January 30, 2020 News-Dispatch

Applications sought for HCSO Citizens Academy

Lady Tigers crush Crockett 65-35

Heart transplant play debuts

page 5

page 2

News-Dispatch Volume XXXX No. 17

Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982

page 8

75¢

Thursday, January 30, 2020

JAIL UPDATE County greenlights jail communications contract after contentious debate

BY ANITA MILLER After an extended period of testy discussion, the Hays County Commissioner Court earlier this month voted 4-1 to adopt a new contract with Securus Inc. for jail communication services.

County Judge Ruben Becerra was the sole dissenting vote.

The proposal, which was sponsored by Pct. 4 Commissioner Walt Smith and Sheriff Gary Cutler, differed from an item on a December agenda sponsored by Pct. 3 Commissioner Lon Shell in duration and structure.

While the previous proposal called for a five-year contract, the one approved was for three and a half years (the current contract was set to expire in June). Also, the contract utilized the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO).

“NASPO ValuePoint provides the highest standard of excellence in public cooperative contracting,” background materials say. “By lever-

“With this contract we’re adding video units and phones needed for the jail expansion needed for the jail expansion.

I’m excited about adding other features like a video relay system for hearing impaired inmates to communicate with their family.”

–Julie Villalpando, Jail Administrator

aging the leadership and expertise of all states and the purchasing power of their public entities, NASPO ValuePoint

JAIL COMMUNICATIONS, 8

Hays County joins new lawsuit against Kinder Morgan

BY ANITA MILLER A lawsuit alleging Kinder Morgan has violated the Endangered Species Act with its approach to building a natural gas pipeline through the heart of the Texas Hill Country just got another plaintiff.

The Hays County Commissioners Court voted unanimously on Tuesday to join the suit, which was filed by the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer

Conservation District (BSEACD). The city of San Marcos voted to join the action last week, and the city of Kyle is expected to vote on the matter at its regular meeting Feb. 4.

Pct. 4 Commissioner Walt Smith, whose jurisdiction much of the proposed route of the Permian Highway Pipeline (PHP) would cross, predicted the action when he issued a press release Jan. 24.

In addition to Kinder Morgan, the lawsuit alleges the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have violated terms of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and its protections, which are supposed to extend to each listed species.

Repeating claims made by the BSEACD, Smith charged that Kinder Morgan’s refusal to get a biological opinion from USFWS or to create a habitat conservation plan in its construction of the 42-inch pipeline, which would run from the oil fields in west Texas to near Houston, violated the terms of the ESA. Central Texans – including those who own land along the proposed route, first learned of the pipeline plans in late 2018.

Smith called natural gas a “toxic and flammable substance,” and the proposed route

KINDER-MORGAN SUIT, 3

PHOTO BY ANITA MILLER

Hays County Youth Livestock Show

Soledad Soto-Casarez of the San Marcos FFA with her Grand Champion heifer at Saturday’s auction culminating events at the 2020 Hays Youth Livestock Show at Ranch Park in Dripping Springs. For more photos from the auction, see page 6.

GSMP seeking community input on development of Hays County STAFF REPORT

support thoughtful, diby Market Street Services “As co-chairs of the verse, intentional and which is also facilitating Vision 2025 Strategic The Greater San Marcos sustainable economthe development of Planning Process, Dr. Partnership (GSMP), the ic growth.

Vision 2025. Market Denise Trauth, Mr. nonprofit economic deTo ensure everyStreet Services Anthony Stahl, Rep. velopment organization one in the region is regarded as John Cyrier and I greatly supporting all the comhas the opportuan industry appreciate you taking munities in Hays County nity to provide leader in the time to complete the The and Caldwell County, input on Vision the de- Vision 2025 Greater San Greater including Buda, Dripping 2025, commuvel- Marcos Community & Springs, Kyle, Lockhart, nity members/ Business Survey,” said San Marcos Lulling, San Marcos and stakeholders Patrick Rose, immediate Partnership Wimberley is requesting are being past chair of the GSMP. community input to help asked to “The success of our is leading this guide the Greater San particiregion’s economic comprehensive process Marcos region’s economic pate in an growth within development strategic online Hays and to assess and enhance plan for the next five years survey Caldwell the region’s competitive – Vision 2025. at www. counThe Vision 2025 plansurveyties, position to support thoughtful, ning process will be conmonkey. over diverse, intentional ducted over a six-month com/r/Greatthe next period in collaboration erSanMarcos2025 five years, and sustainable with city and county gov- through Feb. 7. will depend economic ernments, private busiThe survey will take upon an insightnesses, educational insti- approximately 15 minful and well-ingrowth. tutions, local economic utes to complete and formed strategic plan. development partners responses are entirely opYour feedback on this and many other commu- anonymous. Participants ment survey will help us begin nity members/stakehold- will be asked to evaluate of ecothe strategic planning ers across the Greater San the region’s strengths and nomic process with the best posMarcos region. GSMP challenges and provide develsible perspective. Thank is leading this compresuggestions as it relates to opment you for your considerhensive process to assess job creation and improvstrategies ation, as we know and and enhance the region’s ing the economy. The for communirespect the value of your competitive position to online survey is managed ties across the country. time.”

Hays County considers Wimberley Village Library expansion plan

BY ANITA MILLER

Hood said, explaining the plan would add 6,500 The expansion and square feet to the existing remodeling of the Wimfacility and would use reberley Village Library was modeling “to create space brought before the Hays and to better use the County Commissioners entire facility in providCourt Tuesday for possible ing residents of Western support.

Hays County services and Dell Hood, a member programs they repeatedly of the library’s board of tell us they want.” trustees, asked the court He noted that the counto consider issuing a ty’s “excellent” standing Certificate of Obligation in the bond market would for $2.25 million to help translate into a lower rate, the library keep abreast of “which will enable us to growth in the Wimberley have a repayment rate we Valley. can make.”

