February 20, 2020 News-Dispatch

Judge denies pipeline restraint

Candidate turnout at forum low

Final 38-39 heartbreak for Lady Tigers

page 2

News-Dispatch Volume XXXX No. 20

Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982

Neighbors are concerned about congestion that may be caused by a proposed condo project in historic Dripping Springs, which plans on doubling the number of units allowed by current zoning rules.

Current Dripping Springs zoning rules allow for 14 units, but the Hidden Hollow property has proposed 28 units.

The developers will

Dripping Springs skate park raises $100K-plus in funds

BY CAMELIA JUAREZ The Dripping Springs skate park initiative asked for city council’s active involvement in skate park development after announcing they have raised over $100,000 towards development of the park.

The last time Dennis Baldwin was in front of council, they agreed to donate about an acre of land located behind Founders Park and Baldwin would be responsible for raising money for the park itself.

At last Tuesday’s city council meeting, Baldwin shared how he raised over $100,000 through donations, merchandise sales and a silent auction.

He also said the DS Skate Park Initiative has hired a grant writer and is actively seeking grants.

The skate park is expected to cost roughly $500,000, Baldwin said.

His ambitious completion date is Summer 2021, but depending on fundraising efforts the skate park

SKATE PARK, 8

“None of the neighbors are anti-development. We would prefer something to complement and improve our neighborhood rather than something hard to live by.”

a public hearing will take place for the community to share their input, Senior Planner Amanda Padilla said.

However, the community has been vocal about the property on Facebook and at a neighborhood meeting.

Steve Mallet, a resident who lives near the proposed project, hosted a neighborhood meeting and the development

–Steve Mallet, a resident who lives near the proposed project The next Planning and Zoning meeting concerning the proposed Hidden Hollow condominium development is Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m.

be asking for a zoning change at the next Planning and Zoning meeting.

The project is in the early phases of request-

ing development. The historical committee has approved the proposed exterior design and signed off on a Certificate

of Appropriateness.

The next step is to ask the Planning and Zoning commission for a zoning change and at that time

Springs protection group files suit over Needmore pumping permit

PROPOSED CONDOS, 7

The amount of Needmore’s permit, TESPA says, is enough to supply 5,280 households given that each uses approximately 150 gallons per day.

An organization dedicated to preserving groundwater resources in Hays County has filed suit against the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD) over a permit given to a private company allowing it to pump 289 million gallons of water annually from the Trinity Aquifer.

The Trinity Edwards Springs “We are fighting for our groundwater Protection Association here in Hays County. Every drop (TESPA) counts, and in this situation 289 million argues that a permit gallons of water are being allowed to BSEACD be taken without our having a chance issued to Needmore to properly protect our property rights.”

Water LLC in July 2019 –Jim Blackburn, TESPA president should not have been granted.

TESPA says was illegal meaning it could not The permit was conbecause the well referbe grandfathered in on verted from a temenced was not in pronew regulations that porary permit issued duction at that time, came in with HB 3405, in October 2015 that

Community Skate Night at the Dripping Springs Ranch Park Event Center will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays through March 25, after which it will return to Wednesday nights at the same time.

The event is open to all ages and the cost is free. However, participants must sign a waiver (available at the

Story Telling Fest in Wimberley Saturday

Forum foul

Video shows altercation at forum Video released by KXAN of a candidates forum in Wimberley Feb. 5 does not show the moment when Michele Hart was hit over the head by a television camera; but it does show a pattern of hostility towards the news crew she later accused of assault.

Hart told the Hays Free Press and News-Dispatch last week that the station’s cameraman deliberately hit her with the camera in an attempt to get to Pct. 3 Constable Ray Helm, who along with his challenger in the March 3 GOP primary,

FORUM FOUL, 7

CASTRO

which was passed by the Texas Legislature in 2015.

Events building up to the current situation, however, were set in motion even before

BSEACD LAWSUIT, 3

LAGNIAPPE venue) before skating.

The venue is located at 1042 Event Center Drive, Dripping Springs, 512-894-2046.

Above, a screenshot from KXAN footage shows Hays County Pct. 3 Constable’s Office employee Darrell Ayers step in front of and push KXAN reporter Jody Barr during the Feb. 5 candidate forum in Wimberley.

BY ANITA MILLER

BY ANITA MILLER

Community Skate Night moving to Thursdays through March

75¢

Thursday, February 20, 2020

High density condo proposed in Historic Dripping Springs

BY CAMELIA JUAREZ

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SOTO

Additional charges levied against pair held for shooting at deputy

BY ANITA MILLER

revered indigenous elders and respected local chroniclers with great stories to tell. Presenters each share 6- to 8-minute tales designed to provoke, inspire, entertain and amuse. It’s a day not to be missed. For more information, visit eventbrite.com

Stop by the Dripping Springs Farmers Market any Wednesday

New in 2020, Wimberley Valley Arts and Cultural Alliance is excited to launch its first-ever Storytelling Fest in Wimberley.

The day-long event will feature award-winning raconteurs, including Houston-based Grand Slam winners There’s no better way from NPR’s The Moth, to welcome a predicted performing alongside

early spring than by visiting the Dripping Springs Farmers Market, held every Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, aka “The Triangle.”

Fresh local food draws a lively mix of people of all ages who not only shop but visit and listen to live music.

You’ll find locally grown fruits and vegetables, grass-fed meats, yard eggs and regionally produced honey.

You can usually also pick up ready-made foods including Mexican, Thai and Andean cuisine and gourmet items like olive oils, handmade cheeses and locally-produced mushrooms.

Additional charges have been filed against two people charged with firing at a Hays County Sheriff’s Office vehicle during a high-speed chase from Dripping Springs to near Johnson City earlier this month.

Nathaniel Castro, 23, of El Paso and Klarissa Soto, 19, of Manchaca were taken into custody Feb. 9 following an all-night search near the intersection of U.S. 290 and U.S. 281. They had fled the car involved in the pursuit after it veered off the roadway and crashed.

Castro was allegedly behind the wheel and Soto is allegedly the person who fired shots during the chase along U.S. 290 that at times exceeded 100 mph.

At the time of their arrest, each was charged with aggravated assault

MORE CHARGES, 8

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News-Dispatch

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Judge denies temporary restraining order for Permian Highway Pipeline

BY ANITA MILLER

Kinder Morgan expressed pleasure, but opponents of the company’s planned 430-mile Permian Highway Pipeline (PHP) disagreed with a judge’s opinion that the project can proceed.

