December 28, 2022 Hays Free Press

Hays Free Press

Moratorium struck down in Kyle

By Amira Van Leeuwen amira@haysfreepress.com

2022: A Year in Review Heiser officially sworn in

KYLE — In a 6-1 vote, Kyle City Council struck down any consideration for a temporary moratorium on Dec. 20.

Council member Yvonne Flores-Cale was

the single concurring vote who proposed enacting the “temporary moratorium on accepting, authorizing and approving new development in order to protect critical infrastructure,” which includes water, wastewater and transportation.

A moratorium can temporarily prohibit any activity. According to Section 212.135 of the Texas Local Government Code, “If a municipality adopts a moratorium on property development, the moratorium is justified by demonstrating a need

to prevent a shortage of essential public facilities.

The municipality must issue written findings based on reasonably available information.”

Flores-Cale emphasized that she is not anti-

Public hearing held for Hays development

By Brittany Anderson brittany@haysfreepress.com

HAYS — What was meant to be an opportunity for public discussion among residents, county planners and developers regarding Hays Commons — a proposed development in the small city of Hays — did not pan out to be as productive as intended.

An applicant sponsored meeting was held at the Hays County Government Office on Dec. 19 by LJA Engineering to present the preliminary plat for Hays Commons and receive

public comment.

LJA is working with Hays Commons developer MileStone Community Builders. LJA Project Engineer Brian Faltesek attended the meeting, along with LJA Vice President Daniel Ryan, who attended virtually. MileStone Entitlements Manager Shani Armbruster was the only MileStone representative present.

Those in attendance — a handful of Hays residents and council members — first voiced concerns that

How It Started ...

New Year's babies

Kyle runoff finalized

By Amira Van Leeuwen

KYLE — The dais is full for the first time since August after Bear Heiser was officially sworn into office on Tuesday, Dec. 20, securing the District 1 seat on the Kyle City Council.

After the election results were canvassed and certified during city council's special meeting, Texas Sen. Judith Zaffirini swore in Heiser, who claimed victory over Amanda Stark during the Dec. 13 run-off after winning with 767 votes (526 early, 241 on election day). Stark accumulated 302 votes (199 early votes, 103 on election day).

Mayor Travis Mitchell said the council functions best with a full dais and he was “thankful” for Heiser’s work during the campaign and looking forward to his time of service on the dais.

Mitchell noted that Heiser will bring more diversity and another perspective to council.

The community’s first babies of 2022 were welcomed in local San Marcos and Kyle hospitals on New Year’s Day.

Ezra Bernal was born at 8:46 a.m. on Jan. 1 at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos to parents Janet Salazar and Jovanne Bernal, weighing 6 pounds, 12 ounces and measuring 19 inches. He was delivered by Dr. Virginia Smith.

Fernando Villegas was born at 2:22 p.m. on Jan. 1 at Ascension Seton Hays Hospital in Kyle.

Fifth grader takes home spelling bee title

'I just don’t believe that the moratorium is the appropriate tool in our toolbox to use.’

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHRISTUS SANTA ROSA HOSPITAL – SAN MARCOS AND CITY OF KYLE/ASCENSION SETON HAYS HOSPITAL

Above left, Janet Salazar and Jovanne Bernal with baby Ezra. Above right, Fernando Villegas with his mother.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Emma Respondek, a Carpenter Hill Elementary fifth grader, won the 2022-23 Spelling Bee title. Her correct spelling of the winning word, “retribution,” came in the school-record 16th round of competition, where she outlasted a field of 20 talented spelling bee participants. Finishing in second place was fourth grader Norah Honea, third place was fourth grader Olivia Schweke and fourth was fourth grader Turner Haines.

No. 1 - Texas announces over $600 million in pandemic food benefits

By Megan Wehring megan@haysfreepress.com

Some Texas parents can now feel a bit of relief when it comes to feeding their families.

On April 12, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Health

and Human Services Commission received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a fourth round of federal Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer food benefits for Texas families with children

who temporarily lost access to free or reducedprice school meals due to COVID-19.

HHSC received federal approval to provide more than $626 million in benefits to approximately 2.1 million eligible children in Texas for the

2021-2022 school year, according to a news release. At the time of the story, HHSC has distributed approximately $6.13 billion in P-EBT food benefits to Texas families.

“We’re thankful for the opportunity to continue this successful P-EBT

program in Texas,” said Wayne Salter, HHS deputy executive commissioner of Access and Eligibility Services. “These food benefits provide much-needed assistance to families and children impacted by school closures.”

No. 2 - Wildfire ignites near Hays/Blanco County line

Staff Report

A wildfire on the Hays/Blanco County line ignited Aug. 2. The Smoke Rider Fire moved northwest towards Highway 290 and prompted evacuations in the area. The fire was 100% contained six-days later after spreading through 1,210 acres, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service incident viewer. Among the losses were seven homes and recreational vehicles with multiple barns and other equipment, according to the Blanco County Emergency Management.

COMMONS, from Page 1

the meeting was being held in violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act.

While LJA did post notice in the Dec. 7 and 14 editions of the Hays Free Press under an “applicant sponsored meeting,” several Hays residents said that neither they nor their neighbors received any notice in the mail of the meeting despite being adjacent to the proposed development. Additionally, notice of the meeting was not posted on the Hays County government website.

Marcus Pacheco, Hays County development services director, said that the notification process rests entirely on the applicant’s side and the county is not involved. However, before a subdivision plat can be filed for approval, applicants must go through a county administrative review and later, a technical review to “check all the boxes” and ensure that all requirements were met, including notices and applicant sponsored meeting requirements.

Hays Commons has been in development

COUNCIL, from Page 1

development but is “proresponsible growth.” She thought that a temporary moratorium would allow staff and council to create a plan for Kyle’s essential public facilities, making it easier for the city to focus on and process current permits and applications without the “stress” of new developments.

Newly-appointed mayor pro tem Michael Tobias was concerned about possible economic impacts, public perception and developers’ perception if a moratorium was implemented.

Perwez Moheet, the city finance director, was summoned to address Tobias’ concerns related to finance. He advised city council that his discussion might require council to consult the city’s attorney and bond counsel. Moheet left it up to the council members on whether

for nearly 10 years now. As such, residents and city leaders are adamant that developers take into account all of their concerns, most recently regarding MileStone’s municipal utility district (MUD) request and preliminary plat plans.

