SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 COVID IN SCHOOLS
OPIOID CRISIS
See where the numbers are in local school districts.
Buda accepts frunds from $26 billion opioid settlement.
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News-Dispatch © Barton Publications, Inc.
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HaysNewsDispatch.com
Vol. 41 • No. 51
Serving Hays County, TX
Hays Master Gardeners warm up for fall plant sale BY MEGAN WEHRING
HAYS COUNTY – Just in time for the fall planting season, the Hays County Master Gardeners Association (HCMGA) is slated to host its annual plant and tree sale next month. Texas native and adapted plants and trees will be featured. These include perennials, ground covers, ornamental grasses, succulents, shrubs and spineless prickly pear. “There is going to be a fairly broad selection of water-conserving [and]
No COVID precautions, no court hearings
“There is going to be a fairly broad selection of water-conserving [and] water-conscious plants They thrive in this particular area. Everything that we are focusing on will work well in Hays County and most of them have low water requirements.” –Connie Wierman, HCMGA president
water-conscious plants,” said Connie Wierman, HCMGA president. “They thrive in this particular area. Everything that we
are focusing on will work well in Hays County and most of them have low water requirements.” While they sold a large
number of native trees last year, the most popular category of sales have been native and adapted perennials, Wierman added. Perennials are plants that won’t succumb to the Texas summer heat, will survive droughts once established and still will provide colorful blooms and textures. Experienced landscapers and gardeners would say that the best time for planting is between the months of October and
FALL PLANT SALE, 10
Welcome to the district YELLOW ALERT!
BY SAHAR CHMAIS Hays County Court at Law 3 Judge Daniel O’Brien has COVID-19, delaying his docket for the week. Though it is unclear where O’Brien may have contracted the virus, on Thursday, Sept. 2, a prosecutor attended O’Brien’s court and later that evening tested positive for COVID-19, according to multiple anonymous sources. The prosecutor was wearing a mask during court. On June 1, Hays County Courts at Law resumed in-person court proceedings. While court has no mask mandates or social distancing protocols in place, they strongly encourage unvaccinated attendees to wear masks, according to County Court at Law 2 Judge Christopher Johnson. The court is also trying to stagger people in the courtrooms and put defendants in the hallways if possible, but dockets have been increasing in numbers and sometimes it is difficult to distance, Johnson said. Hays County Courtsat-Law have reverted to in-person hearings because that is a more efficient approach than Zoom, Johnson said.
Two new elementaries join DSISD family
HEARINGS PAUSED, 10
Cypress Springs Elementary School faculty and students held a ribbon cutting Sept. 9 (bottom two photos) featuring a program of speakers and a tour of the school.
On Sept. 2, a ribbon-cutting ceremony with a brief program was held at Walnut Springs Elementary's new building (top two photos), featuring fifth graders singing the school song and remarks by Superintendent Dr. Holly Morris-Kuentz, Board President Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick, and Principal Melinda Gardner. Visitors toured the school following the program.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DALE WHITAKER/DSISD
Coming Up Thunder in the Hills
Dripping Springs High School Band will host its twelfth annual Thunder in the Hills Percussion Invitational, on Saturday, September 18, 2021. The award-winning Dripping Springs Percussion will be among 15 teams that will perform just before the lunch break and first awards ceremony at the Tiger
Stadium at Dripping Springs High School. See page 2 for more information.
Diez y Seis this week
Diez y Seis de Septiembre, the 16th of September, marks the launch of Mexico’s struggle for independence from Spain. On Sept. 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla led the first large revolu-
SPORTS
See the results of last week’s high school football and volleyball.
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tionary forces against the Spaniards. The holiday is similar to the Fourth of July in the United States.
Car fanatics to gather at upcoming show The Gearheads will once again be gathering Saturday in the Cabelas parking lot in Buda from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Anyone wanting to come out and peruse many old and
refurbished vehicles are invited. The event is free.
Tigers Homecoming
The Dripping Springs High School Homecoming game is Friday, Sept. 24, against McCollum High School (7:30 p.m.). The king and queen will be announced at halftime. The underclass members of the court will be introduced during pregame.
The News-Dispatch Barton Publications, Inc. The News-Dispatch (USPS 011-401) published weekly by Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. Periodicals postage paid at Buda, TX 78610 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. ISSN#1087-9323
Local school districts hit roadblock, search for bus drivers BY MEGAN WEHRING
HAYS COUNTY — School districts in Hays County are in dire need of more bus drivers. The nationwide bus driver shortage has now reached Hays CISD (HCISD) and Dripping Springs ISD (DSISD). HCISD has 30 driver positions open and DSISD has 12 that they are hoping to fill. “Being short on bus drivers is not a new development,” said Dale Whitaker, executive director of communications for DSISD. “School districts have been looking to fill driver positions for years, but this year is the worst shortage we have experienced.” Drivers are forced to double up the routes or circle back to run another route, causing a delay in pick-up and drop-off times. While some parents are concerned that buses have reached overcapacity, every student has a seat, according to HCISD chief communications officer Tim Savoy. “People have reached out to the transportation department wondering why the buses are running late,” Savoy said. “The challenge is the people who would normally be answering those emails or calls are out there driving the buses. It’s all hands on
YELLOW ALERT, 10