January 2024 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly by The Liberty Hill Independent

January 2024 | LHIndepende LHIndependent.com t.com

NEW YEAR, NEW DOWNTOWN Liberty Hill’s Main Street to see more big changes in 2024

Get to know Hill’s infant Family finds Liberty faith through incoming member son’s battlecouncil with cancer p.14p.15 RECYCLING MOTHER NATURE SINCE 1975

A bottled revolution is happening LHISD implements new library at Decadent Saint Winery p.16 p.18 services page for community input

Art will comeChurch to life atpastor Andice Baptist annual Sculpture retiring after years Festival of servicep.24 p.20

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CONTENTS FEATURES 8 | PUBLISHER’S COLUMN The Independent’s commitments to you in the new year 10 | DOWNTOWN REVAMP The City of Liberty Hill is poised to make major changes to its downtown in 2024 14 | FINDING FAITH Local family focusing on the good through son’s cancer journey 16 | FORREST COFFEE HOUSE A new coffee shop is nearing opening day in downtown Liberty Hill

18 | LHISD’S LIBRARY SERVICES School district has redesigned its library program, allowing community input 20 | A PROUD RETIREMENT Pastor Derrick Norris has retired from

Andice Baptist Church

22 | LIBERTY HILL NEWS ROUNDUP Catch up on important news happening within the city, school district 24 | PANTHER OF THE MONTH Panthers senior Toby Rimann known for his intensity on basketball court 25 | GIRL’S BASKETBALL Evie Bruce takes it to the next level 28 | GIRL’S SOCCER Lady Panthers, coach moving forward together in new season 30 | BOY’S SOCCER Panthers soccer seeking fresh start 32 | WRESTLING Liberty Hill High School’s newest sport continues to take shape 33 | SWIMMING Swim squad working on increasing speed across the pool 34 | SUCCESS IN THE 80S LHHS’ basketball squad’s winning streak

DEPARTMENTS 7 | BIZ BRIEFS New businesses opening soon 19 | WORSHIP GUIDE Find a church home for your family 36 | LOCAL EVENTS

Local entertainment planned across Liberty Hill in January

ABOUT OUR COVER

An aerial view of downtown Liberty Hill shows one of the area’s biggest changes that occured in 2023: a new roundabout. More big changes are planned for downtown Liberty Hill in 2024, according to city officials. COURTESY PHOTO

LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT MONTHLY

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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 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 | news@LHIndependent.com | Liberty Hill Independent, PO Box 204, Liberty Hill, TX 78642

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4

Unlock the door to your future!

BIZ BRIEFS: What’s New?

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

FOOD & BEVERAGE

sonalized glassware and liquor bottles, tobacco products and more. An opening date has not been announced. Liberty Provisions Mobile, Liberty Hill Liberty Hill resident Melissa Katt recently opened Liberty Provisions, a customizable gifts and goods store that offers customers everything from personalized tumblers to puzzles.

Indian Spice on Wheels 75 Seward Junction Loop Food truck Indian Spice on Wheels has found a permanent home at the food truck park located at Freestyle Sports. The food truck serves a wide variety of Indian cuisine, including butter chicken, samosa and poori. The truck is typically open daily from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Krispy Krunchy Chicken 1320 W. Hwy. 29, Bertram A new location of Krispy Krunchy Chicken has opened inside Bertram Grocery & Food Mart. The counter-service restaurant offers Cajun-style fried chicken, jambalaya, red beans and rice, biscuits and more. OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS • Happy Hour Bar 719 N. Hwy. 183, Liberty Hill • Mr. Gatti’s 13740 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

RETAIL Freedom Libations 15050 Hwy. 29 A new liquor store is opening in Panther Plaza. Freedom Libations will offer customers local and popular liquor, wine, beer and craft beer. The store will also carry soft drinks, snacks, refreshments, bar utensils, per-

families has launched in Liberty Hill. The Crazy Train Collaborative hosted its first show in December and is currently working on securing rights for a summer 2024 show. The community theater is headed up by Liberty Hill resident Jillian Hanel, who has decades of theater experience.

Bridgette Escobedo, Williamson County At the December meeting of the Williamson County Elections Commission, Bridgette Escobedo was named Williamson County elections administrator. Escobedo started her position on Jan. 2. OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS • Sport Clips 19388 Ronald Reagan Blvd. • Royal Rose Nail Studio 12780 Hwy. 29 • Dog Wash Spa 14370 Hwy. 29

ON THE MOVE

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS • Liberty Hill Convenience Store & Gas Station Hwy. 183 & FM 3405

SERVICES Texas Regional Bank 13001 Hwy. 29 A new location of Texas Regional Bank will be opening in the Heritage Ridge development adjacent to Wendy’s and Popeye’s. Texas Regional Bank has locations across Texas, including in the Houston and Dallas metros as well as the Hill Country. Cornerstone Chiropractic 201 Saint Joseph Court Cornerstone Chiropractic Center will be opening soon in Liberty Hill. The wellness center will offer chiropractic care focusing on the spine and nervous system. Crazy Train Collaborative 213 Blessing Ranch Rd. A new community theater for

Williamson County Commissioners Court, Bill Zito was named senior director of Emergency Services. This position is over four county emergency response divisions: Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Communications, Emergency Management and the Fire Marshal’s Office.

Lydia Bagley, The Dog Ranch at Liberty Hill 13150 Hwy. 29 The Dog Ranch at Liberty Hill recently announced that Lydia Bagley, director of training, is leaving the organization to move closer to family. Bagley served The Dog Ranch for five years and consistently earned the Best of Liberty Hill award for Best Dog Trainer. Bill Zito, Williamson County At the Dec. 12 meeting of the

Water Baby Infant Aquatics Mobile, Liberty Hill Kristen Turk of Water Baby Infant Aquatics announced that 2024 spring and summer survival swim lesson registration opens to the public on Feb. 19. Email Turk at waterbabyinfantaquatics@gmail.com for registration. Rebel Fitness 126 Holmes Rd. Rebel Fitness owner Regina Watson announced in late December that due to her health and family issues, she will be closing the doors to Rebel Fitness on Jan. 31. Classes will continue as normal until then. Linda Dujour Hair 201 Walton Way, Cedar Park Linda Dujour Hair, previously located inside Hali’s Hair in Liberty Hill, has found a few

home at Smart Style inside Walmart in Cedar Park. Oak Crest Advisors 1905 Main St. Liberty Hill-based Oak Crest Advisors has now expanded to 23 locations in six different states including Texas, Florida, Colorado, Arkansas, Montana and Kentucky. The financial advisement firm is led by Liberty Hill resident Jason Stanley. Drip-n-Rip Vapes 13740 Hwy. 29 Vaperz vape shop is now Dripn-Rip Vapes. The Liberty Hill location is the newest location to join the ranks among other shops in Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Taylor, Pflugerville and Austin. Care First Clinic 12701 Hwy. 29 Care First Clinic celebrated its six-year anniversary in November. The medical facility started as Liberty Hill’s only urgent care facility and has since expanded to include primary care and integrative health. The clinic will be moving to a new location just east of its current location in 2024. Olive & Sage Boutique 201 Saint Joseph Court Olive & Sage recently sold to new owners Jessica Willis and Erika Waters, both Liberty Hill residents. The pair will open the store on weekends throughout January and host a grand reopening in February. OPENING A BUSINESS? JUST PROMOTED? MOVING LOCATIONS? SHARE YOUR BUSINESS NEWS WITH US! Email news@LHIndependent.com

Information gathered from the City of Liberty Hill, Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation, TDLR, LoopNet and Williamson County ESD No. 4.

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

FROM THE PUBLISHERS

New year gives fresh perspective on The Independent’s role in community

BY RACHEL MADISON

OWNER/PUBLISHER

A new year is always a good time to reassess the way you’re approaching the important areas of your life—especially as a business owner and more importantly, for us, as the purveyors of the city’s longest running and most Liberty Hill-focused news outlet, The Liberty Hill Independent. My partner, Scott Akanewich, and I have held the reins at The Liberty Hill Independent for six months now. While we are both career journalists, neither one of us has owned a business before, so it’s safe to say we had a lot to learn. Our predecessor did a great job showing us what needed to be done, but as with most things in life, we didn’t really know what the job would entail until we were doing it all on our own. We have done our best to maintain the consistency The Independent has been known for for many years, while also introducing a few new ideas. For example, we launched our quarterly Happy Hour with The Independent event in November, which gives attendees the chance to get a first look at the newspaper hot off the press and get to know members of our staff while enjoying beverages from a local restaurant. We also focused on increasing our

SCAN HERE TO SEE OUR FIRST T-SHIRT RELEASE AND SUPPORT US THROUGH OUR INDEPENDENT TOGETHER INITIATIVE!

reach across the community through our Independent Together initiative—we even adopted the hashtag #IndependentTogether—which is our way of making sure we’re delivering the news from The Independent with a community-focused and driven approach. We have expanded our staff to include three interns from Liberty Hill High School who write articles, take photos and contribute to our social media with reels and stories, as well as two new staff writers who you’ll see covering City Council and School Board meetings, community events and more. We’re also proud to say that most of our staff live in Liberty Hill, including myself and Scott, which means we all have a vested interest in what is happening in Liberty Hill. We aren’t just reporting the news for our fellow neighbors, we’re helping to shape the community we live and work in. We plan on making a few more small changes this year as we look to improve the services we already provide to Liberty Hill. We’re introducing a new way for the community to support us, by providing either monetary donations in the amount of your choice or by purchasing monthly, Liberty Hill-themed t-shirts that will not only help us to grow our reach, but also provide much needed support to Liberty Hill-based nonprofit organizations. This month, we are featuring our Independent Together t-shirt, and the nonprofit we’ll be donating a portion of our proceeds to is L4 Cares, a local organization that provides much-needed assistance to medically fragile children, military members and veterans, and senior citizens. We are also placing an emphasis on more creative ways to advertise with us, by including several digital options, like our daily email newsletter and website, in packages with our print options. When your business purchases an ad in The Independent, not only are you advertising your business to over 12,500 local residents in our print edition, you’re also supporting the dissemination of free, hyperlocal, Liberty Hill-focused news to those residents as well as more than 42,000 unique website visitors each month. We don’t take this lightly. Sure, advertising with us costs money, but anything worth doing in business usually does. We hope that by providing local businesses with more advertising options, we’ll continue to increase the value of advertising with The Independent, as well as the pride businesses can have in supporting local

Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4

Above, members of The Liberty Hill Independent staff stand together. Front row from left are freelance photograper Sophia Aho, photography intern Abby Jenkins, editorial intern Tatum Grisel, owner and publisher Rachel Madison, and advertising director Anna McVey. Second row from left are freelance photographer Brien Aho, staff writer Odalis A. Suarez, sports photographer Alex Rubio, owner and publisher Scott Akanewich, and chief financial officer John Madison. Not pictured are editorial intern Ellie Hert, staff writer Leshelle Vallejo and columnist James Wear. Pictured to the right are The Independent owners and publishers Scott Akanewich and Rachel Madison. COURTESY PHOTOS

journalism. We know that we’re only six months into what we hope to be a long and successful journey at the helm of The Independent. We also know that because we only have six months of experience, we still have much more to learn about how to best serve our community. That’s why our commitment to you in 2024 is to provide you with the most up-to-

date, accurate and non-biased news on the topics you care about the most; continue to find ways to expand our reach across Liberty Hill and its surrounding areas; and maintain a sense of closeness in our community through our Independent Together initiative and beyond. Please, hold us to it, and if you feel we aren’t delivering, send us an email at news@ lhindependent.com.

