LH INDEPENDENT 11-11-21 by The Liberty Hill Independent

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2021

Volume 34, Issue 51

LHISD opens discussion to tackle childhood anxiety

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Reporter Anxiety is a normal human emotion. It’s the butterflies we feel prior to giving a speech to a large group. Or the rapid heartbeat we experience when up to bat with the game on the line. The reactions are part of our autonomic nervous system, a series of primal responses designed to protect us when we are in danger. This system is the reason you don’t have to think about slamming on the brakes when a deer jumps out in front of the car. You simply do it. But what may start as a normal response to external stress can blossom into bigger problems. Instead of pre-speech butterflies, it becomes waking up in the middle of the night, mind racing, unable to go back to sleep. Or instead of being nervous about a big match, it’s forfeiting it completely as tennis star Mardy Fish did prior to a fourth round match in the 2012 U.S. Open. Fish was later diagnosed with extreme anxiety disorder, something that is becoming more common. And it’s not just professional athletes with millions on the line. Research is showing childhood anxiety has been increasing steadily since 2007. According to the National Institute of Health, nearly one in three adolescents aged 13 to 18 will experience an anxiety disorder. A survey conducted by the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative showed anxiety disorders in children and teens increased by 20% between 2007 and 2012. For kids, who are just learning to manage and control their emotions, the increased anxiety can be a lot to deal with. For parents, who just want the best for their child, it can be terrifying. To help parents tackle the challenges that high stress and anxiety in children can bring to the household, the Liberty Hill Independent School District Counselor Connection hosted its first PAWsitive Parenting Session on Oct. 27. Missy Whitsett, a counselor at Santa Rita Middle School, funded the talk through a grant from the LHISD Education Foundation. Whitsett

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Pezold donates acreage to City Council votes to slow speed on SH 29 of Liberty Hill for new park

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer A nine-acre tract of land along the South San Gabriel River has been donated to the City of Liberty Hill for a new park by City Council member Chris Pezold. The donation of the park, located at 900 Stubblefield Lane, was unanimously accepted during a special called meeting in October, with the exception of Pezold who recused himself. While running for office earlier this year, Pezold sold most of the land he owned within the city limits to prevent any conflicts of interest, but said he had the wherewithal to donate this piece of property, which has been a long time coming. “I’ve been wanting this land to be a park for years, all the way back to when Connie Fuller was mayor,” Pezold told The Independent last week. “I’ve talked about it with the last few mayors, and it’s finally happenCity Council member Chris Pezold stands along the banks of ing.” the San Gabriel River on Stubblefield Lane. Pezold recently donated more than nine acres surrounding the river to the City of See PARK, Page 8 Liberty Hill to be used as a park. (Courtesy Photo)

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer The City Council voted last week to reduce the speed limit on State Highway 29 from 55 MPH to 50 MPH between CR 200 and Seward Junction (US Hwy 183), based on a trafﬁc study conducted by Texas Department of Transportation. Based on the study, that section of highway was the only area the speed limit could be reduced for now. Council directed staff to look into extending the speed limit reduction farther west along SH 29 to the high school. City Administrator Lacie Hale said TXDOT plans to do another trafﬁc study after all the lights scheduled for SH 29 are installed, such as the light currently under construction at CR 214 and SH 29. “[The study] will be more accurate when they get all the lights installed,” she said. “There will eventually be seven lights between CR 200 and Seward Junction. Once

we get those completed, it will by nature slow down traffic. At that time TXDOT will come out and do another traffic study to evaluate what the speed is with all that traffic being mitigated with those lights and will potentially lower the speed limit even more.” Once new signage is installed in that area, the new speed limit will be in effect. During the meeting, the Council also discussed the 27 living unit equivalent (LUE) payments that were put on hold for Main Street Social by the City Council in July to study how many LUEs the food hall is actually using. Hale said so far, the City has collected three months of water consumption data showing Main Street Social is currently using five LUEs per month. She said the City would like to continue the data collection until Jan. 1, 2022, because during the last three months,

