES MATTER

Stop the silence, stop the violence

Kyle City Council member Dex Ellison visited with people protesting police brutality outside Kyle Police headquarters in top photo. Bottom left, more Kyle protestors. Bottom right, some of the estimated 135 people who demonstrated in Kyle.

For example, when white people are asked to think of a revolutionary representative for the black community, they envision Martin Luther King Jr. Rosa Parks gets a mention in a page, maybe two, but it always goes back to the peaceful protests, making it seem like Martin Luther King Jr. did not endure hate and racism. In fact, he was one of the most hated people in America, O’Neal explained. And during the protests that began last week, many people are sharing Martin Luther King Jr.’s quotes on peace, but that is cherry-picking. Not all of his quotes allude to standing peacefully in the face of injustice, it is only plan A. “And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard,” a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. “And what is it America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice and

humanity.” Seeing the whitewashing of history strengthens O’Neal’s belief that history is repeating itself. He gave an example about his grandmother, born in 1948, who said during the 1960s people would tell her that at least slavery is abolished, as if that change was enough to accept this as a bar for the bare minimum. “A lot of people think when things started to desegregate in the 70s, a lot of white people in my age range and a little older think racism just went away,” O’Neal said. “That goes back to the bare minimum. We need to be taught that white people had a huge advantage and it was very imbalanced racially at the time and not a lot has been addressed to fix it. When you think about it, we have barely moved the needle since Martin Luther King Jr. died.” These realizations take time to absorb, and it took O’Neal a long time to speak up about his experiences. A couple of years ago, O’Neal went to a therapist to unravel his trauma; he suggests that students of color going through these issues speak up and see a therapist early on in their lives. Then after seeing the protests, O’Neal, with his hand on his heart, afraid of people’s reactions, posted a snippet of his experience in Hays County on the Hays CISD Community Facebook page. People’s reactions were welcoming and supportive, which shocked O’Neal, but Hays County has grown in the last 14 years. Many who commented are people he has never seen before. Thereapy can help those affected by racism, but another part of the solution is letting people know where their community is faltering, having the uncomfortable conversa-

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tions that pop the bubble, O’Neal said. He also highlights the importance of representation – from fourth grade until graduation, O’Neal occasionally saw black teachers but never had one, and this is one example where Hays County lacks in representation. Fixing representation in the school system would ultimately begin with recruiting more teachers and administrators of color which will make a huge difference in the district’s equity, he added. O’Neal wants the community to know where the disadvantages lie because he loves Hays County and has not ruled out coming back if his dream position opens up. “I will always consider Kyle my home,” O’Neal said, “even though I was born in Georgia. I want what is best; I want Hays County to stop living in the 50s and 60s. They are still light years behind of where they need to be. I want the community I grew up in to get with the times.”

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Page 6

Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch • June 10, 2020

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Left, Dripping Springs Lady Tiger junior Sofia Piccuci (15) works the ball toward the goal with a McCallum Knight player closing in during a game played in mid-February. Piccuci was one of eight total Tiger soccer players who were named as either All-Region or All-State (photo by Albert Sanchez). Middle, Dripping Springs Tiger Adam Knutson (2) is joined by teammate Kay Anthamatten as they celebrated a goal scored in the team’s Jan. 28 district opening match against Crockett at Tiger Stadium. Knutson was one of a handful of Tiger soccer players who earned either All-Region or All-State honors (photo by Wayland D. Clark). Right, Dripping Springs Tiger senior forward Juan Galindo gets a header for the third score of the team’s Feb. 14 match against Austin Northeast High at Tiger Stadium. Galindo was one of two Tiger boys soccer players who received All-State honors late last month (photo by Albert Sanchez).

