SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 DRUG CRISIS
STATE NEWS
City of Kyle approves $52,000 opioid settlement.
Secretary of State announces election audits.
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Hays Free Press HaysFreePress.com
Vol. 127 • No. 27
Serving Hays County, TX
County slashes tax rate, but home owners will pay more BY SAHAR CHMAIS Hays County commissioners decreased the tax rate by 8% for FY22, but that rate drop still means increased taxes on homeowners as home values
continue to rise. As tax payments continue to increase for residents, State Rep. Erin Zwiener (D-Driftwood) introduced HB 115 to provide relief to homeowners. “In Hays County, which
is the second fastest growing county in the nation, homeowners are painfully aware of rising housing costs,” Zwiener said. “When property valuations increase at such a rapid pace, tax bills follow,
and homeowners are forced to choose between leaving their homes and other financial sacrifices. Skyrocketing tax bills are unmanageable for homeowners and force many to relocate outside of their
community.” HB 115 would double the homestead tax exemption from $25,000 to $50,000. For Hays County residents, that could mean savings between $260 to $350.
Kyle trail system will connect Austin to San Antonio The system will connect to new and existing trails in the city and feature different “vybes” along the trail, including restaurants, shops and amenities like bathrooms and parking. BY BRITTANY ANDERSON Kyle is one step closer to being part of the trail system that will connect Austin to San Antonio through the Great Springs Project. In a 6-1 vote, Kyle City Council approved the trail system, tentatively named The Vybe. Dex Ellison was the lone vote against. The system will connect to new and existing trails in the city and feature different “vybes” along the trail, including restaurants, shops and amenities like bathrooms and parking. Funding for The Vybe comes from a bond passed by residents in
TRAIL VYBES, 6
This year’s tax rate will be 38.67 cents per $100 valuation – the lowest adopted rate since 1990. Before commissioners unanimously approved
COUNTY TAX RATE, 5
Kyle hosts Dialogue for Peace, Hispanic Heritage Month SAHAR CHMAIS
The Railhouse revived under new ownership “I want my girlfriend and kids, patrons and their wives to be comfortable here by themselves or with their significant others, so we will be very hard on security,”
BY SAHAR CHMAIS KYLE – The Railhouse is coming back and bringing with it live music, bbq, family entertainment and late night outings. The establishment opened its doors on Sept. 23, and thousands of patrons flooded the venue. After former owners announced permanent closure, citing COVID-19 and “other factors,” the Railhouse sat untouched for 18 months – until Flip Lockhoof, new owner, Trevor Fletcher, part-owner and director of operations, and others decided to invest in the bar. “We own two bars in Austin, but we fell in love with Kyle,” Lockhoof said. “Everyone has been so welcoming and everyone has been great
–Flip Lockhoof, new Railhouse owner
at helping us out. The reaction on social media has been unbelievable.” The two said they want to bring a nice family establishment to town, so kids will be allowed in until 9 p.m. Residents will also enjoy eating housemade bbq, a full bar, sports on large television screens and drop down projectors, indoor games such as shuffleboard and pool, fire pits outdoors and live music. Their typical concert will welcome 500 attendees, but once a
Coming Up BUDA CANDIDATES FORUM OCT. 6
BUDA – The public is invited to attend or view online the Buda candidates forum. The Buda Chambersponsored forum will feature three candidates seeking the at-large position currently held by Councilman Ray Bryant, who is not seeking reelection. Candidates for the atlarge position – LaVonia
Horne-Williams, Emily Jones and Virginia Jurika – will be in attendance. Current District A Councilman Paul Daugereau is running unopposed. Executive Director JR Gonzales said, “Because of COVID, we were only able to host the event online last year and we had over 120 people watch online. This year, we will be in the City Hall Multipurpose room and we are allowing limited in
PUBLIC NOTICES
See what’s developing in your community.
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month, the bar will host a larger show, welcoming between 1,500 to 2,000 attendees, Lockhoof said. They have already booked music events throughout September and October with a variety of local artists. The new owners said they have taken many measures to ensure top safety for customers, especially during live music crowds. Measures include bar security and keeping an eye out on people who may not be able to drive
person seating. We will also be livestreaming the event as well.” The forum will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 6, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Buda Municipal Complex in the multi-purpose room. All participants will be required to wear a mask.
FAR & NEAR ART EXHIBIT BUDA – Assemblage Contemporary Craftsman Gallery is excited to present Far & Near: Recent Work by Debbie Carroll on exhibit Friday,
safely and requesting an Uber for them. Additionally, the management has met with the Kyle Police Chief, Captain and Lieutenant about getting help if there is ever an issue. “I think the Kyle partnership with Uber is awesome,” Fletcher said. “We’re going to do our best to utilize that as much as possible.” Lockhoof added that they will not allow guns at the bar, regardless of the state laws, saying he does not want guns and liquor to be mixed. “I want my girlfriend and kids, patrons and their wives to be comfortable here by themselves or with their significant others, so we will be very hard on security,” Lockhoof said. “We will run people out that don’t fit the mold in terms of being a nice environment.”
Oct. 8 through Oct. 31. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8. The reception is free, open to the public; refreshments will be served and the artist will be in attendance. Inspired by landscape, Debbie Carroll paints scenes from her travels throughout the Southwest and is equally inspired by what she sees in her own backyard. Carroll resides in West Texas where she enjoys Plein Air painting as a regular part of her art practice in addition to her studio work.
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Kyle has the largest Hispanic residential rate in Hays County, at nearly 50 percent. On Friday, Oct. 1, Kyle will host a Dialogue for Peace and Progress event for National Hispanic Heritage Month, like past dialogue events hosted for Black History Month and Juneteenth. “In conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month, the Dialogues for Peace and Progress will serve as a platform for open and honest conversations regarding significant issues faced by Hispanic and Latino individuals, but also to celebrate the accomplishments, heritage and culture of the Hispanic community,” said City Council member Dex Ellison. “We are immensely grateful to our panelists for taking the time to speak to us about their experiences and share how the city of Kyle can work to recognize Hispanic and Latino communities.” Ellison will moderate the discussion with eight panelists including: Dr. Claude Bonazzo-Romaguera, Rubén Castañeda, Marcelina Rodriguez Garcia, Angie Villescaz, Benito Pereda, Richard Dixon, Jesús Jiménez and Dr. Octavio Pimentel. In addition, the Kyle Public Library will host “Vaquero: Genesis of the Texas Cowboy,” now through Oct. 13. This exhibition by the Wittliff Collections at the Alkek Library, Texas State University, is presented in partnership with Humanities Texas, the state affiliate for the National Endowment for the Humanities. The exhibition captures the Vaqueros way of life through photographs taken in the early 1970s in northern Mexico. For information about viewing hours or to arrange a group visit, contact Adult Services Librarian Jesus Hernandez at 512-268-7411. To attend the Dialogue for Peace and Progress, residents can go in-person to Kyle City Hall. The event can also be streamed online through Kyle10, the City’s YouTube channel and the City of Kyle Facebook page. For more information, visit www. cityofkyle.com/dialogue.