Liberty Hill Goes Back to School

Volume 30, Issue 36

www.LHIndependent.com

News@LHIndependent.com

Proposed budget prepares for new fire station

By WAYLON CUNNINGHAM Staff Writer A proposed $2.3 million budget for the emergency services district includes pay raises for firefighters, provides for a new full-time fire marshal and six additional firefighters, and plans for a temporary fire station until the Santa Rita station is completed. Proposed expenses are up 2.1 percent from the current fiscal year.

“We’re going to have a very busy year getting ready for the new station,” said Fire Chief

See WCESD, Page 15

INSIDE

Welcome, Schlotzsky’s 4 Pharmacy celebrates 2 years 9 Comanche Raid 10 Sculpture Celebration 14 Fall Sports Preview 21-33 LHISD Counseling Services 37 Classifieds

42 ©2017 The Liberty Hill Independent

August 10, 2017 | 50 Cents

After 1 year on job, Bye working on ‘transformations’ at LHHS

student’s name, and they realize that can make all the difference. Growing the Panther family is a good thing.

Superintendent Rob Hart says Liberty Hill’s fast growth status makes planning for the future a central part of almost

By SHELLY WILKISON Managing Editor After his first year as Principal at Liberty Hill High School, Mario Bye and his leadership team are working on “transformations” he believes will better position the school for the future.

During a recent meeting with department chairs, Bye said the team agreed that instead of talking about “changes”, they would refer to them as “transformations” because the term, he says, has a more positive connotation.

“People have a gut negative reaction to the word ‘change’ -- ‘oh, you’re taking away everything that we had before and doing something different’,” he said. “Well, we’re not. What’s transforming is there’s some new people coming in, some new neighborhoods, schools get bigger, but we still have the success we had before.

Transformation is change using existing pieces.”

On Bye’s transformation list are several items designed to improve the procedures of the school. For example, improving communication with parents and students. He said the campus will be exploring various ways to communicate with families as not everyone has access to Internet.

In his first year on campus, he worked with

See LHISD, Page 8

See BYE, Page 38

SHELLY WILKISON PHOTO

The Hanson family, who moved to Liberty Hill from Chicago this summer, joined hundreds of newcomers to the school district last week at new student registration. From left are Intermediate School Principal Josh Curtis, Counselor Margaret Wofford, Payton Hanson, Cole Hanson, and mother Emily Hanson. Payton, 12, will be in seventh grade, and Cole, 10, will start fifth grade.

Growth fueled by excellence drives change in Liberty Hill ISD

By SHELLY WILKISON Managing Editor The back to school countdown has begun in Liberty Hill, and with only 12 days until the first bell rings, teachers, staff and school district officials are preparing themselves for as many as 4,000 students on August 21.

The story of Liberty Hill ISD

in 2017-2018 remains one of fast growth fueled by excellence in academics and athletics. But what makes LHISD a little different from other fastgrowth districts is its goal to keep the small-town feel in the midst of rapid change.

Administrators believe it’s still possible to know every

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

WAYLON CUNNINGHAM PHOTO

LHISD welcomes new teachers

Teachers new to Liberty Hill ISD reported to work Monday for a full day of professional development and orientation that included a motivational presentation by Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath. LHISD hired 53 new teachers for the new academic year, which begins for students on August 21.

Liberty Hill Independent Liberty Hill schools welcome The YOUR AWARD-WINNING HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987 new teachers, staff A Publication of Free State Media Group

The Liberty Hill ISD welcomes 53 new teachers and dozens of new staff members to its six campuses this week.

Liberty Hill High School Kristi Branton, Ag Teacher Lara Chapman, Counselor Melisa Crow, Cafeteria Asst. Manager Mathew Donello, Athletic Trainer Jennifer DuPre, English Teacher Chuck Harris, Theatre Arts Teacher Travis Hawthorne, Culinary Arts Teacher Catherine Heath, Chemistry/Asst. Volleyball Jordan Johns, Special Ed/Coach Renee O’Dell, Government/Economics Teacher Samantha Pineda, English/Coach Marlo Saunders, Social Studies/World History/ Coach Mike Staton, Biology/PreAP/AP Karen Taff, Special Education Teacher Brandon Terry, Biology/Coach Tammy Webb, Business Education Teacher Linda White, Instructional Para - Solid Roots Janie Williams, Business Education Teacher

Melissa Harrington (transfer), Athletic Trainer Amanda Hibbs-Rodriguez (transfer), Chemistry/ Asst. Football Melissa McWherter (transfer), History Teacher Gina Ketchem (transfer), Athletic Secretary Janelle Hufford, Instructional Para Liberty Hill Junior High Misty Bergeron, Behavior Teacher/SpEd Case Manager Joshua Blake, Teacher/Coach Bryan Branch, Social Studies/Coach Callie Clarkson, Reading/ELA Intervention Benete Doerr, Teacher/Coach Megan Fitzgerald, Dance Teacher Vera Moore, LifeSkills Para Traci Oehler, Instructional Para Lisa Payne, Instructional Para Jordan Regier, Instructional Para Michael Scott, Social Studies/Coach Susan Slagle, Athletic Trainer Savannah Stahl, LifeSkills Para

See NEW, Page 6

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BACK TO SCHOOL 2017

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

BUSINESS

Anticipation building for sandwich giveaway

Liberty Hill welcomes Schlotzsky’s

By SHELLY WILKISON Managing Editor A series of open doors and strange coincidences paved the way for Liberty Hill’s newest restaurant.

Schlotzsky’s, which opens today with a grand giveaway to the first 100 customers in line, fills a gap in local restaurant fare and owners John and Chris Bowen believe all the right doors opened to make it happen.

But it all started in Lampasas where Bowen, who has spent a career building custom homes and businesses, bought his first Schlotzsky’s franchise in 2015.

As a businessman always looking to diversify interests, Bowen laughs now as he tells the story of how he came to own a Schlotzsky’s.

“When my kids were in high school, you’d get through with

games and there was no place to eat,” said Bowen, who lives in Lampasas. “We’d have all the family there and just get frustrated and go home. I finally had one too many of those incidents. All my family was over in Lampasas for a baseball game one night, and I told my wife, ‘I’m calling somebody in the morning. I don’t know who, but I’m calling somebody. The next step was to call Schlotzsky’s.

“I love Schlotzsky’s, I love their food, they’re a little different and I like that,” he said.

As promised, the following day he called the Schlotzsky’s corporate office, in Austin at that time, and left a message for someone expressing his interest in a Lampasas franchise.

Then the first of a string of mysterious coincidences.

The corporate representative

returned his call and shared that his mother was returning home to Dallas from Austin the day before Bowen left the message and called him from the road. “‘You know where you need to put the next Schlotzsky’s? In Lampasas’,” Bowen said she told her son. “‘So I got that message, and the next message was you on the phone’,” he told Bowen.

“We had those kinds of instances all the way through,” Bowen said.

His restaurant in Lampasas is now the #1 Schlotzsky’s in the southwest region.

“That’s not just based on sales because we aren’t #1 in sales because of the size of the community. But, when you take the average of all of it - customer satisfaction, cleanliness, efficiency, and all we are #1,” he said.

MARK GOODSON PHOTO

From left are Schlotzsky’s owner John Bowen, Liberty Hill General Manager George Haranda, Area Manager Michael McCorkle, Asst. Manager Melonie McCoy and co-owner Chris Bowen.

He credited his Area Manager, Michael McCorkle, for the success.

McCorkle, who was running a ranch and riding bulls on the side, traded his ranch life to help run the business. He had no restaurant experience at all and was surprised when Bowen asked him to consider it.

“I’d never worked a day in-

side in my entire life,” said McCorkle, who is married to Bowen’s son-in-law’s sister.

“I figured we can teach them the restaurant stuff, but you can’t teach character. You either have character or you don’t, the rest we can teach and learn together,” Bowen said.

The highlight of their second store opening today, August 10,

is a giveaway that has the town abuzz with excitement.

The first 100 customers in line when the restaurant opens at 10 a.m. who purchase a 6-pack of Cinnabon Classic Rolls receive a free small Schlotzsky’s Original sandwich every week for a year.

See SCHLOTZSKY’S, Page 7

BACK TO SCHOOL 2017

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

OBITUARY

erty Hill football team stats keeper, and a skeet and trap shooting judge at the 1984 Olympics. Billy Ray retired after 30 years of service with the Texas Department of Insurance.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 46 years, Donna Guerin; his son Neil Guerin; his daughter Stacey Splawn and her husband Jason; his sister Betty Spradling; and his grandchildren Caleb and Carly Guerin and Brady, Haley, Adria, and Jacob Splawn.

A visitation will take place on Friday, August 11, 2017, from 6 pm until 8 pm at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel at 393 North IH35, Georgetown, Texas.

A graveside service will be held the following morning, Saturday, August 12, 2017, at 10 am, at the Liberty Hill Cemetery with Pastor Steve Ledbetter officiating.

Pallbearers will be Neil Guerin, Caleb Guerin, Jason Splawn, Brady Splawn, Leonard Miller, Clay Miller, Larry Floyd, and Gary Spivey.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Liberty Hill Police Blotter Prepared by Liberty Hill Police Department

Weeks of July 24 - August 6, 2017 The Liberty Hill Police Department responded to or self-initiated a total of 341 incidents resulting in 15 cases, 26 citations, 42 warnings and six arrests.

Weekly Highlights: • July 24, 6:58 p.m.: Officers responded to the intersection of Highway 29 and CR 200 for a non-injury collision involving two vehicles.

• July 25, 12:05 p.m.: During a parking enforcement investigation at 105 Aynsworth Street, officers recovered a stolen U-Haul out of Travis County.

• July 26, 6:30 a.m.: Officers responded to the Major’s Burger Company located at 14011 Highway 29 in reference to a lapsed burglary. The investigation is on-going.

• July 28, 5:34 p.m.: Officers responded to 155 Hillcrest Lane, #707 for a prior leaving the scene collision involving two vehicles.

• July 31, 6:52 p.m.: Officers responded to a disturbance at 14240 Highway 29. One adult male was arrested for an outstanding warrant and transported to the Williamson County Jail.

• August 1, 1:45 a.m.: Officers responded to an

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THROWBACK THURSDAY

Billy Ray Guerin

Billy Ray Guerin, 67, of Liberty Hill, Texas passed away on August 6, 2017. He was born to George and Virginia (Floyd) Guerin in Austin, Texas on March 24, 1950.

In his youth, Billy Ray was a bull rider, an athlete, a skilled water skier, and he enjoyed fishing.

He also may have climbed the Liberty Hill water tower a time or two. Billy Ray graduated from Liberty Hill High School in 1968, and he then attended Blinn Junior College followed by Sam Houston State University.

On April 10, 1971, he married Donna Lynn Rosenbusch at the Southwestern University Lois Perkins Chapel in Georgetown, TX. They have celebrated 46 wonderful years of marriage together.

Billy Ray was hard working, strong willed, and always willing to lend a helping hand. He enjoyed grilling, working outside, riding his lawnmower, driving his tractor, ranching, renovating a family barn from the 1930s, refurbishing his 1972 Chevy Truck, and watching his kids and grandkids play sports.

Billy Ray was actively involved with his children and grandchildren and was a loving husband, dad, and PawPaw. He always enjoyed Thursday coffee with the “Old Codgers” of Liberty Hill.

Billy Ray was the former President of the Liberty Hill Lions Club, Treasurer for the Liberty Hill Cemetery Association, a 4-H volunteer, Liberty Hill Community League sports coach, Lib-

alarm at the Starlite Vapor Shop located at 14745 Highway 29. Three adult males were arrested for attempted burglary of a building and transported to the Williamson County Jail.

• August 4, 7:06 p.m.: Officers responded to the intersection of Highway 29 and CR 200 for a non-injury collision involving two vehicles.

• August 4, 8:51 p.m.: Officers responded to 2450 RR 1869 for warrant service. One adult male was arrested for an outstanding felony warrant and was transported to the Williamson County Jail.

• August 5, 10:40 p.m.: Officers began a motorcycle pursuit in the 12900 block of Highway 29. One adult male was arrested and transported to the Williamson County Jail for evading arrest and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Back in the days of Big Chief tablets and tobacco use

By JAMES WEAR Columnist for The Independent It’s that time of year again, with the start of another school year just around the corner and parents scrambling to purchase school supplies and clothes for their youngsters.

The other morning, out of curiosity, I pulled up the list of school supplies required of Liberty Hill first graders this year and was a bit amused...the list was a quite longer than it was back in the mid-1960s when I started school and there was certainly no way I could have crammed what is deemed necessary today into the cigar box that I, and many others my age, used as a container for our supplies.

Of course, back then little was required. I remember if we showed up with a couple of pencils, a box of Crayons (24-count is what most of us brought, I recall we were a bit jealous of those who had a 48-count box), a bottle of paste (I don’t think glue sticks had been invented yet), a pair of scissors with rounded off tips and a Big Chief tablet, well, we were in pretty good shape.

Back then, there was a box of tissue to be found on the teacher’s desk and markers of various colors were unheard of. I don’t recall having a folder until the sixth grade.

I do recall once we reached second grade we were permitted to write with pens, and boy howdy, we thought we were adults. Blue or black ink was permitted with teachers reserving the right to use red ink, and it seems fine tip pens were frowned upon, although not prohibited. And, upon reaching second grade, we began using ruled notebook paper rather than the Big Chief tablets.

I’m not sure when students quit using Big Chief tablets, which over the years featured different poses of different Native American chiefs.

See THROWBACK, Page 6 (TOP RIGHT) A Big Chief tablet from the early 1950s. The tablet was once considered a staple for students in elementary school.

(RIGHT) A clipping from a 1976 Liberty Hill newspaper in which the high school principal gave his approval to students smoking on campus.

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Start the new school year by limiting, supervising student cell phone use

By VICKI BATES, LPC, NCC Live Your Dream Counseling Here we are at the start of another school year….parents are running around buying new clothes, backpacks, school supplies, and often cell phones for their kids.

The cell phone has become a status symbol for many teens and pre-teens, but it also holds much danger.

Last week, I saw a news program about a 12-year-old girl who committed suicide because of cyber-bullying that was taking place on her cell phone. The parents were completely devastated, of course, because they knew the bullying was taking place.

The next part of the newscast was a report that the parents were suing the school district.

This is where I became really upset because their lawyer was holding up a cell phone and saying it was a weapon, and the parents were saying that it was the school’s fault. If the parents

Throwback

Continued from Page 5

knew that their daughter was being bullied on her phone, why did they not take it away?

As a former teacher, I know that the school cannot be responsible for what kids do on their phones. The school does not give the kids phones, and the school even has a hard time keeping kids off their phones…they go into the bathrooms and hallways to make calls, text inside their purses and under their desks. Sometimes, if a teacher tries to take a phone away from a student, the student becomes very irate and states, “This is my phone and not yours…. you can’t take away my property!”

There is a problem with our use of cell phones today. We all have become addicted. Many of us didn’t grow up with phones in our pockets or purses, but we also have developed an addiction to them. Just look around you.

Everyone is looking at their screens instead of each other -- in restaurants, in movies, in cars, and even walking. Many parents feel a great deal of pressure to get their kids the newest iPhone with the coolest accessories. I see kids as young as 7 or 8 who have their own phones.

According to information I found on the web, the Big Chief tablet was created by William Albrecht, whose family had a stationary business in Illinois. The Big Chief was trademarked in 1947, two years after Albrecht passed away. Sales peaked in the 1960s from what I understand, with the slow demise credited to the creation of the spiral notebook. After a series of ownership changes, production of the Big Chief tablet ended in 2001.

Several years later, American Trademark Publishing, based in Brookshire, resumed producton of the Big Chief tablet. One can purchase a 48-page 8x12 tablet for $4.95 plus shipping and handling. A table from the 1950s could be purchased for $0.10.

I wonder if the trend to be politically correct doomed the tablet...we do, after all, live in a country where the Washington Redskins of the National Football League remain under fire for their choice of their team name.

I also wonder if the use of cigar boxes as school supply boxes is frowned upon due to their association with tobacco products.

Back in 1987, during my tenure as editor of The Independent, smoking was still permitted in the teacher’s lounge and it was not uncommon to light up on the sidelines when covering a Panther football game.

Years before that, according to a clipping I found in a 1976 Liberty Hill newspaper, a Liberty Hill High School principal actually gave approval to students smoking on school grounds, with limitations.

New

This is a real problem, in my view.

Parents use the excuse that, “I might need to get in touch with my child while he/she is at school.” Or, “My child needs to have a phone in case he/ she needs to talk to me while they are at school.”

Seriously?

There is a phone in the front office of every school. The people who work in the office are capable of reaching your child when there is an emergency, and they allow your child to contact you in case of an emergency.

Will you be the popular parent if you tell your 12-year old that he/she is not going to have a phone to take to school? No. Your child might even tell you that you are the mean bully for not letting them have what their friends have. But remember, you are the parent and it is up to you to keep your kids safe. By letting them have free access to phones at too early of an age, especially with unlimited data and Internet capabilities, you are exposing your child to pedophiles, apps that lure kids to have sex with adults, unlimited pornography, and the chance to be bullied by anonymous

Continued from Page 2

Courtney McVan (transfer), Counselor Lisa Garner (transfer), Secretary Liberty Hill Elementary Morgan Dunn, 3rd Grade Jamie Greer, 1st Grade Sahsa Kennedy, Special Education-Autism Mary Lou Lively, Special Education/Resource Meredith McMillian, 4th Grade Marcy Mueller, IT Technologist Kristina Napolitano, Special Education Para Lori Cosper (transfer), Counselor Kasey Faurie (transfer), PE Teacher Amanda Little (transfer), PPCD Special Ed Michelle Frederick (transfer), Attendance/Registrar Mary Rocket (transfer), Food Service Manager Karen Escamilla (transfer), ESL Teacher Liberty Hill Intermediate Ann Apt, Receptionist Julie Clark, Science Teaher Linda Davis, Instructional Para Sherilyn Durham, Librarian Reagan Francis, LA Teacher Paul Guajardo, PE Aide Dawn Hudson, Asst. Principal Rebecca Rhea, Solid Roots Para Clark Stanley, Choir Teacher Krystal Towery, Teacher Kelsey Wooldridge, Theatre Arts Josh Curtis (transfer), Principal

people, or even sometimes by people who call themselves friends.