See COUNCIL, Page 9

Residents ready to battle County on I2 Corridor project

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer About 75 Liberty Hill area residents packed Main Street Social Nov. 3 to discuss the local impacts of the Corridor I2 Project. Williamson County is currently conducting a Planning and Right-of-Way Preservation Study for a new 7.3-mile expressway that would run east/west between U.S. Highway 183 and the Burnet County line, and a 4.1-mile north/ south connector between the new expressway and State Highway 29. The study, funded by the voter-approved 2019 Road Bond, is part of the County’s Long-Range Transportation Plan that aims to plan and preserve right-of-way for future roadway projects as the county grows. In mid-October, the County mailed 63 letters to directly impacted property owners on the east/west segment requesting to meet with landowners,

discuss the project and learn about the properties. A total of 65 parcels would be affected on the east/west segment and an additional 17 parcels on the north/south segment, according to the County. Landowners on the north/south segment have not yet been contacted. Travis Redding and his wife Kerry own property in the northwest portion of the county near the Burnet County line. As currently drawn, their property would be the junction for the north/south connector. They received one of the letters last month and at their meeting with the County found out the proposed expressway would run directly through their new horse barn on their property. “They want to put a highway right through our dream property,” Kerry said. The Reddings purchased the property in 2018, with Travis, a homebuilder, creating the design and building it himself. Construction was complete in

Nearly 75 area residents pack County I2 Corridor project. 2019. The couple organized the community meeting at Main Street Social on Wednesday night to speak with other landowners, but were surprised at the large turnout.

KRISTEN MERIWETHER PHOTO

Main Street Social on Nov. 3, 2021 to discuss the Williamson “I’m seriously blown away that this many people showed up,” Kerry said. “If that doesn’t tell you how important this whole thing is, I don’t know what would.” Travis unpacked the pro-

posed project as residents took notes, asked questions and shared stories from past county projects. Some asked why the County wasn’t choosing

See CORRIDOR, Page 8

LHHS Band climbs within .6 points of advancing to State

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer The Liberty Hill High School competitive marching band season came to an end on Oct. 23 with the band coming within 0.6 points of advancing to the State UIL competition. This is the ﬁrst year for new Band Director Shawn Murphy, who took the band the furtherest it has been in over a decade. “I’m super proud of the kids Members of the Liberty Hill High School Marching Band perform their program “All of us 4 for what they were able to Hymn” during regional competition on Oct. 23. (Courtesy Photo) achieve,” Murphy said Mon-

day. “I think having a show dedicated to someone so important to the school and to the community really helped motivate the kids and it just rallied support around us.” The band’s marching show was called “All of us 4 Hymn,” a tribute to Liberty Hill head football coach Jeff Walker who passed away in December 2020 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Walker, who was 52 when he passed, was a beloved

See BAND, Page 7

Page 2

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Former military service dog ﬁnds new home in Liberty Hill

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer When his daughter, Braidan, asked about getting a second dog as a playmate for their lab, Zeke, Chris Carlisle wasn’t sure. He knew the family would be moving to Corpus Christi in the summer of 2022 and it made more sense to get the new dog when they were settled into their new home. As those family conversations were taking place in late August, the United States military began its withdrawal from Afghanistan. Chris began seeing news articles discussing all the military dogs that would be coming home as a result of the withdrawal. The wheels began turning and he talked to his wife, Amy, about trying to adopt one of the military dogs as a surprise for his daughter for Christmas. “I don’t think we stand a chance at getting one,” Chris recalled telling his wife. “Everybody in America is going to

