Locals join Women’s March
Firefighter Day a hit in Drip’
Tigers fall to Seguin in close call
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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVII No. 16
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
75¢
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Local teen assaults mother, nabbed in Illinois BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
A Dripping Springs teen who had been on the run after assaulting his mother last week was finally caught by authorities in Illinois after leading them on a brief car chase, according to a Hays County Sheriff’s Office press release. But authorities are unsure when they can extradite William Michael Bryars, 17, of Dripping Springs, back to Texas to face his crimes. Bryars, according to the release, is accused of attacking his mother, who was identified as Kathy Ann Bryars, 53, Jan. 18 at their home in Dripping Springs. According to the release, Bryars allegedly beat his mother with a hammer, then stabbed her with a screwdriver. A motive for the crime is unknown at this time.
Bryars then allegedly fled the scene with his mother’s 2012 black 2-door Nissan Altima. The incident, which garnered state-wide attention, turned into a manhunt as authorities across the state BRYARS searched for Bryars, who, according to authorities, was headed to Missouri. On Jan. 18, Hays County Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Terry Kyle issued warrants against Bryars for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which is a first-degree felony and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, which is a state jail felony. On Friday, officers
ASSAULT, 3
PHOTO BY JOHN BADMAN/THE TELEGRAPH
Emergency officials with the Alton, Ill. Fire Department surround a black Nissan Altima that was driven by William Michael Bryars, 17, of Dripping Springs, who led police on a short chase before crashing into a light pole last week. Bryars is accused of attacking his mother with a hammer and a screwdriver before he stole her 2012 Altima, which he was driving at the time of his accident.
Pay your property taxes by Jan. 31
City to annex 35 acres
STAFF REPORT
Dripping Springs city leaders last week moved forward with the voluntary annexation of a 35-acre tract along U.S. Highway 290. On Jan. 17, the Dripping Springs City Council approved annexation of the Blue Blazes Development, which could potentially hold commercial pad sites and possibly a hotel. Michelle Fischer, Dripping Springs city administrator, said the voluntary annexation was part of a development agreement the city entered with developers of the property, which is owned by James A. Smith of Dripping Springs.
Those who may owe 2016 property taxes will have until the end of the January before penalties could be levied against them. In a press release, Hays County Tax Assessor-Collector Luanne Caraway reminded residents that 2016 property taxes must be paid in full on or before Jan. 31 to avoid penalties and interest. Should taxes not be paid by Jan. 31, a seven percent penalty and interest will be added to property accounts with outstanding balances starting Feb. 1. Taxpayers who are not able to pay the full amount by January 31 are encouraged to pay as much as possible so that they accrue as little as possible, according to the release. Accounts of those 65 or older, disabled person or disabled veteran exemptions paid quarterly and have
PROPERTY TAXES, 3
BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
PHOTO BY BILL PEARY
The Driftwood Historical Conservation Society is negotiating with Driftwood Store owner Dan Winters to buy the building located in downtown Driftwood in order to preserve it. Above, a couple takes pre-wedding photos at the iconic building.
Is new life possible for historic Driftwood store? BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
Having grown up in Driftwood during her childhood, Lisa Elliott remembers how the Driftwood General Store and Post Office was essentially the “hub of everything.” The building functioned as the closest place for area residents to purchase feed
for their livestock, send a letter, or catch up on the local gossip. “Everyone knew everyone in town on a first-name basis,” Elliott said. “It was so friendly and wonderful growing up there.” While the store no longer operates, one group is planning to possibly purchase the structure in an effort to preserve its heritage.
The Driftwood Historical Conservation Society (DHCS) earlier this month kick-started plans to possibly purchase the store. Casey Cutler, DHCS director, said the society hopes to preserve the facility for generations to come. “It’s a living heritage. That’s what’s so fascinating about
DRIFTWOOD STORE, 2
DSISD names new schools STAFF REPORT Dripping Springs ISD’s two newest campuses officially have a name to go with them. On Monday, the Dripping Springs board of trustees selected Sycamore Springs as the names of the district’s new elementary and middle school campuses. Both campuses are under construction on Sawyer Ranch Road. The decision on the names of the schools followed a recommendation from the new schools naming committee that included representation from students, staff, community members and parents, according to a release. In December, the committee submitted three recommendations that included Sycamore Springs, Kerbey Springs and Sawyer Springs.