Currently, the proposed plat includes 20 singlefamily lots, two multifamily/condo lots, three parkland/open spaces lots, one commercial lot and three utility lots on approximately 290 acres of land, with 240 acres across the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone and 42 acres across the transition zone.

Plat plans outline that water and wastewater services would be provided either by the city through a MUD, using already strained local wells for water and implementing land application (the spraying or injection of sewage sludge into the soil) over sensitive Edwards Aquifer zones, or by the city of Austin.

During a Nov. 14 council meeting, Hays City Council unanimously voted to deny MileStone’s MUD request. During the Dec. 19 applicant sponsored meeting,

or not they wanted to go into executive session, to which Flores-Cale differed.

“We just talked about transparency,” FloresCale said. “And there are people sitting in here that this may affect. I don’t necessarily agree with going into executive. I think we do that a lot.”

Council member Daniela Parsley thought enforcing a moratorium would be “drastic” and suggested working on a plan during the city’s annual vision workshop on how they want to address any issues on water/wastewater without imposing a moratorium.

“I just don’t see the need of stopping permits or zone changes or any development from coming in or trying to do an application,” Parsley said.

Council members Miguel Zuniga and Bear Heiser were also unfavorable of the

Armbruster said that MileStone had submitted a service extension request with Austin in late November, but that this process “takes quite some time” and that they had not heard back. For this parcel, the request includes 60,000 gallons water per day for wastewater use and 120,000 gallons per day (about 90 gallons per minute) for water use.

Hays council also denied MileStone’s preliminary plat as presented during a Nov. 30 special council meeting, but it doesn’t appear that the city’s votes have changed much on MileStone’s end as they moved on to the county for approval instead.

“We denied the MUD and denied the preliminary plat. Then, we find three days later, that they’re coming to the county with virtually no change to the preliminary plat that was voted down by the city of Hays,” mayor pro tem Roxanne O’Neal said.

“Why are we looking at a plat approval dated June when as recently as October, something different was presented?” resident Darlene Starr

added later in the meeting. “The developer is still in negotiations with the city of Hays asking for things that look completely different from what they’re showing you [the county] and asking you to sign off on.”

Concerns regarding proposed lot sizes leading to high development density, the amount of impervious cover (human-made surfaces that don’t absorb rainfall,) lack of karst feature buffer zones between homes, a wastewater storage facility on site and the removal of heritage trees have also been brought up many times.

At the meeting, Ryan also briefly mentioned a second separate project outside this plat that is within the Austin ETJ (extraterritorial jurisdiction,) thus falling under different rules and regulations as the Hays Commons plat, which is within the Hays ETJ. In total, this would add 280 lots to the area, along with hundreds of gallons of water per day for wastewater treatment, which would be served by land application if services with Austin are not approved.

Ultimately, many of those in attendance felt that they were still — even after dozens of meetings — left with unanswered questions and inconsistencies regarding the development, in part due to the lack of MileStone representatives present.

“The entirety of this evening, we have not heard one definitive statement from your organization. It’s, ‘It appears to be, it could be, it might be, we’re gonna try, we don’t know, don’t hold me to the number, this is an estimate, we’re thinking about it, we’re considering it,’” said resident and former Hays mayor pro tem Lydia Bryan-Valdez. “We have

a beautiful home right now, beautiful lives, a wonderful community … It’s a little bit of heaven and y’all are going to turn it into a big pot of hell. We are in a David and Goliath situation. We stand to lose everything we have, including our health … It’s trickery every step of the way; it’s bad business. Why would you do that to the city of Hays? This is Texas. You can do things in good faith and make leaps and bounds of progress … Y’all are going to do the worst things you could possibly do for the name of profit.”

Hays City Council will next meet on Jan. 9 and continue to deliberate Hays Commons.

moratorium.

“I also don’t like to just throw the word moratorium around because it is risky for investors, and it does send the wrong signal that we’re not keeping pace with our infrastructure,” Zuniga said. “So, unless the sewage is completely spilling over on the streets, I would not be in favor of supporting something unless I hear it from public works, economic development and planning and zoning combined.”

Mitchell also said he could empathize with any council member who had concerns about the nature of Kyle’s growth but thought it was important to be proactive and not reactive.

“We need to be constantly working on solving problems for the future,” he said. “I just don’t believe that

the moratorium is the appropriate tool in our toolbox to use. The city has taken great pains to develop infrastructure over the years and we have robust plans for keeping up with growth, from the standpoint of water, wastewater and roads,” Mitchell said.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO A wildfire on the Hays/Blanco County line ignited Aug. 2. The Smoke Rider Fire moved northwest towards Highway 290 and prompted evacuations in the area.

By Ashley Kontnier publisher@bartonpublicationsinc.com

City

Miguel A. Zuniga topped incumbent Robert Rizo for the District 3 spot in the November election. Rizo, who was mayor pro tem, has served on council since May of 2019.

"Thank you to everyone that supported me on this amazing election run and to all my supporters, campaign manager, and especially to my beautiful wife and family,” Zuniga said in a statement. “I want to recognize the work and service of Robert Rizo and wish him the best in his future

endeavors. When I began this campaign, I promised to be a candidate that would help grow our city together and improve the quality of our city in every direction. To achieve these outcomes there will be lots of work ahead of us and opportunities to improve as we continue to grow. As a new City Council member, I am going to promote collaboration and focus on priorities to find solutions for our city. Again, I am honored to be elected for Kyle City Council District 3 and committed to serving our community.”

A run-off election was held on Dec. 13 between Amanda

Stark and Bear Heiser to determine the District 1 Kyle City Council member. This seat was previously held by Dex Ellison, prior to his resignation in August 2022. Bear Heiser won in that run-off.

County Judge Ruben Becerra maintained his position in a close race with challenger Mark Jones.

“Alongside my colleagues, I’m working on building out a robust Public Defender Office; a Mental Wellness Center; a countywide Pet Resource Center; and responsibly reducing our jail population, including the termination of the privateprison contract,” Becerra said

in a statement. “I placed my campaign on a different path — one that compared two incumbents without personal attacks. Our community deserves unity and harmony, and that is what I intend to continue providing even if we don’t all see eye-to-eye. Peace is paramount.”