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COVER STORY

New year, new downtown City officials preparing for big year of changes in downtown Liberty Hill, full of revitalization and walkable charm BY RACHEL MADISON

OWNER/PUBLISHER

Downtown Liberty Hill is undergoing some big changes. In 2023, it all started with the renaming of Loop 332 to Main Street. After that, construction projects like the installation of traffic lights and turn lanes at Ranch Road 1869 and Main Street, and the roundabout at County Road 279 and Main Street were completed. And now, a Downtown Strategic Master Plan is nearing its halfway mark—which means even more changes are coming. The City is concentrating their revitalization efforts on the area between the intersection at Ranch Road 1869 and Main Street and the roundabout at County Road 279 and Main Street first, and will then branch out from there. The roundabout wasn’t just constructed to help traffic flow—it was also built to slow traffic down on Main Street and increase safety for pedestrians, said Katie Amsler, director of community engagement and communications for the City of Liberty Hill. “It’s definitely working,” she added. “By adding the turn lanes at 1869 and Main Street, that’s helping with the back up on Main Street, and when we’re not experiencing rush hour traffic, it flows great. It’s so much better than it was, so I feel good about what’s happening.” Once the Liberty Hill Bypass is completed, that’ll get the trucks off the Main Street route permanently, said Mary Poche, economic development director for the City of Liberty Hill, and until then the public works committee is working on an alternate truck route for them to take the trucks off Main Street. Paul Brandenburg, city administrator for the City of Liberty Hill, said construction on the bypass is scheduled to begin as early as this month. “We’re working on a route that doesn’t just shift the problem to another area,” Poche added. “We don’t want to fix this and then have it back up traffic elsewhere or hurt a residential area.” Amsler said she understands that construction in general is annoying but added that it’s all a part of the bigger picture of what’s to come in downtown Liberty Hill. She added that while it can be hard to see what the finished product will look like, the process has to be done piece by piece so that downtown isn’t completely shut down.

As part of the road construction in 2023, city engineers did remove the on-street parking on Main Street, which Amsler said needed to be done for safety reasons. “I know people were used to the convenience of parking in front of the downtown businesses, but the whole idea of revitalizing downtown is to park, walk and explore downtown,” Amsler said. “The idea is for people to walk the whole stretch and make the other businesses a part of their activities, so they’re not just going to the hair salon, they’re checking out the shops and restaurants too.” Amsler added that walking is just a part of the downtown experience—using Georgetown Square and downtown Salado as examples— An aerial view of the roundabout on Main Street and CR 279 in downtown Liberty Hill. The roundabout was the and is something people will get used to. Admost visible change made to downtown Liberty Hill in 2023. COURTESY PHOTO ditionally, 100 percent of survey respondents indicated they were willing to walk two to three blocks to access shops and restaurants from parking areas. Poche added that handicap access downtown is also very important, and while the City doesn’t know what that will look like yet, it is something that’s being paid attention to. From an economic development standpoint, revitalizing the downtown area makes Liberty Hill more attractive for potential developers, Poche said. “A lot of what I do is predicated on what the This map shows the area the City of Liberty Hill has determined as the downtown district. Revitalization is the goal for downtown Liberty Hill in 2024, needs are here, with concentrated efforts on Main Street. COURTESY GRAPHIC and the needs

Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4

COVER STORY are for us to have a greater tax base to serve the citizens,” she said. “But in order to have that, we have to have infrastructure, roads and things like that as part of it. Revitalizing downtown is the genesis of where we can move forward.” Poche added that the City Council’s recent approval of the tax increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ) in the downtown area is also a huge development tool for the downtown area (see pages 22-23 for more information on the TIRZ). “The TIRZ is of great interest to any inside or outside developer, because it’s very critical to economic development,” Poche said. The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has made strides over the last several months to position itself to be ready for incoming developers. In fall 2023, the EDC purchased the old VFW building and surrounding land and is currently on the search for an organization to develop it. So far, two different development teams have made presentations to the EDC board on what the potential uses for the site could be. Those suggestions have included everything from medical offices and pickleball courts to retail spaces and a large parking area. “Nothing is set in concrete; right now, we’re just gathering all the data,” Poche said. “We’ll see what happens. The bottom line is, we want to find the right fit. When it hits us that something is right for that space, we’ll pull the trigger. It will go through the EDC board, then City Council and move forward from there. What I can say is it won’t be a small project. It’ll be a game changer for

Liberty Hill.” In November 2023, the EDC purchased its own separate office space at 806 Main St. to have more room for planning sessions and an expanded staff and will be moving into that space this month. Additionally, Poche headed up the redesign of the EDC’s website and marketing, which she hopes will attract more new companies. The EDC has also adopted the hashtag #LibertyHillIsAlive to put an emphasis on the fact that the area is open for business, Poche added. A major part of the revitalization of downtown is the Liberty Hill Downtown Strategic Master Plan, which is being conducted by Halff, began in October 2023 and is expected to be completed by May 2023. So far, the City has hosted a Downtown Day, which allowed downtown residents and business owners to offer their opinions on what they felt downtown needed as part of its future, as well as a survey, which approximately 100 people completed, Poche said. In the survey, the top three attributes respondents requested were a walkable downtown, more restaurants downtown, and for downtown to maintain its smalltown feel. The next steps for the plan are to put concepts on maps, indicate a pedestrian network and opportunity sites, Poche added. Downtown streetscaping, which was approved through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) by the City Council in mid-2023, is also a part of the revitalization project. The completion of the downtown master

Early 1900s

plan will tell the City what design elements the community desires, which will then be tied into the roundabout design project, Amsler said, which will bring new elements into the center of the roundabout as an entrance to downtown Liberty Hill. A decision for the design inside the roundabout hasn’t been made yet, Amsler said, but she and Poche are working with a landscape architect on ideas, which will then be taken to the Downtown Revitalization Committee and City Council for approval. “We are thinking about signage and xeriscaping,” Amsler said. “The space there is 45 feet, so we have some room. We just know we want a pretty entrance to downtown that’s easy to maintain.” Additionally, Pedernales Electric Co-operative (PEC) has plans to move the power lines that cross Main Street behind the buildings. Amsler said the design for the new locations of the lines is being worked on, and she expects the move to happen in about three to four months. When the process begins, it should go quickly, she said, avoiding major impacts to area residents and businesses. “PEC is just moving them out of the site line on Main Street,” she said. “That is really step one of the streetscaping, because it will really improve the overall look of Main Street.” Amsler added that the City also recently approved the extension of the shared-use path on the west side of downtown from RR 1869 to Highway 29. That will allow pe-

1988

destrians to be able to walk from one end of Main Street to the other continuously. The downtown master plan will address how cyclists can use the path from one to the other as well. “The path will start on the side of the road Main Street Social is on, and when you get to Liberty Hill Elementary School, it will cross the street,” Amsler added. Poche also acknowledged the number of vacant buildings currently in downtown Liberty Hill, and while the City doesn’t have a plan in place for how to address those vacancies, she is confident that the revitalization efforts will start a domino effect. “I like to call it a spark,” Amsler said. “If you get one spark and it ignites, then it will spread to other businesses in the area. The City isn’t going to force anyone to do anything with their property, but we hope they’ll take advantage of our help, because this is the time for us to offer advice and assist.” Poche added that the EDC has incentive programs that both new and established businesses can apply for, and while the process isn’t automatic, it’s a good way for businesses to get extra funds to improve their offerings. “Really, the sky is the limit,” Poche said of the future of Liberty Hill’s downtown. “We have a plan, and everything has a purpose. We are just fitting all those puzzle pieces together and in the end, there will be a desirable outcome for everybody where small businesses can thrive. We want people to be excited about downtown Liberty Hill.”

2023

Left, this photo shows a view of downtown Liberty Hill looking north in the early 1900s, likely between 1900 and 1910 . Center, this photo, published on the front page of The Liberty Hill Independent on Jan. 14. 1988, shows the newly-installed four-way stop signs at RR 1869 and Main Street. Right, this aerial view of the intersection at RR 1869 and Main Street shows the traffic signals and turn lanes installed in 2023. COURTESY PHOTOS

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

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COMMUNITY

Finding faith through an ongoing battle Family welcomes advice, support for 1-year-old son fighting brain cancer BY ODALIS A. SUAREZ