“The county would He said the work would issue the certificate but the debt would be ours,” LIBRARY EXPANSION, 3

Page 2

News-Dispatch

News -Dispatch PHONE: 512-268-7862 FAX: 512-268-0262 PUBLISHER Cyndy Slovak-Barton csb@haysfreepress.com

EDITOR Anita Miller anita@bartonpublicationsinc.com

REPORTERS Chase Rogers Camelia Juarez PRODUCTION David White david@haysfreepress.com Elizabeth Garcia design@haysfreepress.com ADVERTISING/MARKETING Tracy Mack ads@bartonpublicationsinc.com

Jim Darby ads@haysfreepress.com

PHOTOGRAPHER

Thursday, January 30, 2020

THE TIN WOMAN

Theater group debuts play about heart transplant

BY CAMELIA JUAREZ

dience members will have the opportunity to A production of the register as organ donors Wimberley Players inand hear from a panel of tends to pull on the audi- transplant survivors. ence’s heartstrings with a Wimberley Players Explay about a woman who ecutive Director Simone received heart transplant Corprew said that after that encourages the audi- reading scripts, the group ence to register as organ loved “The Tin Woman,” donors with on-site but they wanted to go organ donor registry. beyond the play and use The Wimberley Players their platform to make an will be presenting "The impact.

Tin Woman" by Sean “We started doing a lot Grennan. This show of research and found focuses on the life of a that even though most woman who has just repeople are in favor of ceived a heart transplant organ donations, only as she navigates her new half of all Americans are life. Along the way, she actually registered. We meets the family of her decided that we this was organ donor and brings a way to educate people them healing. and hopefully help save The first showing will some lives,” Corprew debut on National Donor said. day, Feb. 14, and will Tickets can be purcontinue every weekend chase online at https:// through March 8. Shows app.arts-people.com/ on Friday and Saturday index.php?show=107794. begin at 7:30 p.m. HowAdult tickets cost $22 and PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WIMBERLEY PLAYERS ever, on Sunday the show student discount tickets begins at 2:30 p.m. are $18. Students will be The play “The Tin Woman” focuses on the life of a woman who has just received a heart transAfter the play, auasked to show school ID. plant and then she meets the family of her organ donor to help them heal.

Wayland Clark PROOFREADER Jane Kirkham CIRCULATION MANAGER/ LEGAL NOTICES Verna Wommack 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.

Food Bank, H-E-B kick off Souper Bowl of Caring STAFF REPORT

Super Bowl weekend is a good time to take a look at the Souper Bowl of Caring, a national movement encouraging food and fund drives.

With more than 25,000 Hays County residents considered food insecure, local participation by residents at local H-E-B stores and through their own fundraising means food and money collected locally will be kept locally.

With the Super Bowl being watched across the country Sunday, and with

so many people stocking up on food for their own parties, it seems an appropriate time to stock the shelves of local food bank and food pantries for those in need.

The national organization is encouraging food and fund drives leading up to the big game and only asks that participants report fundraising to souperbowl.org.

At H-E-B, shoppers can purchase pre-filled bags of food to go toward the project.

In 2019, Hays County Food Bank and its 20+ partner agencies distributed more than 1 million

pounds of food to food insecure households. On average, 950 households were provided food assistance each week. These residents were senior citizens, children and many others facing economic challenges. "Food insecurity" refers to the availability of food and one's access to it.

Hays County Food Bank is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the public to perform its mission. For more informaCOURTESY PHOTO tion, visit haysfoodbank.org or visit us on Facebook or Julissa Badillo and Andre Francis during 2019 Souper Bowl of Twitter at @HaysFoodBank. Caring at H-E-B.

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Periodicals Postage paid at Buda, 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.

League of Women Voters celebrate 100th anniversary SUBMITTED REPORT It’s not often that an organization gets to celebrate a 100th anniversary. This year the League of Women Voters-US is proud to do just that.

Born out of the women’s suffrage movement of the early 1900s, the League of Women Voters was formed in 1920 to continue its work: educating, supporting and protecting voters’ rights in Texas.

Join us to commemorate the 100th anniversary at the annual fundraising event. The 32nd Annual LWV Taste of Texas Wine and Beer Tasting and Silent Auction, to be held 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Holiday Inn Convention Centerin San Marcos.

The LWV-Hays County fundraiser will feature a variety of Texas wines and beers. This year’s winery is Winery on the Gruene

The LWVHays County fundraiser will feature a variety of Texas wines and beers. and we will feature its shiraz, chianti, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay.

Beer lovers will find craft beers blonde and apricot from Aqua Brewery and pecan and easy rider from Middleton Brewery. New to the tasting this year are Texas nonalcoholic wine and beer. There will be something for everyone!

In addition to the wine and beer tastings, there will be a silent auction featuring themed baskets as well as gift certificates for local goods and services.

Funds from this single, annual event support LWV-Hays County

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS Left to right are Angelica Ramirez (Food and Beverage coordinator at Holiday Inn), Carol Pino (Fundraiser chair), and Brenda Smith (Silent Auction chair) planning 2020 Wine and Beer Tasting.

projects. The League is well-known and appreciated for its nonpartisan support of candidates and voters through county-wide debates, forums, voters guides that appear in local newspapers, and Vote 411, the online information source for voter information.

Tickets for the event are $20 and can be purchased from a League member, at the door on the night of the event, or online by visiting the website at www.lwvhaysco.com.

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. Justin

Spanish Mass Sunday: 1:30 p.m.

corner of RR 12 & Post Oak in Dripping Springs

Nguyen, 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

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Thursday, January 30, 2020

www.HaysNewsDispatch.com

Hays County creates Magistrate Division for district, county courts The division will consist of one associate judge and one new justice clerk and will provide consistency both for jail administration and people who are arrested.