Michelle Gutierrez Cohen will be assuming the position of Hays County Commissioner Precinct 2. “I’m just super excited and honored to have the people’s vote. I’ve been working in the community for over two and a half years because of the pandemic. I think with that work, people saw that

I was willing to work as a regular citizen,” Gutierrez Cohen said in a statement. “I think they know my work ethic and I think those people showed out yesterday.”

The three bond propositions on the ballot for Dripping Springs ISD failed to gain voter approval. Voters gave approval for the city of Kyle road bond proposition with a strong margin.

Hays County also gained a new district attorney. Kelly Higgins gained the seat previously held by Wes Mau who did not seek reelection after announcing his retirement.

Amira's Pick

By Brittany Anderson

HAYS — Residents of the city of Hays pride their home on being a “little piece of heaven on Earth,” but a potential development is threatening to cause a myriad of problems.

Hays, located a few miles northwest of Buda, has a population of just under 300. Since 2013, the city has been negotiating a development agreement (DA) for a proposed development called Hays Commons, then signed with developer Walters Southwest but now under MileStone Community Builders.

The Hays City Council held a public workshop with

MileStone development raises environmental concerns

MileStone on Oct. 20 to discuss the DA and its potential changes, as well as address some of the concerns that have been raised, including requests from MileStone that residents and local environmental groups are pushing back on.

Hays Commons spans over 300 acres and proposes over 200 residential units on a mix of lot sizes — most on quarteracre lots, some on third-acre lots and only a couple dozen on one-acre lots. Parkland and several acres of commercial space are also proposed.

Most notably, the development is situated over the Barton Springs portion of the sensitive Edwards Aquifer

Recharge Zone (EARZ). A 2008 study prepared by ACI Consulting for previous developer Walters Southwest identified 52 karst features, or sensitive environmental features, on the tract of land where Hays Commons is set, 27 of which had the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality rating of “sensitive.”

One of MileStone’s controversial proposals is a Texas Land Application Permit (TLAP) on the development, which allows treated effluent water for irrigation. Many are opposed to this idea including Carol Pennington, a resident of nearby neighborhood Chaparral Park, who said that a

TLAP is the “worst thing” that could be put on this location.

“There are over 36 environmental features, a small creek that floods after three inches of rain and at least one tributary creek on this section of land where you want to spread treated wastewater. That has the potential to go directly into the Edwards Aquifer and our drinking water,” Pennington said. “This is the most irresponsible and negligent plan and needs to be drastically changed.”

Another MileStone request is that the Hays council grant them consent to create a municipal utility district (MUD). MUDs provide

developers an alternate way to finance infrastructure such as water, wastewater and road facilities, but this has also raised red flags for residents and environmental groups.

In a letter addressed to the Hays City Council, Save Our Springs (SOS) Alliance executive director Bill Bunch wrote that MileStone’s MUD request would increase density of the development — consequently, its impervious cover, or artificial surfaces that do not absorb rainfall — and the treatment and irrigation of municipal wastewater over the EARZ. Both would threaten to pollute the many nearby drinking water wells.

Bear Heiser

Kelly Higgins

Michelle Gutierrez Cohen

Miguel Zuniga

Ruben Becerra

No. 4 - Third Hays CISD student in a month dies in suspected fentanyl overdose

Staff Report

HAYS COUNTY — A 15-yearold Hays CISD high school sophomore, later identified as Noah Rodriguez, died from a suspected fentanyl overdose in San Marcos on Saturday, Aug. 20 — and was the third suspected fentanyl overdose death involving a Hays CISD student.

In late July and early August, two 17-year-old students in two separate incidents died in Kyle at their houses, according to a Hays CISD news release.

The three students who died attended, or would have attended, Johnson and Lehman high schools.

Since last May, all three Hays CISD comprehensive high schools (Hays, Johnson

Ashley's

Pick

and Lehman) have been affected by students who experienced life-threatening fentanyl overdoses, both on campus and at home, that did not result in death.

Kyle Police Chief Jeff Barnett has been leading the call to bring attention to the increase in fentanyl-related deaths and overdoses. Kyle PD and Hays CISD alerted parents to fentanyl dangers last week, on the eve of the start of this school year. In a Kyle PD Facebook post, shared by Hays CISD and included in a back to school email sent to all parents, Chief Barnett showed photographs of one type of counterfeit pill believed to have caused many of the recent fentanyl emergencies in the Kyle area.

Handing over the reins

By Cyndy Slovak-Barton

As we turn the calendar page to a new year, it gives all of us time to reflect back. We might not want to get too melancholy about 2021; instead, let’s think about the recent holidays.

The holidays are the time that we get together with family and friends, and the friends that make up a family. We have those friends at work, in our neighborhood, in relationships through trade organizations.

Friends and family are the beings who get us through tough times, and the people with whom we enjoy spending time.

We all know that some people feel like family, even when they are not blood kin. And the importance of family and local ties is especially important for any local small business.

Barton Publications Inc. has been in the Barton family of Kyle and Buda since the 1950s when Bob Barton and Mo Johnson purchased the Kyle News while they were freshmen students at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State).

Their “family” included a lot of old Kyle family names, as this team of young people joined together to make sure that a newspaper hit the streets each and every week.

Over the years, the newspaper changed hands several times, some

times being sold for a box of cigars; yet, it seemed to have always come back to the Barton family.

And there was always a member of the Barton family somehow involved. Bob Barton ran it for many years, covering meetings, writing columns, covering sporting events. Jeff Barton and Cyndy Slovak-Barton took over the reins from him in the 1980s, doing all of the same kind of work — writing, taking photos, selling ads, throwing the newspapers to homes, designing the pages. Jeff’s and Cyndy’s children also helped out over the years, doing all kind of odd jobs, from translating copy to Spanish, to sweeping floors, to taking photos and writing stories.

Cyndy has held the reins for many years as publisher, keeping the Hays Free Press and NewsDispatch from running off the rails.

Yes, it was truly a family newspaper and family business.

But, it is time for a younger generation to take over. Someone with more knowledge of social media, video stories, design, websites and more.

So, it is with great pleasure that we announce that Barton Publications was passed on to another family with local ties, effective Jan. 1, 2022.

