Liberty Hill Independent Monthly - January 2023

512-548-6474

9750 W. SH-29 | Liberty Hill, TX MooreLibertyBuildings.com

FEATURES

5 | CITY TRANSPORTATION PLAN

Top road projects identified for 2023

6 | MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING BOON

Liberty Hill prepares for new rental developments

8 | TROTTER HOUSE

Meeting expectant mothers, new parents right where they are

10 | HITTING THE TRAILS

Thunder Horse Outfi ers is way of life for horseman Travis Caffee

23 | INTRODUCING LACROSSE

Starting up a new sport

24 | PANTHER SPORTS

Catch up with Panther basketball, soccer and football

27 | LOCALS MAKE IT ON JET SKI MAP

Brothers excel at highest level of watersports

28 | A CAREER OF PUBLIC SERVICE

Judge Edna Staudt retiring at 28 years on the bench

30 | OUR FAVORITE SOUPS

This winter, try one of our staff ’s favorite soups

DEPARTMENTS

17 | BIZ BRIEFS

See the businesses planned or opening soon in Liberty Hill

18 | LOOKING BACK

Oak Grove Church dates back to 1860s

34 | WORSHIP GUIDE

Find a church home for your family

36 | LOCAL EVENTS

Local entertainment on tap for January

LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT MONTHLY

A Publication of

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 news@LHIndependent.com. This publication is truly a collaborative e ort of experienced journalists, a professional design team, advertising specialists and many others passionate about sharing the story of Liberty Hill, Texas. Copyright©2023 Texas Independent News Corp./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 publisher.

City identifies top road improvement projects for fiscal 2023

BY RACHEL MADISON STAFF WRITER

The City of Liberty Hill has identified four road improvement projects that will begin in 2023 with the hopes of relieving and streamlining traffic around the community.

City Administrator Paul Brandenburg said that in the past, the City has relied heavily on state and county assistance when it comes to road projects, but that’s not going to be the case anymore.

“I’m not going to use the term that they’ve been failing us, but they have not delivered what they’ve told us they’re going to deliver,” Brandenburg said. “The City Council decided to take responsibility and get these projects done. We have the funds available, and the council has approved these projects, so now we begin the work.”

Brandenburg added that it’s unfortunate that the City has to foot the bill, especially when there had been verbal agreements in the past with Williamson County and TXDOT for some of the project costs to be shared, but that continuing to wait isn’t an option anymore.

“Traffic isn’t going to get better, and just sitting back and complaining isn’t going to make it better,” he said. “We are having to be reactive now, unfortunately, instead of proactive, but we can’t keep waiting.”

Running parallel to these identified projects, Brandenburg said starting in early 2023, funds from the City’s street maintenance tax will start being used to fill and seal cracks and potholes within city limits.

“Right now, we’re in the process of identifying roads within the City that need to be done, in the downtown area especially,” he added. “We will be putting together a plan by next spring to do those improvements on the roads.”

Read on to learn more about the upcoming road projects planned for 2023.

Stonewall Parkway/State Highway 29/ Liberty Parke Intersection

The top priority project is creating a fourway lighted intersection on State Highway 29 at Stonewall Parkway with an entrance into the Liberty Parke subdivision.

Brandenburg said the project is 99 per-

cent designed and engineered, and the City is working with Classic Bank to get the proper right of way acquisitions and easements for the construction.

TxDOT is requiring the bank to eliminate their current driveway on Highway 29 and gain access off Stonewall Parkway.

TxDOT is also requiring pedestrian access across Highway 29, which includes pedestrian ramps and an accessible sidewalk on the north side of the highway.

“We are also working with TxDOT to get the traffic signals ahead of time, before we need them, so that we don’t have to wait on those,” Brandenburg said.

“We expect to go out for bid in spring 2023, begin construction in summer 2023, and have the intersection completed by end of 2024. We estimate it’ll take about 18 months to get it done.”

Estimated Cost: $1.5 million

Bailey Lane Intersection

Bailey Lane, which is across State Highway 29 north of Noble Elementary School, is the second most important project for the City, Brandenburg said. The plan is to create a four-way lighted intersection to help relieve school-related traffic during peak times.

Right now the City is working with the Liberty Hill Independent School District to determine what type of right of way will be needed for the project, he said.

“We are still determining how much property we will need for that intersection,” Brandenburg said. “We also know there will be a very delicate traffic situation with all the buses and drivers dropping off and picking up their students, so we are working with [the school district] to make sure we don’t mess those things up.”

Design and right-of-way for the project is

estimated to be completed by March 2023, with bidding and construction starting shortly afterward.

Estimated Cost: $1.8 million

Loop 332/County Road

279 Roundabout

The third project the City has determined is necessary is the construction of a CONTINUED

The City of Liberty Hill has identified the intersection at Stonewall Parkway, State Highway 29 and the Liberty Parke subdivision as its highest priority in 2023. PHOTOS BY RACHEL MADISON

City preparing for multi-family housing boon

BY RACHEL MADISON STAFF WRITER

Multifamily housing projects in Liberty Hill are rapidly becoming more and more popular at the City’s weekly pre-development meetings. With the influx of people moving into the area—not just within city limits but the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) too—it’s not surprising.

Currently, there are four multifamily projects already built within Liberty Hill city limits. Those four projects include a total of 298 units between Stubblefield Apartments, Liberty Trails, San Gabriel Crossing (income restricted), and Liberty Manor (age restricted). Additionally, the city is home to 25 townhome style buildings that have two individual units each.

Director of Planning Jerry Millard said the planning department holds pre-development meetings every Wednesday with at least three different developers. Multifamily housing is a frequent topic at those meetings, but that doesn’t necessarily mean those projects are going to be approved, Millard added.

One of Millard’s goals is to keep the multifamily and single-family housing projects about the same. Currently, single family homes within Liberty Hill city limits sit at 2,588 homes, while projects that are entitled, under review or planned are sitting at 2,504 units.

“They aren’t all approved yet, so there’s a chance they won’t ever come,” he said. “But right now we are looking at a surplus of single family residential and a deficit of multifamily style homes, like duplexes, townhomes and single family rental homes, which are still considered multifamily projects.”

Millard added that the amount of multifamily proposed to come into the area is a good thing, because it will match the number of single family homes already here.

“I’m not opposed to additional multifamily housing coming in, because with the numbers of those single-family units we have coming in, that will match up to the planned multifamily,” he said. “We need to increase multifamily, because we want to make sure Liberty Hill doesn’t become a bedroom community.”

Millard added that the City also needs commercial businesses to come alongside the residential growth, because that is what funds the repairs and infrastructure for the City.

“You get better ad valorum tax on commercial properties, so you want to keep that commercial growth equal or greater to residential growth,” he said. “That’s where we’ve fallen short so far. We can’t just call H-E-B and tell them to come build here. We have to reach a point where these retailers feel it’s going to be financially beneficial to them to come in.” Millard said big box stores are not going to open locations in Liberty Hill based off the City’s population of approximately 6,800 people, even though the extraterritorial jurisdiction surrounding Liberty Hill contains more residents than the city

limits.

“Developments like Santa Rita Ranch and Stonewall Ranch aren’t in the city limits, but they absolutely affect how we do business,” he added. “However, we can’t control those projects, because they are not within city limits.”

The only single-family home project going on within city limits is the Butler Farms subdivision, which is being constructed just west of Liberty Hill High School on Highway 29.

When it comes to multifamily projects, there are nine different developments planned within city limits. These include

the following projects:

• Core Spaces, located at Orchard Ridge Parkway and Highway 29 on the north side of County Road 266, 144 multifamily townhomes and 374 single family rental homes.

• Hidden Lane Glen, located south of downtown Liberty Hill on Ranch Road 1869, 136 apartment units.

• Fort Tumbleweed, located on the north side of Highway 29 just east of Liberty Hill High School, includes two different multifamily developments, one with a condo style produce and the other with traditional apartment homes, for a total of 476 units.

• Liberty Center, located on Highway 29.

Will contain commercial businesses on the highway frontage, and 240 apartment homes behind that.

• Avila Vista, located on Highway 29 just to the east of County Road 266, includes 150 apartment homes.

• Holmes 29, located at Holmes Road on the north side of Highway 29, includes a total of 320 apartment units.

• Rio Oaks, located on Seward Junction Loop just north of the Summerlyn development, includes a total of 260 apartment homes.

• Pohl tract, which is yet to be named, located at the southeast corner of Highway 29 and Highway 183, includes two pods of multifamily residential units for a total of 766 homes.

• Unnamed project, located on the north side of Highway 29 just east of Ft. Tumbleweed, includes a total of 156 traditional multifamily units.

Outside the city limits, but within the ETJ, there are six different projects slated to happen. These include:

• Summerlyn duplex development, located on Highway 183 next to the Summerlyn subdivision, with 246 apartment units.

• Larkspur multifamily, located between Larkspur Boulevard and the Highland 183 project on Highway 183, 539 planned apartment homes.