On Monday, the DSISD board of trustees selected Sycamore Springs as the names of the district’s new elementary and middle school campuses. According to the release, Sycamore Springs is a natural spring located south of Highway 290 near the central part of Dripping Springs. “Historical references state that property near Sycamore Springs was conveyed to the public school trustees in the late 1800s to be used for education of neighborhood children,” according to the release. The two schools, which are part of the district’s $92 million bond initiative that was approved by voters in 2014, have a combined total
of roughly $50 million dollars. The new elementary school, which will serve pre-K through 5th grade, will be built to serve 850 students. The new middle school will be built to an initial capacity of 850 students with the ability to add classrooms as the district grows, according to the DSISD bond website. With the naming of the two new schools, all DSISD campuses have been named after existing springs in the district.
SCHOOLS, 3
ANNEXATION, 2
LAGNIAPPE Burn ban on
On Jan. 24, the Hays County Commissioners Court placed the unincorporated areas (including extra territorial jurisdictions) of the county under an immediate burn ban following a report from Fire Marshal Clint Browning. Charcoal, wood and gas grills with lids are exempt from the ban, but burning in “burn barrels” or fire pits (including ones with screens on the top) is not allowed. Grilling of any kind is prohibited at Hays County parks under a burn ban. Most cities already prohibit outdoor burning, but residents within city limits should check their city ordinances.
CAMPO open houses
The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization will hold a series of open houses across the Austin area to gather public input on the organization’s Regional Active Transportation Plan, with
LAGNIAPPE, 2
Page 2
NewsDispatch PHONE: 512-268-7862 FAX: 512-268-0262 PUBLISHER Cyndy Slovak-Barton csb@haysfreepress.com EDITOR Moses Leos III moses@haysfreepress.com REPORTER Samantha Smith news@haysfreepress.com PRODUCTION David White Christine Thorpe ADVERTISING/MARKETING Tracy Mack tracy@haysfreepress.com Pam Patino ads@haysnewsdispatch.com Jim Darby ads@haysfreepress.com PHOTOGRAPHERS Wayland Clark PROOFREADER Jane Kirkham CIRCULATION MANAGER/ LEGAL NOTICES David White paper@ haysnewsdispatch.com News-Dispatch (USPS 011 - 401) is published weekly except for the weeks following July 4 and Christmas by Barton Publications, Inc., 113 W. Center St., Kyle, TX 78640. Subscription price: $32 local, $45 county, $56 out of state. Periodicals Postage paid at Driftwood, TX. Email paper@ haysnewsdispatch. com for subscriptions and address changes. POSTMASTER: send address changes to News-Dispatch, PO Box 339, Buda, TX 78610 LETTERS GUIDELINES 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-Dispatch
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Driftwood Store: Is new life possible for historic building? Continued from pg. 1
it. The community has a sense of it being there,” Cutler said. “We hope to preserve it and keep it a living heritage.” Cutler said the idea for purchasing the store was first brought up about six months ago. At that time, the DCHS discovered Dan Winters, a local photographer who owns the property the store current is on, was in the process of selling the store. Since then, the DCHS, with the help of Jon Jones, who is Winter’s neighbor and is part of the society, began informal talks on negotiating a price “that everyone feels is reasonable,” Cutler said. He said Winters has joined Jones at meetings,
“It’s just like Camp Ben McCullough. These are time capsules ... Members of the community will come back to this place for decades.” – Casey Cutler, DHCS director
where they all realize the focal point is to “preserve it for generations.” He said discussion “naturally evolved,” as Winters talked about the possibility of selling the store as he doesn’t live in it. “If we can, to do that would be a very important landmark for this area,” Cutler said.
How the society could pay for such a purchase, however, is something they need to work out, Cutler said. Currently, the DHSC is in the process of obtaining its non-profit designation. Discussing what they could do with the storefront is also a topic of
two of the meetings being held in Hays County. The open houses will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. A meeting will be held Thursday in the LBJ Student Center, Texas State University, 109 Student Center Drive, San Marcos, and another on Feb. 1 at the Wimberley Community Center, 14068 Ranch Road 12. The plan to be presented will develop a blueprint for a safe and easy-to-use active transportation network of trails, sidewalks, bike lanes and streets for the six-county region. For more information: campotexas.org.
Mirabeau B. Lamar Day, Thursday, January 26, at your home or business to honor Lamar as the “Father of Texas Education” for endowing public lands to public education.
“My Fair Lady.” Choose seats and reserve tickets online at www.dshstheatre.com. Performances will be held Jan. 26, Jan. 27, Jan. 28 and Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 29 at 2:00 p.m.