Among middle school kids, I have had a number of girls who were pressured by the boy they are “going out with”, to send nude pictures of themselves. I have had five clients in the past year who told me they had sent “body shots” of themselves because they were afraid they were going to lose their boyfriend. Of course, most of those boys did not keep the pictures to themselves, but sent them to a few friends, and next they were all over the school.

I had one sweet little girl who felt so ashamed to tell me that she had sent some pictures of herself. She felt insecure about her body because she had not developed much yet, so she said that she just wanted someone to tell her that she “looked okay”. Kids are very insecure, especially at the middle school and early high school age.

I just signed a petition that states that kids should not have cell phones until they are in 8th grade. I know that is not what kids want to hear, but parents are the decision-makers.

Check their phones. You need to

Melanie Perkins (transfer), Attendance Clerk/ Registrar Cecilia Naylor (transfer), LifeSkills Para Jennifer Norris (transfer), GT Teacher Anthony Hidalgo, Instrucational Para Bill Burden Elementary Lisa Cunningham, Special Education Samantha Eller, Special Education April Goudeau, Kindergarten Lesley Havelka, PE Teacher Dana Krizan, 1st Grade Natalie Rodel, 4th Grade Jessica Singleton, 4th Grade Addie Thomas, 1st Grade Kadie Tibbetts, 2nd Grade Emily Winward, 3rd Grade Rancho Sienna Elementary Jennifer Carpenter, Nurse/LVN Debbie Clifton, Teacher Jennifer Coates, 4th Grade Melissa Cook, 2nd Grade Schalean Druell, Special Education Instructional Para Marilyn Dupre, Spec Ed Teacher/ILS Beth Hart, Attendance Clerk/Registrar Mark Hensley, Maintenance/Custodian Susan Hussey, Administrative Assistant Caleb Martin, Music Teacher Randi “Britt” McGee, Instructional Para/ILS Becky Melson, PreK Teacher

know who they are texting and talking to. There are a lot of bad people out there who are waiting to exploit your child. There are a lot of kids out there who feel emboldened to be mean and bully because online it is anonymous.

The more you can do to protect your child from exposure to negative things on the Internet, the better chance your child has to avoid being bullied.

Talk to your kids. Keep an open line of communication. Let them know that they can come to you and tell you if things get bad with someone.

If your child is suffering from emotional pain and distress, please seek help from a professional. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your kids about certain subjects, a counselor can help breach that gap and help you be able to talk more openly with them.

We must, as a society, work our hardest to keep kids safe.

Vicki Bates is a former teacher and coach and owns Live-Your-Dream Counseling, a professional counseling practice in Bertram.

LiveYourDreamCounseling.com

Mari Parker, Receptionist Alexandrea Perez, Maintenance/Custodian Russell Perry, Maintenance/Custodian Courtney Pyle, Kindergarten Terra Ryman, Maintenance/Custodian Julie Shaw, Counselor Phillip Smith, Maintenance/Custodian Jacqueline Stremple, Art Christy Tucker, Special Education Teacher Ruby Tuffentsamer, ESL Teacher Stacey Walker, Librarian Tiffany Rosson (transfer), Library Aide Lea Szczerba (internal), PreK Aide Loretta Reinhardt, Instructional Para/Inclusion Central Office Heather Bortz, Instructional Coach Meredith Kimbrough, HR Specialist Candy Tijerina, ESL/Testing Coordinator Christina Tucker (transfer), Instructional Coach Special Education Stacy Campbell, ARD Facilitator Tawanna Harris, Spec. Ed Records Clerk Jennie Mundell, Speech Language Pathologist Scott McCool-Solis, Physical Therapist Maintenance Armina Cornelious, Area Custodial Supervisor Daniel Martinez, General Grounds Maintenance

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Schlotzsky’s

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

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Continued from Page 4

Bowen and McCorkle expect customers to begin lining up overnight to be among the first 100.

When Bowen started looking for a second Schlotzsky’s location, Liberty Hill wasn’t his first choice.

His first choice was Gatesville. But while he was getting closer to making a decision on the property, Bill Chapman of Liberty Hill stopped by the Lampasas restaurant and planted the idea about opening a Schlotzsky’s in Liberty Hill.

“He (Chapman) said he’d like to talk to me about some properties he had (for sale) here. I thought that’s nice, right next to Cedar Park, the fifth fastest growing city in the United States.

The growth is going to come that way,” Bowen said.

He said he met with Chapman, but the properties he was trying to sell were out of their price range.

“He was going to try to work on getting us an end cap in a strip center.

He was kind of working on that, and I actually drove around town to see if I could find another building that would work and I couldn’t find anything,” Bowen said.

He became discouraged and as he was driving out of town, about convinced that Gatesville was the best option, he saw a vacant lot near the Union State Bank.

“I glanced over here and saw Union State Bank. I do a large part of our banking with Union State Bank, and called my primary banker in Harker Heights, asked him if he knew about the bank in Liberty Hill, and the land on either side of it,” Bowen recalled. “He said, ‘you want to put a Schlotzsky’s there?’”

Bowen said the bank sold it to him at a price he could afford, and everything just fell into place.

“I believe the good Lord puts certain people in certain places at certain times for good reasons, and everything fell into place in Lampasas and also in Liberty Hill. From the land, to talking to certain people in town - the city, police, fire and the bank, and various other people, everything was just perfect,” he said.

Bowen added that although Chapman didn’t sell his property to the business, he was one of the first to call Bowen and congratulate him on the new restaurant. Bowen’s construction business built the restaurant.

“He has the best interest of Liberty Hill at heart,” he said of Chapman, who also serves as president of the

age or older.

“We are here to create jobs for some kids, and we’re willing to work with their schedules,” McCorkle said.

Bowen said his business is very family oriented, and is a place where staff are like part of his family, something ~ John Bowen, Owner he credits to his wife, Schlotzsky’s Liberty Hill Chris.

“This is like a second City’s Economic Development Corp. home to everyone, and she makes Bowen said he didn’t know that when them feel like part of the family. That they first met. feeds over to our customers, who ap“Y’all have got some really good peo- preciate that the food is great, the people here. Quality of people in smaller ple and service are great,” he said. towns is something to be proud of.

Bowen said Liberty Hill stands out We’ve been extremely impressed by as being a place where people “strive the young people, their manners, the for doing things right, for excellence, way they carry themselves,” Bowen more so than you see in a lot of places. said.

That attracts.”

McCorkle said 31 people have been He likened the atmosphere in Liberhired at the Liberty Hill Schlotzsky’s ty Hill to his hometown of Lampasas. so far. About half of those are high Years ago while his children were school age students and part-time younger, he moved from Copperas workers and the restaurant is still hir- Cove to Lampasas attracted by the ing. The goal is to create 35-40 jobs. small town atmosphere and schools “With the talent and the demeanor where everyone knew each other. the kids have -- we’ve been very im“This feels like that. Liberty Hill pressed,” McCorkle said, adding that feels like home,” he said. he has hired more high school age emHe added that the Liberty Hill and ployees in Liberty Hill than in Lampa- Lampasas restaurants will have friendsas, where the staff is mostly college

“I believe the good Lord puts certain people in certain places at certain times for good reasons, and everything fell into place in Lampasas and also in Liberty Hill.”

Liberty Hill Lions Club

FISH FRY Old VFW Hall Saturday Aug 19

4-7pm

$10 per plate $7 child's plate under 12 Proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards scholarships for LHHS graduating seniors.

Upcoming Events RIBBON CUTTINGS Ideal Pro-Health Weight Loss Clinic 11am-12 Noon Aug. 12 Liberty Hill Learning & Events, 14875 W. SH 29 Milestone Community Builders - Larkspur 2-3pm Aug. 12 1633 US 183 Women in Business 11:30am-1pm Aug. 15 Jardin Corona

ly competitions from time to time to have fun with the historic rivalry that exists between the two high schools.

Lampasas travels to Liberty Hill this fall to play football.

Bowen said he appreciated the assistance of City of Liberty Hill staff, who worked tirelessly to help him open his business. Specifically, he named Senior Planner Sally McFeron, Director of Public Works Wayne Bonnet, and Inspector Gerald Marinik as being most helpful.

McCorkle said it will take a little while to get the processes working smoothly in the new restaurant. While George Haranda is the General Manager in Liberty Hill, McCorkle said he anticipates spending the better part of the first three months working with Haranda and Assistant Manager Melanie McCoy in Liberty Hill.

Haranda is from Kingsland, and has been in retail for 35 years. McCoy comes to the Liberty Hill Schlotzsky’s from the Lampasas location.

“We will set the bar high here and it will take us a little while to work out the kinks,” McCorkle said.

Liberty Hill Bakery & Cafe is the last restaurant to open in Liberty Hill, in September 2016. And Chicken Express is the last fast food restaurant, which opened in 2015.

News@LHIndependent.com

Liberty Hill Chamber News

Lunch & Learn

11am - 1pm Thursday, August 24 Fellowship Annex, 102 W. Myrtle

SPEED NETWORKING Lunch by The Haute Box

$10 Members - $15 Community Members -- PAY ONLINE!

JOIN A CHAMBER ON ITS WAY TO THE TOP! Membership Levels for All Interests

PLATINUM $575 | GOLD $300 | BRONZE $150 | NON-PROFIT $150

www.LibertyHillChamber.org (512) 548-6343

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LHISD

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Continued from Page 1

every discussion.

Starting his tenth year as superintendent, Hart says the opening of the state-of-the-art Rancho Sienna Elementary in 12 days is a result of growth on the east side of the school district where 77 percent of the area’s new homes are being built. That attendance zone is projected to grow by 90-110 students per year.

Rancho Sienna will open with 600 students in grades pre-kindergarten through fourth, with a capacity of 800.

Hart says he thinks the district is one month away from beginning discussions and planning for another elementary school, which could be the subject of a bond election as early as 2019.

“We’ve already started looking at land. We know where the growth is going to be,” he said, adding that Santa Rita Ranch would be a likely choice for the next school.

“It’s about staying ahead,” he said.

While the growth in enrollment is seen primarily at the elementary grade levels, Hart

says this is the year Liberty Hill should reach Class 5A status, and the district is ready.

“We ended school in June with 3,700 and we will be right at 4,000 to start,” he said, adding that those numbers don’t take into account the number of graduates in June or the number of kindergarteners replacing them. However, early numbers Tuesday showed 161 registered last week in kindergarten.

But the magic day for UIL accounting is in October.

“We’re already over the 5A number. All year we were over by about 20 kids,” he said.

The UIL classification is based on high school enrollment on the designated day.

Classifications are reviewed every two years, and UIL will make the announcement in February 2018 for the following two years.

In 2016, LHISD reported 1,092 students -- only seven fewer than the 1,099 cutoff.

“We’re ready for it. I’m not concerned,” Hart said.

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Hart said the jump to 5A will be better for each sport, but especially for the girls.

“Our girls’ programs are strong, and we need competition before we get into the playoffs. We’re blowing everyone out in softball, basketball. We’re not getting pushed (within the UIL district), so we schedule those in non-district and tournaments where we play the 5As and 6As,” he said.

Hart said the junior high sports started playing outside the District 19 4A last school year.

“We created our own league and opted out of it (District 19 4A). We did that expecting to go into 5A this time where we’ll be in high school competition with probably those same schools,” he said. “So those kids are going to spend two years playing at 5A level and then when roll into high school, it won’t be new to them.”

Schools in the LHJH league are three Georgetown middle schools, Hutto, Elgin and Taylor.

Aside from athletics and other extra-curricular activities and academic competitions, Hart said the higher classification opens the door to more options that can be offered in LHISD. “We know when you get those numbers you can have those specialty classes that you can’t really have right now. We’re primed for that, although we’re taking that a little slower,” he said.

As far as curriculum offerings, Liberty Hill has added multiple classes and programs in recent years, offering endorsements in fields like culinary arts, business management and administration, law and public service, fashion design, health science, digital media, engineering, animal science, welding and communications.

New student registration last week is a good indication that Hart’s growth predictions may come to pass. Students continue to register, sometimes even as late as the first week of school.

According to numbers provided to The Independent this week, the two-story, 117,000-square-foot Rancho Sienna Elementary saw the

highest numbers of students new to the district with 164 registering last week. Of those, 71 were kindergarten, 21 in first grade, 25 in second grade, 17 in third grade and 27 in fourth grade.

At Bill Burden Elementary, 97 new students registered during the registration event last week.

Of those, 65 were kindergarten, 12 in first grade, four in second grade, five in third grade and 10 in fourth grade.

Liberty Hill Elementary registered 22 in kindergarten, four in first grade, three in second, two in third and four in fourth grade.

At Liberty Hill Intermediate, which houses only fifth and sixth grades, 60 new students registered last week -- 28 in fifth grade and 32 in sixth.

And to date, Liberty Hill Junior High is growing by 53 students -- 24 in seventh grade and 29 in eighth grade.

LHHS saw 24 new students in ninth grade, 16 in 10th grade, 15 in 11th grade and eight in 12th grade.

With five additional students not yet assigned, the new registration as of Aug. 4 totaled 478 students new to the district.

The big change in Liberty Hill ISD this school year is the change to neighborhood schools. Earlier this year, administration developed attendance zones for each elementary school, begin careful to balance both student and educator demographics between the campuses.

Hart said he expects the district in two years to revisit those zones for the purpose of maintaining balance.

On Wednesday, all LHISD employees were welcomed back to school with the annual first day convocation at the high school campus. LHISD is the largest employer in Liberty Hill with 557 employees this week.

Hart said during this time of political unrest at the state level regarding public education, he has noticed a dip in teacher morale across the state and is concerned about the possible impact on the profession.

LHISD lost dozens of teachers in the past two years. Hart said the most common reason was

convenience - another district was closer to home or a relocation due to spouse job change.

But some did leave for higher pay, and some left because of personal differences with co-workers.

“By and large, there seems to be a lot of turnover,” Hart said.

“But there were a lot of retirements this year, but that didn’t really surprise me. Because of the change in the whole industry, change in technology, that’s when a lot of them decide ‘not me, I’m done with this’.

There’s so much change in the whole system that it seems to be a good time for those right on the verge of retirement to go on ahead and do it.

“It’s just a different business than it used to be -- a lot different,” he said.

Hart said a few years ago, he saw a drop in the number of students enrolled in teacher education programs. He said young people had just watched as many school districts across Texas had laid off teachers in response to a $4 billion loss in state funding.

Today, it’s not as common for high school students upon graduation to choose teaching as a career path.

“I think now it happens more often midway through their college career, unless they want to coach,” Hart said.

In recent years, he has seen an increase in the number of people choosing education as their second career.

“There is a lot of political unrest now with the way public education is being treated by the Legislature, and there’s been a lot of momentum gained this summer by teachers, educators who have rallied at the Capitol. A lot of them are changing their Facebook profiles to ‘I teach and I vote’,” he said.

Hart said the ongoing debate over vouchers and education savings accounts, a report card rating system for school districts has taken a toll on educators.

Additionally, the strong push from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and others to weaken professional teaching organizations by eliminating the ability of school districts to deduct employee

membership dues from their paychecks each month is also contributing to low morale.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Hart said.

He said the uncertainty of the teaching profession is causing those nearing retirement to leave early.

For Liberty Hill, the challenge is to hold onto their experienced teachers while continuing to compete with neighboring school districts that may pay more.

This fiscal year, LHISD is budgeting a 2 percent pay increase for teachers and 2 percent increase at mid-point for other staff members. The Board of Trustees also approved a $15 increase in the district’s contribution to health insurance, from $285 to $300.

“I feel good about how we’re keeping up and staying competitive with salaries,” Hart said.

He said 56 percent of LHISD employees lived in the school district in 2016. While more might prefer to live here, the availability of rental property is a deterrent.

But the attraction to LHISD as a place to teach is not all about the money, Hart says. It’s also about the teaching conditions. Working in a supportive environment where parents are involved in the schools means a lot, and typically that translates to better student behaviors.

While Hart acknowledged that Liberty Hill continues to see drug and alcohol use by students at school and at school functions, LHISD is no different from any other school district in the country in that regard. Other behavior problems, especially at the high school level are more uncommon.

Hart said he still believes it isn’t time to introduce a school resource officer program.

“I won’t say it won’t happen sometime in the future, but we don’t have it planned for this year,” he said. “A lot of background work has to be done on a school resource officer program before it can happen.”

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 9

BUSINESS

Liberty Hill Pharmacy celebrates second anniversary

By DANA DELGADO Staff Writer The Liberty Hill Pharmacy & Compounding Center, known for its friendly staff, family atmosphere, and its experienced and compassionate owner-pharmacist, is celebrating its second anniversary.

“We’re super excited to be here!” said Pharmacist Whitney Brace. “We appreciate all our customers who have accepted us as part of the community. I think they have come to learn that we put our patients first and will do everything we can.”

Dr. Brace has worked in small, locally-owned pharmacies her entire 15 plus year career, becoming a strong advocate of independent pharmacies and an expert in customized prescriptions (compounding). She takes great pride in being Liberty Hill’s hometown pharmacy and looks forward to continuing to build relationships in the community.

To commemorate the anniversary, the pharmacy is holding an Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 19 in appreciation of the community’s hospitality and patronage and to welcome new customers as well as reintroduce the staff.

Tours of the unique facility will be available along with the introduction of the Tele-Medicine Program where patients can connect and consult directly online with a physician. Refreshments will be provided for the celebration.

While the pharmacy commemorates its second year, Dr. Brace has another major reason to celebrate. She and her husband, Conor, a jazz and classical musician who plays with the Williamson County Symphony, are celebrating the birth of their first child, Brienne Brace.

In only five months, Brienne has become the center of attraction in the pharmacy where she has been happily spending time with mom and has taken to greeting customers with loving smiles only newborns can give.

“Some people come in just to see Brienne,” said Dr. Brace. “It absolutely makes my day! I love that our patients are so supportive of her being in the pharmacy with me, and that they’re genuinely excited to see her each time they stop by.”

When Whitney Brace opened her independent pharmacy in Liberty Hill, she hoped to build a business in the spirit of family. She sought to be part of a small community where she could get to know her customers at a personal level, so she could serve them more effectively. Liberty Hill fit the bill to a “T” and reminded her of her hometown, Niederwald near Buda, where you know your neighbors and everyone looked after each other.