• Twelve Oaks, located at the north end of Kauffman Loop, with 220 planned units.

• Twelve Oaks Estage, located on Kauff-

man Loop east of Ronald Reagan Boulevard, planned to be built over three phases for a total of 597 units at completion.

• Kauffman Loop Apartments, located right at Kauffman Loop between the

Morningstar and Omega Ranch subdivisions, with a total of 144 planned apartment homes.

All of these projects, which have had zoning approved and are in the process of

platting, have no official site plans, which means they could still change, Millard said.

The city of Liberty Hill is currently home to five multifamily housing developments, including Central Park townhomes (left), the Stubblefield Apartments (below) ,and Liberty Trails Apartments (above). There are an estimated nine more coming to Liberty Hill city limits. PHOTOS BY RACHEL MADISON

Trotter House: Meeting expectant mothers, new parents right where they are

BY RACHEL MADISON STAFF WRITER

Trotter House pregnancy resource center recently opened its third Texas location in Liberty Hill with a mission to meet expecting and new parents right where they are.

“We meet people where they are,” said Stephanie Rankin, assistant director of Trotter House. “We meet women in unplanned pregnancies, women who are 36 weeks pregnant, and even dads who are in need.”

Trotter House started on Rio Grande Street in Austin in 2005. A second location opened in Cedar Park in January 2020, and the Liberty Hill location opened in August 2022. In 2023, Trotter House will open another location in Johnson City. Trotter house also has three locations in Indiana.

“We are expanding because there is a need, and where there is need is where we will go,” Rankin said. “A lot happened politically with legislation in 2022, but people are still getting pregnant. Our goal is to offer help, healing and hope in whatever circumstances someone finds themself in. We don’t only walk with women through pregnancy, but also through motherhood. We don’t just want to help them through the birth of their child but want to help them thrive in life.”

Lori DeVillez, executive director and founder of Trotter House, considered opening a location in Liberty Hill a few times, but never felt like it was the right time until about mid-2021.

“I had known Lori for 19 years, and my family moved to Liberty Hill from Austin in August 2020,” Rankin said. “Last summer I was thinking about how this area didn’t have a resource center, so I asked Lori if she’d ever thought about opening one in Liberty Hill. She said she had, but the timing had never been right. I prayed about it, ended up resigning from my position at a church in Austin, and realized I was being called out personally to help start Trotter House in Liberty Hill.”

Rankin said since the center has opened, the community has been very responsive.

“They want a center here where they know women can be met where they are and loved where they are,” she said.

Trotter House is located inside the Community Resource Center, which provides a wide variety of services to the community such as counseling, Medicaid and WIC services.

“I believe God brought me here to see that Liberty Hill needed a pregnancy resource center,” Rankin said. “The more people there are, the more the need arises. And we don’t only see women who are pregnant—we meet people where they are. Because the area is growing so much, I see this Trotter House location as a hub in this area from Georgetown to Florence to Bertram.”

Since opening, Rankin said several area churches and individual community members have gotten involved in the center’s mission.

“Everything we have in our boutique is gifted—we don’t buy anything,” she said. “We’ve never experienced a shortage in this community. We always have what our clients need. Liberty Hill has not let us down.”

As far as clients go, Rankin said the center is still working on community awareness, letting future and current parents know they are in the area and ready to help where they can.

“We would love to have people knocking down our door, but we’re still working on community awareness at this point,” she added.

Trotter House offers the community everything from pregnancy tests and sonograms to life skills classes as well as a boutique with the necessities needed for a baby.

Life skills classes are educational tools Trotter House uses to equip new parents with the ability to parent effectively and live

life with success, Rankin said.

“The classes range from anything you can imagine for pregnant women to relationship classes, safety classes, finances, potty training, breastfeeding,” she added. “The goal of those classes is to equip people to have a healthy family unit. We don’t want women to just choose to give birth, but for a woman to thrive in their goals as a family.”

After completing a course, which includes a homework assignment and quiz, points are awarded that can be used in the Trotter House boutique, Rankin said.

“For example, 25 diapers is 10 points,” she said. “Wipes are five points a bundle. We make everything very accessible, and anything that has to do with nursing, we give for free. They don’t have to earn points for those items. We award points for everything, not just the classes. If they see a counselor or bring in a donation, they’ll get points for that, too.”

The Liberty Hill location has five volunteer advocates who work through the center to assist parents with the classes and help provide them support during their pregnancy and parenting journey.

Sonographers who volunteer at the center are certified, but only to offer proof of life sonograms. They don’t determine gender or do any anatomy scans.

“We do sonograms here so that women can get proof of pregnancy for government assistance if they need it,” Rankin said.

Even though the mission of Trotter House is for women to give birth to and raise their child, if a woman comes in with plans to have an abortion, they will still be helped. Trotter House doesn’t offer or refer for abortions, but it does offer abortion recovery services, professional counseling, and adoption services.

Trotter House also has a financial assistance program that can help expecting women called Trotter Helps. Once someone has been a part of Trotter House’s programming for three months, they are eligible to apply for financial assistance.

“The overall point is, if a person walks in our doors, whether we can personally meet their needs or not, we will find a way to help,” Rankin said. “Lori says, ‘In the body of Christ, we are the arms of compassion.’ We are the place that can meet needs by serving and loving people well. This is truly a place for everyone.”

The Liberty Hill location is under the direction of Allisa Lloyd. Trotter House, located at 155 Hillcrest Lane inside the Community Resource Center, is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Saturday of every month.

For more information, visit www.trotterhouselhtx.org or reach out to Rankin at Stephanie@trotterhouse.org.

Stephanie Rankin, assistant director of Trotter House, and Allisa Lloyd, director of the Liberty Hill location of Trotter House, stand together in one of the boutique rooms filled with baby clothes and accessories at the local Trotter House. Expectant and new parents can utilize the Trotter House for all their pregnancy and parenting needs. PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

Hitting the trails

Thunder Horse Outfitters is way of life for horseman

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH STAFF WRITER

Sitting on an elevated deck overlooking the Texas Hill Country, Travis Caffee surveys the land that sprawls out before him as far as the eye can see.

Below are pens that house 13 horses of varying breeds and colors, milling about, sipping water from a nearby trough or nibbling away at hay as they patiently wait their turn to be set free on the 1,300-acre playground they call home.

“There’s nothing I’d rather be doing,” said Caffee. “I have this passion –I want to work with horses for the rest of my life.”

Caffee is the owner of Thunder Horse Outfitters, located on Reveille Peak Ranch in Burnet, a professional horseback trail riding company the Austin native started in 2019 with a very specific mission.

“I wanted to be able to save as many horses as I can,” he said. “They’re an important part of American history.”

All of Caffee’s horses have been rescued from among the thousands that are destined for eventual slaughter annually due to their unwanted status in order to be rehabilitated and used for the tours his business offers.

However, bringing a horse back from the brink can be a long, arduous process with many steps along the way – both physical and emotional, he said.

“You have to fix their feet and fatten them back up again,” said Caffee. “Sometimes they’ve been through trauma from being beaten, so you need to build up their ability to trust again.”

Caffee said when it’s time to rescue a horse, there are certain signs to look for to make sure he gets one that is capable of being rehabilitated from whatever it might have been through in the past.

“I always look for something called ‘kind eye,’” he said. “When you look into a horse’s eyes, you’re really looking into its soul. Sometimes, if a horse has been through too much, it will have that crazy-eye like when

it’s scared. Also, you’re looking for lameness from a physical standpoint and horses that are young enough to get healthy again.”

Still, though, a rescued horse can prove to be a tough nut to crack on the road to recovery.

Such is the case with Ria, a former thoroughbred Caffee has had for 5 ½ years to no avail despite his best efforts.

“Horses like that are built to race,” he said. “They’re filled with all kinds of steroids and things.”

On the other hand, Caffee has already made significant progress with Caspian, who he’s only had for six months.

“He’s an English jumping horse I got for only $3,000 at a rescue,” he said. “It’s at the point where I can ride him, but he’s not ready for guests yet.”

Caffee said he would like to eventually begin to save wild horses, but that presents an altogether different challenge.

“With mustangs, you don’t have the trauma of rescues,” said Caffee. “But, you have to get the wildness out of them.”

Endless adventures

Thunder Horse Outfitters offers nearly endless possibilities for adventure for those who return to the ranch time and again due to the many different variations of trails located within the 30-mile loop Caffee has to choose from on the property, which includes 100 kilometers of trails and 15 miles of hand-cut, single-track trails.

“Someone can visit here and never take the same trail twice,” he said. “There are always four or five different ways to go and I can mix and match. On some of our longer rides, you can see the entire ranch.”

Native influence

How Thunder Horse Outfitters got its name is an interesting story – one that reflects the respect Caffee has always had for Native American culture and how he’s incorporated it into helping shape the person he is, he said.

