APRIL 1, 2020 SPECIAL ORDER
COVID-19 ABROAD
Local distillery makes hand sanitizer for law enforcement personnel.
Friends far and wide, from New York to China, share their pandemic stories.
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COVID-19 testing comes to Kyle Hays County STAFF REPORT
Drive-up testing for the COVID-19 virus could be available as early as this week for people with a doctor’s order requesting one. Kyle is one of five locations where the testing will be available, Austin Regional Clinic (ARC) announced on Monday. Patients with an order from an ARC physician will be able to visit the nearest
Currently, state labs are not charging patients for this test and most insurance companies have agreed to cover costs for tests at commercial labs.”
testing site, where an ARC clinician will screen them to “ensure they are not experiencing breathing difficulties,” and are in need of immediate attention, ARC said in a news release. Patients not requiring immediate medical attention
will undergo a nasal swab, which will be sent to a lab. Results are expected within 2 to 10 days. ARC says that “currently, state labs are not charging patients for this test and most insurance companies have agreed to cover
costs for tests at commercial labs.” Anyone who shows up without a doctor’s order will be given information on scheduling a telemedicine appointment. Those appointments can be scheduled at the ARC’s COVID-19 hotline, 866453-4525. ARC said the Kyle location will be in a tent at ARC Kyle Plum Creek, 4100 Everett St. Others are in Austin and Round Rock.
Coming through
poised to activate its Emergency Operations Center BY ANITA MILLER Thousands of COVID-19 tests may soon be available in Hays County through the county health department for “frontline professionals” including medical personnel and first responders. This announcement comes just in time, as the county is making some tough decisions regarding emergency operations. All that and more was announced in Tuesday’s meeting of the Hays County Commissioners Court as a back-and-forth argument raged between County Judge
Ruben Becerra and Pct. 4 Commissioner Walt Smith over the deal Becerra struck with MDBox. As of Tuesday morning, the county had seen 28 confirmed cases of the virus. Six people have recovered, meaning there are 22 cases still “active,” the county’s Emergency Management Coordinator Alex Villalobos said. He said when the count reaches 30 cases, it will be time to start looking at activating an Emergency Operations Center and gauging the capacity of available
COUNTY OPERATIONS, 12
Curfew won’t be used for traffic stops BY ANITA MILLER PHOTO BY ANITA MILLER
Motorists are warned to be prepared to stop along Hwy. 21 just south of FM 150 as crews have begun work on a segment of Kinder Morgan’s Permian Highway Pipeline to transport natural gas from west Texas oilfields to near Houston.
COVID-19 threat prompts release of ‘85 to 90’ Hays County inmates The population of Hays County Jail fell by almost a third last week as district courts, adult supervision and law enforcement collaborated in an inmate release initiative to protect as many people as possible from infection with the COVID-19 virus. According to Michael Hartman, CSCD director for Hays, Comal and Caldwell counties, “85 to 90” inmates were released
“85 to 90” inmates were released as of March 27. Although the jail’s capacity is 362, the Commission on Jail Standards recommends 10 percent be held empty – meaning the working capacity is 311.
as of March 27. Although the jail’s capacity is 362, the Commission on Jail Standards recommends 10 percent be held empty – meaning the working capacity is 311. The releases were
accomplished within three days after all the county’s district judges signed a letter canceling most court proceedings in response to the pandemic. Earlier this month, the Texas Supreme Court
mandated that justices of the peace suspend most court proceedings. “The less time spent inside the closely-confined jail by anyone, arrestees or law enforcement employees, the less likely is the chance that any such person might contract and spread COVID-19 outside the jail,” the letter said. “The Hays County Sheriff’s Office has implemented standardized measures
INMATE RELEASES, 10
Seton Hays strives to meet needs, keep up with virus BY CAMELIA JUAREZ
1. Does your facility have enough supplies to As hospitals around protect staff from spread the world and throughof COVID-19, such as out the country are low masks, gloves, hand sanon supplies and treatitizer? ment equipment in the At this time, we have fight against COVID-19, adequate equipment the local hospital Ascen- and supplies to care for sion Seton Hays talks patients. We are taking about its preparedness proactive steps with our and what the community distributor and supplican do to help our local ers to ensure access to hospitals. supplies. We are arrang-
ELECTION DELAYED Hays CISD approves bond election for November 3.
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ing expedited shipments directly from manufacturers, assessing alternative products and taking advantage of our abilities as a national system to make intra-hospital inventory transfers when appropriate. We have also implemented conservation measures, in anticipation of further
INDEX
BY ANITA MILLER
HOSPITAL NEEDS, 8
News……………… 2, 4, 5 Opinion Page………… 3 Community…………… 6 Sports…………………… 8
Just hours before the “Stay Home, Work Safe” went into effect throughout Hays County on March 26, Sheriff Gary Cutler took issue with the nighttime curfew, though he says his officers won’t use it as the basis for traffic stops. The order, signed by County Judge Ruben Becerra, said that most people are not allowed on the streets between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. unless on “essential” business. “I do not feel COVID-19, as it has currently affected Hays County, should be a basis for a curfew,” Cutler said in a statement, which he also announced on social media. “The virus
People are not allowed on the streets between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. unless they are on “essential” business. doesn't care what time of day it is and is just as concerning at 2 p.m. as it is at 2 a. m.” However, Cutler said his deputies will assume anyone out in traffic during the restricted hours is behaving lawfully, unless there is some other cause for alarm or suspicion. “When Sheriff's Office deputies see a
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Hays Free Press Barton Publications, Inc. News tips: news@haysfreepress.com Opinions: csb@haysfreepress.com 113 W. Center St., Kyle, TX 78640 www.haysfreepress.com 512-268-7862 Publisher Cyndy Slovak-Barton News Editor Anita Miller Sports Editor Moses Leos III Reporters Camelia Juarez, Sahar Chmais Columnists Bartee Haile, Pauline Tom, Clint Younts Proofreaders Jane Kirkham
Marketing Director Tracy Mack Marketing Specialist James Darby Production Manager David White Production Assistant Elizabeth Garcia Office Manager Verna Wommack Circulation/Classifieds David White, Verna Wommack Distribution Kimberlee Griffon
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
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NEWS
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Hays Free Press • April 1, 2020
Hays CISD bond committee member Robbery call lands three jailed on family violence charges people in jail STAFF REPORT
and injury to a child, both third degree felonies. He A member of the Hays was released from custoCISD’s Facilities and Bond dy the next day on bonds Oversight Committee totaling $20,000, as set by (FBOC) was arrested ear- Justice of the Peace Pct. 1, lier this month on charges Place 2 Maggie Moreno. of family violence. According to the Matthew Ocker, 42, affidavit of probable of Buda was arrested by cause for his arrest, the the Hays County Sheriff’s incident occurred on Office Feb. 3 on charges Jan. 19 during a “stanof assault/family violence dard visitation”at Ocker’s
Buda home involving a female child under the age of 17. During a forensic interview on Jan. 22, the victim said Ocker became angry when she spilled apple juice. She said she “fell to the floor” because she was scared, after which Ocker started “kicking me like five or six times” and she said that he pulled her by the hair
and choked her. The forensic interviewer quoted her as saying she “couldn’t really breathe” and it “felt like half my air was draining out of me.” Ocker was appointed to the FBOC by District 5 Representative Esperanza Orosco, who was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2016.
STAFF REPORT Three people were arrested, two for promoting prostitution, after Buda police were called to a local motel late on March 25 concerning a possible
robbery. Milton Nichols, 30, was arrested for promotion of prostitution; J.D. Bates, 25, for promotion of prostitution and aggravated robbery and Emberley Riley, 19, for aggravated robbery.
Buda daycares re-open following amended order STAFF REPORT
Buda Mayor George Haehn has amended his previous order that closed daycare centers within the city. The amended order mirrors the current “Stay Home, Work Safe” order put in to place by Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra. Mayor Haehn Amended Order - March 27, 2020 Under Becerra’s order, daycare facilities that serve essential workers can remain open, with restrictions on how they operate in order to ensure children and employees do not spread the virus. While Hays County’s “Stay Home, Work Safe” order allows daycare facilities to remain open with restrictions, the decision to open or close is up to individual owners. Haehn’s amended order also asks retailers to implement one-way aisles in their establishments to help with customer flow, overcrowding and observation of the six-foot social distancing recommendations by the Centers for Disease
Daycare facilities that serve essential workers can remain open, with restrictions on how they operate.
further spread of the virus in Buda and Hays County and prevent our hospitals and medical professionals from being overwhelmed with patients,” he said. All sports fields, bathrooms, playscapes, basketball courts, skateparks, water fountains and other facilities are closed to the public until
Control (CDC). Businesses will need to mark the floor at six-foot intervals at registers or other areas where lines are formed. In addition, all doors used for the general public should be situated in a way that customers do not have to touch the door entering or exiting the business. “I met with as many of our local retailers as possible and greatly appreciate their cooperation in keeping everyone safe. A week ago, we had six positive COVID-19 cases in Hays County. That number has since doubled and will likely continue to increase. “It is important that we continue to work as a community to prevent
“My amended order is designed to protect the health and welfare of our citizens, while balancing their ability to live and work,” Haehn said. For additional clarification on the order visit Hays County’s website: https://hayscountytx. com/questions-from-residents-about-judges-3rdorder-answered/
You can also visit http://haysinformed. com/. For non-emergency questions about COVID-19, call the Hays County COVID-19 Hotline at 512-393-5525. For city of Buda information on COVID-19 visit ci.buda.tx.us/coronavirusinformation.
