November 30, 2022 Hays Free Press

Hays Free Press

Doral Academy parents speak out over health and safety concerns

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

BUDA — On Nov. 7, nearly 40 Doral Academy parents gathered in a small classroom to bring attention to the health and safety concerns they have for their children.

When Brandon Hall, a former Army recruiter, asked why the security guard for the school was not armed that day, Doral Academy Superintendent/ Principal Jennifer DeSousa said, “It just happened to be a bad day.”

In a separate interview, Hall said he called Doral’s office after the Uvalde shooting in May. An assistant redirected him to DeSousa, who contacted

him about an hour or so later.

“She [DeSousa] called me and told me that they will have an armed security guard there,” Hall said.

Hall also said that DeSousa had told him there would be cameras and a monitor inside the foyer.

“That monitor was on the day that we showed up [on Nov. 7] — that’s the first time I’ve seen that monitor on,” he said.

He noted that the security guards have been changing, and so are the uniforms.

“Sometimes it’d be a white shirt and probably light pants, and now we have light blue and dark pants,” Hall observed.

There is not a crosswalk or a school zone sign, causing several parents to be concerned for their children’s safety.

“It’s pretty late in the year. They [Doral Academy] started in August, and here we are in November about to go on Thanksgiving break, and we still don’t have something essential as street safety,” Victoria Hall, Brandon’s wife, added.

Teachers are not present outside monitoring the kids who walk to and from school. Teachers only monitor children who are getting picked up and dropped off by vehicles, parents said.

And the Halls are not the only parents concerned

Public defender’s office gets green light

BY MEGAN WEHRING

HAYS COUNTY – The long-awaited public defender’s office (PDO) is moving forward in Hays County.

On Nov. 22, the Hays County Commissioners Court unanimously approved an agreement between the county and Neighborhood Defender Service, Inc. (NDS), though the contract was originally supposed to be ready in August. The $11,282,910 (or about $2.256 mil. annually) contract is effective through Sept. 30, 2027, but can be renewed for another five-year term.

In August 2021, the court allocated up to $5 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to create

a PDO. Now, the remainder of the funding will need to be budgeted. The contract states that if the court fails to appropriate funding for the agreement for the following fiscal year, the county may terminate the contract after giving NDS a 60-day notice of the terminated contract.

NDS will be assigned up to the equivalent of 1,434 misdemeanor

cases annually over the term of the contract for years two through five, according to the contract, where a misdemeanor counts as one misdemeanor case and a felony counts as 1.87 misdemeanor cases. The caseload will be prorated for the partial, first year of the contract.

Cyrus Gray III, a former inmate of the Hays County Jail, was incarcerated for nearly five years pretrial.

Many offenders would

County Pet Resource Center in the works

Austin Pets Alive! chosen to run

BY MEGAN WEHRING

HAYS COUNTY –

Austin Pets Alive! has been chosen to run the Pet Resource Center.

The Hays County Commissioners Court awarded a request for proposals contract to Austin Pets Alive! and authorized staff and general counsel to negotiate a contract on Nov. 22. Earlier on Sept. 27, the court approved a request for proposals for an organization to assist with the creation, development and operation of a Pet Resource Center.

“I have long envisioned this center, working with a variety of animal advocates and organizations to get one step closer to a holistic, centralized Pet Resource Center that also addresses human social services, which will be paramount to supporting our underserved community,” said Judge Ruben Becerra

in a Facebook post. “With Austin Pets Alive! and Hays County at the helm, our pets are one step closer to this new reality.”

Austin Pets Alive! was founded in 1997 by attorney James Collins and his thenwife Judy Ford as an all-volunteer advocacy group to help increase homeless companion animal lifesaving. The organization not your average animal shelter; it pioneers innovating lifesaving programs designed to save animals most at risk of euthanasia.

A contract will be brought back before the commissioners court to approve and finalize the contract award.

County court approves community feline policy

BY MEGAN WEHRING

HAYS COUNTY – Hays County is working to address issues stemming from the presence of community cats.

On Nov. 22, the Hays County Commissioners Court approved an interim community cat management policy

to move toward the recommendations of a feasibility study conducted by Team Shelter USA.

Assistant General Counsel Jordan Powell presented the following revisions to the draft resolution, which is provided to the court and the public in the backup agenda documents,

recommended by animal advocacy advisor Sharri Boyett:

• Add ‘and may or may not possess discernible identification’ to the fifth paragraph: “Community cats shall be defined as any free-roaming cat that may or may not be socialized”

• Erase ‘ear-tipped

and’ from the seventh paragraph: “In line with the ideals of the City and the Animal Shelter the County desires to exempt Community Cats that are ear-tipped and sterilized from any licensing, stray, abandonment, or at-large provisions directed toward owned animals”

• Remove ‘home’ from

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the final paragraph: “Hays County supports the practice of returning Community Cats to their original home locations and in furtherance of such practice, Community Cats shall be exempted from licensing, stray, abandonment, and at-

about the health and safety of their kids.

Rona Walton, another Doral Academy parent, was notified by a fellow parent

Sunday evening, Nov. 6, that there was no longer a nurse at the charter as of Friday, Nov. 4 — but not by the school.

During the parent meeting, parents complained about not

PHOTO BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

“The time inspired me to advocate for men and women who unfortunately, are and have been experiencing the same thing I had,” Gray said. “Court-appointed attorneys are overloaded with cases and have such a lack of resources that the expectation of adequate fair defense seems impossible.”

CHARTER SCHOOLS

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Judge Ruben Becerra (left) stands with Cyrus Gray III (second from right) and his parents after the commissioners court approved the creation of a public defender’s office.

Kyle directs staff

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

KYLE — City council unanimously agreed to direct staff to bring back proposals as discussed for the 104 S. Burleson Project.

Initially, the budget for this project was $10.4 million, but now it’s $14.9 million due to increasing construction and building material costs.

“Basically, what we wanted to do was include all the costs that are going to be required for you to open and have a functional building. What we didn’t want to do was selectively choose what’s in and out of the budget for your purposes because then you’re left with a building that you may open, and it may not be functional,” said Ryan Rosborough, AG|CM vice president.

”Everybody knows what the market is right now. It’s crazy out there; it’s bananas. And so we want to make sure that we’re doing the right thing and accounting

for that because right now nobody has all the answers,” Rosborough said.

The cost is only an estimate until the design is 100% complete and once the subtractor bids are bought out, a sizable financial gap of roughly $4.5 million in the project had city council concerned.

According to Finance Director Perwez Moheet, key items not included in the budget are Geotech study/analysis, survey, commissioning cost and alleyway improvement cost — all items the city will still have to spend money on.

“So $4.5 million gap with 50% of the structure unfinished with these major items unaccounted for yet … in my opinion, your gap is closer to $7 to $8 million. So now, I have to work with the city manager to come up with financial solutions to cover this gap,” Moheet said.

“Mind you, I can’t do that in a vacuum because I have other projects, other

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

For Jessica Taylor, coffee has long been a vehicle of connection — her coffee brand blends this idea of connectivity with culture and delicious flavors for a unique caffeine experience.

Taylor founded Ezra Coffee in 2021. The idea originally started off as a “passion project” stemming from her childhood memories of drinking coffee with her

sister and grandparents in Texarkana.

Into adulthood, Taylor would often roast beans and come up with different flavors at home for fun. At one of her annual parties celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day, one of her friends tried a cup and suggested she sell it.