STAFF WRITER

It was two days before Thanksgiving and Amy Nicholes hopped on an early afternoon video call. As the video squares popped up, she was joined by her aunt, Elizabeth Gonzales, and her three friends Taneka Ramirez, Lauren Higley and Chelsea Turner. They didn’t convene to finalize Thanksgiving plans or casually catch up on how everyone was doing. Instead, it was a joining of hearts recounting the ongoing journey of Amy’s son, Truett Nicholes, who is battling medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor most commonly found in children. According to Mayo Clinic, the tumor originates from the “lower back part of the brain,” also known as the cerebellum. The Nicholes’ story is long, complex and emotional. However, in-between the challenging chunks are crevices filled with faith, hope and powerful perseverance. Today, they are on a mission to engage community sup-

port by collecting advice and raising funds via their GoFundMe page to support natural healing alternatives for their son. Truett was approximately two months old when his parents Amy and Wesley Nicholes took him to their pediatrician in January 2023. This came after they noticed their newborn displaying unusual fussy behavior. “[The pediatrician] told me that his head looked rather large,” said Amy, regarding the pediatrician’s initial observation. From there, they headed to Dell Children’s Medical Center to conduct an MRI. Information continued to unravel, and the Nicholes were soon in a fight to beat cancer; one that would last them the rest of 2023 and beyond. “We had met with the oncology team and just learned more about cancer than we wanted to,” said Amy. “They were just talking about how his tumor was extremely large and growing aggressively and that we had to be aggressive with our chemo.” For the first six months of the year, Amy and Wesley lived their lives in shifts. One parent stayed in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit with Truett while the other stayed home watching their other three children. During this time, their son went through various procedures including multiple chemother-

apy treatments and a six-hour surgery in an attempt to remove the tumors. “[We] really didn’t have time to even think or even feel that we had the opportunity to reach out for second opinions because it just made it seem like we had to move right then and there on whatever treatment path that we were [going to] do,” said Amy. Trials and tribulations were inevitable with Truett facing respiratory arrest, numerous intubations and a tracheotomy. In July 2023, he was released from the hospital, but despite a long and medically invasive journey, his tumors returned. Due to the immense impact that Truett’s small body had endured, performing any additional surgeries or procedures would only exacerbate his current condition. “They said that we could do surgery on the tumors now, but I don’t think that would be something that we do either,” said Amy of a possible second surgery to address the returning tumors. “The surgeon said that it is close to his brain stem so one of the complications could be a stroke because it is close to

the brain stem and everything he gained he would definitely lose.” Truett celebrated his first birthday on Nov. 6. His smiling face and plump cheeks bring positivity to the forefront and continued drive for the Nicholes to pursue their next phase in this fight. “God has been there and just pulled through in the times that he needed to and put Truett in the right place and the right time so many times,” said Higley. With another surgery out of the question, the Nicholes are focused on natural healing procedures and are working with pediatric naturopathic oncologists. They’re focused on giving Truett the best life possible while finding solutions that can minimize the growths in his brain. “What the chemo did just ruined a lot of great things about all his little organs,” Amy said. “It damaged his kidneys; the tumor caused seizures and infantile spasms.” Despite initial reluctancy, the Nicholes allowed their friends to launch a GoFundMe page to raise funds to support the alternative

Left, the Nicholes family, including Amy, Wes and children Logan (12), Quinn (6) and Easton (4) celebrate Truett’s first birthday in November. Truett has been battling cancer nearly his entire life. Right, Truett Nicholes was diagnosed with medulloblastoma at just a few months old. Since then, he’s undergone multiple chemotherapy treatments and an extensive surgery. COURTESY PHOTOS

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COMMUNITY

“God has been there and just pulled through in the times that he needed to and put Truett in the right place and the right time so many times.” Lauren Higley natural healing treatments they are pursuing. To date, they have raised nearly half of their $50,000 goal. The financial support will help the Nicholes obtain alternative options that are not typically covered by insurance which include a browns gases oxygen machine, continued IV vitamin C treatments, the cost of their two out-of-state practitioners, and possible treatments offered by Houston’s Burzynski Clinic, which Truett was recently accepted into. Additionally, Amy is welcoming anyone in the community to email her with any advice that she can utilize as their family navigates

through this new route of treatment. She is ready to soak in as much information and guidance as possible. “We say this in the hospital a lot: it’s just hard to watch really good people and good families struggle and go through such things,” said Ramirez, who is not only the Nicholes’ friend, but also works at Dell Children’s as a respiratory therapist in the PICU where Truett was. “It’s just a true testament of Amy and Wes and Truett of how people are so concerned for them and attached to them and just wholeheartedly love them as a group.” The Nicholes family recently moved from

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Hutto and are new residents of Liberty Hill. Originally, they were set to move at the beginning of 2023, but Truett’s situation put progress to a halt. The Nicholes have spent this past year building a pyramid of strength. Their foundation is faith and utilizing the power of prayer. Built on top of that is the support of their community and the ultimate invincibility of their family of six. To donate to Truett’s treatment, visit his GoFundMe at https://gofund.me/ c534a28b. To share any feedback or advice to the Nicholes, email truettnicholes@ gmail.com.

Truett Nicholes has been battling cancer nearly his entire life, but maintains a sunny disposition even through the hardships he has faced. COURTESY PHOTO

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BUSINESS

Brewing up something new Forrest Coffee House readies for opening in downtown Liberty Hill BY RACHEL MADISON

out. He had my husband come look at it as possible office space, and my husband told him it should be a coffee shop. Nathan told him he For the first time in years, downtown was the second person that had told him that. Liberty Hill will be able to say it’s home to a sitWithin about a week’s time, we decided it was down coffee shop—one that also serves beer going to be a coffee shop and we were going to and wine and is family- and dog-friendly. do it together.” Forrest Coffee House, opening inside a forSince then, the Curleys and McGuires have mer residence at 103 Forrest St., is the brainbeen working nonstop to revamp the resichild of couples Nathan and Rachel Curley dence, built in the 1930s, into a one-of-a-kind and Justin and Tina McGuire, all Georgetown coffee house. residents. The foursome didn’t go looking for “The house was already zoned for residensomewhere to open a coffee shop—instead, tial or commercial use, so we got started right the location prompted them to move forward away,” Tina said. “We took down all the walls, with the idea. so we’d have nice open seating, and we built “It was a little crazy how it happened,” Tina a huge coffee bar where people can come to said. “Nathan is in real estate, and he purorder, pay and pick up.” chased the home and was looking to lease it Outside the former residence in the yard are giant oak trees which will serve as much-needed shade for outdoor seating at the coffee house. “All the oaks outside are kind of our highlight,” Tina said. “During the summer it’s crazy the temperature difference when you’re under the canopy. It’s really nice. We’ll be able to have a lot of shaded outdoor seating.” Tina added that the outdoor area will be dog friendly and will also have some activities for kids. “This type of atmosphere is needed in Liberty Hill,” she said. “We know [the city] is really trying to bring this downtown area back to life. We love this area.” Forrest Coffee House will also host live events for the community, McGuire said. “We really want to utilize the space, especially outdoors, so we’d love to do a pumpkin patch in the fall for the community, or outdoor movie Nathan Curley, one of the owners of Forrest Coffee House, inspects the ceiling nights when the weather during the construction process inside the coffee house. PHOTO BY RACHEL is nice.” MADISON An Austin-based OWNER/PUBLISHER

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Tina McGuire, who owns Forrest Coffee House along with her husband, Justin, as well as Nathan and Rachel Curley, stands where the coffee bar is located at the height of construction inside the coffee house. PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON nounced. Currently, the Curleys and McGuires roaster has signed on to create Forrest Coffee are waiting on final approval from the City of House’s main roast, which will be used in the Liberty Hill so they can complete construction shop’s espresso. Tina added that the shop will on the parking lot. also feature specialty roasts from time to time. When Forrest Coffee House opens, its hours “For the people who really enjoy coffee will be Sunday through Tuesday from 7 a.m. to from all over the world, we’ll have roasts from 7 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday from different regions at different times of year,” 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Nathan said. For more information on the coffee shop Along with those different types of coffee, and updates on its opening, visit www.forrest. the Curleys and the McGuires plan to offer coffee or search for Forrest Coffee House on events like coffee tastings and teaching cusFacebook and Instagram. tomers the history of different types of coffee. “We are working out our membership program right now, and these may be things that are offered to members,” Tina said of the program, which has been dubbed Forrest Founders. “We’re exploring those different options.” Besides coffee, Forrest Coffee House will also serve beer, wine, teas and smoothies, along with pastries and other baked goods. “We don’t have a kitchen, so we’ll start out with some pastries, but we’re also working on how we can incorporate some heavier snacks,” Tina said. The vibe throughout the whole of Forrest Coffee House is meant to be classy and comfortable, Tina said. “We want it to be welcoming and have a little bit of that 1930s Forrest Coffee House boasts a large outdoor area where there will be feel in our décor,” she said. seating, space for live music and room for children and dogs. PHOTO An exact opening date for Forrest Coffee House has yet to be an- BY RACHEL MADISON

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EDUCATION

Streamlining access to school district library collections New LHISD library services page allows community input BY ODALIS A. SUAREZ

STAFF WRITER

The Liberty Hill Independent School District launched a newly designed library services webpage in November, which will offer a consolidated site to ease the experience for both librarians and families with students attending any of the Liberty Hill schools. “We thought it would be best to try to consolidate as much information about the libraries as we can on one page and then from there you can navigate to the different campus pages,” said Travis Motal, chief of schools for LHISD. Previously, each school librarian was responsible for maintaining and updating their own independent webpage. While each librarian owned the to-do to make sure the page was constantly up-to-date, the public experience required a hunt to find the right webpage for the right school. With the new version, there is one URL destination for all campuses and any updates made to the webpage are now delegated to one team at LHISD instead of individual librarians. “People have questions about libraries, so it’s nice to have a place to send them directly,” said Lauren Claymon, librarian at Liberty Hill High School. This updated process comes months after

the 88th Texas Legislature passed House Bill 900, which sets precedent as to “…sexually explicit and sexually relevant material and requires material vendors (any entity that sells library materials to a public school in Texas) to assign sexually explicit and sexually relevant ratings to any material the vendor determines meet the law’s definitions” according to the Texas Library Association. The new bill was in effect as of Sept. 1. Today, visitors can access various library related resources and knowledge bases in a one stop shop format. “It was very much a collaborative effort with our librarians working together with us to develop and really think about what are the things we want on this website,” said Susan Cole, executive director of teaching and learning for LHISD. “It was great because it was right about the time that Liberty Hill ISD rolled out their new website format.” For book stock, the webpage provides a list of links to all the campus catalogs which are powered by their software called Destiny Discover. This will allow parents and students alike to search for available books at their respective schools. In an effort to support library-wide uniformity, the public has access to view “Proposed Book Purchases” and “Book Reconsideration Status.” With the new easier

This screenshot shows the new homepage for LHISD’s library services. COURTESY PHOTO

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Students browse the collection in the library at Liberty Hill Middle School. The Liberty Hill Independent School District’s new library services page allows parents and community members to provide input on all titles placed on the shelves within the district’s libraries. COURTESY PHOTO process to update the webpage, school libraries can publish a list of proposed books they would like to purchase for their campuses. The consolidated list is available for the public to view for 10 school days, and community members can submit their concerns for any books on the list in the link provided on the same page. For books already accessible in school libraries, parents can partake in either an informal or formal reconsideration process. The library services page does not display a form, but instead, encourages those concerned to visit their respective school first for an informal process that allows conversation with the librarian and/or principal. If the information discussed during the informal process is insufficient for the complainant, then they will be provided a form to fill out and submit for a formal reconsideration. This will then be reviewed by a “reconsideration committee” who will make a final determination. Additionally, for those that submitted a reconsideration of a book already purchased, there is another tab that displays the status of books under reconsideration so all are in the know if previously purchased books were pulled out of the collection. “Having it spelled out in a one pager or in

an FAQ makes life so much easier for people who are looking for information,” said Claymon. “The goal of librarians is to ease access of information for people so having it all in one place really helped with that.” The key for this initiative is to provide one place to go for library services. If a parent has more than one child in different schools within the district, this updated experience will not only provide access to what’s available, but it will also open a line of information and communication between parent and library. Two of these resources available is a flow chart detailing the book purchasing process, which Claymon was instrumental in putting together, and an FAQ page providing answers to common library inquiries. “We’re just really trying to streamline communication and feedback and input and have it all in one place,” said Motal. “I think in the past, we’d make an update to the library and we’d have to have this librarian update their page, this librarian [update] the other page, and now we’ve got one place we can keep all information.” The library services page is live and accessible to the public. To peruse each school’s collections or learn more about the library book purchasing process, visit www.libertyhill.txed. net/7179_4.

