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2021

Volume 34, Issue 8

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January 14, 2021 | 50 Cents

City aims for improved transparency

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Financial transparency has been a hotly debated topic in Liberty Hill for some time, and while there have been many conflicts over how transparent the City has been, and what it means to be transparent with that information, Mayor Liz Branigan believes with the help of City staff she has found a solution.

“I moved into City Hall and I met with staff members and I asked them the burning question, ‘Is there a way to identify best practices in relation to our financials’,” Branigan said.

The answer was to pursue an application to the Texas Comptroller’s Transparency Stars Program.

“I brought this to Mayor Branigan’s attention right after she came into office,” said City Administrator Lacie Hale.

“This is a designation that’s

See COUNCIL, Page A6

Filing opens for May elections

The filing period has opened for candidates seeking a place on the May ballot for Liberty Hill City Council and LHISD Board of Trustees.

Candidates can file to run for either until 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 12, with three seats up for grabs on the Council and three on the School Board. The election is May 1.

To file for City Council, candidates can download the application packet from the City website or pick one up from City Secretary Nancy Sawyer by appointment. Completed packets must also be dropped off by appointment due to current COVID-19 precautions.

City Hall is located at 926 Loop 332 and the phone number is (512) 778-5449.

Terms for City Council Place 1 Steve McIntosh, Place 3 Gram Lankford and Place 5 Liz Rundzieher are up and residents within the city limits can file for any of the three seats.

On the LHISD Board ballot will be Places 3, 4 and 5, held

by David Nix, Kathy Major and Anthony Buck, respectively.

District officials also plan to call a bond election for May, but the final decision rests with the Board and there has been no bond amount or specific projects settled on at this time.

To pick up applications to file for any of those three seats, candidates should go to the district office between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to pick one up or one can be requested by mail.

The LHISD Administration Office is located at 301 Forrest Street and the phone number is (512) 260-5580.

The Independent will hold a virtual candidate forum for all contested places for both Council and School Board in April. ©2021 The Liberty Hill Independent

Liberty Hill Snow Day

Bianca Lapusan-Klotzer shared this photo of her daughters, Juliana (left), age 6, and Kaida (right), age 4, with their Liberty Hill snow family. Sunday’s snowfall with significant accumulations in some locations, was the most memorable snowfall in years. See more Snow Day photos on Page B6 and at Facebook.com/LibertyHillIndependent. (Courtesy Photo)

Jails to Jobs blends two critical goals

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Every afternoon at the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter, a select group of individuals spend time working with and training some of the more rambunctious dogs in the shelter.

They are all part of the Jails to Jobs program, taking young men and women getting out of lockup and providing them with job-training opportunities.

“We help them get trained and equipped and ready for a next-level job. We employ the kids and pay them the entire time,” said Williamson County Jails to Jobs Director Eddie Franz. “It’s not just a program where we teach skills. It’s a program where they get paid a wage. They do actual work, and through that, they learn these skills.”

But there’s more to the program than job experience.

“It’s not just about skills,” he said. “We’re intent on teaching character development. We After completing their tasks around the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter, Jails want to teach the entire person. to Job members spend afternoons training some of the more excitable dogs, working to make I can teach you how to paint a wall, but if I don’t help you them more adoptable. (Courtesy Photo)

with your anger or help you with dealing with the stresses of life, then what good am I really teaching you?”

A symbiotic relationship For Franz, this is a unique opportunity to bring together two unique populations that can benefit from the time together.

“You’re watching two populations in society that have been discarded, kind of left off to the side, almost marginalized,” said Franz. “You have all of these animals here that have been abandoned or lost, and then we work with the same type of population.

Our kids have been traumatized. They’ve been through the criminal justice system.

A lot of them don’t have a lot of support, so there is a lot of similarities between the two populations.”

Part of the work with the shelter dogs involves the opportunity to work with and learn from a professional dog trainer two days of the week.

“Those two days a week, the kids learn from them, and

See JOBS, Page A4

Newspaper monitored during City meetings

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor It is unclear how often, to what extent, and to what ends staff from The Independent was video recorded during City of Liberty Hill meetings, but evidence has been provided to the newspaper that video equipment was used to monitor reporters.

A screen shot, provided to The Independent, shows one of the cameras installed last year in the Municipal Court building pointed down over the assigned media seat provided for The Independent.

According to City, Attorney Tad Cleaves, IT Director Randy Hodges confirmed this week that he was instructed by former Mayor Rick Hall to point the camera – situated in the ceiling just inside the door to the Council Chamber – directly down over the chair.

Hall did not respond to the newspaper’s questions by press time Wednesday about the decision to position the camera as it was.

In July, for the first time, a chair was designated with a sign for media, just inside the door. The City also confirmed that in early July the camera was moved to that location.

The screen shot provided to The Independent has a date of Aug. 14, but it is unclear which meeting it came from.

There was a special called meeting Aug. 13 during the City budget process.

The City only has recorded footage back to Oct. 5, and said the camera has not been positioned as seen in the screen shot since at least Oct. 13, which is when early voting began in the building and the ceiling was redone.

See VIDEO, Page A4

Site work has begun on the Heritage Ridge development on SH 29 in front of Liberty Hill Junior High. The development is expected to include up to seven retail and restaurant businesses, including Starbucks Coffee.

Trio of agreements highlight new frontier for local economy

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Liberty Hill has been a new growth center in Central Texas for some time, with a City focus on making sure the local economic growth keeps pace with residential growth.

The approval of three new

economic development incentive agreements in the last week is a strong signal that Liberty Hill is entering a new frontier in business growth.

The agreements with Heritage Ridge Investments, Golf Cart King and Tex-Mix Concrete come with limit-

ed investment from the City and Economic Development Corporation (EDC), but are projected over a decade to net the City an estimated $14.1 million to the general fund, according to EDC Executive

See BUSINESS, Page A6

Page A2

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County develops vaccine plan GEORGETOWN – On Tuesday, the Williamson County Commissioners Court heard a presentation on a County coordinated COVID-19 vaccination plan which was submitted to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for approval. DSHS is the entity that receives and distributes the COVID-19 vaccines in Texas. Williamson County’s plan would go into effect if the state allocates vaccines to the County.

The vaccination plan includes agreements with Curative Medical Associates Inc. and Family Hospital Systems to administer the vaccine. Family Hospital Systems already have a contract with Williamson County to administer COVID-19 vaccines to first responders in Phase 1a. The plan would target residents that fall in the state’s Phase 1b group.

The County has approximately 120,000 residents who qualify for the vaccine in Phase 1b.

The plan includes working with private partners to staff five fixed locations and several large-scale sites across the county. Locations are planned in Georgetown, Round Rock, Cedar Park, North Austin, and Taylor.

The plan also includes utilizing a mobile vaccination van to address homebound elderly and rural populations.

Williamson County will post information on its COVID-19 information page www.wilco.org/coronavirus when the State gives vaccines to Williamson County and the plan is activated.

This information will include how to register for the vaccine.

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Liberty Hill Public Library begins Winter Reading Challenge

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Challenging the community is a signature of the Liberty Hill Public Library. As 2021 begins, everyone’s favorite librarians are throwing down the gauntlet with their Winter Reading Challenge. The event is open to all ages.

“Beginning on Monday, we’re having a Winter Reading Challenge, this is the first one we’ve ever had,” said Library Director Angela Palmer. “We’ll have it divided as one for adults and teens together, one for pre-teens, and one for the little ones. We’re making game cards with different rules, like reading a book about Texas or set in Texas. It’s like a Bingo card.”

Participants in the contest can pick up their bingo cards from the library or request one through e-mail and print it out.

The winner has the chance to win several prizes.

“The idea is that if they get a bingo, they’ll get a chance to earn a raffle entry to win a $25 gift card. We’ll have 12 all from local businesses,” said Palmer. “If they have a blackout on their card, they will get a chance to win two $100 gift certificates. We wanted to give

some high incentives to get people to participate. We’ll have gift card drawings for all ages.”

Each bingo card has a theme and the library staff has compiled books for each card’s theme.

“Since we’re closed, it might make it difficult for people to find books. We’ll include directions in the packets to help people find books,” said Palmer. “We’ve spent the last week making book lists for different categories. All they have to do is sign into their account, click on the book, and come pick it up.”

Kids will have rules tailored to them that aren’t as strict as rules for adults and teens.

“For the kids, they can read anything they want or listen to anything they want. It doesn’t have to be library books. It can be electronic or print. For the kids, the 6-to-12-year olds, we’ll have a few activities they can do at home. The little ones will have activities like reading with your parents. They’ll have a few different books. We wanted to make it easier for the kids and harder for adults and teens.”

Taking a cue from other locations doing the same thing, this

is an effective way to provide the community with an activity and engage patrons. While the contest is not unique to LHPL, the categories for each card are.

“I made up the categories because we didn’t want any boring ones. We’ve got one called Other Worlds, and that’s fantasy and science fiction or alternative history. I like that one a lot. The Texas-themed one is pretty nice; it can be a lot of different things. We did two lists of the best-reviewed books of the year so people could have a chance to read what they missed.”

With COVID-19 still posing a challenge, Palmer and her staff are unsure about when things will get back to normal.

“Right now, I’m watching to see what the Christmas and New Year’s Eve surge shows us,” she said. “In Williamson County, the infection rate is bad. We wanted to open in December, but I’m hoping for the spring. I don’t know. I’m trying to plan summer reading again, and I don’t know what to do.

I was hoping what we did this last summer would be a onetime thing, but I think that’s not going to happen. I hate not being open, but I don’t want to jeopardize anyone’s health.”

Liberty Hill Police Blotter

Prepared by Liberty Hill Police Department

Week of Jan. 4-10, 2021 The Liberty Hill Police Department responded to or self-initiated a total of 503 incidents resulting in 11 cases, 45 citations, 77 warnings and two arrests.

Weekly Highlights: - On Jan. 4 at approximately 12:01 PM, officers responded to the 15000 block of W. SH 29 for suspicious activity.

- On Jan. 4 at approximately 3:57 PM, officers responded to the 1000 block of Loop 332 for suspicious activity.

- On Jan. 4 at approximately 4:28 PM, officers contacted about a family problem on Anderson Mill Road, Austin, referred to Austin Police Department.

- On Jan. 5 at approximately 6:45 AM, officers responded to the CR 200 for a suspicious vehicle.

- On Jan. 5 at approximately 7:13 AM, officers responded to the 1000 block of Loop 332 for school zone enforcement.

- On Jan. 5 at approximately 10:44 PM, officers responded to the 12000 block of W. SH 29 for an alarm call.

- On Jan. 6 at approximately 2:05 AM, officers responded to the 15000 block of W. SH 29 for a welfare check.

