August 2023 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

PANTHER

Owners Chad & Amanda Moore

CONTENTS

FEATURES

6 | SUCCESS ACADEMY/A.C.C.E.S.S.

LHISD programs focused on helping students succeed in life

8 | NEW OWNERSHIP, NEW OPPORTUNITIES

A word from The Independent’s new publishers

10 | Q&A: DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION

Learn more from Ann Hatton and her new role in LHISD

12 | ‘SHAPING SHANNON’

Local writer publishes historial fiction novel

14 | HAIL TO THE CHIEF

Get to know Travis Motal and his new responsibilites within LHISD

16 | THREE HEADED PANTHER

The senior running backs of the football team are ready to pounce

18 | SMOKE & ROLL-OUT

Liberty Hill resident hand rolls premium cigars

24 | CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

See the status of the different campuses across LHISD

26 | MADE IN LIBERTY HILL

Golf Cart King can customize carts from top to bottom right in Liberty Hill

28 | LHYL’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY

The Liberty Hill Youth League is celebrating 70 years this year

29 | VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW

Take a look at the upcoming season of Panthers volleyball

33 | A SUMMER OF SOCCER

One Liberty Hill student spent his summer playing soccer abroad

DEPARTMENTS

23 | BIZ BRIEFS

See the businesses planned or opening soon in Liberty Hill

32 | WORSHIP GUIDE

Find a church home for your family

34 | FLORENCE VIDETTE

News article from the 1800s shows how directions used to be shared

36 | LOCAL EVENTS

Local entertainment on tap for August

12

ABOUT OUR COVER

From left, Joe Pitchford, Ben Carter and Noah Long stand on the Panthers football field at Liberty Hill High School. The trio of running backs is ready for an exciting season.

LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT MONTHLY

A Publication of Liberty Hill Independent News & Media OWNERS/PUBLISHERS | Scott Akanewich, Rachel Madison ADVERTISING SALES | Stacy Coale GRAPHIC DESIGN | Katie McLaughlin CONTRIBUTING WRITERS | Rachel Madison, Scott Akanewich, James Wear www.LHIndependent.com

The information in this publication was compiled with great care to assure the accuracy of editorial content and advertising copy. Liberty Hill Independent Monthly and its parent company assume no liability for the accuracy of the information reported to us herein, and the opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. For advertising rates and information, or to obtain additional copies, call (512) 778-5577 or send email to rachel@LHIndependent.com. This publication is truly a collaborative effort of experienced journalists, a professional design team, advertising specialists and many others passionate about sharing the story of Liberty Hill, Texas. Copyright©2023 Liberty Hill Independent News & Media/Liberty Hill Independent. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publishers.

Contact Us: (512) 778-5577 | rachel@LHIndependent.com | Liberty Hill Independent, PO Box 204, Liberty Hill, TX 78642

PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

LHISD programs help students succeed in unique ways

Success Academy, A.C.C.E.S.S. initiatives working wonders

BY RACHEL MADISON OWNER/PUBLISHER

In the Liberty Hill Independent School District, student success is a big deal.

That’s why the district has created a variety of different programs that help students to achieve success, even when it doesn’t look like the traditional method of sitting in a classroom and learning. For some students, particularly in high school and beyond, the traditional ways of learning aren’t the best option.

Read on to learn more about two of the district’s more unique programs that help students to graduate high school and find success after graduation.

Liberty Hill Success Academy

Liberty Hill Success Academy offers an alternative learning environment for students who have not found success in a traditional high school setting. The program focuses on individualized learning blended with student-centered instruction, according to the LHISD. The program is offered to juniors and seniors who need to recover credits or need to graduate early.

The program allows students to attend school with unique schedules. Jonathan Bever, director of student success for LHISD, said some students come to class in the mornings, while others attend in the afternoons. Some come for a whole day of learning, while others come for a half day of learning. Online learning is not currently offered, Bever added, but that’s by design. Being in class in person is a big part of the program, he said.

Students must be interviewed before admission into the program, Bever said.

“We have an interview with myself and the student, as well as their parents and their counselor,” he said. “We have a rubric we go off of to determine who comes into the program, and we also rely on our counselors’ input.”

Bever, who previously served as principal of Liberty Hill High School before moving into the director of student success role, said when he was principal, he didn’t realize what some of his students and their families were going through.

“This program has allowed me to go inside students’ homes and talk to them about

things I never thought I would have talked about. It’s a completely different environment.”

When Bever was principal, there was a group of students who weren’t going to graduate, and something needed to be done to help them, he said.

“We pulled these kids out of the classroom and removed them from their schedules,” he said. “We created a hybrid credit recovery program for them, kind of like a school within a school. All but one of those seniors that year graduated, so we knew it could be successful.”

Bever said he and other district administrators looked at various programs, but ultimately decided to start their own. That’s when Bever moved into the director of student success role.

“We just want the community to know that we’re here for their kids,” he said. “Every kid has a story and a everyone is different. We want to be able to provide for them whatever their needs are. We tell the kids in every interview to communicate for themselves and advocate for themselves. A lot of times they don’t get to do that in a big high school setting, but if they talk to us and tell us what’s going on, we can help.”

year there will be six of us and we’re going to have four different classrooms in our own portables outside the school.”

was family, mentored me and truly wanted to see me make it and succeed. Success is an opportunity for anyone.”

Bever started working on the program in summer 2022 with the intention of starting it at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. At first, he was nervous because he wasn’t sure if it was going to take.

“We didn’t know if the kids would be interested in something like this,” he said.

“We started off with 17 kids at the beginning of the year, and then from there through word of mouth we ended up having a great year. We saw over 100 kids, and we had over 60 graduates.”

Bever, who along with a staff of now five additional teachers, is looking forward to the second year of the Liberty Hill Success Academy because this school year, the program will have its own space.

“We started out with just Mrs. [Christine] Huppee and I inside the high school, but this

Bever added that it’s important to him for the students in the program to have their own space outside the high school. Students aren’t required to work on all school subjects at once, either. They can work on a subject and complete all the credits they need for that subject one at a time. The learning environment is also different from a traditional classroom, Bever said. Students can sit on beanbags, rocking chairs or even the floor during class instruction.

“It’s almost like college in a way,” he said. “We have a coffee bar and a refrigerator, and the kids can sit in groups based on what they are working on. It helps them to be more comfortable than just sitting at a desk.”

Bever said it’s always rewarding to have a new student enter the program, because for many of them, it’s like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel—something they’ve never experienced before. While the program allowed certain students who graduated early to celebrate throughout the school year, the official graduation for the first year of the program took place in May.

“This program gave me hope when I needed it the most,” said Ella Brown, a graduate of the program during her graduation speech. “The staff in this program treated me like I

Brown is now working toward her real estate license and plans to attend Austin Community College.

This school year, Bever expects between 50 and 55 students will start the year in the program. His goal is to have a total of 80 to 85 students in the program throughout the year. Another goal for this school year is to solidify the processes and systems of the success academy.

“I want the program to essentially run itself,” he said. “I want the kids to know our expectations, and if they have a question, they can open the book and get the answer. This last year was our first, and now as we go into our second year my biggest goal is to solidify those processes.”

Ultimately, Bever hopes the success academy will be a safe haven for students to learn and grow.

“Every student has a different story, which is why it’s important that we make the program fit and make it right for them,” Bever said. “On the surface, some kids might not look like they need help, when in reality they do.”

For more information on the Liberty Hill Success Academy, visit libertyhill.txed.net/ Page/1353.

A.C.C.E.S.S./18+ Program

Angela Meade is the student support services coordinator who oversees the A.C.C.E.S.S. program, which stands for

More than 60 seniors graduated from the Liberty Hill Success Academy in its first year, held during the 2022-23 school year. COURTESY PHOTO

“We just want the community to know that we’re here for their kids. Every kid has a story and a everyone is different.”

Jonathan Bever

Liberty Hill ISD Director of Student Success

Accessing Community Through Career Environments for Student Success. The program is a special education placement program for students between the ages of 18 and 21 who need additional transition services after high school graduation.

Each student in the program receives services based on their IEP, or individualized education plan. The plan is created by the student, their guardians and their teachers and spells out the transitional skills the student needs to master after graduation. This could include having a job coach, learning volunteer skills or learning social skills.

“The beautiful thing about the program is you have this gamut of things students can work on, because of the level each student is at,” Meade said.

To be in the program, students must live in the school district. They have to have met all the goals they could achieve in high school and be a graduate, but still need post-secondary support.

The program typically hosts a small group of students. In the 2022-23 school year, 13

bigger,” Meade said. “We currently have our own space in a portable next to the district administration building, but thanks to the bond being passed, we’ll soon have our own building that we hope to move into next spring. It’s going to be very exciting to have our own building.”

The environment the students learn in is important, Meade said, adding that the learning space is more like a living room in a house than a classroom.

“They need couches and household lights and places to relax,” she said. “It’s not just about helping them get a job, it’s about giving them the environment they need so they can be successful in life as well.”

Meade said staff helps the students do an assessment that helps them decide what they want to do for a job and how to move forward to get there. They can attend the program until they turn 22 or leave earlier if they find a job and are able to transition out of the program.

Job coaches teach the students everything from how to clock in and clock out to proper hand washing in the workplace.

different employment opportunities in the community, and as we’re growing those are increasing.”

Meade said one of her goals for the new school year is to make new community partnerships, whether that’s helping these students with jobs or volunteer opportunities.

“We currently have an autism grant in conjunction with Leander ISD, which allows us to provide some additional training for our teachers, job coaches and staff,” she said. “It’s specific curriculum that helps our students transition into adulthood. If we can continue to make those partnerships within the community, that would be our biggest goal. It’s a small population of individuals, but they are people in our community who deserve opportunities.”

Meade said another goal of the program is to empower parents, because navigating life after high school for some students is difficult.