Mirabeau B. Lamar Day
‘My Fair Lady’ at DSHS
conversation as well. Cutler said the society is talking with Winters about his wishes for the property. Should the DHCS purchase the store, one use could be to utlize it as a community center, Cutler said. Another could be a community coffee house, which would allow residents to “catch up with what’s going on with the locals,” he said. “We’ve been dreaming of what we can do with it,” Cutler said. One idea Elliott had was to turn the walls of the building into a tribute to many of the older residents in the area. She believes the store
could be revitalized as a general store once again. “Not necesarilly a liquor store or a beer stop, but a kind of place where you can get some of the essientials needed by the community to save a trip.” For Cutler, the Driftwood store is “everyone’s history.” He said many Driftwood residents have taken photos of themselves in front of it. The priority is to ensure the store keeps standing for years to come. “It’s just like Camp Ben McCullough. These are time capsules,” Cutler said. “Members of the community will come back to this place for decades.”
Centering Prayer
30 by contacting Myra Sutherland at myrasutherland@gmail.com.
Lagniappe
Continued from pg. 1
All Texans are invited to join the Daughters of the Republic of Texas in flying your Texas flag on
Tickets are on sale to the public for this year’s Dripping Springs ISD musical: Lerner & Leowe’s
Sample a selection of Texas wines and soon-tobe local beers at the 29th annual League of Women Voters of Hays County Wine and Beer Tasting on Thursday, Jan. 26 at the Quail Creek Country Club in San Marcos from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased from a League member, at the door on the night of the event or online by visiting lwvhaysco.com.
The Hill Country Centering Prayer Group is hosting an Introduction of the Centering Prayer Practice on Saturday, Feb. 4, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., with follow-up meetings the next six Monday evenings at 7 p.m. at Dripping Springs Presbyterian Church at 26650 Ranch Road 12 in Dripping Springs. Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. A donation of $25 for the workshop and follow up sessions is requested. Register by Monday, Jan.
zoning components will not be allowed. Fischer said the developers would “love to have a hotel in there,” with the possibility of having an education campus or possibly a corporate campus. However, the city has not received word on what could be going into Blue Blazes. One of the reasons for annexing the property was to extend water service. Per the development agreement, Dripping Springs is the water provider for the tract of the land. Dripping Springs has
a wholesale agreement with the West Travis County Public Utility Agency, which Fischer said has a line that goes “in front of this development.” Ginger Faught, Dripping Springs deputy city administrator, said the developer is paying for the construction of infrastructure within the development. She said the city will conduct inspections and will accept improvements after infrastructure is completed. The development does not have a wastewater utility agreement with
the city as the nearest sewer line is “quite a ways away,” Fischer said. She said one option they could use is an onsite septic system. But if the city obtains additional wastewater capacity via a draft discharge permit that was applied for with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the collection system is extended to the property, the development would be required to connect services to the city. Fischer said the city hasn’t hit the “triggers” yet for extending waste-
Scholarship opportunity
The Dripping Springs Women’s Club will award two $500 college scholarships for female students in May. Applications are due by April 10 and can be found at www.dswomensclub.com or by contacting womenofds@gmail.com.
League of Women Voters fundraiser
Medical Mission At Home
Seton Hays will host a day of free medical care for basic healthcare needs on Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the 1st floor of Seton Medical Center Hays, 6001 Kyle Parkway, Kyle. Shuttle buses will run once every hour from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Hemphill Elementary School, Blanco Vista Elementary School, Tom Green Elementary School, Kyle Elementary School and Camino Real Elementary. No insurance necessary. Services provided on a first-come, first-served basis until 4 p.m.
Annexation
Continued from pg. 1 Developers applied with the city for the site plan for roadway and utilities. However, city officials said the developers have not filled pad sites on the property and it is unknown who the end users could be. With the annexation, the city gains control over what kind of development could go on the property, Fischer said. Blue Blazes, per the development agreement, will be required to follow five areas of development that extend to commercial service and general retail. Certain
water services. “We don’t have capacity to speak of at this point,” Faught said. “Until we get the discharge permit and we get infrastructure expansion, we wouldn’t have service to the property. “ While the extent of benefit to the city is unknown at this point, Faught said the development will have dedicated parkland that will be open to the public. “(Developers) will comply with regulations that are applicable to city limits and a lot of the end users will create jobs,” Faught said.
Thursday, January 26, 2017
www.HaysNewsDispatch.com
Page 3
Locals hit the capitol for Women’s March Estimates of up to 50,000 people gathered on the Texas State Capitol grounds and spilled over to nearby streets for the Women’s March Rally. The Austin event, as well as others around the globe, was a sister march to the Women’s March on Washington at the nation’s capital on Saturday, a movement to stand up to protect women’s rights. Inset, four youngsters rest outside the capitol fence, still holding their signs, after marching on Saturday. People of all ages, races and genders marched on behalf of women just a day after Donald Trump’s inauguration. “This isn’t about being anti-Trump, it’s about sending a bold message that women’s rights are human rights,” lead organizer Melissa Fiero said.