- On Jan. 6 at approximately 6:41 AM, officers responded to the 12000 block of W. SH 29 for an alarm call.

- On Jan. 6 at approximately 4:37 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29

for an accident.

- On Jan. 6 at approximately 9:11 PM, officers responded to the 100 block of US 183 for suspicious activity.

- On Jan. 7 at approximately 5:39 AM, officers issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia, as the result of a traffic stop on the 13000 block of W. SH 29.

- On Jan. 7 at approximately 6:29 AM, officers responded to the 14000 block of W. SH 29 for a wellbeing check.

- On Jan. 7 at approximately 11:28 AM, officers responded to Agave Azul Way for a harassment complaint.

- On Jan. 8 at approximately 5:20 AM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for a suspicious incident.

- On Jan. 8 at approximately 1:38 PM, officers responded to Montrose Drive to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On Jan. 8 at approximately 4:45 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for a disturbance, resulting in the arrest of a female adult for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

- On Jan. 8 at approximately 11:11 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for a disturbance.

- On Jan. 9 at approximately 12:56 AM, officers responded to Horseshoe Loop for a disturbance.

- On Jan. 9 at approximately 4:10 AM, officers responded to the 10000 block of W. SH

29 for an alarm call.

- On Jan. 9 at approximately 1:18 PM, officers responded to the intersection of US 183 and W. SH 29 for an accident.

- On Jan. 9 at approximately 1:32 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for a disturbance.

- On Jan. 9 at approximately 5:39 PM, officers responded to Matthew Circle for a disturbance.

- On Jan. 9 at approximately 8:19 PM, officers responded to Mourning Dove to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On Jan. 10 at approximately 12:49 AM, officers responded to the 3000 block of CR 200 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On Jan. 10 at approximately 1:26 AM, officers responded to Painted Bunting Cove to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On Jan. 10 at approximately 2:18 AM, officers arrested a female adult for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, as the result of a traffic stop.

- On Jan. 10 at approximately 1:51 PM, officers responded to Agave Azul Way for public service.

- On Jan. 10 at approximately 2:34 PM, officers responded to the 12000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident.

- On Jan. 10 at approximately 4:44 PM, officers responded to Continental Avenue for a disturbance.

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OPINION Life itself, like a football, is oddly shaped and bounces around in strange directions at the most inopportune moments

By WILT CUTTER Columnist Standing behind an actual football genius at the meat counter this weekend I heard him explain what happened on the last play of the state semiďŹ nal game. “They were playing too fast, they needed to settle into their regular game pace. The penalties were just an outward expression and symptomatic of a team that got in too much of a hurry. If they had only kicked the extra point, instead of going for two, tied the game in overtime.â€?

In fact, this young expert who appeared not the least bit athletic had delivered the play by play as well as the color commentary right along with a healthy dose of coaching that would make the great Bear Bryant, Tom Landry and Vince Lombardi want to pay close attention.

Now, as Cinderella football stories go, and believe you me Liberty Hill has had some rip snorting doozies over the last half century, this bunch of Panthers are the pinnacle, the tip of righteousness when it comes to high ying, soul stirring space walking football,

the Panthers of 2020-2021 stand as pristine and ďŹ ne as any team ever ďŹ elded. Anywhere at any time.

Liberty Hill football is not played in the empty, absent urban settings where kids play ball because the coach said he thought they might be able to make the team.

No, no, Liberty Hill football is played by human beings hell bent on badassery who announce their intent to play Slot-T ball while still trying to overpower nurses and break out of maternity wards. They come out of their mammas screaming that running the weak side is just no problem.

Next to loving the Lord, only football comes second. There is nothing tougher, leaner or meaner than a Liberty Hill Panther. And even from the lineage of greatness, this team was called upon to be even greater.

Imagine being a kid and having to come to grips with the slow realization that your head coach is human. That just doesn’t happen in football. Boys become men before they become able to even say the name of their head football coach without conjuring up visions of strongman, sainthood and magician. But these young men had to face the realization mid season that their Skipper

was going away, you know, the ďŹ nal goodbye that boys are especially poor at accepting.

When Coach Walker passed away and was replaced by his brother that in itself would have been a movie that would bring enough tears to ďŹ ll the San Gabriel River to overowing.

But then this team refused to accept defeat. Week after week, playing for their fallen leader. The hometown crowd chanting ‘Walker Tough.’ The team reaching deep down where winning originates.

Fighting back from deďŹ cits.

Miraculous runs, churning, battling for impossible yards and time after time, breaking into the sweet, free-range grass of the secondary where the air is thin and the light is ďŹ ne and rare. In the inches and yards the team began to believe in themselves, rack up hard won conďŹ dence like ďŹ ghters always do. They began to see the beautiful potential their coach had seen in them in the hot, hard days of Augusts past.

And so in that ďŹ nal game it ended as it should have. Giving every single breath, full of ďŹ ght to the ďŹ nal milliseconds.

Enduring penalties whose name none of us had ever heard. But still knowing what to do to win play after play.

Fighting a clever, shifty, loos-

ey-goosey team by holding the line with sheer discipline and tenacity. And even on the ďŹ nal snap, looking out ahead into the endzone, going there like walking through the door to hug your mama. Knowing how to get there, knowing who you are when you get there.

Even when the ball comes out and hits your knees and falls between the legs of your teammates on the wrong side of the white stripe.

The ending was good. Legendary in effort, perfect really.

It was the lesson the team most needed to learn. Sent down with empathy from the Football Heaven. Hard to accept, hard to understand why, but perfect in its symmetry.

Instead of a trophy in a case gathering dust for the ages, the Panthers took that oddly shaped pig skin with air inside and used it to learn and teach their beloved community life lessons that will stay with all of us forever.

Wilt Cutter is the only man in the Free World whose name is his profession. Wilt’s typewriter hates injustice. He is a man who ďŹ nds beauty in the people and naturally occurring poetry of the Shin Oak Ridge of Texas.

VIEWPOINT:

I’m watching you, you’re watching me

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Ever feel like you’re b e i n g watched?

It is certainly not something I think much about at Liberty Hill City Council meetings these days. Over the last two years, in a strained relationship, eye contact with members of the Council and some City staff members has been very limited. Maybe it’s a lot of pretending The Independent isn’t really there, or perhaps hoping if no one acknowledges the newspaper it will simply go away.

Turns out, though, that there’s not much need for eye contact with me at Council meetings because someone can always go back and check the video to see me, and perhaps what I’m doing while at the meeting.

When I received the screen shot of the top of my head in the Council chambers as I sat in my assigned seat tak-

ing notes and trying to make sense of what was happening – doing my job – I was immediately pretty irritated. It’s a bit creepy, but it can’t be that interesting. While I think it’s wrong, it is hard to say after a few days of mulling it over that I really care.

But I wondered, “Why would someone choose to do this?�

The who, though, was not such a challenging question for me.

It was conďŹ rmed – as expected – that the camera was situated to monitor me at the request of former Mayor Rick Hall.

It all happened around the time that Hall decided in early July not to communicate with The Independent any longer, even going as far as threatening to sue the paper over what he called lies about him and his actions. Nearly six months later, even after a request by the newspaper’s attorney, Hall and his own attorney have been silent on exactly what lies were printed about him.

So what’s to gain from this?

Going to read my notes? Good luck with that. I don’t doodle, and my notes are cryptic, even for me at times, so I record ev-

erything.

Maybe since we were watching the City so close, this was a way to kind of sort of do the same?

No, this to me seems much more like a very amateur desire for power.

It’s what you do when you need to feel in control. It’s what you do when you need to muster some sense of power over people, even if you truly have none.

But it does make us question the bigger issue with such monitoring. Sometime in late 2019 and early 2020, many cameras – what seems like a ridiculous number of cameras – were installed in City buildings.

To what end? Was it to intimidate or control the city staff?

Just a childish power trip?

We’ve asked, but have never been provided any information on the cameras or their purpose.

More than why Hall decided he felt better if he kept a camera on the media at meetings, we should be getting to the bottom of the purpose of those cameras with City staff and

the ethics of that issue. That’s what The Independent is going to do with this new information – use it to dig deep into the wider angle of this camera foolishness.

When I asked City ofďŹ cials about the screen shot of my head this week there was clear regret over what is probably quite embarrassing to a lot of people who were probably not remotely involved, but left holding the camera so to speak.

I feel a bit like Rockwell now, right? Should “I always feel like somebody’s watching me?�

Don’t you have something better to do? I’ve talked to a few friends about it and we all laugh. Someone actually took issue with my sandals, something I ďŹ nd the most offensive about it all.

I suppose I’m most glad I have a full head of hair still, though it has been suggested I get a hat with a catchy slogan on top for future use just in case. Any suggestions?

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, January 14, 2021 Section A Page 3

EDITORIAL:

Wilson owes his constituents more

Another Texas Legislative session is upon us. That means all of our local area elected legislators are back in the Capitol in Austin doing the business of the people of Texas.

Republican State Rep. Terry Wilson, Democratic State Rep. John Bucy and Republican State Sen. Charles Schwertner have all settled in for a busy ďŹ ve months.

But one of our representatives has gone to Austin once again without even as much as acknowledging there might be questions he could answer from those who sent him there in the ďŹ rst place. Wilson of Marble Falls has once again ignored requests from The Independent for an interview about the upcoming session.

Wilson has in fact not granted an interview to The Independent in close to four years. In the only conversation he had with a member of the newspaper’s staff, he indicated he didn’t think much of the paper, but he’d be happy to send us his political opinion pieces to publish.

No, thanks.

But it is worth noting that he has not attempted that in recent years. Best he not waste his time with it anyway.

Elected ofďŹ cials have a responsibility to respond to questions on their intent and their actions on behalf of voters.

Is Wilson too busy to communicate with Liberty Hill voters?

Both Schwertner and Bucy were more than willing to carve out time to discuss the new session with The Independent, willingly answering all questions.

This session will end with a new two-year budget from the state, in one of the most challenging ďŹ nancial times in recent memory. There is a long list of issues that could be addressed in the likely 5,000-plus bills that will be ďŹ led. It would be great if Wilson would share his thoughts with us all on some of those issues. There’s nothing to hide. There’s no gotcha issue on the table that’s important to dodge. A handful of fairly simple questions in a 15-minute interview is all that has been asked of him. But so far, the response has been nothing but silence in phone calls and e-mails requesting the time.

He has attended one public event in the Liberty Hill area in the last three years – a Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce luncheon where he spoke for ďŹ ve minutes leading up to the 2018 election without taking any questions.

Why does Wilson think it is acceptable to avoid his constituents and ignore the newspaper? Because this community votes for him anyway.

Why would he care of we don’t expect him to? Why would he worry about accountability if we don’t demand it?

Wilson owes area voters more, but it is clear he doesn’t plan to provide it until we show him it is one of our expectations in rewarding him with the right to represent us.