Tiger soccer players earn postseason honors Player in 2020. In addition, BY MOSES LEOS III Lady Tiger assistant coach Individual accolades Kim Harlow was named for Dripping Springs Tiger as an All-Region IV, 5A soccer continued to roll in assistant coach. last month after eight total Dripping Springs girls athletes and two coaches program finished the earned All-State or All-Re- regular season with a 21-1 gion honors. overall record and clinched Four Dripping Springs the 25-5A crown with a Lady Tiger athletes were 14-0 mark before the seaselected to the list, three of son ended in mid-March. whom were named as AllMeanwhile, four players State athletes by the Texas on the Tiger boys soccer Association of Soccer team were selected by Coaches (TASCO). That in- TASCO, with three players cluded Emma Jones, who named as All-State. Tiger was named as the Dissenior goalkeeper Desi trict 25-5A Most Valuable de la Cruz, who earned

Dripping Springs selections to the Region IV, 5A team GIRLS

BOYS

Honorable Mention All-State Emma Jones – defender Elizabeth Jones – goalkeeper

Honorable Mention All-State Adam Knutson – midfielder

Second Team All-State Sofia Picucci – forward

Tiger boys head soccer coach Josh Hill was also named as an All-Region IV, 5A coach. Dripping Springs boys

soccer team finished 2020 with a 22-3 overall record and clinched the 25-5A district title with a 14-0 mark.

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Lady Lobo soccer earns first team All-Region BY MOSES LEOS III Continuing a year of success for Lehman Lady Lobo soccer, sophomore forward Hannah Loya last month accomplished a feat none of her predecessors could. In May, Loya was named as a first-team selection to the Region IV, 6A Texas Association of Soccer Coaches (TASCO) All-Region team. Loya becomes the first Lady Lobo player in program history to earn all-region honors. Region IV in Class 6A consists of programs in Central Texas, San Antonio and far south Texas. Loya earned the accolade after a whirlwind 2020 campaign where she tallied 21 total goals, playing a vital role in helping the Lady Lobos secure the program’s first playoff berth in six seasons. Loya earned the district’s Golden Boot award for the most goals scored in district play and was a first-team All 25-6A selection.

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Second Team All-Region Taylor Waters – midfielder

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the 25-5A Golden Glove award for best goaltender, was one of three all-state selections for the Tiger boys team.

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Lehman High sophomore forward Hannah Loya (10) utilizes an arm bar to keep an Ann Richards defender from acquiring possession of the ball during a February 2020 district game. Late last month, Loya was named to the Region IV, 6A All-Region team, becoming the first Lady Lobo soccer player to earn the accolade (photo by Moses Leos III).

See Solution on 7

Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch • June 10, 2020

Page 7

OBITUARIES BURNS

by his first wife, Earline Burns, daughter and Louis son-in-law, Cherilyn and Porter Joe Wilson of Lexington, Burns, son and daughter-in91, longlaw, Randy and Sherry time Buda Burns, of Thorndale, and resident, daughter and son-indied on law, Melissa and Mike June 8, 2020. He was Blair, of Odem, and born on Feb. 17,1929 sister-in-law, Vera Burns, to William George and grandchildren, Kristi Altah (Pfeiffer) Burns, Vance, Kelly Vaughn, of Buda, and graduated Kathryn Redden, from Buda High School Kimberly Bohac, Juston in May 1947. Wilson and Jessica Burns, He married Earline 17 great-grandchildren Bricker on Nov. 2, 1947 plus nieces, nephews, and they were married great-nieces and great12 years. They had two nephews. children, Cherilyn and Louis was an active Randy. During this time, member at First Baptist he worked for the city of Church of Buda for many Austin Electric Dept. and years, where he served then for Southwestern on several committees, Bell Telephone Company, including the building where he worked for 35 committee. years before retiring. (Masks encouraged) He married Edna Visitation will be held at Dell Hickerson on Feb. 10 a.m. and a Celebration 10, 1961 and they were of Life at 11 a.m. on June married for 52 years, and 13 at the First Baptist had a daughter, Melissa. Church – Buda. He was preceded in Memorials can be death by his parents, two made to the First Baptist siblings, Betty Francis Church Buda, Building Culver and Billy George Fund. Burns, and wife Dell The Celebration of Burns. Life will be live streamed Louis was a loving on Facebook. Go to the husband, father, www.fbcbuda.com and grandfather, greatat the bottom of the page grandfather, uncle, click on the Facebook icon. great-uncle and friend to many. He is survived