BY ANITA MILLER

months ago, said it’s not just the time spent with The Hays County the arrestee but also the Commissioners Court accompanying paperwork took what is being called a that takes so much time. “huge” step in the jour“We get a list of names ney towards lowering the and get their criminal jail population last week histories faxed because when it created a Magisthey can’t be emailed. trate Division that would We review that, and serve both district courts addresses and affidavits and county courts-at-law. of probable cause if there Funds for the division is one.” If there isn’t, she were set aside during the said, she attempts to get FY 2020 budget discusadditional information sions under the “umbrella” by phone from offices of district courts, noted involved “trying to figure Pct. 3 Commissioner out probable cause” as the two district judges Lon Shell, who also said well as things like if the who practice exclusively in person is eligible for a the courts have been Hays County have closed working on the plan ever personal bond. “We’re since. Shell sponsored the the application period for required by law to set the agenda item for the Jan. 21 the position of associate least amount of bond judge and are now conmeeting. possible to assure presThe division will consist ducting interviews. ence in court.”

Pct. 4 Commissioner of one associate judge and She said the process inWalt Smith praised the one new justice clerk and volves a lot of work for jail negotiating skills of fellow administration as well. will provide consistency commissioners Shell and both for jail administraThe end goal is to keep Debbie Gonzales Ingalshe, people from being in jail. tion and people who are who represents Precinct arrested.

“If they can get out that 1. “It’s not easy for judges It will also take the evening or afternoon, burden of magistration off and elected officials to great, instead of spending the backs of justices of the negotiate,” he said. a night in jail … We’ve Commissioner Smith peace. “It’s going to give us been doing everything we said he has spoken to so much more time to do can to clear the jail and I other things,” Pct. 2 Justice individual judges, who think this is going to be see “real benefit” in the of the Peace Beth Smith a huge step in managing said. “We are really excited system as well as defense the jail population.” attorneys and the office of about it.”

The social justice advoDistrict Attorney Wes Mau. cacy group Mano Amigo The new division will “It will be exceedingly also make the whole proalso weighed in on the cess more efficient as well helpful to those who may court’s action. as provide flexibility, Shell have been arrested and “The move to a central the management of this said. It will additionally magistrate’s office is a process. They know there mean that a magistrate prudent step and Mano will be someone there is available during some Amigo congratulates fulltime.” weekends and holidays.

Commissioner Shell and JP Smith, who began County Judge Ruben others for this appropriate doing twice a day video Becerra said two county move forward,” the group’s magistration three or four spokesperson said. court-at-law judges and

Library Expansion Continued from pg. 1

adhere to environmentally sensitive designs and incorporate the “four goals of the One Water Program” throughout the building.

Pct. 3 Commissioner Lon Shell, who sponsored

the agenda item, noted the library gets a percentage of sales tax revenue “so they do have revenue,” which would be used to repay the debt.

“They could obviously go into the private market

and have that issued on their own,” Shell said, “but the rate would be significantly higher. This option is for a discounted rate using our credit rating.”

No action was taken on the request.

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Page 3

Kinder-Morgan Suit Continued from pg. 1

as crossing some of “the most ecologically sensitive features in Central Texas and the Hill Country.”

As proposed, the route would cross the recharge zones of both the Edwards and Trinity aquifers and come with-

in a mile of the artesian spring that forms Jacob’s Well.

“The proposed route does not require approval from any state agency even though it crosses the Edwards and Trinity aquifers, which supply drinking water

for over two million people,” Smith said.

“The pipeline will also cut directly through the habitat of endangered species such as the Barton Springs salamander and the Austin Blind Salamander, among others.”

Police Blotter The following is a tally of all calls made to law enforcement within Hays County between Jan. 22 and Jan. 27, 2020.

Injury to a Child/Eld/Disabled................................. 1

Canine Training........................................................ 1

Civil Matter............................................................. 21

Drone Deployment.................................................. 2

Information............................................................... 9

Viol City Ordinance.................................................. 1

Compliance Check.................................................. 1

Missing Person........................................................ 4

Property- Lost/Found/Imp...................................... 3

Runaway.................................................................. 2

Civil Process Service............................................. 15

Public Assist.......................................................... 12

Sex Offender Registry........................................... 37

Community Contact.............................................. 26

Alarm Business...................................................... 18

Disabled Vehicle.................................................... 23

Alarm Residential.................................................. 14 Alarm Panic.............................................................. 1 Animal Calls........................................................... 42 Field Euthanasia...................................................... 1 Loose Livestock.................................................... 18 Assault – Aggravated.............................................. 1 Assault..................................................................... 4 Sexual Assault......................................................... 1 Assist EMS............................................................. 10 Assist Fire Dept....................................................... 2 Assist Outside Agency.......................................... 13 Burglary Building..................................................... 1 Burglary Habitation................................................. 4 Burglary Vehicle....................................................... 2 Criminal Mischief..................................................... 4 Illegal Dumping........................................................ 1 Disorderly Conduct................................................. 1 Fireworks................................................................. 1 Disturbance Noise................................................. 34 Disturbance Physical Fight................................... 10 Disturbance Verbal.................................................. 7 Child Custody.......................................................... 6 Narcotics/Information............................................. 1 MIP Tobacco............................................................ 2 Public Intoxication................................................... 2 Fraud........................................................................ 5

Escort....................................................................... 1 Foot Patrol............................................................... 1 Close Patrol......................................................... 144 Parent Discipline Assist.......................................... 1 Flagged Down......................................................... 1 Welfare Concern.................................................... 20 Suicidal Person........................................................ 6 Investigation............................................................ 7 Supplement........................................................... 29 Suspicious Circumstances..................................... 7 Suspicious Person................................................. 12 Suspicious Vehicle................................................ 24 Wanted Person........................................................ 7 Identity Theft............................................................ 2 Theft....................................................................... 21 Recovery Stolen Vehicle......................................... 3 Accident Minor...................................................... 24 Accident Hit and Run.............................................. 6 Accident Major/Injury............................................ 21 Accident Unknown.................................................. 3 Abandoned/Stored Vehicle..................................... 9 Traffic Control/Direction.......................................... 3 Directed/Area Enforce........................................... 35 Traffic Hazard......................................................... 13 Attempt to Locate................................................. 32