“I always knew I wanted to be in a small town and I love how Liberty Hill has maintained its hometown feeling,” said Dr. Brace.

At Niederwald, the would-be pharmacist grew up with a love for animals and their care. She said she started young with 4-H and then became deeply involved in FFA (Future Farmers of

DANA DELGADO PHOTOS

The staff of Liberty Hill Pharmacy & Compounding Center welcome everyone to the business’ Open House from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 19 in commemoration of the store’s second anniversary. From left, are Michael Kaehler (Compounding Tech), Carola Glass (Clerk) holding Brienne Brace (Dr. Brace’s daughter), Raelyn Hackworth (Pharmacy Tech), and owner-Pharmacist Whitney Brace.

America) in high school.

“Taking care of animals taught me a lot of responsibility and FFA taught me a lot of life skills,” Dr. Brace said. “I learned that if you work hard, things will work out for you.”

At the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, she won a scholarship that would help fund her college.

Her interest in chemistry and medicine grew out of her relationship and experiences with her mother, Brenda Brown, who incidentally is a nurse. To her surprise one day, her mother had found her an afterschool job as a cashier at a small pharmacy in San Marcos. It didn’t take her long to move up to a pharmacy tech position, which was followed by undergraduate work at The University of Texas at Austin where she completed a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in 2005. Graduate work in polymer chemistry came next at Texas State University. In 2011, she completed her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from The University of Texas at Austin and then launched her career, which has been primarily in central Texas.

Dr. Brace said she gave up a good salary and benefits to open her own independent pharmacy.

“In Liberty Hill, I have the opportunity to do what’s best for the patient,” she said. “I can take my time with each patient and get to know them.

There are no corporate quotas. It’s been a very satisfying personal and professional experience for me.”

Nestled at the intersection of W. State Hwy 29 and RR 1869 at 13740 W. State Highway 29, Suite 4, the Liberty Hill Pharmacy & Com-

pounding Center carries a variety of merchandise as well as providing pharmacy services for not only Liberty Hill but outlying communities including Leander, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Bertram, Burnet, Florence and Briggs.

They carry general over-the-counter pharmacy items along with vitamins, nutritional supplements; unique gift items some of which are locally crafted, and a host of skin care items including lotions and soaps that are made in-house.

Dr. Brace was drawn to making her own specialty soaps when her mother came down with cancer and developed an allergic reaction to regular soaps and lotions. They made a world of difference for her mother, she said.

The pharmacy’s specialty, however, is its compounding services that allow them to formulate the medications on-site.

“Customers have been surprised and intrigued,” Dr. Brace said. “We can work with patients and their doctors to adjust specific needs and customize the meds.”

No matter the pharmacy need, Dr. Brace said that she and her staff are dedicated to providing customers with the very best of service and always looking for solutions including finding ways to save on medications.

Two patients, whom she recalls, were recently helped in a substantial way. One patient with insurance but a high deductible plan and a very high copay for a brand name medication got assistance with a manufacturer’s savings card to reduce their out-of-pocket cost from $350 to $5 per month.

Another patient, who had been filling her five

prescriptions at a big box pharmacy without insurance, was able to get assistance at Liberty Hill Pharmacy, which saved her over $100 per month.

“Whether it’s prescription medications or over the counter products, we are here to answer any and all of your questions,” she said.

Liberty Hill Pharmacy & Compounding Center is open Mon-Fri. from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sat. from 9 a.m. -1 p.m.

Pharmacist Whitney Brace (right) and Compounding Technician Michael Kaehler in the pharmacy’s compounding room where medications can be formulated in-house to the patient’s specific needs.

Page 10

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

The Johnsons, who were the last victims of a Comanche raid in Williamson County, were ambushed at evening time while they were returning home from a nearby molasses mill. Accounts describe the attack as having occurred on a road running alongside Dog Branch Creek, which flows for a short distance before depositing into the South San Gabriel River. The site today belongs to the estate of the late Roy Butler, a former mayor of Austin.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

WAYLON CUNNINGHAM PHOTOS

Wofford Johnson, his wife, Mary, and their daughter are buried in the Hopewell Cemetery just outside of Liberty Hill. The cemetery and its association are the last vestiges of this once prosperous but rough settler community. Its schoolhouse students were absorbed by Liberty Hill in 1945.

Hopewell Cemetery marks the last Comanche raid in Williamson County

By WAYLON CUNNINGHAM Staff Writer A local rancher, his wife and their four-year-old daughter died in a vicious attack just outside of Liberty Hill in 1863, in what would be the last Comanche raid in Williamson County.

August 15 marks the 154th anniversary of the Comanche raid. It was an ambush called “foul murder blacker than hell itself” by the legendary Texas Ranger Jeff Maltby, who spent the next nine years hunting the Kiowa chieftain responsible.

For Texas history buffs, the episode was one of many illustrating the dangers faced by settlers living on what was then the edge of the American frontier.

For Liberty Hill, it’s a piece of local history that happened just south of Ranch Road 1869.

Today the Johnsons’ grave can be visited at the Hopewell Cemetery. This small and remote plot is all that remains of Hopewell, a now-defunct settler community whose hardships are testified to by the 30-odd infant graves. Its twilight began when the Austin-Burnet road bypassed it in the late 19th Century, and dwindled until Liberty Hill absorbed its schoolhouse students in 1945.

But in the decades following its settlement in the early 1840s, Hopewell was booming and much more established than Liberty Hill — it was also plagued

by Comanche raids.

At Hopewell’s church services held outside under an arbor by the cemetery, it’s said the preacher kept his gun by the Bible on the pulpit. The Coman-

che warbands were known for their guerilla-style attacks, often preferring to catch the settlers unaware. And the thick of small brushy trees that blanketed the Shin Oak Ridge, as the region was called, functioned as ideal cover for their ambushes.

These horseback Comanche warbands had driven out the native Tonkawa tribes just a few years earlier, and to the new settlers on their land, they proved themselves a deadly and constant threat.

Between 1862 and 1863, Comanche attacks ramped up all over Central Texas. The Civil War raging hundreds of miles to the east had pulled away most of the able-bodied men, and opportunistic trading posts in the north saw no problem in stocking the Comanches with arms.

In response, the Texas Rangers organized local patrols drawn from young boys, old men, ministers and other miscreants who stayed behind. The patrol for Hopewell and the surrounding areas was 30 men strong, and led by the veteran Texas Ranger Jeff Maltby, also known as “Captain Jeff.”

Maltby would write later that he was given orders from his superiors to kill “every Indian that set foot in the county.” He did so with relish. His men were known for scalping the heads of their fallen native enemies.

In the Hopewell patrol was an older cattleman named Wofford Johnson, who was probably from Missouri. He and his wife, Mary Johnson, had three daughters -- Georgianna, their baby, and Mary Jane and Elvira.

Maltby’s description of Georgianna

as a girl conflicts with some other accounts that insist Georgianna was a boy. It’s only one of many discrepancies between the story’s different tellings, seemingly all of which were written decades after the fact. In this instance, Georgianna can safely be said to have been a girl. She actually survived into adulthood and later came back to give her family a proper burial with the help of Liberty Hill residents.

In any case, the truly essential facts between the accounts do overlap enough to say with confidence the basic outline of what occurred that Sunday, August 15, 1863.

The Johnsons had spent the day away from home, making molasses at a mill they ran with their neighbors. Late into the afternoon, they stopped to return home.

Sweaty and sticky from the long day’s work, they mounted two horses for the short ride up the road along Dog Branch Creek, which flowed into the South San Gabriel River.

Wofford and Mary probably knew even a short ride was dangerous at that time. There had been a string of horse thefts just a mile or so away in the days leading up, and the Comanches were strongly suspected. Wofford carried his gun with him.

In the front rode Mary, with baby Georgianna in her lap, and the fouryear-old Elvira sitting behind her. Following them was Wofford Johnson, who had the four-year-old Mary Jane in his lap, who Maltby later wrote was Wofford’s “idolized little pet.”

See COMANCHE, Page 11

Texas Ranger William Jeff Maltby, nicknamed “Captain Jeff,” hunted the renegade Kiowa chieftain “Big Foot” for nine years after his Comanche warband killed the Johnson family. (Courtesy Photo)

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Comanche

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 11

Continued from Page 10

It was about halfway through the trip, near dusk, just a few hundred yards from the house, when gunshots rang out. Then the arrows fell.

Wofford immediately crumpled, his horse crashing with Mary Jane.

His wife, Mary, perhaps survived the initial volley. Her body was found a hundred yards up the road filled with arrows.

Elvira had managed to slip off the saddle, or perhaps fell off, as soon as first onslaught fell.

She disappeared into the brush and ran to a neighbor’s house, where she relayed what happened.

Maltby and the rest of his men set out that night to find the raiding party. They rode a wide perimeter, and though Maltby later wrote that he could smell them, and even hear them in the distance, nothing was found.

The next morning, Maltby’s patrol rode out to the area Elvira described. There they found the Johnson parents lying face down. They spotted nearby the telltale footprints of Big Foot, a Kiowa chieftain Maltby was well familiar with.

By Maltby’s account, Big Foot was a renegade Kiowa chieftain who had joined this band of Comanches for the bloodsport. He was tall in stature, and legendary in his strength and skill with a bow.

Maltby by that point had already long wanted to meet Big Foot face to face so that he might “measure lances with him to decide our prowess as soldiers of different nationalities.”

But the Johnsons’ deaths riled him. He announced an award of $100 (or $1,876.03 in 2017) to whoever killed the Comanche raider carrying Wofford’s gun.

Hunting Big Foot was now a fixation. And that week, he almost succeeded.

The trail from the Johnsons’ scene was easy enough to find. Following it up a mile, they discovered the baby Georgianna atop a pile of cedar brush. Maltby’s account later chalked the baby’s survival up to her mother, who hid the infant in a final desperate act as she was dying.

Later investigators conclude it was more likely the Comanches took her and shortly after abandoned her, given the mile of distance between where Georgianna and Mary were found.

Maltby divided his men into two groups. The first group of 15 he tasked with following the trail. The other 15 would ride with him to cut the raiders off at their regular trail crossing of the San Saba River, 70 miles to the west.

Maltby and his men arrived to the trail crossing a day later. There again, Maltby writes that he could smell them, but nothing was found. Having given up, the men returned to Hopewell. There, Maltby learned that the first group, tasked with following the trail, had instead stayed behind with their families, fearing another attack.

The hunt for Big Foot continued. Maltby and other Texas Rangers tracked him over and over again, interrupted by the tribunals following the

Civil War and by the warband’s clever escapes.

The hunt finally ended nine years after Wofford’s death, when Maltby and his rangers cornered Big Foot’s party in Runnels County in West Texas.

Though Big Foot did not survive the battle, a Comanche man named Jape, said to be his second in command, gave a dying testimony to Maltby and his men. He confessed that the party had killed the Johnsons and many others over the years. In Maltby’s eyes, it was justice at last.

Meanwhile back in Hopewell, the family of three lay buried in their wagon cart in an unmarked grave.

It was roughly 1910 when Georgianna returned as an older woman to Liberty Hill. Together with Andrew Mather, a Texas Ranger from the Liberty Hill area who is sometimes said to be Big Foot’s real slayer, they collected enough funds to commission a real headstone for her late parents. It still stands today.

Editor’s Note: This account ahead was pieced together from a number of sources, but most prominently from Texas Ranger Jeff Maltby as he wrote it in the 1906 book “Captain Jeff, or, Frontier Life in Texas with the Texas Rangers.” Other sources consulted include the 1964 “Culture of the Shin Oak Ridge Folk”

by J. Gordon Bryson, and the 1973 “Land of Good Water: Takachue Pouetsu: A Williamson County, Texas, History” by Clara Stearns Scarbrough.

“Big Foot,” the renegade Kiowa chieftain is said to have left his own tribe to lead a band of Comanche raiders. His own account, and even his real name, are lost to history. (Courtesy Photo)

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Page 12

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

City’s Open House puts master plans on display

By WAYLON CUNNINGHAM Staff Writer An open house held Tuesday invited Liberty Hill residents to learn about and provide feedback on the projects envisioned for the town’s near future.

The evening brought 15 of the City’s consultants to the Municipal Court building, where they set up displays for maps and bullet point lists related to the various master plans they are helping the City draft.

A loose dozen or two attendees drifted in and out of the small space for the hour and a half it was held.

“We’ve never undertaken something like this that involves every aspect of the City — from parks and utilities to drainage and transportation,” said City Administrator Greg Boatright, who was there with several other city employees.

Projects detailed included the Transportation Master Plan being drafted by CP&Y, the Drainage Master Plan from K. Frieze & Associates, three new parks proposed in Halff Associates’ Parks Master Plan, splash pad and swim center designs from Bowman Consulting, Steger & Bizzell’s planned sludge tank and a belt process for the wastewater treatment plant, and more.

The City has in recent months begun to rely more on master plans, which are visionary policy outlines that identity goals and immediate projects in a given department or about a particular

concern.

Some, such as the Parks Master Plan being developed, are entirely new. Currently, it calls for a trail network to connect all the parks and downtown with each other.

Earlier this year, the City hired consultant Pix Howell as a program manager to help oversee the coordination between the master plans and other ongoing projects.

He, along with the other consultants in attendance, hovered around the project displays to answer questions and take comments.

Chad Cormack from K. Frieze & Associates drew a rectangle on his firm’s flood zone map where local resident Pat Harlow says an artificial pond could help alleviate the increased flooding he has witnessed from his property.

On the posterboard next to him, a printout illustrating a proposed re-alignment for Carl Shipp Drive was explained by engineering consultant Curtis Steger to two other residents.

“This won’t be here,” Steger said pointing to the road’s V-shaped intersection with Loop 332.

“We want to replace it with this,” he said, pointing to a new, T-shaped intersection that would reportedly be safer.

Nearby, renderings for a transportation plan being drafted by CP&Y presented different options for improvements to the intersection of RR 1869 and Loop 332 in front of Parker’s Corner Market.

One image showed the intersection with stoplights. Another imagined left hand turn lanes built leading up to the stop, and a third proposal removed all Main Street parking to make way for an extended left hand turn lane— and widened sidewalks.

The first option, which CP&Y’s senior program manager John Dean called the “no build” choice,

offered to leave the intersection as it is.

Dean said that input from the forum would be taken into account for the plan’s revisions before the firm submits it to the City Council for final approval.

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. August 14 in the municipal court building at 2801 Ranch Road 1869.

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Page 13

Page 14

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Organizers prepare for Sculpture Celebration

By MADISON MCVAN Staff Writer Immediately after the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Liberty Hill International Sculpture Symposium, the Culture and Arts Committee began evaluating what they needed to change for the 2017 Sculpture Celebration.

The event aims to inform Liberty Hill residents of the sculpture park created during the October 1976 Liberty Hill International Sculpture Symposium. Last year marked the 40th anniversary of the symposium, and organizers are making the Sculpture Celebration an annual event.

“Our event that we do is to say to the community, ‘Let’s learn about what we have. We have these cool sculptures here,’” organizer Susan Barnes said.

“Let’s celebrate them and what was done in the past. We have artifacts on display.”

Barnes and fellow organizer Mary Lyn Jones are members of the Culture and Arts Committee, the independent group

that is planning the Celebration. Jones is also the Chair of the City’s Parks & Recreation Board of Directors and a member of the Liberty Hill Development Foundation, which oversees the sculpture park and owns Lions Foundation Park.

Barnes is an art teacher at Liberty Hill Intermediate School.

The 1976 International Sculpture Symposium was organized

by Mel Fowler, an esteemed sculptor who at the time had a studio in downtown Liberty Hill. “[The Celebration] kind of brings in some of the old history of the town,” Barnes said.

“That’s what’s really cool, is that our town, even though it’s growing, a lot of the new people moving here don’t know the history.”

Like last year, the Celebration will feature sculptors, vendors, music and a car show during the day. But this year, an evening art auction and artist reception in downtown Liberty Hill has been added to the schedule.

“We’re going to have a downtown art auction with food, wine and beer, free to the public,” Jones said. “Similar to what we did on the [June 16] Art Walk. We really want to emphasize the art auction, because we want to bring in people that want to see the art.”

All funds raised by the auction will go to the Liberty Hill Development Foundation for the conservation and promotion of the sculptures. The sculptors at the event will be paid a stipend for their work.

“We want patrons to come and support, and bid high,” Barnes said. “We want the art patrons because those stone carvers are high quality art.”

The daytime portion of the event will be shorter than last year, and will be held in conjunction with Rip Roar’n Ride, a bicycle ride hosted by the Liberty Hill Lions Club that will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Intermediate school.

“We learned from last year that we needed to do more of a morning, lunch timeline,”

LH INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO

Master carver Bob Regan of Texas Carved Stone works on a sculpture to donate during the 40th Celebration of the International Sculpture Symposium in 2016. Regan has been a stone sculptor for 35 years.

Barnes said.

Jones said that she is working community,’ so they’re going The number of food trucks at on finding business partners to to take ownership and take care the sculpture garden will also help sponsor this year’s event, of it in the future, too.”

Though Jones has a backbut that many of the partnerincrease from last year. ground in athletics, she says The Celebration is mostly ships have yet to be finalized. funded by the City of Liberty “We’re reaching out to make that her time working to preHill, and so far has received this a community effort,” vent students from dropping a $5,000 donation from the Barnes said. “A positive com- out of school taught her that art Parks & Recreation Board and munity effort. And I’m en- can be a valuable tool to reach a $10,000 donation from the visioning 2020 to be the big out to children.

“My vision is, get those kids International Symposium City’s General Fund.

Also asked to contribute was again, where we invite the in- to connect with something,” the Economic Development ternational artists when we’re Jones said. “My mother-in-law was an artist, and she instilled Corp. That board tabled action ready.” on the request at its last meetBarnes invites the sculptors that in our family. I just know ing, but will consider it again to visit her classes on the day how much she loved the art, before the Celebration and and it’s kind of in her memory this month.

Last year’s budget for the demonstrate some of their tech- that I focus on that.”

The 2017 Sculpture Celebraevent was $15,000, but the niques.