“I used to go to a place in Bastrop called Thunder Ranch, which was

Travis Caffee is owner of Thunder Horse Outfitter, located on Reveille Peak Ranch in Burnet, a professional horseback trail riding company. PHOTO BY STACY COALE

BY STACY COALE

owned by a woman named Mary Thunder,” said Caffee. “I grew up going to sweat lodges and on vision quests – I’ve always had a lot of Native influence in my life. When Mary passed away a few years ago, I decided to name our business after her.”

In fact, one of Caffee’s most trusted associates is Kee Elsisie, a Native American horseman who was instrumental in his former introduction to what would become a way of life.

“When I worked for the National Parks Service in Colorado, Kee was my mentor,” he said. “As his apprentice, he taught me almost everything I know.”

Caffee began his apprenticeship as a mule packer – someone who transports supplies and equipment places vehicles can’t reach.

“We would move stuff for trail crews, park rangers and researchers,” he said. “You have to be able to know what the horses can and can’t do and need to recognize weather patterns.”

Answering a calling

Caffee first got into the saddle himself at age five, when he would spend time in Colorado where his grandmother lived, where he quickly developed a love for the outdoors and eventually decided he wanted to share that passion with others.

As a result, he and his business splits time between the Lone Star and Rocky

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Horseback riding is good for keeping riders in the moment, says Travis Caffee, owner of Thunder Horse Outfitters. “There’s no future, no past – the whole process is about finding a connection with nature in order to save it.” PHOTOS

Sports Journalism

Horseback

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

through May in Texas and June to September in Colorado as the weather is more agreeable to horseback riding at those respective times of years in each place.

“It’s really the best of both worlds,” said Caffee. “For both the horses and the riders.”

Caffee packs up his entire operation and heads for his location in Grand Lake, Colorado in June and there have been times when he’s faced with opposite ends of Mother Nature’s spectrum on the same trip.

“I’ve le Texas when it’s 103,” he said. “Then, I get to Colorado and it’s 18 degrees with 22 inches of snow on the ground. Usually, it’s about a 24-hour haul and I’ll have to make more than one trip.”

Finding solace

According to Caffee, horseback riding provides the average person with an opportunity to connect with one of these animals and leave the world behind.

“Horses are really good as far as keeping you in the moment,” said Caffee. “There’s no future, no past – the whole process is about finding a connection with nature in order to save it.”

Caffee’s horses are properly trained so anyone – regardless of riding experience –can fully immerse themselves in the world around them while in the saddle.

“All you really need is good balance,” he said. “Our horses will just follow the one in front of it.”

Tours range from 90 minutes to 2 ½ hours all the way up to half-day or allday rides and even a two-day, one-night camping adventure and riding lessons are also available for those who wish to learn horsemanship.

“We get people here from all over the world – places like Australia, Uzbekistan and Israel,” said Caffee. “But, li le kids are the best – sometimes they’ll be scared of the horse at first and are crying when they get put on one. But, by the end, they’re crying again when it’s time to get off because they like it so much.”

For Caffee, what he does isn’t simply a vocation or a way to make a living, but a way of life.

“Doing this takes all of me, all of the time,” he said. “But, I plan on keeping on doing it – I want to be able to pass these skills down.”

Hill | Locally owned by Travis & Kerry Redding

BIZ BRIEFS:

What’s New?

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

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Positive Canine Company is a new dog training organization that specializes in humane and ethical dog training. The company o ers private sessions and follow-up sessions.

Hill on Jan. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Care First Walk-In Clinic

12701 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

Caszmio's on the Corner

14721 Hwy. 29, Thirsty Penguin

Lot, Liberty Hill

A new food truck called Caszmio’s is now serving fresh Texas fare at the Thirsty Penguin on select days. Menu items include fried chicken, beef sandwiches, poutine and more.

Tea2Go TeaN’ergy

15050 Hwy. 29, Panther Plaza

A new location of Tea2Go TeaN’ergy has been announced for 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, cream sodas and lattes.

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS

• Bella Sera

13750 Hwy. 29, Liberty Plaza

• Chubby Puppies

Mobile, Liberty Hill

• Taco Patron

320 Hwy. 29, Bertram

SERVICES

Positive Canine Company

Mobile, Liberty Hill

Alchemy Doors

Mobile, Liberty Hill

At Alchemy Doors, custom doors and barn doors are made exactly to customers’ specifications. The company features a mid-century modern style with a bohemian flair.

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS

• AAA Storage 4651 FM 3405, Georgetown

• Liberty Junk Hauling

Mobile, Liberty Hill

• Embody Coaching Mobile, Liberty Hill

ON THE MOVE

Signature Aesthetics

201 St. Joseph Court, Liberty Hill

Signature Aesthetics will be celebrating the grand opening of its new location in Liberty

Signature Aesthetics

Care First recently celebrated its fifth anniversary in November 2021. The clinic was opened by Kaela Thurman and has since grown to include several other nurse practitioners who provide everything from primary care to urgent care.

Overall Laundromat

1460 Hwy. 29, Bertram

Overall Laundromat reopened in December after being closed for renovations, including all new washers and dryers for customers to use.

The Powder Room Blow Dry Bar

14001 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

In early 2023, The Powder

Room is expanding its services to include a full salon along with styling and blowout services. New services will include colors, cuts, balayage, highlights and more.

Williamson County

Julie Kiley has been appointed to serve as the Williamson County auditor following the retirement of County Auditor

Jerry Jones in January. Kiley currently serves as the first assistant county auditor and has been with WilCo for 28 years.

Schlotzsky’s

13613 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

The Liberty Hill location of Schlotzsky’s is up for sale at a price of $2 million.

Dahlia Café

2450 RR 1869, Liberty Hill

The Juarez family of Liberty Hill recently purchased Dahlia Café from the Johnston family, which started and ran Dahlia Café for the last 15 years. The Juarez family plan to open Dahlia Café seven days a week and serve brunch on the weekends. Taylor Juarez will serve as general manager.

Liberty Hill Beauty Bar

13997 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

The salon formerly known as Blushin’ Beauty has been rebranded and opened as Liberty Hill Beauty Bar. The owner of the salon is Chealsea Breder, who also was an owner of Blushin’ Beauty. The salon o ers hair services, spray tans, eyelash extensions and more.

Caszmio's on the Corner

Schlotzsky's

Alchemy Doors

Julie Kiley

The Powder Room Blow Dry Bar

Oak Grove Church dates back to mid-1860s

BY JAMES WEAR COLUMNIST

It’s been a week since I received the invite to attend services at the Oak Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church and it’s an invitation I regrettably turned down, as wife Paula was in the midst of a week-long battle with the flu and I myself was beginning to feel the onset of what would prove to be several days of dealing with a nagging cough, chills and the general discomfort that comes with the flu bug.

I had attended a worship service at Oak Grove a few years back, on a Sunday morning when a longtime family friend, John “Buck” Love, delivered the message. The past week Buck, who several years ago officiated at our father’s funeral services, was back in town for the Thanksgiving holidays and was set to again to preach.

Buck’s family has longtime ties to the church, which dates back to 1865. According to a chapter devoted to the church that can be found in J. Gordon Bryson’s Culture of the Shin Oak Ridge Folk, the Rev. Collin Forbes founded the congregation in October of that year. Bryson notes there were 24 charter members.

He writes that the official organization of the congregation didn’t occur until 1891, and sometime later, two other local congregations met and consolidated as neither

by itself could afford to hire a pastor. W.W. Tucker was elected clerk of the congregation.

The original church building was built in 1895 and dedicated the following November with a preacher from Liberty Hill, Rev. Coley Lockett, delivering the initial sermon. According to Bryson, “the church was packed with people on this dedication day. The weather was pretty (sunny and not cold) and there was dinner on the ground.”

The original church building burned to the ground in the 1920s, but church historians say the building that replaced it is the one being used today.

The tabernacle, which stands to this day, was built in 1898, although according to church historians, the roof “was replaced at some point during the last 100 years.” It is still used on special occasions. Bryson notes, “The church, from the beginning, has never failed to hold a summer revival.”

Church elders during the early days included J.H. Montgomery, R.D. Love, M.W. Tucker, J.S. Hickman, C.A. Snow and J.S. Blackman, while R.A. Tucker was listed an early deacon, along with G.W. Barnett and C.S. Snow.

Oak Grove is located about four miles south of downtown Andice on RR 2338. Services are held each Sunday beginning at 11. For more information, visit oakgrovechurch-andice.org.

OBITUARY

Christopher W. Miller

Christopher W. Miller of Liberty Hill Texas passed away on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at his home after a short illness. Chris was born March 1, 1953 to Alfred M Miller Junior, and Gussie Frymier Miller of Beaumont, Texas.

Chris is survived by his wife Claudia Maynard Miller of Liberty Hill, one son, Jason Thompson and family of San Jose, California, one brother, Kevin Miller of Georgetown, Texas, a sister, Dara Coder of Cabo, Mexico, one niece Alice Colander of Austin, Texas. Two great nieces, Betsy, and Lucy.