“It can be a long, daunting process to help this person who you created and suddenly they are an adult and they need help

and state.”

Meade said it’s amazing watching the students who come in and eventually transition out of the program.

“When they first come in they don’t know what to do, because we are basically teaching them independence,” she said. “It’s really cool see them come in needy and then we get to watch the flower bloom.”

Superintendent Steve Snell congratulated each graduate of Liberty Hill Success Academy during the program’s inaugural graduation ceremony in May 2023. COURTESY PHOTO

New ownership provides exciting new opportunities

Here we are in Liberty Hill

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

Truth be told, I never had any ambition of owning a publication – all I ever wanted to be was a writer.

For the past 20 years, I have done just that, from my days as a U.S. Army journalist in places near and far around the world to civilian jobs in my former home state of California, Wyoming, North Carolina and Nebraska.

Li le did I know my long and winding journey would eventually lead me deep in the heart of Texas to a place called Liberty Hill.

In fact, a er my stint in America’s Heartland, I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to continue on the road of going wherever on the map the next opportunity was and even began studying for a real estate license to hopefully ensure a bit more of a stable future and even retirement.

A er all, I le the military behind a er 10 years to chase my civilian writing dreams, which meant there wasn’t going to be a pension from Uncle Sam to have as a nest egg, so I felt like I needed to do something a bit more profitable because let’s face it – all the intrinsic value in the world still doesn’t pay the bills or buy beer, for that ma er.

However, when I arrived in Liberty Hill in August 2019, I was just glad to be back covering sports for a living and it certainly didn’t take long to start realizing what a special place God had led me to a er all those years.

Ever since, I’ve had the privilege of meeting and ge ing to know so many wonderful peo-

A lifelong dream fulfilled

ple – from coaches to players to administrators to parents and many others, but even so, a er four years on the Purple-and-Gold beat, I found myself yearning for a bit more.

So, when the opportunity to become co-owner and publisher of The Independent came along, it afforded me to indeed do something new while still carrying on in the profession I have such a passion for.

An added bonus to this entire equation is I get to be in business with Rachel Madison and her husband John – true salt-ofthe-earth people who have already become extended family for me. Moving forward as Liberty Hill continues to grow, we have many exciting things planned in the coming months and years and I’m excited and rejuvenated to be in the position I’m in to maintain current relationships in the community and cultivate new ones – which, for me, is the most gratifying aspect of what I do.

Here’s how I look at it.

I’ve covered Panthers sports for the past four years, so if was a student/athlete myself, last year would’ve been my senior year. What comes next?

Graduation, of course.

So, I view this opportunity as my own professional graduation from simply covering Liberty Hill’s residents and telling their stories to having a real chance to affect positive change and growth in this beautiful place we call home.

Truly a blessing and I look forward to working with all of you. Go Panthers!

BY RACHEL MADISON OWNER/PUBLISHER

When I was about 10 years old, I started my own newspaper. My only readers were a few family members, and I had to beg my grandfather to take my original, handwri en and designed pages to his office to make copies, but that’s all it took for me to realize what I wanted in life.

I wanted to be a writer, and more specifically, a journalist. I wanted to tell other people’s stories in a way that made a difference, and I wanted to share what was happening in the world in a way that got people to think.

A er working as an editor for both my high school and college newspapers, I landed my first real reporter job at a smalltown newspaper—a town much like Liberty Hill—soon a er graduating college. It was there that I fell in love with local, community journalism.

That’s because community journalism is different. It’s not about what’s happening on the other side of the world—it’s all about what’s happening in your hometown, and to me, that is where the best stories can be found.

Fast forward a few years, add in a move to Texas from my home state of Utah, and I found The Liberty Hill Independent.

Since 2017, I have been a part of The Independent in one form or another, so it was easy to jump on board when the opportunity to become co-owner and publisher of The

Independent came along in early 2023. Along with my partner, Sco Akanewich, and our small but mighty team, I am ready to continue the legacy of The Independent, which has been a part of the Liberty Hill community since 1987.

The Independent is more than just a newspaper. It’s an unwri en social contract pledged to keep the community informed, educated and engaged. With each headline and every story we write, we aim to resonate with the heartbeat of the Liberty Hill community.

Local journalism is more important now than it ever has been in my opinion, especially as Liberty Hill sits at a precipice of growth that is unprecedented. Keeping readers informed as that growth happens around us is an important part of that unwri en contract.

The Independent has served as a thread in the fabric of this community’s past and present, and I look forward to adding to that in the future.

My goal is to make sure that every story is told ethically without bias, allowing our readers to form their own opinions about issues we face locally.

I also want to aptly tell the stories of the incredible people who live and work in our community.

Owning this newspaper means carrying its legacy into the future, which goes far beyond the digital screens and printed words read on a page.

It is truly an honor to be a custodian for our community’s spirit, values and history.

Ann Hatton

Ann Hatton is the new director of transportation for the Liberty Hill Independent School District. She started her new role in July and has hit the ground running.

Hatton has been in the school district transportation field for 15 years, where she’s worked in several different roles that have led her to now leading transportation for LHISD. With approximately 65 employees, 45 bus routes and the task of transporting around 3,500 students daily to and from their campuses to their neighborhoods, Hatton has her work cut out for her, but she’s ready for the challenge.

Read on to learn more about Hatton’s background and her goals as the new director of transportation.

BY RACHEL MADISON OWNER/PUBLISHER

LHI MONTHLY: How did you get into a career in the school district transportation field?

HATTON: I originally got my CDL in 2000 and drove a recycling truck for a recycling center. Later on, I was working on completing my master’s degree and I saw a sign at the school district’s transportation facility in San Marcos that they were hiring bus drivers. I decided to do that part time while I finished my master’s degree. After I got my degree in 2009, I just continued to work my way up. I was a dispatcher, scheduler, route coordinator and operations manager all in San Marcos CISD. In 2016, I became assistant director of transportation for Round Rock ISD, and then in 2017, I became the director of transportation at Leander ISD. For the last four years, I was the director of transportation at Del Valle ISD.

LHI: Why did you decide to apply for the director of transportation role in LHISD?

HATTON: I was looking forward to growing with this district, growing this department, and creating new opportunities to build

the culture here. I want to develop the staff to become the professionals that I think Liberty Hill is moving toward. I definitely like the small town feel and family atmosphere Liberty Hill has. One thing I did in Round Rock, Leander and Del Valle is improve the culture in the transportation departments, as well as the services provided to the campuses, students and parents. I’m looking forward to having that challenge again and doing that here in Liberty Hill.

LHI: How are you going to address the growth the district is experiencing?

HATTON: With the growth of the district, I’ll be planning for additional buses, bus routes, bus drivers and staff and additional transportation facilities. With the opening of additional campuses each year, we will have to plan ahead each year. It’s also my job to work with county officials to ensure we have accurate maps of all the new subdivisions coming into Liberty Hill.

LHI: What are some of your goals as director of transportation this upcoming school year?

HATTON: Improving the culture and

improving the safety and efficiency of the routes. I want to create a collaborative atmosphere between the campuses, the transportation department and parents. I also want to improve the student management on buses. We are going to have professional development at the beginning of the school year. I’ve created an agenda over five days that includes training for student management, radio etiquette, accident investigation and procedures, field trip and route training and emergency evacuation training. During that time, we will also do some fun activities to get to know each other and to ensure that the employees remain focused on the vision and mission of the district and coaching to create champions.

LHI: What do you enjoy most about working in school district transportation?

HATTON: Working with the kids. I drove bus routes for a long time, and when you’re consistent with the students, you build relationships with them and receive the rewards of seeing them grow. Working with special needs students has its own unique

challenges; however, it’s also uniquely rewarding. When you’re a bus driver, you see their home, you know their siblings, their parents—and in some cases some students have a very comfortable home life and others don’t. As a bus driver you have the opportunity to help students in ways that other personnel in the district can’t.

LHI: What else do you want the community to know about you?

HATTON: I’m a mom. I have two boys, a 20-year-old attending Texas A&M who is working on his animal science degree, and a 16-year-old who is very good at chess and going to high school in Leander. I also love to scuba dive and sail. The best place I’ve ever been diving was in Cancun. And one of my coolest diving experiences I’ve ever had was when I got to swim with sharks. Lastly, I’m looking forward to this school year and the exciting growth opportunities the district will have. I’m also looking forward to building new relationships with the community.

Ann Hatton is the new director of transportation for the Liberty Hill Independent School District. She is looking forward to building new relationships with the community. PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

Life experiences, family history give local author perspective for debut novel

BY RACHEL MADISON OWNER/PUBLISHER

For Liberty Hill resident JoAnn Swahn, a lifetime of personal experiences, stories from her ancestors and the desire to put pen to paper were the catalysts that prompted her to write “Shaping Shannon,” a historical fiction novel about a strong-willed woman determined to control her own destiny.

“A lot of the early stuff in the book when it talks about Shannon’s early life, that tracks accurately to my background,” Swahn said.

Swahn was born and raised in the Austin area. As a young adult, she was afforded a lot of fascinating jobs and job opportunities, she said.

“I was seriously involved in the world of tennis in Lakeway; I played professional tennis and loved it,” she said. “As for my career, I went into the hotel business and made that my main career. When I was in my early 40s, I was promoted and moved to New York to work at the corporate headquarters of the hotel company. We went from one property to over 30 during the time I was there, and my field was always in the marketing and business development area, so I traveled extensively.”

Swahn said a lot of her travels took her to countries in Europe, like France, England, Germany, Italy and Spain, which was both a career and personal building experience.

“Once I finished my career, I moved back home to Texas to be with my mom, who was in the final stages of her life,” she said. “I moved back in 2007 and bought a home in Liberty Hill.”

During that time, Swahn started a consulting company offering marketing services to nonprofits. She fully retired in 2017—but found that she missed writing.