Credit/Debit Abuse.................................................. 2

Parking Enforcement............................................... 2

Counterfeiting.......................................................... 1

Traffic Stop........................................................... 417

Harassment.............................................................. 5

Trespassing/Unwanted........................................... 9

Threat....................................................................... 3

911 Abandoned/Open......................................... 128

Indecency w Child................................................... 1

911 Abon/Misdial/Open.......................................... 1

Mental Health Invest............................................... 2

Deadly Conduct....................................................... 3

Mental Health Transport.......................................... 3

Discharge Firearm................................................. 16

Canine Search......................................................... 1

Private Tow/Repo.................................................. 10

Below is a sample of events reported by law enforcement from Jan. 22 through Jan. 27, 2020. The location is where the event was reported or responded to and may not necessarily be where the event occured.

Agency Activity

Date

Time

Location

BPD

Assault

01/22/2020

11:24:24

E. Loop Street Buda

HCSO

Burglary - Habitation

01/22/2020

8:40:26

Snow Owl Hollow Buda

HCSO

Burglary - Vehicle

01/22/2020

14:36:43

Tanzanite Cir Buda

HCSO

Missing Person

01/22/2020

16:01:36

Ridgetop Rd Buda

HCSO

Suicidal Person

01/22/2020

20:54:05

Dripping Springs Discovery Behavioral Health Center

HCSO

Vehicle Theft

01/23/2020

5:56:15

Triumph Rd Buda

BPD

Accident - Major/Injury 01/22/2020

16:09:09

Main St/Fire Cracker Dr Buda

BPD

Accident - Major/Injury 01/23/2020

4:36:51

EXIT 220 SB Buda

HCSO

Accident - Major/Injury 01/22/2020

6:52:11

Windy Hill Rd/FM 2001 Buda

HCSO

Accident - Major/Injury 01/22/2020

16:58:23

RR 32/RR 12 San Marcos

HCSO

Accident - Major/Injury 01/22/2020

19:58:15

Chaparral Rd/Hawk Dr Manchaca

BPD

Assault

01/23/2020

13:38:40

EXIT 219 NB Buda

HCSO

Sexual Assault

01/23/2020

9:21:45

Yarrington Rd/Airport Highway 21 San Marcos

HCSO

Disturbance - Phys/Fight 01/23/2020

10:32:32

Dripping Springs Walnut Springs Elementary

HCSO

Disturbance - Phys/Fight 01/23/2020

16:54:03

Suttles Ave San Marcos

HCSO

Counterfeiting

01/23/2020

18:11:53

Hot Spring Vly Buda

HCSO

Missing Person

01/23/2020

9:49:17

Lehman Rd Kyle Lehman High School

HCSO

Vehicle Theft

01/23/2020

9:49:47

RR 165 Dripping Springs

HCSO

Vehicle Theft

01/23/2020

21:54:19

4205 W US 290 Dripping Springs

BPD

Accident - Major/Injury 01/23/2020

18:01:09

N FM 1626/RR 967 Buda

HCSO

Accident - Major/Injury 01/23/2020

17:38:43

Windy Hill Rd/FM 2001 Buda

HCSO

Accident - Major/Injury 01/23/2020

17:53:49

W Fitzhugh Rd/RR 12 Dripping Springs

HCSO

Accident - Major/Injury 01/23/2020

18:40:57

Maybrook Dr/N FM 1626 Buda

HCSO

Deadly Conduct

01/23/2020

16:32:16

Elm Grove Ln/N FM 1626 Buda

BPD

Disturbance - Phys/Fight 01/24/2020

12:42:53

3310 RR 967 Buda Dollar General Of Buda

HCSO

Disturbance - Phys/Fight 01/24/2020

13:28:58

4800 Jack C Hays Trl Buda Hays High School

HCSO

Disturbance - Phys/Fight 01/24/2020

13:43:02

Oak Meadows San Marcos

HCSO

Disturbance - Phys/Fight 01/24/2020

17:12:12

Springlake Dr Dripping Springs

HCSO

Indecency w Child

01/24/2020

17:25:20

Dark Horse Ln Buda

BPD

Suicidal Person

01/25/2020

0:20:49

Wildcat Draw Buda

BPD

Accident - Major/Injury 01/24/2020

17:19:47

230 S FM 1626 Buda Starbucks Of Buda West

BPD

Accident - Major/Injury 01/24/2020

18:36:54

14444 IH 35 Fr Buda

HCSO

Accident - Major/Injury 01/24/2020

7:56:48

Marlstone Trl/IH 35 Fr Buda

HCSO

Accident - Major/Injury 01/24/2020

10:50:48

2313 Chaparral Rd Manchaca

HCSO

Assault

01/25/2020

18:32:03

Six Pines Rd San Marcos

HCSO

Burglary - Building

01/25/2020

6:54:58

4794 Transportation Way San Marcos Peloton

HCSO

Disturbance - Phys/Fight 01/25/2020

17:59:12

Morningwood Dr San Marcos

HCSO

Disturbance - Phys/Fight 01/25/2020

22:10:04

Woodcreek Dr Woodcreek

HCSO

Disturbance - Phys/Fight 01/26/2020

4:12:12

Morningwood Dr San Marcos

HCSO

Suicidal Person

01/25/2020

7:16:26

Wren Haven Dr/Gordon Rd San Marcos

HCSO

Suicidal Person

01/25/2020

18:55:58

Dripping Springs Mentus Neuro Health Care

BPD

Accident - Major/Injury 01/25/2020

9:07:03

Royston Rd/IH 35 Fr Buda

HCSO

Accident - Major/Injury 01/25/2020

17:48:01

Windy Hill Rd/Palomino Rd Kyle

HCSO

Accident - Major/Injury 01/25/2020

21:25:54

Old Martindale Rd/N Old Bastrop Hwy San Marcos

HCSO

Accident - Major/Injury 01/25/2020

22:12:44

Triumph Rd/Windy Hill Rd Buda

HCSO

Accident - Major/Injury 01/25/2020

22:56:19

E Mt Gainor Rd/Mt Gainor Rd Dripping Springs

HCSO

Deadly Conduct

11:56:47

Plum Creek Ln Dripping Springs

HCSO

Inj to Child/Eld/Disabled 01/27/2020

0:53:25

Woodcreek Dr Woodcreek

HCSO

Assault - Aggravated

01/27/2020

5:27:24

Overlook Mountain West Buda

HCSO

Assault

01/26/2020

17:09:27

RR 12 Wimberley HEB of Wimberley

HCSO

Burglary - Habitation

01/26/2020

10:25:11

Trinity Hills Dr Austin

HCSO

Burglary - Habitation

01/26/2020

12:46:17