Chris graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Mass Communications degree and he also obtained a certificate in computer programming from El Centro College. He was a Christian Believer, he loved people and had a true zest for life. He was an accomplished musician, he was member of the worship team at Glad Tidings Church of Liberty Hill. His career included performing in Country and in Christian bands and music groups. He also worked in various capacities in radio broadcasting and in various computer

programming jobs. His final position was working in the laundry at Hope House, a residential facility that houses people with physical and mental disabilities.

Hobbies included working on computers, amateur radio, among many others. A memorial service was held on Saturday, December 17 at 11:00 AM at the Glad Tidings Church in Liberty Hill, 16030 TX 29, Liberty Hill, 78642. After the service light refreshments were served in the fellowship hall by the Church.

Oak Grove is one of the oldest churches in the area. The original church building burned downed in the 1920s, but the facility that replaced it remains in use today. (Courtesy Photo)

The tabernacle at Oak Grove Church in Andice dates back more than 100 years and remains in use.

(Courtesy Photo)

Starting up a new sport

Club lacrosse team plants seeds in Liberty Hill

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR

On a damp weekday evening, the drizzle of a passing storm is illuminated by the lights at Old Panther Stadium while below on the natural grass surface, players in helmets and shoulder pads are being put through the paces of yet another practice.

However, there are no oblong leather balls in sight, but small, round spheres being tossed about by sticks with webbing at the end of them.

The sport of lacrosse has arrived in Liberty Hill, as there is a brand new club team competing under the colors of the Panthers despite the fact it is not sanctioned by the UIL, but is instead a privately-funded effort.

Bigger metropolitan areas such as Dallas and Houston have had lacrosse programs for quite some time and that had already extended to places like Leander and Georgetown in recent years.

But, this is the first time players based in Liberty Hill will no longer have to travel to play as there is now an organization right in their own backyard to cater to their competition needs.

Liberty Hill High School Lacrosse Club director and head coach Adam Bokmeyer relishes the opportunity to build a program from the ground up.

“It’s exciting to be able to start something from scratch,” said Bokmeyer, who played NCAA Division I lacrosse at Army, then embarked on a coaching career for the past 15 years. “There’s a lot more love of the game that way.”

Bokmeyer has been head coach at St. Andrews University in North Carolina, Sonoma State University in California and Smithson Valley High School, along with assistant coaching duties at the University of Texas, Adams State University in Colorado and Chico State University in California. Now, he will plant the seeds he hopes will

come to fruition in the form of a competitive program down the road – a path that is only beginning, though, and one that comes with its fair share of challenges.

“One of the biggest things is just building players’ overall awareness of the game,” said Bokmeyer. “Eventually, we would like to have a program that encompasses kindergarten through 12th grade – we already have a lot of eighth-graders that are interested.”

Liberty Hill High School junior Kyle Evans is the Panthers’ goalkeeper, bringing previous playing experience with him a er moving to Texas from California, and said lacrosse has similarities to a couple other sports in which the objective is to score into a net.

“You can compare it to hockey and soccer,” said Evans. “You need to have good spatial awareness, quickness and muscle memory – I think it’s a sport that’s a lot more difficult to excel at.”

Senior Bryce Hurley originally hails from

Virginia and compares the game to another athletic endeavor that is slightly more wellknown in his new home state.

“You need toughness because there are people constantly hi ing you,” he said. “Also, there’s no stopping in between plays like in football.”

According to Bokmeyer, most of the 25 players currently in the program have previous lacrosse experience – but, some more than others – which presents a coaching quandary in the need to cater to all different skill levels.

“Mostly, we’re focusing on the basics and making sure we do things the right way,” said Bokmeyer. “We do a lot of smaller drills where we can work on li le things. It’s going to take awhile to learn the playbook, but once we increase our players’ technical ability and lacrosse IQ, we can start adding things as we go.”

Lacrosse is a fast-moving game that requires one to think and act on the fly, said

“It’s a contact game and you need to have the ability to read the field, make quick decisions and anticipate the next play before it happens,” he said. “But, there’s a spot for everyone.”

The team’s season will run from February through April with home games at Old Panther Stadium on the campus of Liberty Hill Elementary School.

More information about Liberty Hill High School Lacrosse Club can be found on the team’s website at libertyhilllacrosse.org.

The fact lacrosse is currently a club sport means community support from local businesses is of the utmost importance, he said.

“We’re a non-profit and our goal is to grow the game of lacrosse in Liberty Hill,” said Bokmeyer. “We’re fortunate to have the board of directors we do, but the more we can do to bring in sponsors from the outside, the be er off we’ll be.”

Liberty Hill High School Lacrosse Club director and head coach Adam Bokmeyer brings an extensive playing and coaching background in helping establish Liberty Hill’s first lacrosse club. (BY SCOTT AKANEWICH)

Bokmeyer.

BY SHANNON HOFMANN

One end of the field to the other

Positional switches part and parcel for Panthers striker

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR

Nobody can ever say Dhar Ramsingh isn’t versatile on a soccer field.

After all, the Liberty Hill junior is back up front at the tip of the spear of the Panthers’ attack as a striker only a year removed from being positioned at the opposite end of the pitch as a central defender.

How stark of a contrast is it playing both of those positions?

Imagine a center fielder in baseball switching to catcher or a quarterback in football moving to safety and you’ll have some idea of the challenges – both mental and physical – Ramsingh has conquered over the past three seasons.

As a freshman, he was in his natural striker position, then switched to the back last season as a sophomore and now once again has been returned to where his job description is to put the ball into the opponent’s net rather than keep it out of his own.

According to Ramsingh, the musical chairs was due to the needs of the team at the time.

Well worth the wait

New Panthers hoops coach paid dues as an assistant

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR

All Blake Boren did was slide down one seat to his left on the bench of Liberty Hill’s boys’ basketball team this season.

“We didn’t have a center back last year,” said Ramsingh. “The biggest difference back there is you can see the entire field in front of you.”

Of course, the stakes are higher in front of your own goal as a single blunder can adversely affect the outcome of a contest.

“If you make bad decisions, a lot can go wrong,” said Ramsingh. “But, I still have midfield DNA and I have speed – it never hurts to be fast.”

Liberty Hill head coach Felix Esparza said Ramsingh’s versatility is a blessing for him to have at his disposal.

“Dhar is one of those guys every coach wishes they had,” he said. “Last season, he did what I asked him to do and adapted very quickly.”

In addition to his field duties, Ramsingh is also one of three team captains for the Panthers, along with fellow juniors Caden Glenn and Marcelo Bravo – a natural extension of what he brings to the team dynamic.

“We’re a young and hungry team,” said Ramsingh. “We lost a lot of seniors, so now we have a lot of guys coming up from the junior varsity fighting for spots – we’re a

CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

But, assuming the Panthers’ head-coaching responsibilities after being an assistant under his now-retired father Barry for 12 years has involved much more than a three-foot difference in where he sits on the sidelines.

According to Boren, the biggest challenge for him so far has been finding enough hours in the day to get everything done.

“I knew the time commitment would be different as head coach,” said Boren. “But, there’s a lot more that goes into the daily planning of everything and I was kind of ignorant about that part of it – I guess you’re never really ready for it unless you’ve done it before.”

However, Boren has had help adjusting to his new role in the form of assistant coaches Ryan Little and John Mason, he said.

“Ryan’s my lead varsity assistant and coaches the junior varsity,” said Boren. “Also, we have John up here from the middle school this year to coach the freshmen, so being able to delegate to those guys has been a big help.”

Boren has also had help in his math class and from a familiar face, he said.

“I’ve been fortunate enough for the first two months of school to have a student-teacher,” he said. “It’s Bethany Mc-

Leod, who actually played basketball here.”

In all, there are 46 players stocking the rosters of the Panthers’ varsity, JV and pair of freshman squads, but as Liberty Hill continues to grow and with it more players in the talent pool to choose from, Boren has also now inherited the tough task of trimming those rosters down – another aspect of his new job he wasn’t necessarily ready to deal with, he said.

“Tryouts and making cuts was hard,” said Boren. “I’m a people-pleaser at heart, so to be the one it falls on now to tell a kid that loves and appreciates the game there’s not room for him – it’s not easy.”

During his time as his father’s varsity assistant, Boren was head coach of the Panthers’ JV squad, but he said being bench boss at the next level is much more challenging – particularly from a strategic standpoint.

“For one thing, defenses are better,” he said. “Sometimes at the JV or freshman level, you can run smart plays that will work on a defense that’s not ready for it, but that won’t necessarily work at the varsity level.”

Last season, Liberty Hill posted an overall record of 30-7, which included a district championship with a 12-2 mark before advancing to the third round of the Class 5A state playoffs.

But, many of the critical components from that club were lost to graduation, leaving some gaping holes in the lineup for Boren to fill as he looks to build on last

CONTINUED ON

Liberty Hill junior Dhar Ramsingh (#7) is back at his natural striker position this season after playing center back for the Panthers last year.