It is service to the community, right?

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Page A4

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, January 14, 2021

VIDEO

Continued from Page A1

The new positioning captures the entirety of the room.

Responding to questions from The Independent regarding the issue, City staff indicated they were unaware of the monitoring, and didn’t know to what degree it took place or what the purpose was. The City could not conďŹ rm if the footage was monitored live or was ever watched at all. It is also unknown exactly who, if anyone else, may have known about it or why it was done, according to current staff.

Wider angle The Independent was made aware of plans to install a number of new cameras and security devices in City facilities in late 2019. Through an open records request in February 2020, the paper asked for: “A list of all security devices purchased and installed by the City at City Hall to include locks, key card access devices, alarms, cameras, monitors, etc. The company or companies contracted with for these devices as well as installation of the equipment.

JOBS

(ABOVE) A current view of the City Council Chamber from the security camera that was previously directed to monitor the reporter from The Independent during city meetings. (RIGHT) In July 2020, a seat was assigned to the newspaper directly below a video camera that monitored the reporter throughout city meetings. (Courtesy Photos)

A cost breakdown by item for these devices including installation costs.�

In March, the City – through the Bojorquez Law Firm – requested an exception to the request from the Texas Attorney

Continued from Page A1

the other three days they are repeating the processes and training the dogs on their own,� said Franz. “The longer the kid is here, the better the trainer they become. Training an animal takes time, patience, love, and understanding. It models the behavior they need to meet as well. There’s frustration that comes with working with a dog, and that teaches them a lesson. That life can be just like that, and they need to be patient.�

This is an opportunity for the dogs to ďŹ nd a forever home.

Working in the program, Clarance the Pit bull was able to ďŹ nd his home with a rescue group after working with Jails to Jobs member Layla. “Clarence came in as a strong, energetic, and really lovable Pit bull. Layla was his trainer. Clarence pulled Layla around the yard for two weeks because he was so strong and energetic,â€? said Franz. “In the

next two weeks, he started to learn control, be able to walk on a leash, learn to sit, and learn his name. That’s one of the great things that we do because Clarence became adoptable. One of the hard things is when they leave, but you get to sit back and think how Clarence is in a group now with other dogs and not in a kennel.

It gives them the energy to do it again.�

For Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter Misty Valencia, this partnership is a showing of the value of these two groups. Full of value but shoved to the side, overlooked, and in need of guidance. “I think this is an afďŹ rmation of the groups that are set aside and forgotten,â€? she said. “There is a certain stigma that gets placed on certain groups.

Whether that’s a shelter cat or shelter dog, or youth who need more help. There’s a stigma to work through. I feel a bond

General to keep the information from being made public.

But in May, citing the City’s failure to provide written reasons for the exception, the Attorney General’s OfďŹ ce ordered the requested informa-

tion be released to the newspaper.

As of press time this week, that information has not been provided to The Independent.

because those are the ones that I’m working for. To get them in the limelight and show that they need help and are worthy.

These youths are absolutely worthy. They both deserve it.�

adoptable. For us, training the dogs not only shows them patience and discipline, but it also teaches our kids the same thing. It is not easy taking a dog that is unruly and rambunctious and teaches them patience and control.�

The partnership has roots with Williamson County Pct. 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey, a member of the Animal Shelter’s board. “Commissioner Covey has been working on a couple of different programs and looking into Jail to Jobs because they worked with Round Rock.

She’s on our board. Covey put the two together,â€? said Valencia. “When she brought this to the former director, it seemed like the perfect ďŹ t. They have the same love for those in their organization that we have for the people and animals in our organization. When you work with folks with that kind of passion for the work, it ďŹ ts so

Coming together The Jails to Jobs program works with Travis and Williamson counties. It started primarily providing jobs in construction and landscaping.

Branching into other ďŹ elds, the program also has a culinary division that teaches cooking skills, restaurant lifestyles, and the skills to become a souschef in a restaurant. The next step is a partnership with the Williamson County Regional Animal shelter. “We discussed it with the shelter, and they proposed that the kids come in and help us clean the kennels, maintain the facility, and also trained the dogs,â€? said Franz. “Training the dogs makes them more

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Hopes for the future Both sides of the partnership view the program as an immense success. What comes in the future isn’t set in stone yet. Valencia sees seeds of interest in several of the kids in the program. This could help with the demanding work the shelter does. “I would like more integration into more programs. I’ve had some staff come up to me and ask if they could help with other things. They’re already thinking ahead,� said Valencia. “We do a lot of things here, and it takes a lot of hands and bodies to get things done and get them done right. It takes a lot of time, patience, and energy. I can see this relationship growing where we’re more engaged. I see so much interest, and I can develop that interest.

There is room for that.�

For Franz, what’s happened

over the last few months is heartening. Breaking away from the norm, this partnership with the shelter has far less turnover than any other area. The Jails to Jobs director hopes this is eye-opening to others. “Every person I’ve put in here has not wanted to leave. The environment is healthy, there are animals that you show love to, and they show it back,� said Franz. “That’s healing and rewarding. I was worried the turnover rate would be higher, but they don’t mind cleaning the dirty kennels. It’s the work for the reward. Every afternoon is a reward, working with the dogs. It would be amazing if more counties took notice because this is a partnership made in heaven.�

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Thursday, January 14, 2021

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page A5

Occupancy limits rolled back with COVID increases

The number of weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases in Williamson County have shown a sharp increase since the beginning of November, jumping from less than 10,000 between March and October, to an additional 15,000 in the last 10 weeks. (Courtesy Graphic)

Restaurants ready to cope with new restrictions

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Due to the high COVID-19 hospitalization rates in Williamson County, restaurants – including those in Liberty Hill – must adhere to new restrictions on their maximum allowed capacity.

In compliance with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Executive Order GA-32, establishments in counties that fall into a Trauma Service Area with seven consecutive days where the number of COVID19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of total hospital capacity exceeds 15 percent, are required to allow only 50 percent maximum capacity.

Establishments must remain at 50 percent capacity until the Trauma Service Area has seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of total hospital capacity is 15 percent or less.

For several local restaurants, the adjustment to COVID-19 restrictions has been firmly in place.

Chef Michael Biggs of Malted Grains first discussed the future of his and his wife Melissa Day’s restaurant at the beginning of the pandemic.

They looked at several factors, the key being how long the pandemic may last.

“My brother said that this could be going on for the next couple of years. I remember hearing that and thinking that I needed to figure out what was going to happen for the next couple of years,” said Biggs. “We got rid of all of our old furniture. We renovated our place in a way that our seating capacity would always be at 50 percent. We knew, without a doubt, we would always comply. If they went to 75 percent, that’s great, but really, we’re designed to be at 50 percent. We need to run our business as if this is going to last for a couple of years.”

The solution to a lack of capacity for many of the establishments is takeout and delivery. Malted Grains is offering take-home meals that have helped make up the loss of dining in.

Hell or High Water Brewing follows the same formula, offering limited capacity for dining in and take out, along with the added perk of dining outdoors.

“We’ve been leaning on the online ordering pretty heavily

to accommodate lower occupancy. Spacing and social distancing measures are taking place inside,” said Manager Nathan Goldenshoe. “We’ve only been open for a little over a year, so we don’t know what our true capabilities are.

Space is a high commodity because we double as a brewery, so we have to make sure we have the facilities space for our brewery. Adjusting to anything beyond what we’ve already done is pretty much impossible. So we’re set in what we’re doing right now.”

One of Liberty Hill’s most popular stops, the Liberty Hill Beer Market, is already at 50 percent capacity, removing tables to allow for six feet of social distancing. They also offer the option of outdoor dining. Despite the adjustments already made, Owner Renato Hajmeli says they’ll adjust further if necessary.

“It is what it is. If Williamson County decides that, then we’re going to have to take off more tables. There’s nothing we can do,” said Hajmeli.

“We have to go forward. It’s been a tough time for us, but we can get through because this awesome community has kept us in business.”

The increasing number of hospitalizations in Williamson County and the Trauma Service Area (TSA) have resulted in new COVID-19 related capacity restrictions.

Williamson County itself has seen the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations double in the last month, up to 163 on Tuesday. The TSA as a whole, which covers an area across Central Texas that includes Travis and Williamson County – with a total population of 2.3 million – has a hospital bed capacity now of 349, with 39 ICU beds available.

Due to the high numbers, Gov. Greg Abbott’s Executive Order GA-32 went into effect Sunday, triggering a rollback of occupancy limits. The order states that when the TSA has a high hospitalization rate, any business establishment that was allowed to operate at 75 percent occupancy limit must rollback to a 50 percent occupancy limit. A high hospitalization rate is defined in the order as any TSA that has had seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of the total hospital capacity exceeds 15 percent.

In addition, the order states that bars or similar establishments that are not restaurants cannot operate indoors on premises, but may offer drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options. The occupancy limit applies only to indoor and not outdoor areas, events, or establishments, although social distancing and other safety protocols must be followed.

The hospitalization rate in the TSA surpassed 15 percent Jan. 3, and has increased since.

A rollback to occupancy limits does not affect religious services, local government operations, child care services, youth camps, recreation sports programs for youth and adults, public or private schools, and

drive-in concerts, movies or similar events. Personal-care and beauty services can operate with at least six feet of social distancing between work stations.

COVID-19 numbers Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Williamson County have increased by 4,500 since Jan. 1, up to 24,908, with 163 hospitalizations. There have been 34 deaths in the County since the new year.

The County had 13,000 cases through the first nine months of the pandemic, but has had nearly 12,000 more in the last six weeks.

The Liberty Hill ISD is reporting 49 active cases, with 18 of those being among students at the High School. The High School has 20 total active cases, followed by the Intermediate School (9), the Junior High (6), Rancho Sienna Elementary (4), Bill Burden Elementary (4), Liberty Hill Elementary (4), and three cases among auxiliary staff. Since July, the district has reported 194 total cases.

In Texas, there were more than 360,000 new cases in December, nearly 70,000 more than November which had been the highest monthly total to date. To date in January there have been 216,794 new confirmed cases.

Hospitalizations in the state have topped 14,000, growing by nearly 3,000 in January alone. There have been more than 3,131 deaths in 2021 so far.

Alternate care site in Austin It was announced Tuesday that the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), in partnership with Travis County, the City of Austin, and the Capital Area Trauma Regional Advisory Council, has established an Alternate Care Site in Austin to expand hospi-

tal capacity in the region.

Opening at the Austin Convention Center, the facility will provide central Texas with additional hospital beds, medical equipment, and medical personnel to assist with the region’s COVID-19 response.

The facility has a capacity of 25 beds and can expand to more beds if needed.