Travis County District Judge Robert Pitman ruled Feb. 14 against a temporary restraining order sought by the T.R.E.A.D. (Texas Real Estate Advocacy and Defense) coalition to delay construction of the 42-inch pipeline, which would transport natural gas from West Texas oilfields to near Houston.

In his ruling, Pitman found that plaintiffs had not proven sufficient “irreparable harm” to endangered land and aquatic species to merit emergency action.

The route of the pipeline crosses some of the most environmentally-sensitive areas of the Texas Hill Country, going within a mile of Jacob’s Well and crossing the Blanco River twice. It also traverses the Edwards and Trinity aquifers that provide drinking water to millions of people and are home to a number of federally-endangered species. Opposition to the project, the plans for which first became public knowledge in late 2018, has drawn together two unlikely groups – private property advocates and environmentalists.

The former protests the PHP’s classification as infrastructure and the ability of Kinder Morgan to use imminent domain to acquire property. A lawsuit filed on that basis by several cities, school districts and landowners in the spring of 2019 was struck down.

The latter group points to the consequences of an accident, either during construction or operation, which could permanently foul aquifers. A lawsuit filed earlier this year accusing Kinder Morgan, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of

In his ruling, Travis County District Judge Robert Pitman found that plaintiffs had not proven sufficient “irreparable harm” to endangered land and aquatic species to merit emergency action.

Engineers with violation of federal laws including the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Clean Water Act, meanwhile, is proceeding.

“We are pleased with the decision and look forward to continuing construction on this vital infrastructure project,” Kinder Morgan said in a prepared statement. The statement goes on to say the company has “actively worked” with stakeholders and has made more than 200 minor adjustments to its route “to accommodate landowners and address what we have learned in land surveys.”

The statement also reiterated what Kinder Morgan Vice President Allen Fore told the Hays Free Press and News-Dispatch that the company is in full compliance with the ESA. “We have actively worked with the appropriate state and federal agencies, including those agencies tasked with protecting endangered species,” it said. “PHP’s environmental assessments, among other things, comprehensively considered those endangered species that could potentially be affected by the project, and our construction plans have been designed to minimize impacts to this species.”

T.R.E.A.D. Coalition, however, pointed out that Pitman “did not rule on the merits of the lawsuit,” but rather on the narrow point of “irreparable harm,” meaning that the construction can proceed while the merits of the lawsuit are addressed.

“We do not agree with the court’s irreparable harm analysis, and its failure to consider such other significant harms as loss of heritage oaks and spread of oak wilt,” the coalition said.

The coalition also said

it remains to be decided whether PHP “can proceed without review, including public hearings and comments, under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),” which requires that federal action likely to cause “significant harm to the human environment” be subject to public scruti-

Prohibits installation of cast iron pipes; adds new requirements for incident/accident reporting New pipeline safety rules adopted by the Railroad Commission of Texas prohibit natural gas distribution pipeline operators from installing underground cast iron, wrought iron or bare steel pipelines.

Other new pipeline safety requirements require operators to more thoroughly assess the potential public safety risk of gathering lines. The amendments became effective Jan. 6, 2020.

The Commission adopted these amendments on Dec. 17, 2019 – weeks before a Dec. 31, 2019 statutory deadline for House Bills 864 and 866 passed by the 86th Legislature last year.

Local distribution gas pipeline operators transport natural gas to households and businesses through thousands of miles of small-diameter distribution pipes. RRC's new pipeline rules also require these natu-

SUBMITTED BY CARRIE ISAAC CAMPAIGN

freedom.

I’m the best RepubliCarrie Isaac is a conser- can candidate to vative Republican rundefeat Erin ning to be our next state Zwiener in representative, aiming November to unseat Democrat Erin so we have Zwiener for Texas House a represen- ISAAC District 45. Isaac is running to cut property taxes, tative who support our local students will fight for our conserand teachers, protect life, vative values.”

Isaac is the only candisecure the border, protect date in the race endorsed Second Amendment by the National Rifle rights, and reduce the Association and the Texas burden of government in State Rifle Association, Texans’ lives. which does not generally “Hays and Blanco endorse non-incumbents counties’ voices aren’t in Republican primaries. being heard in the Texas Isaac is also endorsed Capitol,” said Isaac. “Our

by Texas Right to Life for current representative is her pro-life record and an unabashed socialist committment to stop who consistently votes taxpayer money from for higher taxes, bigger funding Planned Parentgovernment, and less

Sunset Canyon Baptist Church Sunday Morning Sunday Worship

5:45 PM

Wednesday Meal

6:30 PM

Wed TouchPoint

A Family of Faith...

SCBC Preschool Children Ministries Youth Ministries Family Ministries

ral gas distribution pipeline operators to replace any known existing cast iron pipelines by Dec. 31, 2021.

"The Railroad Commission's highest priority is public safety," said RRC's Executive Director Wei Wang.

"These new amendments enhance our existing rules requiring pipeline operators to construct, operate and maintain their pipelines in compliance with Texas laws and regulations."

"With more than 469,000 miles of pipelines, Texas' pipeline infrastructure is key to delivering energy to Texans, the nation and world," Wang said. "By taking truck traffic off the highways, pipelines continue to be one of the safest ways to transport crude oil and natural gas."

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration,

it would take a constant line of tanker trucks, about 750 per day, loading up and moving out every two minutes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to move the volume of even a modest pipeline.

Under the new measures, gathering line operators are required to report incidents and accidents on gathering lines that result in a death or in-patient hospitalization; property damage of $50,000 or more; or estimated gas loss of three million cubic feet or more.

Operators also must submit a corrective action plan to the Commission to remediate an accident, incident or threat that creates a public safety risk or address a public safety complaint. Gathering lines transport gases and liquids from the commodity's sourcesuch as a wellhead-to a processing facility, refinery or a transmission line.

Carrie Isaac announces run for state representative hood.

“After a radical, pro-abortion Democrat managed to ride the ‘Beto wave’ into office in 2018, the voters of House District 45 have been looking for a dynamic, staunchly pro-life Republican to give the people of Hays and Blanco counties the type of representation in Austin that they deserve,” said Luke Bowen, political director of the Texas Right to Life. “We are thrilled that Carrie Isaac has answered the call to serve, as her values and experience prove that she is not just the best candidate to make this district red again, but the best candidate to ensure that it stays red long into the future.”