Tania French with Something More Newspapers, which owns the Port Lavaca Wave, is purchasing Barton Publications, Inc. and will

continue to run these newspapers with all the great stories, photos and investigations that have always been our hallmark. Her company is grounded in newspapers, but also does a lot of work with websites, specialty publications and more.

While Tania French splits her time between her home in Port Lavaca and her home in Kyle, her daughter Ashley Kontnier has lived in Kyle or Buda for the past 10 years, having purchased homes in Kyle and then Buda after her graduation from Texas State.

Ashley lives with her husband and son in Buda, has been a member of several networking groups, is known as a photographer extraordinaire, and is known to many local business owners because of her advertising connections with the Hays Free Press and News-Dispatch.

Another daughter, Schelly Bartels grew up in the newspaper business and has experience in various aspects of newspaper operations, even operating a printing press for a few years.

So, we take a step into the next year confident that these newspapers will still be putting out great publications. Readers can have confidence that city councils will still be questioned, that sports will be covered, and that your business’s ads will be front and center in front of thousands of readers.

Walking the Walk: Graduates celebrated

By Brittany Anderson Hays

CISD seniors recently had the opportunity to participate in an end-of-school-year tradition that celebrates graduating seniors and inspires the younger generation of students.

Hundreds of seniors from Hays High School,

Johnson High School and Lehman High School packed into buses last week and visited the district’s elementary and middle school campuses for the annual Senior Walk.

Liz's Pick

students and staff at Kyle, Negley, Buda, Tobias and Blanco Vista elementary schools, as well as Wallace Middle School.

On May 19, nearly 200 Hays HS seniors visited

“We have a very diverse council and council member Heiser is going to add to that diversity,” Mitchell said. “I think it's always healthy when council has a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives on the issues. The real test will be in learning whether or not this new council can work well together and I will say on that note, I'm very optimistic that we will be able to work well together as a group.”

During Heiser’s speech, he thanked Stark for running a “great campaign” and being a “very gracious opponent.” He also vowed to represent all city residents.

On May 23, almost 200 Lehman HS seniors visited Blanco Vista, Kyle, Tobias, Hemphill, Uhland, Pfluger, Fuentes and Science Hall elementary schools, as well as Wallace, Chapa and Simon middle schools.

Hays CISD has held senior walks for the past several years as a way to celebrate graduating students and allow them to walk through the halls of campuses they grew up in. The event also serves as an inspiration to elementary and middle school

“The reality is that there are a lot of people in the city who don’t feel represented and I vowed to all of them to stand up here one day and to represent everyone in the city, no matter where they live, making sure that the growth that’s taking place here is beneficial to everybody,” Heiser said.

He concluded by emphasizing his open-door policy.

“Whether it’s email, phone, text, I will be there to try to address, whatever is your concern,” he said. “And do whatever I can to try to create a solution for you.”

students who can look up to graduating seniors and see that they will one day be in their shoes.

As they made their way through the halls in their graduation caps and robes, seniors were met with congratulatory posters, claps, cheers and high-fives from younger students.

Local Living Legend: Veteran celebrates 104th birthday

By Brittany Anderson

KYLE — It’s not every day a family can celebrate the 104th birthday of their loved one, and a World War II veteran on top of that — but Milton Behrens, a resident of Orchard Park in Kyle, was the exception. On May 10, his family and the Orchard Park community gathered to celebrate the centenarian. Behrens’ daughter Sherral Coe also provided pictures and other mementos from his life, including his time serving in WWII.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JANEL RODRIGUEZ Noah played football for Johnson High School.

PHOTO BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

Milton Behrens surrounded by his family during his 104th birthday party on May 10.

PHOTO BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

A newspaper clipping from Giddings, Behrens’ hometown, showing Behrens (middle) and two other members of his unit working on telephone lines in Germany during WWII.

COURTESY OF HAYS CISD

Hays High School seniors visited elementary schools during the annual Senior Walk.

arrest

teacher

Total charges brought to 20

DRIPPING SPRINGS —

Former Dripping Springs Middle School (DSMS) teacher Kevin James McLean is now facing a total of 20 charges after he was again arrested earlier this week, now on charges related to possession of child pornography and more.

McLean, 30, was first arrested and booked into Hays County Jail on May 5 for sending inappropriate images through Snapchat to juvenile victims, as well as providing juveniles with nicotine and THC vapes.

The reporting party was in Austin, and a report was filed with the Austin Police Department (APD). Hays County Sheriff’s Office then coordinated efforts with APD and Dripping

By Amira Van Leeuwen

Springs

McLean’s

• One charge of Possession of a

Dangerous Drug; $5,000 surety bond.

• Three charges of Distribution of Controlled Substance to a Minor; $50,000 surety bond.

• Four charges of Sale, Distribution or Display of Harmful Material to a Minor; $12,500 surety bond.

McLean was again booked into Hays County Jail on June 13 on twelve additional charges and released June 14, according to Hays County jail records.

McLean’s charges from his June 13 arrest are as follows:

• One charge of Online Solicitation of a Minor; $50,000 surety bond.

• One charge of Improper Relationship Between Educator/ Student; $100,000 surety bond.

• Ten charges of Possession of Child Pornography; $25,000 surety bond.

And one to

Restaurants popping up around area

By CJ Vetter

HAYS COUNTY – At the last state of Kyle address, Mayor Travis Mitchell revealed a plethora of new restaurants coming to Kyle.

One notable eatery that came to the Buda area is Big’s Meat Market. Relocating from Austin, the newcomer to Buda is offering a meat market alongside brisket sandwiches, sausage, and other quick meals. The new location also provides a unique drivethru for those wishing to pick up meat without ever leaving the car.

“The difference between Austin and Buda is 100%,” said Scott Fiebig, owner of Big’s Meat Market.

“Everybody has been extremely friendly and the folks down here have

been great customers. Overall, it’s a breath of fresh air compared to being in Austin.”

Another offering is Dutch Bros. Coffee. The new drive-thru coffee shop offers variations of coffee, blended beverages, smoothies and more at its new location.

Numerous restaurants are also opening in the Dry River District, next to EVO Entertainment and the up-and-coming Costco off Interstate 35 in Kyle. Willie’s Grill and Icehouse was approved by the planning and zoning commission July 26.