“My work always put me in areas where in needed to write, whether it was public relations or business plans,” she said. “I never believed I was creative enough to write a fiction book, but I always harbored a desire to do it.”

Fast forward to 2020, when COVID hit, and Swahn said she was challenged by a family member to write the book she’d always wanted to write.

“I had no excuse,” she said. “I had no reason to say I was too busy, so I set myself a goal to write and finish a book in a year. Well, two years and four months later, I finally finished it and had it published.”

Swahn said the creative process of writing a book was challenging, exciting and frustrating all the same time. She even ripped up her book halfway through and started over because she didn’t like the direction it was going in.

But eventually, in May 2022, her book was published.

Swahn always had an idea of the kind of book she wanted to write—not necessarily an autobiography, but a fictional account of some of the things that happened during her life.

“I also wanted to go back to how my grandparents immigrated here from Sweden,” she said. “Plus, my maternal family came by wagon train from Tennessee and settled in Texas. I wanted to write about that generation and what struggles they went through being poor with different backgrounds. I also liked to look historically at the years and the major milestones they witnessed during those times, like a hurricane in Galveston in 1909, World War I, the Spanish flu, the Great Depression.”

As she wrote, Swahn imagined the experiences her ancestors must have had to survive during those times.

“I used all real stories, and then fictionalized them a lot to make them interesting,” she said.

Swahn has always been fascinated by what really makes a person’s character—whether that’s heredity and genetics or life experiences and environment.

“With Shannon I wanted to explore that fully and go back to her ancestry and what impact that may or may not have had on her character,” she said. “I wanted to see how that shaped her destiny in a good or negative way, and then what she could do just by her own

her to write another book.

“There is a possibility I might continue Shannon’s story,” she said. “If I take from this book, which I’m thinking about doing with one of the characters, I will need to spend a good bit of time in South Africa. I’ve been to Africa, but never to South Africa. I have a strong personal connection to it, as my very best friend that the book is dedicated to is South African, and we had a friendship that lasted 50 years before she passed away. I have this affinity for South Africa, so I know I’ll get there one day.”

determination. Shannon is a very complex character—very strong willed and determined—who decided to defy her background and upbringing and carve her own destiny.”

Much of her inspiration came from an uncle, who Swahn said was a gifted artist and true cowboy.

“He was a story teller, and he lived with me for a while,” she said. “He came for a visit and stayed three years. He would tell stories and paint from memory. I wrote down a lot of his stories, which I think were mostly true tales. But that’s the beauty of fiction, it doesn’t have to be true.”

Swahn said she loves talking to book clubs, and every time a book club has read it, they’ve really enjoyed it, which has been encouraging for her, and may help to convince

Swahn said ultimately, writing a book wasn’t just about the writing. She spent nearly a year researching Swedish immigrants, Texas history and South African culture for her book.

“Just getting all those pieces lined up accurately to fold into the story was an interesting process,” she said. “Certainly, the writing part is the most fun part, and then editing was not as much fun and very arduous.”

Shaping Shannon was published by Treaty Oak Publishers and is available to purchase online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and many other major book retailers. The Liberty Hill Public Library also has copies of the book available to check out.

To get in touch with Swahn, email joannswahn@gmail.com.

‘Shaping Shannon’ tells the story of a young woman with strong will and determination

“A lot of the early stuff in the book when it talks about Shannon’s early life, that tracks accurately to my background.”

JoAnn Swahn

author of ‘Shaping Shannon’

“Shaping Shannon” tells the story of a strong-willed young woman determined to create her own destiny. The book can be found at the Liberty Hill Public Library or at major book retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. COURTESY GRAPHIC

Liberty Hill resident JoAnn Swahn used personal life experiences and stories of her ancestors to write her debut novel, a historical fiction called “Shaping Shannon.”

PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

Hail to the new ‘Chief’

Newly-created position adds structure to school district leadership

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

Suffice to say it’s been a busy past four years for Travis Motal.

In the fall of 2019, he was the newly-minted principal of then-Liberty Hill Junior High School and after two years in that position became the Liberty Hill Independent School District’s Director of Secondary Education, a post he remained in for the past two.

Now, as the 2023-24 school year appears on the horizon, Motal will man a brandnew position within the district hierarchy after being named Chief of Schools by the Liberty Hill ISD Board of Trustees.

According to Motal, the move is simply the latest step in the long-term vision of Superintendent Steve Snell as the district continues to grow.

“When Mr. Snell got here four years ago, he wanted to create a strategic plan moving forward,” said Motal. “So, this just aligns with the goals of the district and executing its vision.”

As Chief of Schools, Motal will oversee a cabinet consisiting of a trio of comrades atop the leadership chain, including Chief of Strategic Planning and Partnerships

Kristen Coulter, Chief Financial Officer

Rosanna Guerrero and Chief of Operations

Mark Willoughby, with all four reporting directly to Snell.

As Liberty Hill ISD continues to grow, it makes sense for the chain of command to evolve in being able to meet the needs of a district that has gone from just five schools to nine in the past four years, said Motal.

“You see this in some of the bigger districts – like Round Rock and Leander, for example,” he said. “Basically, it’s a business model with the superintendent as the CEO. We’re not that big yet, but we might as well get out in front of it now.”

Leading from the front

As opposed to his previous job, in which he oversaw the district’s high school and two middle schools, Motal will now supervise all of the campuses – a job description he put in rather simple terms.

“If it’s happening at one of our schools,” he said. “I’m over it.”

As part of those responsibilities, Motal will be in charge of making sure the district’s wide variety of specialized programs go off without a hitch, including Career and Technical Education (CTE), Gifted and Talented (GT) and Special Education, among others, including all state and federally-funded programs.

Before his arrival in Liberty Hill, Motal began his career in Pflugerville as a teacher and assistant principal for eight years before moving on to Taylor, where he was a middle and elementary school principal for six years.

However, Motal credits a mentor of his for providing him with a glimpse early on of what proper educational leadership looked like.

ary education, Motal was also tasked with overseeing safety and security for the entire district, which was itself nearly another entire full-time job, he said.

“I was probably spending about 60 percent of my time on the safety aspect,” said Motal. “In my new job, it will more be one of operational safety in making sure everyone is in the right places at the right times in supporting all the different campuses. But, I’ll probably be just as busy, only in a different way.”

When Motal made the switch from a classroom role as a teacher to one of an administrator, he was able to build on his passion for impacting students’ lives – but in a more overarching manner.

Liberty Hill ISD Chief of Schools

“When I started out in Pflugerville, Criss Wakefield was my first principal,” he said. “She really showed how you can be personable and approachable toward students and develop relationships, but still be able to execute – the ability to balance both.”

Switching gears

As part of his role as director of second-

“Going from being a teacher to administration, you still get to support and guide students in making them better and helping them grow,” he said. “You have to ask yourself ‘Do I want to be an example?’ because after all, iron sharpens iron.”

Motal added making the jump from the front lines to the front office requires a mixture of two very important ingredients.

“You can never tell if you’re ready for something like that,” he said. “But, it’s a question of do I have the will or the skill to

do it? A lot of people might have the skills, but you also need a desire to learn and understand along the way – even if it takes a little longer.”

Part of the plan

Before Motal turned to education, he was studying for a criminal justice degree at then-Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State) and all these years later realizes his change of career paths was planned out by a higher power.

“I’m very conscious of my faith,” said Motal, who along with wife of 16 years, Anjie, have two children in Emma, 14, and Ben, 8.

“This was God’s plan all along – everything happens for a reason and I’ve become a better person for it,” he said.

Motal certainly has his priorities in order, which helps guide him in everything he does, he said.

“The three most important things for me are God, family and being a hard worker,” said Motal. “I want people to say ‘Here’s a guy who goes about things the right way.’ I’ve always kept the mentality of getting things done by working through obstacles.”

As for what the immediate future holds, Motal is confident moving forward – particularly with the support he’s received from within the district.

“I’m really excited and I can’t thank the superintendent and the board enough for having the faith in me to give me this opportunity,” he said. “I know I can handle the hard work and the challenge of making it happen.”

Travis Motal has been named the Liberty Hill Independent School District’s Chief of Schools – a newly-created position to accommodate the rapid growth of the district. PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

“I’m really excited and I can’t thank the superintendent and the board enough for having the faith in me to give me this opportunity. I know I can handle the hard work and the challenge of making it happen.”

Travis Motal

Travis Motal has worked his way up from junior high principal to the newly-created Chief of Schools in four years. COURTESY PHOTO

AnnMarie Staats PMHNP-BC

Michelle Courts PMHNP-BC

Shana Alexander PMHNP-BC

Nicole Garcia LCSW

Olivia Foadey LCSW

Amanda Styler LCSW

Teal Jackson LCSW

Annette Rierson LMSW

Rhonda Griffin LPC Ann K. White LPC

Tyler Downing LPC

Panthers gearing up for big season

Trio of seniors set to be explosive, versatile, tough

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

When the Panthers of Liberty Hill rolls out its famed, vaunted Slot-T attack this season, there will be a new pilot at the controls, but the main cylinders that will drive the engine up and down gridirons across Central Texas will certainly be a trio Purple-and-Gold supporters are very familiar with.

Seniors Noah Long, Joe Pitchford and Ben Carter will line up in the backfield, primed and ready for a potentially record-breaking season with their potent blend of speed, power and elusiveness.

Last season, the three combined for an incredible 5,085 yards and 61 touchdowns, which accounted for an astonishing 71.5 percent of the Panthers’ rushing yards for the season and 67 percent of the team’s touchdowns.

All of this with both Long (two) and Pitchford (six) missing a combined eight games due to injury over the course of a campaign that saw Liberty Hill advance to the Class 5A Division II semifinals before a 42-14 defeat at the hands of Port Neches-Groves derailed its quest for a return berth to the state championship game.