want one of these dogs.” Carlisle went to projectk9hero.org, and filled out the application. It was extensive, requesting information about the family members living in the house, where the dog would sleep and Google satellite images of the yard the dog would have access to. The non-profit, which provides care and support for retired police and military dogs, uses the thorough application to ensure dogs get the best home for their needs. “These are highly trained dogs that have thousands of hours of training during their lifetime,” Amanda Bolyard, director of facilities at Project K-9 Hero, told The Independent. “Some of them come with very unique skill sets that requires someone with experience to handle.” Chris, a retired Austin police officer, received a confirmation email that said it could take up to 300 days to get a dog. But he didn’t have to wait

that long. In early October he got an email congratulating him on being selected. A few weeks later, Chris texted Braidan photos of a few dogs they could pick from. Braidan came downstairs, confused. “We look right at her and said, ‘Braidan, we didn’t just get a dog, we got awarded one of the military dogs.’” Chris said. “She broke down crying.” The entire family, including two sons off at college, all voted to adopt the same dog: a three-year-old black lab named Russo. All the notes indicated he was always happy, never sad, and very well-mannered. Project K-9 Hero shared Russo’s health records and a mental health evaluation showing he didn’t have PTSD. They did not, however, share the training certiﬁcates. Working dogs are highly valued and in the past have been resold to municipalities for tens of thousands of dollars.

Chris said he isn’t quite sure what type of service Russo did, but believes the pup had always been state-side due to his age. He signed a contract vowing to never sell Russo. Given how well the lab has fit into family in such a short time, the family couldn’t imagine giving him up. “We have nothing but respect for the military and first responders,” Chris said. “We just wanted to give this dog a great home since he was being retired.” Zeke was a little territorial the first few hours of his arrival on Nov. 3, but the two dogs have since become inseparable. After working for much of his first three years, Russo appears to be enjoying playing with his new brother and going on walks with his new family. Stories like Russo’s are why Project K-9 Hero continues to raise money and awareness for service dogs. “There are no public funds for these dogs once they retire,”

Commissioners set to ratify redistricting maps on Friday

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer Williamson County Commissioners gave preliminary approval Tuesday for the County’s redistricting maps. The court will review minor suggested changes and hold a special session on Friday to formally ratify the new maps. The new boundaries are a result of increased population totals from the 2020 U.S. Census. At just over 609,000, Williamson County is the third fastest growing county in the state, growing by over 44% since the last census. The growth, however, has not been evenly distributed among the four precincts. The new maps were designed to get each of the precincts to roughly 152,000 residents each. To do that Precinct 2, which

includes Liberty Hill was expanded slightly to the east and now includes the Rancho Sienna neighborhood. Precinct 4 gained sizable portions of Precinct 3, including the cities of Weir and Jarrell. Precinct 1 gained portions of Round Rock, but lost Brushy Creek -- something that concerned current Pct. 1 Commissioner Terry Cook. “Not only did you think of you, you thought of me and you packed in every Democratic leaning precinct around me, and then gutted the heart right out of Precinct 1 in order to make the numbers work,” Cook said. County Judge Bill Gravell disagreed, citing a lack of negative public comments. The County solicited comments from the public from Nov. 4-8 and received feedback from

139 people. Of those, 102 were in support of the proposed map, 24 were against and 13 responses were questions or comments about the process, according to data presented by Pct. 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long. During the public hearing on Tuesday four members of the public gave feedback on the new map. Two were opposed to the changes, including José Orta who was representing the League of United Latin American Citizens. “Instead of taking the growth of Latinos into account and the growth of communities of color, and working with the Latino community, you have intentionally drawn gerrymandered maps that dilute the vote of people of color.”

See MAP, Page 3

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Bolyard said. “These dogs usually retire when they medically can no longer perform their job anymore. And that’s when they really need the most help.” The non-proﬁt helps pay medical bills for service dogs and is 100% dependent on donations. They don’t always

have dogs available for adoption, and not everyone can qualify for a former service animal. But they can alway use ﬁnancial support. “Any amount of support is helpful,” Bolyard said. “Even a $5 donation helps our program.”