While she considered her coffee-making as something she and her sister enjoyed doing together “on the side,”

back budget proposals for Burleson Project

higher priority projects that are near completion for which I have to also find supplemental funding, nondebt funding sources to fill those gaps.”

Examples Moheet used were the Public Safety Center, which has a $1 million gap, along with the Railroad Crossing project, which has a gap due to cost escalation.

“Bond financing is not an option unless council is willing to raise property taxes. So that option is off the floor,” Moheet said. “My short answer is no. My long answer is, it depends.”

The schematic design shows that the structure will be three stories tall, with the first floor being designed as a restaurant. The second floor will be a for-rent office space for private companies and the third floor will be a community space.

Council member Daniela Parsley thought that if financing was an option, the council should look into it.

“What we make out of this building is going to set a mark for whatever comes next. So, I don’t want to go cheap or reduce on the design of the building or what we are looking for because then we’re not setting that standard,” Parsley said.

Council member Yvonne Flores-Cale said she doesn’t want to see more bonds and more financing.

“With the way the economy is, there is no guarantee our housing prices or housing values are gonna sustain where they are now, so if we get

into a year where the ad valorem tax is a lot less than we expected, I don’t want to have a half-finished project,” Flores-Cale said. The city will spend time trying to match the design with funding sources and bring back that item at a later meeting.

Taylor got to work sending out Google surveys to her friends to get feedback on blends she created, testing the waters to see if it would be a viable business venture or remain a hobby.

“I have a lot of friends that say, ‘I don’t like coffee; it’s too bitter, it’s too strong, it’s too acidic,’” Taylor said. “I went to a local coffee house and they were telling me about things and I was understanding that different [blends] provided different notes and flavor profiles.”

“Growing up, my grandparents drank Folgers or Maxwell or whatever it was they had in the house. So it wasn’t until I started traveling around that I started noticing there were different notes,” Taylor continued. “One thing I wondered was, ‘Well, if I mix these two, what kind of flavor would this give me?’ So you’ll notice that all of Ezra uses mixedorigins. We don’t have any single-origin blends. We wanted to create a good, balanced flavor of a couple of different flavor notes.”

All six of Ezra’s blends are all allergen-friendly. Her sister has a soy and nut allergy and is lactose intolerant, which challenged Taylor to flavor her blends in a way that didn’t need any milkbased additives.

“I wanted to come up

with flavors that were specific to the African American diaspora,” Taylor said. “One thing that I really enjoy is sweet potatoes and candied yams … More importantly, I enjoyed the story behind how the yams came from Ghana, West Africa to the United States and how Dr. George Washington Carver used them,” referencing Ezra’s Candied Yams blend.

In terms of picking the flavors, notes and beans, Taylor said that a majority of the beans come from Ethiopia and Kenya, with Ethiopian beans being the base for many of the blends.

The whole brand comes together with its messaging: honoring Black history and figures while wrapped in beautiful Ghanaian Adinkra symbology packaging.

Taylor explained that Ezra’s blends are named after significant events and individuals “within our collective American history,” focusing on historic Black activists and Black culture. Her personal favorite blend, 64th & Tulsa, highlights the presidential signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and reflects on Tulsa’s Black Wall Street.

Other blends include Lorde Baldwin, honoring Audre Lorde and James Baldwin, and King Malcolm, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcom X. Cognac-infused blend Le Grand Duc 1928 pays homage to Eugene Ballard and the Toasted Southern Pecan blend remembers enslaved horticulturist Antoine who domesticated the pecan in Louisiana.

“It’s our progression through darkness,” Taylor said. “With Ezra, I really

wanted it to be when people are drinking our coffee or when they’re looking at the packaging, they can leave and say, ‘Wow, I didn’t know that.’ We want them to leave saying they know something different, not just a story rooted in adversity and hardship, but to celebrate the different things that we may not always hear about and celebrate the stories of amazing people.”

Taylor also comes from a background of diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education and teaching experience and found a way to incorporate this into the company.

“Ezra means, ‘he who helps them’ in Hebrew,” she said. “We use a portion of our proceeds to provide scholarships to students who are attending four year institutions. This year, we provided scholarships to students attending Howard University, Alabama State University and Southern University.”

As far as overcoming the feat of getting her coffee on store shelves, Taylor said that expanding into

H-E-B felt aligned with her purpose of remaining faithful and intentional with her brand’s mission and potential partnerships.

“They [H-E-B] weren’t the only ones who reached out, but I really felt a connection with them,” Taylor said. “Our goal is always to expand into more stores, but that will be determined by H-E-B and their team in terms of where we will be placed next. So, you know, people have to go out, shop us, and let people know they want us there so we can actually grow to those spaces,” adding that there are goals to expand offerings in terms of flavors and into products like K-cups.

Locally, Ezra Coffee is available at H-E-B in Pflugerville, Elgin and several San Antonio locations. Visit www. ezracoffeeco.com to purchase, find more information on Ezra’s story or flavors or to join their subscription list and receive monthly blends either chosen by you or an Ezra team member for a surprise. Ezra Coffee is also available online at Target.

MAP/DESIGN COURTESY

Hays County Food Bank tackles food insecurity

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

HAYS COUNTY

Food insecurity in our community is a year-round problem, but during the holidays when many are gathering with loved ones around big tables of food, this problem can be exacerbated.

The Hays County Food Bank (HCFB), which serves all of Hays County, is always on a mission to help feed families and erase the stigma associated with needing food assistance. The numbers are staggering: so far in 2022, HCFB has served more than 122,000 people with nearly 940,000 pounds of food distributed.

Now, with the colder months among us, combating food insecurity by providing access to assistance is needed more than ever.

Recently, HCFB’s 16th Annual Turkeys Tackling Hunger campaign saw 1,500 households in need

receive a Thanksgiving meal of turkey, plus sides and fresh produce.

“There was a greater need this year for sure,” said Iris Tate, communications coordinator for HCFB. “We opened registration later this year, but we still filled our max capacity of 1,500 pretty quickly. The need is definitely higher now, even more than during the peak of the pandemic, just with the rising costs of everything.”

While Turkeys Tackling Hunger is the food bank’s only “holiday” themed event, Tate said that the food bank will continue with its regular distribution schedule throughout Christmastime and into the New Year; the food bank will also be at Budafest on Dec. 3.

Tate encouraged the community to get into the holiday spirit and put together their own food drives with their organizations, churches, gyms or apartment complexes. She noted that

PUBLIC, from page 1

go three months to a year without hearing or seeing court-appointed attorneys, Gray pointed out in public comments.

"With such a lack of resources and overload of cases, the fault is not entirely on the courtappointed attorneys," Gray said. "It is the system in whole. Having a public

defender’s office will create much needed relief. To reduce the workload will allow our court-appointed attorneys to focus on the cases that they do have.”

Gray added that the majority of those incarcerated are pretrial detainees, therefore, considered innocent until proven guilty.

monetary donations can be tax-deductible and just $1 can help provide three meals.

Donations to the food bank also benefit its “last mile sites,” or entities like schools, churches and shelters who hold their own micro-distributions. Currently, the food bank is working with 22 last mile sites, which helps to extend its reach to even more community members in need.

Of course, initiatives like this wouldn’t be possible without the hundreds of community members who come far and wide to support the food bank, whether it's through monetary or food donations or volunteering their time to collect or distribute food.