TO: All First Lockhart National Bank Customers FROM: Mark Sheffield, President and CEO RE: COVID 19 Update Dear First Lockhart National Bank Customers, I am writing to inform you of the additional steps we are taking to keep our Team safe while continuing to provide the banking services you need. We continue to keep all of our motor banks open except the one located at 207 W. San Antonio in Lockhart, which will be closed temporarily. As of Monday the 23rd, I did reduce the hours at the motor banks in Austin, Kyle and San Marcos to Monday through Friday 9:00am - 3:00pm. However, the drive-through located at 120 W. San Antonio St. will operate under normal hours Monday-Friday 7:30am-6:00pm and Saturday 8:30am-12:00pm. Recently, we invested several hundred thousand dollars to update most of our ATMs in order to provide you with the most reliable service. In order to have the best response when repairs are necessary, we are expanding our contract with our maintenance provider. Even with electronic, offsite monitoring some ATM problems go undetected until a customer calls us. In an attempt to make sure that we don’t miss a problem our Bank Team is checking each ATM at least two times per day. Please help us in these efforts and give us a call if you try to use one of our ATMs and it is not working.
Funeral home amends services during pandemic Harrell Funeral Home is prepared to care for families safely through these unprecedented times. The funeral home is quickly adapting and offering new services to help families receive the support they need from funeral directors, grief counselors and friends. Under the new shelter-in-place restrictions, Harrell Funeral Home is allowed to remain open 24 hours and continue to perform burial and cremation services. However, gatherings have been drastically limited and can only include small services
further notice. Trails and green spaces remain open, but authorities urge observing the practice of social distancing guidelines – keeping six feet of space between yourself and others who do not live in your household. The same rules apply for HOA managed and private parks facilities.
Last Friday, our provider of the service that allows you to deposit a check by taking a picture with your cell phone experienced a technical problem and that convenience is still not available. I apologize for this loss in service and I expect functionality to be restored soon. I am confident that we can meet your banking needs even with the current limitations on physical access to our facilities. However, if you have a banking need that we are not meeting to your satisfaction please call me and I will do my best to modify our current operating procedures to meet your need. I apologize in advance if I determine that we cannot meet your need without compromising your safety or that of our Team. My direct line is 512-620-9139 and my cell number is 512-909-4405.
or personal goodbye viewings limited to 10 people or less. Families are being encouraged to hold public memorial services as soon as the COVID restrictions lift to allow friends and members of the community the opportunity to say goodbye, show support, and grieve properly. “COVID-19 continues to alter our lives in ways we never imagined,” said Jason Harrell, owner of Harrell Funeral Home. “We are quickly changing how we interact with families and creating unique solutions
Inside the Bank, we have taken additional steps to provide the safest possible work environment for our Team as they strive to serve you. Those steps include having many of our Teammates work from home in order to provide extra separation between those still working inside the offices, allowing everyone to work in enclosed offices, virtually eliminating face to face interaction inside the Bank and creating multiple Teams that are rotating one week on and one week off to limit the spread of the virus in the event one of us gets sick. Thank you for your business and your understanding in these extraordinary times. Sincerely,
Mark Sheffield President/CEO Austin 319 W Slaughter Ln Austin, TX 78748
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Opinion
QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I encourage everyone to stay safe. This is an important time in the process. It is a bit eerie seeing the streets as empty as they are but it’s a good thing for safety.” –Lon Shell, Hays County Commissioner, Pct. 3. Story, pg. 1
Hays Free Press • April 1, 2020
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A New York minutes now lasts a month Guest Column by Katerina Barton
I
am watching the terrifying spike of confirmed cases in New York just like everyone else across the nation. But I’m also a former Hays Free Press reporter, a stockholder in the company, and Kyle resident who is currently living in the zip code where it’s all going down. It’s anxiety-inducing and bizarre to be in the epicenter of a pandemic. It’s like being in the eye of a storm – hard to see exactly what’s happening. Everyday life has slowly, but definitely, changed, and I’m just taking it day by day. I’m in my fourth week of working from home and my third week of self-isolation in my apartment in Brooklyn. I normally commute to Manhattan several times a week, but I haven’t ridden the subway in more than three weeks. I’ve only left my house to go to my bodega around the block, my laundromat next to that, my grocery store 10 blocks away, and the park in my neighborhood for CDC-approved nightly walks. The only other people I’ve seen are my reluctant lock-ins: my two roommates. I wash my hands often, and then I wash them again. In mid-March, we watched as the streets outside of our apartment emptied out, apart from the occasional dog walker, jogger, or stroller-parent. Shops rolled down their security gates and we were instructed to stand six feet apart in line at the grocery store. Toilet paper flew off the shelves, and Zoom became synonymous with virtual meetings and happy hours. This is our new reality. The four weeks tend to blend together. What separates a weekday from a weekend? What do you do when your home is no longer an escape from work? My roommates and I decided that the kitchen table is for weekday work, the couch is for weekend work. Small things keep us content. My roommates and I take turns cooking for each other. We get takeout on the weekends. I de-stress with nightly walks through different parts of the park (while keeping my distance from others). I listen to my favorite podcasts. I work on puzzles and watch Netflix while my roommate finishes a book she’s been meaning to read forever. We deep-cleaned our apartment. We laugh at dumb memes and videos. A good diversion for everyone has been talking to friends and family. It’s nice to finally have time to catch up with friends I haven’t spoken to in months (and in some cases even years!). Because of the self-isolation, it’s easy to be enveloped in the news and become overwhelmed and anxious. As a journalist, I have to stay up to date with the news, especially because everything seems like it’s changing by the hour. But it can also lead to burnout. I’ve started reading the news every morning and trying to stay away in the evenings. I take much-needed breaks on the weekends. I started reporting on the new coronavirus in January and interviewed a BBC reporter who had been to the Hubei province where the virus first came about. There was no way I would have known that two months later I’d be experiencing some of the same chaos that I had been reporting on in China. Surreal is the only word I can think of. There was a point when we hoped this would be temporary, only a two-week inconvenience. But we now know it could be much longer. Last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo said that New York’s peak in cases is expected to come in 14 to 21 days. That means this could get a whole lot worse, and may last a whole lot longer. It’s cathartic to complain about the disruption of my daily life. I was heart-broken to find out that my graduation for my master’s degree that I’ve been working toward for two years was cancelled. But at the same time, I do realize that I’m one of the lucky and privileged in the city. I can’t even begin to imagine the loss that some people have already had to experience because the world just wasn’t prepared for this type of global emergency. This virus means I have to stay inside, but other than that, my life hasn’t been all that affected. I have a comfortable apartment to quarantine in, I have plenty of food, and I take my classes at NYU through Zoom meetings. There are plenty of people in New York who still have to go out and face the invisible virus daily – at the takeout restaurants that are still open, at the hospitals and medical centers that are stretched to capacity, or at the many other jobs deemed essential by Cuomo. I also still have both my part-time jobs, which is not the case for the 3.3 million Americans who filed for unemployment benefits last week – one of whom includes my roommate who was a pastry chef at a chocolate shop in Manhattan. And, due to my lack of medical skills, I’m just doing my part by staying home. I’m a healthy 20-something-yearold, which health officials have said means I can be a carrier of the virus without even knowing it. As someone from the future (that is, a week ahead of Hays County in self-isolation) my only advice is to hunker down and stay home, and hope that this effort will help flatten the curve.
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CORRECTIONS
Pandemic threatens Prine’s life when we need his art most W hen I was a junior at Penn State, I had a front-row seat when legendary singer-songwriter John Prine performed on campus. If you aren’t familiar with Prine’s work, you aren’t alone. He’s often called the greatest singer and songwriter you’ve never heard of. New York Times columnist Dan Barry explains that Prine is an “influential singer and songwriter with a gift for articulating moments almost beyond words. His songs have won the respect of Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Pink Floyd, the Library of Congress, you name it. One admirer, Bob Dylan, once described his canon as ‘pure Proustian existentialism’ and ‘Midwestern mind trips to the nth degree.’” Prine’s apparently simple lyrics and melodies are chock-full of complexity and humanity – funny, thought-provoking, hauntingly poetic. “Dear Abby,” the first Prine song I heard, made me laugh out loud. It’s about fretting over trivial matters: “Dear Abby, Dear Abby,
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DEADLINES
wanted to address returning vets’ struggles. “Sam Guest Stone” remains regrettably relevant amid America’s Column opioid epidemic. by Tom Purcell “Hello in There” is about a lonely elderly couple wishing their chilMy fountain pen leaks dren would visit. It’s more My wife hollers at me powerful than ever as and my kids are all freaks millions of elderly people Every side I get up on is self-isolate at home: the wrong side of bed “So if you’re walking If it weren’t so expensive down the street sometime I’d wish I were dead And spot some hollow Signed Unhappy” ancient eyes, Prine responds to the Please don’t just pass complainer with hilarious ’em by and stare common sense: As if you didn’t care, say, “Unhappy, Unhappy, ‘Hello in there, hello.’” You have no complaint Right now, I’m appreYou are what you are ciating Prine, who’s 73, and you ain’t what you more than ever – because ain’t he’s hospitalized in critical So listen up buster, and condition, another victim listen up good of COVID-19. Stop wishing for bad The past few weeks luck and knocking on have been bizarre, surwood.” real, with the pandemic “Sam Stone” is about playing out like a chintzy a heroin-addicted VietB-movie. I find myself nam veteran who returns wondering, “So this is with a Purple Heart – and what a pandemic is like?” eventually dies from an I’m comfortable at overdose: home all day. With 300 “There’s a hole in TV channels, the interdaddy’s arm where all the net, phone, texting and money goes …” a stocked pantry, I have Prine said most Vieteverything I need. nam War songs at the time My large extended were about protest. He family worries about its
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LETTERS GUIDELINES
elderly members – we’re keeping our distance to keep them safe. All of us are well, though. Still, the seriousness of this pandemic hasn’t quite sunk in yet. But it better. Dr. Anthony Fauci warns that the virus could claim up to 200,000 Americans. But John Prine? No! That makes this virus suddenly personal for me. Now I’m getting angry. I pray we find a way to stop its spread – before it hurts my loved ones and close friends. I pray for Prine, who’s already beaten cancer twice, to beat this thing. God knows we need the healing power of Prine’s music right now. This horrible virus has no right trying to rob us of his much-needed beauty and humor when we need them most. Tom Purcell, author of “Misadventures of a 1970s Childhood,” a humorous memoir available at amazon.com, is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review humor columnist and is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons Inc. Tom@TomPurcell.com
We welcome locally written letters to the editor on timely topics of community interest. We ask that you keep them to about 350 words in length and that you not indulge in personal attacks on private individuals. Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity. All letters should be signed by the author and include a daytime phone number where the author can be contacted for verification. Letter writers are limited to one letter per month. Letters can be emailed to csb@haysfreepress.com.