Residents will have several options including Torchy’s Tacos, Pizza Patrón, Z’Tejas, Denny’s (Opened December 2022,) Pollo Campero and P. Terry’s.

BUDA – Tony Greaves was born in West Texas, Lamesa, where he grew up with Shetland ponies all his life. His mother said he learned to walk holding on to a halter of a little filly they called “dappled filly.” Greaves couldn’t say dappled at such a young age, so they settled on the name “Daffy.” He had her for many years until she died.

Greaves raised his first miniature horse, Big’Un Greaves, in 1963 when he was a senior in high school. In 1978, when the American Miniature Horse

Association (AMHA) was founded, Greaves registered Big’Un at 15-years-old. His family always had Shetlands, but he always loved the smallest ones.

“When we would go to an auction or something, I would search the barn and find the smallest one and beg my dad to buy it,” Greaves said.

When Greaves was younger, he had a comic book of Bozo the Clown. Bozo had a miniature circus of animals he carried around in his briefcase that would perform when placed on a table. Greaves said that that was the size of animals he wanted.

He remembers telling his dad that he wanted to race 22-inch horses.

“Oh, you’ll never get them that little,” his dad replied.

“Well, I’m going to try,” Greaves said. And fortunately for Greaves, his father lived long enough to see him get his horses down to 28-inches.

Now, Greaves is continuing his dream. “I had one stallion that I sold two years ago — I didn’t really want to sell him, but I had somebody who just absolutely had to buy him. I popped off and gave her a price that I thought she would never pay, and she did. But he was only 24.5 inches tall, full-grown,” Greaves said.

Greaves now has one horse named Jackpot, about one year old and 21.5 inches tall. According to Greaves, several buyers are interested in him, but he has held onto him because the horse’s father is 26-inches tall. Greaves thinks Jackpot will be about 23-inches tall when he is fully grown.

Little America Miniature Horse Farm is a family-owned miniature horse farm in Buda. Tony Greaves and his wife, Carol Greaves, purchased the land in 1995 and have registered over 1,500 horses.

Greaves and his wife have two children and have been married for 56 years.

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

CHURCH OF CHRIST

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

Buda United Methodist Church San Marcos &

ISD. McLean was released from jail on May 14.

charges from his May 5 arrest are as follows:

Kevin McLean

CITY OF KYLE, TEXAS

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE VYBE TRAIL SYSTEM

“K22-23.3”**

The City of Kyle (City) will accept sealed qualification statements from engineering firms who can demonstrate they have resources, experience and qualifications for the Vybe Trail System until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.

Requirements may be secured from the City’s website.

Qualifications submissions addressed to the City Engineer, City of Kyle, 100 W. Center St., Kyle, Texas 78640 will be received until 5:00 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 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 envelope clearly marked:

Professional Engineering Services for the Vybe Trail System Kyle, Texas “K22-23.3”

A pre-submission non-mandatory Teams Meeting will be held virtually on January 10, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. To join, please RSVP via email Derek Daniels at ddaniels@cityofkyle. com by end of business day January 6, 2023.

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

CITY OF KYLE, TEXAS Leon Barba, P.E. City Engineer

NOTICE OF SALE

Morningstar Storage wishes to avail themselves of the Texas Provision of Chapter 59 of the Texas Property Code by conducting a public sale to the highest bidder for cash on their premises. This sale is listed below:

Date: January 12th, 2023 Time: 10:15 AM Location: StorageAuctions.

com Unit 1040 Ð Michael McHale Ð paintings, rocking chair, spirit stick, misc. Unit 2137 Ð Alexis Alaniz Ð bed, loveseat, suitcases, misc. furniture Unit 2162 Ð John Magallanez Ð rims, car jacks, ice chest, misc. boxes & bags, bike frame Unit 3068 Ð Cheyenne Buchan Ð misc. totes, electronics, fabrics Unit 3072 Ð Jedd Bennett Ð commercial sewing machine, benches, yard tools, table saw, motorcycle helmets, misc. Unit C310 Ð Melissa Rocha -misc. furniture, totes, electronics, tv Morningstar Storage reserves the right to refuse any bid or to cancel any public sale advertised. The property contents of these unit(s) are sold “as-is” “where-is” for CASH. Announcements made the day of the sale takes precedence over any printed materials.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) proposes to build a 165-foot self-support Communications Tower at the approx. vicinity of 190 Traynor Drive, Kyle, Hays Co., TX 78640, [Lat: 29-57-16 N, Lo: -97-50-39.73 W]. Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to: Trileaf Corp, Augusto Conde de Frankenberg, a.frankenberg@trileaf. com, 2550 South IH 35, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78704 Ð (512) 519-9388

NOTICE OF PUBLIC

HEARING

The Buda City Council will hold a public hearing regarding the following items at its regular meeting to be held Tuesday, January 17th, 2023:

SUP 22-03: Hold a public hearing and first reading of an Ordinance for a Specific Use Permit (SUP) to allow a full-service carwash for a property zoned Interstate 35 Business (B3) within the Gateway Corridor Overlay district (O-G) for +/- 3.00 acres described as the Main Street East Commercial Subdivision, Block A, Lot 2C, City of Buda, Hays County, Texas (Water Works Auto Spa).

SUP 22-04: Hold a public hearing and first reading of an Ordinance for a Specific Use Permit (SUP) to allow a drive-thru restaurant for a property zoned Interstate 35 Business (B3) within the Gateway Corridor Overlay district (O-G) for +/- 5.70 acres described as the Fire Cracker & Main Subdivision, Block A , Lot 1, and addressed as 2260

Main Street, Buda, TX 78610 (Corner on Main).

The hearing will be held at 6:00 pm in the Council Chambers at Buda City Hall, 405 E. Loop St. Building 100, Buda, TX 78610. Please visit the City of Buda website (budatx.gov) for meeting details and public participation options. The agenda will be published 72 hours prior to the meeting.

NOTICE OF ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL OUTOF-DISTRICT MEETING PLACE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF NORTH HAYS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 2

To the residents and taxpayers of North Hays County Municipal Utility District No. 2 (the “District”), and to all the persons interested in the meetings of the Board of Directors of such District:

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the District, at a meeting held December 12, 2022, established an additional meeting place outside the boundaries of the District at the offices of Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP, 919 Congress Avenue, Suite 1500, Austin, Texas 78701.