Committee is trying to raise it “Friday they come during the tion will take place from 9 a.m. this year in order to increase school day and my art classes to 2 p.m. at Foundation Park. artist stipends, provide free come and watch them, and they The art auction will be downfood and drinks at the auction talk to the students,” Barnes town at 6 p.m. Both portions of and increase the number of said. “So the students are ed- the event are free and open to tents and activities during the ucated about the process, and the public. daytime portion of the Cele- the young people are learning, ‘we have this cool thing in our bration.

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Anthony Lincoln, who presented the budget draft Monday to the Board of Commissioners for Williamson County Emergency Services District #4.

The 2017-2018 budget would raise the yearly base salary of firefighters and other personnel to $42,000, up from the current $39,000.

Lincoln said the department still lags behind the region’s base pay of $44,000, as it did this past year. Increases to the retirement program approved last year to help attract and retain firefighters are also shared by some of these other departments in the region, Lincoln said. At least one firefighter who left the Liberty Hill station this year reportedly did so for a position at one of these other departments.

“We’re not high-end pay, but our guys stay for the growth, because the way we’re growing, we need the experience,” Lincoln said. “If you’re in business you know how a high turnover can kill you.”

The raise will work across the board for operation personnel, as firefighters receive a yearly percentage increase over the base pay determined by their years of service and position. Drivers see a 5 percent increase, lieutenants

see 6 percent, captains 8 percent and battalion chiefs 11 percent.

The administrative assistant position will receive a $3,000 raise, up from $49,000.

The budget would also include expenditures for the construction, needed equipment, and one to two months of operation time for the upcoming Santa Rita Station #2, which is currently slated to open in August 2018.

The station will be built near the intersection of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and the Santa Rita Ranch North subdivision.

The budget devotes a stopgap $18,000 for a temporary station that would operate with two firefighters and a vehicle from April 2018 until the Santa Rita station’s completion.

Lincoln said that he did not know what form that temporary station would take, although he and the commissioners floated ideas for using a job site trailer or a home in the Santa Rita Ranch subdivision.

Accompanying the temporary station, and in preparation for the real station, the budget proposal also allocates $198,744 to hire six new firefighters. This year the department paid around $22,000 in overtime for its 18 firefighters.

$70,000 for a new command vehicle and equipment, such as emergency lighting and computers, was also approved in a separate vote. A four-door pickup truck will replace the 2002 Ford Excursion currently used, which now has over 110,000 miles.

Commissioners agreed to lower the proposed property tax rate. Due to rising property values, the ad valorem rate will for the second year in a row be just short of the full $0.10 per $100 valuation allowed by state law.

“I know the citizens won’t like to see that 10 cents on their tax bill, even though we’re the best part of that tax bill,” Commissioner Keith Bright said. “If it were just me, I’d go with the effective rate. But since we’re opening the new station, I can live with the rollback rate.”

Last year, the average home in the district paid $284.49 in taxes, from a tax rate of $0.096124 per $100 of taxable value. The typical residence last year was valued at $294,916.

If the proposed tax rate of $0.098250 per $100 is approved, the average home would pay $310.86 in taxes to the district. The average residential property is now valued at $316,402.

The proposed rate would represent an 8 percent growth in the revenue

collection budgeted over the 20162017 budget. $2.3 million would be collected by the district in property taxes.

The roughly $40,000 difference in revenue between the $0.10 rate Lincoln initially requested, and the roughly $0.98 rollback rate the board approved, will be offset by revenue from the sales tax. That money would otherwise go into the district’s reserve funds.

Lincoln said that the reserve funds become important down the line for expenses related to the new station, and that they are examined in grant applications.

The district’s sales tax generates an average $35,000 a month, up from the $25,000 average it collected when the district began collecting that tax last summer.

The only vote taken for the budget proposal was to propose using the rollback rate for the property tax rate.

The vote for that was unanimous. No motion was required at this point for the overall proposal.

Public hearings on the proposed budget are scheduled August 21 and 28. The board will adopt the final budget September 11.

WAYLON CUNNINGHAM PHOTO

Commissioner Keith Bright tests for himself the new portable drill tower installed for training exercises. “So Chief, is this the tallest building in Liberty Hill now or what,” he said.

Page 16

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

LHISD celebrates test results, develops plans for improvement

By DANA DELGADO Staff Writer It’s the kind of public review every organization including the Liberty Hill Independent School District looks forward to – a fairly resoundingly good one.

Toni Hicks, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Accountability, had every reason to be elated as she thumbed through a handful of graphs reflecting the school district’s success on the recently released 20162017 STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) results, the state’s mandated assessment. The documents, compiled by Hicks from data provided by the Texas Education Agency, show that LHISD continues to outperform the state average in virtually all assessed core areas and grade levels.

In some instances, the differences were startling.

“These are great celebrations for our district,” exclaimed Hicks.

She said that the district did identify some concerns and have mobilized resources to address them.

“Until we get to 100 percent,” Hicks explained, “we have reason to improve and there is some sense of urgency to

improve when we compare ourselves to like schools.”

For the most part, LHISD elementary and secondary reading results hovered near or above the 80 percent mark of students passing the assessment with 5th grade and 8th grade topping all grades with 91 percent and 95 percent, respectively. The state percent passing average in reading was mostly concentrated in the 70-76 percent range but dropped to the low to mid-60s in grade 6, English I and English II. In math, Liberty Hill students were again impressive with one lone exception -- 6th grade, which equaled the state average of 75 percent passing. In the other grades, LHISD outperformed the state average by double digits with averages ranging from 84-96 percent passing. Like the reading assessment, 5th and 8th grades took top math honors for the district with 91 percent and 96 percent passing correspondingly.

Other Liberty Hill results followed the same pattern in comparison to the state, but in some instances were not as dramatic.

In 4th and 7th grade writing, LHISD had 73 percent and 82 percent of its students passing while the state average

was 63 percent and 82 percent. Science scores for Liberty Hill showed no marked gains from last year, but still ranged from 82 percent in 5th grade to 84 percent in 8th grade, and 94 percent passing in high school biology surpassing the state by 9-10 percent.

In history, LHISD and the state were evenly matched. Liberty Hill’s 62 percent passing in 8th grade history matched the state and only slightly outperformed the state 95 percent to 92 percent in high school U.S. History but both scores were a drop from 2015-16 results, particularly in 8th grade, which had 16 percent fewer students passing.

In a cursory comparison between the state average and LHISD, the performance differences are significant, but it should be noted that there are remarkable differences in student demographics, which the state scrutinizes to insure districts are closing the learning gaps among different subpopulations.

In particular, notes Hicks, is the factor identified by the state as “economically disadvantaged (ED).”

Liberty Hill ISD reports that 26.7 percent of its students in 2016-17 were

See STAAR, Page 19

DANA DELGADO PHOTO

Asst. Superintendent Toni Hicks said the recently released STAAR results were reason to celebrate, but added that with the school district’s goal of success for every student, there is much work to be done.

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 17

New Intermediate Principal targets student leadership

By DANA DELGADO Staff Writer With the retirement of longtime Principal Kathy Major, Josh Curtis assumes the 2017-18 leadership reins at Liberty Hill Intermediate School.

Curtis, a graduate of McMurry University in Abilene, served as the Intermediate School’s Assistant Principal last school year before being named to the school’s top position.

“I got to learn from one of the best intermediate principals ever,” he said. “Mrs. Major let me do a lot of things I couldn’t have done otherwise.

For that, I am very thankful.”

The new campus leader added that Major was the consummate mentor who effectively prepared him for his new role. Curtis also worked previously in Louise and Flatonia.

“I’m privileged and humbled,” said Curtis, who begins his third year with LHISD and 12th year overall in education. “When you get into a school district like Liberty Hill, it’s amazing -- it’s a destination job where you want to retire from. The students, the parents, the teachers, and the administration are all amazing.”

Assisting Curtis is newly named assistant principal, Dawn Hudson. Hudson, a 15-year education veteran, had been serving as a campus administrator with Lubbock ISD for the last three years.

“She is like-minded and compliments my skills very well,” Curtis said.

Curtis said he looks to rally the school around a new motto, “Learning today, Leading tomorrow,” which will emphasize leadership, a key core value for the former coach and English and Social Studies teacher. A cornerstone for leadership development is the campus’ new leadership class, which will be offered to sixth graders as an elective. The class is centered on the basic pillars of the “Capturing Kids’ Hearts” program created by the Flippen Group, a leadership consulting group based in College Station.

Basically, the leadership program underscores students’ connectedness to others by enhancing healthy bonds with their teachers.

“It will teach a variety of skills including interviewing skills and conflict resolution skills,” emphasized Curtis. “We just want to build good quality leaders and sixth grade is the most moldable grade level of one’s educational journey in my opinion.”

To get students to think about their future, teachers and staff members will participate every other Wednesday in “Post-Secondary Shirt Day” by donning shirts of various future endeavors including college, technical schools, and the military.

Curtis added that he expected respect throughout the building and stressed his ardent belief “in a firm handshake and common courtesy.”

Teachers, he said, will be modeling the behavior by personally welcoming each student with a greeting and a handshake at the beginning of every class.

Other campus changes include a change to a secondary class schedule and a major upgrade in technology for students.

The new schedule involves students having eight class periods a day with each class lasting 52 minutes. In addition to the core courses, three elective classes will be offered including Theater Arts, Choir and Leadership. Lunch will remain at 30 minutes and physical education will still be offered every day.

The school is also shifting to become a “techno campus.” New Chromebooks have been added.

Beginning this school year, there will be at least one device for every two students. The Chromebook was adopted because of its alignment with the district’s curriculum.

Another major shift is the focus on “Makerspace,” a creative learning system that emphasizes student driven projects. According to Curtis, teachers will provide a prompt that students will need to use critical thinking skills to create, explore, and invent. Makerspaces are hands-on learning environments where students are continuously collaborating and engaged.

“We will utilize this (system) in social studies classes, but everyone will have an opportunity,” Curtis said. “Teaching is out of our vocabulary and we are replacing it with learning.”

The unquestionable focus for the incoming Principal is growth across the board.

“We will be the best intermediate school in the state,” Curtis said. “That’s Liberty Hill ISD and that’s the competitiveness in me.”

To Principal Curtis, being the best involves having the best resources, best technology utilization, and the biggest percentage growth or improvement on state-mandated tests.

DANA DELGADO PHOTO

New Intermediate School Principal Josh Curtis looks to rally the school around a new motto, “Learning today, Leading tomorrow,” which will emphasize leadership.

“I want people (educators from other districts) to visit us because of our success,” he said. “I want to showcase our teachers and students.”

For this school year, the state mandated test (STAAR) will remain relatively unchanged. All fifth and sixth grade students at the Intermediate School will be assessed. Students in fifth grade will be tested in math, reading and science while sixth graders will be assessed in math and reading only. Students who passed the test, however, who were identified by the state “not to be on grade level,” will be assigned an additional

math or reading class appropriately in lieu of an elective.

“I’m very looking forward to getting the year started,” Curtis said. “I’m excited about getting my philosophy going. I expect to see student growth at the end of the year because I believe we’re going to have a tremendous year.”

The Intermediate School is projected to have a student enrollment of 600 for the 2017-18 school year with approximately 300 students in each grade level -- fifth and sixth grade.

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

$5,000 REWARD

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Missing Items Include: - 1 Blue Yamaha 250 4-Wheeler - 2 Red Honda 300 4-Wheelers - 1 Blue Honda 110 3-Wheeler - John Deere riding lawnmower - $5,000 worth of copper wiring - Wood planer

BACK TO SCHOOL 2017

STAAR

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Continued from Page 16

economically disadvantaged while the state average was significantly higher at 58.5 percent.

Research shows and educators agree that poverty can markedly affect academic performance.

“Children from poverty have the most challenges,” said Hicks. “They have greater mobility, are affected by hunger and have limited resources.

According to the National Association of the Education of Young Children, three-year olds (who are economically disadvantaged) have 600 fewer words in their vocabulary, which grows to 4,000 words by second grade.”

Hicks identified Wimberley ISD as a school district with a similar percentage of economically disadvantaged students. That comparison saw the two districts as near mirror images, separated by single percentage points in every category in reading, math and

writing. Area schools like Georgetown and Marble Falls with respective economically disadvantaged groups of 44 percent and 62.9 percent did not match-up well with Liberty Hill on the STAAR. On the other hand and to the district’s credit, LHISD was competitive with Dripping Springs, which reported far fewer students (11.2 percent) who were economically disadvantaged.

Hicks said that the district is trying to narrow the learning gaps for students identified as economically disadvantaged as well as some gaps in other areas exposed by the testing results.

“We are working to streamline our organization of curriculum by tapping into our in-house experts, providing the necessary staff and programs to support all learners, and promote embedded training models where expert teachers teach teachers,” Hicks said.

The district is also developing its own curriculum that can be tailored to meet the needs of its students and yet, are aligned with the state standards.

“As we develop our Panther Curriculum, we will embed lesson cycles, instructional strategies, and targeted resources for all teachers to utilize,” Hicks explained.

In addition, the district captured teaching excellence on video with their lesson design to share collaboratively with teachers and administrators, purchased the TEKS (state curriculum) Resource System to enhance instructional resources. Instructional coaches have also been designated -one for secondary and one for elementary schools.

Other specific steps being taken by the district include training in guided reading and guided math for K-8 teachers, which involves small group

instruction with varied instructional strategies. Understanding and utilization of Lexile levels to measure the difficulty of a selection or a student’s reading ability level will be incorporated. According to Hicks, this allows students to read appropriate level literature. Lit (leveled) libraries will be developed at each elementary campus, and accompanying teacher training will be provided.

Another focus and initiative will be on writing because of research evidence that supports that writing can be a vehicle for teaching and improving remind.

“Teachers will be steeped in writing rubrics,” Hicks said, “and writing impacts memory seven times more than just reading.”

In math, the district will be emphasizing greater access to manipulatives and provide targeted teacher training

on strategies to improve student understanding of difficult concepts and operations while in science, there will be additional lab time during the instructional period.

In addition to those changes, master school schedules have been re-designed to provide for additional collaborative planning time, which will allow teachers to routinely analyze data and student progress and adjust their instruction.

To enhance instruction in history, the district has partnered with the University of Texas in Austin for embedded training. As mandated by the Texas Education Agency, students in grades 3 through 12 are required to take part in the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness program.

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Page 20

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Know Thyself: Your Jaw

Last time we learned about the joints of the skull and how – contrary to popular belief – they actually do move. This week it won’t take as much convincing that the joint does move.

Anybody who likes to talk, eat, or yawn will know what I’m talking about. That should cover pretty much all of us.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is formed by the mandible articulating with the skull. You can feel it if you first find your cheekbone, follow it back toward your ear, then drop your fingers down off the cheekbone once you’re just in front of the ear. Open your mouth a couple times and you’ll feel the mandible moving.

Unlike the skull joints, which are fibrocartilaginous and don’t move a great deal, the TMJ is the joint type that we all usually think of when we think of a joint. It’s a synovial joint. Because anatomists love categorization and naming things, there are also various types of synovial joints. The TMJ is a “hinge” joint, which means that the primary way it moves is back and forth like a hinge. Some joints can move in a wide variety of directions, but your jaw is designed pri-

Dr. Ben Menke, PT, DPT, OCS marily for opening and closing.

Of course, it does move a little in other directions as well. For example, it can move side-side (lateral deviation) and forward-backward (protrusion-retrusion). Though small, the amount of motions in those directions allow for things like easily moving food around in your mouth, permitting more or less air through your airway, and making facial expressions. I bet sometimes you wish your teenager didn’t have so much TMJ mobility.

The way it opens and closes is a combination of gliding and rolling. The rolling of the mandible on the skull is responsible for most of the opening motion, but it also glides forward a little to allow just a bit more excursion. This especially comes in handy when you’re eating, say, the Ring of Fire burger at Dahlia’s. I know I plan to stretch out my TMJ this week so I can fit my mouth around a sandwich at the new Schlot-

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There are also a surprising number of muscles involved in moving the TMJ. The main ones are the masseter, temporalis, and pterygoids (pronounced “teh-ruh-goids”).

You can find the first two fairly easily. Finding the temporalis on your wife is a sure-fire way to get her to like you again after an argument. Just put your fingers on her temples, and gently rub away. That’s the temporalis. It’s pretty big, so easy to find.

The masseter is also pretty sizeable. Its muscle belly is in your cheeks, between your cheekbone and the base of your mandible. The fibers run up and down, so often rubbing front-to-back you can find some tight or tender spots. The pterygoids are more inside your mouth. You have to put a finger in your mouth to feel them on the inside of your jaw.

I wouldn’t recommend finding these on your

wife.

Dr. Ben Menke, PT, DPT, OCS, is clinic director at Texas Physical Therapy Specialists in Liberty Hill.

PANTHER SPORTS 2017 Fall Preview

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, August 10, 2017 Page 21

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

The varsity football team gathers for a team photo during their first week of practice. Head Coach Jeff Walker made it clear that the starting positions will remain wide open until he’s able to evaluate the talent more effectively during preseason scrimmages.

Starting positions remain wide open for Panthers

By KEITH SPARKS Sports Editor There’s no doubt that 2017 has been a year of change for Liberty Hill athletics. The Panthers’ transition period began when Head Football Coach and Athletic Director of 16 years, Jerry Vance, announced his retirement in January.

One month later, Jeff Walker, who was working as Liberty Hill Junior High Girls Athletic Coordinator at the time, was announced as Vance’s replacement.

Walker has big shoes to fill, to say the least, as the successor to a Head Coach that brought two State Championships to Liberty Hill and led the Panthers to a number of deep playoff runs.

Although the Panther football team has a rich history of success, they’ve struggled to make it past the first few rounds of the playoffs as of late. Last year, the Panthers’ biggest roadblock was its own district, which features

how much we can do three of the top teams in and how much better we the state, one being the Panthers and the other can get. If we do that, everything else will take two being China Spring care of itself. I’ve never and Waco La Vega. This worried too much about year, the road to State who comes out of the will likely run through them once again. other locker room.”

Walker’s last high According to Walker, school coaching gig the key to making it over was as the Head Footthat proverbial hump has ball Coach and Athletic nothing to do with those Director at Rogers High teams. It has everything to do with the Panthers.