Vernon Cole Nov. 13, 1944 – Nov. 28, 2023 Vernon Earl Cole, 79, was born on November 13, 1944, the son of Brigman Earl Cole and Verna Carlson. He was raised in Austin, Texas, and graduated from McCallum High School in 1962. Vernon served as the Manager of Safety Responsibility and Driver Improvement at the Texas Department of Public Safety for 33 years while also serving in the Texas National Guard on the weekends for 6 years. Additionally, he refereed college and high school basketball games for over 15 years. Vernon ultimately stopped refereeing to coach and follow his sons playing sports. In his retirement, he loved taking gambling trips with his wife, spending time with family, drinking a cold Miller Lite while watching The Price Is Right, and rooting on the Texas Longhorns and Dallas Cowboys football teams. Vernon is survived by his loving and caring wife of 55 years, Linda Shelley Cole, sons, Dwayne and wife Angie, Clay and wife Michelle, Ryan and wife Coco, brothers: David Cole and Brigman Cole Jr., grandchildren: Garrett, Gavin, Grant, Chelsea, Carly, Cade, Maya, and Piper, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Serving as Pallbearers were Garrett Cole, Gavin Cole, Grant Cole, Cade Cole, John Michael Jones, and Tyler Soltow. Memorial donations in Vernon’s name may be made to: Mission Liberty Hill Building Fund. 15725 Hwy. 29,

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Unit 7, Liberty Hill, Texas 78642. A visitation for Vernon was held Thursday, November 30, 2023, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at Weed-CorleyFish Funeral Home, 1200 S. Bagdad Road, Leander, Texas 78641. A graveside service occurred at 10:30 AM on Friday, December 1, 2023, at Liberty Hill Cemetery, 16101 TX29, Liberty Hill, Texas 78642.

Liberty Hill & Surrounding Communities

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/

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WORSHIP GUIDE ANDICE BAPTIST CHURCH 6570 FM 970, Florence (254) 793-2557 | www.andicebc.org PASTOR Matt Koehler, Associate Pastor of Students & Families SERVICES Sunday Bible Study 9:45am Sunday Worship 11am Wednesday AWANA 6:30pm

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HOLY ANNUNCIATION ORTHODOX CHURCH 5205 CR 236, Liberty Hill (512) 627-7674 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 State Hwy 29, #7 Liberty Hill (512) 778-9310 www.missionlibertyhill.com PASTOR Rev. Mike Cofer SERVICES Sunday Adult Bible Study and Sunday School 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

In Liberty Hill, sports journalism is much more than words and images. For many loyal followers of the Purple-and-Gold, it’s a connection to the teams and athletes they hold so dear to their hearts. But, not only when the Panthers take to the arenas of competition. Here at The Liberty Hill Independent, we strive to tell the stories of the young men and women who transcend the sports they play – to show the human side as they grow and mature and to get to know them as people first, athletes second. Sports journalism in a place like Liberty Hill matters because as our community continues to grow, it’s one thing that continues to unite us as a community.

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COMMUNITY

Andice Baptist Church says goodbye to pastor with ‘infectious love’ for congregation Derrick Norris retiring after serving church for seven years BY ODALIS A. SUAREZ

to now 150 attendees. The organic growth of the church became a testament to Derrick’s raw approach in his Senior Pastor Derrick Norris of Andice sermons. His words were focused on truth Baptist Church delivered his last sermon on whether it be the happenings surrounding Dec. 31 and began his first day of retirement the world today to sharing various lessons he on New Year’s Day. After close to seven years experienced in his own life. Making realistic serving the Andice church, his decision to connections between faith and life was the conclude this chapter in his career was the key to building resonation to those sitting right revelation at the right time after one among the rows of pews. Freudian slip. “If you preach the truth I think that people “I remember mentioning that morning I come and they want to be a part of that,” he said this is the last time that I’ll ever preach said. through the book of John at the church and The Norris’ story began 46 years ago in flags went up and people said ‘Man, are you Fort Carson, Colo. Rebecca worked at the retiring? and I said ‘No, no, I ain’t retiring,’” base’s mess hall and Derrick was a soldier in Norris said. “Then the next week I met with the U.S. Army. The instantaneous connection the elders again and I said, ‘You know man, resulted in their marriage just weeks after after praying and just seeking God’s will, we their first date at a drive-in premiering an just said we’re gonna be done.’” Elvis triple feature. Norris and his wife, Rebecca, began their After tying the knot and having their work at the church in July 2017. Previously, first son, the couple eventually moved to Derrick had served as executive pastor at FelLongview, Texas. It was thanks to the invitalowship Church in Liberty Hill for five years. From his first day leading worship to present tion of their babysitter that the couple were he went from standing in front of 50 people introduced to the Baptist church. This ignited the beginnings of becoming pastor and pastor’s wife. As Derrick began honing his abilities as a pastor, he also assumed a career as a Navy Reserves recruiter. The recruiting role required his family to move to various states including Ohio, Michigan, California and Hawaii. During this time, he also assumed pastor roles at local churches within those states. With decades worth of experience as a pastor and earning two master’s degrees in religious studies and theology, Derrick and his family eventually settled in Leander, where he concludes his preaching legacy. “Pastor Norris, more than any other pastor we have served with, has a genuine and infectious love for the people of Andice,” said Mark Wigginton, children’s ministry direcPastor Derrick Norris and Rebecca Norris with their tor at Andice Baptist Church. grandchildren Dessard, 6, and Audrey, 10. “Derrick has prayed for, served COURTESY PHOTO with, labored alongside, and

STAFF WRITER

Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4

Pastor Derrick Norris and his wife, Rebecca Norris, have spent the last seven years serving at Andice Baptist Church. Norris officially retired from his position at the end of 2023. COURTESY PHOTO fought for this church every single day he has been the pastor. He will be greatly missed by every person that calls Andice Baptist Church home.” With 2024 bringing a fresh new chapter for the Norris’, Derrick is looking forward to spending more time with Rebecca as well as his two sons and their children. As they earn more free time, the couple plans to utilize their days by indulging in outdoor activities together, traveling, and even substitute teaching at the local schools. “We’re gonna buy me an electric bicycle so I can keep up with [him],” said Rebecca, regarding their plans to go bicycling together. While Andice Baptist won’t be their regular church moving forward, they are current-

ly searching for a new place of worship that is closer to their Leander home. As for the church’s replacement, Derrick will not be involved in the selection process, but did take the initial step in writing the job posting. “I think we are leaving it a lot better than when we first got there six years and five months ago,” he said. Initially, Derrick’s decision to retire left him pondering on what his identity will morph into after so many years being associated with various titles. Now, he finds comfort in knowing he is Derrick Norris, a disciple of Christ. “Try to be a living example of a loving God to a world that’s watching,” he said. “If you did that, I think that you lived well.”

“Try to be a living example of a loving God to a world that’s watching. If you did that, I think that you lived well.” Pastor Derrick Norris

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COMMUNITY

News across Liberty Hill From the City of Liberty Hill to the Liberty Hill Independent School District, read our roundup to learn more about the biggest news stories affecting our community COMPILED BY LIBERT Y HILL INDEPENDENT STAFF

CITY NEWS

City, Goodwill navigating development concerns The proposed development of a Goodwill retail store at 110 Bronco Boulevard, in front of the Sundance Estates subdivision, has met several concerns since its site permit was approved in spring 2023. The project involves constructing a one-story, 25,000-square-foot building with associated parking. However, several concerns have emerged throughout the evaluation, completed by the City of Liberty Hill’s planning department, which has led to in-depth discussions between city staff and the applicant. Goodwill proposed concrete improvements within the existing landscape median on Bronco Boulevard. To address this, city staff said an executed license agreement is necessary to safeguard the City from adverse effects as well as grant Goodwill the right to proceed with construction on public property. Additionally, the project plans to tie into the City of Liberty Hill’s 4” force main and the City of Georgetown’s 8” water line, raising concerns and discussions about compliance with city ordinances. City staff clarified the necessity of connecting to the City of Liberty Hill’s water facilities unless an approved subdivision variance is obtained, per the City’s unified development code.

Initially, the traffic impact analysis (TIA) requirement was waived based on trip counts. However, discrepancies arose in trip count calculations, leading to a revised TIA requirement. The applicant’s traffic engineer proposed land-use split changes, reducing trip counts. The City’s traffic consultant supported the revisions, recommending that a TIA is not required based on the updated land-use split. The project also proposes secondary access via a shared drive aisle and a private driveway onto Bronco Boulevard. An on-site, privately maintained detention pond will manage the stormwater runoff. Public concerns about traffic and other project aspects have been raised primarily by Sundance Estates subdivision residents. Ongoing communication aims to keep the public informed. Given the complex nature of the concerns, staff asked for guidance from City Council at their latest meeting Dec. 13. According to city staff, critical next steps include obtaining an updated utility evaluation request and an executed license agreement. The City Council decided at the meeting to delegate these concerns to the Planning and Zoning Commission before moving forward. The P&Z Commission will discuss the Goodwill project at their Jan. 23 meeting.