Hawthorne Loop Driftwood

HCSO

Burglary - Habitation

01/26/2020

16:25:02

Crosscreek Dr Austin

HCSO

Burglary - Vehicle

01/26/2020

23:23:46

Strawberry Blonde Dr Buda

HCSO

Disturbance - Phys/Fight 01/26/2020

15:15:42

Red Bird Trl Kyle

HCSO

Missing Person

01/26/2020

17:32:21

Buttercup Trl Buda

HCSO

Vehicle Theft

01/26/2020

13:18:28

Sycamore Creek Dr Dripping Springs

BPD

Accident - Major/Injury 01/26/2020

14:05:29

Main St/N Cedar St Buda

HCSO

Accident - Major/Injury 01/26/2020

10:13:59

W US 290/Sawyer Ranch Rd Dripping Springs

01/25/2020

Page 4

News-Dispatch

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Opinion Trump’s middle-finger defense Young At-Large

by John Young

“Son, this is a Washington, D.C., kind of lie. It’s when the other person knows you’re lying, and also knows you know he knows.”

This from Allen Drury’s novel “Advise and Consent.”

The 1959 account of conniving and blood sport in a high-profile Senate confirmation won the Pulitzer in fiction.

For a modern-day masterwork about deceit in the Senate, however, turn to Donald Trump’s “defense” in his impeachment trial. Call it “Obstruct and Conflate.”

“No evidence to convict,” says that defense. Disregard the evidence presented to the House by the most credible raft of witnesses any inquiry could assemble.

Well, then, “Not impeachable.”

Let’s just say that “no evidence” and “not impeachable” are not compatible in any way.

Either Trump did exactly what testimony and the transcript of a certain phone call clearly demonstrate, or he didn’t.

Which is it, Republicans?

Apologists less inclined to lie outright say, “OK, he did it. It’s not that big a deal.”

That depends. Is it a big deal that that the Government Accountability Office found the freeze on military aid to Ukraine violated the law?

Ah, but he freed up the aid eventually, they say. Yes – freed it up the moment a story in Politico revealed the troubling matter and Congress pressed for answers.

In the light of those two incompatible arguments, the Republicans have nothing.

The most amusing defense comes from Sen. Lindsey Graham, who when defending Trump appears to channel Tom Cruise in “Rain Man” defending his socially impaired sibling.

Addressing the phone call that got this whole thing started Trump, Graham said, “If he thought he was doing something wrong, he would probably shut up about it.”

The Rain Man defense, by the way, is built around another lie the Republicans have trotted out, that this is just about one phone call.

Such a claim is an insult to the good name and hard work of one Rudolph Giuliani, who at this very moment continues his yearslong labors to make rain out of “a favor” his boss requested from Ukraine’s president to help Trump cheat on the 2020 election.

No, no defense whatsoever. As Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said, the case against Trump “hasn’t been rebutted at all, except by the president’s middle finger.”

We are going to hear from the president that he’s been fully exonerated by his Senate partisans. It must be nice to be on trial when you have supped with, campaigned for and in many cases donated campaign funds to jurists.

We hurt for the Republicans who had to sit, cell phones idle, for three days to hear the hard facts about the corruption of The Chosen One. They complained about repetition. So boring.

“So be it,” said a scathing Washington Post editorial. “GOP senators intent on exonerating the president without bothering to fairly consider the case against him should at least be forced to face the reality of his abuses.”

A telling, and unique aspect of “Advise and Consent” is that Drury’s novel doesn’t identify any character by political party -- that parties bleed and blend across lines depending on what senators believe to be right.

This is what happened to end Richard Nixon’s presidency, when Republicans like Sens. Barry Goldwater, Howard Baker and more acted pursuant to the facts.

Trump’s “acquittal” will be remembered forever as pure partisanship, a “Washington, D.C., kind of lie.”

No matter what Trump apologists say, it will be Rep. Adam Schiff’s intonations which are jackhammered into history’s eardrums.

“Sometimes I think how unforgiving history can be of our conduct,” he said, “if we do a lifetime’s work with the most wonderful legislation and then (are) remembered for none of that.”

Today’s Senate Republicans long will be remembered for giving cover to one conniving man at the expense of what the founders constructed with a document written of, by and for people. Donald Trump happens only to be one of those.

Longtime newspaperman John Young lives in Colorado. jyoungcolumn@gmail.com

C

‘Wake up, America!’ – or ‘Wake up America!’

larity is in short supply across America, but no longer at dairy farms in Maine.

In 2014, you see, drivers for a dairy company in Portland, Maine sued their employer for overtime pay because a state law pertaining to overtime-pay exemptions failed to include the Oxford comma.

What is the Oxford comma?

It’s the final comma in a list of things, Grammarly explains.

In Grammarly’s example, the Oxford comma appears after the word “eraser”: “Please bring me a pencil, eraser, and notebook.”

Few use the Oxford comma anymore. Most newspapers, for instance, edit articles according to the Associated Press Stylebook, which does NOT use the Oxford comma.

What’s the big deal?