Isaac is also supported by more than 200 local

Call 512-268-7862 to join the church directory today.

8:45 AM

ny – which it says has not happened at either the state or federal level.

“Texans deserve a public process,” the coalition said, at both the state and federal levels, to weigh the value of PHP against the impact on our land and communities” and said it believes “the final routing decision should

be made by public officials accountable to all the citizens of Texas.”

Fore said earlier this month that the PHP’s route has been broken into five segments, and that construction would begin on all five simultaneously. In part because of that, he said, the company expects product to begin flowing about a year after construction starts.

T.R.E.A.D. said a late-afternoon conference call was scheduled for Feb. 18 for both parties to establish a schedule for the next step.

Railroad Commission adopts new pipeline safety rules

Worship in a church of your choice 11:00 AM

Thursday, February 20, 2020

www.sunsetcanyonchurch.org

(512) 894-0480

4000 E. HWY 290

conservative leaders, including over 50 current and former elected officials from House District 45, as well as Texas Values Action, Gun Owners of America, the Texas Home School Coalition, Pro-Life Texas, the Texas Association of Business, Central Texas Republican Assembly, Texas State College Republicans, Attorney General Ken Paxton, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, and Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian.

“It’s critical that we elect the most principled conservative with the best chance of defeating the Democrats in November,” Isaac said. “I’m honored to be the clear frontrunner in the race for the Republican nomination and promise no one will outwork me in fighting

Texas Crossword Solution

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.

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See puzzle, page 5

for our freedom and our values.”

Isaac said, “It’s with the spirit of service my father instilled in me as an Air Force veteran that I submit my candidacy to the people of Texas. As the next state representative for House District 45, I’ll work every day to keep the government out of our way and preserve the freedom that makes Texas the greatest state in our nation.”

Carrie Isaac is a fourth-generation Texan, nonprofit leader, wife, mother, IRONMAN triathlete running to give Hays and Blanco counties a powerful voice in the Texas House of Representatives. She lives in Hays County with her husband, former state representative Jason Isaac, and their two sons.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

www.HaysNewsDispatch.com

Page 3

Social Security recipients targeted in telephone impersonation scheme STAFF REPORTS

should hang up and never give the caller money No, your Social Securi- or personal informaty number has not been tion,” warned Social suspended.

Security Commissioner As incredible as that Andrew Saul. He advised idea even sounds, peoanyone who has been ple across Texas and the contacted by phone to nation have been told report the scam online that in recent months, at oig.ssa.gov. along with equally susA new wrinkle in the picious statements and scam, which often tries request. It’s all part of to extort money from what the Social Security unsuspicious peoAdministration (SSA) ple, is the inclusion of calls an “ongoing teledocuments on authenphone impersonation tic-looking letterhead. scheme.”

It’s all fake, though, “I want every Ameriand sometimes those can to know that if a sus- same documents – that picious caller states that purport to be from the there is a problem with SSA or the Office of their Social Security the Inspector General number or account, they (OIG) – contain errors in

spelling or grammar that should make recipients question their veracity.

The calls seem to be targeted to people who have recently applied for Social Security benefits, or those who are receiving benefits and need to update their records, as well as someone who has requested a phone call from the agency.

Though the SSA occasionally contacts people by phone, the agency says it will never • Tell you your number has been suspended • Demand an immediate payment • Ask for credit or debit card information • Ask for a prepaid debit

card or gift card • Demand a debt be paid without the ability to appeal the decision • Promise an approval of or increase in benefits in exchange for information or money • Make any threats Under most circumstances, the SSA will contact Americans by mail and if that happens, any payments that may be due will come for options for remittance.

A public service announcement explaining the telephone impersonation scheme can be viewed at youtube.com/ socialsecurity.

PHOTO BY CHASE ROGERS

Incumbent State Rep. Erin Zwiener, D-Driftwood (left), addressing the crowd during her opening remarks of the League of Women Voters’ Texas House District 45 forum.

Zwiener only one in her race to attend LWV forum

BY CHASE ROGERS

BSEACD Lawsuit: Fight over Needmore pumping permit Continued from pg. 1

that. In 2011, a popular area of the Blanco River was closed to the public after the acreage was sold by Houston attorney John O’Quinn to the Mantia family of south Texas, whose eventual goal was to create a Municipal Utility District (MUD) which would pave the way for a subdivision.

Things got even muddier in 2015, when Houston-based Electro Purification announced its plans to pump some five million gallons a day from a portion of the Trinity Aquifer that was not within the jurisdiction of a groundwater conservation district.

Nearby residents were fearful of the effect that would have on their water wells, given the state’s “right of capture,” which basically says landowners can pump all the water they are able to. Tests were conducted showing what the impact would be on nearby wells and the expense it would bring to landowners to deepen their wells sufficiently.

Enter the Texas Legislature, which sought to address the issue with HB 3405, which brought the unregulated area under the control of the BSEACD. The original legislation contained language that prohibited the Needmore Ranch MUD from pumping groundwater for use in a residential subdivision; however, according to TESPA, a different

The organization also charged that BSEACD was aware in October 2015 that the Needmore well was found to be damaged and incapable of providing groundwater. piece of legislation repealed that language.

Senate Bill 2075, that repealed the language, was sponsored by State Senator Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels); while HB 3405 had among its supporters Campbell and State Rep. Jason Isaac (R-Driftwood).

The amount of Needmore’s permit, TESPA says, is enough to supply 5,280 households given that each uses approximately 150 gallons per day. The organizations further alleges that BSEACD’s own groundwater models “project a 140-foot decrease” in the level of wells as far as two miles distant from the Needmore well. That, TESPA says, is an “unreasonable impact.”

The organization also charged that BSEACD was aware in October 2015 that the Needmore well was found to be damaged and incapable of providing groundwater.

The lawsuit also makes the charge that the new rules ushered in by HB 3405 were less restricting than provisions of the Texas Water Code that

was formerly applicable. Specifically, TESPA said that the legislation’s permitting process “circumvents” protections including whether the proposed pumping would affect existing surface water resources and whether the pumped water “is dedicated to any beneficial use with a non-speculative demand.”

