WISD seeks student input on bullying
Foster child care funding accepted
Buzzer beater lifts Tigers 59-56
page 4
page 2
News-Dispatch Volume XXXX No. 16
DSISD to hold elections May 2 The Dripping Springs ISD will hold elections for two at-large positions on its board of trustees May 2. Early voting will take place April 20-28. Up for election are the seats currently held by Barbara Stroud and Ron Jones. For more information, and to obtain candidate filings, visit dsisd.tx. Wimberley ISD elections will be held in November.
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
page 6
75¢
Thursday, January 23, 2020
ACLU says Wimberley ISD legal threat over logo violates freedom of speech BY CAMELIA JUAREZ
The ACLU is now stepping in to protect parents’ freedom of speech after the Wimberley Independent School District (WISD) threatened legal action against parents who posted a Texan logo with a pride flag in the background.
“Wimberley ISD is not only violating the First Amendment but also wasting potentially thousands of taxpayer dollars at the detriment of Wimberley students and parents.” –ACLU’s letter to the Wimberley School District
A six-page letter from the ACLU details how WISD’s actions violated parents' First Amend-
ment rights, through ‘the chilling effect’, the term used by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the
concept of deterring free speech. In the letter, the ACLU requested that the district retract its email
threatening legal action and drop all further actions against parents by Jan. 17. “Wimberley ISD is not only violating the First Amendment but also wasting potentially thousands of taxpayer dollars at the detriment of
WISD LOGO ISSUE, 8
LIVING STRONG
Dripping Springs and Wimberley holding municipal elections May 2 BY CHASE ROGERS The cities of Dripping Springs and Wimberley are holding municipal elections on May 2, with early voting April 20-28. In Dripping Springs, voters will be deciding on three positions: Places 2 and 4 and the city’s mayoral seat. Incumbents in places 2 and 4 are Wade King and John Kroll, respectively. Todd Purcell is the incumbent mayor. Applications for a slot on the ballot opened Jan. 15 and will be accepted until Feb. 16. Prospective candidates can apply by submitting an application, found on the city’s website, to Dripping Springs City Hall at 511 Mercer St. In Wimberley, voters will also decide City Council Places 2 and 4 and the mayor’s seat, with early voting April 20-28. Place 2 is currently held by Craig
LOCAL ELECTIONS, 3
Springs Family YMCA sponsors cancer survivor program BY CHASE ROGERS The Springs Family YMCA has begun the spring session of its LIVESTRONG at YMCA program, a program poised to help mitigate the side effects of cancer treatment on survivors. Members chosen for the program undergo physical exercises to improve muscle mass, strength, flexibility and endurance while improving mental qualities, including confidence and self-esteem. The 12-week program is offered at no cost to participating members, includes a free YMCA gym membership for the duration of the program, which began Jan. 13 and runs to April 1 on
“When people are walking through this cancer journey, they love having a group of people who understand what they are going through and that maybe they will get a new resource from. For most of these people, they love getting stronger, but it’s about the community they build.” –Bernadette Johnson, Health and Wellness director
Mondays and Thursdays from 1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. LIVESTRONG, an Austin-based nonprofit organization created by professional cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong, introduced the program with curriculum aiming to help cancer survivors return to physical activity during or after cancer
treatment. Health and Wellness Instructor and Group Exercise Coordinator Kim Castro works at the Buda YMCA location and oversees five other YMCA locations’ LIVESTRONG programs, including the Springs Family location. Castro said the programs cover a wide array of activities and vary YMCA to YMCA,
Property tax deadline Jan. 13 STAFF REPORT
using a credit/debit/eamount by Jan. 31 are check option (vendor fee encouraged to pay as Hays County Tax applies); by mail at 712 much as possible so that Assessor-Collector S. Stagecoach Trail, Suite they accrue as little as Jenifer O’Kane reminds 1120, San Marcos, TX possible. property owners that 78666 (mail-in payments Persons who pay 2019 property taxes are not accepted at quarterly and have must be paid in full by precinct offices, and 65-or-older, disabled Friday, Jan. 31, to avoid payments are person, or penalties and interest. credited as of disabled “There are a variety the postmark veteran tax of payment options date); and exemptions See more tax available,” O’Kane said. by phone at and have information, “And if you wait until the 1-888-546made their page 5 31st, chances are you will 4337 (credit/ first payment find yourself in a crowd.” debit card on or before Taxpayers can vendor fee Jan. 31 are drop off a check in applies). not assessed penalty and person or in the drop Beginning Saturday, interest. box at any of the Tax Feb 1, seven percent Questions about your Assessor-Collector’s penalty and interest property tax bill are locations (Hays County will be added to answered by emailing Government Center and property accounts with Jenifer.okane@co.hays. all four precinct offices); outstanding balances. tx.us or by calling the pay online at www. Taxpayers who are main office at 512-393hayscountytax.com by not able to pay the full 5545.
with accommodations made for instructors, members and available facilities. “(Activities) can change week to week. One week can be in the fitness center where you’ve got people using the machines and then next week it’ll be in the group exercise room where you’ll be doing a more senior-fitness kind
of class,” Castro said. “(The program) is very customizable with what that branch will decide to do with the 12 weeks.” Members participate in yoga, stretching exercises, strength exercises, water aerobics and Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art incorporating slow, focused movement to target certain muscle groups. Health and Wellness Director Bernadette Johnson, who works at the Spring Family YMCA, said specialized exercises like Tai Chi and water aerobics are easily tailored for and greatly benefit members. “Water is beautiful, but especially for our cancer survivors,” John-
YMCA CANCER PROGRAM, 7
CORRECTIONS Wimberley logo story
In the Jan. 16 edition of the News-Dispatch, an incorrect story was printed concerning the controversy over the logo of the Wimberley ISD Texans being altered with the addition of a rainbow flag. A lapse in our story flow procedures turned around and bit us, and we have taken steps to ensure that it does not happen again. The story that was supposed to run in that edition has been available online since Jan. 15 and will continue to be. That story is also printed at the top of this page.
Jail’s Securus contract
A story in the Jan. 16 edition of the News-Dispatch concerning a new contract approved by the Hays County Commissioners Court with Securus Inc. to handle jail communications including inmate phone calls and video visitation contained an error. It said that the new contract would drop the cost of a 15-minute phone call from $10.41 to 80 cents. In fact, the correct number is $4.80, instead of 80 cents.
Wimberley brothers & Grammys There were a couple of misspelled names in the story: The restaurant where Buck worked is Juan Enrique’s, it was Django Porter who invited Buck to Blue Grass Nights, and the bartender who noticed Buck was Brandon Gist. We regret these mistakes and sincerely apologize.