NEWS
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Hays Free Press • April 1, 2020
Local distillery produces and donates hand sanitizer to Texas law enforcement BY CAMELIA JUAREZ
A Driftwood distillery shifted gears from liquor to hand sanitizer and has donated 20,000 bottles of it to the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and police departments in Austin, San Antonio and Houston, among others. Desert Door, known for its premium spirit that uses Texas sotol, has pivoted its production to help those on the front lines during this historical global pandemic. Desert Door Co-founder Ryan Campbell said the company has no intention of commercially selling any of the sanitizer, which is needed to protect first responders from COVID-19 as they work. “Everyone can stay at home and wash their hands, but law enforcement has to be out on the field. They don’t have the luxury of washing their hands all the time. We realized that this is a need for law enforcement, not a want,” Campbell said. The need became apparent to Desert Door owners when SXSW was cancelled in February. The team used a hand sanitizer recipe recognized by the Centers for Disease Control, Food and Drug Administration and World Health Organization. The recipe includes distilled water, glycerin, hydrogen peroxide and amped-up alcohol distillation to meet the recommended sanitation levels. Campbell said the switch was easy, because they got bulk ingredients
during this time, so I am just grateful for my team and everyone who is doing their part,” Campbell said. The Hays Free Press would like to remind readers that washing your hands for a full 20
Welcome, Dr. Connor Despot!
“Everyone can stay at home and wash their hands, but law enforcement has to be out on the field. They don’t have the luxury of washing their hands all the time. We realized that this is a need for law enforcement, not a want.” –Ryan Campbell, Desert Door co-founder
before demand rapidly increased. Now hydrogen peroxide and glycerin prices have nearly doubled in price. The Hays Free Press spoke to a local cosmetics company, which switched to producing hand sanitizer, and they said they can
no longer produce hand sanitizer due to the ingredient price increases. Desert Door has plenty of ingredients, but ironically is running out of places to find small bottles for distribution. Campbell assures customers that the hand
sanitizer production is going well. “I recently bought a new filling station that was supposed to be used for our new product, but it’s only been used as the main production line for hand sanitizer, serving 270 bottles at a time,” Campbell said. The best thing to come out of a product change, Campbell said, is the ability to help during a time that many people feel helpless. “I have never been prouder of this company. Every employee didn’t hesitate to pivot and pour their heart into this new product. This gave us all a new sense of purpose
Online Church
Our connection is stronger than wi-fi BY CAMELIA JUAREZ
seconds with soap and water is the best defense against COVID-19. In addition, you can make home-made hand sanitizer using rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and aloe.
I look forward to it (Sunday service), but this was a real learning curve. I was giving a truncated service. It’s especially difficult inviting people to sing and not hearing anyone.”
they or their neighbors need items delivered, Dripping Springs First anything to provide a Methodist Church Pastor voice of reassurance and Adam Thorton looks to connection. the few people helping Thorton said that conhim with Sunday service, nection is fundamental to then looks at empty aisles us as humans. and the tiny open cam“Religious or not, we –Adam Thorton, Pastor, era lens staring back at need to share connection. Dripping Springs First Methodist Church him. He has never been In the church it’s magnervous before a Sunday nified because it’s about service, but something is simple and something ev- pecially difficult inviting gathering and coming eerie about talking to an eryone around the world people to sing and not together. Deep down, we hearing anyone,” Thorton all have this great need to empty room. needs to hear. said. The room only felt Hang tight. Trust God. come together. Having a Although viewing stats phone call is some level empty, however. On the Help each other. can’t report how many other side of that camThat’s exactly what he that appeases that need people actually sang era lens are hundreds of did as he began his first for connection,” Thorton along, it did report that people sitting with their ever livestream Sunday said. the service had at least phone at home, or a service. Despite re-oriAs his team continues 156 concurrent viewers. family watching on their enting his usual routine, to find ways to conduct Afterwards, Thorton smart TV, or someone he did what he had to Sunday school online and his team began who hasn’t had the time because it won’t be like and youth programs calling and checking in in the past is now going this forever. provide Google hang-out to a Youtube page for the “Sunday morning, I am on people from a list of sessions, Thorton continSunday livestream. not ever nervous. In fact, congregation members. uously asks everyone to They called each person Thorton knew his con- I look forward to it, but find creative ways to help asking about their health, your neighbors. gregation was waiting for this was a real learning their lives, offering prayer him to spread God’s love curve. I was giving a “In little ways, we can and word. His message is truncated service. It’s es- over the phone, asking if be incredible,” he said.
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Hays Free Press • April 1, 2020
Page 5
Retired nurse ready to lend her skills BY ANITA MILLER
That we are in uncharted waters is beyond dispute. But there are those among us who have experienced someone eerily similar to the COVID-19 pandemic in emergency rooms decades ago. One of them is Buda resident Mary Stone, now retired, who was a young nurse in Canada in the 1980s when what was then called the AIDS epidemic hit. “I was taking care of people when the ICUs were full of young gay men in downtown Toronto,” she recalled. “We
didn’t understand HIV at the time. The feeling (now) is the same as taking care of all the HIV patients. There wasn’t a cure, and it was a virus.” Watching the COVID-19 pandemic develop and reach into Central Texas, Stone felt as many others of similar backgrounds did — she felt called to help. Stone has signed up as a possible volunteer on a website through the office of Gov. Greg Abbott. “It will be interesting to see the response,” she said. “I have some pretty solid experience,” she told the Hays Free Press. And in her wheelhouse
“I was taking care of people when the ICUs were full of young gay men in downtown Toronto. We didn’t understand HIV at the time. The feeling (now) is the same as taking care of all the HIV patients. There wasn’t a cure, and it was a virus.” –Mary Stone, retired nurse
are particularly-needed skills. “I ran ventilators for years,” she said, something that requires a special set of skills she is well practiced in. “I’ve been out a long time and haven’t been at a bedside in a long time.
Although it’s changed — it hasn’t. I feel I might be a little rusty but could get back in the swing of things fairly quickly.” Though not maybe fulltime, she feels she could at least provide some relief to hospital workers.
“At this point we need anybody that has skills,” she said, especially those with critical care experience. “Critical care units are challenging to work in even in the best of times. You get the sickest of the sick.” Stone sees only one caveat about stepping in to help out — adequate protective equipment. Now 55 and with asthma, “I want to make sure I stay health as well … as long as we have the protective gear health care workers can handle this. “This is a tough situation and we’re all Buda native Mary Stone when in it together. It takes a she was working as a nurse in Canada in the 1980s. village.”
Inside New York amid Navigating a new job, coronavirus pandemic new town, COVID-19 Former Barton Publications reporter talks about life in New York, where he currently works as a news producer for Spectrum News.
Former Barton Publications reporter Carlie Porterfield left Texas to study international journalism at City, University of London, where she interned for Forbes magazine. She now works in New York City as a news reporter for Forbes.
BY EXSAR ARGUELLO As the COVID-19 pandemic takes hold of New York as the epicenter of the crisis, life in the Empire State has eerily come to a halt. From my downtown apartment in Buffalo, I’m used to seeing people frantically walking to work, friends meeting up for lunch, and the occasional dog lifting his leg on something he shouldn’t. These days, however, businesses are closed, tens of thousands of New Yorkers have lost their jobs, and it seems the worse of this crisis has yet to pass. As a journalist, my work never stops. Ironically so, times of crisis usually call for some job security in the industry. But the pandemic has grasped the interworkings of my conscience. I’m working from home these days, but the updates never stop. Another 5,000 cases today. Another 10 ... 20 ... 30 cases just here in the Buffalo-area. Another soul lost. By now, it’s becoming monotonous and somewhat numbing. The updates of the new cases just feel like a clock that never stops ticking. These numbers haunt me in my dreams almost every night. From a mental health standpoint, the past few weeks have been draining, but I think of the nurses and health care professionals who are working countless hours to treat people with this virus, and it makes me feel blessed to be in the position I am.
BY CARLIE PORTERFIELD
Exsar Arguello working in his Buffalo, New York apartment.
According to the New York Department of Labor, more than 80,000 jobless claims were filed in the state just last week alone. Nationally, 3.3 million people have filed for unemployment, federal officials announced this week. Despite the alarming statistics, eliminating this virus must come with a caveat, at least in my mind. We must understand that an economic collapse may be imminent if we are serious about isolating populations until the virus disappears. Subsequently, we cannot have a functioning workplace amid a pandemic without numbers continuing to increase. If we are to save our workforce, our restaurants, and our livelihoods, we must isolate and flatten the curve sooner rather than later so we can return to living. Take South Korea for example, which at one point was one of the hardest-hit nations in the world from COVID-19, and has now flattened the curve. As reported by The New York Times, South Korea identified over 900 new cases of COVID-19 in a single day in late February. But on Sunday, the country reported less than 70 new cases. Health experts around ANALYSIS the world believe China and As of this week, the South Korea are the only United States now has the two countries to flatten the most cases of this virus in curve on new infections, the world, yet the president but South Korea did so wants to open our doors without the authoritarian again by Easter. At least efforts implemented by the in New York, those words Chinese. feel painstakingly empty, The South Koreans did almost insulting. Two weeks so by isolation, and conago, my partner flew in tact tracing, among other from Austin to visit me. At strategies. that time, we had virtually “South Koreans’ cellno cases throughout the phones vibrate with emerstate. Now, we’re at 44,000 gency alerts whenever as of March 27, and the new cases are discovered numbers are increasing by in their districts. Websites the thousands a day.
and smartphone apps detail hour-by-hour, sometimes minute-by-minute, timelines of infected people’s travel – which buses they took, when and where they got on and off, even whether they were wearing masks. People who believe they may have crossed paths with a patient are urged to report to testing centers,” The New York Times reported on March 23. “South Koreans have broadly accepted the loss of privacy as a necessary trade-off.” These are efforts we are not properly implementing here in the United States in some of the hardest-hit areas of the country. Local governments are releasing potential sites of exposure based on people who have tested positive, but that is where the resources seem to end, when in reality, that’s when the work is just beginning. As for my fellow Texans, please listen to the experts, stay vigilant, and stay safe. These unprecedented times have taught us to appreciate the physical contact we have with others. It has taught us to check on one another when we can’t physically do so ourselves. But most importantly, I feel this crisis has taught us to appreciate the normality in life that much more. Hold your loved ones a little closer tonight. The people of Texas are tough. I’m cheering for you, and let’s get through this together.