New head boys’ basketball coach Blake Boren (left) recently celebrated his first win after taking over the varsity program after 12 years as a Liberty Hill assistant coach. (Courtesy Photo)

Liberty Hill has four new starters this season

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR

Last season, the Lady Panthers advanced all the way to within a game of qualifying for the Class 5A state tournament behind a largely veteran squad that had the experience needed to overcome adversity and prevail in pressure-packed playoff games.

However, this season has presented an altogether different challenge for head coach Chris Lange, who has been le to rebuild his roster following the departure of so many seniors who were instrumental in the Lady Panthers’ spirited postseason run.

For Lange, though, it’s all part of being a successful high school coach – having the ability to replace critical pieces of the puzzle with proper talent.

“We graduated eight seniors, so we just decided to go ahead and play the young players,” said Lange. “Let them get their minutes at the varsity level.”

Perhaps the most pertinent – and painful – part of the process as far as integrating new players into the lineup is bridging the gap between junior varsity and varsity basketball for players who will now be expected to digest much more information and be able to properly execute on the court.

In all, Lange has five freshmen on his team who face this very predicament – only to an even higher degree due to the fact they’re brand new to the high school game a er having only played at the middle school level.

“It’s difficult when you’re teaching everyone at the same time,” said Lange. “We have five girls that have to learn everything we do. In middle school, you might have 12 plays you need to know – here we have over 40.”

Of course, the one starter who returned this season was all-state point guard Gabby Mundy, which is definitely a good place to begin reloading.

But, a er that, not too many players had significant minutes on the floor entering the current campaign, with seniors Abbie Billingsley and Payton Hanson having served in part-time roles last year.

Boys Soccer

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

team that’s not going to be just brushed aside.”

Last season in Esparza’s first on the sidelines, the Panthers finished with an overall record of 7-9-5 including a 3-8-3 district mark that resulted in a seventh-place finish in the league standings.

“We lost to some teams we should’ve beat,” said Esparza. “Now, the expectations have been set and the players are holding themselves accountable.”

Esparza said with a year under his coaching belt, he now has a be er feel for his players and what they need to be successful. Along those same lines, the players now know what to expect from him.

“I think I’m just more comfortable,” he said. “I know what things need to look like so I can make sure my players are happy to be here.”

Whatever fortunes unfold for the Panthers this season, though, Ramsingh is certain to be in the center of it all.

“Coach Esparza is le ing me be creative as a striker and off-the-ball movement is important instead of just staying in one position,” said Ramsingh. “There’s definitely a team aspect this year – guys are ready to step up to the plate.”

Sophomore center Evie Bruce did get valuable time on the court last season in backing up senior Emma Hubbard and now the 6-foot pivot is ready to use that valuable experience as she grows as a player, said Lange.

“For a second-year player, Evie can be as good as she wants to be,” he said. “She has an inside/outside game, she can be nasty and isn’t afraid to get on the floor.”

The five freshmen populating the Lady Panthers’ roster are guards Reagan Robbins, Lyndsey Bullock and Falon Stroup and forwards Julia Ortiz and Renee Stemmons – with each one adding an ingredient to the Purple-and-Gold recipe, said Lange.

“Reagan has a high basketball IQ, handles the ball really well and proved at the junior

high level she’s ready to score,” he said. “Lyndsey is finding it to be a li le more comfortable in the small-forward spot and Falon has found minutes because she’s the kind of player the ball just seems to find and she’s starting to finish around the rim. Julia can shoot it from the outside and we’ll have her get some minutes with the JV and lately Renee has started looking more like the player I thought she could be.”

Although offense may come and go from the group as they continue to learn the playbook, there’s one aspect of the game that will keep them on the court regardless of how many points pour in, said Lange.

“If you’re a go-ge er on defense,” he said. “You can play for us.”

Sophomore center Evie Bruce (#5) is one of a roster of young players Liberty Hill head coach Chris Lange is rebuilding with this season. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

Panthers mount brave playoff run, advance to semifinal

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR

After falling in the Class 5A Division II state championship game last season, the Panthers of Liberty Hill were on a mission to return to the promised land again this year with a victorious ending.

However, after a hard-fought run that saw the Purple-and-Gold advance to the state semifinals for the third consecutive season, the Panthers were defeated by Port Neches-Groves by a 42-14 score at Legacy Stadium in Katy.

In the aftermath, head coach Kent Walker was most crestfallen for the players that won’t have another chance next season.

“It definitely hurts – any time things come to an end,” he said. “But, especially for these seniors – they worked extremely hard for the past four years and have given everything to this program, so for them not to go out on top – because that’s our expectation – it hurts and it’s frustrating.”

Early on, the Panthers found out first hand what they were up against, as the Indians took the opening kickoff and methodically mixed a series of runs and passes that resulted in a 36-yard field goal at the end of a 12-play, 75-yard drive that used up nearly half of the first quarter.

But, once the Liberty Hill offense finally took to the field, it seemed like business as usual, when on the third play of the drive, junior fullback Ben Carter sprinted away from the Port Neches-Groves defense on one of his patented long touchdown runs –this one for 83 yards – and just like that, the

Panthers took a 7-3 lead.

However, before the first period wound down to its completion, Indians senior quarterback Cole Crippen found wideout Chance Prosperie for a 29-yard scoring pass to give Port Neches-Groves the lead right back, although a missed extra point left the score at 9-7 entering the second.

After the Panthers were forced to punt on their next possession, Crippen struck again, first on a 48-yard play to Landon Guamere, then again to his fellow senior for a nine-yard touchdown pass to make it 16-7 only 1:18 into the second period.

On the ensuing series, a Panthers fumble set up another Indians field-goal – this one from 34 yards – and it was 19-7.

Liberty Hill then set out to get back into the game on the next possession when freshman Jack Pitchford picked up 36 yards on a nifty run before Carter broke loose for another 20, leading to a one-yard Jaxson Hines run to close the gap to 19-14 with only 1:04 left until halftime.

But, that was certainly enough time for Crippen to quickly lead the Indians down the field on an 11-play, 70-yard scoring drive that culminated with a five-yard pass to Shea Adams in making the score 25-14 with 0:02 left before the half ended.

Port Neches-Groves features a massive offensive line that continued to open holes for running back Isaiah Nguyen all night, as the shifty junior had runs of eight, seven and 16 yards on the Indians’ opening series of the second half before Crippen snuck in from a yard out to increase the lead to 32-14, which was the score entering the fourth

quarter.

Defensively, they proved just as stubborn with a mix of size and athleticism that frustrated the Panthers’ Slot-T attack in limiting them to well below their rushing average for the evening.

Another field goal and a three-yard touchdown run for Adams closed the door on the contest and the Panthers’ season in the process.

In all, Liberty Hill was held to a season-low 219 yards rushing, as Carter led with 114 yards on six carries and a touchdown.

Previously, the Panthers’ lowest rushing output for the season had been 347 yards in a 35-21 season-opening home win over Wagner and the occasion also marked the first time Liberty Hill had been shut out in a second half since last year’s 23-14 defeat to South Oak Cliff in the state championship game.

“What it comes down to is we had opportunities to get stops and make plays and we didn’t do it and that’s the bottom line,” said Walker. “But, credit to PNG – they have some really talented kids and they’re very well-coached.”

Liberty Hill finished the season with a 13-2 record, which included a 6-0 district mark and league championship in advancing to the Class 5A Division II state semifinals for the third consecutive season since the program moved up to the higher classification.

In closing, Walker reiterated the sorrow he felt for his graduating class, while offering words of advice and encouragement for

those who will be back.

“To my seniors, I told them ‘I’m sorry, I feel like I let you down,’” he said. “But, for the underclassmen, to take the way they feel right now and use it to their advantage, that you don’t want this feeling again and let’s see what we can do next year.”

Liberty Hill 63, Highlands 17

Carter became the master of the one-play scoring drive this season from his fullback spot in the Liberty Hill backfield, as on multiple occasions, the junior speedster has taken a hand-off on the first play of a series and gone the distance for six points.

Doesn’t matter how far away the goal line is, either, as 50 or 60-yard scoring sprints have been the norm for Carter over the course of the campaign.

However, at Panther Stadium in Liberty Hill’s Class 5A Division II state playoff opener against Highlands, Carter did himself one better.

After having already scored three touchdowns of 61, 46 and 17 yards, respectively, Carter broke loose for his fourth touchdown of the game, an 84-yard scoring run in helping propel the Panthers to a 63-17 victory over the Owls.

According to Carter, he and his teammates continue to run the play that springs him for epic sprints until an opposing defense shows them they can stop it.

“Once it starts working,” said Carter, who led Liberty Hill with 239 yards on nine carries with five touchdowns in the win. “We just keep doing it until they make an adjustment.”

(Above left) Noah Long (#21) was the Panthers’ leading rusher this season with 2,099 yards – the second straight year the junior tailback has surpassed 2,000 yards. (Above right) Panthers senior quarterback Reese Vickers (#16) gains yardage with a block from Brendan McAdams (52) during Liberty Hill’s 42-14 Class 5A Division II state semifinal loss to Port Neches-Groves. PHOTOS BY ALEX RUBIO

Local racers put Liberty Hill on jet ski map

Pair of brothers excel at highest level of watersports

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR

Jet-ski racing isn’t necessarily a sport that’s synonymous with Central Texas. However, a pair of Liberty Hill brothers are doing their best to change that narrative by competing and having success at the international level.