DAVIS Max Thomas Davis, Jr., aka Tom Davis, of Buda, died on March 30, 2020 in Kyle. He was born on Oct. 11, 1936 to Max Thomas Davis, Sr. and Mary Meleese Greer Davis in Lubbock. He was preceded in death by his parents, and late wife Teddye Jo (TJ) Bitner Davis. Tom was a loving husband, father, grandfather and greatgrandfather. He is survived by his wife, Jerri Jean Belcher Davis, daughters LeighAnn Davis (Dennis) Cox of Richardson, Robyn Penn (Douglas) Sommerville of Dearborn, MI, son, Derek Davis of Bowling Green, KY, and his sister, Suzann Brown, of Lubbock. Also surviving are five grandchildren,

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Kortney Cox, Philip Cox, Bryan Cox, Chandler Cox and Wyatt Cox, five great-grandchildren plus one due in November, and numerous nieces and nephews and by Jerri’s children, Raquel (Kevin) Keithley of Greer, SC, and Brian (Laura) Ramey of Rockford, IL, five grandchildren, one great-grandson and a soon-to-be-born greatgranddaughter. Tom was a proud graduate of the class of 1955 at Lubbock High School and a graduate of the class of 1959 at Texas A&M University. Upon graduation he honorably served in the United States Army. Tom was a professional fundraiser, having worked for the March of Dimes, Ketchum Inc., and retired in 2001 from the Order of Saint Francis Healthcare in Peoria, IL. Tom was a devout

Christian and until last year taught Bible Studies weekly at three nursing homes. Before moving to Buda in 2010 he was a former Sunday School teacher for many years at Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, IL. He was also a member of the First Baptist Church Buda, where he served as a Deacon. He loved the Lord and the church and was a great witness to others. His presence will be greatly missed but we know he is rejoicing in

heaven and experiencing no pain. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on June 20 at the First Baptist Church - Buda. Memorials can also be made to the First Baptist Church Buda, Building Fund. The Celebration of Life service will be live streamed on Facebook. Go to the www.fbcbuda. com and at the bottom of the page click on the Facebook icon.

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BAPTIST First Baptist Church-Buda 104 San Marcos St., Buda First Baptist Church-Kyle 300 W. Center St., Kyle Hays Hills Baptist Church 1401 FM 1626, Buda Sledge Chapel Missionary Baptist Church 709 Sewell, Kyle Southeast Baptist Church 5020 Turnersville Rd., Creedmoor Manchaca Baptist Church Lowden Lane & FM 1626

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St. Anthony Marie Claret Church 801 N. Burleson, Kyle St. Michael’s Catholic Church S. Old Spanish Trail, Uhland CHRISTIAN

Santa Cruz Catholic Church

1100 Main Street • Buda, Texas 78610 Office: 512-312-2520 • Fax: 512-295-2034 • santacruzcc.org Rev. David Leibham, Pastor • Fr. Rito Davila, Parochial Vicar 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)

OFFICE HOURS Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

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

Texas Crossword, from page 6

Southern Hills Church of Christ 3740 FM 967, Buda

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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Completed & Perfected Faith Church Tobias Elementary Cafeteria, FM 150, Kyle Kingdom United Christian Church 100 Madison Way, Buda Mission Fellowship Church 200 San Marcos Street, Buda

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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

New Life Christian Church 2315 FM 967, Buda

Manchaca United Methodist Church FM 1626 & Manchaca Rd., Manchaca

St. John’s Presbyterian Church 12420 Hewitt Ln., Manchaca

Iglesia Israelita Casa de Dios 816 Green Pastures Dr., Kyle

Driftwood United Methodist Church RR 150 at County Road 170

First Presbyterian Church 410 W. Hutchison, San Marcos, TX 78666

Buda United Methodist Church Elm Street & San Marcos

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Page 8

Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch • June 10, 2020

Artists inspire community Life is grand amid Coronavirus pandemic Y BY MEGAN WEHRING

