September 1, 2021 Hays Free Press by Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 BOTTLENECKED

VIRAL CRASH

Why COVID hospitalizations are more harmful than the virus.

Train, semi truck collision in Luling caught on video.

– Page 12

– PAGE 2

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Hays Free Press HaysFreePress.com

Vol. 127 • No. 23

Serving Hays County, TX

Hays County murder suspect apprehended STAFF REPORT

OCHOA

A Pflugerville man was arrested on Wednesday, Aug. 25, on a capital murder charge related to the death of 16-year-old Donavin Sepulveda in Kyle in November 2020.

Olegario “Moses” Eliseo Ochoa, 31, was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Travis County Jail, where he will await extradition with a bond set at more than $1 million. The shooting took place in the parking lot at a

convenience store located in the 700 block of High Road in Kyle on Nov. 2, 2020. Following a homicide investigation by the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, an arrest warrant for murder was issued for Ochoa by the 22nd District Court in Hays

County on April 15, 2021. Hays County authorities and members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force initiated a fugitive investigation to locate and apprehend Ochoa. Members of the task force developed information that Ochoa

had fled the area and was believed to be in north Austin. Ochea was the third suspect involved in the shooting. Robert Ochoa Jr., 32, and Ricardo Najar, 32, were already in custody at the Hays County Jail.

$5 million allocated for a Public Defenders Office

Hays CISD begins classroom closures STAFF REPORT Classroom closures in Hays CISD due to the spread of COVID-19 started just two weeks after the start of school. On Aug. 27, District 4 Hays CISD Board of Trustee Meredith Keller posted on Facebook, notifying others about some classroom closures in the district, but did not specify which schools or how many classrooms closed. In her post, Keller pleaded for parents to send their kids to school in masks. “Please just do it,” her post reads. “Even if you don’t want to do it. Even if you think your chances are real good that you won’t die or that other people can mask if they are the scared ones or if it feels uncomfortable for a minute. Please mask up your kids.” Keller said she wants kids to attend school; that they should be in class and attending pep rallies, football games, outside recess, to have lunch with friends and receive their education. “I know that I’m going to get the push back from folks that just don’t believe in it,” Keller wrote. “That’s okay. I can take it. What I can’t take is closing classrooms for a virus that can be mitigated by mask wearing.” The current number of COVID-19 cases is unknown in Hays CISD, as the district only updates infections every Monday.

BY SAHAR CHMAIS

Just breathe...

Mothers opt for out-of-hospital births due to COVID rules “I’m getting calls from pregnant women who have been vaccinated who are willing to submit to COVID testing just to birth without a mask and being told they can’t [in a hospital]. They are coming to us solely so they don’t have to wear a mask.”

BY MEGAN WEHRING HAYS COUNTY — Expectant mothers are starting to think twice about having their babies in a hospital. While COVID-19 case numbers are increasing daily, hospitals are having to make tough decisions when it comes to protocols and the number of visitors allowed per patient. Hearing the news that they would be required to wear a mask during labor, some mothers are leaning more toward out-of-hospital care. “I have had four or five phone calls within the last week because hospitals are saying moms are going to have

–Stephanie Saunders, a licensed midwife

to labor with masks on,” said Stephanie Saunders, a licensed midwife in Kyle. “I’m getting calls from pregnant women who have been vaccinated who are willing to submit to COVID testing just to birth without a mask and being told they

Coming Up SPONSORSHIP DEADLINE FOR EMPTY BOWLS PROJECT SEPT. 7

Show your pride in supporting a 23-year tradition that brings together chefs, potters, musicians and neighbors who provide relief to other neighbors in need through the Empty Bowls Project. The annual event is scheduled to take place Nov. 7, 2021 at Dripping

Springs Ranch Park. Businesses or individuals wishing to sponsor the event, may do so by visiting drippingspringsemptybowls. org or emailing kristigreene@ live.org. by Sept. 7.

IN NEED

Hays Food Bank makes plea for donations, volunteers.

– PAGE 8

can’t [in a hospital]. They are coming to us solely so they don’t have to wear a mask.” Saunders recounted that her daughter traveled from her station at an Air Force Base in New Mexico to Texas just to escape the stringent protocols, as the

hospital said the reality is her husband may be allowed in one day but he may not be allowed in the next. Erica Steele, of Luminary Midwifery in San Marcos, agreed that there has been an influx of mothers and their families wanting a birth center birth. “Women started choosing to go outside of the hospital so they could have the power to choose who would be with them,” Steele said. “ It gives them the option to choose who can attend their birth, have more flexibility and still feel protected outside of the hospital.”

MIDWIFE CRISIS, 7

LAST CALL FOR KYLES!

Despite the cancellation of the annual Pie in the Sky Festival Labor Day weekend, Kyle officials are trying to gather as many people as possible with the name “Kyle” in an effort to break the world record for the most Kyles in one place. The gathering will occur on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. There will be a group photo and official sign in.

CLOSED FOR LABOR DAY

Remember, federal and state institutions and banks will be closed Monday for Labor Day.

The 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

Hays County commissioners will allocate up to $5 million of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to create a Public Defender’s Office (PDO). After a long debate on whether ARP funds are viable to use on a PDO in Hays County, the allocation passed unanimously. The creation of a PDO has been in the works for about three years, and today, the commissioners nudged the project a little closer to the finish line.

PUBLIC DEFENDER, 7

Hays man charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child STAFF REPORT HAYS COUNTY – A 35-year-old Hays County man was arrested for continuous sexual abuse of a child – a first-degree felony offense. The Hays County BROWN Sheriff’s Office responded to the report on Sunday, Aug. 22, and Andrew Alan Brown was identified as the suspect in the case. Patrol deputies arrested Brown and detectives executed a search warrant of his residence. On Aug. 23, Brown was released on a $50,000.00 bond set by Magistrate Daniel Burns. This investigation is ongoing, according to the Hays County Sheriff’s Office. Please call 512393-7896 if you have any information regarding this case.

Page 2

Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch • September 1, 2021

Water treatment facility to break ground, serving 225,000 residents BY SAHAR CHMAIS A water treatment facility that will extend services to Buda, Kyle and San Marcos broke ground on Aug. 19. Hays County has more than doubled in population since 2010, now home to more than 241,000 residents. With expansion of Hays County comes a greater need for water, which is why the Alliance Region Water Authority (ARWA) proposed the Carrizo-Water Supply Project in 2015. Water for this project will be supplied through the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer. The project is slated to

The Carrizo Water Project will include 85 miles of pipeline, four wells, storage tanks, pump stations and a treatment facility. It will serve approximately 225,000 residents in Central Texas by treating over 19 million gallons of water per day. be fully operational by late 2023, according to ARWA. The Carrizo Water Project will include 85 miles of pipeline, four wells, storage tanks, pump stations and a treatment facility. It will serve approximately 225,000 residents in Cen-

and clay, resulting in stable water levels, filling and absorbing water at a slower pace than other aquifers. The water treatment plant will cost $54 million and is paid for by the cities of San Marcos, Buda, Kyle and other utility districts represented by the Canyon Regional Water Authority. Additional funds tral Texas by treating over were secured through 19 million gallons of water revenue bonds by entities per day. through the Texas Water Water usage from the Development Board’s aquifer has been calculated SWIFT Program. to be sustainable, according Residents will continto ARWA. The Carrizo-Wal- ue to pay for their water cox Aquifer is composed of through their current sand mixed with gravel, silt suppliers.