Hendrix Smith, 14, a Liberty Hill High School freshman, and older sibling Haigen, 19, have been racing jet skis for five years and have already approached the summit and conquered it, winning national championships in their respective classes.

At the International Jet Sports Boating Association World Finals in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, in October, Hendrix finished fourth in the Junior Ski 13-15 Stock Division and fifth in the 13-15 4-Stroke Lites Class.

The ISJBA World Finals is considered the Super Bowl of jet ski racing and has been held for over four decades at the desert oasis located on the western border of the Grand Canyon State and this past year attracted 500 racers from 40 different countries.

“It was great to represent the U.S., but also Texas and Liberty Hill,” said Hendrix. “Also, it’s great to be able to meet people from all over the world.”

Justin Smith, father of Hendrix and Haigen, is a former jet ski racer himself who was introduced to the sport at a young age.

“My father was in the oil business, so I grew up overseas,” said Justin. “In places like Dubai, jet ski racing is much bigger, so I got into it.”

As a result, it was only natural for his sons to pick up the baton in attacking courses all over the country, as they honed their skills.

According to Hendrix, though, they are skills that were initially developed on tracks made of dirt as opposed to water.

“I started off in BMX about as soon as I could ride a bike,” said Hendrix. “But, then when I was eight, my dad bought my first jet ski and I began racing when I was nine.”

Ever since, Hendrix has left wheels behind for wakes in climbing the ranks of the aquatic version of motocross and said many of the same attributes that helped him in his previous racing endeavors also come in handy while negotiating waves.

“Things like how to hold a line and make moves,” he said. “Setting people up in corners so you can get on the inside – all of that comes from racing experience.”

Justin said a big part of racing success stems from the support system that’s in place for an individual or team from a man-

ufacturer and sponsorship standpoint and although the Smiths don’t have the same kind of backing factory race teams have, they still manage to succeed through sheer grit, determination and a whole lot of hard work and dedication.

“We’re proud of what we do,” he said. “Compared to the factory teams, I like to say we build our jet skis in the dirt and we have to care for and take better care of our equipment.”

After jet ski racing experienced a boom in the 1990s, the sport dwindled in popularity after the turn of the century, but Justin said interest is back on the rise in recent years.

“Back then, 50,000 people would show up for the World Finals,” he said. “But, then manufacturers like Yamaha and Kawasaki started to put more of their money into motorcycle racing. But, now I think with things like social media, there’s more global interest again because people can see what we do and are looking for it.”

Currently, Justin is race director for the ISJBA Jettribe Mid-America WaterX Series, which is where Hendrix and Haigen compete at the national level, a series that continues to gain traction, hosting seven events in Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Tennessee.

As in any motorsport – be in on land or water – with speeds of up to 60 mph, there is certainly an element of danger to jet ski competition, so in order to mitigate that risk, Hendrix spends as much time as he can training, primarily on Lake Travis to hone some of the finer points of his craft, which not only make him faster, but safer on the water.

“When I practice, I’ll go about 120 percent so I can get better,” said Hendrix. “You need to have proper throttle control – I wouldn’t say there’s a fear factor – but you need to be able to hit berms in the corners so you can slingshot out of them.”

For the 2023 season, Hendrix plans on competing on an international tour that will take him to such exotic destinations as Poland, Thailand and Morocco – but wherever he competes, once foreign competitors find out exactly which one of the United States he hails from, there’s always a similar reaction, he said.

“Even if they already know I’m American,” said Hendrix. “When I tell them I’m from Texas, they’ll start talking about cowboy hats and barbecue.”

(Above left) Hendrix Smith is a Liberty Hill High School freshman who has already won national jet-ski racing championship and competed at the annual World Finals in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. (Above right) Liberty Hill racer Hendrix Smith negotiates a corner during a race and with speeds of up to 60 mph, there is certainly an element of danger. (Courtesy Photos)

Looking back on a career of public service

Judge Edna Staudt retiring after 28 years on the bench

BY RACHEL MADISON STAFF WRITER

After 28 years of service as the Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2 of Williamson County, Judge Edna Staudt retired at the end of 2022.

Staudt has always had a passion for government and its foundation, which is partly why she felt called to run for JP in 1994. She took office in 1995, and has won every election since, until 2022 when she decided not to run again.

“The main reason I got involved in the governmental process was because I wanted to make sure good people were in office,” she said. “I believe we have the best government in the world, but only if the people who are governing it are good. I got involved when this seat was up for reelection and someone was running that I wouldn’t want to be the judge if I was in the courtroom, so I ran and won.”

Before transitioning to public service, Staudt had worked as a real estate mortgage broker and owned her own secretarial start up business.

When she took office, she had four staff members and did about five death inquests a month. Now, she has 12 staff members and conducts up to 30 death inquests a month.

Things have changed a lot in the last 28 years, Staudt said, but nothing more so than the people she sees in court.

“Dealing with people has changed,” she said. “When I started, I saw alcohol to a great degree with kids, and now I see drugs all the time on a regular basis, too. I can’t explain that—I just know what I see. There is an overall different mentality about authority and responsibility and accountability than there was 28 years ago. Not overall of course, but that’s what I see from the perspective of the courtroom.”

Staudt said a lot of people don’t understand what a Justice of the Peace does, but the role encompasses a lot.

“I’ve conducted thousands of death inquests in the last 28 years, and I run a juvenile court, small claims court, criminal court, among others,” she said. “They are all run with different rules. Our courts were essentially created to be the people’s court. There’s never a dull moment.”

Staudt has had a lot of proud moments in her career, like having a Williamson County leadership award named after her, but what she is most proud of are two programs she created for the youth of the area.

“I started a justice court mentoring program and the Williamson County Teen Court program,” she said. “I started both of them in 1996 and they are still going strong today.”

The mentoring program was created because Staudt saw several unhappy, angry and sometimes depressed youth coming through her court, and she wanted to create a program that would give those teens someone to listen to them and encourage them.

“The mentor program has helped so many kids get through high school and get their diplomas and be ready for life,” Staudt said. “I’ve had hundreds of volunteer mentors throughout the years that have helped the youth of our county.”

The teen court program, created in conjunction with the YMCA, is a mock-court style program that teaches high school students about the judicial system.

“Thousands of kids have been through this program,” Staudt said. “They learn how to think on their feet, and how to understand justice and mercy. This program is really like a civics course that teaches teens about being attorneys, clerks, judges and bailiffs.”

Staudt added that students who are on probation can go through this “court” to be adjudicated by their peers, which in turn creates a major learning experience for everyone involved.

“My favorite moments over the years have been when I see a student who has changed from being depressed and thinking nothing matters to being bright eyed and realizing they have a future to be excited about,” Staudt said.

Staudt uses prayer as a tool every four years when deciding whether to run for reelection or not. In 2022, she didn’t feel the peace she has previously felt about running, so she didn’t run again.

“Part of that is how extensive this job is,” she added. “It can create a tremendous amount of stress. Part of my role is to deal with death inquests for the county, which includes homicides and suicides, and see-

ing people who are dealing with the tragedy of losing someone. It takes a long time to recover from those events. I think now that God has another season planned for me. This was a season of my life, and now I believe there’s something else coming.”

Staudt doesn’t know what the next season will bring, but for now she plans

on enjoying retirement by spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“I can’t seem to find the opportunity or an adequate way to thank as many people as I would like to thank,” Staudt said. “I have a deep appreciation to the community for leaving me in office all these years.”

Judge Edna Staudt served as Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2 for 28 years, until retiring at the end of 2022. She recently reflected on her decades-long career as a public servant. PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

Holiday Around the Hill

Fourth annual event raises more than $10,000 for public library

The fourth annual Holiday Around the Hill boutique shopping event in November 2022 proved to be the biggest turnout the event has ever seen.

Each of the eight participating boutiques, including Simply Home Décor & More, The Blue Door Gi Store, Liberty Hill Outfi ers, Ginger Roots Boutique, Pep & Punch, Hill Country Hickster, Viridian Rowe and Two Brand It, donated a portion of their sales from the shopping day to the Liberty Hill Public Library District, which is currently raising money to fund a new building. Together, the boutiques were able to donate a grand total of $10,884.61.

Tami Spearman, owner of Simply Home, said the shopping day had a record turnout, with completed passports at 27 percent higher than 2021’s Holiday Around the Hill, meaning 27 percent more shoppers visited all eight boutiques for stamps on their passports.

“I truly feel like the community came out because we were giving to the library,” she

added. “There is a such a so spot in the community for our library. The amount we donated was the highest amount we have ever donated at one of our boutique crawls.”

Spearman said the group is already planning for Holiday Around the Hill’s sister event, called Hop Around the Hill, which will take place April 1, 2023. The library will also receive all the proceeds from that event.