According to some pedantic humorists, proper Oxford-comma use is a huge issue, one that could even save lives.

“Let’s shop, then eat, Grandma” suggests something much less harmful than “Let’s shop, then eat Grandma!”

“Let’s camp, and hunt,

three categories that followed, or if it exempted Guest packing for the shipment or distribution of them.

Column Had there been a comby Tom Purcell ma after ‘shipment,’ the meaning would have been clear.”

Tom” is much less menHad there been an Oxacing than “Let’s camp, ford comma, “distribuand hunt Tom!” tion of the dairy goods” And “I love cooking would have clearly been my dogs and my family” exempt from overtime is much more appalling pay, but it wasn’t clear. than “I love cooking, my Thus, the dairy comdogs, and my family.” pany had to cough up Which brings us back $5 million in overtime to that overtime pay pay that it wouldn’t have dispute. had to pay had an Oxford According to The New comma been properly York Times, “Maine law used. requires time-and-aIn any event, this story half pay for each hour illustrates the imporworked after 40 hours, tance of clarity in our but it carved out exemp- laws and government tions for: processes. If ambiguity “The canning, process- in a state law can cost ing, preserving, freezing, one company $5 million, drying, marketing, storwhat might Americans’ ing, packing for shipincreasingly unclear ment or distribution of: understanding of our (1) Agricultural progovernment and political duce; landscape be costing us?

(2) Meat and fish prodHere are some disturbucts; and ing findings from Annen(3) Perishable foods.” berg Institute surveys: The dispute concerned “More than half of the words “or distriAmericans (53%) incorbution of.” The Times rectly think it is accurate reports that since there to say that immigrants was no Oxford comma who are here illegally before “or” the “court do not have any rights ruled that it was not clear under the U.S. Constituwhether the law exempt- tion; ed the distribution of the “More than a third of

those surveyed (37%) can’t name any of the rights guaranteed under the First Amendment; “Only 39% can name all three branches of government.”

Ignorance is dangerous to a representative republic. Voters must be well-informed to prevent smooth-talking, self-serving charlatans from attaining and abusing political power.

What’s worse is that social media platforms enable widespread sharing of misinformation.

Too many social media users enthusiastically share unvetted “facts” with likeminded friends at the expense of truth and clarity.

The solution to our increasing lack of clarity?

Here are two options, one with a comma, one without: “Wake up, America!” – or “Wake up America!”

Tom Purcell, author of “Misadventures of a 1970’s Childhood,” a humorous memoir available at amazon.com, is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review humor columnist and is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons Inc. Tom@TomPurcell.com

Thursday, January 30, 2020

www.HaysNewsDispatch.com

Page 5

Sports/Education Lady Tigers crush Crockett 65-35 Tigers boys fend

off Crockett in OT

BY SHANE SCHOLWINSKI Dripping Springs Lady Tiger basketball team remains undefeated (9-0) in 25-5A and improved to 23-7 on the season Friday after a 65-35 blowout victory at home over the Crockett Lady Cougars (13-17).

Elite defense from the Lady Tigers was the key to victory said Dripping Springs head coach David Norris.

“I thought the team did a great job of suffocating them on defense when we pressed them,” Norris said. “They didn’t have very many subs, so our game plan was to get them up and down the floor.”

Dripping Springs full court press-zone defense forced 34 turnovers in the game, and a whopping 22 turnovers in the first half which sparked the Lady Tigers 44-16 lead by halftime. Understanding the defensive rotations has been a key component to the Lady Tigers defensive success.

“We had a strategy on our press and it worked,” Norris said. “Our halfcourt defense, you know the zones that we run and then we mix them up.

They’ve been on point with making the adjustments and really doing some good solid work, and rebounding also.”

The Lady Tigers offense was able to capitalize on Crockett’s turnovers by scoring a bevy of fast break points, while also hitting 45.5% (10-22) from 3-point range.

“That’s something we do a lot, everywhere I’ve coached we’ve led the district, or conference when I was a college coach, in three-point shooting,” Norris said. “We work on it a lot. We spot up, you know all five girls. We make them comfortable shooting and we shoot a lot of them.”

Junior point guard Corbyn Davis was the leader on the court for Dripping Springs as she had 20 points, five steals and four assists, including four made shots from beyond the arc in the first half.

“Right now Corbyn has just been that glue (on offense),” Norris said.

“Losing Kennedy Donovan at the point guard when she really came on strong at the end of last year, we were like okay who is going to be our point. Corbyn has come in and fit right in.”

In addition to Davis’ offensive output, senior forwards Kline Stafford and Avery Johnson also

STAFF REPORT

PHOTOS BY ALBERT SANCHEZ

Junior Ally Beck makes a jumper over a Lady Cougar during Friday night’s game against Crockett.

made a big impact for Dripping Springs. Both Stafford and Johnson had eight points each, with Johnson also contributing five rebounds and one block.

Junior forward Ani Villarrubia led Crockett with 14 points, seven rebounds and one block. Senior forward Kaia Skeete-Pierre was also a key contributor for the Lady Cougars as she had 11 points, six rebounds and three blocks.

For Dripping Springs this marks its eighth win in a row, with all wins coming by at least 30+ points. During that stretch the Lady Tigers defense hasn’t given up more than 35 points in a game, while the Dripping Springs offense has averaged 60.5 points per game.

“Our girls have a goal to be undefeated in district and be a district champion back-to-back again,” Norris said. “Each practice they come in ready to work. They come in at 6:30 in the morning and they got their hard hats on ready for practice. It's been really pleasing to just see that drive in them and trying to go for their goals.”

Dripping Springs hosts Lockhart Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.

Senior Avery Johnson drives toward the bucket during Friday Night’s game.

Three players in double figures fueled the Dripping Springs Tigers boys basketball team to a key 54-46 overtime win over the Crockett Cougars Friday.

Dripping Springs’ (15-5, 5-2) victory kept the Tigers in 2nd place in the 25-5A standings following a Jan. 21 loss to Austin Travis.