PHOTOS BY WAYLAND D. CLARK, WFOTOS.COM
Assault
Continued from pg. 1 with the Alton, Ill. police department arrested Bryars after he attempted to evade them and subsequently wrecked his vehicle, according to a release. Bryars suffered minor injuries in the accident and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The vehicle he was driving was the black
Altima he is accused of stealing from his mother. The HCSO was notified of Bryars’ arrest by the police in Alton, which is located 24 miles north of St. Louis, Missouri. It’s unknown at this time if charges will be filed by Alton Police. The case remains under investigation.
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Schools
Continued from pg. 1 According to a December 2016 update, Sycamore Springs Elementary and Middle Schools are projected for a June 2017 completion.
DRIPPING SPRINGS REDUCES PARK FEES FOR TINKERGARDEN The Dripping Springs City Council last week voted to prorate parkland fees for Tinkergarden, which is a Springs area recreation and learning program for toddlers. Michelle Fischer, Dripping Springs city admin-
Property Taxes Continued from pg. 1
made their first payment on or before January 31 are not assessed penalty and interest. Payments can be made in person at any of the office locations below. Payments made by mail must have a post office cancellation mark of January 31, 2017 or earlier to be considered on time and should be addressed to the San Marcos Office location only. Payments can also be made with an e-check, which has a 50-cent fee, or with a credit/debit card, which holds an approximately 2.25 percent plus 30-cent fee, at www. hayscountytax.com, which also accepts Discover and American Express. The county also provides a drive-through lane on the east side of the Government Center in San Marcos and drop boxes at the San Marcos and Dripping Springs locations. All locations are open through the lunch hour, but prepare for a wait on January 31, one of the busiest days for the office. There are also drop boxes for tax payments at the San Marcos and Dripping Springs locations and payments can be dropped off anytime on or before January 31. To receive a paper receipt, enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your payment.
istrator, said the program conducted a program in Charro Ranch Park and sought to hold sessions at Dripping Springs Ranch Park. The city chose to prorate the current parkland fee, which is $250 per hour, to $50, in order to accommodate for Tinkergarden’s hour-long sessions. Fischer said the city has prorated parkland fees for other groups in the past. She said the move will also help further promote the city’s parkland.
Where can you drop off your payment? SAN MARCOS MAIN TAX OFFICE AND MAILING ADDRESS: 712 S. Stagecoach Trail 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday 512-393-5545
DRIPPING SPRINGS 195 Roger Hanks Parkway 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday 512-858-5105
KYLE
5458 FM 2770 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday 512-268-8024
What can you pay with?
Cash, check or bank credit/debit card with the exception of Discover and American Express are all acceptable forms of payment. A 1.95 percent fee will be charged for a debit card and a 2.65 percent fee will be charged for a credit card payment.
See Solution, pg. 7
Worship in a church of your choice
Call 512-268-7862 to join the church directory today.
Sunset Canyon Baptist Church 8:45 AM
Sunday Morning
11:00 AM
Sunday Worship
5:45 PM
Wednesday Meal
6:30 PM
Wed TouchPoint
A Family of Faith...
SCBC Preschool Children Ministries Youth Ministries Family Ministries
www.sunsetcanyonchurch.org
(512) 894-0480
4000 E. HWY 290
St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church Mass Schedule
Rev. Charlie
Spanish Mass Sunday: 1:30 p.m.
corner of RR 12 & Post Oak in Dripping Springs
Garza, pastor Saturday: 5 p.m. Located at the Sunday: 8:15 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m.
