APRIL 20, 2022 REMEMBERING AN ICON
HAYS PUBLIC DEFENDER
Chapa Middle School namesake, Armando Chapa, passes away.
Hays County to get public defender.
– Page 5
– Page 4
© Barton Publications, Inc.
Hays Free Press
75¢
HaysFreePress.com
Vol. 128 • No. 6
Serving Hays County, TX
2 get promoted at HCISD Pierce, Moffett appointed STAFF REPORT The Hays CISD Board of Trustees approved two new district personnel during the board meeting on April 18. HCISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright announced that David Pierce, current Hays High School principal, has been promoted to one of the district’s deputy academic officer positions. Additionally, Lance Moffett from Fredericksburg ISD has been named the new HCISD athletics director. Pierce has been the principal of Hays High School for 13 years. He was named Hays CISD Principal of the Year in 2020 and was named a state-level principal finalist for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards in 2013 and 2019. In his role as a deputy academic officer, Pierce will oversee the academic and operational leadership of about a quarter of the district’s 26 campuses, as well as other key curriculum and instruction programs. He will finish the school year as Hays High School principal and take over the new position this summer when current Deputy Academy Officer Sami Kinsey retires. “I appreciate and value the relationships, the learning and the growth I have experienced as principal of Hays High School,” said Pierce. “We have a proud past and an even brighter future in Hays CISD. I am confident we have the right ingredients to make Hays
HCISD, 10
Hays County Courthouse hosts Easter Egg-stravaganza
PHOTO BY C.J. VETTER Children enjoyed the second annual Easter Egg-stravaganza at the Hays County Courthouse.
BY C.J. VETTER SAN MARCOS – Every bunny loves a good egg hunt. Last Friday, the Hays County Courthouse hosted its second annual Courthouse Easter Egg Hunt, featuring over 4,000 easter eggs as well as scavenger hunts, princess storytimes and visits from the San Marcos Mermaid Society. Forty pounds of candy were scattered across the lawn and kids up to 11 years old were allowed to participate in the hunts. The event is part of a strategy by Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra and Executive Assistant Anita Collins to help encourage interaction and trust with the community. Becerra originally helped host the first hunt, and had planned to continue the new tradition, but had to postpone the event till now due to the pandemic. “I am just privileged and honored that we have the opportunity for our second annual Easter Egg Hunt. We had
the first one, of course, as we got into office, and then we had two years of COVID, and so this is our first chance to do it again,” Becerra said. “These are the communities’ grounds and I want to do everything I can to help everyone in our community feel welcome. Here it is their courthouse. It is their grounds. It is their county.” The egg hunts were divided by age, starting with those under 5 years of age, then 5 through 7, and 8 through 11. For those 12 years old and up, Easter-themed games were provided. The event also had an area where children could take pictures with the Easter Bunny, mermaids, and princesses, as well as a face-painting table. Adriana Montoya and her 1-year-old granddaughter were participants in the first hunt, and while they enjoyed the activities, her daughter and older grandchild prepared for the next one. “This is her first Easter egg hunt, so she’s enjoying it, a little shocked at all the people. Probably the most people she’s seen in one place,” Montoya said.
“My grandson was only four, so he probably missed the last one. This is kind of his first, you know, big egg hunt other than our family gatherings.” The event also featured a visit from the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter (SMRAS), where guests looking for a new companion could formally adopt and take home a shelter animal. SMRAS provided all the necessary paperwork to begin an adoption and had a truck on-site equipped to process any fees at the event. Three animals found new homes that day. “We’re just out here, trying to get some homes for some of these dogs that we have,” said Christie Banduch, animal services manager. “They had this big awesome event going on with the easter egg hunt with the kids, so a big family event, so these guys need families of their own and we’re just out here to match them up with any families looking.”
The Hays County Courthouse is located in San Marcos and seeks to host more events in the future. For more information, contact them at 512-393-7779 or visit them at 712 S. Stagecoach trail.
Kyle family saved from fire BY C.J. VETTER
KYLE – A fire began at a Kyle residence on March 12 and quickly destroyed the entire home. The family, Dean and Michelle Falcon alongside their two dogs, survived the fire, thanks to their door having been closed, sparing them from the carbon monoxide within the house. The Falcon family had been asleep when the fire started, which quickly filled their home with smoke. Michelle had been the first to wake up and was alerted by smoke fill-
ing the air. She alerted her husband, who then tried to open their bedroom door, only to be knocked unconscious by carbon monoxide. “You ever see that old show, Batman and Robin with Adam West, and they do the little smoke bombs end everybody just falls? That’s how fast it was,” Dean Falcon said. “It’s tasteless, odorless, smokeless.” The bedroom door having been closed kept the carbon monoxide from entering while they slept, giving the Falcons time to
EARTH DAY
Kyle Library hosts Earth Day celebration.
– Page 5
escape. After helping Dean up, Michelle quickly ran to their bedroom window and broke it open, allowing the couple to escape along with their dog, Shirley. “I dove out of the window, I scraped up my knee pretty bad, my whole leg you know, my side too. And as soon as I landed, I turn around, the bigger dog, who is big enough to see out the window and I grab her by her front paws and yanked her,” Michelle Falcon said. “I thought they were dead.” However, their other dog, Chalupa, had hidden
under their bed alongside a neighbor’s dog. Firefighters later discovered the two dogs still alive, having survived the fire after the home’s floor had collapsed, allowing them to escape the blaze. “I thought they were dead,” Michelle said. “I kicked the front door open to give them a chance to escape; I wasn’t thinking, just focused on survival.” Both Michelle and Dean received minor cuts and bruises as they leaped from the window but were able to escape mostly unharmed. They
The Hays Free Press Barton Publications, Inc. The Hays Free Press (USPS 361-430) published weekly by Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. Periodicals postage paid at Buda, TX 78610 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. ISSN#1087-9323
were treated for shock and smoke-inhalation by first responders on the scene, but the house suffered severe fire damage, leaving it uninhabitable. Following the fire, the Falcons posted on the social media website, Nextdoor, to raise awareness about their incident. They were soon contacted to by local citizen Roy White, who helped set up a GoFundMe account for the Falcons and coordinated efforts to help the family alongside Dee Dee Smiley.
Kyle family saved, 10