Leading the charge against Crockett were Tigers Felix Gonzalez, Jayden Guevara and Xavier Phillips, who all tallied 10 points in the game. Tiger Trace Young finished with seven points, while Charles Hunt finished with six.

Dripping Springs trailed 28-14 at halftime, hindered by the turnover bug. The Tigers committed 22 total turnovers in the game which led to 12 Crockett points. Cougar Alejandro Garcia finished with 18 points while Zephyr Repack tallied 14 points.

Despite the deficit, Dripping Springs battled back in the final two frames. Eleven third quarter points

DISTRICT 25-5A STANDINGS

LBJ 6-0 Dripping Springs 5-2 Northeast 4-3 Travis 4-3 Lockhart 3-4 McCallum 3-4 Crockett 2-5 Navarro 0-6

helped the Tigers close the gap to 37-25.

Dripping Springs kept momentum by outscoring Crockett 14-2 in the final eight minutes, tying the game at 39-39 and forcing the overtime session.

In overtime, Dripping Springs’ offense slammed its foot on the throttle and outscored the Cougars 15-7 en route to the victory.

The Tigers shot 32 percent from the field against Crockett, which included going 4 for 23 from the three-point line. However, Dripping Springs’ aggressive offense also generated numerous attempts from the free throw line.

The Tigers return home Friday when they host district-leading LBJ at 7 p.m. at Tiger Gym.

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Page 6

News-Dispatch

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Community Hays County Youth Livestock Show 2020

PHOTOS BY ANITA MILLER The Livestock Show Queen and her Court were checking out something on her phone as the auction proceeded.

STAFF REPORT

Dripping Springs 4-H; Senior Arts & Crafts/ There were plenty of Clothing, Halley Kirkup, well-deserved smiles to Dripping Springs FFA; go around Saturday at Junior Photography, the 2020 Hays County Layton LaCaze, Buda Youth LIvestock Show 4-H; Ag Mechanics, Auction held at Ranch Bryan Obanon, West Park in Dripping Springs. San Marcos 4-H; Market Youth from throughout Steer, Madison Leach, the county were reward- Wimberley 4-H Boosted for their hard work er Club; Market Goats, in raising livestock and Caitlyn Alderson, Drippreparing home and ag- ping Springs FFA; Market ricultural skills entries.

Swine, James Jansen III, Grand Champion Buda 4-H Club; Market awards were as follows: Lamb, Riley Steinecke, Senior Foods, Joseph Wimberley FFA; Market Nino, East San Marcos Rabbit, Katie Eiben, West 4-H; Intermediate Foods, San Marcos 4-H; Market Poultry, Riley Coco, West Sharing a front-row table for the auction were (from left) Hays County Sheriff Gary Cutler and Kurry Friedman, DripSan Marcos 4-H; Market former Sheriff Don Montague, Wimberley ISD Board of Trustees member Will Conley and Pct. 3 ping Springs 4-H; Junior Foods, Stella Hendriks, Poultry, Carson Cook, Commissioner Lon Shell.

Dripping Springs 4-H; Breeding Heifer, Soledad Soto-Casarez, San Marcos FFA; Breeding Goats, Morgan Hernandez, Buda 4-H; Breeding Swine, James Jansen III, Buda 4-H; Breeding Rabbits, Hayden Lugo, Buda 4-H; Breeding Sheep, Isaac Marcantel, West San Marcos 4-H Club; Intermediate Arts & Crafts/Clothing, Kellen Embrey, Dripping Springs 4-H; Junior Arts & Crafts/Clothing, Clara Leinneweber, Wimberley 4-H; Senior photography, Mia Cariaga, Buda 4-H; Intermediate Photography, Michael Cariaga, Buda 4-H.

Anything Goes The Dripping Springs High School Fine Arts Department brought the production of Cole Porter's Anything Goes to Dripping Springs. The directing team of Rachael Koske, Cole Rickman, and Campbell Duncan lead a cast and crew of more than 80 students, including amazing student choreographers, designers, and technicians bringing the S.S. American to life. This 1940's throwback farce featured madcap antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London circa 1935 and includes beloved standards like “Blow, Gabriel, Blow,” “It’s De-Lovely,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” and of course, that title song!

PHOTOS BY WAYLAND D. CLARK, WFOTOS.COM

Reno Sweeney, played by Katie Haberman, sings one of the many legendary Cole Porter songs in the Dripping Springs Theatre production of the 1934 musical Anything Goes. Below, Billy Ryan played stowaway and night club singer Billy Crocker.

Thursday, January 30, 2020

www.HaysNewsDispatch.com

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Thursday, January 30, 2020

Applications being accepted for HCSO Citizens Academy SUBMITTED REPORT

and other guest speakers.

Classes are held on ThursThe Hays County Sherdays from 6 to 9 p.m. at iff’s Office Citizens Acade- the Hays County Sheriff’s my is now accepting appli- Office on Uhland Road in cations for the 2020 class San Marcos. to start on March 5. The The objective of the Hays County Sheriff’s Ofacademy is to build a fice Citizens Academy is a better understanding 45-hour program designed between residents and the to give the residents of Sheriff’s Office through Hays County a working education. The academy knowledge of the Hays will help increase public County Sheriff’s Office awareness, dispel suspiand the criminal justice cions and misconceptions, system. This free program and increase HCSO and includes 12 weeks of community relations and instruction by HCSO staff rapport. The instructors of

The objective of the academy is to build a better understanding between residents and the Sheriff’s Office through education. The academy will help increase public awareness, dispel suspicions and misconceptions, and increase HCSO and community relations and rapport. this academy are supervisors, deputies and correction officers who work in the areas being taught,

and their training will give participants insight into the day-to-day operations of the HCSO.

Students will have the opportunity to tour the Hays County Jail, Communications Center, Juvenile Detention Center and the Government Center.

Students will also have an opportunity to ride along with a deputy as an observer during a regular patrol shift.

