APRIL 27, 2022 TIGERS VS. LOBOS
HCISD TEACHER SHORTAGE
The Dripping Springs Tigers outlast Lobos in a slugfest.
Hays CISD is facing shortage, the district may have found a solution to help remedy it.
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Vol. 128 • No. 7
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Dachshunds hit the track Fatal collision Buda Wiener Dog Race crowns champ on RM 967 BY C.J. VETTER
STAFF REPORT BUDA — A woman died and two individuals were hospitalized Monday afternoon after they were involved in a two-vehicle collision on RM 967 in Buda. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) assisted the Buda Police Department in working an accident that occurred at approximately 4 p.m. on Monday, April 25, in the 1400 block of RM 967 at Armbruster’s Curve between Cullen Boulevard and Haleys Way. The two vehicles involved were a 2010 Hyundai Elantra with three occupants and a 2017 Jeep Cherokee with two occupants. Hyundai front seat passenger Briceida Denova Garcia, approximately 42 years old, was pronounced deceased and taken to the Medical Examiner's Office. Driver Noe Enriquez-Aguilar, approximately 44 years old, was taken to Seton Hays Hospital in Kyle. The rear driver’s side passenger, a juvenile male approximately 10 years old, was taken to Dell Children’s Hospital in Austin by helicopter. The driver and passenger of the Jeep had minor injuries and were checked at the scene by medics. Both are high school students.
BUDA –There can only be one wiener king. At the 25th annual Buda Country Fair and Wiener Dog Races, over 200 dachshunds hit the track to see who would be crowned the one and only wiener king. The race, an honored Buda tradition and renowned nationwide for its size and scale, was intensely competed in, as both owners and hounds gave it their all. But in the end, it was Jimmy Dean and his owner Amy Koski who took first place in the purebred finals, winning the trophy and $500 in prize money. The theme of the race this year was a spoof on the Lion King, thus dubbing Jimmy Dean the wiener king. “I’m thrilled, it’s so funny,” Koski said. “He’s getting old and he likes to run, we didn’t know but he still had it in
him.” Eight-yearold Jimmy Dean, who has his own Instagram account, narrowly beat the second-place winner Smokey and the thirdplace winner Bruiser in the final race, which was the culmination of two action-packed days and over 30 different races, where hundreds of people came from across the nation to see the multi-dog derby. In addition to the purebred race, the event also offered races for mixed breeds, as well as competitions for the fastest dog and an International Barbeque Cookers Association certified cook-off. However, most of all, the races offered a chance for owners to let their doxies strut their stuff. “My favorite thing
about Dachshunds is probably they’re clowns, they’re little clowns,” Kelli Cotner said. “You see, they’re super affectionate and very snuggly , and they look funny.” The races themselves are organized and run by the Buda Lions Club, a charitable society dedicated to helping give back to the community through programs, donations, fundraisers and camps. Entry to the event was $5, while registration for the races was $25, with all money raised being put back into the community one way or another. Justin Krause, the head of the Buda Lions Club, was on the grounds, helping lead the races. “I’m proud of all these Lions club members, man, they came and
Kyle PD arrests 2 for gas crimes STAFF REPORT
PHOTO BY C.J. VETTER Lindsay Koski holds up Jimmy Dean moments after winning the finals.
“So the Lions Club has been putting on this pulled event for 25 plus years, it all together. you know, with the We couldn’t have done pandemic we missed it without every one a few. But this thing is of them,” Krause said. Buda,” Robert Dugan, “We’re gonna be ready Lions Club member, to start getting ready for said. “They built a brand 2023 here in about four new park, and this our months.” first year in it with lots of The event this year space.” is special for numerous Most importantly, this reasons, first and race marks the first time foremost being its return that iconic announcer from a two year James Michael ‘Mike’ hiatus. Huckaby would not be reprising his role. Huckaby was a double purple heart veteran, a founding member of the Buda Lions Having had to skip its Club and had served as 2020 and 2021 races due the announcer of the to the pandemic, fans races for the past 24 years and organizers alike were until he died in 2022. eager to get both the fair, Huckaby’s role would be and the wiener dogs, filled by fellow member running again. This year’s Keith Handrick. race also marked the first “It’s one of time that the new Buda those things City Park would be used, where you alongside brand-new have to step bleachers and release in for mechanisms for the track.