TESPA officials defended the filing. “This issue of the regulation of this well is very important,” said Jim Blackburn, president. “We are fighting for our groundwater here in Hays County. Every drop counts, and in this situation 289 million gallons of water are being allowed to be taken without our having a chance to properly protect our property rights.”

“BSEACD needs to know that those of us who own adjacent groundwater will fight just as hard for our rights as those who are seeking to suck this water from the ground,” added Patrick Cox, executive director. “We were promised regulation of groundwater, not permit-

ting without meaningful regulation, which is what we have gotten.”

“This is wrong,” Blackburn countered, “and we are going to fight it. If we don’t rise up and fight now, our groundwater is going to be lost and our springs and rivers along with it. We are going to do our best to keep this from happening.”

The case was filed Feb. 10 by attorney Jeff Mundy of Austin in the Travis County District Court.

Local candidates looking for a win during the March 3 Texas primaries showed up in force at he Hays County League of Women Voters candidate forum Feb. 13.

But only one of five candidates seeking the State Rep. District 45 positions showed up at the event.

Candidates vying for Texas State House District 45, Hays County sheriff, Hays County court-at-law and Hays County constables for precincts one and three attended the event to field questions from

LWV and prospective constituents.

Five candidates are running for TX45, including incumbent State Rep. Erin Zwiener, who is facing Liliana Posada in the Democratic primary, and Kent “Bud” Wymore, Carrie Isaac and Austin Talley, who are completing in the Republican primary.

Zwiener, D-Driftwood, was the only candidate to attend the forum, with Posada, Talley and Isaac submitting prepared statements for the moderator to read. Zwiener

LWV FORUM, 8

Police Blotter The following is a tally of all calls made to law enforcement within Hays County between Feb. 10 and Feb. 13, 2020.

Endanger/Abandon................................................. 1

Canine Search......................................................... 2

Civil Matter............................................................... 9

SRP Drill................................................................... 1

Information............................................................... 7

Missing Person........................................................ 1

Compliance Check.................................................. 7

Public Assist............................................................ 7

Property- Lost/Found/Imp...................................... 8

Community Contact.............................................. 22

Sex Offender Registy.............................................. 5

Disabled Vehicle.................................................... 18

Alarm Business...................................................... 21

Foot Patrol............................................................... 1

Alarm Residential.................................................. 16

Close Patrol......................................................... 144

Animal Calls........................................................... 59

Welfare Concern.................................................... 17

Loose Livestock.................................................... 15

Investigation............................................................ 9

Sexual Assault – Child............................................. 1

Supplement........................................................... 45

Assault – Agg........................................................... 1

Suspicious Circumstances..................................... 7

Assault..................................................................... 6

Suspicious Person................................................. 13

Assist EMS............................................................. 10

Suspicious Vehicle................................................ 26

Assist Fire Dept....................................................... 3

Wanted Person........................................................ 4

Assist Outside Agency............................................ 9

Identity Theft............................................................ 3

Burglary Habitation................................................. 5

Theft....................................................................... 13

Burglary Vehicle....................................................... 1

Vehicle Theft............................................................ 3

Criminal Mischief..................................................... 3

Recovery Stolen Vehicle......................................... 1

Enviromental Crime................................................. 2

Accident Minor........................................................ 6

Attended Death....................................................... 2

Accident Hit and Run.............................................. 4

Disorderly Conduct................................................. 2

Accident Major/Injury............................................ 18

Disturbance Noise................................................... 5

Accident Fleet.......................................................... 1

Disturbance Physical Fight..................................... 5

Accident Unknown.................................................. 2

Disturbance Verbal................................................ 12

Abandoned/Stored Vehicle..................................... 6

Marijuana................................................................. 1

Traffic Control/Direction.......................................... 1

Drug Paraphernailia................................................. 1

Directed/Area Enforce........................................... 40

MIP Tobacco............................................................ 3

Traffic Hazard......................................................... 19

Narcotics/Information............................................. 1

Attempt to Locate................................................. 25

Fraud........................................................................ 6

Parking Enforcement............................................... 1

Forgery..................................................................... 1

Traffic Stop........................................................... 287

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

Trespassing/Unwanted......................................... 12

Harassment............................................................ 11

911 Abandoned/Open......................................... 110

Threat....................................................................... 4

Stroke/TIA................................................................ 1

Mental Health Follow Up......................................... 1

Transfer/Interfacility................................................. 1

Mental Health Invest............................................... 6

Private Tow/Repo.................................................... 9

Mental Health Transport.......................................... 4

Below is a sample of events reported by law enforcement from Feb. 10 through Feb. 13, 2020. The location is where the event was reported or responded to and may not necessarily be where the event occured.

Agency Activity Date HCSO Assault - Aggravated 02/10/2020 HCSO Assault 02/10/2020 HCSO Assault 02/10/2020 HCSO Assault 02/10/2020 HCSO Threat 02/10/2020 BPD Accident - Hit and Run 02/10/2020 BPD Accident - Major/Injury 02/10/2020 HCSO Accident - Major/Injury 02/10/2020 HCSO Accident - Major/Injury 02/10/2020 HCSO Threat 02/11/2020 BPD Accident - Major/Injury 02/12/2020 HCSO Accident - Major/Injury 02/11/2020 HCSO Accident - Major/Injury 02/11/2020 HCSO Accident - Major/Injury 02/11/2020 HCSO Accident - Major/Injury 02/11/2020 HCSO Accident - Major/Injury 02/11/2020 HCSO Accident - Major/Injury 02/12/2020 BPD Assault 02/12/2020 HCSO Assault 02/12/2020 HCSO Threat 02/12/2020 HCSO Threat 02/12/2020 HCSO Accident - Hit and Run 02/12/2020 HCSO Accident - Hit and Run 02/12/2020 BPD Accident - Major/Injury 02/12/2020 HCSO Accident - Major/Injury 02/12/2020 HCSO Accident - Major/Injury 02/12/2020 HCSO Accident - Major/Injury 02/12/2020 HCSO Accident - Major/Injury 02/12/2020 HCSO Accident - Major/Injury 02/12/2020 BPD Disturbance - Phys/Fight 02/13/2020 BPD Disturbance - Phys/Fight 02/13/2020 BPD Disturbance - Phys/Fight 02/14/2020 HCSO Disturbance - Phys/Fight 02/13/2020 HCSO Disturbance - Phys/Fight 02/13/2020 HCSO Theft 02/13/2020 HCSO Theft 02/13/2020 HCSO Theft 02/13/2020 BPD Accident - Hit and Run 02/13/2020 BPD Accident - Major/Injury 02/13/2020 HCSO Accident - Major/Injury 02/13/2020