Therapeutic infusion centers In an effort to help reduce hospitalizations across the state, the TDEM has established seven COVID-19 therapeutic infusion centers, including one in Austin. The infusion centers have been provided with Regeneron’s monoclonal antibodies and bamlanivimab to treat outpatient cases of COVID-19 who meet certain criteria and who have a referral from a hospital or doctor.

Benefits increase The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will provide approximately $204 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits for the month of January as the state continues its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recipients will also see an additional 15 percent increase in their total benefits in January due to recently passed federal legislation.

The state received federal approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend the maximum, allowable amount of SNAP benefits to recipients based on family size.

Beginning this month, recipients will receive a 15 percent increase in their total benefits, which will continue monthly until June. The additional 15 percent increase and the emergency allotment amount should appear in recipients’ accounts by Jan. 23.

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Page A6

COUNCIL

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Continued from Page A1

offered through the Texas Comptroller’s OfďŹ ce. There’s a multitude of designations you can receive as a public entity. At this time I’m proposing that we send in an application for the traditional ďŹ nance stars.â€?

The program has requirements not only on the information that must be available, but how easy it is to navigate and ďŹ nd for those who wish to access it. That means the City’s website will have to be rebuilt to a degree to accommodate those requirements.

Information that must be available includes ďŹ nance and expense reports, check registers, audits, and budgets, some for the past three years and others for ďŹ ve years. “This is a fantastic opportunity for transparency and we can get this website done without a lot of issues,â€? said Council member Kathy Canady. “If you want to see what we’ve spent or what a project has cost, you can look it up.â€?

The Council voted unanimously to move forward with the application.

The Council is mulling potential changes to how public comments are handled during Council meetings.

At the request of Council member Steve McIntosh – who was absent from Monday’s meeting – the Council discussed potential changes to the City’s citizen comments ordinance.

City Attorney Tad Cleaves said some changes would be necessary to correct some conicts between the current ordinance and state law. “Our ordinance has a 15-minute time frame and if we go beyond that then our ordinance says we just shut off the comments,â€? Cleaves said. “You can’t do it that way, so there are some tweaks we have to make.â€?

The rules have changed according to state law, and the Council can’t prevent citizens from speaking on a particular agenda item as it comes up.

But cities don’t have to allow a general comments period prior to consideration of agenda items.

To speak on an agenda item speakers must address only that particular issue.

Council member Tony DeYoung supported continuing to allow citizen comments in general at the beginning of each meeting. “I don’t think that should be limited to just agenda items,� he said. “I think if people want to come in and address the Council about something that’s on their mind, that can be anything they want. They get three minutes to say whatever they want to say. They need to have that freedom.�

Under the current form of general public comments, there is no discourse allowed between citizens who address the Council and elected ofďŹ cials. “The reason there is no discourse in the general public comments section where people just come up and say what they want is because the council as a body can’t meet and discuss non-posted City business,â€? Cleaves said.

McIntosh recently took issue with comments shared by local developer Chris Pezold, where Pezold called out McIntosh in his opposition in a Planning and Zoning Commission vote to a rezoning request

by Pezold.

Though he was not allowed in that public comments portion of the meeting to engage in discourse over Pezold’s comments, which were sent in by e-mail – he signed up to speak as a citizen and provided his own defense and rebuttal to the comments by Pezold in a questionable method of circumventing the rules preventing that discourse with council members during public comments.

The Council made a motion for Cleaves to bring back a cleaned-up ordinance clarifying the issue.

would collect it at an eight-lot level and that comes at a cost.�

eighth of a cent in sales tax for every dollar. The City will reimburse 50 percent of its one-cent sales tax revenues generated by golf Cart King for three years, then 33 percent for three years, and 25 percent in the ďŹ nal three years of the agreement.

The sales tax incentive to Golf Cart King is capped at $300,000.

Heritage Ridge The Heritage Ridge development – located on property along eastbound SH 29 in front of Liberty Hill Junior High – is slated for seven to eight lots for food service and retail as well as a car wash. “We have been working here in liberty Hill to bring to fruition a couple of client projects of ours,� said developer Mike Beevers. “This piece of property we now own we closed on in September. The primary client that brought us to this site is Starbucks. With any luck we will break ground (this week)

with that facility.�

The developer has been working with City staff on the site plan and with a number of needed infrastructure upgrades that will be funded by Heritage Ridge, they approached the City about a grant to offset some of the investment costs. “They’re deďŹ nitely going above and beyond, not only in terms of a lift station, but there is also a hike and bike trail they are putting in,â€? said EDC Executive Director Matt Powell. “It’s going to be a nice-looking project.â€?

The grant is a $160,000 package, to be funded solely through EDC revenues – which come from local sales tax – comes with the requirement that the project be substantially completed in the next two years and a total of $1 million is invested in the project in that time.

Both Powell and Beevers pointed to this project as an effort to set a new precedent for development in Liberty Hill. “The City of Liberty Hill has some unique challenges when it comes to development, that site in particular,� Beevers said. “The low-pressure sewer system that is predominant on SH 29 is a real buzzkill for national brands. We put in a gravity sanitary sewer collection and right now we are approved for a lift station that

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 232-197 Wednesday to impeach President Donald Trump for “high crimes and misdemeanors� claiming he incited an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6.

Republican Rep. John Carter, who represents Liberty Hill as part of Texas District 31 did not support the measure.

Carter cited the divisiveness in the country as one reason he opposed impeachment. “President Trump has only seven days left in his tenure as President of the United States, and in a nation that is obviously deeply divided, angry, and

volatile, this legislative act will not help us repair these rifts,�

Carter wrote in a statement. “Impeaching President Trump at this juncture will only further deepen the divisions and derail any efforts to unite the country as President-elect Biden takes ofďŹ ce. Now is the time to look forward and present a united front for the American people, focused on cooling down the rhetoric, and working together to improve the lives of the people that we are elected to represent. “In addition, the rushed nature of this impeachment ignores the procedures followed

in every prior impeachment trial to date,� he wrote.

Though he opposed impeachment, Carter reiterated his own concerns over the incident

Citizen comments

BUSINESS

Continued from Page A1

Director Matt Powell. “You’ve got an interesting collection of projects,â€? Powell said. “You’ve considered an employer and a manufacturer, you’ve considered infrastructure to allow some brand names to come in that people have been asking for and you’ve got a sales tax monster coming in. All three of these projects are beneďŹ cial in that they are diversifying offerings the City has.â€?

All three agreements passed unanimously through both the EDC Board and City Council.

The sales tax revenue reimbursements for two of the companies ensure that the incentives are tied only to sales tax revenues those companies generate.

Golf Cart King Golf Cart King will be relocating its facility from Austin to Liberty Hill, and will be located just north of the QuickTrip at SH 29 and CR 214. “They’re a terriďŹ c company,â€? Powell said. “Not only do they move a lot of parts, but they will also be doing the assembly of custom golf cart units, which can be very pricey. They’re very excited about having their own facility. They’re going to own this building and purpose-build this facility.â€?

The company will come to Liberty Hill with 23 jobs and anticipates up to as many as 41 total within a decade. The project is expected to see $6.5 million in improvements to build the new facility.

The agreement involves the EDC and City and includes employment incentives and sales tax reimbursements.

Golf Cart King will receive $2,000 per full-time equivalent position at the end of 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027, up to $230,000 total with an annual cap of $50,000.

The EDC will pay Golf Cart King 60 percent of the EDC’s portion of the sales tax generated by the company over 10 years. The EDC earns one-

Mayor’s salary Mayor Liz Branigan campaigned on and has repeatedly said since taking ofďŹ ce she would not draw the $40,000 salary previously approved and budgeted for the Mayor’s position, but eliminating that salary is not as easy as not accepting it.

Because the salary was created by ordinance, any change would also have to be passed by ordinance.

On the agenda Monday was an ordinance that would

Tex-Mix Concrete The agreement expected to lead to the most revenue in the next decade for the City is with Tex-Mix Concrete, which is expected to bring as much as $30 million in sales tax revenues to a variety of entities. “This is a 10-year deal, and over that time they anticipate doing somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.5 billion in taxable sales, which would mean a collection of right at $30.5 million on the two cents that would be coming in to the City of Liberty Hill and distributed various places,� Powell said. “Just the General Fund of the City would see a little bit north of $15 million.�

In addition to the City and EDC, sales tax revenues will increase for the library district, Emergency Services District #4 and the City road fund.

The new Tex-Mix location will be at the Vista at 29 business park, just west of Ronald

Carter votes no on Trump impeachment

Thursday, January 14, 2021

change the Mayor’s salary from the $40,000 amount to $12,000, equally the salary now approved for council members. Had it been approved, the ordinance would have taken effect immediately but the salary would not be lowered until the next Mayoral election in May 2022. “I decided not to take it because I felt I didn’t run for Mayor as a career move, but rather to serve the community,� Branigan said. “Since I can’t have it paid to Community Outreach, maybe I’ll take the $40,000 and deliver it to Community Outreach.�

Council members balked, though, at approving the reduction even for future mayors. “The Mayor should not get the same amount as (council members),� said Canady. “The Mayor should at least get $200, $300 more, maybe $400, because you do spend more time as Mayor.

We’re setting this for 2022, so should we think about that?

We should think about that the Mayor really should have and needs somewhat more than the council.�

Council member Gram Lankford added that he felt the salary holds the person in the position more accountable. “They’re obligated at that point to be up at City Hall every day working,� he said.

The Council postponed the issue, and may reconsider it again in May.

Reagan Boulevard on SH 29 and will be the company’s primary sales and dispatch ofďŹ ce.

Eric Bailey – who also serves on the EDC Board – has been with the company three and a half years and recently took over as CEO. “It’s been a labor of love for a lot of people,� Bailey said. “Right now we’re based out of Leander and we continue to grow and have the need to expand, and my story was always that we need to recruit ourselves. If I couldn’t recruit myself, who could we recruit to Liberty Hill.�

The company is expected to have between seven and 10 employees.

Tex-Mix will be paid $2,000 per full-time equivalent job certiďŹ ed each year for the length of the agreement, with an annual cap of $24,000.

The EDC will also reimburse Tex-Mix 50 percent of the sales tax revenues generated on the company’s sales that would go to the EDC. “By just sharing 50 percent of our eighth (of a cent) over 10 years, we would be sharing approximately $1.9 million,�

Powell said. “It means we will also be keeping $1.9 million.�

The agreement stipulates the City will also share a portion of its one-cent in sales tax revenues. The ďŹ rst two years will be 80 percent, the next two 50

percent, the next two 40 percent and years seven and eight will be 20 percent. The estimated total in shared sales tax revenue from the City is $2.65 million, but if that amount is paid to Tex-Mix, the City will gain $15.25 million in new sales tax revenues as well.

