DECEMBER 8, 2021 WINTER-READY
SWIM CENTER
Kyle to apply for hazard mitigration grant ahead of winter weather.
State-of-the-art swim center breaks ground in Kyle.
– Page 2
– PAGE 2
© Barton Publications, Inc.
75¢
Hays Free Press HaysFreePress.com
Vol. 127 • No. 37
Serving Hays County, TX
Precinct 2 commish to run for County Judge SUBMITTED REPORT
The 15th and newest elementary school to join the Hays school district will be located in Buda’s Sunfield neighborhood and is slated to open in August 2022.
HCISD committee to recommend name for new elementary STAFF REPORT Hays CISD’s 15th and newest elementary school is one step closer to officially having a name. The 2021 Hays CISD Naming Committee will make a recommendation to the HCISD Board of Trustees during the Dec. 13 meeting to name the new school Sunfield Elementary, following input from the community. The school, which is under construction and slated to open in August 2022, is located near the Sunfield neighborhood in Buda, one of the newest, largest and fastest growing communities in the district. The seven-person naming committee was tasked with reviewing and narrowing down name suggestions to present to the board. Approximately 360 name suggestions were submitted by the public during the name nomination period; nearly half of the suggestions (152) were for ‘Sunfield Elementary.’ The name recommendation was adopted by the committee in a 5-0 vote; two members were not
NAMING NEW SCHOOL, 10
PHOTO BY BRITTANY ANDERSON
Downtown Kyle lights up BY BRITTANY ANDERSON
KYLE — Downtown Kyle was merry and bright as the city kicked off the holiday season on Dec. 1 at Mary Kyle Hartson Park. Santa flipped the light switch to reveal an illuminated wonderland across the park with giant, lighted displays and light-wrapped trees to hundreds of residents in attendance.
Along with photos with Santa, holiday performances from local school choirs, family-friendly activities and food and market vendors, city council members held a ribbon cutting ceremony to signify the completion of the park. The park’s renovation plans were first presented to the council on Dec. 1, 2020 and began this past summer. Features include a
children’s play area, gazebo, new landscaping, improved ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant space and more. Council member Robert Rizo, a lifelong resident of Kyle, expressed his excitement for the park and other projects the city is undertaking. “As cities begin to grow in different directions, their historic downtowns are some-
times forgotten,” Rizo said. “We are not going to see that happen here in Kyle. We’re going to revitalize this downtown and remember how important this area is to us. This park is the first important project of the area, but not the last.” The historic park is located in the heart of Kyle at 101 S. Burleson St. The holiday lights will stay up into the new year.
Kyle Fire Department cancels Santa rides due to staffing BY MEGAN WEHRING
KYLE — Santa will not be making his appearance on a fire truck this year in Kyle. The Kyle Fire Department (KPD) will not be conducting its neighborhood Santa rides this year because of staffing issues, increased overtime hours and burnout. This will be the second year in a row that KPD will not do the rides. “The COVID-19 pandemic has put a huge strain on staffing for our department this fiscal year,” KFD wrote in a Facebook post on Monday, “and the sad fact is that we simply cannot logistically make the Santa rides happen. We know this will be disappointing to some and we do apologize, but we hope that you can understand. Responding to emergencies and ensuring the safety of our community and our citizens is always going to be our number one priority as your fire
department.” Staff have already been working extra hours and the department cannot afford to bring in even more overtime, according to Fire Chief Kyle Taylor. “We spent about four times our budgeted amount on overtime just because there are guys out with COVID, we are doing shot clinics or testing,” Taylor said. “We budgeted like $85,000 for overtime
BUDAFEST
See photos from Buda’s biggest annual holiday celebration.
– Page 10
last year and we ended up closer to $400,000.” The Santa rides were a holiday tradition that many young residents and residents young at heart looked forward to every year. But the community is supportive of the department’s decision. “Thankfully, everybody has been extremely understanding and supportive this year,” said Bailey Bakouris, community
outreach specialist. “We are all going through similar stuff and it was refreshing to see that on our Facebook post. We appreciated that with the community.” Taylor said the department is planning on some kind of holiday event for the community next year. In the meantime, he suggests families visit Mary Kyle Hartson Park for the city’s 25 Days of Christmas festivities.
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
KYLE — Hays County Commissioner Mark Jones announced this week that he will be a candidate for county judge in the 2022 election. Jones was first elected JONES as commissioner for precinct two, which includes much of Buda and Kyle, in 2010 and re-elected in 2014 and 2018. “Over the past 11 years, I have focused on rapidly expanding roads and infrastructure across the fastest growing part of the fastest growing county in America, while also delivering the high-quality core services we depend on for our safety, security, and quality of life. We have before us a critical window of opportunity to invest in our roads and highways, public safety infrastructure, economic
JONES RUNS FOR JUDGE, 10
Former State Rep. Linebarger dies STAFF REPORT She was a force to be reckoned with in the Texas Legislature, and when she retired, she left some big boots to fill. Longtime Hays County State Rep. Libby Linebarger died early this LINEBARGER morning, Dec. 1, after health complications. Linebarger served in the 71st, 72nd and 73rd Legislatures from 1989 to 1995. Throughout her time in the Legislature, she served the counties of Blanco, Llano, Travis, Caldwell, Gonzales and Hays. She was co-chair of the Review of the Central Education Agency, chair of the Committee on Public Education and was a part of many other committees including those on Transportation, Human Services and a special Edwards Aquifer committee.
LINEBARGER DIES, 10