Potential City facility initiatives on the horizon As the City of Liberty Hill charts its course for future growth and community development, a pivotal discussion is underway concerning establishing essential facilities—specifically, a public safety facility, recreation center and library—into a centralized municipal complex on Highway 29. Initially, the City considered constructing a new public safety facility just off RR 1869, across from the Over the Hill Gang building on property owned by The Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation recently purchased downthe City. However, after town property to function as the corporation’s office space. an in-depth analysis PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON by a consultant, it was

Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4

This map shows a depiction of the approved TIRZ. COURTESY GRAPHIC

recommended against due to the substantial costs of lifting the property out of the floodplain and implementing other necessary infrastructure improvements. Additionally, the site was deemed limited for any future expansion or growth of the facility. Amid these considerations, discussions also unfolded with the YMCA regarding the feasibility of constructing a recreation center within the community. Following several meetings with staff, the YMCA, and stakeholders at a pivotal workshop meeting in April 2023, the City Council decided to explore the need and feasibility of a YMCA through a community survey. A letter of intent was subsequently approved by both the City Council and the YMCA. Results of this community poll will be available in January. Meanwhile, the Liberty Hill Public Library District, as a separate taxing authority, has plans and is raising funding to build a new library, initially intended to take place in Foundation Park near where the current library is located. However, according to Library Director Angela Palmer, that location deal fell through, and library officials are now looking to find land within the city limits. The City’s pursuit of suitable land for the public safety facility and the potential need for land for a recreation center brought forth a centrally located 30-acre property within City limits at 14601 Hwy. 29. This discovery prompted a shift in facility planning towards envisioning a municipal complex that could house the public safety facility, recreation center and library, according to City officials. Many factors need to be considered to get this work underway, including the potential for a bond package, according to City officials. More information will be presented at

future Council meetings. Liberty Hill EDC purchases downtown property for office use The Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation will soon have a new home at 806 Main St. in downtown Liberty Hill. The EDC closed on the property in mid-November. Economic Development Director Mary Poche said the purchase was on par with market rates in the downtown area of Liberty Hill. “The EDC views it as an investment for future use as well,” she said. Poche added the new space is also important for the EDC because Liberty Hill is seeing more and more site visits as the area grows. “This property was good for us, because it’s a small house with an office set up,” she said. “Because we are getting more site visits, we need a place to meet confidentially.” Currently, Poche offices out of the Stubblefield Visitors Center, alongside the parks and recreation department and the Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce. “No renovations are needed as it has been remodeled and is move in ready,” Poche said, adding that the move will take place in January. Poche added that the additional space is also necessary because she recently proposed the hiring of a full-time economic development coordinator to assist her with the increased projects coming to Liberty Hill. City Council approves creation of TIRZ in downtown Liberty Hill The Liberty Hill City Council approved the creation of a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) in downtown Liberty Hill. The zone encompasses approximately

COMMUNITY County Roads 258 and 260, for two years and will house freshmen only. For its second year, it will house freshmen and sophomores. LHRS will have its first graduating class in 2028. “A successful school is a place where kids feel loved,” Koller said. “It’s a place where kids feel safe, a place where kids feel like they’re Community members and parents gathered in December to listen to Legacy free to be themselves, so we want to create that environRanch High School Principal Mark Koller share updates about the school’s ment.” progress. PHOTO BY ELLIE HERT LRHS will have several of the same programs of study as Liberty Hill High School, with additions 701.11 acres of land, situated south of Rolling of architectural drafting and design, EMT, Hills Road, north of Rio Gabriel Drive, east graphic design and illustration and HVAC. of County Road 282, and west of Becker “We’ll get that information out to our Road. students so they can make their decisions,” According to Texas Tax Code, “A muKoller said. “What will be great [since] we’re nicipality may not designate a reinvestopening as freshmen, they can take a lot of ment zone if: more than 30 percent of the their basic courses that first year. Get some property in the proposed zone, excluding of that stuff out of the way and then really property that is publicly owned is used for dive deep [when] we’re at our new school.” residential purposes.” Due to this statute, The mascot for LRHS is the Wrangler and the boundaries of the proposed TIRZ are the school colors are Columbia blue, navy extended beyond the Downtown to include and athletic gold. Koller said designers are all the new Main Street, Ranch Road 1869, still working on possible logo options, but and Highway 29. staff will consult with students to finalize it. There is minimal upstart cost to the City The school will also work with its stuto create the TIRZ. Once the TIRZ is created dents on creating the mission and vision the baseline tax year will be established. statement to ensure their values are reflectThe second year of the TIRZ the City and the ed in those. TIRZ will share the incremental increase in “We want to have community first,” Koller property taxes. said. “We want to encourage our students. TIRZs are instrumental in promoting We want to empower our kids and make economic development by capturing the sure they have values. [These] really give us incremental increase in property tax revegreat direction [in finding our vision].” nues generated within the designated zone. Koller said his ultimate goal is for the These funds are reinvested into the zone to community to embrace the differences in finance public infrastructure, facilities and the new school, but still stay true to the improvements. values of Liberty Hill. “I know [the community] is growing, but the people have the right values,” Koller SCHOOL NEWS said. “A champion that wears purple or a Community gathers to discuss champion that wears navy is still a chamdetails for opening of Legacy Ranch pion.” Parents, students and administrators met School district officials also celebrated in December to discuss the mascot, color the groundbreaking of Legacy Ranch High palette, construction updates and opening School in December. The building is expectdetails for Legacy Ranch High School, which ed to be completed by 2026 and will open as will open in fall 2024. a full high school at that time. The address LHRS Principal Mark Koller spoke about of the new high school is 1277 CR 258. his goals and visions for the new school, as well as answered parent and student quesLHISD exploring possibility, tions regarding its opening. cost of block scheduling “Here in Liberty Hill ISD, we build chamat high school level pions in academics, character and comAt the Dec. 18 board meeting, the Liberty munity,” Koller said. “We want to do that at Hill Independent School District Board Legacy Ranch. That’s important to us.” of Trustees discussed the possibility of a LRHS will open temporarily at Middle significant shift in its scheduling system School #3, located at the intersection of

by considering the adoption of A/B block scheduling. This potential change has stirred discussions within the community regarding its benefits, drawbacks and associated costs. Additionally, a Value-Added Tax for Education (VATRE) will likely be suggested to fund such initiatives. A/B block scheduling is an alternative to the traditional class schedule, where students attend classes on alternating days. This system typically involves more extended class periods, allowing for more in-depth exploration of subjects and increased flexibility in lesson planning. Supporters also argue that it provides students with a more immersive learning experience and better prepares them for college and beyond. Additionally, benefits of block scheduling, according to district officials, include a reduced daily workload because students have fewer classes to focus on each day and more flexibility for teachers, who can incor-

Ashlae Belisle of Santa Rita Middle School was one of the four paraprofessionals awarded a $1,250 ‘Grow Your Own Teacher’ grant. PHOTO BY ABBY JENKINS

porate more project-based and collaborative activities for students. Travis Motal, LHISD’s chief of schools, said when surveying Liberty Hill High School teachers, 94 out of the 112 current teachers were in favor of moving to a block schedule. Implementing block scheduling also increases staffing costs. According to district officials, more staff members are required to accommodate the amount of teacher shifts each day. The Board of Trustees expressed concern about where the funding would come from to accommodate this change as well as the additional headcount of full-time employees that would be needed. Additionally, the board agreed that other things will need to be considered logistically, such as teacher sharing with the opening of Legacy Ranch High School in fall 2024. District officials said one option for this

additional funding is to introduce a VATRE. This tax, if implemented, would generate additional revenue specifically earmarked for educational initiatives, including schedule changes and curriculum enhancements. During the meeting, the Board of Trustees asked LHISD staff to do some additional research on the VATRE process so that it can be discussed at the next board meeting in January. ‘Grow Your Own Teacher’ grant program kicks off within LHISD In December, representatives from the Liberty Hill Independent School District and the Liberty Hill Education Foundation awarded four LHISD paraprofessionals $1,250 each through the Grow Your Own Teacher Pathway Grant program. The program was created earlier this year to serve a dual need by providing continuing learning opportunities for current LHISD employees while also seeking solutions to the current teacher shortage issue that is plaguing most of the country, said Cheryl Conley, assistant director of talent acquisition and recruitment for LHISD. The grant money will be used by the paraprofessionals to enroll in educator preparation programs so that they can earn their teacher certifications, Conley added. “Recipients of the Grow Your Own Teacher Pathway Grant have committed to starting their educator preparation programs in January with the intention of applying for teaching positions in the fall of 2024,” she said. “They have also committed to teaching in LHISD for two years.” During the application process, the four paraprofessionals submitted an online application, two references from within the school district, and completed a recorded interview. The four grant recipients were Ashlae Belisle of Santa Rita Middle School; Evings Caleb of Rancho Sienna Elementary School; Sarah Bellows of Liberty Hill Elementary School; and Nicole Bolinger of Liberty Hill High School. The program was initially presented to the LHEF from district officials in April as a way to help fund current paraprofessionals who want to become teachers in the district. Mike Bowles, president of the Liberty Hill Education Foundation, said LHEF agreed to donate $5,000 to the district to start the program. “It makes for a good pipeline for the district and allows us to support our own into the role of a teacher,” said Anna Jenkins, LHEF board member. “The funds will cover the costs of testing and certifications needed to move into the teacher role.”