512-858-5667
www.stmartindp.org
Page 4
News-Dispatch
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Sports Shorthanded Tigers fall 47-44 to Seguin Matadors BY QUIXEM RAMIREZ
news@haysfreepress.com
With five seconds remaining in regulation, Dripping Springs coach Craig Swannack called a timeout to settle his team’s nerves. Missing their leading scorer Richard Milliron Friday night, the Tigers found themselves trailing the district-leading Seguin Matadors by three points. Mckenly O’Neal, tasked with replacing Milliron’s production, drew two defenders and fired a pass to Cullen Young, who was wide-open behind the 3-point arc. Young’s shot was on line, but bounced out after touching each part of the rim. And thus, Seguin kept pace with Boerne-Champion by securing a 47-44 victory on the Tigers’ home floor. “We’re not happy the ball doesn’t fall the way we want to but I’m still proud of how hard we fought,” Swannack said. “You have to give credit to them. They are the No. 1 team in the district for a reason.” O’Neal and Cullen were thrown into the fire to compensate for Milliron’s absence. In return, Swannack received a spirited effort on the glass as Dripping Springs held a 39-24 advantage in rebounding. On one possession in the second quarter, the Tigers corralled four consecutive offensive rebounds. For the most part, it was O’Neal and Young cleaning up the glass and granting their teammates more shot opportunities. Dripping Springs entered the halftime break with an 18-13 lead and a decisive 25-12 edge in rebounding. “We knew we’d have to make that up and I was so proud of O’Neal and Young for stepping up and doing what they needed to do in that situation,” Swannack said. The rebounding chances dried up when Seguin amped up the defensive pressure in the third quarter. Dripping Springs, which had two players out sick and two more players fighting illness in addition to missing its star player, appeared to be gassed. Seguin, meanwhile, was just getting started. The Matadors created four turnovers in the third period, fueling a 12-0 run that gave them a nine-point lead heading to the fourth quarter. Swannack said Seguin found open seams in the Tigers’ defense that weren’t present in the first half. He felt fatigue was a factor since the rotation was shorter than usual. “Ultimately, it was the
PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III
Corona commits to UT Austin
Dripping Springs Tiger infielder Camille Corona makes a play during the team’s playoff game against Gregory Portland at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin in May 2016. Last week, Corona verbally committed to playing softball at the University of Texas at Austin. During the 2016 campaign, Corona finished with a .438 batting average and a .469 on-base percentage. Corona also tallied 18 RBIs and 53 hits last season and had a .971 fielding percentage.
PHOTOS BY WAYLAND D. CLARK, WFOTOS.COM
Dripping Springs’ Nick Breen makes an awkward shot at the basket for two points as he goes around Seguin’s Jaren Sayles (5) defending on the play. Breen finished with 10 points. Below: Dripping Springs’ Bryce Kalsu dribbles the ball as he works around Seguin’s Christian Martinez to pass to a teammate. The Tigers rallied for 20 points in the final period after falling behind 3324 in the third period, but fell short at the final buzzer 47-44.
“We knew we’d have to make that up and I was so proud of O’Neal and Young for stepping up and doing what they needed to do in that situation.” – Craig Swannack, Dripping Springs coach
third quarter,” Swannack said. “They made some really good adjustments. There were about three or four possessions that they eked out a 9-point lead and that really hurt us. If you take that
Is your business scoring with customers? We can help with the game plan. Reach thousands of potential customers in the News-Dispatch sports section every week. Call (512) 268-7862 or email ads@haysnewsdispatch.com for more information.
PHOTO BY TRACY STIRMAN
stretch away, it’s our game.” Dripping Springs fell to 14-11 overall and 4-3 in district, placing them in a three-way tie with Alamo Heights and Tivy for third place. There are seven games left in the season before the postseason starts. Dripping Springs is hoping that they’ll catch a break in some of those
games – in the health department and on the basketball court. Neither area was particularly forgiving Friday when the Tigers couldn’t muster up enough energy to upset Seguin. “We are going to go back in and get right back to work,” Swannack said. “We are in the No. 4 spot and we know we are better than that.”
Lady Texans take down Lobos in comeback game
Lehman Lady Lobo soccer player Jaime Vargas (16) attempts to hold off Wimberley Texan senior midfielder Madalyn Riser from making a play on the ball during a nondistrict match at Lobo Field Jan. 17. After a season opening loss to Dripping Springs, Wimberley compiled a 7-0-2 mark with wins over Lehman, which was followed by three wins in the Eagle Classic in Salado. Wimberley hosts Liberty Hill Friday.