Time 7:20:16 10:51:55 17:14:45 22:38:50 9:16:33 15:32:44 13:36:43 8:10:31 18:37:01 14:06:07 1:54:26 6:31:37 10:55:31 15:25:35 16:15:05 18:33:26 0:21:59 17:39:48 8:45:10 11:50:30 16:40:18 8:54:47 9:02:45 12:59:27 9:48:15 15:06:04 20:43:27 21:51:24 23:38:09 15:53:43 19:45:14 2:49:35 21:51:08 23:34:04 9:10:54 9:15:46 10:38:36 6:39:05 16:16:45 20:10:22

Location S Old Bastrop Hwy San Marcos Dollar General Old Park Rd/W Us 290 Dripping Springs Marsh Ln Buda Uhland Rd San Marcos HaysCo LE Center Uhland Rd San Marcos Public Safety Building IH 35 FR Buda Heb Of Buda Royston Rd/Ih 35 Fr Buda Dacy Ln/Downing Way Kyle Old Bridge Trl/Ih 35 Fr Kyle W Lakeshore Dr Dripping Srings EXIT 220 SB Buda EXIT 220 SB Champions Cir Woodcreek S Fm 1626/Jack C Hays Trl Buda Rr 3237/Woodcreek Ranch Rd Wimberley Camino Real Maxwell Kai Vista Dr/Niederwald Strasse Kyle Belterra Dr/W Us 290 Austin Main St Buda Food Box Of Buda W Center St Kyle Wallace Middle School Joanne Loop Buda Oak St San Marcos Sportsplex Walnut Springs Elementary Schoo W Us 290 Dripping Springs El Ray Restaurant W Loop St/Main St Buda RR 1826 Driftwood RR 12/Fitzhugh Rd Dripping Springs Stillwater/Rr 12 Wimberley S Fm 1626/Cole Springs Rd Buda N Old Bastrop San Marcos Texas State Tubes IH 35 FR Buda Griffin Motors Cabelas Dr Buda Microtel Suites IH 35 FR Buda Cabelas Diamond Point Dr Dripping Springs Everglade Dr Buda Eves Necklace Dr Buda Fieldwood Dr Buda Squaw Cir Wimberley Overpass Rd Buda Baylor Scott & White Hospital Ih 35/Main St Buda Goforth Rd Kyle

Page 4

News-Dispatch

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Sports

Over Charged

Late Champion bucket eliminates Lady Tigers in 39-38 heartbreaker

BY MOSES LEOS III

PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III

A quick glance to the scoreboard was all Dripping Springs Lady Tiger Corbin Davis could do as she and teammates tried to make sense of a shocking bidistrict round playoff loss Monday. A go-ahead Boerne Champion bucket with less than 12 seconds left doomed the Tigers as they fell in a 39-38 heartbreaker.

NEW BRAUNFELS – On a night when the Dripping Springs Lady Tigers needed a play in the clutch, the Boerne Champion Chargers Monday beat them to the punch.

A go-ahead Charger bucket scored with 11.9 seconds left in the game capped off a wild Champion comeback and ended Lady Tiger basketball team playoff hopes as Dripping Springs was eliminated in a 39-38 bidistrict round heartbreaker.

Dripping Springs (28-8) led 36-32 with less than three minutes to go before a furious 4-2 Charger run sliced the Lady Tiger lead to 38-36.

Following a Lady Tiger turnover, Champion’s Ad-

Dripping Springs (28-8) led 36-32 with less than three minutes to go before a furious 4-2 Charger run sliced the Lady Tiger lead to 38-36.

disen King was fouled and hit one of two free throws, leading to the Chargers snagging the miss and eventually banking a bucket with 11.9 seconds left.

Dripping Springs had one last chance to recover but the Lady Tigers couldn’t get a shot off before the final buzzer.

PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III

All wrapped up and nowhere to go was probably how Dripping Springs Lady Tiger Teagin Huslig felt as she wrestles with a Boerne Champion Charger for possession of a loose ball in Monday’s bidistrict playoff game at New Braunfels Canyon High.

Struggles in snagging rebounds against a taller Champion lineup, primarily in the final seconds, partially played a role in the loss, said Lady Tiger head coach David Norris.

“You can’t give a big team like that three or four chances to make one

basket and they happened to do it,” Norris said.

Missed Lady Tiger scoring opportunities also gave Champion fuel to orchestrate its comeback.

Champion outscored

TIGER GIRLS HOOPS, 5

PHOTOS BY WAYLAND D. CLARK, WFOTOS.COM

Dripping Springs sophomore Savannah Karas simultaneously takes a breath of air and a stroke, accompanied by a big splash while making the dolphin kick in the girls 100 Yard Butterfly prelims on Feb. 14. Karas placed 8th overall with a time of 58.39 in the Championship Finals on Feb. 15 at the UIL State Swim and Dive meet.

PHOTOS BY ALBERT SANCHEZ

Tiger soccer shuts out Austin Northeast High A trio of second half goals pushed the Dripping Springs Tiger boys soccer team over the edge Friday as they overcame a sluggish start en route to a 3-0 win over the Northeast Raiders on Valentines Day. The victory kept Dripping Springs (15-3) unbeaten in district as the first round of play in 25-5A came to a close. Tiger goals were scored by Juan Galindo, Adam Knutson and Kay Anthanmatten.

Dripping Springs kicked off the second half of district play Feb. 11 against Travis.

The Tigers return home Feb. 28 against LBJ at 7:45 p.m.

Above, player #11 junior

Tigers dive into state swim meet

Close to a dozen Dripping Springs Tiger boys and girls swimmers closed the 2020 season in style as they competed at the UIL state swimming

and diving meet at the Lee and Joe Jamail Swim Center in Austin. Leading the way for Dripping Springs was Tiger Savannah Karas who qualified

for last Saturday’s finals race in the 100-yard butterfly and finished in 6th place with a time of just over 58 seconds. On the boys side, Dripping

Springs’ Danny Henry also claimed a 6th place overall finish in the 200yard freestyle race by clocking in at 1:41.69.