Said meeting place is hereby declared to be a public place and open to the public. All residents and taxpayers of the District and all other interested persons are hereby invited to attend any meetings of the Board of Directors at such location and other locations previously established by the Board of Directors as meeting places of the District.

/s/ Kevin Howard Secretary, Board of Directors

NOTICE TO BIDDERS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

#FY23-023

SOLICITATION

GRANT WRITING AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Sealed proposals will be received by the Purchasing Manager of the City of Buda for the above referenced solicitation. The purpose of this advertisement is to solicit interest from prospective vendors to provide grant management consulting services.

The solicitation package may be obtained online at one of the following bid services: www.publicpurchase.com & www.bidnetdirect.com

Proposals shall be delivered in a sealed envelope to City of Buda, City Hall Purchasing Bid Box, 405 E. Loop St., Bldg. 100, Buda, Texas 78610. Write “SEALED PROPOSAL” with the RFP Number, Name, and Due Date on the outside of the shipping package.

Statements will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. local time, January 19, 2023. Questions may be directed to the City of Buda Purchasing Office via email at purchasing@ci.buda.tx.us

Charles Oberrender, CPPB Purchasing Manager City of Buda

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Of property to satisfy a landlord’s lien. Sale to be held Online @ Storagetreasures.com

By competitive bid.

Anytime Storage, LLC 880 Windy Hill rd. Kyle, TX 78640

Bidding will open January 11, 2023 11am and will conclude January 18, 2023 11:00 am.

Cleanup deposit is required. Seller reserves the right to withdraw the property at any time before the sale.

The property contents of all storage unit(s) sold at this sale are purchased “as is” “where is” for CASH/CREDIT.

Unit items sold for cash to the highest bidder. All Units have miscellaneous household items, boxes, furniture.

Property includes the contents of spaces of the following tenant (s).

RAMIRO ALANIZ: shelving, tools, moving, sports MARIA GARCIA MALLDONADO: ladders, construction, toys

SABRINA LOZANO: mattresses

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Of property to satisfy a landlord’s lien. Sale to be held Online @ Storagetreasures.com

By competitive bid.

Anytime Storage, LLC 2401 Windy Hill rd. Kyle, TX 78640

Bidding will open January 11, 2023 11am and will conclude January 18, 2023 11:00 am.

PUBLIC NOTICES/CLASSIFIEDS

Cleanup deposit is required. Seller reserves the right to withdraw the property at any time before the sale.

The property contents of all storage unit(s) sold at this sale are purchased “as is” “where is” for CASH/CREDIT.

Unit items sold for cash to the highest bidder. All Units have miscellaneous household items, boxes, furniture.

Property includes the contents of spaces of the following tenant (s).

Ashley Whitt: clothing, toys

Stephanie Blodgett: girl bike, clothing Stephanie Blodgett: bedding Juice Kennedy: Tools, camping, collectibles

Katherine Robledo: Bedding, heater, TV

Katherine Robledo: Bike, Art, TV

Justin Mansfield: get pics Chris Lawson: Bed, Baby items

Linda Bell: Office, door

PUBLIC NOTICE

By order of the Hays County Commissioners Court, notice is hereby given that on January 3rd, 2023, 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:

Hawk Ridge, Phase 1, Block B, Lots 11, 17 & 18, Replat

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Pursuant to Chapter 59 of the Texas Property Code, TJO 10 X 10 Management, Ltd Managing properties listed below will hold a public auction of property being sold to satisfy a landlord’s lien. The sale will begin on or about the time indicated at www.Selfstorageauction.com. Property will be sold to highest bidder for cash. Deposit for removal and cleanup may be temporarily required. Seller reserves the right to reject any bid and to withdraw property from sale. Property may be sold by the space. Property being sold includes contents in spaces of following tenants, with brief description of contents in each space.

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

12:00 pm AAA Self Storage Dripping Springs @ 2300 W. US Hwy 290, Dripping Springs, TX 78620 www.SelfStorageAuction. com Amanda Cox: misc. Items.

NOTICE OF REVISED PLAT

Project name: Replat of Lots 1, Block E, Resubdivision of Lots 1-4, Block E, Bush Ranch, Phase 1, Revised Mailing date: 12/6/2022

Project location: 12400 W U.S. Highway 290 Hays County, Texas Please be advised that the resubdivision of Lots 1, Block E, Bush Ranch Phase 1, recorded in Document No. 22047589 of Bush Ranch Phase 1 is being replated to create a new lot configuration. With the replat, Lot 1 will be converted into five lots, Lots 1-5. Please see the attached plat for details.

The property falls within the following jurisdictions/service areas:

Water: West Travis County Public Utility Agency Wastewater: Hays County MUD No. 4 Electric: Pedernales Electric Cooperative Emergency Service District: ESD No. 6 Ð North Hays County Fire Rescue Hays County Development Services and the City of Dripping Springs is reviewing this development application to ensure that it is in compliance with applicable regulations.

For more information please contact the project’s owner or agent.

Owner’s name: Ledgestone East Ltd.

Agent’s name: Natalia Garau, P.E.

Agent’s phone number: 737202-3214

CITY OF KYLE, TEXAS

REQUESTS

FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) OPERATION OF CARNIVAL, CONCESSIONS, AND AMUSEMENTS FOR KYLE FAIR TEX-TRAVAGANZA EVENT: RFP-2023-05-PARD

SPECIFICATIONS AND GENERAL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CARNIVAL, CONCESSIONS, AND AMUSEMENTS OR KYLE FAIR TEX-TRAVAGANZA EVENT FOR THE CITY OF KYLE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT

NOTICE TO RESPONDERS:

The City of Kyle is accepting proposals for the selection of a company to provide carnival rides, concessions, and amusements during the Kyle Fair Tex-travaganza as stated in this RFP and

posted on our website: www. cityofkyle.com. The City of Kyle invites qualified companies to submit proposals. The city is seeking a company experience working with public municipal agencies. Proposals marked OPERATION OF CARNIVAL, CONCESSIONS, AND AMUSEMENTS FOR KYLE FAIR TEX-TRAVAGANZA EVENT: RFP-2023-05-PARD are to be submitted to:

Mariana Espinoza City of Kyle, Director of Parks and Recreation 700 Lehman Rd Kyle, TX 78640 (512) 262-3939

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 4:00 PM, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2023

All proposals received will be reviewed by City Staff. The staff’s recommendation will go to the Kyle City Council for final approval.