School. During his six years at Rogers, Walker “I’ll be honest with went an impressive 59you, I’ve never worried about them,” Walker Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Jeff Walker took the 13. said. “I always worry field with the Fightin’ Panthers this week as football makes a return Although Rogers was about us. We just take to Liberty Hill. The Purple vs. White Scrimmage is Saturday. significantly smaller than Liberty Hill, Walkcare of our business, and (Mark Goodson Photo) er doesn’t think much everything else takes one of those. They’re down the road. care of itself. You start focusing on I’m really worried about Monday and else will be different. With those inthem, you’ve got a problem. We’re so us getting better every second we’re creased numbers, he said, should focused on what we’ve got to do that out there. How we get over the hump hopefully come a deeper talent pool.

I haven’t put two thoughts into either is we really focus on ourselves and “Obviously, it’s numbers,” he said.

“That’s the biggest thing. We would have 70 kids out for Rogers from ninth grade on. Here, we have 160. We like to think the depth is going to be a little better, but that’s really it. Real similar kids in both towns, but we just have more of them here. Football is a numbers game. If you have eight good ones, you can play basketball, and if you have nine good ones you can play baseball, but we really need 22. We need 22 good ones, so that’s the difference between those smaller schools and the bigger schools. The quality of the 22 is better than with the little ones where you’ll have seven or eight good players. At Rogers, my top seven players could play here any day, but after seven, we were struggling. Here in Liberty Hill, we hope to have 22 of those kinds of kids.”

Walker, who took some time off from football after his stint with Rogers to

See FOOTBALL, Page 33

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 23

New Defensive Coordinator to introduce 3-4 defense

By KEITH SPARKS Sports Editor Panther football will be a family business this season.

Last April, new Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Jeff Walker brought his brother, Kent Walker, on as his Defensive Coordinator.

Kent, who left his Defensive Coordinator position at Round Rock High School to join his brother in Liberty Hill, is in the process of implementing a defense that’s brand new to the Panthers. After running a “Split 4-2-5” defense under former coach Jerry Vance for 16 years, the Panthers will transition to what Walker calls a “Multiple 3-4.”

Walker, who was able to witness the Panthers’ Split defense firsthand while Jeff was on staff as Vance’s Offensive Coordinator, made sure to give credit where it was due before diving into his own defensive strategies.

“They’ve always had a great defense here,” Walker said.

“Coach Vance has always done well on the defensive side of the ball and Coach Duncan did a great job, as well.”

What Walker hopes to bring on the defensive end is a new sense of versatility. With the 3-4 defense, the Panthers can rush as many as seven players at the quarterback.

“I think the versatility of it is huge,” he said. “There are times where we can bring three people, we can bring four, five, six, and seven. The versatility of being able to give the offense different looks and keep it simple at the same time.”

While he hasn’t had the opportunity to teach the players his defense in pads, yet, Walker was able to introduce the basics in the spring after his arrival in April. Being able to plant that seed prior to the end of last school year should hopefully pay big dividends as they hit the ground running this week.

“It was huge,” he said of the early introduction. “We’re going to come in with, hopefully, they’ll have retained everything we did in May. We only went a couple weeks of football in May, but hopefully they retain all that information and we’ll move forward from there.”

The opportunity to introduce the 3-4 before school let out in May allowed the Panthers’ seven-on-seven players to experiment with it a bit during the summer, though it’s a much different animal in the fall. Without a defensive line, the only aspect of the 3-4 they were able to run was the coverage from the secondary and the linebackers.

The transition from one de-

fense to another after 16 years may seem like a daunting task, but Walker has seen enough from his players to have confidence in their ability to pick it up quickly.

“Oh yes, we’ve got great kids here,” he said. “They picked it up quickly. We’ve got smart kids and intelligent football players, so it makes it a lot easier on me. They picked it up rather quickly.”

Walker isn’t worried about introducing the 3-4 to those that had success as starters in the Split defense last season, due in part to the fact that there aren’t very many of them returning. For the few starters that are returning, the changes are relatively insignificant.

“There’s not a lot of changes,” he said. “Coverages have obviously changed, but my big thing is getting 11 hats to the ball. That’s going to be our thing is getting 11 purple helmets to the football every snap.”

The Panthers’ preseason scrimmages will be the coaching staff’s first real opportunity to evaluate what their strengths and weaknesses are on both sides of the ball. Until then, Walker isn’t sure where his defense will be the strongest.

“I think that’s to be determined, because I haven’t seen us in pads,” he said. “Once we

KEITH SPARKS PHOTO

The Panthers’ new Defensive Coordinator, Kent Walker, will introduce the 3-4 defense this season.

For the past 16 years, the Panthers have run a “Split” defense, but Walker says his players are picking the new defense up quickly. get into our first scrimmage, I think we’ll have a better indication. We’ve got the depth chart up and what not, but until you see the kids in pads, seeing as how I didn’t see a whole bunch of them on film, it’s hard to tell right now. I really do think we have a shot at being really good defensively, though.”

For those that want to take a look at the potential of a 3-4

defense, Walker pointed to the University of Alabama as one of many college programs that run it well.

“The 3-4 is run by a lot of people,” he said. “We ran a 3-4 at Round Rock, and they still run a 3-4. Numerous college teams run the 3-4. Alabama is a big one, but they’ve obviously got the athletes and everything to run whatever they want to run.

3-4 can look like something different every snap. It’s very multiple.”

Although the defensive strategies may be a bit different in the huddle this season, the Panthers’ mindset will remain unchanged. As Walker said, it’s simply about getting to the football.

Sports@LHIndependent.com

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

cross country

Panther cross country runners looking to return to State

By MARK GOODSON The Independent Sports Liberty Hill High School’s cross country team is often among the top teams in its district. This season, expectations are no different.

Head Coach Kim Holt has her runners hitting the track early this year, despite August’s grueling heat, to prepare for cross country season.

“We get out there early,’’ said Holt, who’s been a coach at Liberty Hill for more than 20 years, and has been the Head Cross Country Coach since 2007. “They have run some really good times. You don’t want to burn them out early, but you want them to improve.’’

The Panthers are set to return a healthy mix of veterans and young runners to battle their district opponents as they look to advance as far as the state meet.

The boys are coming off of a Regional Championship, and the girls hope to return to form after finishing second in regionals at Sam Houston State in Huntsville.

Both teams made it to Round Rock for the state meet last season at Old Settlers Park, where the girls finished an impressive eighth behind the effort of two seniors and a deep team and the boys finished 16th.

At Old Settlers last year, the runners were faced with a different layout, which was a positive

MARK GOODSON PHOTO

The 2017 combined Cross Country teams for Liberty Hill High School started practice last week. Coached Kim Holt has been leading Panther runners as head coach since 2007. The 2017 teams are returning multiple runners from last year. In 2016, boys and girls competed in the State Meet where girls finished eighth and boys finished 16th. thing, according to Holt.

“They changed it up because of a bunch of rain and made the start at lot more open,’’ Holt said.

“It was a lot better.’’

The girls expect a return to state in November, as junior Kennedy Coleman, junior Eliana

Luna, sophomore Hannah Johnson, senior Molly

See RUNNERS, Page 29

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Page 25

volleyball

Lady Panther volleyball using State Semifinal defeat for motivation

By KEITH SPARKS Sports Editor Many would think that an appearance at the State Tournament would be considered a wild success for Liberty Hill High School’s varsity volleyball team, and for many Panther fans, it was. Well, that isn’t the case for Head Coach Gretchen Peterson and the Lady Panthers.

According to Peterson, last year’s loss in the State Semifinal left a bad taste in their mouths that can only be fixed by a State Championship.

“We were really excited and super honored, and the girls worked super hard to get to State last year,” Peterson said, “and I think it was such great experience, but I think it just sort of ended not really the way we wanted to. We got to State, and then it was like, ‘Oh.’ It wasn’t the ending we wanted.”

Although the Lady Panthers graduated four seniors in June, two of whom were starters, the majority of the team’s core is back. Those who are returning are using last year’s loss as fuel for the 2017-2018 season.

“I think this year, it’s really about how we got a taste of it, and now going ahead and kind of finishing what we started,” Peterson said. “We have everybody back but four, so we have a good, solid core back from that team. I think the girls are just really kind of letting that defeat fuel their motivation, and instead of using it as a negative, I think we’ve decided that’s going to be what pushes us. We got there and we lost, so now we have to get back there and finish.”

Returners from last season include Savannah Stanley, Gabi Sommerfield, Ella Shipper, Jenna Lyons, Brooklynn Jones, and Hayden Schilli, who joined the Lady Panthers late last season.

“Everybody else is new, but there’s a lot of use and a lot of potential,” Peterson said. “Everybody’s going to grow every time they step on the court.”

Last season, the varsity volleyball team began the season by playing a number of opponents at the 5A and 6A levels. While their pre-district record may have been relatively unimpressive because of it, they went on to annihilate the vast majority of their district opponents later in the season. This year, their schedule should follow a familiar path.

“We are going to have a really fast and furious and really intense preseason,” Peterson said.

“We’ll take our licks, but in the long run it pays off for us. It’s going to help elevate the level of play and the speed of play. Everything that we need to be doing to get where we want to be, it’s just a necessary evil. We need to do it. It’s challenging, but that’s what we need.”

With a lineup that’s similar to last year’s, Peterson expects her team’s strengths and weaknesses to remain the same. They’re offensive play should remain electric, while she expects to have to work with her girls throughout the season to become more consistent with their serving, receiving, and defense.

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

The Lady Panthers’ varsity squad gathers for a team photo on Wednesday. After a loss in last year’s State Semifinal, Liberty Hill’s sights are set on a State Championship this year.

“I think, offensively, we have some really dynamic hitters that are very athletic, very strong, and they connect really well with Brooklynn,” Peterson said. “From an offensive perspective, we are very dynamic and we have a lot of athleticism, and we don’t really have a rotation where it totally drops off. Where I feel like we have to be tougher on ourselves is serve/receive and defense, but that’s every team. We have to be able to get those guys the ball. I think that’s where we were the most inconsistent last year was serve/ receive, so that’s got to be kind of a focus for us this year.”

With a new Athletic Director in Jeff Walker at the helm, Peterson anticipates that the energy he’s expected to bring to the football program will have an effect on all of Liberty Hill’s sports programs.

“I worked with Coach Walker when he was here as an assistant, and I always remember he was a really positive, intense, very motivating coach,” Peterson said, “and his football players always responded really well to him. I think, to have that type of dynamic come in, I think it’s going to have a trickle-down effect. I think just the way he interacts with all of our kids, and he wants all of our programs to be successful. Not that that wasn’t there before, it’s just something different. Sometimes change, even though it’s hard, is good. He’s very supportive of Liberty Hill, so anything that’s good for kids and good for Liberty Hill, he’s on board for. Again, I think that change has brought kind of a spark. It’s been

See VOLLEYBALL, Page 32

Page 26

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

fall tennis

Fausett bringing enthusiasm to Panther Tennis

By MARK GOODSON The Independent Sports Brittni Fausett is in her first fall semester at Liberty High School, but she wants to establish the tennis program in the Class 4A ranks.

She greeted the tennis players Tuesday with the rules of the program with an emphasis on having fun.

“It has to be fun,’’ she told her young team.

In the fall, high school players play team tennis.

It’s more of a team concept that the one-on-one battles in the spring season. The teams play 19 matches to decide the winners in team tennis.

Junior Henry Madison played line 1 for the Panthers in the spring. He won district and returns for his junior.

Last year’s mixed doubles team of Kennedy Coleman and Gunter Ortega made it to state and lost in the first round in the state meet.

“We have the experience to win, but the program is just starting as far as I’m concerned,’’ Fausett said. “We are not there yet, but we are going to get there.’’

She welcomed a lot of freshmen to the program on the girls side this week.

“I don’t how many of you are going to make it on the varsity, but who’s to say who will be on

Liberty Hill tennis players looking forward to continued success with new coach. The teams’ first matches are Aug. 17 in Hutto. the varsity team.’’

Fausett brings enthusiasm to the job.

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“I can give them pointers and all, but it comes down to working and wanting it,’’ she said. “Tennis is different. You have to start young and play as much as you can. You have to make yourself better. You don’t just pick up a racket. You start young and play as many USTA tournaments as you can.’’

Madison is a solid player.

“He has the drive,’’ she said. “He has the work ethic. He’ll go to another practice after practice.

He really wants to play college tennis. He has the drive and a lot passion. He’s super quick.’’

Madison has been a multi-sport athlete, but has focused on tennis now that he has had some success.

Coleman and Ortega decided to play mixed doubles to give them their best chance of getting of district.

“That was a good path for them.’’ Fausett said.

The tennis district is tough with strong teams from Lampasas and Taylor providing the stiffest competition.

In team tennis, the Panthers take on Burnet, Lampasas, Taylor, Llano, Leander Glenn and Salado.

The team opens the season with Hutto on Aug. 17. Other warm-ups include matches with Hendrickson, Gatesville, Winberley and Georgetown East View before starting district with Lampasas on Sept. 14.

The schedule is heavy with home games.

“Everybody likes to come here, it’s a great facility,’’ Fansett said.

The boys will have a strong nucleus with two seniors in Joshua Bunting and Nathan Karr and sophomore Tyler Franklin in the mix.

Bunting played mixed doubles last year. Karr gained valuable experience on the JV last year

LAURA COLEMAN PHOTO

and expects to emerge as one of the top players.

The boys team was carried last year by Chase Franklin and Cooper Baden, who both have graduated.

Fausett said it’ll be up to others to set the tone for the Panthers on the court.

Fausett brings a lot of expertise to the court as a coach.

“I’ve been playing since I was five,’’ she said. “I played a lot of USTA growing up.’’

Her game carried her to a Division I scholarship at Northern Illinois.

“It was just too far away from home,’’ said Fansett, who grew up in East Texas and made several stops with her family following her father’s path in education.

She finished up her playing career with stops at Temple Junior College, Tarleton State and Mary Hardin Baylor.

She hopes to bring some spark to this year’s team with the players working their way to the top.

“This is a really tough region,’’ she said. “It really takes something to get to state.’’

Fall Team Tennis Schedule Aug. 17 – at Hutto Aug. 22 – Hendrickson Aug. 23 – Gatesville Aug. 30 – at Wimberley Sept. 8 – Georgetown East View Sept.14 – Lampasas Sept, 22 – Copperas Cove Sept, 28 – at Taylor Oct. 3 – at Leander Glenn

BACK TO SCHOOL 2017

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 27

panther band

LHHS Band’s new marching show stirring excitement

By DANA DELGADO Staff Writer In a unique and intriguing twist, the Liberty Hill High School Band is stepping into the realm of the future for its fall marching show.

“We’re doing ‘A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) – The Awakening,’” said Band Director John Perrin, who is entering his 15th year with Liberty Hill schools. “The music is really good, high energy and the (Liberty) Belles (dance team) and color guard will be returning to perform with us.

It’s all hands on deck.”

Perrin said the music drew attention in the spring when the band performed it at a spring concert, but added that the full fall show is stirring a lot of excitement and is destined to be a fan favorite.

Perrin said the music was selected in January.

“I heard it and had a good thought about it,” he said. “We rebranded it and came up with a new concept, costumes, and sound effects.”

The Band Director said he thought it was “timely to broach the subject.”

“It’s a fun issue. We’ll see what happens. The kids are really excited about it,” he said.

The full band, with a smaller than usual but

See BAND, Page 29

Panther Marching Band members go through some warm-up exercises on their first day of fall preparation this week.

DANA DELGADO PHOTO

Page 28

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

cheerleading

Cheerleaders bond through staff changes, competition

By MADISON MCVAN Staff Writer After a year of coaching changes in the athletics department, the Liberty Hill High School cheer team is closer than ever.

As co-captain Sophia Garcia puts it, this is the year of “flushing out bad vibes,” and the other captains agree that the team’s biggest asset this year is the tight bonds between the cheerleaders.

Communication, strength, and bonding were some of the other strengths named by the varsity captains.

The four seniors on the team — Garcia, Kelby Jones, Annavellen Rasbury and Victoria Yarbrough — are co-captains of the 14-member varsity squad, coached by Terri Cole.

“These girls are very close, especially the seniors,” Cole said. “They’ve been through a lot

See CHEER, Page 41

MADISON MCVAN PHOTO

The Panther Varsity Cheerleaders are, front row from left, Rachel Gibbs, Sierrah Perez, Ryley Tanner, Sammi Marshall, Sophia Garcia, Lauren Faulk, Victoria Yarbrough, Emily Barnett and Cat Tolbert. Center row are Genevieve Hill, Haley Frank, Anavellen Rasbury, Kloe Foster, Emily Smirl, Montana Sowell, JayeAna Barker, Kelby Jones and Coach Terri Cole. In back are Alex Truxillo, Erin Goodson, Haley Griffin, Hannah Brown, and Allie Mayeux. Not pictured are Ramie King and Katy Gibson.

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The girls team from left are Anna De Amaral, Micayla Shaw, Hannah Brown, Molly Cowart, Mackenzie Coleman, Elizabeth Chang, Hannah Johnson, Elinna Luna, Kennedy Coleman, Karlie Bye, Aubrey Caskey, Makenzy Webb, Zoey Petru, Mackenzie Bradley and Madison Sears.

Runners

Continued from Page 24

Cowart, sophomore Madison Spears, and junior Hannah Brown look to improve upon their performances from last season.

Holt expects the girls to push each other and to battle weekly. She also expects the finishing order to be different every week.

“We expect to get back to state with a lot of work,’’ Holt said.

Last year’s leader for the girls was McKynzie King, a four-year veteran who now runs for Texas State University in San Marcos. King led the girls

Band

to state for four straight years, running a time of 11:34 at last year’s state met to take third overall. She was just six seconds off the winning pace.

Luna took third on the team last year and 49th, overall, at last year’s state meet with a time of 12:52.

Sears, Coleman, Johnson and Brown all finished in the top 88. The Lady Panthers’ deep talent pool this season will include Aryn Bagley, Eliana Luna, Hannah Brown, Karlie Bye, Aubreyana Caskey, Elizabeth Chong, Kennedy Coleman, MacKenzie Cole-

Continued from Page 27

talented freshman class, began practice July 31 for their fall show. The marching band kicks off their performing year Sept. 1 at LaGrange High School and then showcases their new program at home on Sept. 9 when the Panthers take on La Vernia.