DISTRICT 25-5A BOYS SOCCER STANDINGS Dripping Springs 7-0 Travis 4-1 Navarro 4-2-1 Northeast 2-3-3 Lockhart 1-3-1 Crockett 0-2-2 McCallum 0-5-2

Kay Anthamatten battles for the ball with the Northeast defender during the first half of the game. Below, player #16 senior Juan Galindo gets a header for the third score of the game with 3 minutes remaining.

Sophomore Riley Dalton rolls to take a breath while preparing to take a stroke swimming the third leg of the girls 400 Yard Freestyle Relay on Feb. 14. The Dripping Springs relay team of Dalton, Savannah Karas, Isabella Sites and Julia Carter finished 8th overall in the event on Feb. 15.

GIRLS

• Savannah Karas, 100-yard butterfly (58:37) • Julia Carter, 100-yard freestyle (53.79) • Addison Simons, Audrey Williamson, Riley Dalton, Julia Carter, Girls 200-yard freestyle relay (1:41.65) • Savannah Karas, Isabella Sites, Riley Dalton, Julia Carter, Girls 400-yard freestyle relay (3:41.38

Danny Henry, a Dripping Springs senior, looks to be in perfect form as his body rolls to the side to take a breath in the boys 500 Yard Freestyle prelims on Feb. 14. In the Championship Finals on Feb. 15, Henry placed 5th overall with a time of 4:36.25 in the 500 Yard, and finished 6th overall in the 200 Yard Freestyle.

BOYS • • • •

Danny Henry, 200-yard freestyle (1:41.69) Danny Henry, 500-yard freestyle (4:36.25) Jackson Cimato, Boys 1 meter diving (173.65 points) Josh Dowdy, Benjamin Adams, Quinn Mauck, Danny Henry, Boys 400-yard freestyle relay (3:18.98)

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Tiger wrestling heads to state tournament A trip to the Berry Center in Cypress and the UIL state wrestling tournament is in the cards for 12 Dripping Springs Tiger wrestlers who qualified by virtue of finishes at the Region IV, 5A tournament. All told, a trio of individual regional titles

and numerous second place finishes played a vital role in the Tiger boys wrestling team securing the overall team 5A-IV regional championship.

Dripping Springs’ boys team, led by head coach Joe Kirksey, finished with 233 total points,

which was 70 points better than second place Cedar Park. Tigers Luke Norton, Micah Ribera and Chase Warden won regional titles in their weight classes. Ten Tiger boys wrestlers qualified for the state tournament.

Meanwhile, Tiger girls

wrestler Catalina Miller qualified for state by securing second place in her weight class, while Alyson Brownson-Welch punched her ticket with a 4th place finish. The UIL 5A wrestling championships will be held Feb. 21-22.

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PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III

As a Boerne Champion Charger tries to draw a charge, Dripping Springs Lady Tiger Lilee McGinnis (2) attacks the bucket in the second half of Monday’s bidistrict playoff in New Braunfels.

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Tiger Girls Hoops Continued from pg. 4

Dripping Springs 16-8 in the fourth quarter with the Tigers missing three critical free throws. While the Tigers went 6 of 11 from the line, Norris said the misses “add up.”

Tiger senior Avery Johnson, who finished with a team high 14 points, said nerves got the better of the Lady Tigers down the stretch.

“We weren’t really focused in all of the time and it just came down to who wanted it more and I think there was a couple of plays we messed up,” Johnson said.

Early on, Dripping Springs overcame a sluggish start, as well as a physical Champion defense, to take a 26-16 halftime lead. Champion’s length and height advantage kept the Lady Tiger offense in check in the first frame and prevented the Tigers from finishing, said Norris. That changed in the second quarter when the Tigers sped up the pace and used their speed and agility to outscore Champion 12-4.

Dripping Springs’ press zone defense also kept Champion’s leading scorers from finding a rhythm, Norris said.

But the tide turned in the third quarter when a series of Tiger turnovers led to a three pointer from Charger Prestley Hammond which cut the Lady Tiger advantage to under 10 points. From there, Norris said momentum rapidly shifted Champion’s way.

Charger Hannah Barraza finished with 12 points.

“It was a battle. But they’re a good team and they were state ranked all season,” Norris said. “We had to get our girls mentally prepared to play this and I thought we battled well.”

Norris lauded the play of his senior class, who were sophomores when he arrived as head coach two years ago, who he felt raised the bar for future teams. Norris also felt Monday’s loss didn’t diminish winning a second straight district title, nor the amount of adversity the team faced all year long. Johnson felt the legacy left by the seniors is motivation for the next group of Lady Tigers.

“We have a lot of guards returning. This one is going to sting, but we’ll talk about it for offseason and we’ll get ready for it again next year,” Norris said.

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Thursday, February 20, 2020

Dripping Springs students honored County to use grant to fund mental health for achievement in the arts SUBMITTED REPORT

LITERATURE

HONORABLE MENTION

Dripping Springs ISD Council of PTAs recognizes students for achievements in the 2019-20 National PTA Reflections arts in education program. The Reflections program focuses on positive recognition and creative expression, helping students can find their unique voice through art.

Through the program, National, Texas and Dripping Springs PTAs urge students in preKindergarten through grade 12 to create and submit original works of art in the medium of their choice, reflecting on a specific theme. This year’s theme was “Look Within.”

The following students received an Overall Award of Excellence from DSISD Council and will be advancing to Texas PTA to compete with students across the state:

• Intermediate Elem. Hayden Mayfield (Rooster Springs Elementary School -3rd grade)

• Lucas Trepanier (Sycamore Springs Elementary School-3rd grade) for Photography

FILM PRODUCTION

• Tatum Theis (Rooster Springs Elementary School-4th grade) for Dance Choreography

PHOTOGRAPHY

• Finley McKeag (Rooster Springs Elementary School-2nd grade) for Music Composition

• Intermediate Elem. Ainsley Badger (Dripping Springs Elementary School -5th grade)

• Liza Engels (Rooster Springs Elementary School-3rd grade) for Dance Choreography • Darby Engels (Rooster Springs Elementary School-3rd grade) for Music Composition

VISUAL ARTS • Primary Elem. - Nora Richardson (Rooster Springs Elementary School -2nd grade)

• Grayson Anderson (Sycamore Springs Elementary School-3rd grade) for Film Production