Bailey abstained from voting on the agreement with Tex-Mix, and did not participate in any discussions of the proposed agreement among the EDC Board, according to City and EDC Attorney Tad Cleaves. “When serving on any board of directors, I think it is reasonable to support the organization you are working with,â€? said EDC Board President Johnny Johnston. “All of us serving the city and the EDC believe in and support doing business in Liberty Hill, and I think it would be difďŹ cult to say that if we weren’t willing to consider that for our own businesses. My wife and I own and operate a business here in town, after all. I was proud that both Eric and the board not only followed the rules to the letter, but that any board member would demonstrate their belief in Liberty Hill in such a way. I’m appreciative that our attorney assisted us along every step.â€?

Re-use water plan The Council approved an agreement with engineering ďŹ rm Steger Bizzell to develop a re-use water master plan. The City has a re-use permit and is looking for ways to increase re-use methods. The plan will identify areas of growth for re-use and outline needed infrastructure for that growth.

The plan is expected to take four months to develop before it is presented to the Council for consideration and the contract to produce the plan is for $40,000 and those funds will come out of the City’s Wastewater Fund.

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SPORTS

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, January 14, 2021 Section B Page 1

Panthers fall inches shy of victory in state semifinal

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor BRYAN -- Blake Simpson was one of the primary reasons Liberty Hill had advanced all the way to the Class 5A Division II state semifinals against Crosby on Friday night at Merrill Green Stadium in Bryan.

Although that fact was little consolation to the senior running back after coming up a yard short of the end zone on a 2-point conversion attempt as the clock ran out on the Panthers in a 62-61 overtime defeat to Crosby.

Simpson had 191 yards on 20 carries to go with four touchdowns and a pair of successful 2-point conversions in his final high school game, but it was the one that got away in the waning seconds which will live on in the memories of Purple-and-Gold supporters.

According to Liberty Hill interim head coach Kent Walker, he decided to go for the win right then and there due to the momentum he believes his team had at the moment – although not without regret in the end.

“I think it was the right call to go for two – we had them back on their heels,” said Walker. “I may second guess myself for the rest of my life on that one.”

After both sides went 3-andout on their respective opening possessions of the game, it looked as if there might not be another high-scoring shootout for the third week in a row, but the score was only 14-7 Cros-

by after the opening quarter.

That all went out the window in the second period, as the teams combined for 45 points, including an 82-yard touchdown pass from Charlie Calabretta to Simpson and a 51-yard scoring run by Trey Seward.

Crosby responded with a 75yard kickoff return for a score

by Kameren Kirkwood, which was followed by a 40-yard scoring pass from Deniquez Dunn to Reggie Branch and the score was 35-31 in favor of the Cougars at halftime.

Crosby surprised the Panthers with an onside kick – which they recovered – to begin the third quarter, but was forced to punt after a 3-and-out.

After the Panthers returned the favor on their opening possession of the second half, Crosby partially blocked a Liberty Hill punt, which gave the ball to the Cougars on the Panthers’ 19-yard line and it only took one play for them to take advantage, as Dunn hit Jaylen Herman with a 19-yard strike to extend the lead to 4231.

Simpson then finished off a 6-play, 75-yard scoring drive – which included a 56-yard run

by Noah Long – with an 8-yard rumble, but those would be Liberty Hill’s only points of the quarter and Crosby led, 5539, after three following another pair of Cougars touchdowns to seemingly take control of the contest.

However, the Panthers’ de-

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Blake Simpson (#42) rushed for 191 yards on 20 carries and four touchdowns in Liberty Hill’s 62-61 overtime loss to Crosby in the Class 5A Division II state semifinals at Merrill Green Stadium in Bryan on Friday. fense stepped up by keeping versy. conduct penalty on the Pan- beginning, as Dunn was Andon Thomas went back thers for deception. stripped of the ball on a broken Crosby off the scoreboard in Ironically, Walker said the play on the ensuing Cougars the fourth quarter, while Simp- in punt formation on a 4thson and Seward ran in from 34 and-13 from the Crosby 49, officiating crew was the same possession and Carter Hudson and 20 yards out, respectively. only to lob a high-arcing ball one which had worked the recovered, setting up Liberty Simpson bashed in from close to Seward, who was left alone 2018 Class 4A state champion- Hill at the Crosby 47-yard line. range for two points after each on the sideline for a big gain ship game, in which the PanAfter Simpson was stopped thers had run the same play, short of a first down on a score, which left it 55-55 at the and a first down. end of regulation.

However, the play was called only for it to stand.

But, the craziness was only But not before some contro- back on an unsportsmanlike See SEMIFINAL, Page B3

SHANNON HOFMANN PHOTO

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Abbey Janicek (#5) and the Lady Panthers are keenly aware of how important solid buildup play is to the attack.

Jump starting the attack Panthers hit first bumps in road Playing ball out of back critical RJ Sanchez (#15) and the Panthers are looking to regroup after a difficult stretch which saw them lose back-to-back district games.

Liberty Hill began district schedule with 3 wins

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor The brand new, uncharted waters of Class 5A basketball were all smooth sailing for Liberty Hill through the first three games of the District 25 schedule this season.

Included were victories over Cedar Park (46-42), Marble Falls (91-34) and Leander (6954) – all part of a perfect 12-0 start to the new campaign.

However, the good run of form to tip off the league slate might have been a bit of a false dawn for the Panthers, as two of the squads they defeated in Marble Falls and Cedar Park currently sit sixth and last, respectively, in the standings.

Liberty Hill had a two-week break in between district games over the Christmas period – although they went 1-1 against non-district opposition in a win over Class 4A Glen Rose (65-46) and a defeat to Class 6A Hays (76-64).

But, back-to-back defeats to Glenn (77-63) and Georgetown (69-52) in the two contests since have brought the Panthers back down to Earth a bit as they near the halfway point of the district schedule.

Liberty Hill head coach Barry Boren attributed his club’s recent struggles to deficiencies

on the defensive end of the court.

“It’s like we forgot how to play defense,” he said. “But, it could also have something to do with the fact people have a better sense of what you do by this point of the season and game plan more carefully once you get into district.”

Particularly vexing to Boren was the Glenn game, a contest in which the Grizzlies outscored the Panthers by a 21-7 margin in the fourth quarter after being tied, 56-56, after three periods.

“We were down, but got ourselves back in the game, were tied going into the fourth quarter, then we got down about six and when it came time to make a substitution, we just we were down,” said Boren. “I wound up playing the fourth quarter and almost the entire second half with the same five kids and the result was we got outscored.”

Boren said the fatigue his team showed against Glenn carried over to the Georgetown game less than 24 hours later – a contest which was originally scheduled for Tuesday of that week, but was postponed until Saturday due to an Eagles quarantine.

“Against Georgetown, we

never had any energy,” he said. “We couldn’t match them on the boards and we just were never able even to make a game of it.”

Senior guard Kadin Knight agreed with Boren’s assessment.

“I just think with us playing back-to-back games, we didn’t get a break between Glenn and Georgetown,” he said. “We didn’t have fresh legs, while they had fresh legs and we just couldn’t get a rebound. They were 48-17 on rebounds and that’s never good. I feel like they just scouted us better than other teams did.”

When the Panthers host Rouse on Jan. 15, it will mark the midway point of the district schedule, with seven games left after the contest against the Raiders to get themselves in position to make the playoffs in their first season in Class 5A. Knight is hoping he and his teammates can right the ship before it’s too late.

“We need to just regroup and go out and hopefully get first or second in district,” he said.

“We’re hoping to make the playoffs, but we have to just take it one step at a time.”

to creating scoring chances

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When a soccer ball hits the back of a net, it’s much more than just the result of a sublime shot off the foot of a striker who was played in masterfully with a slick pass from a midfielder.

No, it’s much more than that, indeed.

When a beaten goalkeeper fishes the ball out of the net, it’s the culmination of a process which began all the way at the other end of the field, with her gloves-wearing counterpart playing a role in defeating her opposite number.

How a team plays the ball out of its own end of the pitch can make all the difference in the world between creating a steady stream of scoring chances or constantly being bottled up in the defensive third as the opposition takes control after cutting off attempts to go on the offensive.

According to Liberty Hill head coach Darren Bauer, keeping constant control of the ball is critical in not only scoring opportunities for his own side, but limiting the opposition’s chances.

“We like to possess,” said

Bauer. “Our number one defense is possessing the ball – the longer we can keep it the less time they have it, so the way I look at it is it’s part of our defense – it’s possessing the ball at the back and creating spaces – if we keep it away from them, they can’t score.”

One of the most crucial aspects of this concept is to always know where one’s teammates are once receiving the ball without having to look in order to be able to better focus on opponents who are looking to close the play down, said senior midfielder Abbey Janicek.

“We already have an idea where each player is supposed to be depending on what side of the field the ball is on, so you should base your pass off of the other team and how they’re defending against you rather than just trying to play the same ball over and over again because they’re going get used to it and it just breaks down.”

Already knowing what your teammates are doing allows one to focus on the unknown, said Bauer.

“We should know what we’re doing, we should know

how to react,” he said. “So, it’s more important to pay attention to what you don’t know – what you do know should be second nature, so you need to pay attention to what they’re doing or where they’re going – it’s all about position.”

Janicek said patience with the ball is of the utmost.

“You have to look up and realize where your teammate is and where you’ll have the most success rather than forcing the ball,” she said. “It’s instinct because it’s so repetitive over and over again, so it helps to practice it because it’s muscle memory.

In order to properly move the ball up the field into the attack, a player must maintain proper body shape when receiving the ball from a teammate to be able to see all the options available, said Bauer.

“If you can’t see it, you can’t play it, he said. “So, how they how they receive the ball with their body is very important.”

Of course, running drills in practice over and over again until players get it right is one thing – when there’s only one chance to get it right in the

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Cruel fate for Panthers, Simpson

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor One of the most overused cliches in all of sports is “It’s a game of inches.”

Perhaps the reason it’s so overused is the fact it’s so true.

Friday night at Merrill Green Stadium in Bryan, it was all too true for the Liberty Hill Panthers and just as cruel.

With a trip to AT&T Stadium in Dallas for the Class 5A Division II State Championship game on the line, the Purpleand-Gold came up a yard short of the pay dirt they needed to book passage to Big D when senior running back Blake Simpson lost the ball on the 1-yard line on his way into the end zone for what would’ve been a game-winning 2-point conversion in the Panthers’ 62-61 semifinal overtime loss to Crosby.

After the game, Simpson was understandably crestfallen at his failure to deliver on the play, but one needs to quickly

realize when considering that fact, Liberty Hill would not have even come close to that point if it hadn’t been for the heroics of Simpson in the first four playoff games leading to that moment.