LINKS TO DATA https://nystateofpolitics. com/state-of-politics/ new-york/ny-state-of-politics/2020/03/27/joblessclaims-soar-in-new-york https://www.nytimes. com/2020/03/23/world/ asia/coronavirus-south-korea-flatten-curve.html
When I moved to New York City at the end of April, I was nervous about a lot of things – starting a new job, finding a place to call home and making friends in a monster of a city. A pandemic wasn't something I was particularly worried about until several weeks ago. Suddenly, I’m living in the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. I'm coming from a position of privilege, as a healthy person in my 20s with health insurance and no underlying medical conditions; if I were to become infected with coronavirus, I would most likely survive. But the stress from being alone in a strange new city, quarantined in a small apartment and unsure of what will happen next has left me anxious. I've had to talk myself out
Carlie Porterfield quarantined in her New York City apartment.
of buying an $18 flight home several times. I don’t want to risk the chance that I’m carrying the virus and could take it to my family. Sometimes I feel like my life is at a standstill – the plans I'd made for the big city have been put on hold until I can safely leave my apartment. I’m impatient, and frustrated at not being able to continue down the timeline I had pictured. By a few months into living in New York, I had hoped to have made a few friends or gone out on a date. New York City had seen 26,000 confirmed coronavirus cases as of late Friday, and the city’s death toll was 450. My imaginary
deadlines are insignificant when I look at the bigger picture. It’s put things into perspective for me – I’m healthy and have loving friends and family, even if they’re thousands of miles away. I love my new neighborhood, though I haven’t gotten to experience much of it yet. But the woman who works at the laundromat across the street always has a kind word for me, and a man on the subway gave me one of his disinfecting wipes so I could clean my seat. People look out for me here – and by staying home and self-quarantining until health officials say it’s safe, I hope I am doing the same for them.
Warning from China A former Hays County resident checks in BY ANITA MILLER A former Hays County resident now living 400 miles from Wuhan, China, the city where the COVID-19 virus was first detected, strongly advises everyone here to listen to medical professionals instead of politicians when it comes to preventing its spread. T.D. Cox is principal at an international school in the Shandong Province of the People’s Republic of China. A “self proclaimed son” of former Hays Free Press Publisher Bob Barton and his wife, Tutta, he is a graduate of Texas State University. An email he wrote to Tutta Barton on Feb. 14
sounds as if it could have been written from Hays County today: It's a very danTD COX gerous and difficult situation here … all schools, businesses, restaurants and other things are closed down and have been for several weeks. It is like a ghost town when one goes outside (which can be dangerous because you could contract the virus). He also spoke of schools opening by March 2. That had not yet happened on Friday
when he spoke with the Hays Free Press. “You gotta self quarantine. Wash your hands, take care of each other. Stay well and listen to medical professionals and support them,” he said. “Right now, if we’re not careful, the U.S. will soon overtake Italy as the number one death country.” The U.S. has already overtaken China in the number of total cases, a statistic that is particularly frightening given the difference in population in the two countries. “If the space aliens came down and took one billion Chinese people away this country would still have more people
WARNING FROM CHINA, 7
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Priest pulls off two great escapes Texas History by Bartee Haile
Anyone other than Father Muldoon would have told the third batch of Texans they were on their own, that he was fresh out of miracles. After all, at some point the rash of disappearances was bound to make even myopic Mexicans suspicious, and a collar offered no immunity from the harsh consequences of his Christian charity. If the holy man had such second thoughts, he kept them to himself. A few nights later, he managed to spirit John Wharton and his companions out of Matamoros. At the Rio Grande, the tongue-tied Texans expressed their gratitude as best they could, waded the shallow river and scrambled up the opposite bank to safety. They glanced over their shoulders for a parting glimpse of their benefactor, but Michael Muldoon had vanished into history.
cided to go over Houston’s head and make a personal appeal to the United States. Bravely setting out on horseback, she broke a leg in a bad fall before reaching the border. Mrs. Wharton was carried by stretcher back to the family plantation, where a letter from her husband was waiting. Assuring his worried wife that he was alive and well, William wrote that the Mexicans seemed open to a swap. Under constant pressure from the captive’s kin, Houston agreed in early May to pay for the rental of a rescue ship and to provide 30 San Jacinto prisoners-of-war for the exchange. Weeks later John Wharton found a suitable schooner and Bartee has a timely talk sailed south sometime in for this year! The history of July. Texas elections! To schedOn the night of Oct. 2, 1837, as the anxious brother waited off Matamoros for permission to enter the hostile harbor, a gale blew the small ship aground. Two crew members drowned, and the Mexican bargaining chips scurried to freedom. The next day on the streets of Matamoros, the soaked survivors bumped into a familiar figure, the former resident priest of the Austin colony. Michael Muldoon found the wanted men a place to hide and something to eat, while he worked to come up with a way to get them out of Mexico alive. Whenever Texans were in trouble, they could always count on the generous Irishman. During the colonial period, he tolerated their convenient conversion to Catholicism and never held the masquerade against them. While Austin endured months of solitary confinement in a Mexican dungeon, the priest helped the frail empressario keep body and soul together. Muldoon informed John Wharton that his brother had long since escaped and undoubtedly was awaiting his own return. Although modesty and caution prevented the padre from revealing his part in the ingenious plan, Muldoon had supplied the clerical costume that enabled William Wharton to walk out of jail disguised as a priest. He also had aided the officers and crew of the Independence in their successful flight.
Bingo
ule a speaking engagement for your group, contact him at barteehaile@gmail. com for more information.
Harrell Funeral Home is prepared to care for families safely through these unprecedented times. The funeral home is quickly adapting and offering new services to help families receive the support they need from funeral directors, grief counselors, and friends. Despite new shelter-in-place restrictions, we offer traditional planning plus several new on-line solutions to meaningfully commemorate the life of loved ones in these unusual times.
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weary diplomat boarded the Independence at New Orleans on April 7, 1837 for the last leg of the long trip back to Texas. Pressing business in the United States caused William H. Wharton to miss the Battle of San Jacinto, but he would at least be home in time to celebrate the first anniversary of Lone Star independence. Stephen F. Austin, Branch T. Archer and Wharton passed through the Crescent City in January 1836 on their way to Washington, D.C. to solicit support for the revolution. Although his companions returned to Texas soon after the rebels’ victory, Wharton stayed behind to lobby for a speedy annexation. Procrastination by the Potomac politicians forced the frustrated envoy to lower his expectations and to wait for the foreign government simply to acknowledge the presence of the new nation. When Andrew Jackson, in the last act of his presidency, signed the paper recognizing the Republic of Texas, Wharton was the happiest man east of the Sabine. After a month of exhausting overland travel, the naval vessel seemed like a luxury cruise ship. A week out of New Orleans, Wharton could see the mouth of the Brazos River through the morning mist. That meant Velasco, his ultimate destination, was only four miles down the coast. Suddenly two Mexican warships came into view heading straight for the Independence. Wharton took heart as George Wheelwright deftly dodged the pursuers only to lose hope, when a shower of shrapnel knocked the captain out of commission. A junior officer grabbed the helm but did not have a chance against his faster and more experienced foes. While the horrified inhabitants of Velasco watched helplessly from shore, the Independence was boxed in and boarded. The sailors and their civilian passenger were taken into custody and transported to Matamoros for indefinite detention. John Wharton immediately went to Sam Houston and demanded to know how he planned to obtain his brother’s release. Given the state of war which still existed between Texas and Mexico, the president explained there was not much he could do. Upset by the inaction of her own government, Sarah Ann Wharton de-
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Page 7
OBITUARY BOWMAN
“My story is incomplete without telling theirs (and, more accurately, ours)” said Cox. “I have six teachers and one Chinese assistant. We all support one another and help each other in amazing ways. We are all connected through WeChat (a phone messaging service wildly popular here). We keep each in good spirits and inspire one another. I am the only American. The Chinese girl on the front row (in white) is Willa Wang, who has ordered our water (and groceries) and made sure our bills get paid. She is our Shining Star! She stopped me from traveling to Thailand/Vietnam in late January due to the oncoming virus and may have saved my life.”
Warning From China Continued from pg. 5
than the United States,” he said. “I live in a town of six million and it’s considered a very small town.” Cox said that though schools remain closed, his apartment complex has never been on lockdown and he has been free to come and go except for a 10-day period after someone in an adjacent building tested positive. He has also been free to visit friends, though a colleague coming to visit him recently was briefly detained until authorities
could determine he was a resident, not a tourist. Recent numbers indicate few new cases of the virus in China, meaning authorities are now more concerned about foreigners bringing it in, Cox said. When most people had returned to their hometowns for the Chinese New Year — right at the time the virus first hit — Cox had intended to rest and then travel to Thailand and Vietnam. Instead, he made a decision that, in hindsight, was an excellent call.
“I didn’t go. I quarantined myself,” for what turned out to be 10 or 11 weeks. Unlike Hays County, Cox said his province was never under a curfew, and these days he is keeping busy with online lessons, hopeful that schools will reopen in April. Slowly, he said, hotels, restaurants and shops are opening now. He warned that those things won’t happen here overnight. “Be prepared for the long haul, it’s gonna take
seven or eight weeks at least for this virus to see where it goes,” he said. “Don’t listen to President Trump, he’s going to kill you all, don’t listen to the Republican party, they’re going to kill you all. Listen to medical experts and the media.” If we all don’t stick to protocol now and keep our distance from one another, Cox said he is not optimistic. “I’m a proud Texan and a proud American, but I don’t see a happy ending to this story.”