Texas hometown friendly bank
512-858-5159
401 E. Hwy 290W. P.O. Box 1243 Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Thursday, January 26, 2017
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Page 5
Education The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain Dripping Springs High School will present the theater production of “My Fair Lady” Jan. 26-30 at 7:30 p.m. nightly at the Dripping Springs Performing Arts Center. There will also be a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. For information on acquiring tickets, email james.orozco@dsisdtx.us. COURTESY PHOTO
Tech teacher builds ‘Fab Lab’ at DSHS BY QUIXEM RAMIREZ
news@haysfreepress.com
Becoming a teacher wasn’t something Jad Jadeja had envisioned prior to being hired by Dripping Springs ISD in 2007. In fact, Jadeja, who worked previously in the technology industry, had his “arm twisted hard enough” before being persuaded to go into education. Almost a decade later, Jadeja has molded Dripping Springs High into a Fabrication Lab, or Fab Lab, school, which was given to the district by the Massachusetts Institute for Technology earlier this year. Dripping Springs
“I love it. I’m teaching classes where most of my students end up going to colleges like Texas, Texas A&M, San Diego and Rice.” – Jad Jadeja, DSHS teacher
High is the first Texas school to receive a Fab Lab designation. For Jadeja, the idea of the Fab Lab is to help students and the community when it comes to technology, robotics and manufacturing. “I love it. I’m teaching classes where most of my students end up going to colleges like Texas, Texas A&M, San Diego and Rice,” Jadeja said. The idea initially
began four to five years ago, Jadeja said. At that point, he sought a way to provide students the tools that encompass manufacturing and technology. It began with robotics and how students could build some components required for competitions using modern technology he said. Initially, the group started out with a 3D
FAB LAB, 7
COURTESY PHOTO
A team of Dripping Springs High School students were successful at the Regional F1 in Schools Competition held Jan. 21 at Circuit of the Americas. A total of 19 high school teams were entered in the competition, which involved racing hand-built cars, a verbal presentation, and interview about the engineering of the car, pit displays, and marketing. The DSHS team, ‘Innovative Airflow Technology,” had the second-fastest time overall and was awarded the trophy for the Best Rookie Team.
Destination Education Renovation
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News-Dispatch
Thursday, January 26, 2017
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Classifieds-Service Public Notices NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SUBDIVIDE
Notice is hereby given that an application has been filed with Hays County Development Services Department to subdivide 6.86 acres located at 301 Caliche Road, in
NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SUBDIVIDE
the Thomas Crainshaw Survey, Wimberley, Texas 78676, to be known as Home Camp. Information regarding the application may be obtained from Hays CountyDevelopment Services (512) 393-2150. Tracking number: SUB739.
An application has been filed with HAYS COUNTY to subdivide 9.84 acres of property located at along Elder Hill Road, Driftwood, TX 78619. Information regarding the application
Statewide Classifieds
For Lease may be obtained from Hays County Development Services (512) 393-2150. Tracking number: SUB720.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SUBDIVIDE
An application has been filed with HAYS COUNTY to subdivide 3.40 acres of property located at along Summit Pass, Dripping Springs, TX 78620. Information regarding the application may be obtained from Hays County Development
.
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LOCAL EVENTS
NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SUBDIVIDE
Approximately 2000 sq.ft., nice, 3/2 plus office room w/small fenced-in yard. Walk to Kyle park/ pool in downtown. $1100/month. Dep. $800, app fee $30. 512848-6866, leave message.
An application has been filed with HAYS COUNTY to subdivide 62.86 acres of property located at along Loneman Mountain Road, Wimberley, TX 78676. Information regarding the application may be obtained from Hays County Development Services (512) 393-2150. Tracking number: SUB-707.
Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a BG Wine and Beer Retailer’s Permit and BP Brewpub Permit by MC3 Brewing LLC dba Acopon Brewing, to be located at 211 Mercer, Dripping Springs, Hays County, Texas. Officers of said corporation are John C McIntosh III (manager) and Dave Niemeyer (manager).
Estate Sale MOVING/ESTATE SALE
Antiques, housewares, glasswares, shop supplies. Sat 1/28, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 500 O'Neill RR, Dripping Springs, TX 78620. 512-221-3491
Cluttered home?
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HOUSE FOR LEASE
TABC Notice
TexSCAN Week of January 22, 2017 ADVERTISING YOUR STATEWIDE ADVERTISEMENT will be sent to all participating newspapers for publication during the week you specify. Ads can be purchase for statewide distribution or by region. Call now, 1-512-477-6755. www.texaspress.com/advertising. ACRES FOR SALE 47.75 acres West Texas, north of Comstock. Deer, Javelina, turkey, quail, and dove. $2375 down, $394/ mo., (9.9%, 30 years). 1-866-286=0199. www.ranchenterprisesltd.com. SAWMILLS FOR SALE SAWMILLS from only $4397.00MAKE & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimension.In stock ready to ship! FREE info/DVD: www. NorwoodSawmills.com, 1-800578-1363, Ext.300N.
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Thursday, January 26, 2017
www.HaysNewsDispatch.com
Page 7
Carter & Associates 3707 E. Hwy. 290 West Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Commercial for Lease Hidden Hills Plaza • 4 Executive Suites Lease one or all 4 • $350-$500/mo/office Hwy 290 Frontage Contact: Steve, Owner/Agent 512-914-2288
Texas Crossword Solution, COURTESY PHOTO
from pg. 3
Can you decipher this billboard? Accio Data, a technology company that’s called Dripping Springs its home since 2005, is trying to appeal to a younger demographic with billboards that cater to them.