So, just what is this explosive, three-headed, yards-devouring machine truly capable of with another entire season of experience

under its belt?

Liberty Hill head coach Kent Walker has somewhat of an idea, he said.

“All three of them are very talented and hard workers,” said Walker, who will look to lead the Panthers to the state semifinals for the fourth consecutive campaign. “They’re Liberty Hill kids – tough and they do all the little things right to help each other and the team be successful.”

The Bulldozer

When Pitchford arrived in Liberty Hill during the spring semester of his freshman year, he was a quarterback who had risen up the ranks of the Rouse High School system before his family bought a ranch and made the move from Leander.

Suffice to say, his old team and new one provided polar opposite extremes of the offensive spectrum, with the Raiders running a spread scheme utilizing four wide receivers much of the time that emphasizes the pass, while of course, the Panthers churn out yardage on the ground as if it was being sold out from under them by an overzealous real estate agent.

As a result, digesting an entirely different diet of playcalling was a challenge, to say the least.

“When I got here, I was still trying to be a quarterback,” said Pitchford. “But, then I

ended up playing safety in summer ball.”

As it turns out, the turn of an ankle in the lead-up to the fall season was enough to switch his fortunes back to the offensive side of the ball – in addition to the needs of the team, he said.

“I had a high-ankle sprain and then when I came back I played halfback because that’s where I was most needed at the time,” said Pitchford, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 215 pounds. “I have a physical running style and just try to get what I can.”

According to Pitchford, though, that wasn’t always the case.

“When I was younger, I used to be a quick, shifty runner,” said Pitchford. “But, after my ankle sprain, that changed and I also got bigger and stronger in the weight room, so my style became more physical.”

Just ask opposing defenders about that last point, as it’s not uncommon for Pitchford to drag multiple tacklers along for the ride until finally being wrestled to the ground on one of his trademark gritty runs.

Walker said the transition from Maroonand-Black to Purple-and-Gold was relatively seamless.

“Joe came here and fit in right away,” he said. “He’s everything we want in a halfback –big, strong and physical.”

Pitchford said arriving in the spring of the

previous season helped acclimate him a great deal to the Panthers’ ways of conducting business.

“Yeah, that really helped – getting here ahead of time,” he said. “The Slot-T is completely different from anything else – it’s a grind –and it was kind of hard to pick up. Took about six to eight months, but (Liberty Hill assistant) Coach (Paul) Kilby helped me out a lot.”

Even so, playbook and video study is one thing when learning the complexities of the Slot-T – putting them to practical use in live game situations is something even hours of readiness can’t truly simulate compared to the real thing, said Pitchford.

“At the beginning of the season, I was still a little hesitant in running the plays,” he said. “But, once I got used to everything and my role, I really started to show my potential in the offense.”

Last season, Pitchford ran for 1,078 yards on 110 carries and nine touchdowns during a campaign that was sabotaged by a broken collarbone in the sixth game of the season before re-injuring the same shoulder in the state quarterfinals after missing the final four games of the regular season.

Pitchford said it was tough being relegated to the sidelines the following week during the semifinal defeat.

“It was hard – it really sucked,” he said.

Noah Long (21) led Liberty Hill with 2,074 yards rushing on 182 carries with 22 touchdowns in utilizing speed with the ability to make defenders miss. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

Originally a quarterback, Joe Pitchford (6) has transitioned into a physical force at the halfback position for the Panthers. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

The Slasher

Long burst onto the scene as a freshman flash three years ago and made an immediate impact despite the presence of established veteran backs Blake Simpson, Trey Seward and Eric De la Cruz, in posting 429 yards on 39 carries to go with six touchdowns, the highlight of which was a 77-yard gallop to the end zone in Liberty Hill’s 56-42 third-round playoff victory over Rouse.

Despite his elevation directly to the varsity squad right out of middle school, Long said he initially felt like a fish out of water practicing and playing alongside teammates and opponents alike that were much more experienced than he was.

“I used to be very timid, so I felt kind of out of place,” he said. “I was finally on that stage I had dreamed about and envisioned for so long.”

Heading into the season, though, Long had no idea where he was on the program’s depth chart as far as what level he would begin his high-school career on – until the time came to be issued his equipment, that is.

“When I got my gear, they gave me a SpeedFlex helmet,” said Long, of the highend headgear only bestowed on varsity players. “Which was when I knew I was on varsity.”

However, after the years passed by and he became a starter the past two seasons, those early feelings of awkwardness have gone by the wayside like defenders grasping at air on one of his spectacular jaunts.

“Now, I’m just a lot more confident,” said Long. “It’s time for us to go out there, take care of business and anyone in our way.”

Walker said there was no doubt leading up to Long’s debut exactly which roster he was going to be on.

“Noah came in here, had a great summer and really proved himself,” he said. “But, honestly, I had already been hearing about Noah Long for years since all the way back in elementary school and Liberty Hill Youth Football – he’s been talked about around here since he was a little kid.”

Despite an already-crowded backfield that fall, Walker said he and the coaching staff had no choice but to find playing time for Long once they realized what he could do.

“We thought we would play him some on defense,” he said. “But, then we saw what kind of athlete he was – he’s always had natural instincts, great vision and speed – but as the years have gone by, he’s also gotten bigger, faster and stronger.”

The rest is history of which the final

chapter will be written this autumn with Long himself as the author, as well as one of the main characters.

“Our goal is a state championship,” said Long, who piled up a team-leading 2,074 yards on 182 carries last season with 22 touchdowns. “We have a ton of talent on this team.”

Part and parcel of his local fame is the attention he garners from those who are now in the shoes he once wore while looking up to Panthers of the past – something he doesn’t take lightly, he said.

“Last year was the first time a kid asked me for an autograph,” said Long. “We took a selfie of it and it was really cool. A lot of the kids just want a high-five from one of us. Being an example for them is an honor.”

In fact, one local lad took his hero worship for Long to another level.

“One kid told me he named his goldfish after me,” he said. “Noah Long, Jr. – that one kind of caught me by surprise.”

However, despite the kind of gaudy numbers that might entitle him to be on an ego trip, Long remains grounded and humbled by the privilege of being a Panther.

“Being a Liberty Hill football player is amazing,” said Long. “We’re so thankful to be where we’re at and walk around with a lot of pride for the program.”

The Invisible Man

Ben Carter stands only 5-feet-9 ½ inches and tips the scales at 173 pounds – usually the size range for perhaps a slot receiver or a defensive back.

However, Carter plays a role for the Panthers usually reserved for much bigger ballers when he lines up as a fullback on Friday nights.

No worries, though, as he parlays his lack of vertical stature to evade enemy defenses by not showing up on their radar until it’s too late, as witnessed by his propensity for breaking off long scoring runs that usually begin on the other side of the 50-yard line.

Last season, Carter played in all 15 of Liberty Hill’s games in rushing for 1,933 yards on 151 carries in averaging a team-leading 12.8 yards-per-carry to go with 31 touchdowns, which also topped the squad, including a five-score performance in the Panthers’ 63-43 state quarterfinal victory over Flour Bluff.

But, more remarkable is Carter’s ability to strike from long distance with scoring runs of 55, 58, 61, 64, 65, 81 and 83 yards, not to mention a 60-yard kickoff return for another.

Carter attributed his touchdowns-from-downtown to a game plan that wears opposing defenses out and leaves them vulnerable to being burned from long

“As the game goes on, we use other plays to set that one up,” he said. “Once you realize you’re in the clear, it just feels great knowing you’re not going to be caught.”

Carter is a Liberty Hill lifer who was raised in the ways of the Slot-T from a young age, but despite a built-in familiarity with the system, said it still takes an adjustment reaching not only the high-school level, but the varsity.

“Back in JV, we probably had about 10 plays plays we would run,” said Carter, who debuted on the varsity full-time last season as a junior. “Also, the speed on varsity is a huge difference, but it only took me about two games to adjust.”

Walker said Carter’s aggressiveness more than makes up for any perceived lack of size.

“Ben is a very good running back, with good balance and great vision,” he said. “Our offensive line does a great job blocking and it doesn’t hurt to have Noah and Joe for the defense to also worry about, but Ben can make some people miss and he usually doesn’t go down with just an arm tackle.”

When Liberty Hill’s season ended last year, Carter was the only starter still standing due to injuries to Pitchford and Long, so he knows if the three of them can remain healthy for the duration this year, they can do special things.

“The way last season ended was definitely a setback,” said Carter. “But, we’re using that as motivation to get back to where

we’ve worked so hard to get to for the past four years.”

In order to do that, Pitchford, Long and Carter will need to put their game faces on week after week until a trophy is awarded on the field at AT&T Stadium in Arlington in late December.

Literally and figurative, said Carter. “Yeah, that’s just something people started doing, so we did, too,” he said, of the Braveheart-style war paint he and his teammates fashion out of eye black on game days. “Really, it’s just another way to express yourself.”

“But, I had all the confidence and trusted in the guys to go out there and win.”

Despite the size of a traditional fullback, Ben Carter (28) uses deception and quickness to break free on long scoring runs, with seven touchdowns of 50 yards or more last season. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO range.

Smoke & Roll-Out

Liberty Hill resident hand rolls premium, custom cigars

BY RACHEL MADISON OWNER/PUBLISHER

For Liberty Hill resident James “Red” Sims, cigars are so much more than just a pastime.

It’s about the nuances of the tobacco leaves, the way they’re rolled and the flavors they emit.

Sims, owner of Red’s Smoke Shop, served in the U.S. Army for 20 years, and he’d smoke cigars as a way to decompress after missions while being deployed.

“When I retired, I was thinking about opening a cigar lounge, but my wife said, ‘Why be in just one location? Why not open a mobile smoke shop?’” he said. Like they say, the rest was history. At first, Sims started selling other brands of cigars, but wanted to be able to

sell his own brand with his own label. He took a cigar rolling class from a master roller from Cuba, who taught him the techniques and nuances of cigar rolling and how to appreciate what goes into making cigars, he said.