Bell County

FLORENCE JARRELL

Burnet County

BARTLETT

Pct 3

GRANGER

WEIR LIBERTY HILL

Pct 2

GEORGETOWN

Milam County

Pct 4 THORNDALE THRALL LEANDER

Travis County

TAYLOR

HUTTO ROUND ROCK CEDAR PARK AUSTIN

Pct 1

PFLUGERVILLE

COUPLAND

Travis County

Proposed Commissioner, JP, and Constable Precincts Proposed Precincts Boundaries

Current Williamson County Commissioner Precincts Precinct 1

Lee County

Precinct 2 Precinct 3

DRAFT 11/03/2021

Precinct 4

Bastrop County

Proposed Commissioner, JP, and Constable Precincts with Current Commissioner, JP, and Constable Precincts Williamson County, Texas

Miles 0

2.5

Williamson County Location Map

DISCLAIMER - PLEASE READ: This map is for general planning purposes only. The basemap conforms to National Map Accuracy Standards in unobstructed areas. Williamson County makes no warranty, representation or guarantee as to the content, sequence, accuracy, timeliness or completeness of any of the database information or spatial locations depicted. Furthermore, all warranties on merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are hereby disclaimed. In no event shall Williamson County be liable to the recipient or any other party for damages of any type, including but not limited to incidental, consequential or exemplary damages arising out of the use or inability to use these materials.

MAP DATE: Nov 3rd, 2021 MAP AUTHOR: GIS Staff MAP CONTACT: GIS Staff Williamson County 301 SE Inner Loop Suite 107 Georgetown, TX 78626

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Greenleaf Fisk Chapter to tour State Cemetery

The Judge Greenleaf Fisk Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas will meet Saturday, Nov. 13, at 10 a.m. at Cross Tracks Methodist Church, 101 Church Street, Liberty Hill. The program will be a ﬁeld trip to tour the historic Texas State Cemetery. Members will leave from Cross Tracks Church.

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KRISTEN MERIWETHER PHOTO

Russo, a three-year-old black lab and former military service animal, at his new home in Liberty Hill. Chris Carlisle and his family adopted the dog from Project K-9 Hero, a non-proﬁt that provides support and care for retired military and police dogs.

Liberty Hill PD Stuff a Cruiser

The Liberty Hill Police Department will be collecting non-perishable food items for Operation Liberty Hill holiday food boxes. Residents looking

to donate food can drop off at the following times and locations: - Nov. 15 in front of LHPD from 1-4 p.m. - Nov. 16 at the Liberty Hill Dollar General Store, 3-7 p.m. - Nov. 19 at the Liberty Hill Dollar General Store, 1 -4 p.m. - Nov. 20 at Indian Mound Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Liberty Hill Blue Santa Toy Drive

The Liberty Hill Police Department is collecting Christmas presents for their annual Blue Santa Toy Drive. Clothing and toys can be dropped off at any of the 24 bins located at local businesses. They are looking for toys

for all age groups, but are hoping to see an increase in donations for gifts speciﬁc for ages 12-18. This could include art supplies, nail polish, curling irons, bath and body soaps or lotions, or any kind of sporting goods like balls, gloves or ﬁshing equipment. Operation Liberty Hill will serve as the pickup location for Blue Santa. Donations will be placed in a separate store and eligible families will be able to pick out presents for their loved ones. The last day to donate to Blue Santa is Dec. 3. For more information, contact the Liberty Hill Police Department at (512) 515-5409, or Operation Liberty Hill at (512) 778-5077 or (512) 778-4175.