“We have great volunteer support,” Tate said. “An overwhelming amount came [to Turkeys Tackling Hunger] and were able to experience the joy of handing out meals. Our clients are super appreciative, and

“A public defender’s office provides a sense of relief and resources needed to expedite these cases,” Gray said.

Gray is appreciative of the county’s efforts in the creation of a PDO.

“I’m sorry we failed you as a county,” Judge Ruben Becerra responded to Gray’s comments. “I will

we try to make it a fun celebration … We’re really grateful for the continued support from our donors, volunteers and partners. We quite literally could not do it without the community’s

continue to fight for you and everyone else that’s voiceless in our community. I’m grateful that the Lord gave me four more years to represent the broken, vulnerable and voiceless, whatever they look like and wherever they live. I will do my very best to continue to push so that you and your experience is not wasted.”

support. We’re so grateful to continue those relationships.”

For more information on how to donate, volunteer or receive assistance (including finding a food distribution schedule

or getting help to sign up for food stamps), visit the Hays County Food Bank’s website at www.haysfoodbank. org or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ HaysFoodBank.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

During Hays County Food Bank’s 16th Annual Turkeys Tackling Hunger campaign held at ACC’s Hays campus, 1,500 families in Hays County were able to receive a Thanksgiving meal.

Kyle Rote takes over for Doak Walker

BY BARTLEE HAILE

The vote for the Heisman Trophy, awarded annually to the best college football player in the land, was announced on Dec. 5, 1950, and Kyle Rote of SMU did himself proud by coming in second.

The Southern Methodist Mustangs made the long trip from Dallas to Pittsburgh for their season opener in September 1948. A young fan recognized a famous face in a hotel lobby and asked Doak Walker for his autograph.

The gridiron icon graciously obliged and introduced the boy to his companion. “This is Kyle Rote. Don’t you want his autograph?”

“Is he an All-American?” the skeptical collector inquired.

“No,” replied Doak, “but he will be next year.”

SMU hardly broke a sweat in beating the Pitt Panthers 33-14 and had an even easier time the following Saturday with Texas Tech, still a decade

away from membership in the Southwest Conference. In their last appearance on campus prior to moving to the enlarged Cotton Bowl, the Mustangs routed the Red Raiders 41-6.

Southern Methodist’s undefeated streak of 15 games ended a week later at Missouri. Bouncing back from the six-point disappointment, the Ponies began the defense of their SWC title by pounding Rice in Houston 33-7.

Fifty thousand came out to the Cotton Bowl to watch the hometown team steamroll Santa Clara 33-0 in the last non-conference tune-up. Coach Bell gave Rote more playing time, and he responded with two touchdowns.

Doak set the tone for the showdown with always tough Texas by sprinting 67 yards to pay dirt on the third play from scrimmage. Rote accounted for one of three SMU scores in the 21-6 triumph on a 14-yard sprint with a lateral from a pass receiver.

After putting away the

STATE

never-say-die Texas Aggies 20-14, the SMU offense spun its wheels for 56 minutes in the Ozarks. But Rote broke loose for 35 yards to the Arkansas eight and bulled his way across the goal line to cut the Hogs’ lead to five points.

It took one of the Mustangs miraculous comebacks to save the day. Gil Johnson, the baldheaded passer with the bum knee, flipped the ball to Paul Page at the Hogs’ two yard line and he squirmed his way into the end zone as the gun sounded.

Returning to the Cotton Bowl for a scrap with the Baylor Bears, SMU trailed 6-0 in the third quarter when Rote took charge. He gained 118 yards on sheer brute strength, giving tacklers a piggyback ride on practically every carry, and scored both TD’s in the 13-6 victory. A Baylor assistant coach marveled, “Rote is the first old-time, foot-in-your-mouth, ramming fullback I’ve seen in years!”

Three weeks after Doak Walker became the first junior to win the Heisman Trophy, tenth-ranked SMU hosted ninth-ranked Oregon on New Year’s Day. The Southwest Conference champs prevailed 21-13 thanks in large part to their very special sophomore, who rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns and boomed an 84-yard quick kick, the longest punt in Cotton Bowl history.

Everybody and his brother considered the Mustangs a shoo-in for their third consecutive SWC crown in 1949. Doak Walker was back for his senior year, Kyle Rote had a season under his belt and Matty Bell had even found a talented replacement, Fred Benners, for Gil Johnson, who had turned pro.

But it was not to be. Rice handed SMU its first conference loss in two years humbling the mistake-prone Mustangs 41-27 on their home turf.

Worse than the defeat was the injury Doak suffered on an out-of-bounds hit

that knocked him into a wheelchair.

With Walker spending more time on the sidelines than on the field, SMU struggled through the rest of the schedule. The Mustangs beat Texas and Arkansas but lost to Baylor and TCU and played the Aggies to a draw finishing fifth in the seven-team league.

Again denied the talents of Doak, the Mustangs were 28-point underdogs against Notre Dame. But a star was born on that day in Big D, as Kyle Rote almost singlehandedly vanquished the Irish. The Ponies came up seven points short but not before Rote ran for 115 yards, passed for 146, averaged 48 yards a punt and tallied all three SMU touchdowns.

There were more downs than ups for the 1950 Mustangs, who looked like world beaters for five games and inexplicably lost four of the next five.

Rote, the Heisman runnerup, was the bright spot with 762 rushing yards

on 152 attempts, a dozen touchdowns and 35 yards per punt.

The first pick in the National Football League draft of 1951, Rote spent 11 years with the New York Giants.

After tearing up a knee in his rookie season, he switched to wide receiver and caught 48 touchdown passes, still a record for the Giants.

Kyle Rote died in August 2002, four years after Doak Walker. Son Kyle, Jr. put his father’s passing in perspective: “To me the most remarkable thing about him from a football standpoint was that he had 14 teammates who named sons after him.”

Quite a tribute to a great football player who was an even better human being.

A Christmas special! “Depression Desperadoes,”“Murder Most Texan,” “Texas Boomtowns,” “Unforgettable Texans” and “Entertainers” just $19.95 each. Mail your check to Bartee Haile, P.O. Box 130011, Spring, TX 77393.

State Capital Highlights: November 30

Changes urged in funding community colleges

A report submitted to state leaders ahead of the 88th legislative session’s opening in January urges lawmakers to develop “an innovative new model” to fund community colleges.

The Texas Commission on Community College Finance, established last year by the Legislature and consisting of 12 lawmakers, business leaders and community college leaders, offered three sets of recommendations for supporting the state’s strategic plan for higher education:

• Reward community colleges for positive student outcomes

• Increase affordability and financial aid

• Increase capacity at colleges to meet changing workforce needs

“We need a funding model for our 50 community college districts that is bold, strategic and fully aligned with our emerging workforce needs,” said Woody Hunt, a member of the commission and longtime business leader.

The commission also recommended the state make community colleges more affordable by increasing financial aid provided by the state, more

BROWN SANTA

aid for dual-credit courses and supporting work-based educational opportunities, such as internships and apprenticeships.

Under the state’s current system for funding community colleges, most revenue comes from tuition and property taxes levied by the college district. The state also contributes some funding.

New power grid market draws skeptics

The state Public Utility Commission is proposing an untested structure for the state’s power grid after legislators ordered its overhaul in the wake of the 2021 winter storm. The Dallas Morning News reported the proposed “performance credit mechanism,” or PCM, “offers power producers a financial reward to have their plants available during times when Texans are consuming the most energy.”

Some lawmakers are skeptical.