Inspired Minds Art Center in Buda is opening its doors once again for in-person summer camps and courses after being shut down for months. The business opened Jan. 25 with a mission in mind: to support artists and the community by joining the two together with a passion for creativity and art. Though co-owners Sinead Whiteside and Susan Guerra made the decision to close down six weeks later, they kept the inspiration flowing with maintaining an online format for students. Buda is considered to be a small town, nestled south of Austin, that is filled with an artistic spirit. Whiteside said they wanted to open the business in Buda for local artists that want the Austin-like exposure yet the small, neighborhood community. “We sort of found that there’s this secret undercurrent of artists here,” Whiteside said. “But they were looking for community and they were looking for ways to get their art out there. A lot of artists were working out of their garages or their kitchens and were working 9 to 5 jobs.” The owners were counting on the summer camps to bring in additional revenue and make a name for themselves. After they decided to move the curriculum solely online, the governor announced the next day that summer camps were allowed to open for face-to-face interaction. “We thought it’s really

PHOTO BY MEGAN WEHRING

Inspired Minds is offering seven weeks of summer camp that incorporate art and science. In-person intensives include illustration, photography, potters wheel and ceramic sculpting. Online courses include Zines and portraiture.

“We sort of found that there’s this secret undercurrent of artists here. But they were looking for community and they were looking for ways to get their art out there. A lot of artists were working out of their garages or their kitchens and were working 9 to 5 jobs.” –Sinead Whiteside, co-founder of Inspired Minds

great that we already adapted them for online learning,” Whiteside said. “Because there are people who are not comfortable sending their children out into the world yet and they want to keep their children at home learning online.” Inspired Minds is offering seven weeks of summer camp that incorporate art and science. Six weeks are also offered

for week-long, 4-hour intensive art courses for teenagers. In-person intensives include illustration, photography, potters wheel and ceramic sculpting. Online courses include Zines and portraiture. With opening any kind of business, there will be challenges. When you throw a pandemic in the mix, it’s even worse. Guerra said the hardest

obstacle they had to face after closing down was having to deal with the uncertainty. “Just not knowing what was going to happen,” Guerra said. “Being unable to make decisions, one way or another, because we just didn’t know. I kept feeling like I needed to make a decision. We’re open or we’re not. It’s unprecedented. We’ve never been through something like this before.” Though Inspired Minds is allowed to physically open, uncertainty of the future remains. Guerra said they are now navigating societal concerns regarding safety precautions within the classroom. “Do people feel safe taking face-to-face classes?” Guerra said. “We’re having trouble finding

INSPIRED MINDS, 9

ard of the Week signs pop up faster than this column gets written / published, and one was missed at the beginning. Congratulations to: · Sally Kachoris on Pin Oak Court · James and Dianne Polk on Pin Oak Drive · Jeff and Vicki Senefeld on Live Oak Drive · Beth and Mitch Phillips on Pin Oak Drive We don’t get out a lot nowadays. But, just walking the Live Oak cul-de-sac to Maple to Juniper to Ash and back to Live Oak, there’s quite a bit to experience. KissMe hardly gets out the door without special attention if there’s a child in sight. A sign at our front door says, “Beware: Dog cannot hold its licker.” Nothing could be more true when KissMe meets a child. Will was staying across the street with his grandparents, The Polleys, and could not get enough of seeing KissMe. Will came to visit KissMe before returning home. As soon as we turned onto Maple, one week we saw a gigantic letters spelling “Happy 16th Birthday, Sam” at The Williams. Now, there are 2020 graduate signs for Caitlyn. A few doors down, a curly-haired toddler made friends with KissMe. He sat in the street, tickled, as KissMe licked and licked, with his mom and a neighbor visiting with us at a social distance. Along Maple, it’s vivid to see how some have done a fabulous job clearing their stormwater drainage “ditch”, and, their entire driveway culverts are entirely open. This is a city requirement.