Kyle approves $172 million budget BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

Kyle City Council unanimously approved a $172.6 million budget for fiscal year 2021-22 at a special meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 25. The budget follows priorities the council identified across five budget workshops, including beautification, downtown redevelopment, green spaces within the Brick and Mortar District and infrastructure investments. The budget workshops included public hearings where residents were able to communicate concerns about the budget to the council, as well as presentations from city staff on each department’s proposed budget. The approved budget allows all city programs and services to continue at their current levels and includes strategic investments in new positions, equipment and infrastructure, as well as a 2.3%

The budget follows priorities the council identified across five budget workshops, including beautification, downtown redevelopment, green spaces within the Brick and Mortar District and infrastructure investments.

reduction in the total property tax rate. The total property tax rate will decrease from $0.5201 per $100 of taxable valuation to $0.5082. Based on current tax rates, the city’s portion of a homeowner’s property tax bill is only 19.6% of the total tax bill. The other 80% of the tax bill is for property taxes charged by other taxing jurisdictions, including school districts, Hays County, emergency service districts, Austin Community College and conservation and groundwater districts. Property taxes paid to the city make up approximately 30% of the city’s

general fund, with sales tax making up another 30% and other fees and services covering the remaining 40%. Within the budget, the council approved $121.2 million in total capital improvement plan (CIP) spending for fiscal year 2022, including $18.1 million for street maintenance and reconstruction and $11 million for the expansion of the city’s wastewater treatment plant. A total of $7.54 million was allocated for park development and $620,000 million for beautification of high profile corridors and citywide projects.

Train, semi truck collision in Luling caught on video Videos capturing a collision between a train and semi truck carrying a wind turbine has been going viral after the collision happened at the 183 intersection in Luling Sunday. About 2:40 p.m in the afternoon, a Northern Lights Specialized Transport Truck was making a turn at the intersection. A driver from an accompanying pilot vehicle got out of his car to see if the truck could clear the intersection. It was at that time, that you can see in the video that the railroad crossing bars start coming down. You can see the truck try to move out of the way, but to

Downtown park redevelopment on City Square received $1.8 million, and $3.1 million was allocated for a downtown mixeduse building. Approved Brick and Mortar District funding includes $8.1 million for Heroes Memorial Park, $4.1 million for La Verde and $1.94 million for the Cultural Trail. The approved budget also includes no increase in storm drainage fees, no increase in wastewater service rates, a 6% increase in water service rates and a 2.51% increase in solid waste service rates per contract terms with the Texas Disposal Systems. Other fees and charges for various city services remain the same. More information on the budget can be found on the City of Kyle website.

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Video of wreck

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Opinion

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “There seems to be so much push back about doing what you need to protect your community. It seems that so many people are focused on ‘me and mine’ that they forget we are a community.” – Teri, a registered nurse in Hays County. Story on page 4.

Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch • September 1, 2021

Page 3

Step up to the plate

Well, here we are again wearing masks and practicing anti-social distancing. Kids are back in school having to deal with new teachers, new classrooms and new safety precautions. Back in April, many of us thought we’d have a normal school year thanks to the Covid vaccine. We were thinking this pandemic was on its way out. Many of us were thrilled to get vaccinated, knowing we will most likely survive this plague and everything will soon return to normal. After receiving the relatively painless injection, friends and family were able to see each other without the help of a computer screen. We returned to indoor dining and walking up and down the beer aisle, searching for some brew we haven’t sipped since 2020. We boarded airplanes and traveled to distant lands to see family. Yep, we thought we were getting back to normal. Then we began hearing about all these so-called fellow Americans who flat-out refuse to get vaccinated. Some have legitimate reasons but most, in my humble opinion, are simply egocentric, insensitive malcontents. Why wouldn’t everyone jump at the chance to not only protect themselves from the virus but to protect others and assist in achieving herd immunity? We defeated polio and smallpox back when I was knee-high to a grasshopper. Americans rallied against a common enemy, rolled up their sleeves and were victorious against these deadly diseases. Today, for some illogical reason, millions of Americans won’t step up to plate and help end this pandemic. Some believe it’s some hoax, claiming it is some government conspiracy, but have no explanation for why the pandemic is

Crow’s Nest by Clint Younts

in every continent. Some misguided souls believe wild conspiracy theories on the internet but don’t trust the word of brilliant medical authorities. I’ve read posts from some cerebrally vacuous wackadoodles who claim there is a microchip in the vaccine so the government can track our every move. This theory floated around college campuses back in 1976 with the Swine Flu vaccine. I guess Jimmy Carter noticed I spent more time in bars than the library. I see posts on Facebook that read “My body, my choice”. My, my, aren’t we a tad selfish? Indeed, you have the choice of not getting vaccinated, and you don’t have to wear a mask. And I have the choice to avoid you like the plague. Millions of sympathetic citizens have gotten vaccinated and are somewhat helping control the outbreak. Unfortunately thousands of unvaccinated people have filled our hospital beds, preventing many others from getting immediate medical care. Over 90% of hospitalized Covid patients are unvaccinated, and most of those are wishing they had swallowed their pride and gotten the shot. Look, I’m not going to try too hard to persuade those narcissists who will never get vaccinated, no matter how many lives they affect. Life’s too short to spend your days arguing with closed-minded individuals. Perhaps one day, maybe as they see another ventilator being wheeled into their ICU room, these folks who are afraid of a tiny needle will see the light, right before they go to the light.

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 Publisher Cyndy Slovak-Barton Reporters Megan Wehring, Sahar Chmais Columnists Bartee Haile, Clint Younts

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CORRECTIONS

Labor Day has evolved from uncertain origins This weekend, millions of Americans will hit the road, fire up the grill, and swarm to the beaches for the Labor Day weekend. The holiday has evolved dramatically from its origins, which are debated today. What is clear, though, is the designation of Labor Day as a federal holiday in 1894 arose from a tenuous labor dispute in Illinois. The Pullman strike, remembered today as a landmark in American labor history, caused such ill feelings between workers and the government that President Grover Cleveland, as a conciliatory measure, signed an order establishing Labor Day as a federal holiday on the first Monday of September. However, Labor Day was nothing new in America. Some believe that its roots are actually Canadian, in an 1872 parade in Toronto to support a strike against a 58-hour work week. A decade later, a proposal was presented at a Central Labor Union meeting in New York in May 1882 for a “monster labor festival” in early September. The result was the first Labor Day parade, held near city hall and along Broadway in New York on Sept. 5, 1882. Police, concerned that confrontations may occur, surrounded city hall on horseback and on foot, many of them carrying clubs. An hour later, only a handful of marchers had shown up, and there was no musical accompaniment. Just in time, two hundred members from the Jewelers Union of Newark arrived with a band, and the procession began. Spectators joined the parade, and finally, some ten to twenty thousand marched through lower Manhattan. At the end, some workers went back to their jobs, but many spent the rest of the day

Any erroneous reflection upon the character, standing or reputation of any person, firm or corporation which may appear in the pages of the Hays Free Press will be corrected upon being brought to the attention of the publisher.

DEADLINES

Guest Column by Tom Emery

at a party which included speeches, cigars, and “lager beer kegs…mounted in every conceivable place.” Who suggested the first Labor Day is of considerable debate. Many accounts credit Peter McGuire, the general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor. McGuire reportedly proposed an annual celebration at a CLU meeting on May 12, 1882 to remember those “who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.” He suggested a street parade to “publicly show the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations.” McGuire is said to have witnessed the 1872 commemoration in Toronto, and wanted something similar in the United States. McGuire’s role, though, has been challenged in recent years by the emergence of the story of Matthew Maguire, a machinist and member of the Knights of Labor, whom some believe first proposed that the CLU organize a celebration of labor. Adding credence was a recollection by the grand marshal of the 1882 New York parade, who corroborated Maguire’s role. In a 2011 interview, former Department of Labor historian Linda Stinson expressed confidence in the Maguire story. Peter McGuire’s role may have also been embellished by Samuel Gompers, a close friend and American Federation of Labor powerhouse, who apparently disliked Matthew Maguire’s

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Who suggested the first Labor Day is of considerable debate. Many accounts credit Peter McGuire, the general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor. radical political views that reflected poorly on the AF of L. Maguire ran for Vice President on the National Socialist Labor Party in 1896. Some states began to observe Labor Day on their own, starting with Oregon in 1887. Colorado, New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey followed suit. Continued labor strife, though, forced the federal government’s hand at designating a national holiday. The Pullman Palace Car strike of May 1894, ignited by layoffs and wage cuts amid unchanging rents in the company town of Pullman, Ill. induced the American Railway Union, under the direction of Eugene Debs, to call for national boycotts of Pullman trains. Rioting, burning of cars, and other violence spread nationwide, and rail traffic was brought to a standstill in many areas. Throughout the strike, President Grover Cleveland, worried about the political backlash in what was a midterm election year. Democrats, fearing a loss of Congress, and the president proposed a solution – to create a national holiday to honor the American worker, which was already being