In past years, the group has chosen other area nonprofits to give to, including Hope House, the Liberty Hill Education Foundation and Operation Liberty Hill.

“We always do a nonprofit that gives back within our own community,” Spearman said. “We look for places that the community sees and can benefit from. We just appreciate the community supporting us, especially on that weekend when the proceeds are used to give back.”

To make a donation to the library’s building fund, visit www.lhpl.org for more information.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LIBERTY HILL 2023 RAFFLE CALENDAR

Eight boutiques in Liberty Hill participated in the annual Holiday Around the Hill event and were able to come together to donate more than $10,000 to the Liberty Hill Public Library for its new building fund. (Courtesy Photo)

Take off the chill this winter with a hearty soup

Vegetable Beef Soup with Dumplings

by Scott Akanewich, Sports Editor

Soup Ingredients:

2 lbs beef stew meat, cut in 1-inch chunks

2 tbsp vegetable oil, for browning meat

12 cups water

1 medium onion, chopped

4 whole cloves (the spice)

2 bay leaves

4 tsp salt

2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 - 28 oz. can of tomatoes

1 - 6 oz. can tomato paste

3 tbsp vinegar

Sugar (small amt to cut the vinegar)

2 cups diced celery

2 cups diced carrots

1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, or 1 tsp dried

Shredded cabbage (optional)

Dumpling Ingredients (optional):

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

4 eggs

1 cup milk

DIRECTIONS

In a large pot, brown stew meat in vegetable oil. Add water and bring to a boil. Simmer and remove any foam that may appear on top. Add onion, cloves, bay leaves, salt, chili powder and pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer covered until meat is almost tender (1 to 1 1/2 hrs). Add celery, carrots, parsley and cabbage and cook 30 minutes more - or until vegetables are tender.

DUMPLINGS (optional - add to pot when vegetables are tender)

After you add the vegetables to the soup, prepare dumpling dough. Combine flour, salt and eggs in large bowl. Stirring constantly, add milk into flour mixture and stir until smooth. Transfer dough onto large dinner plate. When vegetables are

tender, add dough by tablespoons into soup to cook. Dumplings will be tender in about 5 minutes.

NOTE: Remove cloves and bay leaves from soup before serving. Cloves may be wrapped in cheesecloth and tied with kitchen twine to be easily located for removal.

Claudia’s Clam Chowder

by Rachel Madison, Staff Writer

Every winter, my grandma makes a big pot of clam chowder to share with the whole family—aunts, uncles, cousins. I’m not sure when or how the tradition got started, but I look forward to a hot bowl of the creamy soup every winter season.

2 stalks celery, diced

1 white onion, diced

2 cups potatoes, diced

2 cans minced clams, juice separated ½ tsp. white wine vinegar

½ tsp. sugar

¾ cup butter

¾ cup flour

1 quart half and half

In a large pot, combine celery, onion, potatoes, juice from minced clams, vinegar and sugar. Add water to barely cover. Simmer until potatoes are barely tender. In medium pot, make a white sauce with butter and flour. When butter/flour mixture begins to bubble, slowly stir in half and half. Use a whisk or hand mixer to remove any lumps.

Add canned clams. Add salt and pepper to taste. Allow to bubble and thicken. Pour white sauce into large pot of veggies. Serve hot in bread bowls, if desired.

Try some of the favorites from the staff of The Independent, and share your recipes with us at

Add dumplings to Scott Akanewich’s Vegetable Beef Soup for a hearty winter meal. (Photo Courtesy Retrorecipebox.com)

Claudia’s Clam Chowder is a family favorite dating back generations.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

Lasagna Soup

by Stacy Coale, Media Specialist

The flavor of lasagna is presented in a comforting soup that will warm you up this winter. It receives thumbs up from my family and is in heavy rotation year-round. This recipe is substitution friendly and you may use different pastas or cheeses for the topping depending on your preference or what you have in your kitchen.

Serves 4-6

SOUP INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound of ground Italian sausage or lean ground beef

5 cloves of garlic, minced (or to taste)

1 cup finely diced onion

2 tsp dried basil

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp dried rosemary, crushed

1/2 tsp dried thyme salt and pepper to taste

28 ounces of fire-roasted diced tomatoes

1 1/2 tbsp tomato paste

5 cups beef or vegetable broth (plus extra to thin soup, as desired)

6 ounces of lasagna noodles, cracked into bite sized pieces (may substitute farfalle or other sturdy pasta)

CHEESE TOPPING INGREDIENTS:

2/3 cup ricotta cheese

1/4 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

GARNISH:

1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped

DIRECTIONS:

In a large pot or dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add sausage (or ground beef), cook and crumble until browned. Drain any fat that is left after browning. Add garlic and onion to meat in pot and cook until onions are translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Add basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, tomatoes, broth and noodles to the pot. Cover and cook 10-12 minutes, or until noodles are al dente. The pasta soaks up some of the liquid as it cooks, so you may want to add a bit of extra broth to thin soup to your liking.

For cheese topping, stir together ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella and garlic powder in a bowl.

To serve, ladle soup into bowls and add a dollop of cheese mixture on top. Garnish with chopped basil.

Shelly Wilkison, Publisher

Broccoli Cheese Soup by

I hadn’t made it since my sister passed nine years ago. It was always her favorite soup, regardless of the season. So when I found the faded recipe card, I noticed they don’t make some things like they used to, so I created my own substitutions and ended up with a version that would have passed her test.

Enjoy the soup with Italian-seasoned bread or crackers.

Saute in skillet until vegetables are soft: 1 1/2 stalks of celery

1/2 medium onion, chopped

1/2 stick of butter

Then, add:

1 1/2 cans mushroom soup

1 1/2 cans of milk (use soup can)

6-7 sticks of jalepeno cheese (Cracker Barrel brand)

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

1 small package chopped broccoli, cooked and drained

Combine all ingredients in skillet and simmer 20 minutes until cheese in melted.

Serve up the flavor of lasagna with this Lasagna Soup. It’s a family favorite at the Coale house all year long.

PHOTO BY STACY COALE

Broccoli Cheese Soup was a holiday favorite, but was one of my sister’s most common requests of my mother at most family gatherings. PHOTO BY SHELLY WILKISON

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

roundabout on Loop 332 and County Road 279, right next to Wetzel Park. Brandenburg said the only hesitation with the project is concerns over whether or not those roads will be more heavily used once construction begins on the 183A Toll Road underneath State Highway 29.

“We are trying to find out what the impact will be from the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority,” he said. “We aren’t sure if traffic will have to go down 279 and through downtown, and we don’t want to be doing construction on a roundabout if that’s going to happen. We would wait until the toll road is finished and traffic goes back to normal.”

If the project is able to move forward in spite of the toll road construction, the bid for the project will go out in early 2023, with construction beginning by May. Completion for the project is estimated to be March 2024.

Estimated Cost: $2.1 million

Loop 332/Ranch Road 1869 Turn Lanes

The final priority project for the City is adding turn lanes to the intersection at Loop 332 and Ranch Road 1869.

TxDOT was originally slated to install traffic signals at that intersection in 2022, but due to supply chain issues, the signals have yet to be installed. They are now slated to go vertical in spring 2023. Brandenburg said the City plans on waiting until those traffic signals are installed before moving ahead with the turn lane project. “We want to wait until the signals go up before we add turn lanes,” he added. “TxDOT recommended we observe the traffic once the signal is complete before we move forward to improve traffic flow.”

Estimated Cost: $750,000

A plan for the proposed roundabout at the intersection of CR 279 and Loop 332. Construction could begin as early as May 2023. (Courtesy Graphic)

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

Sun. Online facebook.com/ andicebaptist/

CROSS TRACKS CHURCH

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

www.crosstrackschurchumc.org

PASTOR

Michele Lott

Football

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

SERVICES

Sunday School 9am

Sunday Worship 10am

Sun. Online Facebook.com/cross trackschurch/

CONNECT CHURCH

Meets at Santa Rita Elementary

532 Santa Rita Blvd, Liberty Hill (479) 926-5455

www.ghbc.org/connectchurch

PASTORS

Danny Forshee, Teaching Pastor Leighton Forshee, Campus Pastor  SERVICES

Sunday Worship 5pm

FELLOWSHIP CHURCH

3600 RR 1869, Liberty Hill (512) 515-5579

fellowshiplh.com

As for his propensity for such quick scoring drives, Carter said his teammates across the line of scrimmage give the offense good-natured grief after yet another quick turnaround on the sidelines.

“Our defense doesn’t like it when we do that,” he said. “They don’t get much rest.”

Liberty Hill 63, Mercedes 14

Liberty Hill traveled south to San Antonio to face Mercedes in a second-round Class 5A Division II playoff contest, but by evening’s end, it was the Panthers who looked more like a luxury automobile running on all cylinders.