Tech company finds unlikely home in Dripping Springs BY ANNA HEROD
news@haysfreepress.com
A
ustin’s tech industry is booming as more than $900 million was invested in its resident 5,485 high-tech companies as of 2015, according to Innovate Austin. However, for at least one high-tech software company, the city’s traffic was a deal breaker. Accio Data, a company that provides software to employment screening and background investigation firms, has been operating as one of the lone high-tech companies in Dripping Springs since 2005. “The owner of the company (Barry Boes) did not want to live in Austin, and he loved Dripping Springs and wanted to have his software company out here as well,” said Accio Data Marketing Director Galen Svanas. Svanas said just as many people move to Austin to get out of California, Boes “bucked the trend” of keeping tech in Austin and moved his family and company to Dripping Springs. He
““I think technology companies tend to draw younger employees straight out of college ... We’re definitely trying to appeal to different age and life stage of an employee than a lot of tech companies in Austin are trying to do.” – Galen Svanas, Accio Data Marketing Director
expects when programmers get older and to a different stage of life, the appeal of Austin’s night life may wear off. “I think technology companies tend to draw younger employees straight out of college,” Svanas said. “Similarly, more established software companies tend to get more people who are interested in quality of life – they start having families so they’re worried about schools and how much time it takes to get to work, which is what we’re trying to appeal to. We’re definitely trying to appeal to different age and life stage of an employee than a lot of tech companies in Austin are trying to do.”
The company has taken out billboard advertisements targeted at programmers in Dripping Springs in an effort to make their existence known in the unlikely destination for a tech company. “We know there are some programmers who live here in Dripping Springs, some who live in Belterra, Wimberley, Kyle and places like that,” Svanas said. “So we want to make sure they’re aware that there’s a great company to work for in Dripping Springs in case they don’t want to deal with the hassle of Austin traffic.” According to a 2015 report by Inrix, Interstate
Highway 35 from Ben White Boulevard to Martin Luther King Boulevard ranks No. 24 on the list of 356 most congested roads in the nation. A distance that would take only five minutes to travel during minimum traffic times takes 32 minutes to cover during peak congestion, the study found. Five other stretches of commonly congested Austin roads rank within the nations 32 most congested roads during peak travel time, according to the study. “I can tell you I actually live in Austin in Oak Hill and it takes me less time to get to my job here in Dripping Springs than it ever took me to get anywhere I was in Austin,” Svanas said. Although Accio has to compete with Austin to hire “really good programmers”, Svanas said finding customers is no issue for the coding company since it markets its services internationally. “Accio Data is here and if you’re a programmer and you’d like to stay here in the area and not deal with all the traffic – we exist out here and we’d love to talk.”
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Continued from pg. 5
printer that was able to make different parts for their robots, including making gears, wheels and grippers for the arm of the robot. The students used a Sketch-Up pro to design their parts. They then output their design in a file to the 3D printer, which then interpreted them and created the pieces. About 18 students worked with the 3D printer the first year, with the robotics class crafting a modern quad-copter drone. “There were small pieces, but easy to prototype,” Jadeja said. Over the years, Jadeja helped introduce more technology and manufacturing classes aside from robotics. Those classes offer computer programming and engineering. Last year, Jadeja applied with the Massachusets Institute for Technology (MIT) for Fab Lab designation. Requirements include having specific machinery within the lab and certain types of classes that are offered. The Fab Lab offers “hands-on creation, exploration and innovation that serves students and faculty as well as designers, artists and entrepreneurs in Texas” that work within Science, Technology, Education, Arts and Math (STEAM), according to the Dripping Springs Fab Lab website. Dripping Springs was awarded Fab Lab status by MIT this year. Jadeja said Dripping Springs High has two engineering classes and works with the University
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COURTESY PHOTO
Team members were (left to right in photo): Ken Gossett, Elliott Turner, Mason Bush, Aubrie Caldwell, Skylar Daniel, and Cade Nowicki.