• Intermediate Elem. Kalena Dixson (Sycamore Springs Elementry School -4) • Middle School - Leona Albini (Dripping Springs Middle School -8th grade) • High School - Katherine Ferno (Dripping Springs High School -9th grade)

• Intermediate Elem. Darby Engels (Rooster Springs Elementary -3rd grade)

The following students achieved awards at the Dripping Springs ISD district level:

• Middle School - Shelby Badger (Dripping Springs Middle School -7th grade)

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

• High School - Drew Wilson (Dripping Springs High School -11th grade)

• Johnny Fox (Rooster Springs Elementary School-3rd grade) for Visual Arts

DANCE COMPOSITION

• Trinity Seggelink (Dripping Springs Middle School-8th grade) for Visual Arts

• Intermediate Elem. McKenna Robinson (Sycamore Springs Elementary School -4th grade)

• William Tait (Dripping Springs Elementary School-5th grade) for Visual Arts

• Eliza Anderson (Sycamore Springs ElementaryKindergarten) for Visual Arts

• Primary Elem. - Kylar Boyd (Dripping Springs Elementary School -2nd grade)

• Isabella Verhulst (Sycamore Springs Middle School-6th grade) for Visual Arts • Evie Cardinal (Dripping Springs Elementary School-4th grade) for Literature • Eleanor Engels (Rooster Springs Elementary School-4th grade) for Literature

BY CAMELIA JUAREZ The Hays County Sheriff’s office is looking for a social worker who will respond to mental health crisis calls and follow up with patients post hospitalization.

The social worker’s job is designed to provide some relief to the understaffed Mental Health Authority, who provides mental health services to several counties and to provide quicker assistance to individuals in a crisis.

Currently, the mental health authorit Scheib Center and the five mental health deputies respond to crisis calls.

However, Scheib is understaffed and handles multiple counties and mental health officers are not on-duty at all times or might be busy handling another situation.

Lt. Steve Cunningham spearheaded the mental health grant valued at $62,304 said the goal of the grant is to hire a full-time social worker to handle crisis situations more efficiently than

waiting for professionals.

“Instead of Scheib, they'd have to come out, it might take them several hours. Sometimes no one is available to respond immediately.

And there's times the patrol officers are sitting around for several hours waiting for someone to show up and do an evaluation,” Cunningham said. “A case worker just speeds up the process of trying to assist somebody in getting screened.

And maybe if they need inpatient that'll speed up the process there as well. And if they need outpatient, then they can provide resources to the individual for follow up and treatment.”

The caseworker would be responsible for deciding if the person needs to be hospitalized or if they can de-escalate the situation on the scene.

Currently, the Mental Health Unit at the Sheriff’s office has a similar role, but they are needed on patrol, Cunningham said.

An additional duty

MENTAL HEALTH GRANT, 5

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• Mia Mervin (Dripping Springs Middle School-6th grade) for Visual Arts

• Intermediate Elem. - Odin Magee (Rooster Springs Elementary School -3rd grade)

• Brianna Durbin (Dripping Springs Middle School-8th grade) for Visual Arts

worker position

Women IN BUSINESS

• Avery Wyatt (Dripping Springs Elementary School-4th grade) for Photography

MUSIC COMPOSITION

• Cadence Owens (Dripping Springs Middle School-6th grade) for Visual Arts

The students will be recognized for • Jilian Muckelroy (Dripping their achievement at Springs Middle School-8th the Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees grade) for Visual Arts meeting on March 30 at 6 p.m. at the DSISD Central PARTICIPATION AWARDS Administration Building Boardroom, located at • Mackenzie Schwarz 510 W. Mercer Street.

(Dripping Springs

AWARD OF MERIT

• Middle School - Danica Best (Sycamore Springs Middle School -7th grade)

• Wyatt Badger (Dripping Springs Elementary School-Pre Kindergarten) for Visual Arts

• Taylor Hodsden (Dripping Springs Middle School-8th grade) for Visual Arts

SPECIAL ARTIST

• Primary Elem. - Eliza Anderson (Sycamore Springs Elementary Kindergarten)

• Gracie Fox (Rooster Springs Elementary School-Pre Kindergarten) for Visual Arts

Elementary SchoolKindergarten) for Visual Arts

• Sophia Bradner (Dripping Springs Middle School-8th grade) for Visual Arts

melanie.fenelon@compass.com

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Forum Foul

Continued from pg. 1 was speaking at the Fraternal Order of Police-sponsored forum.

Hart, who said she is pressing charges, had complained that the news crew was “pushing people out of the way asking questions” of Helm.

But the video, released by KXAN News Director Chad Cross, shows Darrell Ayers, who is listed on the county’s web page as a part of Helm’s staff, step in front of and physically push reporter Jody Barr as he was attempting to question Helm after the forum’s conclusion.

A news release from the Hays County Sheriff’s Office appeared to confirm Ayers’ involvement, describing the incident as “an altercation … involving an Austin area television crews and staff members of Hays County Precinct 3 Constable’s Ray Helm’s office.”

Two segments of video were released by KXAN. In the first, taken before the start of the forum, Barr approaches Helm and asks a question and Helm responded that he was not going to be interviewed.

KXAN says that Helm had “declined multiple requests since November to schedule an interview” with the station, instead sending written responses. During the course of that interaction, Helm was occupied with his phone when he told

Barr, “You can go away” and, “Get away from me.”

The second piece of video shows Barr once again approaching Helms after the forum’s conclusion and Helm waving him off before Ayers gets in front of Barr and pushes him. No video was released of the actual forum, or of any questions Helm may have answered.

The forum was one of several throughout the county ahead of the March 3 primaries. Helm did not show up for one last week sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Hays County, though his primary opponent did.

KXAN said that in a written statement to Hays County deputies, the cameraman, who was not named, “said he was ‘shoved by who a witness told me was Darrell Ayers,’” which caused him to fall in the direction of Hart, who said the camera came down on the back of her head.

As is protocol when a law enforcement agency is involved, the Texas Rangers have been called in to investigate the incident.

KXAN said the station “has attempted repeatedly to contact the Rangers for an update on the investigation but so far has received no information.”

The sheriff’s office said it would not comment further.

www.HaysNewsDispatch.com

D.S. Kinder/PreK registration in March To register kindergarten and pre-kindergarten students entering Dripping Springs ISD schools in the fall of 2020, parents can get a headstart by filling out most information online starting March 23. Parents should go to the registration link to complete the online portion of the enrollment process by April 3.