LETTERS GUIDELINES

celebrated in thirty states. Sen. James Henderson Kyle, a Populist from South Dakota, introduced legislation to designate the first Monday in September as a national holiday. The bill was rushed through Congress, and Cleveland quickly signed the proposal into law on June 28, 1894. The September date was chosen so there would be no conflict with the International Workers Day celebration of May 1, which harkened back to the Haymarket Riot in Chicago in May 1886 and was viewed by many Americans as socialistic or anarchistic. Six days after signing the bill, Cleveland, ostensibly concerned about interruption of U.S. Mail service, sent in 12,000 federal troops as strikebreakers. Reports vary, but at least two men were killed by deputy marshals in Kensington, a Chicago suburb. On August 3, the strike was declared over, and Debs was later sentenced to prison as the Pullman employees agreed not to unionize again. The Democrats lost both houses of Congress in 1894, and Cleveland was dropped from the ticket in the 1896 election. Over the decades, Labor Day evolved into a three-day weekend and a shopping and recreational holiday that marks the end of the summer season. Few celebrate Labor Day as a remembrance of working Americans. Today, union presence in the United States continues to diminish. According to Forbes magazine, less than 12 percent of the American workforce belongs to a union, down from a high of 33.2 percent in 1955. Tom Emery is a freelance writer and researcher from Carlinville, Ill. ilcivilwar@yahoo.com

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.

14%

Page 4

COVID hospitalizations create dangerous shortages

Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch • September 1, 2021

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX RATE

86%

ICU with vent

55 Hays County residents hospitalized with COVID-19

BY SAHAR CHMAIS

The hospital entrance is deceptive; aside from no vent COVID screening ques1 tions, everything is normal ICU no vent Non-ICU and calm. But behind the main doors, 12 especially 20 where COVID-19 patients stay, there is tension, tables outside rooms holding special equipment and air purifiers, according to Teri, a registered nurse. “As a nurse, I’ve held a lot of hands of people who have passed away,” said Teri, now a discharge planner at a Hays County hospital. “When your patient is somebody who has lived a long and wonderful life, it’s a blessing to hold their hand. I can’t imagine what it’s like to do that to somebody who is 35 or 42.” Climbing infection rates have not only affected -ICU 20 COVID-19 patients, but it has exhausted hospital staff and strained access to other medical needs. There is a demand for nearly 24,000 nurses across Texas, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. Hospitals are rejecting patients and sometimes unable to care for emergencies. There is also a bottleneck when discharging patients to after-care facilities. COVID-19 hospitalizations is not the only reason people should care about the rise in cases, Teri said. “Even if you don’t get infected with COVID… you still run the chance of needing a gallbladder removed, or may have a family member who has a heart attack or get into a car wreck,” she explained. Teri’s hospital has had to go on diversion due to limited bed availability. Hospitals sometimes notify emergency services not to bring a patient in and require them to go to

Non-ICU

13% 1

38%

40%

FOR the proposal:

6 16

75%

23%

vent ICU with vent ICU with Non-ICU Non-ICU

vent ICU no ICUvent with vent ICU with ICU no vent ICU no vent Non ICU

Non-ICU

Lack Unvaccinated of hospital staff has not only caused stress on the employees, but it has also created a bottle neck in discharging patients in need of 40% after38%care. another place. This usually happens for a span of a few hours until they can free up space. 23% Additionally, Governor Greg Abbott reached out to ICU with vent ICU no vent the Texas Hospital Association, asking hospitals to voluntarily postpone elective medical procedures. In Trauma Service Area O (TSA-O), the hospitals 1 that serve 11 counties including Hays and Travis, only had two ICU beds available on Aug. 30 – 51% of the 513 beds are being used to serve COVID-19 patients. Additionally, 19% of the 3,524 hospitalizations are due to the virus. The number of total beds available fluctuates daily depending on staff availability. Last week, Abbott announced that the DSHS will deploy 5,600 additional medical staffers

to hospitals and nursing homes, from the 8,100 he previously called on. In the Capital Area and Rural Capital Area, which includes Hays and Travis Non-ICU counties, there were more than 2,400 unfilled nursing positions. “This latest COVID-19 spike is putting extraordinary pressure on our hospitals, emergency departments and healthcare professionals,” reads a joint statement from Ascension Seton and Baylor Scott & White. “The vast majority of the patients we are treating for COVID-19 are unvaccinated, and the rising number of cases is discouraging.” Lack of hospital staff has not only caused stress on the employees, but it has

The following table compares taxes on an average residence homestead in this taxing unit last year to taxes proposed on the average residence homestead this year.

Your individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the tax rate that is adopted and on the change in taxable value of your property in relation to the change in the taxable value of all other property. The change in taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property determines the distribution of the tax burden among all property owners. Dennis Daniel, Terri Purdy, Ron Meyer, Nathan Neese and Tom Rogers None None None

Average appraised value General homestead exemptions available

(excluding senior citizen’s or disabled person’s exemptions)

Average appraised value

$0.8900/100 Proposed $0.0100 0%

$255,504

$267,362

$0.00

Average taxable value

$255,504

$267,362

Tax on average residence homestead

$2,299.54

$2,379.52

General homestead exemptions available

(excluding senior citizen’s or disabled person’s exemptions)

Annual increase/decrease in taxes if proposed tax rate is adopted (+/–) and percentage of increase (+/–)

+$79.98 +3.47%

NOTICE OF TAXPAYER’S RIGHT TO ELECTION TO REDUCE TAX RATE If the District adopts a combined debt service, operation and maintenance, and contract tax rate that would result in the taxes on the average residence homestead increasing by more than 3.5 percent, an election must be held to determine whether to approve the operation and maintenance tax rate under Section 49.23602, Water Code. The 86th Texas Legislature modified the manner in which the voter-approval tax rate is calculated to limit the rate of growth of property taxes in the state.

Water District Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Rate The HAYS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NO. 1 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2021 on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at 8:30am at Carlson, Brigance & Doering, Inc. located at 5501 West William Cannon, Austin, Texas 78749. Your individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the tax rate that is adopted and on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property. The change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in the taxable value of all other property determines the distribution of the tax burden among all property owners. FOR the proposal: AGAINST the proposal: PRESENT and not voting: ABSENT:

David Reynolds, Kevin Pogue, Shawn Connolly, Gregory Merrill, George Baker None None None

Total Tax rate (per $100 of value)

Percentage increase/decrease in rates (+/–)

$0.875/100 Adopted

$0.825/100 Proposed

Average appraised residence homestead value

$0.0500 -5.71%

Last Year

This Year

$0.90000/100 Adopted

$0.90000/100 Proposed

Difference in rates per $100 of value

This Year

General homestead exemptions available

$0.00000/100 0.00% $563,439.00

$607,690.00

$0.00

$563,439.00

$607,690.00

$5,070.95

$5,469.21

(excluding 65 years of age or older or disabled person’s exemptions)

$552,858

$604,046

$–

Average taxable value

$552,858

$604,046

Tax on average residence homestead

$4,837.51

$4,983.38

Annual increase/decrease in taxes if proposed tax rate is adopted (+/–) and percentage of increase (+/–)

$0.9000/100 Adopted

Difference in rates per $100 of value Percentage increase/decrease in rates (+/–)

Last Year

Difference in rates per $100 of value Percentage increase/decrease in rates (+/–)

This Year

The following table compares taxes on an average residence homestead in this taxing unit last year to taxes proposed on the average residence homestead this year.

