OCTOBER 20, 2021 FLU WHO?
REDISTRICTING
Flu shots essential this year says local doctor.
Zwiener to stay in HD 45 after House approval.
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© Barton Publications, Inc.
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Hays Free Press HaysFreePress.com
Vol. 127 • No. 30
Serving Hays County, TX
Cultural arts district possible in Buda BY BRITTANY ANDERSON
BUDA – Some members of the community are looking to expand on grassroots art programs and initiatives within Buda. Maggie Gillespie, Main Street program manager and assistant director of
Destination Services, gave a presentation on the artist movement within the city to the council Oct. 12. Part of the presentation included an art and cultural development analysis from Linda Chido, co-chair of the Buda Area Artist Collective. The analysis included recom-
mendations for a cultural masterplan for the city, the creation of an arts commission, an AIPP (Art in Public Places) policy and the process of creating a cultural arts district for the city. “According to the Texas Commission on the Arts, supporting local arts can
be a powerful economic development asset,” Gillespie said, while noting that the qualifications for creating a cultural arts district are a “bit tedious” and can take several years. Within the district, there must be a tracking
CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT, 14
“Cultural arts are woven into the fabric of Buda’s history. Local artists are part of what make Buda unique and contribute to the small town charm that we have.” –Maggie Gillespie, Main Street program manager and assistant director of Destination Services
HCISD considers aerospace program at Johnson BY BRITTANY ANDERSON An aerospace program that has seen students go work for NASA, SpaceX and other space travel industries is being considered for Johnson High School (JHS). Hays CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright presented board members with information regarding SystemsGo during the agenda review meeting on Oct. 18. SystemsGo is a project-based rocketry program that began in 1996 by Fredericksburg High School teacher Brett Williams in his Principles of Technology class. The program has since expanded to 85 schools across Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. In the program, students design and launch their own rockets, gaining experience within the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) field. Wright said that while an aerospace course has been offered at Johnson High School, the district didn’t have the facilities needed in order to culminate the experience with rocket launches that are “crucial to the program.” The four-year program starts with an Introduction to
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PHOTOS BY SAHAR CHMAIS Hundreds of attendees turned out for the first Buda Rodeo Saturday night at Pinballz Kingdom. See page 9 for more photos.
YEEE-HAWWWW!
Maybe this is not your first rodeo, but it was Buda’s BY SAHAR CHMAIS
of music and children, topped off with the smell For the first time in of beer. decades, Buda put on a Spectators clung to the rodeo that wrangled up rusty metal bars as they more than 1,000 resicheered on the bull riders dents. and mutton busters. For one chilly night, “While we say Buda the Pinballz Kingdom is a place to breathe parking lot turned into easy, the bull riding and a haven of cowboy hats, mutton busting caused barbecue food, the sound plenty of heart-stopping
Coming Up MAKER’S MARKET
Christmas gifts, baked goods and quilts and crafts will be on hand at the Maker’s Holiday Marketplace Nov. 5-6 at the Onion Creek Senior Citizens Center, 420 Bartons Crossing in Buda. The event will be held from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. both days. All proceeds support the center. Spots are still available for vendors. Call 512-6674516 for information.
TIME TO VOTE
Local elections and many propositions are on the ballot Nov. 2. Early voting has already begun and will continue across the county Friday, Oct. 29. In Hays County, there are 156,168 registered voters, as of Oct. 6. Early voting locations are listed within this edition.
DECREASE
COVID hospitalizations down in Hays County.
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and breathless moments at the Buda Rodeo,” said John Hatch, chairman of Buda Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC). “Another great event by the Buda Area Chamber of Commerce.” The riders had the audience gasping, but the winner, Elvin Oliveria from Brazil, stole
KYLE’S CENTER STREET TRICK-OR-TREAT
Be sure to head to Burleson Street in Kyle on Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon for the annual trickor-treat event. There will be booths in theme throughout the area. Wear your costumes, as there will be a costume-judging contest at 10 a.m. and pumpkin decorating contest at 11:30 a.m. Pumpkins must be decorated on site, and pumpkins and paint will be provided.
the show by scoring 86.5 points. Oliveria and Michael Earl were the only two riders who stayed on their bulls for over eight seconds. Oliveria roped in a purse of more than $1,600 and Earl secured a purse of more than $1,000. Residents showed
BUDA PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL
See works from the Buda Plein Air Festival Oct. 22 through Nov. 13. The opening reception is from 5-7 p.m. Friday, until the closing reception from 4-5 p.m. Nov. 13.
NEED TO GET RID OF PRESCRIPTIONS?
Anyone with old prescription drugs can go by the Kyle Police Department for medical disposal. Drugs disposed of improperly by flushing can contaminate groundwater, so a secure dropoff is being provided at 11 N. Front St. in Kyle.
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
their excitement for getting back to community activities, and the BACC complied with that request. “We had more people show up for this event than expected,” said BACC Director J.R. Gonzales. “We are already
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Woman found dead in Kyle CVS parking lot BY SAHAR CHMAIS A woman was found dead in her vehicle around 10 a.m. on Oct. 13, but time of death is still unknown.
BODY FOUND, 14