Perrin expects that nearly 120 students will be performing on the field.

“It’s going to be a really good year,” said Perrin, who has also been tasked by the school district to serve as District Fine Arts Coordinator. “We have good student leadership in place from our new drum majors to our sectional leaders.”

Hayden Luckadoo has been named as the Head Drum Major. Luckadoo, a trombone player, comes from a family of highly successful musicians.

Assistant Drum Majors are Kyle Moore, a trumpet player, and Olivia Alexander, an Alto Saxophone player.

“They’re a really good team,” Perrin said. “We have really strong moral character across our student leaders.”

Perrin said that there are new dynamics with the hiring of new head football coach and Athlet-

Page 29

MARK GOODSON PHOTOS

From left are runners Alex Albarran, Nick Roth, Gabe Diaz, Nick Bramhall, Ethan Barre, Walker Gilbert and Cade Cole.

man, Molly Cowart, Anne Amaral, Amanda Evans, Amanooke Howard, Hannah Johnson, Eliana Luna, Zoey Petru, Madison Sears, Micayla Shaw, and Makenzy Webb.

The cross country boys also have a strong tradition. The purple and gold took first in regionals and finished 16th at state last year with 327 total points. Nicholas Roth, Gabriel Diaz, and Cade Cole are set to return this season after last year’s state appearances.

The Liberty Hill cross country teams

ic Director Jeff Walker.

“There’s been a good transition with Coach Walker,” Perrin said. “There is just a renewed energy and excitement. There has already been collaboration and positive communication about Friday nights and how all of the spirit organizations can make the night a positive and exciting time for everyone.”

One of things being discussed with Coach Walker is how the band can better support the entries and exits of the football team from the field, Perrin said.

Besides coming off another Sweepstakes year and garnering individual member honors, the band has been celebrating a host of “firsts.” For the first time, a Panther Jazz Band performed at the Liberty Hill Christmas Festival in 2016.

They also performed for the first time in the annual Georgetown High School Jazz Festival and served as the first-ever “pit band” for a school production by accompanying students from the Theater Arts Department in their rendition of “Grease,” a popular musical.

The band further held their first-ever fitness program where students tracked their walking

will feature 21 boys and 18 girls this season.

The boys’ roster includes Alex Albarran, Ethan Barre, Nicholas Bramhall, Cade Cole, Gabriel Diaz, Walker Gilbert, Ronaldo Flores-Guzman, Ismael Jacinto, Cade Johnson, Collin Johnston, David Larkin, Kaleb Loronce, Parker Nance, Antonio Paredes, Alberto Sandoval, Jordan Rocha, Nicholas Roth, Sam Roth, and Benjamin Spangler.

Their schedule will allow them to compete with the likes of Lean-

der, Vista Ridge, and Cedar Park in non-district meets.

Liberty Hill will host its own cross country meet on Sept. 9, and will feature 20-25 teams from across the state.

Liberty Hill’s competitors in the cross country district are Lampasas, Burnet, Taylor, Llano, Leander Glenn and Salado. The district meet will take place in Lampasas on Oct. 13.

DANA DELGADO PHOTO

A rare August shower last week kept the marching band members indoors spending time in separate rooms practicing with their various sections. and running distance with a goal of three miles a week and hosted their first annual three-day Jazz Camp. The Camp drew current Panther students as well as students from other schools including Taylor and Giddings.

LHHS Jazz Band Director Kevin Baird said that

guest instructor Dave Lee, a professional trumpet player and teacher from Austin, spent invaluable time with students with their skill development.

With such an impressive list of “firsts,” the band is excited to get the new school year started.

Page 30

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

liberty hill junior high

LHJH Panthers expect consistency despite coaching changes

By KEITH SPARKS Sports Editor Despite the addition of four new coaches at Liberty Hill Junior High and a new Athletic Director in Jeff Walker, junior high Boys Coordinator John Mason is confident that much will remain the same.

Since Walker was promoted in February, one of the few changes Mason has seen already is a “new energy” in the Panther athletics department, and other coaches have shared similar sentiments.

“It’s going to be a lot of the same, but I think there’s a new energy with Coach Walker,” Mason said. “Just in the meetings that we’ve had, his vision for where he wants to go… he doesn’t want to change very much from what Coach Vance did. We’re proud of the tradition that we’ve had, so we’re not going to change a whole lot there, but I think just a new energy that he has and taking what we’ve done so far and leading us to even bigger and better things.”

Walker has made it clear that he’ll stick with the ground-and-pound Slot

T offense that has been synonymous with Liberty Hill football since former Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Jerry Vance arrived 16-plus years ago. With that being the case at the high school, Mason and the rest of the junior high coaching staff will follow suit, making sure the junior high athletes are prepared for the next level.

“For us, it’s about doing what we do, learning the Slot T and getting good at what we do so that they’re prepared for high school,” Mason said. “It’s the same with running the 3-4 (defensive scheme). We want them as best prepared for high school, and with the schedule we have, we feel like we’re going to prepare them very well for what they’re going to see in high school, especially if they’re moving up to 5A next year. That’s the number one thing is getting them prepared for whatever sports they’re going to do.

We want the kids to have fun, but we want them to learn and we want them to have some success. With these kids that we have, I think we have some talent in this group. These are kids that

can really shine for us.”

All four junior high football teams will play their first official game on Sept. 12 against Georgetown’s Benold Middle School. From now until September, Mason’s focus is on getting each and every player acclimated with the system, while he and the other coaches work on figuring out how to put those kids in the position that gives them the best chance of success.

“Right now, we’re just getting every kid prepared for that first game so that they can be on the field,” Mason said, “so that they can get playing time and just get some time playing against another opponent. Just teaching… teaching and learning and seeing where the kids can play so that we can put them in a position to be successful, because it really is about their success. The eighth-graders are going to be moving up to the high school next year, and we want them to be as successful as possible.”

Two of the four new coaches at the junior high will be working with the football program, including Josh Blake and Michael Scott, both of whom will

be coaching the seventh-grade teams.

According to Mason, Blake already has some experience with the Slot T offense, which should make his transition into Liberty Hill relatively easy.

“Josh Blake, he’s been with the Slot T before, so he’s got experience there,” Mason said. “He brings a lot of experience there, which is really calming when you get a new coach that kind of knows what you do already. He’s going to fit right in with us, and the experience he has will be great for the kids. We’re lucky to have him.”

While Scott doesn’t come in with the luxury of having already run the Slot T offense, Mason explained that his extensive football experience should be more than enough, and that his energy on the sidelines will be a welcome addition. For him, it’s simply about learning the terminology.

“Coach Mike Scott, he’s a younger guy that brings a lot of energy,” Mason said. “He wants to get to know the kids and he wants to do a great job. He’s been in football a long time.

When you talk about what offense or what defense we’re going to run, it’s

all football. It’s just blocking and tackling. If you’ve been in a system, you know how to block and tackle. It’s just terminology that Coach Scott needs to learn. He’s a great addition for us and will bring a lot of energy to our staff.”

From the outside looking in, it may seem like both the high school and junior high are going through a lot of changes. While that’s true to a certain extent, having a new Athletic Director that spent eight years with the Panther program brings a certain level of consistency that’s rarely seen during a transition period like the one Liberty Hill is seeing.

“Offensively and defensively, we’re going to do what we do, and we’re going to line up and make other people like what we do or it’s going to be a long night for them,” Mason said.

After all that’s taken place, Mason continued to preach a message of consistency. As he put it, “It’s still going to be Liberty Hill football.”

Branch looks to prepare LHJH Lady Panthers for next level

By KEITH SPARKS Sports Editor With the former Liberty Hill Junior High Girls Coordinator making the jump to high school Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, a void had to be filled on the girls’ coaching staff. Bryan Branch, a former high school head coach with more than 20 years of coaching experience, will look to fill that void this season.

Branch’s experience includes head coaching positions for girls’ volleyball, basketball, and track at Louise High School, a Conference 1A school between Corpus Christi and Houston.

At Louise, Branch’s volleyball team was able to take home a State Championship, his basketball team made it as far as the State Semifinal, and his track team won two Regional Championships.

In addition to his time at Louise, Branch spent time at Dripping Springs, Blanco, Luling, and Ganado, as well.

Branch, whose wife’s family

is from Bertram, recently got the itch to head back to central Texas, due in large part to the fact that his in-laws were forced to drive three hours each way to watch his seventh-grade son’s games. Liberty Hill ISD’s reputation for academic success played a big role in their decision to make Liberty Hill their home.

“I just wanted to get to Liberty Hill,” Branch said. “That was the school we wanted to go to, and that’s where I wanted my son to go. I know the education that Liberty Hill is going to provide… I’m at a 1A school right now, and just because of the size, it can’t offer all the electives and the other stuff that Liberty Hill can offer.”

While academic success may have been the main factor in the Branch family’s decision to move, the potential for his son to be challenged athletically played a large part in their decision, as well.

“I want him to be well-rounded,” Branch said. “He wants

to be in athletics, and I know it will be a little bit more of a challenge for him. I want him to be pushed, and I want him to be challenged and have to compete. Liberty Hill has the quality athletic program on both the boys’ and girls’ side.”

In addition to his role as Girls Coordinator, Branch will coach seventh-grade volleyball, eighth-grade girls’ basketball, and track. As he prepares for the 2017 volleyball season, Branch is spending time at the high school, helping the varsity’s Head Volleyball Coach Gretchen Peterson with two-adays in hopes that it will allow him to prepare the junior high girls for that level of play.

“I was really impressed with, number one, the fact that they have great kids,” Branch said.

“They’re all super respectful, saying ‘Yes, sir’ and ‘No, sir.’

They’re very coachable, and they’re very talented from the freshmen all the way up to the varsity level. I know they went to the State Semifinal last year,

and they all have big dreams to get back there and win it.”

Like Coach John Mason is doing with the boys, Branch’s goal with the girls is to prepare them for athletics at the high school. According to Branch, Walker’s message to him upon his hiring was simply to make sure the junior high girls are in a position for success at the next level.

“Walker just said he wants me to oversee the girls at the junior high and make sure we’re communicating with the varsity coaches,” Branch said. “That we’re implementing their programs, so that we have a consistent follow through from junior high to high school. He said we have good kids, and that he wants me to coach them, get after them, and share my knowledge with them.”

Another new addition to the junior high girls’ coaching staff is Jerry Foster, who was previously on staff at Liberty Hill Intermediate School. Foster, who spent some time last year work-

ing with the junior high track program, will continue to work with track while also coaching girls’ basketball.

According to Coach Mason, Foster’s energy and love for coaching will be a welcome addition to the junior high.

“Jerry Foster has worked with us before in track, and he just brings an energy that’s great.

They all bring a level of energy that’s just going to help our kids. Jerry just loves coaching.

He’s working at our intermediate school right now, and he’ll work with our girls’ basketball program and with our track program. He’s going to do a great job. Another young guy that’ll do a great job for us.”

Like the high school, Liberty Hill Junior High is in a season of transition. With the experience they have at the top, however, there is little doubt that the Lady Panthers will continue to be adequately prepared for success at the next level.

BRYAN BRANCH

LHJH Girls Athletic Coordinator

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Brewer takes over softball program after 11 years as an assistant

By KEITH SPARKS Sports Editor In the entire history of the Liberty Hill High School softball program, the varsity team has had one coach. For more than 25 years, the Lady Panthers have heard the same voice yelling from the dugout. This year, that will finally change.

After former Head Softball Coach Charice Hankins announced her retirement over the summer, it was widely expected that the position was long-time assistant Kristen Brewer’s to lose.

As it turns out, it was. Brewer, who is entering her 12th year with the LHHS softball program, has been promoted to Head Coach, thanks in no small part to support from Hankins.

“I’d be totally remiss if I didn’t say I do wish congratulations and a big thank you to Coach Hankins for everything that she’s done for this program and for me, personally,” Brewer said.

“She started this softball program from the ground up, and we intend to continue to grow and build and raise the bar to honor what she’s accomplished here. She’s been a great mentor and a friend to me.”

Considering the fact that Brewer has been at Hankins’ side for the past 11 years, she doesn’t expect her day-to-day responsibilities to change drastically, other than an increase in administrative duties. She’ll remain on staff as an Assistant Volleyball Coach in the fall, she’ll continue to teach health and P.E. as she has in the past, and fellow long-time softball assistant Carlos Garza isn’t going anywhere.

If she needs Coach Hankins’ help, she’s only a phone call away.

“Her support has been there from the beginning,” Brewer said. “We’ve talked about it a lot.

Even on the day I was first hired, the expectation from her and Coach Vance both was that once she made that decision that I would be able to step into the role pretty easily. I have talked to her since then, and she’s super supportive as far as if, in the future, I need anything, she’ll always be there for just a phone call or to bounce ideas off of. Other than that, she’s always going to support us, our kids, our program, and everything that we do.”

After standing by a head coach in Hankins that won District Championship after District Championship after District Championship, Brewer has had more than a decade’s worth of opportunities to learn what makes a softball team successful, and she plans on using those experiences to her advantage as a head coach.

“We always talked game,” Brewer said of coaching with Hankins. “When to use the small ball and when to trust in our kids and use their power and things like that. Learning how to make some of the tough calls as far as going with your gut on what position to play kids and spots in the lineup and things like that. I’ve been around the game my entire life, but being with her, she’s taught me a lot of things.”

Although Brewer has no doubt learned a lot from Hankins over the years, she has a lifetime’s

worth of softball experience, as well, and expects her own personal knowledge of the game to pay dividends in the spring. She also expects first-year assistant Amanda Rodriguez, who has played and coached softball at a high level for years, to bring some fresh ideas to the table.

“I think, in the same respect, I’ve thrown in some things that we were able to build on together,” Brewer said. “It’s not like I threw things in that she didn’t know, but all three of us, Garza included, we all worked well together. It was something where we could always bounce ideas off of each other and work together really well.

We’ll be able to do the same thing with Coach Rodriguez as she’s introduced into our softball program.”

For Brewer, the opportunity to take over as the Head Coach of a program that she’s played such a big part in building for more than 10 years is an incredibly rewarding experience, and made the decision to go for the job a no-brainer.

“To get to step in and take the reins of a team that you’ve had a hand in creating, that means everything,” she said.

A lot of coaching transitions take place during rough times—after losing seasons, turmoil between coaches and the administration, or simply poor fit. This transition, however, comes after Liberty Hill softball’s most successful season ever by a team that graduated only two seniors after losing a nail biter in the State Championship.

While those high expectations may make some first-year head coaches sick to their stomachs, for Brewer, this unique opportunity makes her new position that much more exciting.

“It is very exciting to build on top of what we’ve already had a hand in creating here,” Brewer said. “The expectations here and the bar have been set high. We have the kids to continue to be successful here, and we hope to build on that.”

When a new coach is hired from the outside, the upperclassmen must essentially start over when it comes to proving their worth to the new coach.

With Brewer taking the reins, however, this year should simply be business as usual for those that have already played under her.

Brewer’s familiarity with each player’s personality and skillset should make the transition easier on her end, as well.

“The ones that I have talked to seem very excited,” Brewer said. “I think they know exactly what to expect. They know who I am, what kind of a coach I am. I know them, as well. I know their personalities and how to push each one of them, because each one is different.”

While Brewer doesn’t expect many changes to take place with her responsibilities behind the scenes, she does anticipate some changes taking place on the field come softball season.

“Some of the big changes that will eventually pop in are positions this year,” she said. “Being that we lost two big starting seniors… those are pretty big shoes to fill, so we’re going to have to switch some positions around in order to com-

Page 31

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Kristen Brewer (right) has been hired as Liberty Hill High School’s Head Softball Coach. Brewer was previously the Assistant Softball Coach, a position she held for 11 years under former Head Coach Charice Hankins. Hankins retired this summer. pensate for that, which I don’t see a problem with at all. We’ve got really good kids that are going to step up and do what they’ve got to do.”

Brewer stopped short of saying it was her plan all along to work as an assistant coach in Liberty Hill for 11 years, but admitted that she’s been waiting for this opportunity the entire time.

“To say that I thought I would be here for 12 years, I can’t really say that I did,” Brewer said.

“I have wanted to step into this job, but in the

same respect, I wanted that to be Coach Hankins’ decision when she thought it was her time to leave. I really did want to wait around for this one, though. It’s a special place to be, and we have special kids here.”

To say the Lady Panther softball program is lucky to have Brewer step in after 25 years of success with Hankins would be an understatement. Once again, Liberty Hill fans can expect a stellar softball season from the Lady Panthers.

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

(LEFT) The Junior Varsity Lady Panthers will play against Hyde Park at Hyde Park High School on Tuesday, August 15 at 6:00 pm.

(BELOW) The freshman volleyball team will play against Hyde Park at Hyde Park High School next Tuesday, August 15 at 5:00 pm.

ALEX RUBIO PHOTOS

Volleyball

Continued from Page 25

exciting so far to see kind of a positive, uplifting type of feel that I think all of us can kind of tell is there now.”

Looking at the bigger picture, Peterson and the Lady Panthers are working toward more than just their own success. As one of the first teams to begin play in the fall, they’re hoping their success can act as a catalyst toward another impressive season for Lady Panther athletics, as a whole.

“Our girls’ program had such a great year,” Peterson said. “Volleyball, basketball, cross-country, softball, track tennis, golf, just everything.

We just want to kind of start the year off right for our girls’ programs. We want to get there again, but we want to go ahead and play to win it. That’s our goal, and we want that for all of our programs, because I think we’re really honored and proud to be a part of the Liberty Hill girls’ programs.”

Mark the Lady Panther volleyball program as one of many Liberty Hill teams that has a legitimate shot at a State Championship this year.

With last year’s State Semifinal appearance in the back of their minds, the rest of Conference 4A likely already has.