Sims’ wife, CJ, is from Houston, and he grew up in Detroit. He came to Texas by way of the Army.

“My first duty station was Fort Hood in 1997,” he said. “I went to a lot of different places, but then came back to Fort Hood in the end.”

Though they’ve only lived in Liberty Hill for about a year, they’ve already made it home. Before moving to Liberty Hill, they lived in Leander and San Marcos.

Sims got started in the world of cigars by educating people about them and how they are unique. He hopes in the future to use his rolling skills to train other cigar rollers.

“We have a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s exciting to be able to share the craft with others. It’s especially fun talking to the novice smokers and giving them suggestions on what their first cigar should be.”

Sims said the creation of a cigar is really an art form. Everything about a cigar can be customized.

“I love telling people about the construction of the cigar,” he said. “What’s in the cigar itself, the type of fillers, what the wrapper is made of, how to cut the cigar so it doesn’t unravel while you’re smoking. There’s even a proper way to light a cigar.”

Currently, Sims has a trailer he can travel with to go to events and private parties, but he also does a lot of pop-up events.

“We have done everything from motorcycle events and golf tournaments to corporate events, festivals, private parties and fundraisers,” he said. “We bring the party to the

people. If you have a cigar lounge, you have to wait for the people to come to you, but if you go to the people, they feel more comfortable asking questions and are more willing to try it if they’ve never smoked before.”

Education on cigars is an important piece of Sims’ business, he said.

“We always try to start people off with something mild so it’s a pleasant experience, and then we’ll educate them with tips like if you’re going to smoke a cigar, make sure you eat first, and you don’t want a cigar that’s too long because you may not have time to smoke it,” Sims said.

Sims’ wife enjoys educating ladies who may be interested in trying cigars.

“That’s another thing about going out in public,” he said. “She’s a cigar smoker, and she can give her view on cigar smoking and make recommendations on which ones the ladies should try.”

Bringing the cigars to the people also gives customers the opportunity to see how cigars are made, as Sims will roll them on site in front of customers.

Besides cigar rolling and hosting events, Red’s Smoke Shop also offers a cigar concierge bar service, self-serve cigar bar kits, custom cigar bands and cigar 101 classes.

Though he’s happy with his mobile trailer for now, Sims said in a few years, he’d consider opening up a brick-and-mortar location.

“For now, I love being out amongst people and going to different places,” he said.

“This way I get to experience people from all different backgrounds.”

Sims said ultimately, his company’s mission is to provide premium products, education, community support and a unique experience for customers.

For more information on Red’s Smoke Shop, visit www.redssmokeshop.com.

James “Red” Sims, owner of Red’s Smoke Shop, hand rolls cigars for his mobile cigar business, which pops up at events like parties, weddings and corporate retreats.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

James “Red” Sims took a cigar rolling class from a master roller from Cuba, who taught him the techniques and nuances of cigar rolling and how to appreciate what goes into making cigars.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

BIZ BRIEFS:

Latest business openings and what’s coming soon to Liberty Hill What’s New?

at overstock and wholesale prices. The original location of Get Dressed Marketplace is in Leander.

Vesta

E-Commerce, Liberty Hill

an indoor exercise track, training and luxury cat boarding.

Staats Psychiatric Services

2001 Main St., Liberty Hill

A second location of Staats Psychiatric Services is opening in Liberty Hill on Main Street at the corner of State Highway 29. Staats Psychiatric Services o ers evening and weekend appointments, in-person and virtual visits, and medication management and psychotherapy. The original location of Staats is in Cedar Park.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Forrest Co ee House

103 Forrest St., Liberty Hill Forrest Co ee House will begin serving the community of Liberty Hill in fall 2023, right in the heart of downtown. The co ee house will serve specialty co ees, beer and wine in a comfortable, homey setting.

Tea2Go TeaN’ergy

15050 Hwy. 29

A new location of Tea2Go TeaN’ergy opened in July in Panther Plaza. The company, which originally started in Dallas in 2013, specializes in over 100 di erent unique tea blends as well as energy drinks.

RETAIL Get Dressed Marketplace

1201 Main St., Liberty Hill

The second location of Get Dressed Marketplace opened in July in the former location of SheriShop Thrift Store. Get Dressed Marketplace o ers customers name brand products, including clothing, shoes, toys and more,

FVesta is a global home goods brand transforming the industry to serve the evolving needs of modern, eco-conscious consumers who seek innovative and sustainable choices for everyday items. Vesta o ers a wide range of home essentials such as silk duvets, bamboo sheets, cooling blankets, zen-inducing pillows, plush bath linens, and ergonomic support cushions. Vesta’s flagship products are uniquely designed and thoughtfully infused with luxurious and environmentally friendly materials to harmonize comfort, functionality, and style.

SERVICES

Quality Storage Buildings

15570 Hwy. 29

Quality Storage Buildings opened a new inventory display location to better serve their customers in Central Texas. The new location, in Liberty Hill, opened its doors June 26. Quality Storage welcomes visitors to the new location to see the selection of ready-to-deliver portable buildings, including several shed designs, garages, run-in sheds, barns and cabin shells.

Paws Landing

1673 Hwy. 183, Leander

Paws Landing is a new dog boarding and dog daycare business that recently opened in north Leander. Paws Landing also o ers grooming services,

ON THE MOVE

Sabino’s Pizza

5731 Williams Dr, Georgetown Sabino’s Pizza recently expanded its footprint with the opening of a second location in Georgetown. The new restaurant is currently open daily from 3 to 9 p.m. The original location of Sabino’s is in the Shops at San Gabriel in north Leander.

Harvest Ranch Arena

8355 RR 1869, Liberty Hill

Construction is underway at Harvest Ranch Arena to build a covered arena for future events, including the Liberty Hill Fair and Rodeo.

Fellowship Church

3600 RR 1869, Liberty Hill

12 all day long with giveaways, inflatables and live music.

Jennifer’s Ride Share

Mobile, Liberty Hill

Jennifer’s Ride Share recently announced that in addition to providing transportation services to customers, the business will now also provide personal shopping services for Liberty Hill, Bertram and Georgetown customers.

Balloon Bliss TX

Mobile, Liberty Hill

Owned by Liberty Hill resident Taylor Salazar, Balloon Bliss TX specializes in custom balloon creations for everything from weddings to birthday parties. Salazar creates balloon garlands, bouquets, arches and more.

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS

• Unleashed Unlimited

1410 Live Oak Rd., Leander

• Liberty Hill Salon & Barbershop

1201 Main St., Liberty Hill

• Commercial Consolidated Inc.

10265 Hwy. 29, Georgetown

• Dust to Shine

Mobile, Liberty Hill

• FOUR Your Pets

Mobile, Liberty Hill

• J Dog Junk Removal & Hauling

Mobile, Liberty Hill

• Soiree Events & Studio

2921 RR 1869, Liberty Hill

• Ronald Reagan Storage

503 Ivory Cove, Liberty Hill

An open air pavilion addition is being added to the existing church facility at Fellowship Church. It will consist of a concrete slab, pre-engineered metal building with lighting, power outlets, industrial fans and a storage room.

Hell or Highwater Brewing

931 Main St., Liberty Hill

Hell or Highwater Brewing recently submitted a permit request to extend the restaurant’s outdoor patio for more seating for customers.

John’s Gym

101 Jonathan Drive, Liberty Hill

On July 9, John’s Gym celebrated its third year in business in Liberty Hill.

Liberty Nails & Spa

13740 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

Liberty Nails & Spa celebrated its fourth year of business in Liberty Hill during the month of July.

Main Street Social

1651 Main St., Liberty Hill

Main Street Social is celebrating two years in business this month. A celebration to commemorate the anniversary will be held Aug.

Viridian Rowe

10 CR 279, Liberty Hill

During ugust, Viridian Rowe is celebrating its second anniversary in Liberty Hill. An event to celebrate the occasion will take place Aug. 5 from noon to 4 p.m. at the store.

TAYLOR SALAZAR

SABINO’S PIZZA

Campuses continue to spring up, evolve across district

Bar W Elementary newest LHISD school to open

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

As another school year approaches, the Liberty Hill Independent School District continues to stay in front of the local area’s growth curve by building new schools in addition to upgrading its current campuses. The latest jewel in the educational crown is Bar W Elementary School, which opens this fall – increasing the number of schools across the district to 10 – a 100 percent increase from just four years ago when there were only five.

According to LHISD Chief Operations Officer Mark Willoughby, building a brand-new school from the ground up is a complicated process with many moving parts to bring the entire project to life.

“Opening a campus is always a massive undertaking when one considers all of the systems and procedures that need to be created and established in order for the campus to run smoothly on a day-to-day basis, but more importantly for the first day of school,” said Willoughby. “The first day of school sets the tone for the remainder of the year.”

Willoughby said those procedures all fall into one of four categories.

“The first category is safety and logistics within the building. The campus administration will have to determine how students will safely navigate the building from one area to another; to and from the cafeteria; to and from the playground; and to and from the serving lines, etc.,” he said. “In addition, we will need to identify the evacuation routes and paths for ingress and egress during

emergency situations.”

Of course, getting students to school safely and efficiently and ensuring everything is in place upon their arrival is also paramount, he said.

“This is usually coordinated from the district level and includes the departments of transportation, maintenance, custodial, groundskeeping, food services and technology,” said Willoughby. “All of those services need to be coordinated and on point so that students safely arrive to school on time, enter into a safe and well maintained learning environment, are fed, and finally returned home safely and in a timely manner.”

Making sure educators are set up for instructional success is next on the menu.

“Once the students are settled into the building, our teachers and staff need to have the necessary resources to deliver quality instruction,” he said. “Campus administrators,

teachers and staff spend countless hours of time well before the first day of school in order to review data, plan lessons and collaborate about best practices for student success.”