State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, questioned why the PUC would create a new, untested market mechanism, according to The Morning News. In addition, a consulting firm hired by the PUC did not recommend the PCM.

The public and stakeholders

have until Dec. 15 to submit comments on the proposal.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what the marketplace and people tell us,” Peter Lake said.

Feds provide disaster aid after storms

The federal government has approved a request by Gov. Greg Abbott for disaster aid for a dozen Northeast Texas counties hit by severe weather and tornadoes earlier this month.

The U.S. Small Business Administration granted access to its loan program to businesses and residents in Lamar, Morris, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Marion, Red River, Titus, and Upshur counties.

“Northeast Texas residents and business owners will now have access to critical financial support as they rebuild, repair and recover from the physical damage and economic injury caused by this storm system,” Abbott said.

Applicants may apply online at disasterassistance.sba.gov or by calling 800-659-2955.

Search and rescue drone program proves useful

The use of drones by game wardens with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department has helped to find two missing persons recently and assisted in the arrest of a man in East Texas wanted in a shooting and assault. Game warden Michael Hummert responded to a report of an elderly man who had gone missing the night of Nov. 3.

“The setting sun prevented us from locating him through usual means,” Hummert said. “The thermal drone picks up body heat, which is necessary to locate someone at night. With the cold creeping in, it was imperative to find him quickly.”

The Erath County sheriff’s department used cell phone records to determine a general location. Hummert mapped out a search area and located the man with the drone using a thermal scan and led to deputies to the location. A similar situation occurred nine days later in Bell County. Hummert again used his drone to locate the missing person.

Heading farther east, another TPWD drone operator, Doug Williams, was called to assist authorities searching for a suspect who shot at and assaulted two people, then fled into the woods. Using another thermal drone, Williams found the suspect hiding in the brush during freezing weather. He was arrested and later treated for hypothermia.

“Empowering our division with the drone program in cooperation with Gear Up for Game Wardens donations creates a lifeline where there wasn’t,” said TPWD’s Lt. Matthew Bridgefarmer. “Game warden drone operators arrive first on scene to locate lost boaters and hikers. We search in the aftermath of natural disasters. At the end of the day, this

program saves lives.”

No COVID-19 vaccine mandates for students Abbott has told the Texas Education Agency and school superintendents that the COVID-19 vaccine cannot be mandated as part of school entry requirements. This overrides a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control that added the vaccine to immunization schedules for adults and school-aged children.

“Regardless of what the CDC may suggest, in Texas, the COVID-19 vaccine remains voluntary. Texas schools shall not require students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for any reason,” Abbott’s letter to TEA and school chiefs said.

COVID-19 cases decrease across state

The number of new cases of COVID-19 reported in Texas during the past week dropped to 9,836, with 40 deaths reported by the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University. Hospitalizations rose to 1,259 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients in Texas, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches and Cedar Park.

Email: gborders@texaspress.com.

Hays County program seeks donations for the holidays

STAFF REPORT

HAYS COUNTY — The Hays County Brown Santa program has started its annual drive for money, food and toys to assist families in need in Hays County.

The program consists of volunteers from the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and members of the community. Last year, hundreds of families were given assistance in food and/or toys throughout Hays County through the program.

Monetary contributions in the form of a check or money order can be made payable to “Hays County Brown Santa” and mailed to 102 Wonder World Drive #304-564, San Marcos,

TX 78666. Venmo and Square app payments are also accepted; more information is on the Hays County Brown Santa Facebook page. Contact Lt. Dennis Gutierrez at (512) 393-7877 regarding cash donations.

Toy donations are being accepted for all age groups up to 16 years of age. Donated toys can be dropped off to one of the locations below, or arrangements can be made for pickup.

• Kyle: Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Beth Smith office; RBFCU

• Buda: Pct. 5 Justice of the Peace Lucinda Doyle office; RBFCU; Falcon International Bank; Triple Elevation Custom Creations

• Dripping Springs: Pct.

4 Hays County offices; RBFCU; SouthStar Bank

• Wimberley: Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Andy Cable office; ACE Hardware

• San Marcos: HCSO; Southside Community Center; RBFCU; Austin Telco Federal Credit Union; the Edward Jones office on San Antonio Street

Unwrapped toy donations are due by Dec. 9. Wrapped toy donations are due Dec. 12. Toys will be wrapped at 120 Stagecoach Trail in San Marcos on Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and on Dec. 12 and 13 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.; volunteers are needed, and children are welcome to help in the warehouse as well.

The San Marcos and Kyle Police Departments have

8 at 5 p.m.

• Kyle: Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Beth Smith office

• Buda: Pct. 5 Justice of the Peace Lucinda Doyle office

• Dripping Springs: Pct. 4 Hays County office

• Wimberley: Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Andy Cable office

• San Marcos: Hays County Sheriff’s Office; Southside Community Center

Capital Highlights by Gary Borders

Blue Santa programs so any families residing within those city limits must apply with them for assistance. All other families residing within Hays County can pick up applications at one of the following locations listed below (toy donations may also be dropped off here). The deadline for accepting applications is Dec.

OBITUARIES

missed by Gale, his wife of 43 years, his daughters Andrea Olmer and Jill McCrary, and son Todd Brown and his wife Ashlin. He also leaves behind his grandchildren and great grandchildren, Andrea’s daughter Katherine and husband Kenny Upshaw and great grandchildren Mason Thomas and Madeline Jayne, Jill’s son Skyler McCrary, wife Leah, daughter London, and great grandson Marchant, Jill’s daughter Suzanne McCrary, and great granddaughter Maren, and Todd and Ashlin’s sons Hadrian and Torin.

Don spent his childhood years on the family farm in Stacy, Texas, enjoying life on the Colorado River.

After graduating from Melvin High School, he entered the U.S. Air Force and was trained as a jet

engine mechanic. During his enlistment (1956-1960) he was assigned to many bases in Germany and the United States. Following his years in the Air Force Don worked in Albany, Georgia, as a Production Clerk for Air Products and Chemicals for ten years. In 1969, he left Air Products to obtain his college degree. He worked as a bookstore manager for Abraham Baldwin College in Tifton, Georgia, while earning an Associate of Arts in Business Administration (1972). He was promoted to bookstore manager at Medical College of Georgia in Augusta where he completed his Bachelor of Business Administration in 1974. As if working and going to school were not enough, Don also worked as a referee during these years. He enjoyed

all sports, and refereed basketball, football, volleyball, baseball, and soccer. He was also a tennis player when he had the time.

Don returned to Air Products in 1975 and was assigned to New Orleans as contract administrator for the NASA Space Shuttle program. Following brief assignments in Houston and Monahans, Texas, Don landed in Midland, Texas, working for Dow Chemical in the liquid nitrogen oil well injection division. While in that position, he completed his Master of Business Administration at U.T. Permian Basin in 1983. He was promoted to the position of Environmental Manager for the Southwest, and then came the oil bust of 1985, which prompted a move to central Texas. Don was always

interested in new things, and while living and working in Midland he became interested in the little Apple computer Gale brought home from work. She brought it home in hopes that she and Don together could figure out how it worked. Well, Don was intrigued and spent more time with it than she did. He then purchased a PC of the same era, and never looked back. At the same time, he was teaching his first courses at the local junior college. After arriving in central Texas, Don taught computer and business classes at Austin Community College, Concordia University, and Park University in Austin for many years. He then took a position providing technical support for Dun and Bradstreet until retiring in 2004.