2017 Varsity Volleyball Schedule Homes Games

6pm Aug 29 -- Copperas Cove 6pm Sept 1 -- Lorena 6pm Sept 12 -- Burnet 6pm Oct 3 -- Leander Glenn 6pm Oct 13 -- Taylor 6pm Oct 17 -- Salado 6pm Oct 20 -- Llano 6pm Oct 24 -- Lampasas JV/9th Home Games 6pm Aug 18 -- Vista Ridge 5pm 9th Grade 12pm Aug 26 -- Brownwood 11am 9th Grade 5pm Aug 29 -- Copperas Cove(JV/9th) 5pm Sept 1 -- Lorena (JV/9th) 5pm Sept 12 -- Burnet (JV/9th) 5pm Oct 3 -- Leander Glenn (JV/9th) 5pm Oct 13 - Taylor (JV/9th) 5pm Oct 17 -- Salado (JV/9th) 5pm Oct 20 -- Llano (JV/9th) 5pm Oct 24 -- Lampasas (JV/9th)

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 33

ALEX RUBIO PHOTOS

(TOP) The junior varsity Panthers took time to shoot a team photo before practice on Wednesday. According to Head Coach Jeff Walker, the varsity team could eventually have starters that are currently backups on JV. (ABOVE) Freshmen gather for a team photo during their first week of practice. The Panthers will play in the Purple and White scrimmage Saturday, August 12.

Football

Continued from Page 21

focus on his family, has made it clear from the get-go that his excitement for the future doesn’t come from the cheering fans, the “Friday Night Lights,” or even what happens on the field. For him, it’s all about building relationships with his players.

“Just to get back out there again is probably the biggest thing,” Walker said. “I’ve said many times that I don’t miss the Xs and Os and the sidelines or anything like that, but it’s just mostly the relationships. I’m just excited to get out there and find out what we’re going to be capable of doing.”

Although he hasn’t had many opportunities to see what this team will be capable of, as he’s only had a few weeks to work with them on the field, none of which were in pads, Walker expects the Panthers’ skilled positions to be their biggest strength.

“We should be able to find us four good running backs and some kids in the secondary that can play,” he said.

On the other hand, he expects their size, or lack thereof, to be the biggest hurdle.

“Unfortunately, we have a lot of fivefoot-eight, 160-pounders,” he said, “but they go out there and they work hard and they do all the right things.

We’re not going to be very big; my of-

fensive line probably won’t even average 200 pounds. We’ll be pretty small, but we’ve got a lot of skilled kids, a lot of kids that we think can play when they get some space. That’s what we think, but it’s all to be determined.”

The coaching staff will use the Panthers’ first few preseason scrimmages to evaluate talent and determine which players have what it takes to take the field on Friday nights.

“Right now, we have 52 up on varsity,” Walker said. “We need to find the 22 best and get them in spots. We’re just really going to take some looks so we can feel good about ourselves and put our heads down as coaches on the pillow at night and know we have the best 22 kids out there. We’ll film practice and we do film scrimmages and get all the kids in and get them reps to see who can play and who can’t. Once again, just focusing on us and not anybody else.”

Walker also plans to use the Panthers’ preseason scrimmages as a way to test out certain plays. For the Panthers, it isn’t about looking pretty on the field or imposing their dominance on whomever they may be playing. It’s about making sure they’re prepared for the season.

“Typically, we don’t do very well

in scrimmages,” he said. “I never game plan for a scrimmage. I go by a script. It’s pretty scripted. It may be a dumb play for that down, but it’s just something I want to see. We may try to run a few things over and over and over with the same kid three or four times to see what they can do. We’ll put them in different situations, and see how they’ll handle different situations.”

Although the coaches have a depth chart they use to keep track of who their best options are at each position, Walker made it clear that just about every starting spot is still up for grabs.

“We just want to take a strong look at a whole bunch of them and make sure we’re giving everybody a chance,” he said. “I tell people all the time there may be a backup on JV right now that ends up starting on varsity. That’s very possible, so we’re going to give all those kids a chance to play during scrimmages so we can get some film on them. That’s what we try to use it as.”

Walker even went as far as saying the starting quarterback could end up being somebody that’s currently a backup on JV. “It’s wide open,” Walker said of the quarterback race. “It’s going to be an

every day deal. I think some kids have worked harder this summer, so they’ve helped their cause and are moving up the depth chart. They’re going to get the first looks just because they’ve put in the time and the energy and the effort that we’ve needed this summer.

Once again it could be a backup on JV starting on varsity when it’s all said and done.”

Something Walked said that should come as no surprise to those that are familiar with the Slot T offense is that priority will be given to those at the quarterback position that can run with the football.

“Obviously, there are favorites right now just because of what they’ve done since I’ve been here,” he said.

“We want to use our quarterback as…I really want him to be able to run the ball so we can be multidimensional.

That kind of eliminates some of them that can just throw and can’t run, but every position right now, other than one or two, is pretty much wide open.”

On Friday nights, Panther fans will likely notice some new faces on the sideline. Since Walker’s arrival, he’s added his brother, Kent Walker, as the Defensive Coordinator, and former Liberty Hill football players Jordan Johns and Brandon Terry as offensive

and defensive line coaches.

“I hired guys that have played here and have been here and know our expectations,” he said. “Coach Johns and Terry have been here every week, and they’re hard workers. They do everything you ask them to do. They’re good men. They’re going to lead right and do things right and lead by example. They’re fitting in well. We expect big things from them.”

Walker is confident that the Panthers can return to the football powerhouse that won back-to-back State Championships in 2006 and 2007. All they have to do, he said, is take care of business on their end.

“We’ve beaten the Gilmers and the Celinas and the Carthages in the past, and we can do it again if we’ll just focus on ourselves, make us first priority and not worry about who comes out of that other locker room,” he said.

The Panthers will have an intrasquad Purple and White Scrimmage on Saturday, August 12, at Panther Stadium at 11 a.m., followed by another 11 a.m. Saturday scrimmage against Alvarado at Alvarado High School on August 19.

Sports@LHIndependent.com

Page 34

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 35

Meet the Teacher

New high school theatre teacher brings experience, high expectations

By MADISON McVAN Staff Writer Anyone who has studied fine arts can tell you the qualities of a good director. Sky-high expectations, empathy when those expectations aren’t met, honesty about student performance, self-confidence and passion for the subject, to name a few.

Chuck Harris, the new theatre teacher at Liberty Hill High School, has all of these qualities and the track record to prove his methods work.

He’s spent over 20 years teaching fine arts, doing everything from elementary music to high school theatre and leading worship bands. He spent the first 11 years of his career as a band director, but ultimately realized that his true talent was teaching theatre.

“I was in plays in high school and had a really great theatre teacher, and did a few things in college, but it was never my focus,” Harris said.

“Music was my focus. My dad was a band director. Somewhere along the line I lost my love for that, and I really have always loved plays and musicals and theatre in itself.”

Harris’ shift from band to theatre directing followed his success building a program from the ground up in Hico.

At Hico, he was the only dedicated fine arts instructor, teaching band and theater at both the middle and high school. When he first arrived, an English teacher was directing the plays. By the time he left, Hico had advanced to the regional meet in UIL One Act Play. Since then, the school has won multiple state championships.

He attributes much of the success in Hico to the work he did at the middle school, preparing students for the high level of performance he expects from the high school students. He plans on implementing a similar strategy in Liberty Hill by working with the theatre teachers at the Intermediate and Junior High schools.

“I think that’s the thing, making myself visible at the middle schools, so the kids know, ‘Hey, that’s Mr. Harris, I can work with him when I go to high school,’” he said.

After Hico, he worked as a worship leader at a few different churches.

“When I came back to teaching after being in the church world for about five years, I decided that I really wanted to focus on doing theatre because I felt like I was better at that,” he said.

“I feel like my skill set has changed so that I’m more focused and better at the theatre aspect.”

Harris has spent the last three years as the tech-

MADISON MCVAN PHOTO

Chuck Harris takes over this fall as theatre teacher at Liberty Hill High School. He has a 20-year career teaching fine arts at all levels, and comes to Liberty Hill from Leander High School. nical theatre director at Leander High School, and came to Liberty Hill in part because he wanted a head director job.

“I felt like Liberty Hill needed me, and I felt like I had something to contribute,” he said.

“There’s a lot of things that can be done here that I have the expertise to do.”

Harris credits Krisanne Cole, who preceded him in the position, for creating a solid foundation that he can build off of.

Cole retired this spring after __ years of teach-

ing in LHISD. His first order of business is to try and grow the program and recruit more students. He expects participation to increase naturally as the school grows, but plans on making himself visible at the school to generate interest in his classes.

“I’m not going to lock myself in my black box,” he said. “I’m going to try to be out walking the halls, going out and finding kids that want to be

See THEATRE, Page 41

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Section 504 services expand continuum of support

By DANA DELGADO Staff Writer Little understood but rapidly taking foothold in public schools, Section 504 has become an integral part of the continuum of support services available to students with a wide range of impairments.

In the Liberty Hill Independent School District, 300 students on various campuses are receiving Section 504 services, the same number of students being served under Special Education, according to Elyse Tarlton, LHISD Director for the recently formed and newly named Student Support Services Department that will administer both federal programs.

“Section 504 is about access and equal opportunity,” said Tarlton. “It’s about leveling the playing field with accommodations while Special Education is more about instruction. Our legal responsibilities, however, are the same: to meet the needs of students.”

Under the new reorganization, school counselors will serve as Section 504 Coordinators and implement the provisions and protections of Section 504 at their individual campuses. To support the campus implementation, a district counseling specialist has been contracted.

Enacted as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as an employment civil rights statute prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities, its provisions and protection were eventually extended to students in public institutions receiving federal funds but provided only limited eligibility and did not allocate funding for its implementation.

In 2008, Section 504 was greatly enhanced when it was amended through The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act. In essence, the amendment expanded the range of disabilities or impairments protected under Section 504.

Most of the LHISD students currently receiving Section 504 services involve allergy, diabetes, and asthma management, said Tarlton. Students are also being served for dyslexia, which makes up a third of the district’s 504 population, and ADHD. Last year, a student received assistance with a service dog.

Tarlton explained that while a wide range of disabilities and impairments can be addressed under Section 504, a specific process is in place for identification, referrals and evaluation. Unlike Special Education, Section 504 procedures are less stringent, but both federal programs share legal protections and responsibilities.

According to Director Tarlton, eligibility requires that a “student must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one

or more major life activities.”

Section 504 regulatory provisions include a lengthy definition of a physical or mental impairment including any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the body systems such as neurological; musculoskeletal; special sense organs; respiratory, including speech organs; cardiovascular; digestive; lymphatic; skin; and endocrine; or any mental or psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities.

Major life activities, as defined in the Section 504 regulations include functions such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. Other functions that can be major life activities for purposes of Section 504 include eating, sleeping, standing, lifting, bending, reading, concentrating, thinking, and communicating as well as functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, and endocrine.

Section 504 regulations require a school district to provide a “free appropriate public education” (FAPE) to each qualified student with a disability who is in the school district’s jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability. FAPE consists of the provision of regular or special education and related aids and services designed to meet the student’s individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of non-disabled students are met. As a civil rights statute, Section 504 protections are under the jurisdiction of the Office of Civil Rights.

“It’s a new process for us,” said Director Tarlton. “Right now, we are trying to identify students through the registration system. People should expect that the continuum of services will be fluid and seamless. We want students to succeed.”

Individuals seeking more information can contact their respective school counselor or call the school district’s Student Support Services Department at (512) 260-5590. Additional information is available from the online services of Region 13 Education Service Center at http:// www4.esc13.net/section504. LHISD also has a link for Student Support Services on its website, and offers training in conjunction with Disability Rights Texas, a statewide advocacy organization.

In other Student Support Service news, Tarlton announced the employment of three additional Speech Pathologists as well as a Speech Assistant and a full-time district Behavior Coordinator.

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Counselors provide safe place, array of support services

By DANA DELGADO Staff Writer Tasked with keeping students on a growth trajectory in light of increasing challenges, school counselors are vital members of the education team as principal stewards of “well-being” and stalwarts for support and growth.

“Counselors understand the importance of building relationships,” said Liberty Hill Elementary School (LHES) Principal Heather Collison. “Counselors aren’t just important, their skills are imperative.”

LHES will be served by incoming counselor Lori Cosper, who has been teaching physical education on the campus for years.

“We are so excited to have her,” said Collison.

“She engages and encourages young minds, supports struggling students, builds character and motivates students to give their best.”

At Liberty Hill Junior High, students and parents will find counselor Courtney McVan who joins the staff after teaching 18 years in the Leander and Pflugerville school districts. McVan said she sees her role as a vital opportunity to help students with their varied needs, from emotional to social, academic, and career planning.

“One of my goals is to provide more support for parents and open discussion in some relevant topics like bullying and online use,” she said. “I

also look forward to holding student groups; for example, groups dealing with grief and divorce.”

McVan also plans to establish transition programs for new students as well as monitor struggling students and assist teachers and students with conflict resolution.

“As a middle child,” she said, “I had to settle many scores with my siblings.”

McVan said she always wanted to be an educator for a number of reasons including the fact that her mother was a teacher. Becoming a counselor is another story.

“I had a counselor in high school that helped me with college searches and I thought it was so cool how she helped others,” McVan added.

“Now, I just like helping kids think about the next step.”

With two children in Liberty Hill schools and one away at college, McVan feels she has a good perspective on the different stages of development. She is also engaged with the community through her children’s varied activities.

At the high school, Counselors Lara Chapman and Julia Engelmann will be splitting various duties and responsibilities.

“Our counselors are a vital part of what we do at Liberty Hill High School,” said Principal Mario

Thank you!

Did you

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Over this past year we...

See COUNSELORS, Page 41

made 11,300 cups of coffee, lattes and cappuccinos. had our biggest catering for the Downtown Art Festival, providing unique flavors between 6 locations producing almost 2,000 servings. ...and all with the smallest sign in town!

Page 37

DANA DELGADO PHOTO

Courtney McVan, incoming counselor at the Junior High, joins a cadre of LHISD school counselors who are ready to help students with their varied needs, from emotional to social, academic, and career planning.

Liberty Hill Bakery & Cafe wants to thank all of you for your support during our first year in this great community!

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used over 8,320 pounds of Russet potatoes. used over 42,120 whole eggs.

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Page 38

Bye

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Continued from Page 1

department chairs to develop a the first home football game. It new procedure for retesting that was Liberty Hill vs. La Grange, ended the days of every teacher and the teams only ran six plays coming up with their own plan. before the skies opened up and a “Now we have a campus way dangerous thunderstorm put an of doing it so that students and end to things quickly. parents know the common pro“We had a lot to deal with that cedure,” he said. night,” he said, adding that his He said his leadership team has first experience with Panther also been working on updating football was an eye opener. the school’s mission and vision “It’s not like this in other placstatements -- tools he believes es,” he realized. “We go all out. “give the whole organization Just to look at this place on a Frithe direction they need. Knowday night. At Liberty Hill High ing why they’re here and where School, we don’t do anything we’re trying to go with this. It’s small around here, which I like.

MARIO BYE a bigger and more important idea This is not small town, small LHHS Principal to live by.” time. We’re going to do things Bye said he plans to involve stubig.” dent leaders and parents in the process of definDoing things big this school year could mean ing a vision for the future and setting a mission a jump from Class 4A to Class 5A for UIL com-- what the school is doing now to get there. petition in athletics, fine arts and academics. In He said he was partly prompted to work on the 2015, the high school enrollment was only seven statements due to all of the internal changes at students shy of pushing Liberty Hill into the upthe school, including the fact that 18 new teach- per division. ers started to work this week. The new teachers Superintendent Rob Hart said all last school are replacing 18 who retired or resigned -- none year, the high school stayed over the mark by are newly-created positions. more than 20 students.

Bye understands what it’s like to be the new While Bye said he doesn’t expect a huge inguy, and making sure new employees have what flux of new students, he is expecting to reach the they need to be successful is a priority.

5A mark on reporting day in October. The new He recalls his first weeks of school last year, See LHHS, Page 41 and “the big learning day” that came for him at

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We would like to express our deepest gratitude to our patrons and sponsors for making our “Discover the Magic of Books” summer reading program such an amazing success!

Thank you to the following businesses & individuals who generously donated prizes to our teen & adult summer reading programs.

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Page 40

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Thursday, August 10, 2017

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LHHS

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Continued from Page 38

classification would take effect the following academic year.

It stands to reason that with more students, disciplinary infractions may increase.

“For me, being consistent with discipline is very important. I establish a procedure and we stick with that. It’s not based on ‘well, this kid has done something in the past’. All should be treated the same way. And having a procedure keeps you safer.”

Bye said at LHHS, the most common offense is possession of drugs and alcohol on campus or at school functions. He adds that the problem isn’t just a Liberty Hill problem -- it’s prevalent on every high school campus in the country.

“Fighting and vandalism aren’t our things,” he said. “We’ve had kids get into altercations, but most kids who went somewhere (for punishment) had to do with drugs and alcohol. It’s something we need to keep talking about.

“That’s why we did our parent nights in the fall and that’s why we came together did a Town Hall in the spring, and we plan on doing those things again,” he said.

Counselors

Although not necessarily on Bye’s “transformation list”, the high school will be running a different schedule when school starts Aug. 21.

School starts 25 minutes later than in years past. School hours for the high school are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and students will have a seven class periods.

Another change that Bye hopes will have an impact on traffic safety is a reduction in the speed limit on State Hwy 29. Traffic coming in from the west will notice the speed limit is now 55mph as opposed to 65mph.

And finally, parents should plan to attend Open House at the high school on Sept. 18.

Beginning at 6:30 p.m., parents will follow the bell schedule and move from class to class according to their student’s schedule.

Learn more about Liberty Hill High School and other LHISD campuses at www.LibertyHill.txed.net.

Continued from Page 37

Bye. “They do the obvious tasks such as scheduling students and making sure everyone has all of their graduation credits, assist students with college applications and scholarship opportunities, and addressing classroom needs. In the big picture, they are a part of the school leadership team and offer valuable input into how we address the challenges that face teenagers as they mature and become more independent.”

At the high school, Chapman will serve as the Dual Credit Liaison, Scholarships Coordinator, and Advanced Placement Coordination and support the counseling needs of students with last names A-K. Engelmann will coordinate Section 504 and NCAA as well as assist with Advanced Placement coordination. She will also be providing counseling services to students with last names L-Z. Both high school counselors said they were prepared to help “students meet academic, personal/social, and college/career goals.” Referrals may be made by students, parents or school personnel. While students may drop by the counseling office during the school day, parents are asked to schedule an appointment. Matters of urgency are given priority.