somebody who's been doing it for 20 plus years,” Handrick said. “It’s big shoes to step into and so, yeah. Now we’re definitely gonna try to keep his memory alive.” The Lions Club is an international non-profit dedicated to helping serve their communities and help those with vision impairments. They also offer services to the blind and diabetic, as well as operating the Texas Lions Camp for children with physical disabilities. For more information, visit LionsClub.org or BudaLionsClub.com.
KYLE — The Kyle Police Department arrested two men in separate gas-skimming incidents that occurred this week. At 5:04 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, officers responded to the 7-11 located at 19350 Interstate Highway 35, after an employee called to report two vehicles at the gas pumps, pumping gas into hidden compartments. The employee also noticed the individuals were using multiple gift cards to make numerous separate purchases. One vehicle left prior to the officers’ arrival, however one remained on scene. Austin resident, Miguel Angel Vidal Flores, 29, was arrested for Unlawful Use of Criminal Instrument, a third degree felony. Then at 2:45 p.m. on Monday, April 25, officers responded back to the same 7-11, after another employee recognized similar behavior. The vehicle in this incident left prior to officers’ arrival, however an officer located the vehicle driving a short distance from the gas station. When the officer initiated the traffic stop, he observed numerous gift cards being thrown out the window of the suspect vehicle. After the stop was made, officers retrieved the discarded gift cards, and the driver was subsequently arrested and charged with Unlawful Use of Criminal Instrument and Tampering with Physical Evidence, a third degree felony. The driver was identified as Austin resident Alberto Carlos Alonso Rob-
Kyle PD, 10
Buda City Council selects program manager for nearly $90 million bond BY C.J. VETTER
management company that applied to manage the Buda – The Buda City bond, scoring an 89 and Council selected WSB beating out the other five Management LLC to be the companies that applied. Bond Program Manager Both propositions for the 2021 Buda Bond, included in the 2021 bond worth $89.66 million. The put aside a total of $2.2 bond package is focused million for bond manon improving transportaagement services, which tion and recreation offered would cover the pay for the in Buda. project managers. Services The April 19 presentaprovided by the managetion to the city council was ment firm would include delivered by City Project the monitoring and projecManager Kenny Crawford tion of project schedules, and WSB Project Manmonitor budgets, as well as ager Jay Kennedy. WSB the strategizing of public was the highest-scoring engagement, coordination
TREE CITY USA
Buda designated a Tree City USA for third year
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of utility conflicts and right-of-ways, and the coordination of design professionals. “This is 2 million dollars spent to handle 90 million dollars well,” said Evan Ture, council member. “I just want to emphasize how critical this is.” The motion to select WSB passed without any opposition, but there has been some hesitation as to why it took over 100 days before WSB was selected. The projected timeframe for the bill implementation is six years (by 2028).
Mayor Lee Urbanovsky stressed the importance of time and efficiency. “It concerns me that it has taken 168 days to get here. I don’t have a whole lot of patience, and voters have even less. Literally, the Tuesday after we passed the package, I had calls asking me ‘when’s my road gonna get fixed, or built,” Urbanovsky said. “It bothers me every day that we’re still working on the 2014 bond now, and I understand the process. People on the street do not.”
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The Buda 2014 bond is nearing completion, with most of the propositions having been completed. Examples of the improvements made using the bond include the Buda City Hall and Library, a new building for the Buda Police Department, and reconstruction of numerous roads around Buda. Though, the construction of projects like the Onion Creek Trail have not been finished yet.