We don’t like to get caught up in stats because numbers don’t always tell the entire story, but the fact remains that of the 2,166 rushing yards the Liberty Hill offense rolled up in the victories over Glenn, Champion, Rouse and Pioneer, Simpson accounted for 932 of them himself, along with 17 touchdowns.

Add in about 200 more and another four scores in the Crosby contest and one has a nice, little season’s worth of stats for a running back, no less only five games’ worth. In the playoffs to boot.

Of course, of all the yards gained, Simpson will no doubt most remember the one he didn’t get.

At, least for now, anyway.

When he and his teammates look back on this game in the years to come as they move forward with their respective lives after football, they should view it as the culmination of

a journey that saw them rise above all the trials and tribulations which they encountered along the way, only to come within a yard of playing for a state championship.

Sure, every team in Texas had the pandemic to deal with, as offseason workouts were affected in getting ready for the upcoming campaign, but nobody else had the emotional burden of losing its beloved head coach in the middle of the season only to have to carry on in the face of so much sorrow.

Coaches like to say you learn a lot more from defeat than victory.

The fact the Panthers got as far as they did – not to mention the fact they weren’t even tested by a worthy opponent until the third round of the playoffs – is certainly a testament to the resolve these young men had under the most trying of conditions all season long.

Life lessons learned, indeed.

However, losing in the semifinals is perhaps the cruelest of postseason fates.

Lose in the quarterfinals and at least you made it all the way to the fourth round.

Lose in the championship

game and at least you made it there.

But, lose in the game when you’re only a step away from playing for a state title and that’s probably the toughest pill to swallow of all.

So close, yet so far away.

All of a yard on a bitterly cold Central Texas night in January when the season should have been long since done and dusted under normal conditions in a normal year.

But, keep your head up, No. 42.

Many a football player across the entire Lone Star State would’ve liked to have been in your position on Friday night, but not many would have had the grit and determination to get there.

But, you did.

As well as all of your teammates.

Talk about Walker Tough.

Well, Blake Simpson and the Panthers showed exactly how tough they were by what they accomplished this season and for that, they should be saluted.

Thursday, January 14, 2021

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Olivia Shelton (#22) has been singing the national anthem before Lady Panthers games long before she was a member of the team.

Cooking up a familiar tune Lady Panthers senior a singing chef

Senior Jessie Anaya (#12) and the Panthers continue to get ready for the upcoming district schedule.

SHANNON HOFMANN PHOTO

Getting off on the right foot Boys’ soccer squad still a work in progress

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor As the district season approaches for the Liberty Hill boys’ soccer squad, the Purple-and-Gold continue to make adjustments in gearing up for what will be the most competitive league schedule in the history of the program.

The Panthers will open the district slate against East View on the road on Jan. 26 and are still in the process of sorting things out in order to be hitting on all cylinders when the games matter most, said Liberty Hill head coach Wayne Munger.

“We always want to be performing well – the urgency for quality play is always present,” he said. “District is

going to be tougher and we know this. Lucky for me, the competition for a starting spot is really fierce this year. Lineups are changing, chemistry is growing between players. We will be ready for district when it comes.”

Although last season’s leading scorer is gone in Jaron Frye and the 41 goals the striker provided for the Panthers’ attack up front, Munger said his side has been just as creative so far this year, but needs to be a bit more clinical in finishing off scoring opportunities.

“The team is creating just as many chances as last year,” he said. “We just need to increase our quality in front of goal.

This year’s team is really good at team goals and finding spac-

es – they will be just as entertaining to watch.”

At the opposite end of the pitch, Munger has found a capable replacement for Uriel Diaz between the sticks in senior Jacob Oshel, but added there is always competition for the No. 1 gloves.

“Right now, Jacob is the No. 1 goalkeeper,” he said. “But, we do have talent behind him. As they learn the game and build confidence, they will push each other to improve.”

The defense has caused some early concerns for Munger, as the Liberty Hill back line had already allowed eight goals through the first four games of the new campaign, but believes as the season wears on, those wrinkles will work

themselves out, he said.

“We’ve conceded some goals that came from losing the ball in dangerous areas,” said Munger. “I think sharpness on and off the ball will help us shore up the defense.”

However, all in all, Munger feels good about where his team is at the moment, as well as where it’s headed in the future.

“I feel like the team is coming along well,” he said. “We’re growing in confidence and chemistry. There are parts of our game we’re always adjusting, but I would say overall we’re in the right spot. We have a couple good games coming up and I expect to see some improvements.”

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Olivia Shelton made it to the Liberty Hill girls’ varsity basketball team last season as a junior, but in reality she’s been on the court for Lady Panthers contests since the sixth grade, when she began singing the national anthem before home games. “(Liberty Hill head) Coach (Chris) Lange needed somebody to do it,” said Shelton.

“So, I did it and that’s how it started.”

Shelton has been singing in public for 10 years now, mostly at Cross Tracks Church in Liberty Hill and has been belting out tunes since age seven, but said her current gigs aren’t going to lead to any kind of vocal career.

Instead, she’s focusing on studying to become a pediatric oncology nurse, she said.

“I just think about what it must be like for children who are four, five and six years old to have cancer,” said Shelton. “I think they need some kindness in their lives.”

On the court, Shelton – a senior forward – provides depth and energy off the Lady Panthers’ bench and has already been called upon this season to step into the starting lineup due to players missing games due to quarantine.

“I think I’m a good passer and screener,” she said. “I also like to cheer pretty loud and lead chants on the bench when I’m not in the game.”

Shelton first picked up a basketball when she was in kindergarten and has rarely put it down since, despite also playing volleyball and tennis, but when she got to high school, she knew her future was strictly one of hoops.

“I always felt like I only played tennis because it helped me with volleyball,”

she said. “But, I always felt I was better at basketball and liked it the best.”

When Shelton isn’t singing, studying or playing basketball, there’s a good chance she’s probably in the kitchen engaged in another passion of hers – cooking.

“I started getting interested in cooking because both my parents worked at a seafood restaurant,” she said. “I do cook at home all the time.”

However, during a recent family vacation to Mexico, Shelton acquired a quite new, rather exotic taste.

“Octopus,” she said. “They served it in a soup with vegetables at the resort where we stayed – the tentacles are chopped up and they even leave the suction cups on.”

Shelton named fish stew – picture vegetable beef stew with fish instead – as one of her favorites, but there’s one dish which she considers her specialty above all others, she said.

“Shrimp Tomato Bake,” said Shelton. “You use Crostinis, along with goat cheese, bell peppers and garlic – it’s fast and it’s really good.”

Back to the music, though.

Shelton lists the Beatles as one of her favorite artists to sing along with while listening to the radio in her car – with “Golden Slumbers” and “When I’m 64” among her top Fab Four songs and has long since vanquished any fear she had of forgetting part of the anthem when singing her rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” she said.

“I’ve always held a small piece of paper with the words while I’m singing,” she said.

“Once when I was in sixth grade, I trusted myself without it and forgot part of it, so I was never going to let that happen again.”

Shooter on a streak can make a difference in a game

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Baylee Laird (#12) heated up after a slow start to hit four 3-pointers in the second half in the Lady Panthers’ 57-52 home victory over East View on Jan. 12.

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Baylee Laird only scored three points in the entire first half of the Lady Panthers’ district home contest against East View on Jan. 12, but the 3-pointer the senior guard drained in the second quarter was a portent of what was to come late in the game.

Laird hit another three in the third period before exploding for three more from distance in the fourth quarter to help put the finishing touches on a 57-52 comeback victory over the Patriots.

“I was just feeling it,” said Laird.

No kidding.

In fact, Laird hit all three of her long-range bombs in the

final period from the identical spot on the right wing – although she said that’s not necessarily her favorite place on the court to spot up from beyond the arc.

“Usually, I like to shoot from farther out on the right,” she said. “I like that side because it’s right by our bench, so that hypes me up.”

Someone else who is hyped when someone gets on a shooting roll like that is Liberty Hill head coach Chris Lange, who said both Laird and fellow senior guard Jessica Holliday did well in getting open for clean looks at the basket – particularly on inbounds plays against East View.

“Both Baylee and Jessica did a good job of alleviating

the pressure of the defense by getting open like they did,” he said. “Also, Morgan (Jackson) did a great job of getting the ball in without any turnovers.”

Lange said the players’ ability to get open for passes from teammates was the result of proper positioning as the ball was being played in.

“I like to call it movement with a purpose,” he said.

“When we’re able to screen the right person at the right time, we can come off screens much tighter.”

Another factor that switched the momentum of the game in the Lady Panthers’ favor was a defensive adjustment Lange made at the half – something

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Thursday, January 14, 2021

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

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Lady Panthers come back to beat East View

When the Lady Panthers hosted East View in a district game on Jan. 12, the home team trailed at the end of the first, second and third quarters.

However, when the clock reached zeros at game’s end, it was the Purple-and-Gold who had finally gained the lead and held on to defeat the Patriots, 57-52.

“I’d rather lead at the end of the game,” said Liberty Hill head coach Chris Lange. “But, then again, we’ve had it both ways this season.”

Baylee Laird led the Lady Panthers with 17 points on the night – including five 3-pointers, four of which came in the second half and three in the fourth quarter.

After Liberty Hill scored the first basket of the evening to take a 2-0 lead at the outset, they didn’t regain an advantage until going ahead, 35-33, on a Laird three nearing the end of the third quarter.

Morgan Jackson struck from beyond the arc for the Lady Panthers’ final points of the third, then hit another at the beginning of the fourth to tie the score at 42-42 after East View

had once again gone ahead.

But, all hope of victory for the visitors disappeared when Liberty Hill put together a 10-0 run down the stretch, which included another pair of 3-pointers from Laird, before the senior guard put the finishing touches on the proceedings with yet another three and a two-point basket to provide the final margin.

With the Lady Panthers’ playoff chances fading, Laird said it was critical to notch a win.

“It was very important to beat them because they beat us the first time we played them,” said Laird, of Liberty Hill’s 51-49 away loss to the Patriots in the district opener on Dec. 8. “They’re part of our competition for the playoffs.”

Lange was relieved to get back into the win column after a difficult stretch that saw his club lose three straight district matchups entering the contest.

“We can breathe a little easier now,” he said. “But, we still have a long way to go to make the playoffs.”

Jackson added 10 points for Liberty Hill, while Emma Hubbard and Jessica Holliday

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Baylee Laird (#12) led Liberty Hill with 17 points – including five 3-pointers – in the Lady Panthers’ 57-52 home district win over East View on Jan. 12. each scored eight.

Liberty Hill (7-9, 3-5) will next travel to Rouse on Jan. 15 before returning home to host

No. 1 Cedar Park on Jan. 19.

Glenn 47, Liberty Hill 36 On Jan. 8, Liberty Hill host-

ed the Lady Grizzlies of Glenn and suffered a 47-39 defeat.