Total Tax rate (per $100 of value)

Last Year

HECTIC HOSPITALS, 6

The Reunion Ranch Water Control and Improvement District will hold a public hearing on1a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2021 on September 14, 2021 at 2:00 PM at the office of Willatt & Flickinger, PLLC, 12912 Hill Country Blvd., Ste. F-232, Austin, TX 78738.

AGAINST the proposal: PRESENT and not voting: ABSENT:

Marvin B. Morgan, Sean Denton, Dante Angelini, Jeff Barton and John Fowler None None None

This data is provided by the Hays County Local Health Department, based on Aug. 31 hospitalizations

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX RATE

FOR the proposal:

Unvaccinated UNVACCINATED

Vaccinated VACCINATED

The South Buda Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2021 on September 15, 2021 at 12:00 PM at 8834 North Capital of Texas Highway, Suite 140, Austin, Texas 78759.

+$145.87 +3.01%

Average residence homestead taxable value Tax on average residence homestead Annual increase/decrease in taxes if proposed tax rate is adopted (+/–) and percentage of increase (+/–)

+$398.26 +7.85%

NOTICE OF TAXPAYERS’ RIGHT TO ELECTION TO REDUCE TAX RATE If the district adopts a combined debt service, operation and maintenance, and contract tax rate that would result in the taxes on the average residence homestead increasing by more than 8 percent, the qualified voters of the district by petition may require that an election be held to determine whether to reduce the operation and maintenance tax rate to the voter-approval tax rate under Section 49.23603, Water Code. The 86th Texas Legislature modified the manner in which the voter-approval tax rate is calculated to limit the rate of growth of property taxes in the state. Should you have any questions concerning this notice, please contact the tax office at 281-482-0216. The Property Tax Assistance Division at the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts provides property tax information and resources for taxpayers, local taxing entities, appraisal districts and appraisal review boards. For more information, visit our website: comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax

Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch • September 1, 2021

Page 5

Thousands gather to watch the Crash at Crush On Sept. 6, 1896 the Katy Railroad put two-dollar tickets on sale for seats on excursion trains that would carry buyers to the sight of the century – a staged collision of two locomotives. The unique publicity stunt was the pet project of an imaginative passenger agent with the unlikely name of William George Crush. A rail mishap several years earlier had gotten him to thinking. Even though the accident happened miles from the nearest town, in a matter of minutes the scene was crawling with curiosity seekers. If people were that fascinated by the sight of boxcars littering the landscape, then how about a head-on collision of two speeding freight trains? With his job on the line, Crush pitched the wild idea to his bosses at the Missouri, Kansas and Texas. Instead of telling the employee to clean out his desk, the Katy officials, always eager to get a leg up on the competition, enthusiastically okayed the scheme. In the never-ending quest for publicity, Crush had struck the mother lode. A deserted valley 17 miles north of Waco and three miles south of West was chosen as the perfect spot and named Crush for the occasion. A battalion of 500 laborers laid new tracks to connect the secluded site with the main line and constructed a two-mile span for the

Texas History by Bartee Haile

By the middle of the afternoon on Sept. 15, 1896, a crowd estimated at 50,000 transformed the empty field into the most congested piece of real estate in Texas. For a few action-packed hours, Crush was the second biggest town in the Lone Star State. actual demolition dash. A couple of huge, over-the-hill locomotives were saved from the scrap heap and refurbished for a final run. One thing for sure, the brightly painted behemoths would go out with a bang. The Katy Railroad ran ads in newspapers across Texas and adjacent states to promote the once-in-alifetime thrill. Every seat on 30 excursion specials quickly sold. By the middle of the afternoon on Sept. 15,

Hawks football swipes Chargers in season opener STAFF REPORT BUDA – It was fitting Friday the newly rebranded Hays Hawks hit the ground running on their maiden flight. An aggressive Hays ground and pound attack to the tune of 433 total rushing yards overwhelmed the Churchill Chargers as the Hawks exacted a 42-17 season opening beatdown at Bob Shelton Stadium. Friday was the first Hays varsity football contest played under the Hawks mascot after the Rebel moniker was retired last year. Carrying the load were running backs Zach Obara, Chris Bruce and Kyree Payton, who combined for 338 rushing yards and all six touchdowns scored in the game. Obara dealt the most damage with 159 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns; Payton finished with 65 yards and three touchdowns. “Feels great (to win). Came out, started kind of slow, but we went into the locker room, we built each other up and we just finished the game,” Payton said in an interview posted on the Hays CISD Twitter page. Hays sprinted out to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter, thanks to a 64-yard touchdown run by Bruce, who ran for 114 yards on the night. After Churchill responded with a touchdown in

the second quarter, the Hawks countered with 14 more unanswered points, holding a 28-10 lead at the half. Helping Hays was maintaining possession in key third down situations. Hays was 5 for 5 on third down conversions in the contest and did not punt. However, Hays committed four turnovers and fumbled the ball three times. “These young guys, they need that confidence. Football is a game of momentum. Winning that first game, getting some success behind them early is important,” Goad said in an interview posted on the Hays CISD Twitter page. “Especially for young guys. We have a lot of sophomores playing. We have a lot of guys who have never played on Friday nights.” Another 14 point barrage in the third quarter further expanded Hays’ lead to 42-10. The Hawk defense swooped down on the Chargers and limited Churchill’s offense to 205 total yards. Charger quarterback Merric Manwaring went 8 of 17 for 106 yards. Hawk quarterback Tyler McInvale went 2 for 4 for 67 yards passing. Hays continues non-district play next Friday when they travel to play at Dripping Springs on Sept. 3. Kickoff for that game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

1896, a crowd estimated at 50,000 transformed the empty field into the most congested piece of real estate in Texas. For a few action-packed hours, Crush was the second biggest town in the Lone Star State. Lunch was served under a giant circus tent compliments of Ringling Brothers, and eight tanker cars supplied free water to the thirsty throng. A carnival entertained the children while the grown-ups amused themselves with stronger stuff, lemonade spiked upon request. Just past five o’clock, the iron horses, each with half a dozen cars in tow, began to roll. Clamping down the throttles, the engineers wisely leaped from their respective cabs. For two heart-pounding minutes, the trains hurtled toward each other as the multitude cheered wildly. At 50 miles per hour,

the two 35-ton missiles met with a deafening roar. As reported by the Houston Daily Post, “The front end of the engines shot upward, the tenders and seven of the cars were piled in a heap of debris under them and the boilers, being shorn of everything, fell over side by side.” A rope cordoned off the point of impact for 250 feet in all directions, a well-intentioned attempt to keep the audience out of harm’s way. But the consequences of the calamity were badly underestimated and beyond anybody’s control. Both boilers exploded on impact and showered stunned spectators with sharp shreds of shrapnel. One enormous fragment was thrown a thousand feet, and a man standing half that distance away was flattened by a flying timber. A photographer on a

scaffold a hazardous hundred feet from the wreck was struck in the face by a metal bolt. The projectile punctured his right eye and pierced his brain. Although he lost the eye, he miraculously survived to snap another shutter. Two other victims were not as fortunate. The rain of rubble left a man and a woman with severe head wounds, and neither one lived through the night. Scores of other observers received minor injuries. As doctors hurried to help the fallen, the unscathed sorted through the wreckage for souvenirs. Twisted bits of shattered steam engines were carried home as mementos of the world’s one and only staged train disaster. On the return trip, a third fatality was added to the tragic toll. The carefree holiday of a teenaged boy ended in death, when he fell under the wheels of a

Read all about the early years of the oil frenzy in “Texas Boomtowns: A History of Blood and Oil” Order your copy for $24.00 by mailing a check to Bartee Haile, P.O. Box 130011, Spring, TX 77393.