Once everything and everyone is in place, keeping an open line to stakeholders is critical in maintaining awareness for all those involved.

“The last category to mention is communication,’ said Willoughby. “This is coordinated and delivered from both the campus and district levels. We want to be sure to keep our parents and community well-informed about our processes and procedures, events and upcoming events so all can share in our student growth and success.”

Always looking ahead

Willoughby added in order for LHISD to keep pace with the ever-fluid growth of the area, officials must remain vigilant in keeping themselves properly educated on the latest trends.

“A few of the biggest challenges to consider for a fast-growth district like Liberty Hill ISD are land acquisition and logistics, funding and time – it’s critical for us to have the most recent and accurate demographic data and development trends in order to plan for future school sites,” he said. “Often, districts are reviewing 10 to 20 year projections to plan for and accommodate student growth. Obviously, in order to build schools, we need to have a funding source for capital improvements and facilities planning. We have been very fortunate and grateful for the community support with our previous bond initiatives. The success of our bond campaigns have allowed us to plan for - in a

timely manner - the land acquisition, infrastructure, and designs of future buildings that are necessary in fast-growth districts.”

Maintaining equity

As brand-new, modern campuses open across the district, older schools such as Liberty Hill Elementary and Liberty Hill Middle School must be renovated in order to keep up with their younger counterparts – which can present obstacles all on their own, said Willoughby.

“The biggest challenge in equity type projects are the unforseen conditions or the ‘known unknowns’ of a building or project site,” he said. “Every building has a history and whenever we make renovations or additions to a building there may be some ‘history’ that was not recorded or documented. The unforseen conditions could potentially create various delays in the project timeline, an escalation in costs, or even hazardous conditions for contractors, engineers and workers.”

Educational synergy

in order for everything to come to proper fruition, the sum of all the parts must work in unison during the planning and construction process to ensure the educational machine runs smoothly, said Willoughby.

“First and foremost is safety and security. Our students, teachers, staff and parents need to know that teaching and learning will take place in the safest environment possible,’ he said. “Secondly, it’s imperative that we collaborate, design and construct buildings and deliver projects with the strictest attention to detail and that we hold our trade partners accountable for a standard of excellence so that we maintain the trust of our community – it is our responsibility to be good stewards of the district resources and taxpayer dollars.”

Bar W Elementary is the newest school to open as the Liberty Hill Independent School District continues to expand.

PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

Liberty Hill Middle School has undergone massive renovations to bring the campus up to the same standards as the district’s newer schools.

PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

In addition to school expansion, a new football field has also been installed at Liberty Hill Middle School.

PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

A tailor-made experience

From top to bottom, golf carts at Golf Cart King are fully customizable, right here in Liberty Hill

BY RACHEL MADISON OWNER/PUBLISHER

Golf Cart King has become a well-known institution in Liberty Hill since it opened just over a year ago, and for good reason. Not only does the facility offer a retail store known as Cart Castle, but it is truly also “king” when it comes to the customization of golf carts.

A cart at Golf Cart King can be customized from the chassis on up, including everything from the wheels and tires to the steering wheels and seats.

“We can basically customize every aspect of a golf cart,” said Landon Wisser, chief marketing officer for Golf Cart King. “A lot of the shops out there just want to sell units and do basic service, but we are different because we do a lot of customization. We also have all our own golf cart parts.”

Wisser said people oftentimes wonder why Golf Cart King needs such a large space to conduct business. That can easily be

answered when one walks into the warehouse—tires are stacked on racks up to the ceiling, employees are unloading trucks full of parts daily, and dozens of pallets are waiting to go to dealers who carry Golf Cart King’s products across the United States.

“We have a network of over 800 dealers who carry our products all over the country,” Wisser said.

“We also sell a lot on e-commerce sites, like Amazon and eBay.”

Besides being a hub for custom parts, Golf Cart King is also a dealer for popular brands of golf carts, like Club Car, and the company also has its own brand of golf cart called Atlas.

One of the most unique and customizable experiences from Golf Cart King comes in the form of the seating.

“We do all our own seats here in Liberty Hill,” Wisser said. “We actually brought in a renowned custom hot rod upholstery expert from Las Vegas. He moved to Texas and lives in Bertram now.”

Wisser is talking about Junior Marquez,

who has been featured in several national magazines as well as television shows on the Discovery Channel. He now oversees the production of the entire upholstery division at Golf Cart King.

The second floor of the facility is where the upholstery division is housed, and a tour through the work area is a sight to see. Industrial, computer-aided machinery stitches intricate patterns into the marine grade vinyl and cuts the vinyl to the proper size for the custom seats.

“The machines do the patterns really fast—you just program in whatever design you want, and it does it,” Wisser said. “The seats are made to order, so people can choose what pattern they want and what color vinyl they want as well as the accent colors [of the thread]. We have 120,000 variations available.”

Not everything is done by machines though. Once the patterns are stitched into the vinyl, everything else is done by hand, including the assembly of the seats and putting the finishing touches on them with standard sewing machines.

Golf Cart King also sells its own line of products called MODZ, which is where the customization gets really fun, Wisser said.

“We have over 130 MODZ wheels to choose from for your cart,” he said. “We sell around 75,000 wheels a year. We produce a lot of wheels because they are a great way to make your cart really stand out.”

Golf Cart King also sells over 100,000 tires a year, which they also offer under the MODZ line. Steering wheels, tower tops and of course the custom seats round out the offerings from MODZ.

“We make the custom tops as well, and those are made right outside of Austin with aircraft grade aluminum,” Wisser said.

Golf Cart King currently has about 50 people on staff, and the company has grown 400 percent in the last six years, Wisser said. That’s why it’s not a big surprise that the company is already working on its phase two plans, which will include another building adjacent to the current building on County Road 214.

Wisser said specifics on that project haven’t been solidified yet, but the growth of the company requires the expansion,

•Clays baskets are named as such because at one point, they were primarily used to hold shooting clays for sporting clays courses.

•The storage basket in the back of a golf cart is called a sweater basket, aptly named because it was used to store riders’ sweaters.

Industrial, computer-aided machines are used to stitch intricate patterns into the marine grade vinyl used for seats at Golf Cart King. PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

The retail portion of Golf Cart King is called Cart Castle, and offers customers pre-built golf carts as well as dozens of options for customizing their own cart . PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

mainly for more storage space.

“We are definitely working toward having our carts outfitted more and more with parts made in Liberty Hill,” he said. “A lot of people know the parts are made in America, but even better is that they are made in Liberty Hill.”

One such company, called Excalibur, is based in Liberty Hill and is responsible for making custom “clays baskets” for the golf

carts. A clays basket mounts to the front of a golf cart to provide extra room for storage.

“Eventually we’ll also offer brush guards, side steps and more, all made right here in Liberty Hill and under our All-American line of products,” Wisser said. “We own the trademark to the All-American phrase in the golf cart industry, so we will soon be releasing a line of made in America products.”

Each custom seat at Golf Cart King goes through many hands as it is produced, making each seat truly a unique, custom product. PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

The finishing touches of all custom seats at Golf Cart King are done in house and by hand on sewing machines.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

Seven decades on the diamond

Liberty Hill Youth League was founded in 1953

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

Liberty Hill was certainly a vastly different place in 1953 than it is now.

However, one aspect of life in the Hill Country town that is the same now as it was then is the presence of a place where youngsters can hone their baseball and softball skills in the hopes of making dreams on the diamond come true.

Liberty Hill Youth League recently celebrated its 70th anniversary and the organization is as strong as ever – in fact, it continues to grow by leaps and bounds, said LHYL Vice President of Baseball Jake Bowen.

“Pretty soon we’re going to be at 1,000 kids,” he said. “We’ve had to expand teams and shorten practice times to be able to accommodate the numbers we currently have.”

Just how rapid has the league’s growth been in recent years?

As recently as the fall season of 2019, there were 234 baseball players and 62 softball players registered – 296 participants in all. As of the just-concluded spring 2023 season, those numbers have skyrocketed to 703, 175 and 878,

respectively, an overall increase of nearly 200 percent.

Currently, the league has seven baseball and two softball fields at its disposal, but even with the recent expansion of its downtown complex, available field space is still struggling to keep up with ever-growing participation.

In order to help combat this problem, Bowen said it’s critical both sides of the house, as it were, works together to make it all work.

“Right now, we’re making a really big push to have both baseball and softball work together,” he said. “Not just one or the other because we’re all one big league.”

LHYL is an all-volunteer organization that depends on the goodwill of others to help make everything run smoothly and Bowen has been enthused so far with the outpouring of local residents, he said.

“I’ve been really impressed with the generosity of everyone here in Liberty Hill,” said Bowen, who is a U.S. Army commissioned officer who moved here with his family in 2021. “The community here is great and every time we’ve needed help with something, they’ve been willing to step up.”

One of the issues the league faces, though, is needing a more streamlined way of hooking available volunteers up with the proper projects, he said.

“We could really use a volunteer coordinator,” said Bowen. “I know there are people out there who want to help, but we just need to make them aware of how they can. We’re really making a huge marketing effort to get the word out and with the way social media has exploded, we see that as the primary medium to connect with the community and we’ve had great success.”

“Our main goal as coaches is to keep kids in love with the game,” he said. “Then at some point, once a kid learns how to play the game the right way, he or she becomes a mentor for the younger ones – that’s the environment we’re striving to create.”

Bowen said even down to the smallest details or most menial tasks, the league can always use more helping hands.

“For example, we always need people to work the concessions stand and especially scorekeepers,” he said. “It’s a challenge, but we know there are plenty of people out there who want to give back to the community.”

Liberty Hill Youth League’s participation numbers have increased by nearly 200 percent over the past four years as the area continues to grow.

Once the league gets young players on the field, the job of properly teaching them the game begins, which is where the legion of volunteer coaches enters the equation, said Bowen.