Holliday lead the Lady Panthers with 11 points in a game

in which the home side trailed 16-12 after one quarter and 2220 at halftime.

LIBERTY HILL JUNIOR HIGH BRIEFS Girls Basketball

On Jan. 7, Liberty Hill Junior High School played Benold and swept all four games.

8th-Grade A won 55-16 Gabby Mundy - 10, Taylor Gaines - 9, Addison Lee - 8, Evie Bruce - 6, Addison Shifflett - 4, Aubrey Hughes - 4, Annie Witt - 4, Clara Justice - 4, Elayna Hubbard - 2, Ava Kostroun - 2, Mehlayla Mulski - 2 8th-Grade B won 64-6 Kate Bednarz - 14, Haley Maderia - 10, Avery Daugherty - 10, Aubri Ettinger - 8, Shelby Broderick - 6, Cali Pounds - 6, Jolynn Whiteley - 4, Maryjo Martin - 4, Jessa McGhie - 2 7th-Grade A won 41-35

LAIRD SHANNON HOFMANN PHOTO

Kassidy Contreras (#2) scored a hat trick in Liberty Hill’s 15-0 win over Ellison at the Midway Classic in Waco on Jan. 9.

SOCCER BRIEFS After Liberty Hill’s girls’ soccer squad found themselves on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline in a defeat to Dripping Springs to start the new season on Jan. 4, the Lady Panthers rebounded with a trio of victories at the Midway Classic in Waco on Jan. 7-9.

On Thursday, Liberty Hill opened with a 3-0 win over Midway, as Kaylie Fowler, Kylee Bush and Athena Brown scored for the Lady Panthers in a contest they led at halftime, 1-0.

On Saturday, Liberty Hill

swept a doubleheader.

In the morning game, Fowler scored a pair of goals, while Piper Tabor and Cordelia Brown added a goal each in a 4-0 win over Harker Heights.

The afternoon saw the Purple-and-Gold trounce Ellison by a 15-0 score, as Fowler scored four goals, while Ellie Thompson and Kassidy Contreras added hat tricks and Neeley Giessinger, Kaylee Richardson, Abbey Janicek and Tabor scored one each.

Liberty Hill (3-1) will next play in the Governor’s Elite

4th-and-4, Crosby took back over, only for Bryce Rampy to intercept a Crosby desperation pass at the end of regulation, which the Panthers senior returned all the way back into Cougars territory only for time to run out.

Branch scored from 13 yards out on the Cougars’ first possession of overtime, which set the stage for Simpson, as he scored from 25 yards out on the first play from scrimmage after the Panthers got the ball.

After a time out, the decision was made to go for the win, which resulted in the Panthers falling a yard short of booking a trip to Dallas for the state championship game next week.

Still, Walker could hardly blame his offense, but focused more on the fact his defense allowed a combined 157 points in the final three playoff games.

“We didn’t play well defensively the last three weeks, but I thought we actually played

a little better tonight in spurts than we had the two previous weeks,” he said. “But you know, they have some really good athletes and we had them contained and then they bounced and reversed field on us and broke containment a few times, but you know I could replay the whole game in my head right now.”

Junior linebacker Andon Thomas said he was pleased with how his teammates had stepped up over the course of the entire season.

“I’m just proud of this whole team,” he said. “We went through all kinds of adversity and I just love this whole team.”

Walker offered additional praise from his point of view.

“I couldn’t be more proud of these young men,” he said.

“They’re an extremely resilient group – there’s so many things they could’ve used as excuses this season, but they didn’t.”

SEMIFINAL Continued from Page B1

Cup in Georgetown on Jan. 14-16.

Boys soccer briefs

On Jan. 7-9, Liberty Hill’s boys’ soccer squad played at the Alamo Heights tournament in San Antonio and lost two out of three games over the weekend.

On Thursday, the Panthers were defeated by Waxahachie, 4-3, which was followed by a 9-0 victory over Gonzales on Friday and a 3-2 loss to Boerne on Saturday.

Madelyn Kingslien - 12, Rita Gerten - 12, Falon Stroup - 7, Josephine Perkins - 4, Emily Sterling - 4, Perry Amthor - 2 7th-Grade B won 44-12 Sophie Chavez - 14, Kelsie Leary - 10, Maelynn Rongey - 4, Mehkenzie Mulski - 4, Adalynn Hennig - 4, Pressly Cousins - 2, Emma Jackson - 2, Kennedy Keyton - 2, Ivy Michener - 2

Boys basketball

On Jan. 6, Liberty Hill Junior High School Boys played Benold and went 3-1.

8th-Grade A won, 43-38, as JD Richards led all scorers with 13 points. Erick Richardson and Braden Radziwon each added nine points.

Continued from Page B2

Laird credited with fueling the Liberty Hill comeback.

“He told us we needed to work on our head-over-ball stance on defense and to keep pushing the ball off steals,” she said. “We just kept pushing the ball as fast as we could.”

Lange said he made the switch after his initial defensive scheme wasn’t coming off as he had hoped.

“We went back to something which hadn’t been working particularly well, but it seemed to slow them down, so we decided to stick with it,” he said. “They ended up only hitting two threes in the second half.”

Laird also praised teammates and fellow seniors Olivia Shelton and Jackson for their contributions to the cause.

“Olivia did a great job to-

night,” she said. “She came in off the bench and got a big layup for us and Morgan played really well.”

According to Laird, Jackson provides an added dimension to the Lady Panthers’ offense when the forward comes in off the bench.

“I like to shoot from three on the right and Morgan likes to shoot from the left,” said Laird. “Also, Jessica (Holliday) is good from the middle, so that makes the defense have to worry about all three of us.”

Lange was missing junior forward Kenzy Wise – who is currently out due to a quarantine – but said senior Taylor Swieczkowski filled in quire capably in replacing the grit Wise usually brings to the court.

“Taylor came in and battled today,” he said of Swiec-

GIRLS

Liberty Hill Marching Band led by Drum Major Breeley Bodine (above) and fans (right) cheered on the Panthers in the state semifinal game with Crosby.

8th-Grade B lost, 35-32 After overcoming an early deficit, the B team played a hard-fought game, but just came up a little short in the end. Hayden McBeath scored points to lead all scorers, while Anthony Esters added five points.

7th-Grade A won, 35-21, as Jett Harrison led all scorers with nine points, while Jordan Andrews added six points and Liam Ebert five in the win.

7th-Grade B won, 22-15, as Drake Carsno and Jaxson Richter each scored five points, while Jaden Base and Brendan Stafford each added four.

zkowski, who started in place of Wise. “Especially on the defensive end.”

Lange added his team also did a better job of handling the ball as the game progressed, which made the fightback that much easier.

“We always talk about taking care of the ball,” he said.

“Also, being able to make adjustments on the fly if what we call isn’t working.”

However, at the end of the day, it always helps to have a hot shooter on your side to help level the playing field and shift the odds in one’s favor, said Laird.

“My shot wasn’t on in the first half,” she said. “But, then I kind of realized how much we needed to win this game and I thought if I could bring more energy, it would keep us going.”

ALEX RUBIO PHOTOS

Continued from Page B1

heat of battle during a game, it’s a different story altogether, although Bauer hopes with enough repetition in training, it becomes second nature, he said.

“For the most part, we hope the girls understand,” said Bauer. “You want to get to the muscle memory until it becomes automatic, but most of them have been around me long enough to know if they don’t do what we’re working on, they’re going to find them-

selves next to me.”

Still, despite all the practice, cagey opponents can ruin the best-laid, strategic plans – at which point the need to change tactical direction arises, said Bauer.

“The way we try to coach is we give them ideas, but ultimately it’s up to them, he said.

“They can look for what we want them to do all day long, but they also have to be able to see and improvise on the fly.”

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Schwertner eyes healthcare issues, higher ed this session

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor The Texas State budget is always at the center of attention for State Sen. Charles Schwertner, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a number of specific issues he has an eye on changing as well as the 87th Legislative Session begins in Austin.

The Republican Senator from District 5 – a 10-county area that includes Williamson County – has filed 13 bills among the total 1,483 filed total by all legislators.

Bills can be filed into March for the current session, and usually each regular session sees more than 10,000 filed in all.

The bills filed by Schwertner focus on issues such as personal property protections, healthcare and higher education.

“They key in on my guiding principles,” Schwertner said.

“I’ve always been a strong Constitutional proponent,

and protecting Constitutional rights, and part of that is protecting private property.

A number of my bills speak to the continuation of trying to make sure that our private property rights are defended.”

On the issue of healthcare, Schwertner mentioned two focus areas, the first being vulnerable populations.

“I’m also an advocate of protecting vulnerable populations,” he said. “As a doctor and prior chairman of the Health Committee, those populations that cannot take care of themselves, whether it is those within the foster care system or pregnant women and children or special needs individuals, those individuals need to be addressed by the state because unfortunately it’s hard for families to do it and it’s often hard or communities and churches to do it.”

To protect those individuals, he said the focus is strengthening networks and programs in-

cluding Medicaid and mental health services.

Making sure Texans get the healthcare coverage they think they are getting, and that coverage has substance to it is also an area of concern.

“When you buy a healthcare product you think you’re purchasing a network of doctors and hospitals and unfortunately some of those are pretty bare bones,” Schwertner said.

“I filed a bill this session about network adequacy to make sure when you’re buying a healthcare product that you actually have individuals that are in-network to take care of you. Unfortunately, the insurance companies want to make it as bare bones as possible or as profitable as possible.”

Two of Schwertner’s bills this session address his concerns over increasing higher education costs.

“You can have the best colleges in the entire world, and I think some of ours are, but

without the ability to access it because you can’t afford it doesn’t make sense,” he said.

The target of this session’s efforts is student fees.

“We need to get our higher education costs under control and it’s like pushing against a wall sometimes because you have the tuition setting and fee setting in the hands of unelected individuals, the boards and regents of university systems,” he said. “I’ve filed bills regarding fees that would put a governor on how fast they can raise those fees and tuition rates. The bill I filed this year is about fees and would not allow them to raise them without an affirmative vote of the student body.”

In the past, Schwertner filed bills aimed at limiting increases to tuition and fees to the rate of inflation plus one percent.

Controlling increasing costs is how he prefers to address cost issues rather than handing out increased amounts of aid.

“I’m not just a person that wants to access it by giving more grants away or state aid, I think we really need to get the cost of higher ed under control and that includes having some governor on tuition rates and fees,” Schwertner said. “Counties can’t raise their taxes above certain rates, neither can cities, and the state can’t go above its biannual revenue estimate, but high education universities can raise it any amount they want. They don’t have an upper limit and I’m not sure why when deregulation occurred they didn’t put an upper limit.”

Another popular topic in public discussions of this session is how to address the issues of marijuana and CBD oil in Texas. Schwertner supports a compassionate use program regarding CBD oil.