The Texas Crossword and Sudoku Puzzle For all the latest Hays County news, visit

HaysFreePress.com

www.

www.HaysNewsDispatch.com

Sudoku puzzle courtesy of www.4puz.com

See more sports online at www.haysfreepress.com

Upcoming Sports High school games in Dripping Springs ISD and Hays CISD this week: • Times are for varsity games

SEPT. 3

• Hays High plays Dripping Springs in football – 7:30 p.m. at Dripping Springs High School • Champion plays Dripping Springs in volleyball – 6:30 p.m. at Dripping Springs • McCallum play Lehman High in football – 7:30 p.m. at Shelton Stadium

SEPT. 7

• Hays High plays Dripping Springs in volleyball – 7 p.m. at Hays High • Johnson High plays Lehman High in volleyball – 6:30 p.m. at Lehman.

homeward bound excursion train. Missouri, Kansas and Texas attorneys stayed busy for several years settling the rash of claims filed by the maimed and mutilated. Despite the cost of litigation, the railroad rated the event a resounding success. As for agent Crush, his reward was a big raise and a promotion. In later years, the born promoter lent his talent to less dangerous endeavors such as the State Fair of Texas and Battle of the Flowers in San Antonio. But he never suggested another train wreck. After all, how could he hope to top the Crash at Crush?”

See solutions on page 6

Page 6

Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch • September 1, 2021

Hectic Hospitals Continued from pg. 4

also created a bottle neck in discharging patients in need of after care. When certain patients leave the hospital, they must go to a rehabilitation facility or some type of care after discharge. Those facilities were hit hard with the pandemic, Teri said. Before patients get discharged to these facilities, they need to test negative for COVID-19. Then there is the matter of finding available space, but a lot of rehabilitation centers have unavailable or limited room due to the virus. Limitations at these places could be due to unfilled positions, sick nurses or only placing one patient per room instead of two as a safety precaution. Getting people the proper care has been a nightmare, according to Teri.

COURTESY PHOTO Johnson FFA 2021-2022 Officer Team from left to right are Travis Miller, Madyson Clark, Lauren Craig, Mikayla Verver, Alyssa Tate and Adrian Lopez. (Not pictured is Mya Griffin)

Johnson FFA awarded $5K The Johnson High School FFA chapter in Buda has been awarded $5,000 as part of the Grants for Growing program. The nationwide program provides grant funds to local FFA chapters to support the development or improvement

of agricultural education projects to enhance the classroom experience for students through chapter engagement activities. Johnson FFA is a newly chartered chapter. These funds will help support the development, recruitment and

leadership opportunities within the chapter, as well as promote agriculture education in the community. Funding is provided through consumer donations made during checkout at a Tractor Supply Company store.

Patients also sometimes need walkers and oxygen tanks after discharge, but the demand has soared for these supplies. Teri said she has had to work harder to secure these supplies and services with the higher demand. While there have been a few days when the numbers appear to stabilize, Teri said she is not sure if that is due to an admissions slow down or it is caused by people’s deaths. From Teri’s experience, the third surge has been the worst. “There seems to be so much push back about doing what you need to protect your community,” she said. “It seems that so many people are focused on ‘me and mine’ that they forget we are a community.”

She also finds it disheartening that people listen to medical experts about taking medication for conditions such as blood pressure, but they do not place that same faith in vaccination. Many health care professionals and politicians have been encouraging residents to get vaccinated. Although Abbott recently issued an order prohibiting government entities from mandating COVID-19 vaccinations, he encourages residents to get their vaccines. “Texans can do their part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and hospitalizations by getting the vaccine,” he said. “It’s safe, effective, and your best defense against COVID-19. Visit covidvaccine.texas.gov to find a vaccine provider near you.”

OBITUARY ALVAREZ Elias E. Alvarez, 63, beloved father, brother, uncle, and grandfather, was called to his eternal resting place on August 16, 2021. He entered this world on December 13, 1957 in Corpus Christi, Texas, born to Arturo and Josephina Alvarez. Elias was preceded in death by his parents Arturo and Josephina Alvarez and a sister Aurora Alvarez. He is survived by his son David Aaron Alvarez, daughter Gabrielle Trinidad Alvarez, daughter Amber Elaine Alvarez, brother Frank Alvarez, brother Albert Alvarez, brother Arturo Alvarez, Jr., brother Ramon Hernandez, sister Severa J. Hernandez, sister Consuelo Villanueva, sister Yolanda Alvarez, 8 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Alvarez was a God-fearing man with a great heart. He dedicated

his life to law enforcement, serving the majority of his career in undercover narcotics working with Hays County, Travis County, and Live Oak County. Visitatio and funeral services for Mr. Alvarez were August 28 at Templo Rios de Agua Viva.. Burial followed in the Lockhart City Cemetery.

FABELA With deepest sorrow we announce the passing of Fernando Salvador Fabela, age 16, beloved son, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend to many. Fernando was born on May 9, 2005 in Austin, Texas and returned to his heavenly home on August 18, 2021. We lost a bright shining light and Fernando will be missed every day. He is survived by his mother, Rebecca Cervantez and his brother, Franco Fabela of Buda, father, Herman Fabela of San Antonio, maternal grandmother,

Buda, Texas • 15300 S. IH-35 • 312-1615

Debbie Thames, Agent 251 N. FM 1626, Bldg. 2, Ste. C, Buda, Texas 78610 312-1917

Sudoku Solution

Maria Cervantez of Austin, and numerous loving aunts, uncles, and cousins in and around the Austin area. We know that Fernando is now with his maternal grandfather, Federico Cervantez, and maternal great-grandparents, Juan and Soledad Vasquez, great-grandfather Salvador Fabela and is loved here on earth as well as in heaven. Fernando was a gifted athlete and excelled in numerous sports; however, his favorite past-time was just hanging out with family, especially his brother, Franco. He found such joy playing video games, watching movies, playing putt-putt golf, hunting, and swimming. He loved ice cream, particularly Blue Bell Dutch Chocolate, and most of all – his mom’s Fideo. Fernando was kind, compassionate, funny and genuinely fun-loving. He aspired to go into the medical field, and he was interested in helping others in his way of serving the Lord. While we may not

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD

CHURCH OF CHRIST

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

Faith Assembly of God 1030 Main St., Buda

Buda-Kyle Church of Christ 3.5 miles south of Buda on FM 2770

Monte del Olivar Christian Center 2400 FM 150 E., Kyle

BAPTIST

Southern Hills Church of Christ 3740 FM 967, Buda

The Connection Church 1235 S. Loop 4, Buda

EPISCOPAL

Antioch Community Church Old Black Colony Rd., Buda

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

Southeast Baptist Church 5020 Turnersville Rd., Creedmoor Manchaca Baptist Church Lowden Lane & FM 1626 Immanuel Baptist Church 4000 E. FM 150, 4 miles east of Kyle Center Union Baptist Church Goforth Rd., Buda Primera Mision Bautista Mexicana Kyle

Texas Crossword Solution

Baptist Church of Driftwood 13540 FM 150 W. CATHOLIC Santa Cruz Catholic Church 1100 Main Street, Buda

Texas Crossword, from page 5

hope you will join us in celebrating Fernando’s wonderful life and sharing your memories with family and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Fernando Fabela Youth Sports Fund would

be greatly appreciated. Providing sports funding to underprivileged young athletes honors Fernando’s memory and generous spirit. Thank you for your loving support. https://gofund.me/ f10b5b9d

Come worship with us

Sledge Chapel Missionary Baptist Church 709 Sewell, Kyle

Sudoku Puzzle, from page 5

understand the why, we can take comfort that God is holding Fernando in his arms. Let us take comfort in the words given in John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Peace my heart, let the time for parting be sweet. Let it not be a death but completeness. Let love melt into memory and pain into songs. Let the flight through the sky end in the folding of the wings over the nest. Let the last touch of your hands be gentle like the flower of the night. Stand still, O Beautiful End, for a moment, and say your last words in silence. I bow to you and hold up my lamp to light you on your way. –Peace, My Heart by Rabindranath Tagore A Celebration of Life will be held at Hays Hills Baptist Church, 1401 North FM 1626, Buda, , on Saturday, September 4, 2021, at 3 p.m. We

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 Buda United Methodist Church San Marcos & Elm St., Buda

Mission Fellowship Church 200 San Marcos Street, Buda

Spring Water! Privately owned From local springs FREE DELIVERY 1ST 20 GAL. FREE

Vertical Chapel 400 Old Post Road, Kyle A Fountain of Life Church 302 Millenium Dr. Kyle