Noah Long, Joe Pitchford and Carter each scored a pair of touchdowns in a 63-14 victory over the Tigers at Gustafson Stadium that now propelled them into a regional matchup with Alamo Heights.

Pitchford, in particular, stood out in his return following a five-game absence due to an injury suffered in Week 6 on his first carry of the game during a 70-10 road win over Cedar Creek and Walker was happy to have the burly halfback once again rumbling through and over tacklers.

“Joe got cleared this week and it’s exciting to have him back,” he said. “He’s a big part of this program and a big part of this team, so having him back is huge – especially for this playoff run.”

One of those who upped his level of play was senior defensive lineman David Morris,

PASTORS

Tim McIlhaney, Dan Riemer, Ed Billock & Angel Perez SERVICES

Sunday Worship 8:30 & 11am

Servicio española a las 11am

Sunday Bible Study

All ages 10-10:45am

Wednesday Bible Study

All ages 6pm

THE HILL CHURCH

111 Holmes Road, Liberty Hill www.thehillchurch.church

PASTORS

Daniel Jung, Pastor Kendall Ringler, Associate Pastor SERVICES

Sunday Worship 10:15am Sun. Online 10:15am facebook. com/thehillchurch.church

HOLY ANNUNCIATION

ORTHODOX CHURCH

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

who recovered a pair of fumbles in the game, including one of which he returned 20 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter to increase the Panthers’ lead to 21-6 following a pair of Long scoring runs from 25 and 31 yards, respectively.

Morris said once he scooped up the loose ball on the run, he was certain he would find the end zone for six points.

“Once I got the ball, everyone was just on the ground in a pile, so I knew I was going to score,” he said. “I just didn’t want to drop it.”

Walker said Morris continues to find his groove as the campaign carries on.

“David has been getting progressively better all year long,” he said. “He’s coming into his own and playing really good football.”

Carter led Liberty Hill with 147 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns to give him a team-leading 23 on the season, while Pitchford gained 86 yards on four attempts and a pair of scores.

Liberty Hill 37, Alamo Heights 32

A long time ago, someone said it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.

Trailing at halftime by a score of 9-3 in their Class 5A Division II regional contest against Alamo Heights, Liberty Hill’s players weren’t quite ready to be done and dusted.

According to senior center Jackson

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 Affiliated) 15725 W Hwy 29, #7, Liberty Hill (512) 778-9310

www.missionlibertyhill.com

PASTOR

Rev. Mike Cofer

Harrison, all it took to wake he and his teammates up from their first-half slumber was one very serious question.

“We looked around at each other and asked if we were ready for our season to be over,” said Harrison. “The answer was a resounding ‘Heck, no.’ So, we just came out in the second half and took care of business.”

The result was a spirited second half that saw the Panthers defeat the Mules by a score of 37-32 at Bastrop ISD Memorial Stadium on a rainy, blustery late autumn afternoon – a victory that advanced them to the state quarterfinals.

Joe Pitchford led the Panthers with 187 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown, while Carter racked up 142 yards on seven carries to go with a pair of scores and Long ran eight times for 80 yards and a touchdown.

Walker praised the Panthers’ defense for fighting through adversity and finding a path to victory.

“Our kids played well enough to win the game – they kept us in it in the first half,” he said. “I think we could’ve made a few more stops in the second half to put the game away, but credit to Alamo Heights – they’re a good football team.”

Liberty Hill 63, Flour Bluff 43

Just as in their previous win over Alamo Heights, the Panthers played a close game against Flour Bluff in leading the Hornets by a single point at halftime, 28-27.

SERVICES

Sunday Bible Study 9am

Sunday Church Worship 10am Sunday Online 10am missionlibertyhill.com/online worship/

ONE CHAPEL LIBERTY HILL

811 Loop 332, Liberty Hill (512) 729-6200 onechapel.com/liberty-hill

PASTOR

Darren Shaw SERVICES

Sunday Service 10am Online Service 10am online.onechapel.com Wednesday Youth 7pm

Call (512) 778-5577 or email us at stacy@LHIndependent.com to include your church in the Worship Guide

However, while the game against the Mules came down to the final play before it was decided, the Purple-and-Gold put their opponents away this week in the second half of a 63-43 win at Dub Farris Stadium in San Antonio – a victory that propelled them into the Class 5A Division II state semifinals.

With starting running backs Long and Joe Pitchford limited due to injuries, more of the rushing load fell on the shoulders of senior quarterback Reese Vickers, who responded with 226 yards on 11 carries and three touchdowns, including a 45-yard gallop at the end of the third quarter that all but assured victory.

Walker praised his signal-caller for his ability to deliver when the stakes were highest.

“You know, Reese is just a Liberty Hill kid,” he said. “He’s a tough, hard-nosed kid and he knew we needed him tonight and stepped up and had a great game. Reese is a determined young man and he wasn’t going to let this be his last football game tonight.”

Vickers credited his line for providing him with running lanes throughout the contest.

“With the holes my offensive line was opening up,” said Vickers. “Anybody could’ve run through them.”

Carter finished with 148 yards on 17 carries and his five touchdowns in the win.

year’s success, although he said there are promising prospects to fill those spots and players with plenty of size.

“We have two sophomore centers in Jaxson Sco , who is 6-5 and Eric Richardson, who is 6-7,” said Boren. “Our point guard, Gunter Daniels, is 6-6, although he’s learning a new position this year.”

In addition, players such as 6-foot-5 senior forward Aaron Hurst, 6-foot-3 junior forward Travon Williams and 6-foot senior guard Paul Maderia will bring energy and intensity to the court as the Panthers attempt to once again successfully navigate a difficult district schedule and defend their league title.

Boren has been a part of the Panthers program going all the way back to his playing days before graduating and a ending the University of Texas, then returning to his alma mater to begin his career as a teacher and coach.

Despite the fact he perhaps could’ve landed a head-coaching job elsewhere years ago, Boren said it was critical to him to remain true to the only hoops home he has ever known.

“I played here four years, was an assistant

for 12 and our family has lived in Liberty Hill for over 20 years,” he said. “The community here is important to me – it’s an investment. In order to be part of this program, you have to care enough about this place to work hard as players and coaches.”

On the court, the Purple-and-Gold will still employ the same “Runnin’ Panthers” style of play the program has become synonymous with over the past two decades, but in order to accomplish its objectives, Boren said certain benchmarks of an intangible variety must be met.

“Our goals are to build depth and chemistry,” he said. “We need to all get along, not have a toxic locker room and be the best teammates we can for each other.”

As a head coach, Boren said he’s experiencing a new level of fatigue with all of his added responsibilities – but at the end of the day, it’s all worth it.

“So far, it’s been hard, but I’ve been so ready for this season to get started,” he said. “When I’m exhausted, it’s a good tired as long as I’m doing right by the kids.”

Wishing you a Happy & Healthy 2023!

Jan. 5

WILLIAMSON COUNTY FARMERS MARKET

Georgetown Public Library

402 W. 8th St. / 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Jan. 13

MAZE FEATURING FRANKIE

BEVERLY & THE ISLEY BROTHERS

HEB Center

2100 Ave of the Stars, Cedar Park

7:30 p.m. / Tickets $59-199

HEBCenter.com

Jan. 14

AHL HOCKEY / TEXAS STARS VS. MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS

HEB Center

2100 Ave of the Stars, Cedar Park

7 p.m. / TIckets $19-64

HEBCenter.com

Jan. 16

MLK DAY MARCH AND CELEBRATION

Old Town Park, Leander Dancers, musicians, choir and

spoken-word artists

11 a.m.-2 p.m.

NBA G-LEAGUE BASKETBALL

AUSTIN SPURS VS. STOCKTON

KINGS

HEB Center

2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park

5 p.m. / Tickets $10-150

HEBCenter.com

Jan. 20

NBA G-LEAGUE BASKETBALL

AUSTIN SPURS VS. ONTARIO

CLIPPERS

HEB Center

2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park

7:30 p.m. / Tickets $10-150 HEBCenter.com

Jan. 26

NBA G-LEAGUE BASKETBALL

AUSTIN SPURS VS. TEXAS

LEGENDS

HEB Center

2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park

7:30 p.m. / Tickets $10-150 HEBCenter.com

Jan. 27

AHL HOCKEY / TEXAS STARS VS. COLORADO EAGLES

HEB Center

2100 Ave of the Stars, Cedar Park

7 p.m. / Tickets $19-64 HEBCenter.com

WILLIAMSON COUNTY

COURTHOUSE TOURS

710 S. Main St., Georgetown Free admission

1:30, 2:30, 3:30 p.m.

Jan. 30

AHL HOCKEY TEXAS STARS VS. IOWA WILD

HEB Center

2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park

7 p.m. / Tickets $19-64

HEBCenter.com

Feb. 5

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS

HEB Center

2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park

3 p.m. / Tickets $29-107

HEBCenter.com

Maze featuring Frankie Beverly and the Isley Brothers

Texas Stars

Harlem Globetrotters

Shane T. White Clyde Davis Connie Fuller Ginger Floyd Debby Norman