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Juanita Jo Bowman, 72, of Kyle, died on March 15 from complications related to congestive heart failure. Her firm belief in God supported her and gave her peace throughout her life. Bowman was born in Dallas to Betty and Chuck Johnson on Aug. 29, 1947. She was a long-time resident of Arlington, Texas having moved there with family in the early 50s when it was still a small town. She graduated from Arlington High and worked at Six Flags in the 1960s along with many of her friends. She also attended University of Texas at Arlington back in the days when it was Arlington State College. She retired as a secretary for Ling Temco Vought
and afterwards worked several seasons at Lone Star Park, a job she really loved. She was active in her church, and her ministries to at-risk youth and the homeless were her passion. She was also active in her political party and served as an election precinct judge. Bowman is preceded in death by her daughter, Krisha Wilson, her parents and her brother, Jeff Johnson. Bowman is survived by daughters Kim Bowman and Keely Myatt, sons-in-law Jason Myatt and James Wilson and sister June Johnson. Known as Gaga by her beloved grandchildren, she also leaves Jacob Myatt, Keegan Myatt, James Wilson Jr., Kheallyn Wilson and Kaidence Wilson. Because of the ongoing pandemic, no services are planned at this time. The memory of a good person is a blessing. Proverbs 10:7.
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Hugs from Home Hugs from Home is a new service we are implementing that will give those not attending the chance to be able to share a token of love and support. Visit the link below and leave a message of support that will be handwritten on a card for the family. They will be abe to read your heartfelt messages and hopefully know that many others are there with them in spirit.
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The Hays Free Press and News-Dispatch will be combined into one newspaper during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ll strive to bring you all the news that’s important to you and your communities during that time. For subscribers that would like to receive the physical copy of the newspaper in the mail in addition to the digital copy, email paper@ haysfreepress.com. If you’re not a subscriber, you can find the newspaper at a limited number of newspaper racks throughout northern Hays County or call 512-268-7862 to subscribe for only $42 a year. Senior citizens receive a 10 percent discount. Buda Walgreens
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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
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All Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch girls basketball team Most Valuable Player Caroline Gamble
When the Dripping Springs Lady Tigers needed to bridge a gap left by an injured starter, Caroline Gamble more than filled the void. Over the course of 38 games, Gamble made her presence felt by tallying a team high 11.9 point per game average, which was good enough to garner District 25-5A offensive MVP honors. Those stats translated to her leadership abilities as Gamble was a key component of a Lady Ti-
Hays Free Press • April 1, 2020
SPORTS
ger program that capped off back-to-back district titles, which included a 14-0 run through 25-5A in 2020. All of those reasons and more are why we at the Hays Free Press and News-Dispatch award Gamble as the area's top basketball player.
All Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch boys basketball team
Forward/Post
Most Valuable Player Caden Doyle and Luke Watson
Trista Strasser – Hays
As seniors, both Caden Doyle and Luke Watson had hoped to make their final season at Hays High memorable. By sharing the spotlight in 2020, both athletes, who are the Hays Free Press/ News-Dispatch most valuable players, helped to take a Rebel boys hoops program back to the promised land of the postseason. The duo paired their skills on offense with their leader-
Avery Johnson – Dripping Springs
SECOND TEAM Guards
Melina Garza – Lehman Teagan Huslig – Dripping Springs
FIRST TEAM
Emily Thames – Wimberley
Guards Lily Guevara – Hays Corbyn Davis – Dripping Springs Grace Duray – Lehman
Forward/Post
Kline Stafford – Dripping Springs
Katelynn Isely – Hays
ship capabilities, which helped to foster success not only for themselves, but also their Rebel teammates.
FIRST TEAM Guards Xavier Phillips – Dripping Springs Durand Hill – Hays Ethan Surdy – Wimberley Forwards/Post Carlos Rocha – Hays Ethan Scheider – Wimberley
Hospital Needs supply chain disruption over the coming months due to COVID-19. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required for patient care is stored in a secure location in each of our hospitals. 2. Is there somewhere that residents can donate supplies? If so, where and are there any special requirements for supplies? Ascension Seton currently has an adequate supply of masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE). We are now accepting donations from businesses and members of the community as a precautionary measure for unpredictable circumstances as we work to contain the spread of COVID-19. At this time, Ascension Seton cannot accept donations that are handmade (e.g., sewn face masks) and is working with local and state health officials to determine if such items could be an option in the future. Individuals or companies interested in making a donation of any kind should visit AscensionTXCovidDonations. org. Once the donation is confirmed, arrangements will be made to pick up the donation and deliver it to the appropriate Ascension Seton facility. We continue to receive requests for additional ways individuals and organizations in our local communities can help, and we appreciate the outpouring of generosity to our healthcare system. We are working to develop additional ways the community can get involved, and will share updates on AscensionTXCovidDonations. org going forward. 3. What are essential surgeries that will continue? Is there anything local residents can do to help, such as donate blood?
March 18 Five “presumptive” cases in county. One is assumed to be community contact. One is adult who was on campus of Tobias Elementary on March 11. Hays CISD families alerted.
March 16 Second and third cases of COVID-19 announced by county epidemiologist. No other info, HIPPA cited.
March 22 Seventh case. Adult patient had been on campus of San Marcos High School March 12. All SMCISD families alerted.
March 20 Six case announced, along with patients’ places of residence.
SUPPLIES BEING REQUESTED FOR DONATION:
Ascension Seton has postponed all non-essential, elective procedures until further notice. In order to protect against potential COVID-19 exposure and ensure the availability of resources to meet emergent health needs during this pandemic, Ascension Seton is following guidance by the CDC, the U.S. Surgeon General and American College of Surgeons which have recommended deferring elective procedures. Because every patient encounter is unique, individual care decisions are made on a caseby-case basis between caregivers and patients. Ascension Seton providers will continue to provide compassionate, personalized care and procedures when it is safe to do so for urgent and emergent procedures. If an Ascension Seton provider needs to postpone a procedure or appointment, patients will be notified to reschedule. 4. In general, what message would you like to share with the community and how can the
Guards Jarek Salinas – Lehman Aiden Bailey – Dripping Springs Jay Guevara – Dripping Springs Forwards/Post Nijah Collier – Lehman Luke Lawyer – Dripping Springs
Coronavirus timeline in Hays County
Continued from pg. 1
March 14 First “presumptive” case announced. 44-year-old who had been traveling on the West Coast. Updated to include patient has been released from hospital for home quarantine.
SECOND TEAM
• Isolation Gowns • Earloop or Tie Masks • N95 Respirators • Hand Sanitizers • Face Shields • Surface disinfectants • Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR) • Controlled Air Purifying Respirators (CAPR) • Other approved PPE supplies advised by the CDC
March 25 County’s 10th case is resident of Buda, and its 11th lives in Dripping Springs.
March 24 Eighth and ninth cases. One new and one previous case linked to Carpenter Hill Elementary School. All Hays CISD families alerted.
Collectively we will do what it takes to meet the needs of this community. The situation continues to evolve each day, and we will adapt, as necessary, but we need your help in order to have a fighting chance at overcoming this pandemic. The sooner we act, the safer our community will be.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFO:
• Contact the Ascension Texas hotline: We have established a COVID-19 hotline for community help local Ascension Texas. Availhealth professionals? able 6 a.m. to midnight, We are pleased local the hotline is staffed leaders have issued a by triage RNs who will “shelter in place” order, respond to public quesas it is the best defense tions and implement we have for preventing the most up-to-date the spread of COVID-19 and protecting our com- screenings and protocols to guide patients to the munity and healthcare most appropriate care workers during this unsetting, including staying precedented pandemic. at home and/or virtual Many people have options. The Ascension asked what they can Texas hotline is 1-833do to ease capacity 919-1680. demands on hospitals • Call ahead: To help and lessen the impact to prevent the spread of healthcare workers on the frontlines. The single disease, the CDC recommends people with coldmost important thing the community can do to like symptoms call ahead before going to a dochelp is to follow orders tor's office or emergenfrom local leaders and cy room to let the staff stay home, keeping a know about any sympdistance of at least six feet from people outside toms and recent travel. Healthcare workers will your household. But in work with your public order for it to work, evhealth department to see eryone must comply.
March 29 Three more COVID-19 cases confirmed; total now at 16.
March 26 13 cases now confirmed in county. Also reported are 131 negative tests and 21 with results pending. One of the original positive cases, a Kyle resident, has recovered and is out of quarantine.
March 31 Four more confirmed cases occurred overnight.
March 30 Two more cases confirmed, total now at 24 confirmations, 18 active cases. Six have recovered.
if you need to be tested for COVID-19. • Connect with the local public health agency: If you are unable to reach your physician, contact your local public health agency, or the state public health COVID 19 hotline: DSHS COVID19 Call Center is 1-877-570-9779 • Consider virtual care: To help prevent the spread of disease, people with questions about their symptoms may
want to try “virtual care.” For easy access to a doctor for urgent care visits without leaving home, you can use online care from a smartphone or mobile device (laptop or tablet). Ascension Online Care offers visits with a doctor 24/7 from work, travel or home. Use code HOME for a discounted $20 visit. Download the app today at www.ascension.org/onlinecare. Available in all 50 states. No insurance required.