Counselor Margaret Wofford will be serving students at the Intermediate School.

“It is safe to say that the Intermediate School would not be what it is today without Margaret Wof-

ford,” said Principal Josh Curtis.

“The amount of kindness, support, and genuine care she shows for the students is unmatched. She is the first one there when a student needs any type of support on campus. She takes time out of her day to have small group classes with students and support them in any fashion.”

At Bill Burden Elementary, Counselor Janeth Reeves has established herself as a beacon of inspiration.

“She defines passion in the flesh,” said Principal Terri Chambers.

“Every child, parent, and staff member can feel her passion in every conversation. Her contributions move children and adults through lessons that form the foundation for finding lifelong success, joy, and accomplishment. Mrs. Reeves, as are all our counselors, are necessary, invaluable to the success of a campus or district.”

Principal Chambers said that the keys to Reeves’ success are “love and discipline” as well as “hugs and high expectations.”

Julie Shaw, who was the counselor at Liberty Hill Elementary School for the past two years, has moved to Rancho Sienna Elementary this year.

“It has been an extremely rewarding role for me,” Shaw said. “I’m very passionate about students’ social and emotional health and I’ve loved being able to foster growth in these areas for my students. I would want parents to know that

Cheer

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together. We went to competition last year and got to know each other really well.”

The team competes in the UIL Spirit Competition in Fort Worth every January. Last year, the team did not advance to finals. Cole said that one of her goals this year is to place in the top 20 of the competition.

“Competition will be a big challenge because we’re still a young group of girls and it’s very, very tough,” she said.

Cole, who teaches Human Anatomy and Physiology as well as AP Environmental Science, became the varsity coach in October 2016 after a few months of coaching junior varsity.

Melissa McWherter is the new junior varsity coach. She brings a long resume of cheer experience to the job, having coached gymnastics, cheer and tumbling since the age of 16. She coached cheer at Liberty Hill Junior High School for three years.

“I have coached most of the girls and worked with their parents when they were in junior high, so we all have a foundation of respect to work on

they can feel comfortable reaching out to their child’s school counselor.”

The Rancho Sienna counselor said she offers students classroom guidance lessons, and individual and group counseling on various topics including conflict resolution, goal setting, social skills, stress and anxiety reduction, college and career awareness and building a growth mindset.

“School counselors are a great resource for students, parents and staff and have a wealth of resources and information available,” Shaw added. “Time is the biggest challenge. A school year goes by really fast and it is always challenging to fit everything in.”

For the most part and at the discretion of each principal and counselor and the needs each individual campus, schools around the state follow the state model – The Comprehensive Guidance Program for Texas Public Schools. The model was designed and first published by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in 1990 and continues to serve as the state’s recommended standard. It outlines four key components including a guidance curriculum, responsive (urgent need) services, an individual (growth) planning system, and system support. The developmental guidance curriculum provides students information and instruction dealing with everyday life skills. Except for guidance curriculum instruction, each component was de-

signed to allow for counseling and consultation and coordination with staff, community resources, and parents.

The model also provided the recommended time distribution for each component by grade level to address changing needs. At both the elementary and junior high schools, TEA recommends that 35-45 percent of the counselor’s time should be spent on delivering the guidance curriculum and 3040 percent of the time on response services. In the high schools, it is recommended that counselors spend 25-35 percent of their time on responsive services and the same percent of time on individual planning. Only 10-15 percent of the counselor’s time was recommended for system support and the TEA model recommended that no time be allocated for non-guidance activities.

The same TEA document that outlined the Recommended Time Distribution Chart, also examined student/counselor ratios. According to the report, national and state professional counseling organizations recommended student/counselor ratios as low as 1/100 while Texas legislation funding counseling programs requires districts to maintain a ratio of 1/500 at the elementary school but notes that funding is a barrier to reaching this goal.

this school year,” McWherter said.

Cole said her biggest weakness as a coach -tumbling -- is one of McWherter’s strengths.

McWherter will teach AP and on-level US History. Outside of school, she coaches CrossFit at Liberty Hill CrossFit. She was named the VFW Teacher of the Year for District 28 in 2015 for her efforts organizing the Veterans Day ceremony at the junior high school. She said the ceremony will continue after her departure.

“My goals for the JV squad are to continue to improve school spirit, stunt difficultly, and foster comradery within the program and varsity squad,” McWherter said. “Coach Cole and I look forward to building upon an established LHHS program together.”

Theatre

Continued from Page 35

in the program. And then making my classes interesting, making my classes fun, making my classes accountable. I think excellence breeds growth. When you show somebody something that’s awesome, they want to be a part of it.”

By involving other programs like band, choir and dance in the musical, he hopes to bring different student groups together and show them that they can do theatre, too.

“I feel like theatre students especially, the students that come into the theatre program are typically ‘different birds,’ I guess you could say,” he said. “I’ve just always been able to communicate with students. I think theatre is a communicative art form, so I’m able to draw out of kids things that maybe other people aren’t able to get out of them.”

He says that sometimes his criticism of students’ performances can be taken the wrong way, but that he believes in a “culture of kindness.”

“I’m pretty frank about things,” he said. “If a kid isn’t doing a good job, I don’t give them false kudos. Their work speaks for itself, and I expect good work. I have high expectations and I expect excellence. That’s not perfection. Excellence looks different for everyone.”

“Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind” is the fall show, and consists of 15 neo-futurist plays in 40 minutes. Audience members will call out numbers between 1 and 15, then the cast members will select the card with that number and perform the short play listed on the back of the card.

“It’s open auditions, I’ll take anybody that wants to audition for the show,” Harris said. “But they have to come in and really, really work their tails off. It’ll be a good one for us to start with because it’s no set, no costumes, so it’s real cheap to perform other than the rights to perform.”

The musical will be “Sweet Charity,” and will be performed in January 2018 so that the show can be entered in the Greater Austin High School Musical Theatre Awards. The GAHSMTAs are awarded at a formal reception and show at the Long Center in downtown Austin every spring, and nominated schools often bring students to the event.

Harris will teach Theatre 1, advanced theatre and technical theatre classes.

Page 42

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PUBLIC NOTICES NONDISCRIMINATION IN CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS Liberty Hill ISD offers career and technical education programs in Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources; Arts, A/V Tech & Communications; Business, Management & Administration; Engineering; Health Science; Hospitality and Tourism; Information Technology; Law Enforcement; and Manufacturing. Admission is based on pre-requisites listed in the course description.

It is the policy of Liberty Hill ISD not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or handicap in its vocational programs, services or activities as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Liberty Hill ISD will take steps to assure that lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all educational and vocational programs.

For information about your rights or grievance procedures, contact the Title IX / Section 504 Coordinator, Dr. Rob Hart, at 301 Forrest, Liberty Hill, TX 78642; 512-260-5580.

Notificación pública de no discriminación en programas de educación técnica y carréra vocacionales El distrito escolar independiente de Liberty Hill ofrece programas en Agriculture (agricultura), Food & Natural Resources (alimentos y recursos natural), Arts (artes), A/V Tech & Communications (comunicaciones de tecnología), Business (empresas), Management & Administration (administración de empresas), Health Science (ciencias de la salud), Hospitality and Tourism (hospitalidad y turismo), Engineering (Ingen-

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(512) 778-5577 or NEWS@LHINDEPENDENT.COM ieria), Information Technology (informática), Law Enforcement (cumplimiento de la ley), and Manufacturing (fabricación). La admisión a estos programas se basa en pre-requisitos que se encuentran en la lista escrita ajunto cada descripción del curso.

El distrito escolar independiente de Liberty Hill no discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo o impedimento, en sus programas, servicios o actividades vocacionales, tal como lo requieren el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964; enmendada: el Título IX de las Enmiendas de Educación, de 1972, y la Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación de 1973, enmendada.

El distrito escolar independiente de Liberty Hill tomará las medidas necesarias para asegurar que la falta de habilidad en el uso del inglés no sea un obstáculo para la admisión y participación en todos los programas educativos y vocacionales.

Para información sobre sus derechos o procedimientos para quejas, comuníquese con el Coordinador del Título IX / el Coordinador de la Sección 504, Dr. Rob Hart, at 301 Forrest, Liberty Hill, TX 78642; 512-260-5580.

(8/17) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS MONDAY – AUGUST 14, 2017 – 6:30 PM MONDAY – AUGUST 28, 2017 – 6:30 PM Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that the City Council of the City of Liberty Hill,

FOR LEASE – Stubblefield Park – 2 Bed/1 Bath with open living and kitchen, LHISD, animals okay, behind Parker’s Market, $950 per month. 512-839-7407. (8/31)

Texas proposes to institute annexation proceedings to enlarge and extend the boundary limits of said City to include the following described territory, to-wit: Annexation of property as follows: Approximately 2,991 feet, more or less, of the right-ofway known as County Road 263, bounded on the west by State Hwy 183, bounded on the east by Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (railroad track), bounded on the north and south by existing fence lines of adjacent property owners Wyatt Hogan, LP, Joyce Abbott, Summerlyn Subdivision, and San Gabriel Ridge being approximately 50 feet in width located in the ETJ of The City of Liberty Hill, in Williamson County, Texas Two PUBLIC HEARINGS will be held by and before the City Council of the City of Liberty Hill, Texas on the following dates / time: MONDAY– AUGUST 14, 2017 at 6:30 PM at Council Chambers - located at 2801 Ranch Road 1869 in Liberty Hill, Texas MONDAY – AUGUST 28, 2017 at 6:30 PM at Council Chambers - located at 2801 Ranch Road 1869 in Liberty Hill, Texas Said PUBLIC HEARINGS will be held for all persons interested in the above proposed annexations. At said time and place all such persons shall have the right to appear and be heard. Of all said matters and things, all persons interested in the things and matters herein mentioned, will take notice.

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BACK TO SCHOOL 2017

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 43

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

All Sports Booster Club embracing season of change

By KEITH SPARKS website that broadcasts Liberty Hill Sports Editor sporting events to Panther fans across For first-year Liberty Hill All Sports the Internet.

Booster Club President Christine Hup“We cover the KMAC broadcasting, pee, this year’s transition from one Athwhich has thousands of listeners,” Hupletic Director to the next brings a level pee said. “I think some games have avof excitement that she hopes is felt by eraged 3,000 listeners. That’s huge that the athletes, as well. we have a fan base overseas. Families “I like change,” she said. “Change is and grandparents that live or might be good. If you get too comfortable, you traveling in other parts of the United can’t push it to that next level. I think States, and alumni athletes, are tuning it’s great timing. I hope that all athletes in to see how they’re all doing. That’s a are excited. It’s a great time to be a Panhuge part of our budget.” ther. There are some great teams coming In addition to their support of KMAC, up that could make it to State again and LHASBC also provides scholarships for actually win.”

Liberty Hill athletes and covers as much This may be Huppee’s first year as of the athletic banquet budget as the UIL President of LHASBC, but it’s far from will allow. her first on the board. Prior to this seaThis year, the club’s goal is to raise son, she served as Membership Coordienough money to provide a separate nator for two years, Event Coordinator LHASBC Board members for 2017-2018 are, from left, Christine Huppee, President; Mike Carter, Webmaster/Social banquet for each sport, as opposed to for one year, and Vice President for one Media; Amy Tippie, Co-Concessions Chair; Gigi Whitehead, Co-Concessions Chair; Gerald Lorance, Membership; having one large banquet for the enyear.

Stacy Oncken, Treasurer; Byron Tippie, 2nd Vice President; Gina Ketchem, Executive Vice President. Not pictured is tire athletics department like they’ve Her first priority as LHASBC President Laurie Polser, Secretary. (Courtesy Photo) typically done in the past. One of the is simply building awareness. reasons behind the potential switch is Vice President, Stacy Oncken as Treasurer, Ger- letics department as a whole, which can be dif“We’re trying to build more awareness to allow more time for parents and the of really what the booster club is all about,” she ald Lorance as Membership Coordinator, and ficult in a Central Texas town that puts so much coaches of their children’s respective sports to said. “We cover seventh through 12th-grade ath- Mike Carter as Webmaster, while Amy Tippie emphasis on football. interact with each other.

“We’ve worked with him a couple times, just letics. We’re a small town. We don’t have a lot of and Gigi Whitehead run Concessions.

Another one of the club’s recent accomplishWith Jeff Walker in place as the new Athletic between our schedules. He’s been busy, but ments was funding electronic “chips” for the businesses to support the separate clubs.”

The board also includes Gina Ketchem as Ex- Director, Huppee has already seen an improve- he’s been on board,” Huppee said of Walker’s cross-country team to allow runners to be more ecutive Vice President, Byron Tippie as Second ment with regards to representation from the ath- involvement. “It’s a team effort. We’re a team accurately and easily timed during races, which and so are they. I don’t think of just the Athletic should make the scoring process smoother from Director. It’s all the coaches. I see him kind of this point on. embracing that and allowing them to be a part “It’s little things like that that a lot of people and communicate with us.” don’t realize we can help with,” she said.

In order to further improve upon that equal Another one of the changes that Huppee hopes representation, the booster club is making some to bring is the introduction of individual online changes. This year, their goal is to have two par- stores for every sport, run by parent reps, that ent representatives from each sport. Once that’s provide t-shirts, hats, and other Panther gear. in place, the hope is that each sport will be equalTo support the booster club, families, friends, ly represented and everybody’s concerns will be and any other Panther fans are encouraged to heard. purchase a family membership online. A family “We’re requesting from coaches two parent membership is $50, and members receive a Panreps: a junior and a senior representative,” she ther spirit flag and Panther member sticker. said. “They come to our general meetings to “That $50 can go a long way,” she said. “You bring concerns. Maybe something can’t be cov- just never know what it’s going to cover.” ered because the budgets tapped out. How can The club also offers business memberships we help? We’re also going to give them access to ranging from $1,500 to $250. Business members our Facebook page, so when games are happen- are listed on the club website, with priority given ing, tennis matches are going on, you’re going to to Platinum level sponsors. get live results. You can’t be successful if you’re In addition to monetary donations, the booster not team players, and that’s the biggest thing this club is always looking for volunteers. year.”

“It could be volunteering to help organize mayAt this point, Huppee isn’t sure what the be a fundraiser that we have to put together for LHASBC’s financial obligations will be. Those something major that comes through,” she said. decisions are made based upon feedback from “Maybe you can’t help, but you know your Honcoaches and parent representatives throughout or Society student needs volunteer hours. We the school year. have an online volunteer spot on our website, “Every year, we just don’t know what’s go- and they can take the time and go ‘Hey, I can ing to come down our line,” Huppee said. “We cover these two hours.’ We know everyone’s just have to wait for the coaches to see. This is busy, but everyone can find that one, two, three a brand new year. We do whatever we can to hours in a month to help.” support the coaches, hopefully even more so this To learn more about the Liberty Hill All Sports year, and it is expensive.”

Booster Club, visit www.lhallsports.org.

One financial commitment that’s already in Sports@LHIndependent.com place is their continued support of KMAC, a

BACK TO SCHOOL 2017

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 45

LHISD Child Nutrition Department shares information for a new school

We Have Back to School Discounts!

134 Jon athan D Liberty r Hill

By MARY SHEFFIELD General Manager, LHISD Child Nutrition As we begin the 2017-18 school year, we stand ready to provide students with a healthy and delicious food program. Our Sodexo Chefs have spent this summer creating new recipes that are nutritious and appetizing!

We encourage you to sign up for Skyward Family Access. Skyward Family Access allows parents/guardians to view your student’s daily food purchases and current food service balance.

This service will also email you a reminder when your student’s account has gone below a predetermined amount, if you select this option. You can also deposit funds into their account using a checking account, debit or credit card for a small service fee through RevTrak. Our cafeterias can only accept cash and checks. Please visit the district home page for more details to sign up for Skyward Family Access.

Free and Reduced Price Meal Program Direct certification letters will be mailed by the 2nd week of August. If you receive a direct certification letter, do not complete an application.

Let the Child Nutrition Department know if any children in the household attending Liberty Hill ISD are not listed in the letter. All other households must submit new Free/Reduced applications to qualify.

Under Texas Department of Agriculture guide-

lines, districts can grant a 30-day grace period to households if they qualified last year. We encourage you to fill out an application as soon as possible. This grace period expires on Oct. 3, 2017.

All required households that have not resubmitted an application for the 2017-2018 school year will be taken off the program and will go into “paid” status on Oct. 4, 2017. Applications are available at any Liberty Hill ISD campus, the Child Nutrition Services Department and the Liberty Hill ISD website. On line applications can be submitted through Skyward Family Access. Parents, guardians and students are responsible for any funds owed for school meals before qualifying for the Free and Reduced Meal Program. Households can apply or reapply at any time during the school year.

Remember: if your student receives free lunch, breakfast is free, too!

If your student receives reduced lunch, they can also receive a reduced priced breakfast.

Please visit the Child Nutrition Services Department web page for information on School Menus, LHISD Charge Policy, and other helpful information.

If you have any questions or comments about the food service program, please contact Mary Sheffield at 512-260-5593. For information about the Free and Reduce application process, please contact Donna Burson at 512-260-5574.

LHISD Meal Prices, 2017-2018

Page 46

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Recycling comes to businesses, residences inside the Liberty Hill city limits

Thursday, August 10, 2017

WAYLON CUNNINGHAM PHOTO

Recycling from Liberty Hill residences contribute to the nearly 25 tons of material processed an hour at the Balcones Resources recycling facility on the eastern outskirts of Austin. Cardboard, glass, plastic and more are sorted here and sold to manufacturers for re-use in production. Beginning Sept. 1, businesses inside the city limits of Liberty Hill will also be able to participate, as Clawson Disposal rolls out a new set of commercial and recycling dumpsters alongside newly enlarged residential cans.

BACK TO SCHOOL 2017

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

PLEASE JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE GRAND OPENING OF

RANCHO SIENNA ELEMENTARY THURSDAY, AUGUST 17 • 4PM – 6PM Tour of school & hors d’oeuvres to follow Ribbon Cutting RANCHO SIENNA ELEMENTARY: 751 BONNET BLVD. GEORGETOWN, TX 78628

Kindly RSVP by August 14 to ranchosienna@newlandcommunities.com

Page 47

Page 48

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 10, 2017

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