Proposals should be clearly marked, “OPERATION OF CARNIVAL, CONCESSIONS, AND AMUSEMENTS FOR KYLE FAIR TEX-TRAVAGANZA EVENT: RFP-2023-05PARD”. Any proposal received later than the specified time, whether delivered in person, postal mail or emailed shall be disqualified. The City of Kyle will not be responsible for delivering mail from the post office. The City of Kyle will not be responsible for proposals delivered to any location other than the one specified above. The City of Kyle will not be responsible for emailed proposals that did not get into “in-box”. Respondents are encouraged to hand deliver their proposals well ahead of opening time or follow up to confirm their proposals were received before the deadline.

The complete RFP can be found at https://www.cityofkyle. com/rfps

CITY OF KYLE, TEXAS REQUESTS FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) KYLE FAIR FIREWORKS: RFP-2023-04PARD SPECIFICATIONS AND GENERAL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FIREWORKS AT THE KYLE FAIR FOR THE CITY OF KYLE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT

NOTICE TO RESPONDERS: The City of Kyle is accepting proposals for the selection of a Firework vendor as stated in this RFP and posted on our website: www.cityofkyle. com. The City of Kyle invites qualified companies to submit proposals to provide complete cost estimates for planning and delivery of a 15-minute firework show. The city is seeking a company with experience working with public municipal agencies. Proposals marked KYLE FAIR FIREWORKS: RFP-2023-04-PARD are to be submitted to:

Mariana Espinoza City of Kyle, Director of Parks and Recreation 700 Lehman Rd Kyle, TX 78640 (512) 262-3939

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 4:00 PM, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2023

All proposals received will be reviewed by City Staff. The staff’s recommendation will go to the Kyle City Council for final approval.

Proposals should be clearly marked, “KYLE FAIR FIREWORKS: RFP-2023-04PARD”. Any proposal received later than the specified time, whether delivered in person, postal mail or emailed shall be disqualified. The City of Kyle will not be responsible for delivering mail from the post office. The City of Kyle will not be responsible for proposals delivered to any location other than the one specified above. The City of Kyle will not be responsible for emailed proposals that did not get into “in-box”. Respondents are encouraged to hand deliver their proposals well ahead of opening time or follow up to confirm their proposals were received before the deadline.

The complete RFP can be found at https://www.cityofkyle. com/rfps

CITY OF KYLE, TEXAS REQUESTS FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND: RFQ-2023-03PARD

SPECIFICATIONS AND GENERAL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AN INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND FOR THE CITY OF KYLE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT NOTICE TO RESPONDERS:

The City of Kyle is accepting proposals for the design construction of one (1) inclusive playground located at Lake Kyle Park as stated in this RFP and posted on our website: www.cityofkyle.com. The City of Kyle invites qualified companies to submit proposals to provide complete cost estimates for delivery, training and cost of the Mobile LED screen. The city is seeking a company experience working with public municipal agencies. Proposals marked INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND: RFQ-202303-PARD are to be submitted to:

Mariana Espinoza City of Kyle, Director of Parks and Recreation 700 Lehman Rd Kyle, TX 78640 (512) 262-3939

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 4:00 PM, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2023

All proposals received will be reviewed by City Staff. The staff’s recommendation will go to the Kyle City Council for final approval.

Proposals should be clearly marked, “INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND: RFP-2023-03PARD”. Any proposal received later than the specified time, whether delivered in person, postal mail or emailed shall be disqualified. The City of Kyle will not be responsible for delivering mail from the post office. The City of Kyle will not be responsible for proposals delivered to any location other than the one specified above. The City of Kyle will not be responsible for emailed proposals that did not get into “in-box”. Respondents are encouraged to hand deliver their proposals well ahead of opening time or follow up to confirm their proposals were received before the deadline. The complete RFP can be found at https://www.cityofkyle. com/rfps

CITY OF KYLE, TEXAS REQUESTS FOR PROPOSAL (RFQ) REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS FOR THE JAMES ADKINS POOL: RFQ 2023 02 PARD SPECIFICATIONS AND GENERAL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS AT THE JAMES ADKINS POOL IN THE CITY OF KYLE

NOTICE TO RESPONDERS: The City of Kyle is accepting proposals for the selection of a company’s/contractors with expertise in design-build services for renovation of Aquatic Facilities. The location is James Adkins Pool, located in the City of Kyle as stated in this RFP and posted on our website: www.cityofkyle. com. The City of Kyle invites qualified companies to submit design/build services which comply with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations governing construction of said Aquatic Facilities including all associated agency or agencies permitting such projects. The proposal must provide but is not limited to complete architectural and engineering design and construction cost estimates for the construction of the repairs and renovations the following location: James Adkins Pool. The city is seeking a company with governmental pool repairs and renovations experience as well as experience working with public municipal agencies.

Proposals marked REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS FOR THE JAMES ADKINS POOL: RFQ 2023 02 PARD are to be submitted to: Mariana Espinoza City of Kyle, Director of Parks and Recreation 700 Lehman Rd Kyle, TX 78640 (512) 262-3939

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 4:00 PM, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2023

All proposals received will be reviewed by City Staff. The staff’s recommendation will go to the Kyle City Council for final approval.

Proposals should be clearly marked, “REPAIRS AD REMOVATIONS FOR THE JAMES ADKINS POOL: RFQ-2023-02PARD”. Any proposal received later than the specified time, whether delivered in person, postal mail or emailed shall be disqualified. The City of Kyle will not be responsible for delivering mail from the post office. The City of Kyle will not be responsible for proposals delivered to any location other than the one specified above. The City of Kyle will not be responsible for emailed proposals that did not get into “in-box”. Respondents are encouraged to hand deliver their proposals well ahead of

opening time or follow up to confirm their proposals were received before the deadline.