The registration webpage

includes instructions and a link to get started; new kindergarten/pre-K students should look for “New Families” under Step 2.

Then, on Tuesday, April 14, from 4-7: p.m. and on Thursday, April 16, from 7 a.m.-1 p.m., parents should visit the campus their child will be attending to complete the process by presenting required

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documents. Kindergartners must be 5 years old by Sept. 1 to be registered for the 2020-21 school year.

Families enrolling in the tuition-based Pre-K program will be entered into a lottery to determine if they are placed at the campus of their choice.

Enrollment assignments are not given on a firstcome, first-served basis;

therefore, there is no advantage to lining up early in the morning to secure a Pre-K “spot” at the campus of choice.

Kindergarten and preK students are assigned to a campus based on the district’s attendance zone boundaries. The Address Look-Up feature on the district website directs users to the correct campus.

Cunningham said.

Cunningham said patrol officers try to follow up with people who experienced mental episodes by knocking on their doors, but the case worker will be a greater resource as an expert on mental health.

The grant approved by the commissioner’s court

in October will provide a full-time, one-year salary for the caseworker. The case worker will only be able to work 40 hours a week and for one year.

Cunningham said hopefully they can get the position filled soon, so they can bring more resources to people dealing with health issues.

touched a nerve in the community,” Mallet said.

Mallet said topics discussed and frequent questions to developers were about congestion, infrastructure and drainage concerns.

“None of the neighbors are anti-development.

We would prefer something to complement and improve our neighborhood rather than something hard to live by,” Mallet said.

Mental Health Grant Continued from pg. 1

would be to follow up with people after their hospitalization or after de-escalation. Cunningham said the caseworker will be notified of a person’s release to provide follow up information and help them become a stabilized member of society.

“If they don't get follow

up, then they could become a wrong term called repeat offender. But then they go revert back to a crisis. Again, the hope is that we don't have to deal with that, to that magnitude. So the follow up visit is to help them continue to the path of either counseling or making sure they're taking their meds,”

Proposed Condos Continued from pg. 1

team was in attendance.

According to a Facebook post, the developers claimed the condos would be “affordable” costing as low as $300,000. Developers said there was no

profit to be made at the current, city approved zoning density, Mallet wrote in his post summarizing the neighborhood meeting.

“It’s people speaking out. The project has

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Thursday, February 20, 2020

More Charges Continued from pg. 3

on a public servant and evading arrest. Castro was initially held on bonds totaling $2 million.

Soto’s bonds totaled $1.5 million.

Since then, Castro has additionally been charged with tampering with physical evidence

with intent to impair and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

Soto has additionally been charged with tampering with intent to impair.

According to a HCSO news release, it was discovered during the

investigation that Castro had a “multitude” of felony warrants from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office – five for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, three for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and one for continuous family

violence. Castro’s bonds on those offenses was set at $900,000.

Though both were taken into custody without incident, the weapon was never found, and the HCSO says the search for it is continuing along 17 miles of U.S. 290.

designs, ramps and bowls they would like to see.

The next design meeting date has not been set, but Baldwin first has to get the land surveyed.

Once the land is surveyed, he can find out if a skate park can actually be built on the land donated by the city.

After the presentation, several skater teens shared with the council how valuable a skate park would be in the community.

Many of the supporters

attend Baldwin’s weekly “Skate night” sessions, where several ramps, rails, benches and obstacles are brought for skaters.

Skater Stephen Weirzbowski, 16, said a skate park could be a safe space for ambitious skaters like himself.

“Anywhere we skate, we get kicked out pretty fast.

It’s not fair that football players have a field, basketball players have a court and skaters have a once a week skate session.

Skating is a serious sport and I can’t progress in my driveway,” Wierzbowski said.

City council has said it supports the skate park efforts completely, but clarified that members first need to do their homework on what resources they can provide. After talking to city attorneys, city council will officially announce and detail their support plan at a city council meeting in the near future.

Zwiener touted her background as an environmental conservation and her decision to spearhead the fight against Kinder Morgan Permian.

“I also established myself as an environmental champion in the legislature as the only member with a professional conservation background,” Zwiener said. “I killed a bill that would have eliminated most of our local water quality protections and led the fight against the Kinder Morgan Permian highway pipeline.”

Isaac, wife of former TX45 State. Rep. Jason Isaac, provided a statement listing several high-profile endorse-

ments from elected officials and organizations. “(Isaac) a leader in the House District 45 community who will fight to cut property taxes, secure the border, support teachers and students defend and protect Second Amendment rights,” Issac’s statement reads. “(Issac) is endorsed by the National Rifle Association, Texas State Rifle Association, Gun Owners of America, Texas Right to Life … (Texas) Attorney General Ken Paxton, Agricultural Commissioner Sid Mille, Commissioner Wade Christian and, most importantly, over 200 local conservative leaders.”

Talley, a U.S. Navy and

army veteran, supplied a prepared statement expressing his willingness to support fellow veterans and their families. “(The people) want an entrepreneur who is a devoted advocate for veterans and their family. I plan to continue fighting for our community as a Texas legislator,” Talley’s statement reads.

Wymore, former chairman of the Hays County Republican Party and owner of The Wymore Law Firm, did not provide a statement to LMV. Early voting is slated to began Tuesday, Feb. 18 and ends Friday, Feb. 28, and Election Day is Tuesday, March 3.

Skate Park

Continued from pg. 3 won’t be complete until late 2021 or early 2022.

“I feel very strongly that we’re going to do it right. We have the right people involved to make a destination park, hotter than the park in Austin,” Baldwin said. “We’re going to get it done.”

Baldwin has kept skate supporters involved in every step, including the design of the park. Skaters participated in a “dotmocracy”’ that allowed them to vote on what kinds of

LWV Forum

Continued from pg. 3 opened the forum citing legislation she contributed to during the spring session in the house after winning the seat in 2018 and issues she hopes to push in a second term. “(The legislature) allocated another $6 billion for public education and another $5.5 billion dollars to buy down property taxes. Those are both areas where we still have more work to do, but it's a critical start that I'm eager to build on next session,” Zwiener said.

“We still have more work to do, particularly on health care and I would love all your support for another term in the Texas House.”

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