Don and Gale spent much of their retirement touring the United States in their motorhome. They had many good times and met many friendly people all around the country. From California to Maine and all points in between, they enjoyed spectacular scenery, good company, and good food. Don always enjoyed meeting new people, and the motorhome travels provided the perfect opportunity at every stop.

A graveside service will be held at the Doole/Stacy Cemetery in Doole, Texas, Sunday, December 4, 2022 at 2:00 pm. All are welcome. Don was always a proponent of higher education. The family asks that donations in Don’s memory be sent to the scholarship fund of your choice.

Texas State partners with teacher education program

SAN MARCOS — Texas

State University’s teacher education program has been selected as a Raising Texas Teachers partner.

The partnership is a 10year, $50 million statewide teacher workforce initiative supported by the Charles Butt Foundation. The university joins 15 other universities currently participating in partner teacher programs across Texas.

“This recognition speaks to our university’s historic roots as a teacher’s college up to our role today in graduating more teachers fully prepared for the classroom than any other university in Texas,” said Michael O’Malley, dean of the College of Education at Texas State, in a press release.

The program, started by chairman and majority stakeholder of H-E-B, Charles Butt, was launched

in 2017. The foundation’s vision is that every student in every classroom across Texas has an effective teacher every year.

Texas State teacher candidates may apply for the Charles Butt Scholarship, which is an $8,000 per year scholarship to assist students attending Texas State for up to four years. According to a press release the scholarships are criteria-driven, and there is no limit to the number of eligible students who can be awarded. Criteria includes a student's commitment to a teaching career in public education, a Title I school or a critical shortage area (defined by the foundation as math, science, special education or bilingual education).

Students applying must also complete the EC-6 ESL undergraduate teacher residency program.

The scholarship also provides mentorship, professional development

and participation in a statewide network of promising teacher candidates who are committed to teaching in the Texas public school system in either a majority-economically disadvantaged school or in a shortage subject area.

Students receiving the Charles Butt Scholarship will participate in the school’s residency program.

“The residency is different from the standard pathway taken by education students because it provides the continuity of being in the same classroom for the entire school year,” O’Malley said. “Placement in the same classroom for fieldwork and student teaching allows for a deeper immersion into the culture of the classroom community and the formation of stronger, more supportive relationships with cooperating teachers, school leaders, students and their families.”

Students participating in the residency program receive a welcome stipend to help with living expenses. Student teaching semesters require that teacher residents spend five days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in their placement classroom.

For Angie Escalante, a 2022-23 resident at De Zavala Elementary in San Marcos CISD, the residency program has given her the opportunity to make connections and form relationships.

“It’s been an amazing experience that has given me the confidence needed to start my first year teaching on a strong note. I feel that every preservice teacher would benefit from this program,” Escalante said.

Texas State College of Education students can learn more about the Charles Butt Scholarship by emailing CBScholars@ txstate.edu.

CHURCH OF CHRIST

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD

Faith Assembly of God 1030 Main St., Buda

BAPTIST

First Baptist Church-Buda 104 San Marcos St., Buda

First Baptist Church-Kyle 300 W. Center St., Kyle

Hays Hills Baptist Church 1401 FM 1626, Buda

Sledge Chapel Missionary Baptist Church 709 Sewell, Kyle

Southeast Baptist Church 5020 Turnersville Rd., Creedmoor

Manchaca Baptist Church Lowden Lane & FM 1626

Immanuel Baptist Church 4000 E. FM 150, 4 miles east of Kyle

Center Union Baptist Church Goforth Rd., Buda

Primera Mision Bautista Mexicana Kyle

Baptist Church of Driftwood 13540 FM 150 W.

CATHOLIC

Santa Cruz Catholic Church 1100 Main Street, Buda

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

St. Michael’s Catholic Church S. Old Spanish Trail, Uhland

CHRISTIAN

New Life Christian Church 2315 FM 967, Buda

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

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

Southern Hills Church of Christ 3740 FM 967, Buda

EPISCOPAL

St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church 725 RR 967, Buda

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church RR 3237 (Wimberley Rd.), Kyle St. Alban’s Episcopal Church 11819 IH-35 South

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses FM 2770, Kyle

Jehovah’s Witnesses South 10802 Manchaca Rd., Manchaca

LUTHERAN

Living Word Lutheran ELCA 2315 FM 967, Buda

Redeeming Grace Lutheran LCMS FM 1626 & Manchaca Rd., Manchaca

Resurrection Church, CLBA 401 FM 967, Buda

St. John Lutheran Church 9865 Camino Real, Uhland

The Well Buda

METHODIST

Read Us Online: www.haysfreepress.com

NON-DENOMINATIONAL ac�fW;s�o� Ouv gtf;t � lj1Ju ONE ORNAMENT PER FAMILY Our gift to your family this Christmas is one crystal snowflake ornament to hang on your tree. Each ornament serves as a cherished reminder of your loved one, and it is personalized with their name, birth date, and death date. Attend a Remembrance Service. Order extra ornaments for family members as gifts. Attend the "Surviving the Holidays" event 11/10 at 4:oop.m. RSVP or Order Ornaments: www.harrellfuneralhomes.com/rsvp/

Christian Center

Connection Church

Jennifer Scott honored for years of service

BY MEGAN WEHRING

HAYS COUNTY – Several

Hays County officials recognized a special person last week: Jennifer Scott.

Scott has served as the executive assistant to Precinct 2 Commissioner Mark Jones for 12 years and prior to that, she was an intern for former commissioner Will Conley.

During the Hays County Commissioners Court meeting on Nov. 22, she was honored for her years of service to the county.

“There is nothing that she can’t do,” Jones said.

“We had a lot of success in Precinct 2 over the last 12 years. There are two main reasons for that. The first reason is we both know that we can’t do anything on our own and we both have God in our lives to direct us. The second reason we are able to do that is because of Jennifer Scott.”

Jones said that over the years, Scott has gone outside of her assistant title to serve the entire community.

“She wanted to do the best job she could each and every day for every single person in Hays County. That’s what she did every single day, every

minute she worked for Hays County. I’ve had a lot of blessings: my kids and family,” Jones said, holding back tears. “Right up there with being blessed [is] 12 years with Jennifer Scott and I will never be able to thank God enough for that blessing and privilege. … She is absolutely the best at what she did.”

Tammy Crumley, director of countywide operations, noted that Scott is one of the hardestworking employees in Hays County.

While Scott will be moving on to a new position in the city of Uhland, elections administrator Jennifer Doinoff said that she is grateful to watch her have a new opportunity.

“She’s gone way beyond anything I could ever teach her and we are going to miss her,” Doinoff said. “I’m so grateful for the blessings that has been poured upon her that she is going to move on to.”

Mike Jones, director of emergency services, said that Scott is one of the most positively energetic individuals he has worked with and she is “just a joy to be around.”

Kerry Jones, Mark’s wife, made a few comments as

Scott is considered to be a part of the family.

“She’s made Mark’s 12 years of being a commissioner a success,” Kerry said. “She has a heart of gold and she is a loved part of our family. We are just so proud of everything that she has done and that she can be in a place where she can be close to her family. We support [and] love her 100%. Thank you so much for everything you have done!”

Commissioner Lon Shell said that one of the great parts of the job is getting to meet people that otherwise, they never would have met.

“I’m very happy that I got to meet Jennifer and get to know her,” Shell said. “She is an amazing employee and as you can see, Jennifer, we all care deeply about you but we are super happy for you.”