Karate class stays resilient during COVID-19 BY CAMELIA JUAREZ
Dojo Kyle Jiu-Jitsu continues to practice and practice the resiliency lessons by offering regularly scheduled classes through Zoom videoconferencing. As everyone tries to live their normal lives through this period of staying at home, Dojo Kyle Jiu-Jitsu co-owner Will Caldwell says he believes he is providing parents an hour of relief from their children and providing kids with a sense of normalcy and fun. He said most of his students have adjusted nicely, but a few kinks need to be ironed out. “Zoom is pretty easy to set up, the kids un-
derstand it well,” he said. However, there are a couple of kinks – like students forgetting to mute their channel and then their sibling acts silly disrupting the lesson.” It was important to Caldwell to make this transition because he
teaches his students that to get a black belt, you must be resilient. “I teach them that they can’t just throw in the towel when the first obstacle occurs. This is especially true now with
KARATE CLASSES, 12
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Hays Free Press • April 1, 2020
Page 9
EDUCATION
Hays CISD bond election moves to November 3 BY SAHAR CHMAIS
Dripping Springs grad stars in one-person play in Belgium Kristie Schuh, a 2005 graduate of Dripping Springs High School, was selected to star in a one-person play, “Every Brilliant Thing,” that was presented at the 37th International Meeting of University Theatre at the Royal University of Theatre in Liege, Belgium. Schuh, who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Fine Arts at Purdue Univesity, also performed the play at the University of Namur in
Namur, Belgium. Purdue University was the only American school represented with 10 other countries. Schuh received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas in 2010. She then worked one year for Missoula Children’s Theatre and for seven years for All For Kidz. While at All For Kidz, she performed a one-person motivational show for elementary age students reinforcing to
them the motto never give up, to encourage others and to do their best. During this seven-year time frame she performed before more than one million children in the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Australia and New Zealand. Students at Sycamore Springs Elementary in Dripping Springs were entertained with her performance while she was with All For Kidz.
In accordance with an order issued by Texas Gov. Greb Abbott, the Hays CISD May 2 bond election has been moved to Nov. 3. The board of trustees voted unanimously during a online zoom special meeting on Monday to change the election date. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to an update by Superintendent Eric Wright on the district’s responses to COVID-19. He said the district is looking at expanding lunch sites because of increased consumption. They are also looking to find a way for one parent to pick the lunch up in an effort to reduce social crowding. Organizing distance learning will take some effort due to internet and textbook accessibility. Wright said the district
ordered an additional 3,000 Chromebooks for students to use at home, which may take a little more time than anticipated to come in due to high volumes of orders from other schools. One issue is that not all students have internet in their homes, but internet companies are offering a three-month period of free services, Wright noted. So far, they have no numbers on how many students are home without internet; the district will soon tally that information. Doing lessons online seemed like the quickest option because Hays CISD needs to request rights from textbook manufacturers to copy packets for students. In case getting rights to the books takes too long, the board will suggest that teachers try to find material to print out that aligns with their lessons.
Slides and instructions in Spanish have been posted online for bilingual students whose second language is English. Learning is not the only item changed. During the board meeting, Wright talked about graduation. Instead of a ceremony in May, students will walk the stage on June 26. As many things during this outbreak, this date is subject to change. “Graduation is too important for us not to do everything we can to make it happen,” said Tim Savoy, chief communication officer, on March 27. “But we also need to make sure everyone stays safe and healthy.” Although some issues have been addressed and worked through, some pressing matters are still undecided, including how to aid students with special needs who require handson attention.
Mathworks offers free curriculum to teachers, parents and students
Virtual Learning
More than 600 Chromebooks were checked out to DSISD families to assist students with remote/virtual learning based on responses to a survey regarding tech needs. Staff volunteers helped out, including Superintendent Todd Washburn directing traffic, Athletic Director/Head Football Coach Galen Zimmerman handing out a device, Athletics Trainer Larry Lechow greeting parents, Network Administrator Kavin Haney preparing equipment for pick-up.
The Mathworks program at Texas State University is offering free math resources to the public in response to COVID-19. Anyone with internet access can download curriculum material now through June 15, 2020. Valued at more than $250, the material includes Math Explorations curriculum for sixth through eighth grades. Student Edition textbooks and workbooks are available for download on the Mathworks website. In addition, Mathworks has made its Math Quest summer camp workbooks available for fourth through eighth grades at no cost. Additional resources include publications such as the Math Explorer and Math Reader and video tutorials teaching common math concepts. Users can submit their contact information at www. txstate.edu/mathworks, to download the PDF files. “When so many students are learning from home and are in need of additional resources, we want to provide both our school-year and summer enrichment curriculum for students, parents and teachers to use during this time,” said Hiroko Warshauer, associate professor in the College of Science and Engineering, co-author of the Math Explorations curriculum and research
coordinator at Mathworks. Teacher edition textbooks and answer keys are available to teachers, parents and tutors upon
request. For more information, visit Mathworks at www.txstate.edu/mathworks or email Kaelie Garcia at kcg74@txstate.edu.
Thanks,
Hays Free Press! “We get more traffic from the Hays Free Press than any other advertising source. Advertising with the Free Press is a great way to stay engaged with the community!” J.D. Sanford, Broker John B. Sanford Realtors
To advertise in the Hays Free Press, call 512-268-7862 or 512-433-0926
Police Blotter The following is a tally of all calls made to law enforcement within Hays County between March 23rd and March 28th , 2020.
Below is a sample of events reported by law enforcement from March 23th through March 28th, 2020. The location is where the event was reported or responded to and may not necessarily be where the event occured.
Civil Matter........................................ 12 Deliver Message................................. 1 Information........................................ 25 Property- Lost/Found/Imp................. 7 Alarm Business................................. 26 Alarm Residential............................. 19 Alarm Unknown/General.................... 1 Animal Calls..................................... .62 Field Euthanasia................................. 1 Loose Livestock............................... 15 Assault – Aggravated......................... 2 Assault................................................ 2 Sexual Assault Child.......................... 1 Assist EMS........................................ 10 Assist Fire Dept.................................. 3 Assist Outside Agency....................... 8 Suspicious Package........................... 1 Burglary Building................................ 3 Burglary Habitation............................ 4 Burglary Vehicle.................................. 6 Criminal Mischief................................ 6 Environmental Crime.......................... 5 Reckless Damage............................... 2 Attended Death.................................. 2 Death Investigation............................ 1 Disturbance Noise............................ 23 Disturbance Physical Fight................ 6 Disturbance Verbal........................... 16 Child Custody..................................... 4 Narcotics/Information........................ 3 Public Intoxication.............................. 1 Fraud................................................... 6 Counterfeiting..................................... 1 Credit/Debit Abuse............................. 2 Harassment......................................... 6 Threat.................................................. 6 Mental Health Follow Up.................... 2 Mental Health Invest.......................... 3 Mental Health Transport..................... 3 Canine Search.................................... 3 Canine Training................................... 3
Agency HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO HCSO BPD HCSO HCSO
Drone Deployment............................. 2 Viol City Ordinance............................. 4 Runaway............................................. 3 Public Assist.................................... .16 Community Contact........................ .47 Disabled Vehicle............................... 12 Escort.................................................. 1 Foot Patrol........................................ 13 Close Patrol.................................... 548 Parental Discipline.............................. 1 Flagged Down.................................... 4 Welfare Concern............................... 29 Suicidal Person................................... 5 Investigation....................................... 2 Supplement...................................... 59 Suspicious Circumstances.............. 10 Curfew Violation................................. 1 Suspicious Person............................ 18 Suspicious Vehicle........................... 39 Wanted Person................................... 6 Identity Theft....................................... 3 Theft.................................................. 16 Vehicle Theft....................................... 1 Accident Minor................................. 16 Accident Hit and Run......................... 6 Accident Major/Injury....................... 14 Accident Unknown............................. 1 Abandoned/Stored Vehicle.............. 10 Traffic Control/Direction..................... 4 Directed/Area Enforcement............. 26 Traffic Hazard.................................... 20 Attempt to Locate............................ 52 Parking Enforcement.......................... 7 Traffic Stop........................................ 82 Trespassing/Unwanted.................... 14 911 Abandoned/Open.................... 201 911 Aban/Misdial/Open..................... 3 Deadly Conduct.................................. 3 Discharge Firearm............................ 10 Private Tow/Repo............................... 6 Police Incoming Call........................... 1
Activity Burglary - Habitation Suicidal Person Suicidal Person Suicidal Person Suicidal Person Accident - Major/Injury Accident - Major/Injury Burglary - Building Burglary - Habitation Burglary - Habitation Burglary - Vehicle Burglary - Vehicle Burglary - Vehicle Burglary - Vehicle Burglary - Vehicle Burglary - Vehicle Disturbance - Phys/Fight Accident - Major/Injury Assault Burglary - Building Disturbance - Phys/Fight Accident - Major/Injury Accident - Major/Injury Accident - Major/Injury Assault Disturbance - Phys/Fight Disturbance - Phys/Fight Accident - Major/Injury Accident - Major/Injury Disturbance - Phys/Fight Accident - Major/Injury Accident - Major/Injury Burglary - Building Burglary - Habitation Death Investigation Disturbance - Phys/Fight Suicidal Person Accident - Major/Injury Accident - Major/Injury Accident - Major/Injury
Date 03/23/2020 03/23/2020 03/23/2020 03/23/2020 03/23/2020 03/23/2020 03/23/2020 03/24/2020 03/24/2020 03/24/2020 03/24/2020 03/24/2020 03/24/2020 03/24/2020 03/24/2020 03/24/2020 03/24/2020 03/24/2020 3/25/2020 03/25/2020 03/25/2020 03/25/2020 03/25/2020 03/25/2020 03/26/2020 03/26/2020 03/27/2020 03/26/2020 03/26/2020 03/27/2020 03/27/2020 03/27/2020 03/28/2020 03/28/2020 03/28/2020 03/28/2020 03/28/2020 03/28/2020 03/28/2020 03/28/2020
Time 10:42:50 6:12:21 10:27:41 10:56:20 22:45:09 6:05:48 17:35:02 12:40:58 17:16:16 23:23:50 9:03:15 9:43:58 10:06:07 11:38:31 16:09:36 16:25:17 20:05:46 11:26:14 8:44:57 9:24:46 18:48:49 17:11:42 18:20:05 20:02:24 23:05:11 15:02:40 1:01:50 15:18:34 19:32:19 6:23:33 12:11:04 16:08:15 9:04:21 7:11:40 10:57:07 15:14:42 22:12:53 13:22:23 12:38:25 18:00:19
Location Cherrystone Loop Buda Airport Highway 21 Maxwell Airport Highway 21/Cow Trl Maxwell Stacey Ann Cv Dripping Springs Glosson Rd Dripping Springs 5163 Overpass Rd Buda Studio 6 Motel Mathias/Windy Hill Buda Dr Pound Farmstead Dripping Springs Leafdale Trl Dripping Springs Windmill Way Buda Foothills Dr Dripping Springs S Sunset Canyon Dr Dripping Springs S Sunset Canyon Dr Dripping Springs Canyon View Rd Dripping Springs Drifting Sands Dr Dripping Springs Rutherford Dr Driftwood Cole Springs Rd Buda 23100 W Rr 150 Driftwood Longhorn Loop Kyle 703 RR 2325 Wimberley Texan Car Wash Judy Dr/Retha Dr Dripping Springs 3815 Dacy Ln Kyle Belterra Dr/W US 290 Austin Joanne Loop/Windy Hill Rd Buda 105 S Canyonwood Dr Dripping Springs Dominos Twisted Crk Kyle Dickerson Rd Kyle RR 32/Purgatory Rd San Marcos 3800 block Wayside Dr Wimberley Airport Highway 21 San Marcos Purple Martin Ave/Windy Hill Rd Kyle Shadow Creek Blvd/Windy Hill Rd Buda Big Leaf Dr Buda Nautical Loop Kyle RR 12 Wimberley Alexis Point Summit Dr Dripping Springs Spanish Star Trl Dripping Springs Exit 220 NB Buda Exit 2928 RR 32 San Marcos 2218 Staples Rd San Marcos
Page 10
Hays Free Press • April 1, 2020
Inmate Releases
Buda closes facilities
Continued from pg. 1
regarding limitations for the entry of new arrestees who may be ill or exposed to the COVID-19 virus,” it continued, acknowledging that screenings “are not 100 percent error proof” due to the fact some people can carry the disease without showing symptoms. The action pertains to arrestees whose cases remain pending. “The goal is to reduce the potential of COVID-19 exposure to lower-risk arrestees currently within the Hays County Jail who are likely otherwise to be released back in to our community,” the judges wrote. “If released from custody as a result of this
Most of the people in jails across Texas have not been convicted of any crime, but are instead awaiting a court date.