Friendly, Courteous Service

Fellowship Church at Plum Creek 160 Grace Street at 2770, Kyle

Call 1-866-691-2369

Word of Life Christian Faith Center 118 Trademark Drive, Buda

BUDA

Por Tu Gracia Fellowship 701 Roland Lane, Kyle

DRUG STORE

203 Railroad Street Downtown Buda Pharmacy 312-2111 Fountain 312-2172

PENTECOSTAL Mision de Casa de Oracion S. Hwy. 81, Kyle

Journey United Methodist 216 Kirkham Circle, Kyle

CHRISTIAN

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church 7206 Creedmoor Rd., Creedmoor

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

New Life Sanctuary Kyle Science Hall Elementary 1510 Bebee Rd. PRESBYTERIAN

First Baptist Church

A loving & caring Southern Baptist Church 104 S. San Marcos Street, Buda Buddy Johnson, Pastor • 295-2161 Sunday School...........................................9:30 a.m. Morning Worship....................................10:45 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study/Youth Activities...6:00 p.m. AWANA’s (Wednesday)..........................6:00 p.m.

www.hayshills.org 1401 N. FM 1626

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New Covenant Community Church 1019 Main Street, Buda (in Dance Unlimited)

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Kingdom United Christian Church 100 Madison Way, Buda

Kyle United Methodist Church Sledge & Lockhart St., Kyle

9:30 a.m. Classic Service 10:45 a.m. Contemporary service

Hays Free Press

Completed & Perfected Faith Church Tobias Elementary Cafeteria, FM 150, Kyle

St. Anthony Marie Claret Church 801 N. Burleson, Kyle

Baptist Church

Like us on Facebook

Trinity United Chuch of Niederwald 13700 Camino Real, Hwy. 21, Niederwald

METHODIST

Hays Hills

TEXAS LEHIGH CEMENT CO. LP

Nursery Provided

www.firstbaptistbuda.com • fbcbuda@austin.rr.com

Your Hometown McDonald’s

McDonald’s of Buda 15359 IH-35, Ste. B • P.O. Box 1364, Buda, TX 78610

512-312-2383

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Sunset Canyon Baptist Church 8:45 AM

Sunday Morning

11:00 AM

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Wednesday Meal

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Wed TouchPoint SCBC Preschool Children Ministries Youth Ministries Family Ministries

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(512) 894-0480

4000 E. HWY 290

Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch • September 1, 2021

Page 7

Public Defender Continued from pg. 1

PHOTO COURTESY OF HAYS COUNTY FOOD BANK Hays County Food Bank volunteer Sanjeev Sharma helping sort through a food rescue run.

Hays County Food Bank encouraging donations, volunteers in September BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

More than 25,000 Hays County residents did not have access to nutritious food in 2019. One in eight individuals were considered food in-

secure, according to Feeding America. And with recent job losses since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, that number is rising, . In the last year and a half, Hays County Food

Bank (HCFB) has seen a dramatic increase in families seeking food assistance. While stimulus packages, increases to Supplemental Nutri-

FOOD BANK DONATIONS, 10

Having a PDO will streamline and speed up the judicial process in Hays County by providing quality indigent defense. In some cases, those who end up in jail do not have access to legal counsel because they cannot afford it. A PDO will provide timely representation to those facing charges. Commissioners agreed that ARP funds, which have certain terms of use, could be utilized for a PDO, with Commissioner Lon Shell making the long-winded argument for the PDO. “Imagine not having in-person trials, or in other words, you can’t have a jury trial for a year,” Shell began his

argument. “I’m looking at our jail numbers, comparing them to last year, and they are significantly higher the same time of this year compared to last year ... We know COVID is not a good thing to have in a confined area, which is a jail. If you want to jump to the straight conclusion, if I can get people out of jail faster, that’s a safety improvement from a public stand point. So I don’t have people sitting there breathing on each other.” The federal government granted Hays County approximately $44 million to use for COVID-19 relief. Shell said that COVID-19 was

a contributing factor to trial setbacks. There are some people who might not need to be in jail; with the help of a PDO, it will give the jail some relief. In addition to COVID-19 relief, ARP funds can be used for water, sewer and broadband. Shell said the county has already implemented rent and utility assistance and has limited jurisdiction over water and sewer, so using the money for a PDO is sensible. It will help get people out of jail faster or get them to trial faster, he added. Creating a PDO will be a lengthy process, but this decision has set the office on track.

route,” Darrell said, “it gives you a lot of freedom of choice, especially now, who you want to be there and how you want them to be involved.” Midwifery offers women a sense of empowerment that they may not always find in a hospital, Steele said.

“Women don’t feel heard,” Steele said. “They don’t feel like their opinions are [valued] and wishes for their family are respected. This decision for bringing their baby into the world belongs to them and how they want to do it belongs to them.”

Midwife Crisis Continued from pg. 1

Mother Heather Darrell started out her pregnancy by seeing an OB-GYN for her firstborn son in 2018. But it wasn’t fitting her family’s needs so she decided to explore a homebirth option for a more personal experience. “When you decide to go an out-of-hospital

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MARCUS LEES (512) 858-4018 leestreestexas@gmail.com

Page 8

Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch • September 1, 2021

Classifieds PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE TO CREDITORS Notice is hereby given that Original Letters Testamentary for Docket No. 21-0272-P; Estate of CARL W. COLLINS Deceased; In County Court of Hays County, Texas, were issued on August 25, 2021. JAMES KENT COLLINS The residence address of the administrator is in Harris County, Texas. The mailing address is: 1048 Myers Creek Road Dripping Springs, TX 78620 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 this August 30, 2021 by: WESTON COTTEN Attorney for the Estate

NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SUBDIVIDE An application has been submitted with HAYS COUNTY to subdivide 7.782 acres of property located at along Windy Hill Road, Kyle, TX 78640. Information regarding the application may be obtained from Hays County Development Services (512) 393-2150. Tracking number: PLN-1704-PC.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF CLAUDETTE FRAN WALTERS, DECEASED, NO. 21-0307-P, NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT EXECUTOR Notice is hereby given that on August 25, 2021, Letters Testamentary as Independent

Executor upon the above Estate were issued to: LYNN WOOD WALTERS by the Honorable County Court at Law No. 1 of Hays County, Texas, in Cause No. 21-0307P pending upon the Probate Docket of said Court. All persons having claims against the Estate being administered are hereby requested to present the same within the time prescribed by law to the following: Andréa Villarreal Oaks, Hartline & Daly 5524 Bee Caves Rd., Ste. K-1 Austin, TX 78746

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF WRIGHT M. WOOD aka WRIGHT MATTHEWS WOOD, DECEASED:

CITY OF BUDA Buda, TX IFB 21-009 RM 967 WEST WATER UTILITY RELOCATION SECTION 00 11 13 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed Bids, pursuant to Local Government Code Chapter 252, will be received for the Buda IFB 21-009 RM 967 Water Improvements construction project by the City of Buda – Finance Department, 405 East Loop Street, Building 100, Buda, Texas until 2:00 PM local time on September 21, 2021. Immediately thereafter, the bid proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud in the Multi-Purpose Room at Buda City Hall. The project includes construction of the following improvements: The relocation of waterline along RM967 from roadway STA 174+00 to STA 186+00 and STA 189+00 to STA 202+00, The relocation of waterline crossings of RM967 at roadway STA 155+67 and 189+33 as well as the extension of waterline casing for crossings of RM967 at roadway STA 170+92 and 208+81. 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 as indicated in the Bid Form. The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is: City of Buda – Finance Department, 405 East Loop Street, Building 100, Buda, Texas 78610, Rose Esparza, Purchasing Manager, (512) 523-1015 resparza@ci.buda.tx.us. Prospective Bidders may examine the Bidding Documents at the Issuing Office on Mondays through Fridays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and may obtain copies of the Bidding Documents from the Procurement Website as described below. Bidding Documents may be viewed and ordered online by registering with 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 will post bid opportunities to this site. Prospective Bidders must register with the Procurement Website as a plan holder, even if the Contract Documents are obtained by other means. 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 resold under any circumstances. All official notifications, addenda, and other documents will be offered only through the Procurement Website. The Procurement Website will be updated periodically with Addenda, lists of interested parties, 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, applicable taxes, and shipping method selected by the prospective Bidder. Cost of Bidding Documents and shipping 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. Partial sets of the Bidding Documents will not be available from the Procurement Website. A pre-bid conference will be held at 11:00 a.m. local time on September 9, 2021 at Buda City Hall, 405 East Loop Street, Building 100. Attendance at the pre-bid conference is highly encouraged, but is not mandatory. Bid security shall be furnished in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders. Owner: City of Buda By: John Nett, P.E., CFM Title: City Engineer Date: August 26, 2021

RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING OFFICES, MEETING PLACES AND REGULAR MEETING TIMES STATE OF TEXAS § COUNTY OF HAYS

REUNION RANCH WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF REUNION RANCH WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT 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: Willatt & Flickinger, PLLC 12912 Hill Country Boulevard, Suite F-232 Austin, Texas 78738

Murfee Engineering Company, Inc. 1101 Capital of Texas Highway South, Building D, Suite 110 Austin, Texas 78746

3. The Board will hold a regular monthly meeting at 3:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month, the meeting to be held at Willatt & Flickinger, PLLC, 12912 Hill Country Boulevard, Ste. F-232, Austin, Texas 78738, 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 Willatt & Flickinger, PLLC, 12912 Hill Country Boulevard, Ste. F-232, Austin, Texas 78738for 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 17th day of August, 2021.

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Wright M. Wood aka Wright Matthews Wood, Deceased, were issued on August 16, 2021 in Cause No. 21-0258-P pending in the County Court of Hays County, Texas, to Elizabeth C. Wood. The residence of such Independent Executor is Hays County, Texas. The office address is: Elizabeth C. Wood, Independent Executor c/o Susan G. Sprouse, Esq., Attorney at Law, 11128 Shady Hollow Dr., Austin, Texas 78748. 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 24th day of August, 2021.

Deadline Deadline for classifieds and public notices is anytime Monday prior to the Wednesday publication.

BID NOTICE The Plum Creek Conservation District (PCCD), Lockhart, Texas is requesting sealed bids from qualified, responsible bidders for UPGRADE to Floodwater Retarding Structure Site 2 at Plum Creek Watershed in Hays County, Texas. One award for all items will be made. Performance time is 376 calendar days. Estimated price range is between $5,000,000 and $7,000,000. Major items of work are: 4.4 acre clearing and grubbing; 3,320 LF silt fence; 26.6 acre vegetation, sprigging; 4,000 1000gal. irrigation water; 70,600 CY common excavation; imported earthfill material (1,180 CY type A and 7,700 CY type B); on-site earthfill material (3,520 CY type C; 20,120 CY type D; 6,750 CY type E); drainfill (1,190 CY fine filter; 730 CY coarse filter); 128,930 SY topsoiling; 320 CY concrete structural; 40 CY concrete pipe cradle; 49,000 Lb. reinforcing steel; 3,430 CY roller compacted concrete; 490 Ton cementitious material; 180 LF 48” dia. concrete pressure C301 pipe; 1,080 LF 6” ID PVC plastic pipe; 7,090 Ton rock riprap; 260 CY riprap bedding; 280 LF chain link fence; 3,750 LF barbed wire fence; 7,600 SY geotextile; 610 CY flexbase; and 1 Job Lump Sum each (fence removal, existing principal spillway removal, pollution control, irrigation system, construction surveys, mobilization and demobilization, removal of water, 12”x12” water control slide gate, metal fabrications, contractor quality control, conduit abandonment, and geotechnical instrumentation). [LF: lin.ft.; CY: cu.yd.; SY: sq. yd.] PCCD reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids. A 5 percent bid guarantee is required. The successful bidder will be required to furnish performance and payment bonds. Invitation for Bids (IFB) documents will be available electronically beginning September 2, 2021. Complete IFB documents and a Plan Holders Registration Form / Terms & Conditions may be viewed and downloaded at no charge from the Plum Creek Conservation District website: https://pccd.org/ and click on Job Bids tab and then IFB No. PCCD-21-PCW2Upgrade-03. Contact Daniel Meyer (512) 398-2383 if you have problems downloading documents. No printed copies of the IFBs will be distributed to interested parties, but a printed copy is available for viewing at the PCCD office. Sealed bids will be received on September 30, 2021, at PCCD office, 1101 W. San Antonio Street, Lockhart, Texas 78644 until 10:00 a.m. local time. Electronic, facsimile, and telegraphic bids will not be considered. A Pre-bid Conference and Site Showing will be held on September 14, 2021 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the PCCD office. COVID-19 Alert: Anyone entering the PCCD office building is encouraged to follow guidelines of the CDC. By entering those attending will represent to PCCD that they are aware of CDC recommendations to avoid the spread of the Virus and, to the extent possible, are compliant with the recommendations; that they are not having symptoms of the Virus as described by the CDC and/or the Texas Department of State Health Services; and have not knowingly been in contact with others who have such symptoms.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS County Line Special Utility District (CLSUD) is seeking bids on three projects: 1. Separate sealed Bids for the CLSUD – STATE HIGHWAY 21 GRAVITY MAIN, SWE Project No. 0017-065-20 will be received by and at the office of the General Manager, CLSUD office, 8870 Camino Real, Uhland, Texas 78640 until 10:00 AM, Wednesday, September 15, 2021 where they will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bids must be clearly marked on the outside of the envelope or package with the words “CLSUD – State Highway 21 Gravity Main”. Bids received after this time will be rejected and returned unopened. Project consists of, but is not limited to the following: Furnish and install approximately 8,040 L.F. of 8”, 12”, & 15” PVC SDR-26 Wastewater Pipe, bored steel casing, concrete manholes, concrete, asphalt and base repair, trench safety, wastewater services, force main and wet well connection and traffic and erosion control. 2. Separate sealed Bids for the CLSUD – DOWNTOWN UHLAND FORCE MAIN, SWE Project No. 0017-065-20 will be received by and at the office of the General Manager, CLSUD office, 8870 Camino Real, Uhland, Texas 78640 until 10:15 AM, Wednesday, September 15, 2021 where they will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bids must be clearly marked on the outside of the envelope or package with the words “CLSUD – Downtown Uhland Force Main”. Bids received after this time will be rejected and returned unopened. Project consists of, but is not limited to the following: Furnish and install approximately 7,360 L.F. of 10” PVC C-900 DR-18 Force Main Pipe, 178 L.F. 15” SDR 26 Gravity Main Pipe, concrete manhole, air release valve assembly, gate valve, ductile iron fittings, sand embedment, trench safety, connection to existing manhole and erosion control. 3. Separate sealed Bids for the CLSUD – DOWNTOWN UHLAND LIFT STATION, SWE Project No. 0017-065-20 will be received by and at the office of the General Manager, CLSUD office, 8870 Camino Real, Uhland, Texas 78640 until 10:30 AM, Wednesday, September 15, 2021 where they will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bids must be clearly marked on the outside of the envelope or package with the words “CLSUD – Downtown Uhland Lift Station”. Bids received after this time will be rejected and returned unopened. Project consists of, but is not limited to the following: Furnish and install concrete wet well, submersible wastewater pumps and accessories, 15” influent wastewater pipe, 10” ductile iron discharge pipe, fittings and valves, 6” PVC wet well vent pipe, drain pipe, electrical improvements and controls, compacted limestone base and site grading, concrete equipment pads, chain link security fence, ¾” water service and erosion control. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION APPLIES TO ALL THREE PROJECTS: “In accordance with DSHS guidance, the County Line Special Utility District is practicing good hygiene, environmental cleanliness and sanitation, and implementing social distancing by minimizing social gatherings; therefore, no more than ten (10) people can attend the bid opening and each person in attendance should also be practicing good hygiene and will be required to implement social distancing to minimize in-person contact. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/93130843736?pwd=WU9LYzlZRnM0elJTVXA0d3BRS2FyZz09 Meeting ID: 931 3084 3736 Passcode: _EkwPjsVqn