Commissioner Walt Smith said that when he took over the areas of Buda last year, Scott made sure that he was fully informed on what he needed to know.

“I would get emails from Jennifer saying five years ago, this was a dog problem with this neighbor and that neighbor,” Smith said. “This is what you need to know. She’s forgotten more

about my precinct than I will probably ever learn. She knows those folks on a very personal level, not just as somebody that calls to complain about something or to report a pothole, but every issue about them and who their mama is or who their sister is and why that’s important.”

Judge Ruben Becerra

concluded that this is a great example of why he is grateful to be a part of a court that, in one way or another, continues to care about the community.

“It’s so important for us to remember that everyone is someone’s loved one,” Becerra said. “Everyone has a real passion for something going on in our

community. This is just one of those wonderful moments where we get to realize, although we never see Jennifer, just how much she does in their space in this community. I’m just so grateful that we show again as a community how we can continue to love one another the best way we can.”

receiving a notification that there was no nurse until Monday afternoon before the meeting.

DeSousa said that she heard their feedback, but parents need to understand and respect that “something’s not gonna go out every time.”

Walton, who had no idea, said the school should have been on the phone to get a substitute nurse.

“That's not a position that you just [say], ‘Hey, we're going to wing it,’” Walton said.

Walton’s child has chronic asthma and is more likely to get an asthma attack sooner than the average person.

“If he runs for 15 minutes, he may go into an asthma attack if he doesn’t have his inhaler,” Walton said. “There’s nothing in place to administer medication. He has to have his Benadryl 30 minutes before recess.”

During the parent meeting on Nov. 7, DeSousa said they received three “excellent” resumes and scheduled interviews.

DORAL, from page 1 COUNTY, from page 1

large provisions” Boyett said that she wanted the word ‘home’ to

“We have our registered nurse that we contract for services, so you can have unlicensed [nurses],” DeSousa, who has been in education for 22 years, said. “Like today, Mr. Salazar and myself are the ‘unlicensed,’ [nurses] if you will, managed by our RN,” she added.

DeSousa emphasized that the school was not doing anything wrong and that there is “nothing illegal here.”

Walton said it was “unacceptable.”

“The fact that I got to trust your 22 years to do something when there wasn’t a Plan B or C. Because everybody’s talking about the same thing,” Walton said during the meeting. “We need some accountability. You have years of experience behind you. Why do we have these loopholes?”

Doral Academy’s superintendent/principal said that safety is their number one priority.

“Our network of schools commits itself to providing families with

a great education while ensuring our students feel comfortable and secure in their surroundings,” DeSousa said. “Doral Academy leaned forward and decided to have armed security guard[s] posted at our school at all times.”

DeSousa said that the guard holds a commissioned security officer license from the State of Texas and is a contracted employee and their uniforms are “sometimes different colors.”

At this time and according to DeSousa, Doral Academy has a registered nurse contracted to work at the school.

“We are currently interviewing candidates to find a permanent individual,” DeSousa said.

According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), charter schools are not required to hire a school nurse. If a charter school does hire a nurse, that person is not required to be a full-time employee or to be full-time at any single location.

“In Texas, individuals working under the direct supervision of an RN are considered qualified to distribute certain medications. This is what qualifies Mr. Salazar [assistant principal] and myself to distribute medicine,” she said.

DeSousa added that the school’s construction company is working with Hays County to ensure that a crosswalk is painted and school flashers are installed. The school “looks forward” to having that project completed.

Doral Academy did not comment on additional inquiries regarding:

• The lack of notice sent to parents when the nurse resigned or was let go

• Why the security guard was unarmed

• Claims that security personnel keeps changing

• Other inquiries about security guards (who they work for and training)

• Why the school does not have someone to monitor students walking home or across the street.

be clarified in the different sections of the policy.

“Approving this will allow

us to help with the release of those cats that are in our shelter at this time,” Judge

Ruben Becerra said.

Commissioner Lon Shell said that the county followed up with the Sheriff’s Office to make sure everyone is on the same page. He added that the county is still waiting for the city of San Marcos to finalize its ordinance before the ordinance revisions go back to the commissioners court for final approval.

“In the interim, I believe this policy will function the way we intended,” Shell said.

The holidays and GERD

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

Another Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas is coming up, which means for the next several weeks many of us will continue to indulge in all kinds of holiday treats, but these can sometimes cause some intestinal discomfort that is common, but preventable.

GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, the tube connecting the mouth and stomach. This backwash can irritate the lining of the esophagus, causing symptoms like a burning sensation in the chest, sour tasting backwash and upper abdominal pain.

It sounds scary, but is actually incredibly common. Dr. Rajesh Shah of Baylor Scott & White says that GERD is an “umbrella term,” encompassing other issues like acid reflux, heartburn and regurgitation.

Fried, fatty or spicy foods along with alcohol and caffeine are often consumed at an all-time high during the holidays, but unfortunately, can contribute to

GERD symptoms. These, combined with overeating/eating large portions and lying down shortly after eating, can exacerbate symptoms.

Dr. Shah noted that there are some warning signs of being predisposed for GERD: experiencing abnormal heartburn, food getting caught or stuck when swallowing, experiencing unusual weight loss, vomiting, or if there is a history of family intestinal problems, like esophagus cancer or stomach cancer.

Experiencing acid reflux and heartburn more than twice a week may indicate GERD, but even a one-off experience — like around the holidays — can bring discomfort. Be sure to enjoy all of your holiday treats this year, but if you feel reflux or heartburn coming on, there are a few tips and tricks to help:

• Everyone loves a post-holiday meal nap, but doing so could cause GERD symptoms. Try to avoid lying down within two to three hours of eating; when you are ready to sleep, opt for sleeping at an incline to lessen any symptoms.

• Be mindful of your food portions and avoid eating too much within a short period of time.

is a non-profit, no-kill shelter operated primarily on donations and adoptions. 500 FM 150 E, Kyle, TX • 512 268-1611 • pawsshelter.org

All

• Look for over-thecounter medicine like antacids, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or Histamine-2 (H2) blockers to help relieve any symptoms. If symptoms persist or worsen, Dr. Shah suggests seeking help from a gastroenterologist.

PAWS Shelter of Central Texas

animals are fully vaccinated, spay/neutered, microchipped and dewormed.

Lola, 7-year-old, American Staffordshire Terrier mix, Female: Lola is loved by many - staff, volunteers, and fosters. In fact, we don’t think Lola’s ever met a person she hasn’t liked. This older lady is hoping for a home where couch snuggles, naps, and chill days are often. Lola won’t turn down a nice long walk though! She is housebroken, will stay in a crate, and is great with young children.

Goblin, 4-month old, Domestic Shorthair mix, Female: Goblin is the confident leader of her roughand-tumble pack! When not playing, she loves being cradled on her back while staring into your eyes and purring. She is often referred to as a purr machine and pulls out her “turbo purr” when in close proximity to anyone! Goblin loves all kinds of people!

