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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVI No. 26
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
75¢
Thursday, April 7, 2016
LAGNIAPPE Three dead after RR12 accident
Caregivers Support Group Meeting
The Alzheimer’s Caregivers will meet this Thursday, April 7, at 1 p.m. at the Wimberley Presbyterian Church Library, 956 FM 2325. This is an opportunity for caregivers to discuss the latest Alzheimer’s information and to share ideas as they travel the caregiving road together. Please join us. For additional information contact Linda Germain, 512 924-3661, volunteer for Alzheimer’s Texas.
BY PAIGE LAMBERT
News-Dispatch Reporter
A head-on collision four miles north of San Marcos on Ranch Road 12 killed three people and injured three others Tuesday morning. According to the Texas
Department of Public Safety, Tuesday’s accident occurred around 11 a.m. on Ranch Road 12 just south of Hugo Road. According to state trooper Robbie Barrera, a Dodge pickup truck traveling eastbound on Ranch Road 12 crossed the double yellow center dividing line and hit a Toyota Camry head on
in the westbound lane. The collision killed the male driver of the pickup truck. An elderly man and woman in the Camry were killed instantly. Authorities have also not yet released the identity of the man and woman in the Camry or the driver of the pickup truck. According to the release,
Man booked for child assault
First Thursday
Head to Mercer Street and Old Fitzhugh Rd. from 5-10 p.m. April 7 to kick off the 2016 season of First Thursdays. Come out for fun activities, live music, shopping and more. Downtown businesses come together to stay open late and provide a fun environment for late-night shopping. Visit www.firstthursdaydrippingsprings.org for more information.
BBQ Battle
Join the Wimberley Merchants Association for a BBQ Battle and a little taste of heaven April 9 around the Wimberley square. Come out for great prizes and even better barbecue. Contestants will be throughout town and live music will be at several locations. Visit www.wimberleymerchants. com for more information or to register.
WAG Rescue
WAG Rescue will have an adoption day on Saturday, April 9 at King Feed in Wimberley from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Concerts in the Park
The City of Wimberley invites you to Blue Hole Regional Park every Friday evening in April for free concerts in the park. Call the park office (512) 660-9111 for more information. www. cityofwimberley.com
Starlight Symphony Orchestra
The Starlight Symphony Orchestra will perform
LAGNIAPPE, 7
three men in the truck were taken to St. David’s South Austin Medical Center. The condition and identity of the three men has not yet been released. Barrera said a reconstruction report will be created. This story is developing. Updates can be found at www. haysnewsdispatch.com.
BY SAMANTHA SMITH
News-Dispatch Reporter
PHOTO BY PAIGE LAMBERT
Chad Varnell banks right as he flies over Dripping Springs. Varnell provides sightseeing tours and helped search teams during the Memorial Day flood.
Building a business with a bird’s-eye view BY PAIGE LAMBERT
News-Dispatch Reporter
There is nothing quite like getting a bird’s eye view of the world during a flight. A Dripping Springs resident is giving people that opportunity on a local scale with his helicopter business. Chad Varnell created D-Tour Aviation a year ago, joining eight other helicopter pilots in Hays County. Varnell uses his helicopter for nonstop aerial tours around Dripping Springs and Austin. Before Varnell could even give a tour, he had to go through a year of training, along with learning over 30 emergency maneuvers and pass a series of tests, he said. “Aviation 30 years ago and aviation today are night and day different,” Varnell said. “Now they have everything so fine-tuned, they know what the failures are going to be and what is going to happen.” The FAA completes an inspection once a year for commercial helicopters and only allows certain parts to be used in each make and model, he said. Varnell said the rigorous standards have created a closeknit community of helicopter pilots. A few weeks ago, Varnell and a fellow pilot helped another after their master relay failed in Fredericksburg. “There was a spare (master relay) someone had in Seguin, so I went and picked it up and brought it over to him,” Varnell said. “They (pilots) will go a thousand miles out of their way to help you out.” Daniel Scott, who trained Varnell, said many pilots try to show that communal atmosphere when dealing with less than happy neighbors. Scott said many times he will notify households near an event or property that he will be flying over. “Most people just don’t understand that a helicopter is here for a few seconds and then it’s gone,” Scott said.
A Dripping Springs resident was arrested March 29 for attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child. According to a Hays County arrest affidavit, ALBA Christopher Alba, 28, of Dripping Springs Texas was arrested
ASSAULT, 2
City plan update meeting April 14 STAFF REPORT
PHOTO BY PAIGE LAMBERT
Chad Varnell triple checks his helicopter and cleans the windshield before another flight. Helicopter pilots have to meet strict standards and regulations before the can fly.
just leisure tours. Many use the “If they were educated the service to survey large tracts of ignorance would turn into land before buying, he said. understanding.” “People want to see what’s Varnell said people point around them,” Varnell out helicopters said. “A picture is more than small planes because “People want worth 5,000 words, but a flight is worth a they have to fly to see whats lot more.” very low. Pilots help Helicopter around them agriculture businesses pilots must fly ... A picture is by scaring birds and below 1,000 feet crows away. After a due to safety worth 5,000 helicopter chases concerns. A pilot words but a a flock of birds off must ask for clearance from flight is worth a field a couple of times, they learn a control tower a lot more.” to avoid that field, to fly at a plane’s Varnell said. airspace at 2,000 – Chad Varnell, ownThey can also help feet. er of D-Tour Aviation keep crops dry, such Varnell said as the peach orchards a pilot could in Fredericksburg. lessen the noise footprint by “We’ll fly over the top of flying higher and slower. It them very slowly and get all creates more noise for those in that moisture off,” Varnell said. close proximity but lessens the “They’ll have a higher crop widespread noise. production.” “(Neighbors) aren’t going to Helicopters have the complain if there’s a sense of flexibility to cover lots of community,” Scott said.“ It is a ground where boats or vehicles community service, and holy couldn’t reach. smokes, what a community After the Memorial Day service it is for you.” Varnell said he has served the community in more than HELICOPTER, 9
With a comprehensive plan update in the works, the city of Dripping Springs is holding the first of two town hall meeting to gather feed back from residents on what the plan could entail. The first Town Hall Meeting has been scheduled 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14 at Dripping Springs Ranch Park Event Center, 1042 Event Center Drive. City of Dripping Springs council members, staff and community leaders are currently updating the Comprehensive Plan for the City. A Comprehensive Plan helps cities develop a longterm shared vision for the future and a blueprint for achieving that vision. It is a city’s first step toward longterm planned community development. A steering committee of citizens, business representatives, property owners and interested area volunteers has been appointed by the city council to guide the process which includes the gathering of public input and an update of the city’s current plan. The first phase of the process included a community survey. More than 1,600 participants completed the survey which identifies goals and recommendations that embrace the values of the community as well as any concerns.
TOWN HALL, 6