Each Bidder shall also include the time when he can begin work and the number of days needed to complete the project as part of his bid. This may factor into the award of the project. The Information for Bidders, Bid, Bid Bond, Contract, Plans, Specifications, Performance and Payment Bonds and the Contract Documents may be examined at the following location: SOUTHWEST ENGINEERS, INC., 307 ST. LAWRENCE STREET, GONZALES, TEXAS 78629 (830) 672-7546. Plans and Specifications for each project are available at the office of Southwest Engineers, Inc. in two formats: Hard Copy - $80.00 (Non-Refundable)/per project, Download - $25.00 (Non-Refundable)/per project. A Bid Bond in the amount of 5% of the bid issued by an acceptable surety registered with the U.S. Treasury shall be submitted with each bid. A certified check payable to the CLSUD may be submitted in lieu of the Bid Bond. Attention is called to the fact that not less than the federally determined prevailing (Davis-Bacon and Related Acts) Wage Rate, as issued by the U.S. Department of Labor and contained in the Contract Documents, must be paid on this project. In addition, the successful bidder must ensure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual identity, gender identity or national origin. The CLSUD reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any informalities in the bidding.

/s/ Dennis Daniel, President, Board of Directors Reunion Ranch WCID

Bids may be held by the CLSUD for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days from the date of the bid opening for the purpose of reviewing the bids and investigating the bidder's qualifications prior to the contract award.

/s/ Ronald F. Meyer, Secretary, Board of Directors Reunion Ranch WCID

July 30, 2021 CLSUD Chris Betz, President

ATTEST:

d se nt

Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch • September 1, 2021

Page 9

Classifieds PUBLIC NOTICES IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR COLLEGE ACCESS AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL FAMILY ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOPS

PRAYER

tor of Procurement, at Daniel. Garza@ideaublicschools. org. Submission deadline is September 17, 2021 at 3 PM CST. To be eligible for consideration, electronically locked proposals should be

#3-RFP-GNRL-2022

received via Tyler Munis or by mail to the IDEA Public Schools Headquarters. Proposals received after this time will not be accepted and returned unopened

MIRACULOUS PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus, In the past, I have asked for favors. This time I ask you for a very special one (mention one). Take it Dear Jesus and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in your merciful eyes it will become your favor not mine. Amen.

WANTED

IDEA Public Schools and affiliated entities (IDEA) is accepting proposals from companies that can provide family engagement workshops focused on social emotional learning and college access in accordance with instructions, specifications, terms and conditions contained in the RFP. More information can be found at https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/ finance-budget/ or, to receive a copy of the solicitation, contact Daniel Garza, Direc-

EMPLOYMENT

DIRECT CARE COUNSELORS

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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.

TIM KINGSLEY PLUMBING LLC

MASTER LICENSES # 15759 Looking for a Repair Plumber and New Construction Plumber. Benefits offered and salary negotiable. Call Matt Kingsey 512 487-1787

Texas Press Statewide Advertising Network

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Regional advertising starts at $250 per week.

For more information, email tracy@haysfreepress.com or call 512-433-0926

INSERTION once per Week in Weekly or Weekend Editions through September 5, 2021 2 column x fit to length In Classifieds Help Wanted TEAR SHEETS MUST ACCOMPANY BILLING IN ORDER TO RENDER PAYMENT Tear sheets may be emailed to jobs@rmcdq.com

DRIPPING SPRINGS DAIRY QUEEN NOW HIRING

Contact : Heather Allen heatherallen@rmcdq.com 940 549-5041 ext 300

TEAM MEMBERS Hiring up to $12 per hour

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What We Offer: Competitive Pay Paid Holidays and Vacation Incentive Pay Potential and Career Advancement Positions for Management and Team Members available in other locations. APPLY ONLINE: www.richesondq.com

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Available AvailableSept. Sept.15 15••$1,650 $1,650(water (waterincluded) included) 22BR BR 1.5 1.5BA BA small smallstudy study fenced fencedyard yard

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Opportunities Include: 2 BR TDS IS Landscape Workers, Welder, CDL Drivers, 1.5 BA NOW HIRING!

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Call Cyndy • 512-753-2700• 1st • 1st&&last lastmonth monthrent rentrequired, required,plus plusdeposit deposit Call Cyndy • 512-753-2700 1 mile north HaysHigh HighSchool School• Rent • Rentincludes includeswater water 1 mile north ofofHays

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Call Cyndy • 512-753-2700 • 1st & last month rent required, plus deposit 1 mile north of Hays High School • Rent includes water

Sign-On Bonus Available* *Certain positions

Page 10

Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch • September 1, 2021

Food Bank Donations Continued from pg. 7

tion Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and unemployment helped reduce the number of people seeking help, this is likely to change in the coming months as services across the country are striving to go ‘back to normal.’ HCFB is encouraging donations and volunteers during the month of September in recognition of Hunger Action Month, an effort by Feeding America to raise awareness about the hunger epidemic in the United States. According to Feeding America, COVID has most impacted families that were already facing hunger. Many of these households have children, and many do not qualify for federal nutrition programs like SNAP as they don’t meet the poverty level — despite not making enough to afford housing/ rent, utilities, child care, health care and groceries. Instead, families in need often turn to local food banks and pantries.

From January through July of this year, HCFB has provided food to an average of 2,300 individuals a week. HCFB communications coordinator Mallory Best said that the food bank works with local grocery and restaurant partners, donors, volunteers and other nonprofit organizations to help fill the gap so that households are not going without a basic human need – food. “Food insecurity is very much a reality in our county, and hunger is an issue we should all be fighting together,” Best said. “Let’s erase the stigma of asking for help. Nobody should go without food.” Best said the food bank is encouraging residents in the county to join in and take steps to eradicate food insecurity locally during Hunger Action Month. “Volunteer, advocate, donate funds, donate food, host a food drive or fundraise,” Best said.

“Even if you do not have the means to donate, you can use your voice to share information about food insecurity in our community and help the food bank provide for those in need. Use your social media, share among your friends and family and speak with your churches, clubs and groups.” If you or someone you know is needing assis-

tance from HCFB, one of the following criteria must be met: have a household income at or below the 185% of the Federal Poverty Level, participate in one of the following government assistance programs (SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income, National School Lunch Program or Medicaid) or have a temporary

food emergency such as a loss of job, loss of sole provider or a disaster. Beginning Sept. 1, the food bank will have a new distribution schedule: drive-through every Monday (starting Sept. 13) from 5-5:45 p.m. in the San Marcos Library and Activity Center parking lot, walk-up every Tuesday from 12-12:45 p.m. at St Anthony’s Catholic Church

in Kyle, drive-through on the first Wednesday of every month (starting Sept. 8) from 5-5:45 p.m. at Cypress Creek Church in Wimberley and drivethrough every Thursday from 12-12:45 p.m. at Connection Church in Buda. For more information on how to donate or volunteer with the food bank, visit www.haysfoodbank. org.

We proudly support our hometown talent Texas hometown friendly bank

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401 E. Hwy 290W. P.O. Box 1243 Dripping Springs, TX 78620

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Where to donate for the Hays County Food Bank

Beginning Sept. 1, the food bank will have a new distribution schedule: drive-through every Monday (starting Sept. 13) from 5-5:45 p.m. in the San Marcos Library and Activity Center parking lot, walk-up every Tuesday from 12-12:45 p.m. at St Anthony’s Catholic Church in Kyle, drive-through on the first Wednesday of every month (starting Sept. 8) from 5-5:45 p.m. at Cypress Creek Church in Wimberley and drive-through every Thursday from 12-12:45 p.m. at Connection Church in Buda. You can also leave donations at the donation box at the Hays Free Press located at 113 W. Center Street in Kyle.

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