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

PANTHER OF THE MONTH

Aggressiveness personified Hoops senior channels relentless intensity on court BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

“I would say I’m a disruptor,” he said. “I always play hard throughout the entire game and I’m relentless no matter what the score is.” Toby Rimann is the kind of basketball playDespite the fact Rimann is among team er any coach would want on his team, along leaders in just about every category, his most with grateful teammates that appreciate his valuable court characteristic is playing the hard work in the trenches when it comes to most critical role in Liberty Hill’s pressing all the little things that don’t show up on score defense, said Boren. sheets such as capturing loose balls, applying “Toby’s at the front of our diamond on deunrelenting pressure on defense and being fense,” he said. “So, he needs to be able to react very difficult to play against. to the ball and read where the play is going, However, the other side of the coin in that so the rest of our defense can follow suit and equation is how the Liberty Hill 6-foot-1 senior know what to do.” forward is viewed by those across the court. According to Boren, Rimann has an engine “I don’t want this to sound negative,” said that never stops running. Panthers head coach Blake Boren. “But, Toby’s “He’s a leader by example and has endless a nuisance to the other team, but in a good way energy,” said Boren. “Which is one of his best for us.” attributes.” Rimann has perhaps a better term for his Speaking of diamonds, Rimann also plays job description. baseball for the Panthers, a sport he’s been at for longer than he’s played hoops and unlike many contemporaries that choose to specialize in a single sport upon reaching high school, he’s continued to feature in both – something he believes helps whether on the field or the court – mentally and physically. “I think it’s good to play two sports for your endurance,” said Rimann, who patrols center field for the Purple-and-Gold. “Different sports use different abilities, like hand-eye coordination, walk-torun speed and quicktwitch muscles I use in baseball that also help me in basketball. But, it’s also refreshing when you can choose which sport to play.” All that being said, though, Rimann decided to put extra basketball work in over the summer despite the fact he was playing select baseball in order to maximize his effectivePanthers forward Toby Rimann (24) is versatile in all aspects of the game, providness on the court for his ing scoring, rebounding and defense. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO senior season, which OWNER/PUBLISHER

24 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4

Liberty Hill senior Toby Rimann (24) is known for an aggressive, intense style of play that makes the forward an invaluable asset at both ends of the court. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO certainly didn’t go unnoticed by Boren, he said. “Toby decided he was going to do both over the summer, which speaks to his character and commitment,” said Boren. “He’s really the epitome of what we want all our players to be.” One of Rimann’s biggest strengths in any sport is the speed he uses to close down opponents on the court and to chase down fly balls in the outfield or blaze around the base paths – a weapon Boren employed last season when some additional quickness was needed. “Toby wasn’t starting at the beginning of last season,” he said. “But, about midway through we decided we needed more speed at he front of our press and now he’s the leader of our defense.” Rimann was named second-team all district last season for his prowess and as such, Boren now leans on him even more, which means sometimes he bears the brunt of criticism from his coach when things don’t go according to plan. “Sometimes I’m a little tough on him,” said Boren. “But, he always handles it really well.” In Liberty Hill’s system of play, the Panthers’ high-pressure defense is the catalyst for the offense, which means when Rimann makes a steal or deflects a pass to a teammate, the immediate result is usually a bucket going the other way, whether it’s by him or a teammate, so there’s never any danger of him sacrificing one for the other, said Boren. “Our defense feeds into our offense – everything is predicated on that,” he said. “Toby’s speed and quickness on the ball play right into what we do.”

As a result, Rimann is the Panthers’ Swiss Army knife, in that he does a little of everything depending of what’s most needed at particular points in games and has developed the ability to know when to do what, he said. “It’s all based on what happens,” said Rimann. “I just try to disrupt the other team as the game unfolds and see what the team needs from me.” Despite the fact his playing style never slows down, Rimann does crank the intensity down a notch when he listens to a kind of music most people would be surprised about, he said. “I listen to a lot of rock ballads – Metallica, Bon Jovi, bands like that,” said Rimann. “I got it from my dad when I’d be riding in his truck and he would have on certain songs. If I liked one, I would look it up, so I have a pretty good collection.” But, once he’s back on the court, Rimann’s inner tachometer is back through the roof – a trait that endears him to his coach. “We have a joke,” said Boren. “I say Toby plays out of control – not really, but he’s constantly aggressive and has never-ending energy.” What this does is set a pretty high standard for his teammates, he said. “When one of your best players plays that hard all the time,” said Boren. “Everyone else has no choice but to follow along.” Rimann won’t have it any other way, he said. “Even if we get down, the game’s not over,” said Rimann. “We’re always going to fight back and keep going.”

SPORTS

Taking it next level Confidence, experience translate to success on court BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

sophomore year, though, I gained more understanding and grew a lot in confidence – it’s all about mentality in basketball and having a good mindset.” When Evie Bruce steps onto a basketball Back then, Bruce was admittedly her own court these days, the 6-foot-1 junior center is harshest critic when things didn’t quite ready to do battle under the boards by dishunfold properly during games. ing out and absorbing the kind of contact “I learned to not be so hard on myself,” that is commonplace among the big girls she said. “But, that only comes when you under the basket. mature as a player.” However, it wasn’t always that way. According to Liberty Hill head coach “I used to flop as soon as I got hit by Chris Lange, Bruce has made a quantum somebody,” said Bruce. “But, since then I’ve leap from her sophomore season to the learned how to use my body.” player he currently sees. Bruce made her varsity debut for the Lady “Evie’s taken a big jump this year,” said Panthers as a freshman and said there were Lange. “Her development and coordination some initial growing pains that had to be have improved a great deal and she does a endured before she could begin to blossom really good job of being coachable.” as a high-school player. Lange added once Bruce cracked the “As a freshman on varsity, I didn’t really code of what it takes to be a force inside know what to expect and didn’t know my from a physical standpoint, the level of her place,” she said. “By the time I got to my paint play has increased significantly. “At some point, she said to herself ‘I’m bigger and stronger than my opponent, so I can post up and beat them,’” he said. “For some people, that’s just a natural process in getting more comfortable with contact.” In addition to her dominance down low, Bruce has also added an outside dimension to her game, which gives her a wide range of ways to attack opposing defenses depending on how they attempt to shut her down – an aspect Lange said he immediately recognized upon her arrival, but had to wait awhile for it to come to full fruition. “Even as a freshman, Evie was hitting threes,” he said. “She even hit a big one in the regional semifinals that year to get us to the final. She’s definitely a threat Along with dominant post play in the paint, Lady Panthers junior center Evie outside.” Bruce (5) has added potent outside shooting to her game while improving as an However, another all-around player. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO difference between then OWNER/PUBLISHER

Liberty Hill’s Evie Bruce (5) has established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the paint for the Lady Panthers. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

and now is the resolve to keep firing away from distance even when the shots aren’t falling, or to find another way to get back on the score sheet regardless, said Bruce. “Now, even if I miss a few threes, I’ll keep shooting,” she said. “Or I’ll just get some layups to get back into the rhythm of the game.” This newfound amalgamation of allaround effectiveness is something Bruce said is the result of endless sessions she put in over the summer while playing for her select team. “I would show up two hours before practice and be completely sweaty before it even started just shooting and working on moves,” she said. “It all depends on how far you’re willing to go to get better and how much you want it. I feel like most players with size stay in the paint, so if I can be more versatile and a better all-around player, it will help my team.” Lange said that kind of work ethic and desire is what separates average players from good ones. “The good players are always spending extra time on their own working on their game,” he said. “Not just playing games, but practicing.” Also, the nature of her position requires additional toughness – of the mental and physical variety, said Lange. “Playing the post is just a day-in, dayout grind in being able to handle all the contact,” he said. “You get hit and banged around a lot. So, that’s something I’ve done with Evie is challenge her with how bad

does she want it.” Still, despite her continued curve of improvement and maturation as a player, Bruce still has only a little more than two years of varsity experience under her belt and even though she’s already grown tremendously, there are still areas of her game that can get better, said Lange. “I don’t know if there are actual lightbulb moments with players,” he said. “But, there are times when the bulb burns a little brighter and as a coach you can see certain things start to click. Of course, we always want it to happen sooner, but when it happens, it’s fun to see.” Another source of Bruce’s maturation is the fact she didn’t step right into the Lady Panthers’ starting lineup her freshman year, as senior center Emma Hubbard was getting the majority of the playing time, but even that produced dividends down the road, said Lange. “Sometimes in high school you don’t just show up and play,” he said. “Evie had to wait her turn to start and now she can play a couple positions, so that helps.”’ Now that Bruce has firmly established herself in the Liberty Hill starting five, she can fully focus on her constant upward curve of improvement and where it will lead her in the future, but without losing sight of the present, she said. “I think I can play at a Division I college,” said Bruce. “But, for right now, we have a really good team, we’re set for district and we’re not afraid to fight.”

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

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SPORTS

Building mutual trust Lady Panthers soccer squad, coach gain understanding BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

OWNER/PUBLISHER

Last season marked the debut for Landon Maddux as Liberty Hill’s girls’ head soccer coach and there was much to learn after taking the reins of an already-successful program. But, in addition to the new coach learning his players, the members of the squad also had to acclimate to their new sideline boss. Despite a winning record and a playoff appearance, the campaign proved to be challenging on multiple fronts, but now as both sides of the equation move forward with an entire year together under their collective belt, it’s onward and upward for the Purple-and-Gold. According to Maddux, earning the trust of his players was paramount and has already paid dividends. “I think they started to trust me once I became part of their lives and knew I was going to be there for them,” said Maddux, whose team was 13-6-6 last season including an 8-4-2 district mark that resulted in a fourth-place league finish. “We had an excellent summer and put in the work with everyone showing up.” Senior midfielder Carson Glenn witnessed much of last season from the sidelines when her junior year was ruined by a knee injury, but has now returned to help her teammates build on what they established a year ago. “We went through a lot last year and it was hard for me to not be out there,” said Glenn. “But, sitting on the bench, I did what I could to

help them. Now being back out on the field, I can be more direct.” For Addison Lee, it’s simply a matter of both sides of the player-coach relationship now having the ability to open up to each other. “We’re just more comfortable now,” said the junior defender. “We understand each other and now he can teach us how he wants us to do things without being easy on us. Our chemistry is better this year and so are our effort levels.” One of the most critical aspects Maddux aims to instill in this season’s team is for the game to be more enjoyable, he said. “You have to have joy in the game,” said Maddux. “Because you can have all the talent in the world, but playing with passion and enjoying playing with each other makes all the difference.” As a result, Maddux is also looking for more steady strong play this season in the results department. “Last year, we started off really hot, but once we got to district it was up and down,” he said. “We want to be more consistent going into the playoffs and enjoy our team. I want them to have more fun than they’ve ever had playing soccer because I know we have the talent to do some things and once we get into the playoffs, we have a shot.” Beginning at the back is junior goalkeeper Brooklyn Escobar, who has already posted 29 shutouts and a 0.31 goals-against-average through her first two seasons as the Lady Panthers’ last line of defense – providing

Lady Panthers midfielder Jadyn Jones (12) provides rugged, two-way play and posted seven goals and 10 assists last season. PHOTO BY SHANNON HOFMANN