Committed to your pet’s health since 1978

Debbie Thames Insurance Agency

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Commissioner Mark Jones (left) and his wife, Kerri Jones (right), present Jennifer Scott (center) with recognition for 12 years of service to Hays County.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Sealed proposals addressed to Lennar Home of Texas Land & Construction. LTD, ("OWN ER") on behalf of LaSalle Municipal Utility District No. 1 ("DISTRICT") for furnishing pump station materials for the construction of Waterstone Sewer Pump Station #1 will be received at the office of Doucet & Associates, Inc. ("ENGI NEER") at 7401B Highway 71 West, Suite 160, Austin, Texas 78735 until THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22nd, 2022, at 2:00PM. The lift Station mechanical and site plan bids will be opened publicly and read aloud. Any proposal received after the closing time will be returned unopened. Propos als shall be plainly marked with name and address of the person or entity submitting the proposal ("BIDDER") and the following words:

PROPOSAL FOR WA TERSTONE SEWER PUMP STATION

#1

The WATERSTONE SEWER PUMP STATON #1 PUBLIC BID is for the construction of the regional lift station, serving the first phase of the Waterstone Development. The lift station is located on the west side of CR 158, just north of the future Wa terstone Boulevard intersection. The lift station will be accessed from CR 158 and will consist of two (2) driveways.

Electronic copies of mechan ical plans, site plans, and Bid ding Documents are available without charge from the ENGI NEER. Copies may be obtained from the ENGINEER on or after Thursday, December 8th, 2022, by emailing waterstonebids@ doucetengineers.com.

A Cashier's Check, Certified Check or acceptable BIDDER's Bond, payable to Lennar Home of Texas Land & Construction. LTD, in an amount not less than five percent (5%) of the Bid must accompany each bid as a guarantee that, if award ed the Contract, the BIDDER will enter into a contract and execute bonds within fifteen (15) calendar days of award of the Contract. Performance and Payment Bonds shall also be executed on the forms furnished by the OWNER and shall specifically provide for "Performance" and for "Labor and Materials Payment". Each bond shall be issued in an amount of one hundred percent (100%) of contract price by a solvent Surety company, autho rized to do business in the State of Texas and acceptable to the OWNER.

The OWNER reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any and all minor defects or irregularities in bid ding or bidding process except time of submitting bid. The OWNER reserves the right to determine which bids are most advantageous to the OWN ER and the DISTRICT, and to award the Contract on this basis. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of seventy-five (75) calendar days after opening of the bids. If a submitted bid is withdrawn within said period, bid guaranty shall become the property of the OWNER, not as penalty, but as liquidated damages, or OWNER may pursue any other action allowed by law. A non-mandatory prebid conference will be held on Tuesday, December 13th, 2022 at 1: 00pm via Teams virtual meeting. A link to the pre-bid conference will be sent to all prospective bidders who have received bid documents by contacting waterstonebids@ doucetengineers.com. Prospec tive bidders are encouraged to visit the site.

Only those prospective bid ders WHO HAVE RECEIVED BID DOCUMENTS DIRECTLY FROM THE ENGINEER may bid on this contract. Copies of the Contract Documents may be obtained from the ENGI NEER by emailing water stonebids@doucetengineers. com.

PUBLIC NOTICE

By order of the Hays County Commissioners Court, notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 9 a.m. in the Hays County Courthouse, 111 E. San An tonio Street, the Hays County Commissioners Court will hold a public hearing to consider:

ESTABLISHING A “NO PARKING” ZONE ALONG THE WEST SIDE (SCHOOL SIDE) OF SUNBRIGHT BLVD BETWEEN VISTA GARDENS DRIVE AND THE EN TRANCE-ONLY DRIVEWAY FOR THE NEW SUNFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

PUBLIC NOTICE

By order of the Hays County Commissioners Court, notice is hereby given that on December 6th, 2022 at 9 a.m. in the Hays County Courthouse, 111 E. San An tonio Street, the Hays County Commissioners Court will hold a public hearing to consider:

Replat of Lot 55, Sec 3, Burnett Ranch

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that Jacqueline Smith was appoint ed as Independent Administra tor of the Estate of Maverick Wayne Smith, Deceased, in Cause No. 21-0330-P, pending in the Hays County Court at Law. All persons having claims against the Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the man ner prescribed by law.

The address for claims is:

Estate of Maverick Wayne Smith, Deceased c/o Stebler & Sulak, PLLC 509 W. 18th St. Austin, Texas 78701

Date: ____________

Attorneys for the Indepen dent Administrator: Stebler & Sulak, PLLC 509 W. 18th St. Austin, Texas 78701

CITY OF KYLE, TEXAS REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION PHASE 2, K22-23.2

The City of Kyle (City) will accept sealed qualification statements from engineering firms who can demonstrate they have resources, experi ence and qualifications for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion Phase 2 until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 6, 2023.

Requirements may be se cured from the City’s website.

Qualifications submis sions addressed to the City Engineer, City of Kyle, 100 W. Center St., Kyle, Texas 78640 will be received until 5:00 pm on Friday, January 6, 2023 at the office of Leon Barba, P.E., City Engineer, City Hall, 100 W. Center St., Kyle, Texas 78640. Qualifications shall be submitted in a sealed enve lope clearly marked:

Professional Engineering Services for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion Phase 2 Kyle, Texas “K22-23.2”

A pre-submission confer ence will be held in the Public Works Training Room at the City Public Works Department, 520 E. RR 150, Kyle, Texas at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 13, 2022.

No fax submissions will be accepted. No late submis sions will be accepted. All submissions received after the deadline will be returned unopened.

CITY OF KYLE, TEXAS

Leon Barba, P.E. City Engineer

LEGAL NOTICE

APPLICATION HAS BEEN MADE WITH THE TEXAS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE COMMIS SION FOR A MIXED BEVERAGE PERMIT BY WHISKEY RIDGE TX LLC D/B/A WHISKEY RIDGE LOCATED AT 8600 W FM 150, KYLE, HAYS COUNTY, TX 78640. MANAGER OF SAID LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY IS M&D’S COVER 3 LLC, MANAGED BY DOUGLAS A. YOUNG AND MATTHEW J. DODSON.

NOTICES TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL

NOTICE OF RECEIPT OF APPLICATION AND INTENT TO OBTAIN WATER QUALITY PERMIT PROPOSED PERMIT

NO. WQ0005393000

APPLICATION. City of Kyle, 100 West Center Street, Kyle, Texas 78640, which owns a domestic wastewater treatment facility, has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for proposed Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) Permit No. WQ0005393000 (EPA I.D. No. TX0143103) to authorize the discharge of stormwater runoff at an intermittent and flow variable rate The facility is located at 941 New Bridge Drive, Kyle, in Hays County, Texas 78640. The discharge route is from the plant site via overland flow wholly contained within the applicant’s property, thence directly to Plum Creek. TCEQ received this application on June 16, 2022. The permit application is available for viewing and copying at Kyle City Hall, 100 West Center Street, Kyle, Texas. This link to an electronic map of the site or facility's general location is provided as a public courtesy and not part of the application or notice. For the exact location, refer to the application. https://tceq.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=db5bac44afbc468bbddd360f 8168250f&marker= 97.835277%2C29.96777&level=12

ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE NOTICE. Alternative language notice in Spanish is available at https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/wastewater/plain language summaries and public notices El aviso de idioma alternativo en español está disponible en https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/wastewater/plain language summaries and public notices

ADDITIONAL NOTICE. TCEQ’s Executive Director has determined the application is administratively complete and will conduct a technical review of the application. After technical review of the application is complete, the Executive Director may prepare a draft permit and will issue a preliminary decision on the application. Notice of the Application and Preliminary Decision will be published and mailed to those who are on the county wide mailing list and to those who are on the mailing list for this application. That notice will contain the deadline for submitting public comments.