Class size is limited to 25 people per class so apply early. Applications may be obtained in person at the Sheriff’s Office or by emailing Deputy Stephen Traeger at stephen.

traeger@co.hays.tx.us or download the application from the website, http:// www.co.hays.tx.us/sheriff. aspx. Applications must be received on or before Feb. 21.

Those persons with felony convictions, or who are currently on parole, probation, or anyone who has been convicted for any offense involving moral turpitude are not eligible to attend. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and either reside or work in Hays County.

News-Dispatch publisher honored with resolution from Zwiener STAFF REPORT

into the Texas Newspaper Foundation Hall of Fame Our local state repreon January 17, 2020; and sentative Erin Zwiener WHEREAS, A native of stopped by the Hays Free West, Cyndy Slovak-Barton Press/News-Dispatch office became the first member of to present our publisher her family to attend college Cyndy Slovak-Barton a when she enrolled at Baylor resolution in recognition of University; she went on to her induction to the Texas study at The University of Newspaper Foundation Texas at Austin, graduating Hall of Fame. Congratulafrom the School of Comtions Cyndy! munications; in addition to her work as a newspaRESOLUTION per publisher, she is the WHEREAS, Cyndy Sloco-owner of Gap Strategies vak-Barton, award-winning and a successful retail and publisher of the Hays Free property manager who has Press in Kyle and the Driphelped oversee the compleping Springs News-Distion of several construction patch, is being inducted projects; earlier in her

career, she honed her skills as a social services and agricultural policy analyst for legendary U.S. Representative Jake Pickle; and WHEREAS, Ms. Slovak-Barton is a past president of the South Texas Press Association, and she has served on the board of the Texas Press Association and on the TPA’s Legislative Advisory Committee; she has been recognized many times with the TPA’s Community Service Award and Sweepstakes Award and has also received the Jim Lehrer Award for Investigative Journalism; moreover, she has given generously of

her time and talents to the boards of the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center, the Hays Foundation, The Buda Chamber of Commerce, and the Budafest Committee; and WHEREAS, Through her many contributions to local journalism and her lifelong commitment to serving her community, Cyndy Slovak-Barton has earned the deep respect and admiration of her professional peers, and she may indeed reflect with pride on her receipt of this well-deserved honor; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That Cyndy

News-Dispatch publisher Cyndy Slovak-Barton, left, with Rep. Erin Zwiener and her daughter Lark.

Slovak-Barton be congratulated on her induction into the Texas Newspaper Foundation Hall of Fame and that she be extended

Jail Communications: County greenlights new program Continued from pg. 1

delivers the highest valued, reliable and competitively sourced contracts offering public entities outstanding prices.”

The court also approved a second, related item authorizing the county judge “to execute a Master Services Agreement” with Securus “related to tablet services and application in the local jail.”

Jail Administrator Lt. Julie Villalpando gave a short presentation in which she told the court the new contract would lessen the cost of a 15-minute (the longest allowed) phone call from $10.41 to $4.80. Under the current contract with Securus, video visitation — popular with the families of inmates who are not from the local area — is $5.95 for 20 minutes. As required by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, two free, in-person visits are allowed each inmate each week.

“With this contract we’re adding video units and phones needed for the jail expansion,” Villalpando said. “I’m excited about adding other features like a video relay system for hearing impaired inmates to communicate with their family.”

The system would also greatly increase the number of phones available to inmates within their kiosks.

Tablets, which will come

later, would allow inmates to consult legal documents (like in the jail’s law library) as well as eduational, religious and other materials.

“Securus is the undisputed leader in this industry,” Villalpando said, and will train jail employees in how to use all the new technology.

She also spoke to the urgency of the vote, saying that the phones and other hardware need to be installed before inmates are moved into the newly-renovated areas of the jail. Replacing Securus equipment and infrastructure with that of another vendor, she said, could cost taxpayers $30,000.

“Equipment, networks, infrastructure would all need to be pulled out and replaced. That could delay the project. Not approving a contract today would also mean phone rates would stay the same.”

Villalpando and Sheriff Gary Cutler both stressed that the sheriff’s office has nothing to do with the financial workings of the system. Securus collects the money and sends a percentage to the county’s general fund through the office of County Auditor Marisol Villarreal-Alonzo.

When called on to speak by Becerra, Villarreal-Alonzo said that although she has not

performed a detailed audit, the books show that the Securus sent in excess of $183,000 to the general fund. “Funds are always deposited into that one item,” she said. “We have been given the reporting info we need from Securus.

Every fiscal year we pull those reports.”

Smith, who said he sponsored the agenda item because he asked to, said he was impressed by “the sheer number of our inmates” that use the service.

“I view this as a service to our inmates.”

Becerra had complained that since the item was not added to the agenda until Friday, he had inadequate time to review the contract.

“I’m simply trying to be a good fiscal steward,” he said. “I’m trying for the best deal we can get and that within that deal, we’re not gouging the inmates.”

Becerra and Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalbe questioned whether the contract could be for a shorter period of time, and Becerra also asked if anything in it precluded the county from trying to find a company with a better deal, or even working up a system inhouse.

Villalpando said the length of the contract was set by NASPO. In response to his other question,

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County Attorney Mark Kennedy said, “we do not have the software engineering capacity or hardware capacity to develop this product so the answer is no.”

“Personally I think this is a win for Hays County and a win for families,” Villalpando said. She said the jail is currently averaging about 650 in-person visits a month and about 2,400 video visitations.

Gonzales Ingalsbe, who appeared to have reservations about the contract, said she could support it because of the savings for inmates’ families — a decision she came to after a call from her aunt.

“She was very concerned about her son, her son is in jail. It made me feel really bad. She was saying, ‘my son is in there and it’s costing me a lot to talk to him.’

I know personally that it does affect families.”

sincere best wishes for the future.

Erin Zwiener State Representative District 45

Texas Crossword Solution

See puzzle, page 5

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