Mt. City Montage

by Pauline Tom

Since houses in this section were built about 40 years ago, sediment has built up. It takes a lot of work to keep them clear. On around on Ash, we missed the “Happy Retirement, Sylvia” large letters for Sylvia Coffey. RonTom saw the staging of the parade, but didn’t know the reason. We hate we missed it. The Garzas on Live Oak at Ash had two yard signs in recent weeks, too. First was a “Happy Birthday” on May 20. Now, they, too, have a 2020 Graduate sign for Angela. Right around that corner we reach Laverne McClendon’s. Oh my! Is she ever enjoying wildlife! LaVerne wrote on Facebook: I declare I think that the animals believe they have found a sanctuary in my yard. I have one mama doe, two baby fawns frolicking in the backyard and hiding in the bushes, three bright red cardinals with babies, four hummingbirds fighting for the nectar, five bright green chameleons changing colors, six rusty lizards speeding across the driveway, seven blacktail wood ants crawling up the shop wall, eight to 100 digging armadillos messing up my yard, and one lonely wood ant crawling in my hair. Life is grand. I thought “Life is grand” when I ordered groceries

MONTAGE, 9

Police Blotter The following is a tally of all calls made to law enforcement within Hays County between June 2 and June 7, 2020.

Below is a sample of events reported by law enforcement from June 2 through June 7, 2020. The location is where the event was reported or responded to and may not necessarily be where the event occured.

Civil Matter.............................................................................................17 Deliver Message......................................................................................4 Information.............................................................................................28 Compliance Check..................................................................................1 Property- Lost/Found/Imp......................................................................3 Alarm Business......................................................................................31 Alarm Residential..................................................................................27 Animal Calls...........................................................................................63 Field Euthanasia......................................................................................1 Loose Livestock....................................................................................15 Assault.....................................................................................................3 Sexual Assault.........................................................................................1 Assist EMS.............................................................................................14 Assist Fire Dept.......................................................................................4 Assist Outside Agency..........................................................................11 Suspicious Package................................................................................1 Burglary Building.....................................................................................6 Burgary Habitation..................................................................................2 Burglary Vehicle.......................................................................................8 Criminal Mischief...................................................................................11 Disorderly Conduct.................................................................................1 Illegal Dumping........................................................................................1 Environmental Crime...............................................................................2 Death Investigation.................................................................................1 Attended Death.......................................................................................3 Disturbance Noise.................................................................................16 Disturbance Physical Fight.....................................................................5 Disturbance Verbal................................................................................30 Child Custody..........................................................................................6 Narcotics/Information.............................................................................2 Fraud........................................................................................................7 Harassment............................................................................................12 Threat.......................................................................................................1 Mental Health Follow Up.........................................................................6 Mental Health Transport..........................................................................3 Mental Health Invest.............................................................................10 Canine Search.........................................................................................5 Canine Training........................................................................................1 Personal Break Long...............................................................................1 Personal Break Short..............................................................................3 Drone Deployment..................................................................................1 Viol City Order.........................................................................................3 Out of Vehicle..........................................................................................1 Runaway..................................................................................................1 Missing Person........................................................................................3 Public Assist..........................................................................................12 Community Contact..............................................................................42 Disabled Vehicle....................................................................................28 Foot Patrol...............................................................................................9 Close Patrol.........................................................................................268 Flagged Down.........................................................................................2 Welfare Concern....................................................................................34 Suicidal Person........................................................................................4 Investigation..........................................................................................10 Supplement...........................................................................................66 Suspicious Circumstances...................................................................27 Suspicious Person.................................................................................14 Suspicious Vehicle................................................................................33 Wanted Person........................................................................................4 Theft.........................................................................................................1 Unauth use Vehicle................................................................................18 Vehicle Theft............................................................................................2 Recovery Stolen Vehicle.........................................................................1 Accident Minor......................................................................................20 Accident Hit and Run............................................................................10 Accident Major/Injury............................................................................12 Abandoned/Stored Vehicle.....................................................................3 Traffic Control/Direction..........................................................................6 Directed/Area Enforcement..................................................................27 Traffic Hazard.........................................................................................19 Attempt to Locate.................................................................................66 Parking Enforcement...............................................................................5 Traffic Stop...........................................................................................360 Solicitors..................................................................................................2 Trespassing/Unwanted...........................................................................8 911 Abandoned/Open.........................................................................261 Deadly Conduct.......................................................................................2 Discharge Firearm.................................................................................12 Abdominal Pain/Problems......................................................................1 Private Tow/Repo....................................................................................5

Agency Activity

Date

Time

Location

HCSO

Assault

06/02/2020