Jan. 12, 2017 News-Dispatch

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Lady Tigers smash Mules 57-35

‘Dog Walk’ benefits local group

Mixed reviews for school rating system

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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVII No. 14

Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982

75¢

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Hays Co. mother charged in ‘horrific’ homicide BY MOSES LEOS III

news@haysfreepress.com

A Kyle woman has been charged in connection with the death of her five-yearold daughter in a crime law enforcement officials have deemed as one of the “most horrific cases in Hays Coun-

ty history.” Krystle Concepcion Villanueva, 24, was charged with capital murder in the death of her daughter, Giovanna Larae Hernandez, whose death was ruled as homicide by stabbing, according to a Hays County press release. Villanueva was magistrated by Hays County

Justice of the Peace Pct. 1-1 Joanne Prado. Villanueva was also charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after she stabbed her fatherin-law, Eustorigo Arellano-Uresti, 58. Villanuenva is being held in the Hays County Jail on $800,000 bond for the capital murder

charge and $300,000 for the aggravated assault. At a press conference, Hays County Sheriff Gary Cutler said the HCSO received a 911 call at 12:51 p.m. Thursday for an aggravated assault call in the 200 block of Willow Terrace in the Green Pastures subdivision.

When authorities arrived, they discovered Uresti, who had suffered stab wounds across his forehead, on his back and left shoulder, according to a Hays County probable cause affidavit provided by Hays County Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace

MURDER, 7

VILLANUEVA

Down to zero

Wimberley to reduce hotel tax rate BY MOSES LEOS III

news@haysfreepress.com

With a projected $300,000 in hotel occupancy tax (HOT) funds to be accrued by the end of January, Wimberley city leaders chose to decrease the HOT rate as they decide on the best way to use the money. By a 4-1 vote, the Wimberley city council reduced the HOT rate for hotel rooms in Wimberley from 5 percent to zero. Council member Bob Dussler voted in opposition to the measure. Mark Bursiel, chairperson of the Wimberley HOT committee, said the committee voted 6-1 in favor of reducing the rate to zero by Jan. 31. The decision was reached after the committee discerned the HOT collections were “far exceeding” the money being spent. Currently, the committee has allocated $27,000 in HOT funds with $5,000 paid out. However, the city will have $266,000 in HOT funds in the bank by the end of the second quarter 2017. “We don’t have a plan or vision. We don’t have anything that has substance to it that is going to work for Wimberley,” Bursiel said. However, Bursiel said the move was not meant to kill the tax, but rather to discover ways to use the money within state guidelines. HOT funds can only be used to directly enhance and promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry. The state requires

HOT FUNDS, 2

PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTH HAYS FIRE RESCUE

No fowl play in chicken coop fire

A group of fine feathered fowl, along with their human owners, escaped an extra crispy fate last week after a chicken coop went up in flames along FM 150 in Dripping Springs. North Hays County Fire Rescue Chief Scott Collard said authorities were dispatched to the 16000 block of FM 150 Jan. 4 for a barn/chicken coop and vehicle fire. Authorities battled the blaze upon arrival, which ultimately destroyed a barn on the property. Collard said the chicken coop was heavily damaged as well as the vehicle. No person or animal suffered injuries in the incident, Collard said. He added the residence on the property was also spared from damage. The fire was possibly started by a heat lamp that was placed inside of the building for the animals .

Local man wins $1M in lottery STAFF REPORT

PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III

Non-fatal accident shuts down U.S. 290

A heavily damaged pickup truck is carried away by a tow truck from the scene of an accident on U.S. Highway 290 in Dripping Springs. Two people were transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries after the accident occurred along U.S. Highway 290 at Sunset Canyon Drive last week. The accident led authorities to close the road for roughly an hour to clear the scene.

Wimberley council votes to amend short-term rental facility ordinance BY MOSES LEOS III

news@haysfreepress.com

Wimberley city leaders last week approved changes to an ordinance regulating shortterm rental (STR) facilities in city limits, which could close a months-long controversy over the issue. By a 4-1 vote on first reading, the Wimberley City Council approved amendments to the ordinance, which include requiring STR property owners to apply for a permit every two years. Place 3 councilmember Sally Gibson Trapp cast the lone dissenting vote. The item will return for a second reading at the Jan. 19 meeting. City Administrator Don

City Administrator Don Ferguson said city leaders went through a “significant” public meeting process over a 60-day period. Ferguson said city leaders went through a “significant” public meeting process over a 60-day period. The meetings involved the Planning and Zoning Commission, different members of the STR industry and community members. Ferguson said the group arrived at the recommendations, which the city council sought to obtain as part of a 90-day moratorium on approving Conditional Use Permits for STRs. One of the provisions was requiring property owners

A Dripping Springs man quite literally became an overnight millionaire after recently claiming a $1 million prize via scratch off ticket. Guillermo Castaneda, of Dripping Springs, won a $1 million prize in the Texas Lottery’s scratch ticket game, “Millionaire’s Club.” For selling the winning ticket, the Oak Hills Food Mart, located along U.S. Highway 290 in Austin, is eligible for a $10,000 retailer bonus. According to a press release, Castaneda requested minimal publicity. Castaneda claimed the third of six top prizes worth $1 million available in the game, according to the release. Overall odds of winning any prize in “Millionaire’s Club” are 1 in 3.05.

LAGNIAPPE ‘My Fair Lady’

who operate STRs to apply for a permit every two years, rather than apply for a CUP. Ferguson said there was a concern over transferability of CUPs, which is a zoning change that stays with the property and cannot be renewed. “The feeling was a permit was the right way to do that,” Ferguson said. Other provisions included requiring STR owners to provide identification information

Tickets are on sale to the public for this year’s Dripping Springs ISD musical: Lerner & Leowe’s “My Fair Lady.” This is the first time DSHS has worked with this beloved classic. Choose seats and reserve tickets online at www. dshstheatre.com. Tickets may also be purchased at the door for $10/students/seniors and $15/adults. As always, DSISD employees are free. Performances will be held Jan. 26, Jan. 27, Jan. 28 and Jan. 30 at

RENTALS, 8

LAGNIAPPE, 8


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