The complete RFQ can be found at https://www.cityofkyle. com/rfps

CITY OF KYLE, TEXAS REQUESTS FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) MOBILE LED SCREEN: RFP-202301-PARD

SPECIFICATIONS AND GENERAL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A MOBILE LED SCREEN FOR THE CITY OF KYLE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT

NOTICE TO RESPONDERS:

The City of Kyle is accepting proposals for the selection of a Mobile LED Screen as stated in this RFP and posted on our website: www.cityofkyle. com. The City of Kyle invites qualified companies to submit proposals to provide complete cost estimates for delivery, training and cost of the Mobile LED screen. The city is seeking a company experience working with public municipal agencies. Proposals marked MOBILE LED SCREEN: RFP-2023-01-PARD are to be submitted to:

Mariana Espinoza City of Kyle, Director of Parks and Recreation 700 Lehman Rd Kyle, TX 78640 (512) 262-3939

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 4:00 PM, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2023

All proposals received will be reviewed by City Staff. The staff’s recommendation will go to the Kyle City Council for final approval.

Proposals should be clearly marked, “MOBILE LED SCREEN: RFP-2023-01PARD”. Any proposal received later than the specified time, whether delivered in person, postal mail or emailed shall be disqualified. The City of Kyle will not be responsible for delivering mail from the post office. The City of Kyle will not be responsible for proposals delivered to any location other than the one specified above. The City of Kyle will not be responsible for emailed proposals that did not get into “in-box”. Respondents are encouraged to hand deliver their proposals well ahead of opening time or follow up to confirm their proposals were received before the deadline.

The complete RFP can be found at https://www.cityofkyle. com/rfps

CITY OF BUDA

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to City of Buda Charter, Article III, Section 3.11 (D). Ordinances, that the Buda City Council, at its regular meeting on December 6, 2022, adopted an ordinance establishing a franchise with CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. DBA CenterPoint Energy Texas Gas Operations, granting the right, privilege, and franchise to construct, install, extend, remove, replace, abandon, operate and maintain its facilities within the public rights-of-way of the City of Buda, Texas for the transportation, delivery, sale, and distribution of natural gas; shall not take effect until at least thirty (30) days after its passage, being January 5, 2023; providing for penalties for failure to comply with such ordinance; providing for publication; and, providing for an effective date. By: Mayor Lee Urbanovsky. Attest: Alicia Ramirez, City Clerk. (full text is available in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 405 E. Loop Street, Building 100, Buda, TX, during business hours and on www.ci.buda. tx.us.)

To place a classified ad, call us at 512-268-7862 or email us!

By Ashley Kontnier and Amira Van Leeuwen

resigns as city manager amid investigation

The resignation came on the heels of several closed door meetings and was accepted following an executive session during the Kyle City Council meeting Tuesday, Sept. 6.

During the executive session, the council

deliberated an internal complaint against the city manager and also discussed the continued employment of the city manager. The council reconvened at 1:51 a.m., where it unanimously approved a separation release waiver agreement

with Sellers and appointed acting city manager Jerry Hendrix as interim city manager.

Sellers went on an unplanned sabbatical sometime between June 21 and June 25. City records show that Sellers was present at the

regular council meeting on June 21. Although he was on the posted agenda for a June 25 meeting, minutes show he was not in attendance at that meeting. Instead, Jerry Hendrix stood in as acting city manager.

Third man found guilty for murder of Samantha Dean

By Megan Wehring

Freddie Lee Smith, 38, was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life without parole resulting from a 2015 murder-forhire plot of a 29-year-old woman and her unborn child.

Former Austin police officer VonTrey Clark hired Smith to kill Samantha Dean, who was seven months pregnant with Clark’s child, to be named Madeline, for $5,000 because she refused to have an abortion. They had an on-and-off relationship for over six years, according to the Texas Attorney General’s Office. At the time of her death, Dean was the Kyle Police Victim Services Coordinator.

Clark also hired Kevin Leo Watson to broker the deal to hire Smith. The individuals implemented a scheme involving burner phones to avoid a digital footprint — but records from the burner phones, numbers that were contacted, geolocation data and phone forensic exams provided

sufficient evidence.

Investigators also gathered further evidence via a court-authorized wire intercept and recordings of the phone calls between the individuals.

In December 2019, Clark pled guilty which ultimately reversed his original non-guilty plea that he made in 2015. He was sentenced to life without parole. After six hours of deliberation, a jury announced a capital murder guilty verdict for Smith on June 30.

“Once they came out and announced their unanimous verdict of guilty, he was sentenced to an automatic sentence of life without parole,” said Bryan Goertz, Bastrop County District Attorney.

Goertz added that Watson previously pled guilty to committing murder and was sentenced to 35 years in prison on July 5 of this year — after a longawaited trial due to the pandemic. Watson received a lesser sentence because of his cooperation with the authorities.

“He upheld his end of that deal at Freddie Smith’s trial,” Goertz explained. “VonTrey Clark had previously pled guilty and pursuant to a plea bargain, he was sentenced to life without parole. After Freddie Smith was found guilty by jury and Watson had honored that end of the bargain, he was brought before the court and sentenced to 35 years for murder.”

Evidence at the trial showed that Clark lured Dean to Bastrop under false pretenses. Smith then shot Dean in the head at a vacant shopping center at the entrance to the Colony, according to Goertz. After Smith shot Dean twice, Clark fired an additional shot.

“She died instantly and her unborn child suffocated,” Goertz said. “Madeline Dean died an agonizing death.”

Goertz said that several agencies partnered in solving the case over the years: the Bastrop County District Attorney’s Office, the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Rangers, the FBI, the Texas Attorney General’s Office, the Travis County District Attorney’s Office and Austin Police Department.

After almost eight years as Kyle’s chief

administrative officer, city manager Scott Sellers announced his resignation, effective Sept. 6.

Naya Burleson jukes the Grizzly defense when the Hays High School girls basketball team hosted the Glenn Grizzlies for a nail biting game on Dec. 20. The Hawks (19-2 overall) narrowly topped the Grizzlies (13-4 overall) 44-43.

PHOTOS BY VICTORIA CARREON

Neela Castillo (No. 14) sinks a free throw.

The Johnson High School girls basketball team made the quick drive up to Austin to face the Bowie Bulldogs on Dec. 21. Johnson (7-10 overall) fell to Bowie (10-9 overall) 50-41. Pictured above, Aniyah Soto (No. 22) bypasses the Bowie defense.

PHOTO BY VICTORIA CARREON