PUBLIC COMMENT / PUBLIC MEETING. You may submit public comments or request a public meeting on this application. The purpose of a public meeting is to provide the opportunity to submit comments or to ask questions about the application. TCEQ will hold a public meeting if the Executive Director determines that there is a significant degree of public interest in the application or if requested by a local legislator. A public meeting is not a contested case hearing.

OPPORTUNITY FOR A CONTESTED CASE HEARING. After the deadline for submitting public comments, the Executive Director will consider all timely comments and prepare a response to all relevant and material, or significant public comments. Unless the application is directly referred for a contested case hearing, the response to comments, and the Executive Director’s decision on the application, will be mailed to everyone who submitted public comments and to those persons who are on the mailing list for this application. If comments are received, the mailing will also provide instructions for requesting reconsideration of the Executive Director’s decision and for requesting a contested case hearing. A contested case hearing is a legal proceeding similar to a civil trial in state district court.

TO REQUEST A CONTESTED CASE HEARING, YOU MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS IN YOUR REQUEST: your name, address, phone number; applicant's name and proposed permit number; the location and distance of your property/activities relative to the proposed facility; a specific description of how you would be adversely affected by the facility in a way not common to the general public; a list of all disputed issues of fact that you submit during the comment period and, the statement "[I/we] request a contested case hearing." If the request for contested case hearing is filed on behalf of a group or association, the request must designate the group’s representative for receiving future correspondence; identify by name and physical address an individual member of the group who would be adversely affected by the proposed facility or activity; provide the information discussed above regarding the affected member’s location and distance from the facility or activity; explain how and why the member would be affected; and explain how the interests the group seeks to protect are relevant to the group’s purpose.

Following the close of all applicable comment and request periods, the Executive Director will forward the application and any requests for reconsideration or for a contested case hearing to the TCEQ Commissioners for their consideration at a scheduled Commission meeting.

The Commission may only grant a request for a contested case hearing on issues the requestor submitted in their timely comments that were not subsequently withdrawn. If a hearing is granted, the subject of a hearing will be limited to disputed issues of fact or mixed questions of fact and law relating to relevant and material water quality concerns submitted during the comment period.

MAILING LIST. If you submit public comments, a request for a contested case hearing or a reconsideration of the Executive Director’s decision, you will be added to the mailing list for this specific application to receive future public notices mailed by the Office of the Chief Clerk. In addition, you may request to be placed on: (1) the permanent mailing list for a specific applicant name and permit number; and/or (2) the mailing list for a specific county. If you wish to be placed on the permanent and/or the county mailing list, clearly specify which list(s) and send your request to TCEQ Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below.

INFORMATION AVAILABLE ONLINE. For details about the status of the application, visit the Commissioners’ Integrated Database at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/cid. Search the database using the permit number for this application, which is provided at the top of this notice.

AGENCY CONTACTS AND INFORMATION. Public comments and requests must be submitted either electronically at https://www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/, or in writing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC 105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711 3087. Please be aware that any contact information you provide, including your name, phone number, email address, and physical address will become part of the agency's public record. For more information about this permit application or the permitting process, please call the TCEQ Public Education Program, Toll Free, at 1 800 687 4040 or visit their website at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/pep. Si desea información en Español, puede llamar al 1 800 687 4040.

Further information may also be obtained from City of Kyle at the address stated above or by calling Ms. Kathy Roecker, Stormwater Administrator, at 512 618 8296.

Issuance Date: November 15, 2022

CARE COUNSELORS

old) non-profit organization. www.pegasusschool.net. Call (512)432-1678 for further information.

PUBLIC NOTICE

By order of the Hays County Commissioners Court, notice is hereby given that on December 6th, 2022 at 9 a.m. in the Hays County Courthouse, 111 E. San Antonio Street, the Hays County Commissioners Court will hold a public hearing to consider:

Replat of Lot 4A, Sec 3, Rolling Oaks

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters of Indepen dent Administration for the

Estate of Donald Robert Kiely, Deceased, were issued on October 25, 2022, in Cause No. 21-0158-P, pending in the County Court at Law, Hays County, Texas, to: Taler Kaufman. All persons having claims against the Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner pre scribed by law, c/o Flume Law Firm, LLP, Attn: Celinda Baez Guerra, 1020 N.E. Loop 410, Suite 530, San Antonio, Texas 78209. Dated the 30TH day of November, 2022.

Sidney Kinnison commits to Oklahoma

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen this Oklahoma sweatshirt,” said Ashley Akina, Johnson High School head track coach.

And on Nov. 9, Kinnison’s dream officially came true as she signed to commit to running track for the University of Oklahoma.

Kinnison remembers talking to one of her friends that morning and was in disbelief.

“We were in seventh grade when we started track. We never thought that we’d be here signing to run four more years in college,” Kinnison said.

She enjoyed Oklahoma’s facilities and connected with assistant women’s coach, Michelle Freeman.

“She’s almost like a laid-back coach. When you’re just hanging around, she talks to you like she’s one of you,” Kinnison said. “And then when it’s time to work and it’s time to practice, she puts her game face on and she makes you work.”

One of Kinnison’s favorite memories running track at Johnson High School was qualifying for state at the regional track meet with her four-by-two group.

“We were just all so excited because all of our hard work had paid off,” she said.

She hasn’t made it

this far on her own.

Kinnison’s parents have been an integral part of helping her succeed in her athletic career.

Her mom helps with researching the times she’s competing against and her dad pays for her out-of-school coaching, which allows for more extensive training.

“It’s really been an honor to work with Sidney and this senior class, especially because they’ve really set a foundation for this track program,” Akina said.

“We’ve been through opening a school with two grades, going through a pandemic and somehow, these ladies have really set the tone for us as a program moving forward.”

Akina said Kinnison has had a significant impact on the track program.

She’s run in two relays, stepped up in the high jump event when they needed her and has been a dominant force in 300-meter hurdles.

“I like to refer to her like the female version of Clark Kent or the ‘Silent Assassin’ because she is so quiet,” Akina said. “She wears glasses, normally, to school and then she takes those off and it’s straight business mode.”

Akina believes Kinnison is in great hands.

“Oklahoma has a great track program,” Akina said. “They have done very well in the Big 12, and I’m sure they’re going to do well in the SEC as they move in that direction.”

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Kinnison was a district, regional and area champ in the 300-meter hurdles and set the Region 4-5A record by more than a second in 2021 with a time of 42.36 seconds.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Sidney Kinnison jumps over a hurdle during the 300-meter hurdle race at the state track meet in 2022, where she placed fifth.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

After Sidney Kinnison, 16, visited Oklahoma University, she announced that she was “100% committed” on Twitter.

BUDA — Sidney Kinnison has worn an Oklahoma sweatshirt since freshman year; in fact, it’s been a dream of hers to be a Sooner.

Stop by the park anytime to see lighted trees, glittery Santa and snowmen, giant ornaments and presents, and more.

Santa’s Arrival to Kyle will take place at the park on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will also feature food and market vendors, music performances

Hays

and tons of free kid-friendly activities.

PARADE FIREWORKS ART VENDORS LIVE MUSIC

PHOTO BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

Crews have been hard at work getting Mary Kyle Hartson City Square Park festive for Christmas. The iconic giant lighted Kyle sign is now up on display

PHOTO BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

Kyle’s Parks and Recreation Department is also celebrating the 25 Days of Christmas all month long at the park with plenty of photo opportunities and events to get the community into the holiday spirit. Visit www.cityofkyle.com/recreation/december-events for more information.

PHOTO BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

from

CISD schools