The city of Buda Parks Department is following federal, state and local guidelines to limit the potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Implemented policies and procedures are in place to include the following: Closure of all sports fields, bathrooms, playscapes, basketball courts, skatepark and facility reservations until further notice. Cancel or postpone special events until further notice. Trails and green spaces will remain open, unless otherwise directed by
of the county lockup is complete, the need to outsource would likely continue. Looking back over daily jail reports sent to local media, the average disaster declaration, all across Texas have not number of arrests by all arrestees remain subject been convicted of any law enforcement agencies to both conditions of crime, but are instead within the county has also release and presentation awaiting a court date. In fallen. In late February of any charge or charges Hays County, the Mano there were typically more by the District Attorney's Amiga organizaition has than 20 arrests in each 24Office.” had jail reform as a prima- hour period. By the final The move came against ry focus. week in March, they had the drumbeat of increased Hays County has been dropped to single digits. community support for engaged in the practice The letter was signed increased cite and release of outsourcing for years, March 18 by District programs, whereby those and the cost to taxpayers Judges Bruce Boyer, Jack placed under arrest every week runs to the Robison, Gary Steel, Bill appear quickly before tens of thousands. Cutler Henry and David Junkin. a judge and then are has said before the panCutler announced the allowed to return home. demic that even with the new jail protocols on Most of the people in jails bond-financed expansion March 15.
federal, state or local authorities. Please respect social distancing while using the park system-trails, tables, etc. Water fountains will not be available for use. Green Meadows Splash Pad will have a delayed opening for the season. Updates will be placed on the Buda website when available. Please be safe and healthy during this time, if you have any questions please contact the Buda Parks and Recreation Department at 512523-1081.
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Hays Free Press • April 1, 2020
Employment
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Public Notices NOTICE TO CREDITORS
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TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
Notice is hereby given that original Letters of Administration for the Estate of Melanie Anne Alford Nunez, Deceased were issued on the 23rd day of March, 2020, in Cause No. 20-0002-P, pending in the County Court at Law of Hays County, Texas, in Probate, to Rita Frances Miller, as Independent Administratrix. All persons having claims against the Estate which is currently being administered are required to present same within the time and in the manner prescribed by law to Brian A. Mills, Creighton, Fox, Johnson & Mills, PLLC, P.O. Box 5607, Beaumont, Texas 77726. DATED this 23rd day of March, 2020. Rita Frances Miller, Independent Administratrix of the Estate of Melanie Anne Alford Nunez, Deceased
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Visit our website www.texasdisposal.com/careers to view and apply! For more information call 512-329-1778
The Buda City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Buda City Hall, 405 E. Loop Street, Bldg. 100 Buda, TX 78610 or online to discuss the following: SUP 20-01: Specific Use Permit for a Contractors Yard or Storage Yard in the Light Industrial (LI) zoning district for the property known as The Escobedo Group Business Park, Lot 1, Acres 8.036, located at 658 Commercial Drive, Buda, TX, 78610. The meeting will be held virtually, with a link to the meeting posted with the agenda on the city website www.ci.buda.tx.us 72 hours prior to the meeting.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Buda City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Buda City Hall, 405 E. Loop Street, Bldg. 100 Buda, TX 78610 or online to discuss the following: DA 19-01: Development Agreement for a residential subdivision; and Z 20-01: Zoning Map Amendment for the subject property from Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) to Planned Development (PD); and A 1901, Annexation, for 168.9+/acres out of the Phillip J. Allen Survey, Abstract No. 1, the Steven V. R. Eggleston Survey, Abstract No. 5, and the Hiram Cummings Survey, Abstract No. 108, Hays County, Texas; being all of Lot 1, Block 2 of Scales Subdivision, Hays County, Texas. The meeting will be held virtually, with a link to the meeting posted with the agenda on the city website www.ci.buda.tx.us 72 hours prior to the meeting.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Public Notices 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 March 24, 2020, adopted an ordinance(s) amending the City of Buda Unified Development Code, Subsections 2.06.05, 2.06.06, 2.10.10 3.02.01, 3.02.02, and 5.02 proposed amendments to uses, plat
timing and definitions in the Buda Unified Development Code; providing for penalties for failure to comply with such ordinance(s); providing for publication; and, providing for an effective date. By: Mayor George Haehn. 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.)
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Hays CISD is Requesting Proposals for RFP #26012003JO Food Service Management Company. Proposal’s will be accepted until 04-08-2020 at 2:00 p.m. local time. A Mandatory Prebid meeting will be held on 03-25-2020 @ 2:00 p.m. at Hays CISD Central Administration Building, 21003 IH 35, Kyle, Texas. Specifications are available in the HCISD Purchasing Office (512-268NOTICE OF APPLICATION 2141 ext. 46035) between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 TO SUBDIVIDE p.m., Monday through ThursAn application has been day. Proposal responses must filed with HAYS COUNTY be returned to the HCISD Purchasing Office, Jennifer to subdivide 11.153 acres Ornelas, 21003 IH 35, Kyle, of property located at along TX 78640, by the date and Robert S. Light Blvd, Buda, time indicated above. Late TX 78610. Information regardProposals will be returned uning the application may be opened. The HCISD Board of obtained from Hays County Trustees reserves the right to Development Services (512) reject any and/or all Propos393-2150. Tracking number: als and waive all formalities in the Proposal process. SUB-1216.
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Sealed proposals addressed to Kyle 150 LP (“OWNER”), on behalf of Anthem Municipal Utility District (“DISTRICT”), for furnishing all labor, materials, equipment, and performing all work required for the construction of the following project: ANTHEM SUBDIVISION PHASE 1B IMPROVEMENTS, will be received at the office of Atwell, LLC (“ENGINEER”) at 3815 S. Capital of TX Hwy, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78704 until Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Bids will be opened and read aloud via Zoom Meeting. Any proposal received after the closing time will be returned unopened. Proposals shall be plainly marked with name and address of the BIDDER and the following, bolded, words: ANTHEM SUBDIVISION PHASE 1B IMPROVEMENTS The ANTHEM SUBDIVISION PHASE 1B IMPROVEMENTS proposal includes approximately: 6,800 SY of right of way preparation and 1,166 LF of roadway; 814 LF of RCP/RBC storm sewer with inlets, manholes and all associated appurtenances; a stormwater water quality pond and all associated appurtenances; 1,083 LF of PVC water line with fire hydrants, valves and all associated appurtenances; 1,051 LF of PVC wastewater line with manholes, associated erosion controls, removal of the abandoned gas main, dry utility improvements, and all other necessary appurtenances and improvements. All work must conform to State of Texas, County of Hays, City of Kyle, TxDOT, TCEQ, and Anthem MUD applicable rules and criteria. Copies of the Plans, Specifications, and Bidding Documents will be on file at the office of Atwell, LLC at 3815 South Capital of Texas Highway, Building III, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78704, where they may be examined without charge. Copies may be examined or obtained from the ENGINEER on or after Thursday, April 9th, 2020 for a non-refundable fee of $100.00 per set, or you can request an electronic version by emailing cschedler@atwell-group. com. Checks for Plans and Specifications, and Bidding Documents shall be made payable to Atwell, LLC. A Cashier’s Check, Certified Check or acceptable Bidder’s Bond, payable to Kyle 150, LP in an amount not less than five percent (5%) of the Bid must accompany each bid as a guarantee that, if awarded the Contract, The BIDDER will enter into a contract and execute bonds within ten (10) days of award of the Contract. Performance and Payment Bonds shall also be executed on the forms furnished by the DISTRICT 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, authorized to do business in the State of Texas and acceptable to the DISTRICT. The DISTRICT reserves the right to reject any and all bids to waive any and all technicalities and formalities in bidding. The DISTRICT reserves the right to determine which bids are most advantageous to the OWNER and the DISTRICT, and to award the Contract on this basis. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of forty-five (45) 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 DISTRICT may pursue any other action allowed by law. Prospective bidders are encouraged to visit the site before or after the pre-bid meeting. A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on Wednesday, April 15th, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. via Zoom Meeting. A meeting invitation can by requested by emailing cschedler@atwell-group.com.