“I was one of the authors of that bill in the past regarding CBD and utilization of CBD for things like epilepsy, and

CHARLES SCHWERTNER State Senator, R-Georgetown post traumatic stress disorder and things like that,” he said. “I think that’s going to be another area that’s going to be expanded. Not medical marijuana with complete utilization of marijuana for medicinal uses, but actual CBD oil.”

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(1/14p)

SERVICES ALL STAR ROOFING 512-635-4936. Local, family owned since 1976 serving Liberty Hill & surrounding areas.

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Check us out online.

(1/21p) SELL YOUR UNIQUE home made or grown items locally!

The Market At Indian Mound Ranch is currently accepting Vendors for the 2021 Season.

Saturday’s 9-1 weather permitting. $20 space fee. 12805 SH 29 W. Send email to imr1873@ gmail.com for details.

PUBLIC NOTICES MISSING PROPERTY If you believe the police department may have a found item that belongs to you, you can call the Property Division directly at 512-548-5530 or email at ekrause@libertyhilltx.gov. When contacting the Property Division, describe the item(s) you are looking for, in detail, and we will let you know if we have it. If we do, we will make arrangements to get it back to you.

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LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Liberty Hill has been asked to review and approve the following application(s), to wit: A request for a Zone Map Amendment from the Agriculture (AG) zoning classification to the Light Industrial (I1) zoning classification on the following property: Lots 10 and 11, Barmor Inc Section 2 Addition; specifically located at 137 and 141 Jonathan Drive, generally located at the north terminus of Jonathan Drive, north of West State Highway 29, identified as Assessor’s Parcels Number R-484160 and R-484161 and consisting of 2.00 acres.

In accordance with Section 211.006, Texas Local Government Code, a public hearing on this application will be conducted by the Planning and Zoning Commission (Commission) on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 6:30 PM. The Commission will forward its recommendation to the City Council, who will conduct its own public hearing on the matter on Monday, February 8, 2020 at 6:30 PM and take final action. Both public hearings will take place at the Municipal Court Building, Council

Chambers, 2801 RM 1869 in Liberty Hill, Texas.

For more information, you may either visit the Development Services Department at 100 Forrest Street, call (512) 778-5449, or send an email to planning@libertyhilltx.gov.

By order of the Development Services Director on January 11, 2021.

(1/14) COPYRIGHT NOTICE Copyright Notice: All rights reserved re common-law copyright of trade-name/trademark, ANTHONY RENE VANCE© --- as well as any and all derivatives and variations in the spelling of said trade-name/trade-mark--Common Law Copyright © 2008 by Anthony Rene Vance©. Said common-law trade-name/trade-mark, ANTHONY RENE VANCE©, may neither be used, nor reproduced, neither in whole nor in part, nor in any manner whatsoever, without the prior, express, written consent and acknowledgment of Anthony Rene Vance© as signified by the red-ink signature of Anthony Rene Vance©, hereinafter “Secured Party.” With the intent of being contractually bound, any juristic person, as well as the agent of said juristic person, consents and agrees by this Copyright Notice that neither said juristic person, nor the agent of said juristic person, shall display, nor otherwise use in any manner, the common-law trade-name/ trade-mark ANTHONY RENE VANCE©, nor the common-law copyright described herein, nor any derivative of, nor any variation in the spelling of, ANTHONY RENE VANCE© without the prior, express, written consent and acknowledgment of Secured Party, as signified by Secured Party signature in red ink. Secured Party neither grants, nor implies, nor otherwise gives consent for any unauthorized use of ANTHONY RENE VANCE©, and all such unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Secured Party is not now nor has Secured Party ever been, an accommodation party, nor a surety, for the purported debtor, i.e. “ANTHONY RENE VANCE,” nor for any derivative of, nor for any variation in the spelling of, said name, nor for any other juristic person, and is so-indemnified and held harmless by Debtor, i.e.

“ANTHONY RENE VANCE,” in Hold-harmless and Indemnity Agreement No. ARV-042608-HHIA dated the Twenty-Sixth Day of the Fourth Month in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight against any and all claims, legal actions, orders, warrants, judgments, demands, liabilities, losses, depositions, summonses, lawsuits, costs, fines, liens, levies, penalties, damages, interests, and expenses whatsoever, both absolute and contingent, as are due and as might become due, now existing and as might hereafter arise, and as might be suffered by, imposed on, and incurred

by Debtor for any and every reason, purpose, and cause whatsoever.

Self-executing Contract/Security Agreement in Event of Unauthorized Use: By this Copyright Notice, both the juristic person and the agent of said juristic person hereinafter jointly and severally “User,” consent agree that any use of ANTHONY RENE VANCE© other than authorized use as set forth above constitutes unauthorized use, counterfeiting, of Secured Party’s common-law copyrighted property, contractually binds User, renders this Copyright Notice a Security Agreement wherein User is debtor and Anthony Rene Vance© is Secured Party, and signifies that User: (1) grants Secured Party a security interest in all of User’s assets, land, and personal property, and all of User’s interest in assets, land, and personal property, in the sum certain amount of $500,000.00 per each occurrence of use of the common-law-copyrighted trade-name/trade-mark ANTHONY RENE VANCE©, as well as for each and every occurrence of use of any and all derivatives of, and variations in the spelling of, ANTHONY RENE VANCE©, plus costs, plus triple damages; (2) authenticates this Security Agreement wherein User is debtor and Anthony Rene Vance© is Secured Party, and wherein User pledges all of User’s assets, land, consumer goods, farm products, inventory, equipment, money, investment property, commercial tort claims, letters of credit, letter-of-credit rights, chattel paper, instruments, deposit accounts, accounts, documents, and general intangibles, and all User’s interest in all such foregoing property, now owned and hereafter acquired, now

existing and hereafter arising, and wherever located, as collateral for securing User’s contractual obligation in favor of Secured Party for User’s unauthorized use of Secured Party’s common-law-copyrighted property; (3) consents and agrees with Secured Party’s filing of UCC Financing Statement in the UCC filing office, as well as in any country recorder’s office, wherein User is debtor and Anthony Rene Vance© is Secured Party; (4) consents and agrees that said UCC Financing Statement described above in paragraph “(3)” is a continuing financing statement, and further consents and agrees with Secured Party’s filing of any continuation statement necessary for maintaining Secured Party’s perfected security interest in all of User’s property and interest in property, pledged as collateral in this Security Agreement and described above in paragraph, “(2),” until User’s contractual obligation therefore incurred has been fully satisfied; (5) consents and agrees with Secured Party’s filing of any UCC Financing Statements, as described above in paragraph “(3)” and “(4),” as well as the filing of any Security Agreements, as described above in paragraph “(2),” in the UCC filing office, as well as in any county recorder’s office; (6) consents and agrees that any and all such filings described in paragraphs “(4)” and “(5)” above are not, and may not be considered, bogus, and that User will not claim that any such filing is bogus; (7) waives all defenses; and (8) appoints Secured Party as Authorized Representative for User, effective upon User’s default re User’s contractual obligations in favor of Secured Party as set forth below under “Payment

Terms” and “Default Terms,” granting Secured Party sole discretion, deems appropriate, and User further consents and agrees that this appointment of Secured Party as Authorized Representative for User, effective upon User’s default, is irrevocable and coupled with a security interest. User further consents and agrees with all of the following additional terms of Self-executing Contract/Security Agreement in Event of Unauthorized Use: Payment Terms: In accordance with fees for unauthorized use of ANTHONY RENE VANCE© as set forth above, User hereby consents and agrees that User shall pay Secured Party all unauthorized-use fees in full within ten (10) days of the date User is sent Secured Party invoice, hereinafter “Invoice,” itemizing said fees. Default Terms: In event of non-payment in full of all unauthorized-use fees by User within ten (10) days of date Invoice is sent, User shall be deemed in default and: (a) all of User’s property and property pledged as collateral by User as set forth in above paragraph “(2),” immediately becomes, i.e. is, property of Secured Party; (b) Secured Party is appointed User’s Authorized Representative as set forth above in paragraph “(8)”; and (c) User consents and agrees that Secured Party may take possession of, as well as otherwise dispose of in any manner that Secured Party, in Secured Party’s sole discretion, deems appropriate, including, but not limited by, sale at auction, at any time following User’s default, and without further notice, any and all of User’s property and interest, described above in paragraph “(2),” formerly pledged as collateral by User, now property of Secured Party, in respect of

this “Self-executing Contract/ Security Agreement in Event of Unauthorized Use,” that Secured party , again in Secured Party’s sole discretion, deems appropriate. Terms of Curing Default: Upon event of default, as set forth above under “Default Terms,” irrespective of any and all of User’s default only re the remainder of User’s said former property and interest property, formerly pledged as collateral that is neither in the possession of, nor otherwise disposed of by, Secured Party within twenty (20) days of date of User’s default only by payment in full. Terms of Strict Foreclosure: User’s non-payment in Full of all unauthorized-use fees itemized in Invoice within said twenty(20) day period for curing default as set forth above under “Terms for Curing Default” authorizes Secured Party immediate non-judicial strict foreclosure on any and all remaining former property and interest in property, formerly pledged as collateral by User, now property of Secured Party, which is not in the possession of, nor otherwise disposed of by, Secured Party upon expiration of said twenty- (20) day default-curing period. Ownership subject to common-law copyright and UCC Financing Statement and Security Agreement filed with the UCC filing office. Record owner: Anthony Rene Vance©, Autograph Common Law Copyright © 2008. Unauthorized use of “Anthony Rene Vance” incurs same unauthorized-use fees as those associated with ANTHONY RENE VANCE©, as set forth above in paragraph “(1)” under “Self-executing Contract/Security Agreement in Event of Unauthorized Use.” (1/21p)

More Liberty Hill Living to Love in 2021 Six years after the launch of the first annual issue of Liberty Hill Living, we’re excited to announce the community magazine will be delivered to Liberty Hill area homes five times in 2021! Packed with more indepth articles, professional photography and regular features on local business, cooking, home and garden, travel, history and entertainment – each issue holds something for everyone without the long wait!

CONTACT US TODAY FOR SALES OPPORTUNITIES! (512) 778-5577 or Stacy@LHIndependent.com www.LibertyHillLiving.com • 921 Loop 332, Liberty Hill TX 78642

Thursday, January 14, 2021

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Clawson Disposal, inC. Residential * Commercial * Roll off

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Page B5

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Adrienne Hughes

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Dax Oglesby

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Call us ... We know the answer!

Kristen Childers REALTOR®

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900 Quest Parkway Cedar Park, TX 78613

Let it snow...

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Let it snow...

Let it snow... again, please!

Photos Shared with The Independent through Facebook.com/LibertyHillIndependent and Staff Photographer Alex Rubio.