28 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4

Liberty Hill’s Maelynn Rongey (8) scored eight goals as a freshman last year and will be counted on to provide scoring again this season. PHOTO BY SHANNON HOFMANN Maddux with a luxury many teams don’t have, he said. “Brooklyn can make all the saves,” said Maddux. “She also does a really good job of manipulating the defense so she can find certain spaces to play the ball into out of the back.” Senior striker Neeley Giessinger will be depended on to provide offense at the tip of the spear, along with junior Gracie Garner (20) is Liberty Hill’s leading returning scorer from last season. PHOTO Gracie Garner – who is BY SHANNON HOFMANN the leading returning Maddux. goal-scorer from last season with 13 – while “We played well against those teams last Glenn will hold down the midfield with Maeseason,” he said. “Our problem was we got lynn Rongey, who burst onto the scene as a plenty of chances, but couldn’t put the ball freshman last year with eight goals. into the net. So, this year, I think we’re going Maddux said Rongey in particular is poised to go into those games with a chip on our for a breakout campaign after such a promisshoulder.” ing debut last season. Liberty Hill will open the district schedule “Maelynn is already so much better this at Cedar Park on Jan. 23 before returning year,” he said. “She’s dynamic and can change home to host Rouse on Jan. 26. a game.” Maddux said squad depth isn’t an issue this Another anchor in the middle of the park season. for Maddux is junior Jadyn Jones, who racked “We need to avoid injuries, but I have two up seven goals and 10 assists (second on the people I can trust at every position on the team) last year and brings a rugged edge to her field,” he said. “I feel good about our forwards, solid two-way play. midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers. We “We’ve seen what she can do,” said Maddux. just need to figure out how to score goals.” “Jadyn plays hard all the time and is suAs for putting last season in the past, Madper-physical.” dux said this year is a polar opposite. Last season, Rouse, Cedar Park and Leander “Everything is 100 times better this season were the top three finishers in the district – like night and day,” he said. “I know what I standings directly in front of Liberty Hill have this year and how much work we’ve put and the same sides will once again provide in.” the strongest opposition for his team, said

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

SPORTS

Moving forward with momentum Panthers soccer seeks fresh start under new coach BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

OWNER/PUBLISHER

Once winter has faded and spring is on the doorstep, Liberty Hill’s boys’ soccer team wants to find itself someplace it hasn’t been for the past three years. In the playoffs. Since the Panthers moved up to Class 5A for the 2020-21 season, the Purple-and-Gold have failed to qualify for the state playoffs – a trend its supporters hope will end with the arrival of new head coach Stefano Salerno, who is taking the reins of the program after a successful run at Texas A&M Consolidated High School in College Station where the Malta native won four district championships in six seasons. According to Salerno, in order to reverse the troublesome trend of missing out on the chance to play for a trophy, he will employ a blueprint that on the surface may seem simple in nature, but will take time to implement properly. “The team hasn’t made playoffs these last three years,” said Salerno. “To secure a playoff spot, we’re focusing on refining our defensive strategies, enhancing our midfield control and strengthening our finishing abilities. Additionally, fostering mental resilience in high-pressure situations is a key area of focus.” Salerno’s goals are all-encompassing concerning where the program needs to be now and where he wants it to be in the future. “My coaching philosophy centers on fostering a culture of discipline, teamwork and continuous improvement,” he said. “Our

short-term goal is to refine skills and tactical awareness, while the long-term aim is to develop well-rounded individuals – both on and off the field – who embody resilience and sportsmanship.” Dhar Ramsingh, a senior who has played for three different head coaches during his Panthers career, said the atmosphere is different now – an environment he expects will pay dividends down the road. “Everything is much more professional and organized,” he said. “We have high standards for ourselves. Last year, a big problem was nobody believed we could do it. But, this season, we think we deserve a spot in the playoffs.” Last season, Liberty Hill finished the campaign with a 10-13-1 overall record to go with a 5-8-1 district mark that saw it finish in sixth place in the league standings. Fellow senior Caden Glenn is confident the team will rebound from its past malaise due to the newfound optimism throughout the ranks. “We’re more disciplined now,” he said. “Also, I feel like guys are really bought in – there’s no messing around in practice.” Glenn made the varsity roster as a freshman, so he’s now using all the experience gained over the past three seasons to propel his senior year. “Having that experience makes a big difference,” said Glenn. “You know what to expect at the varsity level and what you need to do.” Salerno emphasizes development of his players in order to maximize potential as they matriculate through their respective highschool soccer careers. “I believe my primary strengths lie in my

Senior Caden Glenn (3) is one of four team captains new Liberty Hill head coach Stefano Salerno will depend on to lead the Panthers this season. PHOTO BY SHANNON HOFMANN ability to inspire and mentor young athletes,” he said. “I prioritize individual growth within a collective team environment, instilling values of dedication, adaptability and a strong work ethic.” Arriving at a school with a history of acrossthe-board success within the athletic program might seem a bit intimidating for some, but Salerno has embraced the culture that exists in his new coaching habitat. “While Liberty Hill’s impressive history sets a high standard, I view it as motivation rather than pressure,” he said. “I’m committed to maintaining the program’s tradition of excellence, while also focusing on the journey and development of our team.” Ramsingh and Glenn will be depended on to provide scoring for the Panthers this season after netting six and five times, respectively, last year, along with attacking threat Jett

Byars, who adds speed up front. Sophomore Angel Cardenas will don the gloves as Liberty Hill’s No. 1 goalkeeper after a solid freshman campaign last year, while senior defenders Conrad Gerten, Tristan Moore and Cameron Bourgeois will patrol the back line. Liberty Hill will open its season against Westfield on Jan. 4 before the district schedule begins at home when the Panthers host Cedar Park on Jan. 23. In addition to Ramsingh and Glenn, Moore and senior Chay Luna are team captains. Salerno said he will require his entire squad to contribute to the cause over the course of the campaign. “Several players will play pivotal roles this season,” he said. “Our four captains will help the team find the success we’re all striving for.”

Liberty Hill’s Dhar Ramsingh (7, left) led the Panthers with six goals last season and will once again provide scoring this year. Panthers striker Jett Byars (2, right) will use speed and quickness up front for Liberty Hill this season. PHOTOS BY SHANNON HOFMANN

30 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

SPORTS

Finding the right weight class Multiple factors determine optimal opposition on mat BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

naturally or by design. According to Zieschang, that blueprint varies from one wrestler to another depending Competition in different weight classes on a number of variables. is what makes wrestling a unique sport – an “Part of it is what they look like at a particuaspect that emphasizes pound-for-pound exlar weight,” said Zieschang. “At the beginning cellence as opposed to simply brute strength of the season, everyone starts off at the weight or proper technique – but rather a combinathey are. But, depending on how each does tion of both. compared to the strength and speed of the opAs Liberty Hill’s inaugural season continponents they’re up against determines where ues to take shape under head coach Danny they’re best suited.” Zieschang, part of the process of making the Alli Murphy currently competes at the Panthers as competitive as possible is finding 138-pound level, but is looking to move down the right spot to slot his athletes. to 132 – a proposition the freshman believes However, that equation is one that is fluid will be an easy transition for her to make – priin nature as wrestlers constantly add or drop marily due to her dietary habits, she said. weight over the course of a season, either “For me, it’s not much of a challenge to keep my weight down,” said Murphy. “I’m a picky eater, so I don’t eat too much.” Murphy began the season with a 5-3 record and despite the fact she’s a first-year wrestler, credits her early success to a background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which she said is a natural progression from one grappling form of combat to another. “I always planned to wrestle once I got to high school,” said Murphy. “A lot of the moves are similar.” However, one aspect of Liberty Hill sophomore Julia Ortiz wins her match in the 165-pound weight class her prior experience she’s during the Panthers’ dual against East View this season. still trying to incorporate PHOTO BY SOPHIA AHO OWNER/PUBLISHER

Panthers wrestler Brandon Montero lifts his opponent off the mat during a match against East View earlier this season. PHOTO BY SOPHIA AHO

32 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4

Liberty Hill’s Alli Murphy has a background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which has helped the freshman transition successfully to wrestling. PHOTO BY LORA ORTIZ from one to the other is the manner in which she attacks opponents. “With jiu-jitsu, it’s very aggressive,” she said. “But, I’m more of a defensive wrestler who tries to score points instead of going for a quick pin – although my sister is always trying to get me to be more aggressive.” Murphy’s sister is teammate and junior Aubree Schubert, who Murphy said is a role model for her. “I really like getting to experience this with her,” said Murphy. “In jiu-jitsu, we would try to beat each other up – I would win some and she would win some.” Zieschang said he encourages all his wrestlers to move in for the kill as quickly as possible. “Each wrestler has their own style, but I teach all of them to be aggressive,” he said. “Have a plan for your opponent and everyone is different, but take control of the match right from the beginning and get the first shot (takedown move) in.” As a result of Murphy’s more patient, strategic approach, her matches tend to last longer into the prescribed three two-minute rounds, which can take its toll on one’s endurance – although that applies to both participants, she said. “As the match goes on, both of you are tired,” said Murphy. “So, it’s easier to wear down your opponent and that’s when I like to get on the floor and get on top with my weight on them.” Another member of the team looking to move down in weight class is junior Brandon Montero, who began the campaign at the 157 level, but believes he can be more effective in the 150-pound division. “I don’t think I’m strong enough necessarily at 157,” he said. “It’s only a few pounds down to

150 and I try to eat a lot of protein and carbs.” Unlike most of his Panthers teammates, Montero had previous wrestling experience at the club level before finally getting the opportunity to compete in high school this year. “When I heard Liberty Hill was going to have a team, I thought it might be fun to do it,” said Montero. “I like the contact of the sport and now I feel more like a Panther.” Zieschang said having a wrestler with previous experience has come in handy when it cones to showing the majority of his relatively-inexperienced squad the ropes. “Definitely has helped a lot,” he said. “Without an assistant coach, I don’t have someone to properly demonstrate moves with and if I try to with someone inexperienced, it doesn’t always work when someone arms or legs end up flailing.” When that happens, it can be the coach that winds up worse for the wear, said Zieschang. “In the past, I’ve would up with a black eye,” he said. “So, my wife likes when that doesn’t happen.” In addition, Montero said he likes the chance to teach his teammates. “I can help out if anyone needs help with a move or something,” he said. “Like how to get shots in, for example.” One of the highlights of Montero’s season has been when he lifted an opponent completely up off the mat before slamming him back to the surface. “It’s pretty thrilling when that happens,” he said. “It looks cool and it’s pretty effective.” For Murphy, her most gratifying moment is when the referee holds up her hand in victory. “When that happens, I just feel really proud of myself,” she said. “You can feel the energy of your teammates cheering for you.”