Notice for Publication Docket No. 50324
NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE OF CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY TO PROVIDE SEWER UTILITY SERVICE IN HAYS AND CALDWELL COUNTIES, TEXAS
County Line SUD has filed an application with the Public Utility Commission of Texas to obtain a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) for the provision of retail sewer utility service in Hays and Caldwell Counties. The requested area is located approximately 5 miles east of downtown Kyle, TX, and is generally bounded on the north by Goforth Rd and Heidenreich Ln; on the east by Rhode Rd and FM 2001; on the south by Misty Ln and Jolly Rd; and on the west by FM 1966. The requested area includes approximately 17,942 total acres and 2 current customers. A copy of the map showing the requested area is available at: County Line SUD Office Persons who wish to intervene in the proceeding or comment upon action sought should contact the Public Utility Commission, P.0. Box 13326, Austin, Texas 78711-3326, or call the Public Utility Commission at (512) 936-7120 or (888) 782-8477. Hearing- and speech-impaired individuals with text telephones (TTY) may contact the commission at (512) 936-7136. The deadline for intervention in the proceeding is (30 days from the mailing or publication of notice, whichever occurs later, unless otherwise provided by the presiding officer). You must send a letter requesting intervention to the commission which is received by that date. If a valid public hearing is requested, the Commission will forward the application to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) for a hearing. If no settlement is reached and an evidentiary hearing is held, SOAH will submit a recommendation to the Commission for a final decision. An evidentiary hearing is a legal proceeding similar to a civil trial in state district court. A landowner with a tract of land at least 25 acres or more, that is partially or wholly located within the requested area, may file a written request with the Commission to be excluded from the requested area (“opt out”) within (30) days from the date that notice was provided by the Utility. All opt out requests must include a large scale map and a metes and bounds description of the landowner's tract of land. Persons who wish to request this option should file the required documents with the: Public Utility Commission of Texas Central Records 1701 N. Congress, P. 0. Box 13326 Austin, TX 78711-3326 In addition, the landowner must also send a copy of the opt out request to the Utility. Staff may request additional information regarding your request. Si desea información en español, puede llamar al 1-888-782-8477.
NEWS
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Hays Free Press • April 1, 2020
County Operations Continued from pg. 5
resources for meeting a surge. All that will need to be done, he said, even as “people with specific skill sets” are “being pulled away to other counties and other jurisdictions” and multiple requests for resources like masks, sanitizers, gowns and gloves “have been put on hold.” “We’re making an educated guess at what our response should be. We don’t have enough data coming back to pinpoint what we need,” Villalobos said. He said that there’s “very little testing going on” in the county at present, but he predicted numbers will “increase exponentially” once more tests become available.
Becerra said his deal, which he held “close to his chest” until finalized, would help to meet the need. “Yesterday I purchased the first 2,000 tests for frontline medical personnel, first respondents and people with symptoms,” he said. People will need a medical diagnosis before they can receive a test, and results should be available in a matter of minutes. That, Becerra said, will help officials “pinpoint community spread” and “break the chains of transmission.” Then, Becerra accused Smith of putting access to those tests “in jeopardy” by attempting “to derail an agreement with
a supplier,” something he called “irresponsible and reckless with no regard for human life. While his obstruction was not ultimately successful, it cost medical professionals and the people of Hays County precious time.” “Some of the activity behind the scenes I think are criminal,” Becerra said, “and I won’t discuss them.” “I certainly hope those don’t prove to be the case.” Smith replied. “I will tell you today this accusation you leveled toward me, not only will it not stand, it will be answered very stringently.” Smith maintained all he did was “pick up the phone” to call “one of the organizations refer-
enced” and ask if there was an agreement in place, which he said they denied. He said he then called Villalobos, who he said denied knowledge of the deal. Smith then began to ask Becerra about comments he apparently made on his personal Facebook page concerning the tests in which he reportedly said the tests would be available at H-E-B online. “Are they available today?” Smith asked. Becerra refused to discuss it. “I have secured thousands of tests for our health department to manage,” Becerra said. I will not answer to what the private sector is saying. I will not answer to
what the private sector is doing.” Smith went on to say he agreed with a lot of what Becerra has done in responding to the crisis, “but for you to make the statement you made today, for you to do what you did yesterday going out to the public promising something without us knowing how it’s going to be set up is dumbfounding to me. I will not play with people’s health.” Lon Shell, commissioner for Pct. 3, directed his comments above the fray. “I encourage everyone to stay safe,” he said. “This is an important time in the process. It is a bit eerie seeing the streets as empty as they
are but it’s a good thing for safety. Businesses are struggling. I know everybody is doing the best they can. There are people that are going to be struggling for some time. It’s challenging for many people across the county.” Concerning the masks themselves, Reliant Immune Diagnostics said in an email dated March 27 that “all Hays County community members would have access to www.mdbox.com mobile application and have the ability to purchase these in-home COVID-19 tests at partner retail locations.” In Hays County, the number of active cases doubled within a week.
Pandemic Funerals: Online viewing, counseling available Continued from pg. 5
to help meet customers’ needs. Below are several offerings we have initiated to help families meaningfully commemorate the life of their loved one in these unusual times.” • Face-to-Face online arrangement planning, as well as the ability to pay and complete all paperwork online. • Free tribute video so each family can provide a personal backdrop for their loved-one’s obituary page. The company will continue to offer the tribute wall on its website for guests to leave condolence messages and share memories. • Live streaming or recording of a private service can be published to the website’s obituary page upon the family’s approval. • Text/SMS Notifications for obituary visitors. Visitors can sign-up to
receive a text notification when: a recording of the service posts, a live stream service is open to view, or a personal message from the family to invite them to an upcoming memorial service. • Hugs from Home program gives those not attending a ceremony the chance to share a token of love and support to the deceased family. People can submit a message through the website and then the message will be hand-written on cards and given to the families during their service. Families need to know others are there with them in spirit. • Full-Circle Aftercare Director is available to help families make all the necessary calls for notifications, closing accounts, claiming benefits, changing beneficiaries and protecting your estate. The
director will help accomplish almost every non-legal tasks over the phone, in a matter of a couple of hours, without families having to leave their home. Harrell Funeral Home is the only funeral home in Austin providing this service and gives the service as a gift to every family. • Online Grief Platform is complete with 30+ free courses created by grief and loss experts and 24/7 message-based grief coaching and support. “We have been partnering with Harrell for several years,” said Greg Young, co-founder of Funeral Innovations. “Harrell is considered a frontrunner in the funeral industry because they have deep relationships in the community and are great at providing value for their customers through embracing technology in new
to do their jobs, as they always do, Cutler said. “I encourage you to contact the sheriff’s office to request assistance, regardless of the time of day or night without fear of reprisal.” Cutler had this to say about the general gist of the effort to stem spread of the coronavirus. “A ‘Stay at Home, Work Safe’ order, in my view, is an around-the-clock effort by this community to curb the impact of COVID-19,”
he said. “The challenges we face are real, the virus and the steps needed to contain it depends on all of us. I ask the citizens for voluntary compliance to this order. If you don’t have to leave your home, please stay home. My office and I are here to stand with you. Working together, Hays County will remain strong.” To read Becerra’s order in entirety, go to haysinformed.com.
County Curfew Continued from pg. 1
vehicle on the roads of Hays County, regardless of the time of day, they will assume it is because someone is going to work at an essential business, or doing something else permitted by the judge's order,” the statement said. “If there is independent reasonable suspicion or probable cause to stop a driver or pedestrian, at any hour of the day, then my deputies will continue
Karate Classes
services and use direct eye contact, loving words, and warm smiles, instead of traditional handshakes and hugs.”
ABOUT HARRELL FUNERAL HOME
Be Counted!
Harrell Funeral Home is the largest family-owned funeral home in Austin and serves more than 500 families a year, from three different locations in Austin, Kyle and Dripping Springs.
For Census 2020 information, visit www.Census2020.org
Getting
Started Safely Call 811 before you dig.
Continued from pg. 8
everything happening and when things go back to normal,” Caldwell said. Caldwell said that yes, it’s difficult to provide detailed feedback and maintain interaction, but it has allowed him to see his students in a new light,
creative ways.” “We truly believe in these uncertain times, our home is a place where love can be found instead of fear,” Harrell said. “Our priority is to keep our customers safe and protect staff members from exposure to the virus. According to the CDC, there is no known risk associated with being in the same room with the body of someone who died of confirmed or suspected COVID-19. However, we have implemented a Digital Identification Process for families to have the option to digitally identify a deceased loved-one if they are not able to come to the funeral home to see them due to illness. We are trying to do our part in limiting the spread of the virus in Austin. We are also requiring guests and employees to minimize direct contact during
like seeing their pets. “Personally, I enjoy seeing everyone’s dogs, but a huge fringe benefit of social distancing situation is that I can tell my students are excited to see their classmates. I always make sure to leave time at the
end for everyone to catch up,” Caldwell said. Caldwell said that knowing everyone is keeping strong during this time might be the most valuable part of keeping his karate classes online.
ALWAYS BY YOUR SIDE 99 YEARS STRONG Access your account 24/7 through our digital services from the comfort of your home.
EFFECTIVE MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020
When it comes to digging safely, you make the call. Whether you’re working on a large excavation, or simply planting a tree in your yard, natural gas and utility line safety should always be job one – and that means calling 811 before you dig. Calling 811 helps you know where natural gas, electric, water and other underground lines are located. It also helps you avoid causing serious injuries, service interruptions, or possibly costly fines for damaged infrastructure. Make the call. It’s easy. It’s FREE. Respect the lines. Dig with care. After all, safety is in your hands, but always on our minds. We’re investing in infrastructure, technology and services that help keep you safe. More information on natural gas safety is available at: CenterPointEnergy.com/Safety.
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