Initially, the group started out with a 3D printer that was able to make different parts for their robots, including making gears, wheels and grippers for the arm of the robot. of Texas-Austin where it’s part of the “Engineer your World” program. In addition, the school has a Robotics 2 course. Students also continue to compete at robotics competitions. Additional equipment has helped further the engineering and manu-
facturing focus at Dripping Springs. The campus has three 3D printers, along with a Computer Assisted Design (CAD) program. Dripping Springs also has a recently purchased laser engraver, along with a “bigger version” of a computer numerical control (CNC) machine that “removes material to finish the final product.” With all of the equipment, Dripping Springs’ robotics team crafted 80 percent of its robot at the school In November 2016, Dripping Springs High students began creating a model car from a block of composite material, which they raced at the F1 in Schools compeititon in Austin last weekend. Dripping Springs, which competed in the event for the first time, won the best rookie team honors and finished with the second fastest time on the track. Jadeja said students
who participate in the classes are those who either want to go into engineering in college, or those who wish to use the skills learned in the workforce. One example is CNC, which Jadeja said is a skill that’s in “short supply.” “When kids learn how to use it, they learn an important skill and possibly getting jobs, if they decide to do that straight out of high school.” While many students who participate end up going through college, the Dripping Springs programs help give them a “leg up” with CAD programs and manufacturing technologies. Funding comes from grants from the Dripping Springs education foundation. Jadeja said the district also helps by matching funds to help offset the cost for equipment. “They are prolific in helping students and the school and the district,” Jadeja said.
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Page 8
News-Dispatch
Thursday, January 26, 2017
What could be greater than a lesser goldfinch? BY JERRY HALL
News-Dispatch Contributor
I
t was a recent winter day with unseasonably warm temperatures and I looked out at my backyard birdbath to see if it needed filling. I saw two birds
splashing and bathing, preening and hopping around. A male and female lesser goldfinch. These were my first goldfinches of the season and it was a treat to watch them frolic in the birdbath. All too soon, they flew away. The male was the eastern “black-backed”
form and featured a glossy black above and yellow below. The female had a greenish back and light yellow underparts. Lesser goldfinches build cuplike nests in bushes or trees. They breed in Texas from mid-March to late June and pairs may stay together all through the
Locals get fit with firefighters
winter. Often found in large flocks, they forage through fields and thickets and often visit suet feeders. If you’d like to see this colorful little bird, put in a birdbath or other water feature. And don’t forget to look outside now and then – you never know what will be there.
PHOTO COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS RETURN TO HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE DEER CREEK OF WIMBERLEY HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR OVER
30 YEARS. OFFERING SCENIC VIEWS OF THE HILL
COUNTRY AND OF OUR SERENE ENCLOSED COURTYARD.
• HOSPICE/PALLIATIVE CARE • INPATIENT SHORT TERM REHABILITATION • IV/PICC LINE MANAGEMENT • LONG TERM CARE • LYMPHEDEMA • NEURO REHABILITATION • OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY • ORTHOPEDIC REHABILITATION • OUTPATIENT REHABILITATION • PHYSICAL THERAPY • RESPITE • SPEECH THERAPY • STATE-OF-THE-ART MODALITIES • TRACHEOSTOMIES • VITAL STIM - DIATHERMY • WOUND CARE
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555 R ANCH ROAD 3237 • WIMBERLEY, TX FACILITY (512) 847-5540 • FAX (512) 847-0419 PHOTOS BY MOSES LEOS III
Teamwork made the dream work Saturday as Dripping Springs resident Merideth McDonald (left) received help from Madden, her son, and Mateo Padron during a fire hose pulling exercise at Dripping Springs Ranch Park. Inset, Oak Hill resident Ruhika Guadivada (right) strikes a pose with her pink fire helmet as she is held by her father, Ramkumar. Area residents got the chance to see how emergency officials train as the City of Dripping Springs and the North Hays County Fire Rescue held a Firefighter Fitness Day at Dripping Springs Ranch Park. The event featured disciplines such as a dummy pull, along with allowing children the ability to run the bleachers in full bunker gear. See more photos online at HaysNewsDispatch.com.
BUILD MORE THAN MUSCLE JOIN THROUGH D N A 1 3 . N A J SAVE $48!
WHEN YOU JOIN THE SPRINGS FAMILY Y, you’re committing to more than simply becoming healthier. You are supporting the values and programs that strengthen your community. At the Y, children learn what they can achieve, families spend quality time together, and we all build relationships that deepen our sense of belonging. For More than a workout. For a better us.
Springs Family YMCA
The Chamber would like to express its appreciation to our sponsors for making the Suits & Boots Community Awards Celebration possible. Your continued involvement and support make Dripping Springs a stellar community.
HEADWATERS HEB PREMIERE EVENTS SECURITY STATE BANK & TRUST
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
Come See Our Expanding Facility • Outdoor Pools • Exercise Studios • Strength Training Center • Child Watch Grand Reopening May 2017
27216 Ranch Road 12 in Dripping Springs (512) 894-3309 l AustinYMCA.org
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