SPORTS

Shaving off split-seconds Swimmers exist in world of thin margins BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

OWNER/PUBLISHER

When a competitive swimmer reaches out and touches the wall at the end of a race, the first thing he or she will usually do is quickly cast a glance at the closest clock to see exactly how fast the finish line was reached. At that moment, either sorrow or joy is experienced as a result of the numbers they see on the board next to their name and the difference between the two emotions is often razor-thin. For example, take Presli Jensen, a junior on Liberty Hill’s swim squad, who recently went through this spectrum of feelings after missing qualifying for a prestigious meet in less than the time it takes to blink an eye. Point-zero-one seconds faster is all Jensen needed to swim to be invited to compete in the Texas Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association meet, but alas fell just short. However, instead of hanging her head,

Jensen decided to take a different approach to her disappointment, said Liberty Hill head coach Dimitra Becker. “Ever since, Presli has kept after it and crushed her goals,” she said. “She could’ve used that as a reason to be discouraged, but instead learned how to push through hard times.” For Jensen, there’s no other option but to maintain a positive outlook in the pursuit of victory. “I’ve always been driven by seeing my times drop and getting medals and ribbons,” said Jensen. “Which is one of the reasons I like swimming because you’re able to compete against yourself.” When it comes down to doing whatever is necessary to shave fractions of seconds off her times, Jensen is all in when training with her Panthers teammates – even if it’s not always so enjoyable, she said. “Whenever we’re running bleachers, I just think about how this is going to help me in the pool,” said Jensen, who competes in

Liberty Hill’s Presli Jensen competes in the 100-meter butterfly and 200-meter individual medley events. PHOTO BY SOPHIA AHO

the 100-meter butterfly and 200-meter individual medley. “Doing things like that puts you ahead of your competition and gives you an advantage because it makes you tougher.” However, swimmers must individually monitor their ever-fluctuating physical conditions, which means sometimes discretion is the better part of valor when it comes to pushing through pain to gain valuable time when it could, in reality, do more harm than good. “Sometimes, I just need a little bit of a break,” said Jensen. “You work super-hard and sometimes you feel tightness or sore-

do every step of the way in the race.” Jensen said she enjoys competing in the 200 medley – an event that features butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle in four different 50-meter segments – because of the versatility it requires to complete. “You can not be the best at any of them,” she said. “Because it’s just an all-out sprint for all of them.” But, when it comes to her favored stroke, she’s plenty happy to keep her races to 100 meters. “Not a lot of people want to swim butterfly because it’s hard,” said Jensen. “I

“I’ve always been driven by seeing my times drop and getting medals and ribbons, which is one of the reasons I like swimming because you’re able to compete against yourself.” Presli Jensen, Liberty Hill High School Junior

Panthers swimmer Presli Jensen was motivated by just missing out on qualifying for a prestigious meet earlier this season. PHOTO BY SOPHIA AHO

ness the next day.” Part of that equation is maintaining a healthy diet and Jensen – who is a vegetarian – has little trouble in doing so. “I don’t drink a lot of soda, but a lot of water,” she said. “Also, I don’t eat meat, so I’ll eat things like peanut butter with bananas.” Having a solid mental game is also part of the formula Jensen employs to get maximum performance out of herself on race day. “I use a lot of visualization – the night before and also right before a race,” said Jensen. “I just close my eyes and think about the time I want, about the techniques I need to use to get that time and what I’m going to

swam the 200 butterfly once and I as really sucking wind by the end, but I’m excited to try it again at some point once I can figure out how I need to pace myself.” Jensen also competes at the club level, but said her experience as part of the Panthers’ team has been much more rewarding from one particular standpoint. “I’m a lot closer with my teammates here than in club,” she said. “It takes a lot to come here every day and work out when we don’t have a pool to practice in. But, we all have the goal of getting better and it’s awesome to be here with them and cheer each other on all the time.”

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

COLUMN

A look back at Liberty Hill’s basketball court success in 1980s BY JAMES WEAR

COLUMNIST

I have to admit, I felt a wave of sadness several weeks ago when I learned of the planned demolition of the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, and it had nothing to do with the various concerts I’d attended over the years, most of them of featuring rock artists such as Ted Nugent, Stevie Nicks, the Scorpions and Van Halen. Wife Paula and I, along with our youngest son, also made the drive one evening to listen to the music of country singer Clint Black there. No, when I think of the Erwin Center my thoughts go back to the late 1980s, when a young coach by the name of Rusty Segler took the reins of the Liberty Hill basketball program and produced a couple of state finalist teams. Segler, sadly, passed away back in 2021 after a courageous battle with cancer. Both championships were played on the hardwood at the Erwin Center, and while the Panthers came up short both times in claiming the state title, they did carve a significant notch in Liberty Hill history. I did have the opportunity to visit with Coach Segler back in 2016 when I called him up to revisit those glory years. Rusty had gone on to enjoy success at other schools after leaving Liberty Hill, but he termed his time as the Panthers’ head coach as “the most fun years of my career.” After taking over a struggling program, Segler guided the Panthers to a 14-14 record

The 1987-88 Panthers were runners-up in the UIL state basketball tournament that was played at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin. Here the Panthers are presented with their ribbons following the game. PHOTO BY JAMES WEAR

in his first year with a group of sophomores and one senior as his starters before leading Liberty Hill to two consecutive appearances in the state championship. Although the Panthers fell in both title games, losing in the 1986-87 title game to Morton and the 1987-88 championship to Archer City, Segler had laid the groundwork for a program that would continue to rank among the best in schoolboy basketball year after year.

Liberty Hill was not his first head coaching job. The Southwestern University graduate, who played for the Pirates under the legendary Paul Peak, coached at Aransas Pass before coming to Liberty Hill. Segler also served as an assistant football coach under Charlie Braun, with Braun, then head football coach as well as athletic director, serving as Segler’s assistant coach in basketball. Among those who played for Segler at Liberty Hill was Phillip Lenox, who Segler termed as “the purist shooter I ever coached.” “At one time, Phillip ranked third in scoring among all Texas schoolboy players,” said Segler. Others who played under Segler include

Clay Cole and Darren Masur, both of whom continued their basketball careers with Segler when he took the head coaching job at Concordia Lutheran College in Austin. Corby Davis, brothers Steve and David Smets, Shawn Vickers, Ryan Cole, Chris DeGroot and Joel Monroe were among others to suit up for Segler’s team. Segler recalled the tremendous following his team enjoyed, remembering some 12,000 persons attending one playoff contest the Panthers played in. “I believe that was a record for a while in Class 2A,” he said. The fanfare around the Panthers once prompted the late Jim Linzy, founding publisher of The Independent, to write, “Last person to leave Liberty Hill, turn off the lights.” Segler told me one of his prized possessions was videotape of the Panthers’ playoff win over Shaquille O’Neal and San Antonio Cole. It was the only loss O’Neal, a future NBA legend, would suffer in 69 high school contests. Segler said he made copies of the tape and distributed them among his Liberty Hill players. Before chatting with Segler that Sunday afternoon, I guess one of my last conversations with him was back in 1988, when I interviewed him following his announcement that he was leaving Liberty Hill. In the lead story on Page 1 of the May 5, 1988 edition of The Independent, I quoted him as saying, “I want to offer a big thank you to the community for three tremendous years at Liberty Hill. The past three years have been the most exciting and fun of my career.” Nearly three decades later, his opinion hadn’t changed. “I feel like a proud papa,” said Segler. “All of my Liberty Hill players grew up to be great husbands and fathers.”

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The late Jim Linzy, in addition to publishing The Independent, also managed to wrangle a deal with an area radio station to broadcast Liberty Hill’s title bouts in the late 1980s. Here Linzy is pictured interviewing the late Rusty Segler. PHOTO BY JAMES WEAR

Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

January 8

January

TRIVIA NIGHT Liberty Tavern 3000 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 7-8:30 p.m. Libertytavern.co

DECORATING CLASS Main Street Social/ Baked by Joy Leigh 1603 Main St., Liberty Hill 11 a.m.-1 p.m., $45 bakedbyjoyleigh.com

January 6

January 9

NAMELESS ROAD Hometown Watering Hole 3317 Hwy. 29, Bertram 8:30 p.m. hometownwateringhole.net

EVENTS CALENDAR

SELF DEFENSE FOR YOUNG LADIES Urban Defense Academy 140 Jonathan Drive, Liberty Hill 9:30 a.m., $80 urbandefenseacademy.com DALE WATSON WITH THE ROYAL HOUNDS Globe Theatre 132 W. Vaughan St., Bertram 8 p.m., $20-30 globetheatretx.com

Want To Build a Snowman Cookie Decorating Class

WOMEN IN BUSINESS YOGA NIGHT Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce 15050 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill (meet at Tea2Go) 6-8 p.m., $18-25 Libertyhillchamber.org

January 12

DEVELOPERS COALITION OF LIBERTY HILL Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce Location TBD 8:30-9:30 a.m. Libertyhillchamber. org KARAOKE NIGHT Hometown Watering Hole 3317 Hwy. 29, Bertram 7 p.m. hometownwateringhole.net

January 13

CHILI COOK OFF KFire Winery and Vineyard 3059 CR 212, Bertram 11 a.m., $10 kfirewineryandvineyard.com WINTER WARM SUGAR COOKIE

Summer Dean

January 16

NAME THAT TUNE BINGO Liberty Tavern 3000 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 7-9 p.m. Libertytavern.co

January 17

POOL TOURNAMENT Hometown Watering Hole 3317 Hwy. 29, Bertram 7 p.m., $10 hometownwateringhole.net

Tasmin and Tim January 27

January 19

SANTA RITA RANCH LOCAL BUSINESS EXPO Santa Rita Ranch House 175 Elizabeth Park Blvd., Liberty Hill 11 a.m.-3 p.m. santaritaexpo.com

January 20

COMEDY NIGHT Whiskey Barrel Pub 1004 Main St., Liberty Hill 8 p.m., $12 whiskeybarrelpub.com

TASMIN AND TIM Liberty Hill Beer Market 13851 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 6 p.m. libertyhillbeermarketmenu.com WANT TO BUILD A SNOWMAN COOKIE DECORATING CLASS Main Street Social/ Baked by Joy Leigh 1603 Main St., Liberty Hill 11 a.m.-1 p.m., $45 bakedbyjoyleigh.com SHERRY WINE WITH LUSTAU The Vineyard at Florence 111 Via Francesco, Florence 6-9 p.m., $75 thevineyardatflorence.com

January 29

LIBERTY HILL’S 25TH BIRTHDAY & TIME CAPSULE Liberty Hill Location TBD Time TBD experiencelhtx.com

SUMMER DEAN WITH DALLAS BURROW Globe Theatre 132 W. Vaughan St., Bertram 8 p.m., $25 globetheatretx.com KARAOKE Liberty Hill Beer Market 13851 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 8 p.m. libertyhillbeermarketmenu. com

January 25

NETWORKING LUNCHEON WITH REP. CAROLINE HARRIS Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce 170 CR 215, Liberty Hill (meet at RockPointe Church) 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., $18-25 Libertyhillchamber.org

Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4

Liberty Hill 25th Birthday Party & Time Capsule

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ExperienceLHTX.com J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

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