LHYL Vice President of Baseball Jake Bowen highlights batting cages at the league’s downtown complex that were built by volunteers. PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

Recently, LHYL added two fields to its downtown complex in order to meet the needs of an ever-growing number of players in the league. COURTESY PHOTO

“Our main goal as coaches is to keep kids in love with the game.”

Jake Bowen

LHYL Vice President of Baseball

Lady Panthers look to build on state appearance

Liberty Hill reached the Class 5A semifinals last season

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

When the Lady Panthers step onto the volleyball court this season, they’ll be looking to build on a spectacular campaign that saw the Purple-and-Gold advance all the way to the Class 5A state tournament.

Despite a defeat in the semifinals, Liberty Hill head coach Marie Bruce is optimistic her players can carry over the positive momentum gained from their postseason run of last year.

“Our girls know now what to expect,” she said. “So, there’s still pressure on them, but it’s a different kind of pressure.”

Liberty Hill finished with an overall record of 42-11, along with an 11-3 district mark, which was good for a second-place finish in the league standings.

Buoying Bruce’s bullishness on her squad entering this season is the fact it lost only four seniors from last year’s team to graduation, with the most notable being middle blocker Morgan Poulain, who will play at Sam Houston State University, an NCAA Division I program in Huntsville.

However, the void left by the 6-foot-2 Poulain will be filled by a pair of juniors in Ava Kostroun and Aubrey Hughes.

On the outside, the powerful duo of

seniors Gigi Mason and Kealy Dirner will return, along with juniors Annie Witt and Taylor Gaines to give the Lady Panthers plenty of firepower at the net, while seniors Carson Glenn and Keegan Walton will anchor the back row.

Mason led Liberty Hill last season with 437 kills, while Dirner (352), Witt (336) and Gaines (271) were second through fourth, respectively.

Last season marked Bruce’s maiden voyage as the Lady Panthers’ sideline boss after taking over the reins from longtime head coach Gretchen Peterson, who stepped down after leading Liberty Hill for 18 seasons.

So was Bruce surprised at the success her team had so early in her tenure?

Yes and no, she said.

“Once we made the playoffs, I just wanted to get past the first round,” said Bruce. “But, once we beat Rouse (in the regional finals) we realized what we were really capable of.”

Ultimately, the Lady Panthers lost to Reedy in the semifinals at the state tournament and Bruce said despite that success, a return trip this season is anything but guaranteed.

“People that really know volleyball know how difficult it is to get to state,” she said. “There are just so many tough matches in our district and region. Last year we had to get past Tivy, Canyon and Rouse, which

were all huge wins for us and even Sharyland (in the regional semifinals) – all of them were difficult. So, we can’t take anything for granted this year.”

Indeed, the Lady Panthers’ district schedule will present the same challenges as last year with perennial powers Rouse and Cedar Park the primary obstacles, but Bruce is more concerned with the end result, she said.

“Our first goal is just to make the playoffs,” said Bruce. “So, we have to set ourselves up to make the postseason.”

For her from a coaching standpoint, Bruce said having an entire year of experience within the program will make a massive difference from where she was a year ago.

“Just knowing the girls and having a full offseason with them is the biggest thing,” she said. “Having already built those relationships.”

Bruce attributed much of the team’s success last year to the players policing themselves to a large degree.

“Our players take real ownership of their successes and failures and we hold ourselves to a higher standard,” she said. “I’m really proud of how much we grew over the course of the season.”

With an entire offseason to further evaluate her team, Bruce has used that time wisely.

“Based on last season, we’re now able to identify our strengths and weaknesses,” she said. “For example, our serving and back-

row attacks needed to be better.”

As overseer of the entire program, Bruce said she looks for particular personality traits when looking to fill the freshman and junior varsity rosters, so when the time comes to replenish the ranks of the varsity squad, the transition is seamless.

“What I look for is three things,” she said. “Players that work hard, want to improve and are highly-competitive and never satisfied. But, the biggest thing is to always think of the team first and put that before individual success.”

Senior outside hitter Gigi Mason (14) led Liberty Hill with 437 kills last season in helping lead the Lady Panthers to the Class 5A state tournament. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

Keegan Walton (7) will help solidify the Liberty Hill back row this season at her defensive specialist position.

PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

Liberty Hill’s Annie Witt (10) provided plenty of power from the outside in finishing third on the team in kills with 336 on the campaign.

PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

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WORSHIP GUIDE

Liberty Hill & Surrounding Communities

ANDICE BAPTIST CHURCH

6570 FM 970, Florence (254) 793-2557 | www.andicebc.org

PASTORS

Derrick Norris, Senior Pastor

Matt Koehler, Associate Pastor of Students & Families

SERVICES

Sunday Bible Study 9:45am

Sunday Worship 11am

Wednesday AWANA 6:30pm

CROSS TRACKS CHURCH

101 Church St., Liberty Hill (512) 515-0070

www.crosstrackschurchumc.org

PASTOR Michele Lott SERVICES

Sunday School 9am

Sunday Worship 10am

Sun. Online Facebook.com/cross trackschurch/

HOLY ANNUNCIATION

ORTHODOX CHURCH

5205 CR 236, Liberty Hill (512) 782-9940

www.annunciationtx.com

PASTOR Bp. Irineos Placek SERVICES

Vespers Sat. 6:30pm

Divine Liturgy Sun. 10am

LIFE SPRINGS

CHRISTIAN CHURCH

15611 W State Hwy 29, Liberty Hill (512) 633-6074

www.lifespringschristianchurch.org

PASTOR

Dr. William Brannan SERVICES

Sunday Worship 10am

Online youtube.com/c/LifeSprings

MISSION LIBERTY HILL

LUTHERAN CHURCH  (LCMS A liated)

15725 W State Hwy 29, #7

Liberty Hill (512) 778-9310

www.missionlibertyhill.com

PASTOR

Rev. Mike Cofer

SERVICES

Sunday Bible Study 9am

Sunday Church Worship 10am

Sunday Online 10am

missionlibertyhill.com/onlineworship/

ROCKPOINTE CHURCH

LIBERTY HILL

170 CR 214, Liberty Hill (512) 259-8872

www.rockpointechurch.com

PASTOR

Darin Ramsey, Campus Pastor SERVICES

Sunday Worship 9:30am

Learning the beautiful game abroad

Liberty Hill senior experienced summer soccer in Portugal

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

Dhar Ramsingh found himself in familiar surroundings for a few weeks this summer –on a soccer field.

However, the location of said field happened to be in an equally unfamiliar environment, as the Liberty Hill senior traveled to Portugal to participate in a tournament for elite youth players in the Iberian country that borders Spain.

Global Soccer Development sponsored the trip, an organization that promotes providing young, aspiring players with the opportunity to travel abroad to train and play in an elite atmosphere from which athletes can establish professional possibilities by working with pro academies in Portugal and Germany.

For Ramsingh, it was the opportunity of a lifetime.

“Just having the chance to train in such a professional atmosphere was very eye-opening for me,” he said. “It was all very surreal, but I never felt out of place.”

When not lacing his boots up for the Panthers during the high-school season, Ramsingh plays for Capital City Soccer Club, an Austin-based club – which was where he first caught wind of the chance to go abroad.

“I heard about it from some of the older kids

who had gone over before,” said Ramsingh. “Then one of the coaches, Kai Gockell, said he wanted some of us to try out for it, so I did.”

Indeed, Ramsingh had to do much more than just raise his hand for the chance to go to Portugal, as tryouts are held for players from across the U.S. – a process he successfully navigated in being named to the under-18 roster.

“We had guys from all over the country,” he said. “California, Florida and of course, Texas.”

As an experienced club player, Ramsingh had already traveled around America to play in various tournaments over the years, but he said even that didn’t compare with what he experienced upon his visit overseas.

“Going around the country is one thing,” said Ramsingh. “But, this trip was something special I’ll be able to tell stories about for years.”

The event was held in the city of Portimao, in the Algarve region of southern Portugal, where Ramsingh and his teammates spent 10 days, during which they trained daily and played five competitive games against top talent from local professional academies, including hosts Portimonense Sporting Club, which plays in the top tier of the Portuguese professional leagues, known as the Primeira Liga.

With only three days in country before its first match, the Americans didn’t have much

time to acclimate themselves to their surroundings – or each other, said Ramsingh.

“We got there on Saturday and our first game was on Monday,” he said. “But, it really didn’t take us long to start building chemistry with one another.”

Part of that process was some quality time the American footballers spent together away from the field, said Ramsingh.

“There was one night, we all went out to dinner together,” he said. “Afterward, we went for a walk through the old part of the city and visited a castle. Finally, we got to the coast and watched the sun set over the sea. It was like ‘Wow, here we are in a different country experiencing this’ – it made us all feel more together.”

According to Ramsingh, the further he and his teammates progressed on the field during their time in Portugal, the stronger those bonds became, which resulted in stronger performances on the pitch – including from himself.

“As I went along, I gained more and more confidence,” said Ramsingh. “I was able to learn from the coaches there not everything that happens on the field needs to be so immediate and fast. I think that’s the biggest difference for the European players – they have more of an understanding of the mental game. Once I did that, I as able to relax more on the ball even though I was going up against high-level players. I think all of us handled it well, which was impressive.”

One of the highlights of the entire trip for Ramsingh was attending the international game between Portugal and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was a qualifying match for the

2024 European Championships, at the Estadio de Luz, the home stadium of Portuguese giants Benfica – during which he witnessed the game at the highest level, not to mention one of his all-time idols – Cristiano Ronaldo – he said.

“As a kid, I would always watch Ronaldo’s highlights on YouTube,” said Ramsingh. “So, to see him and all these other great players in person with my own eyes was so surreal and something I might not ever get to experience again.”

Once the tournament concluded, Ramsingh was done with soccer, but not sightseeing, as he was joined by mother Romala and father Nyron, along with an uncle and aunt, for a visit to Barcelona, Spain, where the family spent the duration of the trip in the scenic Mediterranean seaside city.

Ramsingh said the ancient architecture of the city was one of the most lasting memories he will take away from his stay in the Catalonian capital – along with some culinary delights.

“Especially all the Gothic cathedrals and other buildings were amazing,” he said. “There was a bakery we went to every morning for empanadas and then we would go to a cafe for crepes later.”

As for what he future hold back home stateside, Ramsingh intends to pursue a career in physical therapy, but also wants to extend his playing days as much as he can as he matriculates through college.

“I think I can play at a Division II of III school,” he said. “So, I plan to play my four years in college and see what happens. But, education is definitely my priority.”

Liberty Hill senior Dhar Ramsingh, along with father Nyron and mother Romala, visited Barcelona, Spain, after the Panthers striker trained at an elite camp in Portugal. COURTESY PHOTO

Panthers senior Dhar Ramsingh (back row, second from right), played on an under-18 team comprised of players from across the U.S. at a tournament sponsored by Global Soccer Development and hosted by Portimonense Sporting Club, a professional team in Portugal. COURTESY PHOTO

Article provides glimpse into how directions were given in 1800s

BY JAMES WEAR COLUMNIST

The recent 100-degree plus weather we’ve been experiencing is a bit tougher for this senior citizen to deal with than it was in his younger days, and so for the past couple of weeks I’ve pre y much devoted the morning hours to chores around the farm and le the a ernoon hours for kicking back in my recliner and catching up on my reading.

For the past few days much of that reading time has been devoted to visiting the digital archives of the Eula Hunt Beck Florence Public Library where one can look at past issues of the Florence Vide e, a now defunct publication that was launched back in the 1890s and served the community for several decades.

Among the many items of interest I came across was a submission by a Mr. J.W. Ballard, who noted his submission was prompted by his reading of a le er to the editor in an earlier issue. Ballard’s narrative was dated May 16, 1945 and appeared on the front page of the May 24 issue of the Vide e.

“Reading Mr. Lane’s article about his trips to Florence more than 40 years ago, reminds me of my first trip to Florence, Liberty Hill and all points in between Youngsport and the above-named places, sometime in the winter of 1896,” wrote Ballard. “I le Judge Ray’s home to drive in a buggy to Liberty Hill. A er ge ing instructions about how many gates to open, and other data on how to get to Florence, I just took the wrong road one time—tried to turn around Hog Mountain and go back to Youngsport.

“At Florence they told me how to go to Graysonville and there get directions on to Liberty Hill, where I finally arrived, only

taking the wrong road one time,” wrote Ballard.

History buffs will recognize “Graysonville” as an earlier name for the community we now know as Andice. How Graysonville wound up being called Andice is a topic we’ve addressed in this column before, but just as a reminder, it had nothing to do with the expression “beer and wine and ice,” as some of you may have heard.

Ballard’s narrative continued, “That night at the hotel I played dominoes with Bill Gardner and Frank Cates; Will Rogers from Llano making the fourth. That was my first meeting with W.W. Gardner.”

I suspect the Mr. Cates Ballard wrote of may have been Richard Franklin Cates, oldest son of Richard Francis Cates. The elder Cates was a circuit riding preacher in his younger days who came to Texas from Missouri and is credited with building the Cates Hotel that was located in downtown Liberty Hill. His son, in addition to playing dominoes in his father’s hotel, is credited with launching the Liberty Hill Cyclone, an early newspaper in Liberty Hill and would go on to enjoy a successful career in the newspaper business and was active in the Texas Press Association. He also served in the Texas Legislature.

In his le er, Ballard quoted from a book wri en by Boyce House, a widely known Texas author and radio personality in the 1940s.

“A stranger passing through some of the territory west of here asked a native how to go to Austin. The native’s information runs something like this: “You follow this road until you go through six gates and come to Bull Hide Creek, there you turn le past eight gates and come to Shuck Hollow, then

turn to the right till you get to Onion creek, then on down the creek through Buffalo Gap, then—H__ stranger, if I were you and wanted to go to Austin I wouldn’t start from here.”

From what I’ve been able to gather thus far in my readings from the old Vide e, Mr. Ballard was apparently a frequent contributing writer to the newspaper, noting at the end of one his submissions, “And now editor of the Vide e, if you are ge ing too much Ballard in your paper, just toss this into the wastebasket.”

For those interested in checking out the digital archives of the Florence library, go to florencepl.advantage-preservation. com.

The Florence Vidette was a publication launched in the 1890s that served the Florence community for several decades before going out of business. COURTESY PHOTO

August 6

SUNDAY FUNDAY KARAOKE

Thirsty Penguin

14751 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

6 p.m. thirstypenguin.com

August 8

NAME THAT TUNE BINGO

Liberty Tavern

3000 RR 1869, Liberty Hill

7 p.m. Libertytavern.co

August 9

BACK TO SCHOOL BASH

Wetzel Park Splash Pad

821 Main St., Liberty Hill

1-3 p.m. experiencelhtx.com

TAPROOM TRIVIA

Liberty Hill Beer Market

13851 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

7 – 9 p.m. libertyhillbeermarketmenu.com

August 10

WATER TOWER KICKSTART – DALE WATSON

Water Tower Parking Lot

822 Main St., Liberty Hill

6:30 – 8:30 p.m. experiencelhtx.com

BEAT WILLY TRIVIA

Whiskey Barrel Pub

1004 Main St., Liberty Hill

7 p.m. whiskeybarrelpub.com

August 11

FRIDAYZ FUN

Dahlia Café

2450 RR 1869, Liberty Hill

6: 30 – 8: 30 p.m. dahliacafe.com

MICHAEL INGALLS

Hell or Highwater Brewing

933 Main St., Liberty Hill

6:30-10:30 p.m. hellorhighwaterbrewing.com

PAINT NITE

Whitestone Brewery

15390 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

7 p.m. whitestonebrewery.com

BARN DANCE

Reunion Ranch

850 CR 255, Georgetown

6-10 p.m., $75 event.gives/omwbarndance

THE BAND IN BLACK

Main Street Social

1651 Main St., Liberty Hill 7 p.m. mainstreetsocial.com

JTB

Whiskey Barrel Pub

1004 Main St., Liberty Hill 7 p.m. whiskeybarrelpub.com

DARRIN MORRIS BAND

Hometown Watering Hole 3317 State Hwy. 29, Bertram

8 p.m. Hometownwateringhole.net

August 16

TEXAS HOLD ‘EM

Whiskey Barrel Pub 1004 Main St., Liberty Hill

MUSIC BINGO IN THE COURTYARD

The Vineyard at Florence 111 Via Francesco, Florence

7 p.m. thevineyardatflorence.com

August 12

SUGAR COOKIE DECORATING CLASS

Baked By Joy Leigh

1651 Main St., Liberty Hill

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. bakedbyjoyleigh. com/cookie-classes

SECOND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Main Street Social 1651 Main St., Liberty Hill

1 p.m. mainstreetsocial. com

FLANIGAN’S MUSIC SERIES

FEATURING FRANK MARTIN GILLIGAN

Flanigan’s Texas Distillery & Winery

330 N. Lampasas St., Bertram

3 - 6 p.m. flaniganswineandspirits.com

TASMIN AND TIM

Liberty Hill Beer Market

13851 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

6 p.m.

libertyhillbeermarketmenu. com

7-9 p.m. whiskeybarrelpub.com

August 18

THEMTHATKNOW

Main Street Social 1651 Main St., Liberty Hill

7 p.m.

5-8 p.m. facebook.com/CMLAustinTX

NOT PAST 11

Main Street Social 1651 Main St., Liberty Hill

7 p.m. mainstreetsocial.com

August 25

JOSHY BOY Liberty Tavern 3000 RR 1869, Liberty Hill

7 p.m. Libertytavern.co

FRIDAYZ FUN Whiskey Barrel Pub

1004 Main St., Liberty Hill

7 p.m. whiskeybarrelpub.com

THE WILDER BLUE Globe Theatre

132 W. Vaughan St., Bertram

8 p.m., $20 globetheatretx.com

August 26

GRAND OPENING

WHITESTONE BREWERY

3610 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 6:30 p.m. agapebbq.com

HOME AT LAST Main Street Social

1651 Main St., Liberty Hill 7 p.m. mainstreetsocial.com

September 1

DINNER DETECTIVE MURDER MYSTERY

Whiskey Barrel Pub

1004 Main St., Liberty Hill 6 p.m., $50 whiskeybarrelpub.com

mainstreetsocial.com

August 19

GRAPE STOMP, MORNING HARVEST & WINE LUNCH

The Vineyard at Florence 111 Via Francesco, Florence

7:3o a.m. thevineyardatflorence.com

THE MARKET LHTX

Cross Tracks Church 101 Church St., Liberty Hill

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. facebook.com/MarketLHTX

COUSINS MAINE LOBSTER

Santa Rita Ranch 175 Elizabeth Park Blvd., Liberty Hill

15390 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

12 p.m. whitestonebrewery.com

SUGAR COOKIE DECORATING CLASS

Baked By Joy Leigh

1651 Main St., Liberty Hill

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. bakedbyjoyleigh.com/ cookie-classes

MUSIC UNDER THE OAKS WITH HAIR METAL GIANTS Agape BBQ

CONTRAFACT JAZZ GROUP Main Street Social

1651 Main St., Liberty Hill 7 p.m. mainstreetsocial.com

Hair Metal Giants

Dale Watson

The Wilder Blue

The Vineyard at Florence

Darin Morris Band

Back-to-School Bash

Dr. Dale Williams

Dr. Ti

Kondo

Shane T. White Clyde Davis

Connie Fuller Ginger Floyd Debby Norman