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Thursday, November 11, 2021

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 3

Throwback Thursday

Veterans Day prompts memories of family members who served

Scouts honor deceased Veterans

Scouts from Troop 196 and Pack 196 recently replaced the worn ﬂags on the graves of veterans at the Liberty Hill Cemetery, in honor of Veterans Day. In back, from left, are Kevin Van Antwerp, Ross Moore, Connor Ford, Assistant Scoutmaster Jim Hannaman, Jonathan Van Antwerp, Timothy Hannaman, Matthew Niles, and Assistant Scoutmaster Chris Niles. In front, are Nathan Criminale and Timothy Van Antwerp. (Courtesy Photo)

staff notebook Our views and other news and musings from THE INDEPENDENT Staff

A slight increase is necessary in 2022

As your hometown newspaper approaches the start of its 35th year in continuous publication, we face economic challenges due to significant increases in costs that we sadly must pass along to our readers in 2022. Paper costs have risen significantly since the pandemic due to supply shortages, and printing costs have increased due to a labor shortage. Additionally, postage increased this year, which when combined with the other rising costs, have made printing the news a more costly endeavor. It’s been five years since we increased the price of an annual subscription from $22 to $25. Yet for the past three years, the actual cost of printing and mailing a newspaper has noticeably exceeded that price. In recent months, paper and printing costs have increased by more than 12 percent while periodical postage has increased by more than 9 percent. In order to continue providing the community with the trusted journalism you have come to rely on from The Independent, the price of an annual print subscription in Williamson County will increase to $40. Out of county subscriptions will increase to $45 and out of state subscribers will pay $54. Subscriptions to the E-edition accessible through our website will increase by $5 per year to $30. Individual copies available

for purchase at area businesses will increase from $0.50 to $0.75 each. Current subscribers will notice the increase on their 2022 invoices for renewal. Readers wishing to start a new subscription will pay the new rates effective Jan. 1, 2022. Take advantage of the current lower rate by subscribing now or buying a gift subscription for a loved one this holiday season. Our readers are extremely important to us, so the decision to increase rates, although slightly, is one that was made carefully after much consideration for our community. Our professional and personal commitment to this community is long-standing, and for the past 34 years we have seen how fair and balanced reporting have made a difference in our hometown. We take our responsibility to you very seriously and appreciate your continued trust and readership as we report the news that’s important to you.

Holiday Deadlines

The Thanksgiving edition of The Independent will be published Nov. 23 so that our families may enjoy the holiday. As a result, the deadline for news and advertising for that edition will be 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19. Newspaper deadlines will not be changed for Christmas or New Year’s holidays. Those deadlines will continue to be at 12 Noon on Mondays. ~ Shelly Wilkison Publisher

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By JAMES WEAR Columnist More than a century has passed since the first World War came to an end as an armistice was signed…at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918…and the memories of the conflict leading up to that point, and the celebrations that followed the end of the fighting… would eventually lead to the anniversary of that date becoming a day of national observation. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost in wars and conflicts that followed World War I, and while Americans have sometimes found themselves divided as to whether those wars could be justified, the population as a whole continues to honor those who served in the military. My maternal grandfather Charles Ickes was among those to fight in the first World War and while my memories of him are rather hazy as he passed away when I was three years old, his service, as well as that of one of his sons, inspired both my grandmother and mother to take active roles in the American Legion Auxiliary. My late brother-in-law was among those who spent a tour of duty in Vietnam, and while Joe was an enlisted man, having signed up with the Air Force a few years prior, his time in Vietnam was perhaps the longest year in my sister’s life as she struggled to raise their four sons. I still remember the day the family accompanied them to the airport and the final hugs before Joe headed towards the plane…only to be momentarily stopped by his second oldest boy, who broke free from his mother and ran screaming to his father, not understanding why or where Joe was headed.

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Like most Vietnam veterans I’ve known over the years, Joe rarely spoke of his time there; and the same could be said of my late father-inlaw, John Lane, who spent six years in the military. John spent time in both the Navy and Marines after graduating from Liberty Hill High School. He would eventually be elected as the first commander of the Liberty Hill Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8200 when the post was established in the late 1970s, and although he eventually moved away from Liberty Hill, he maintained a membership in both the VFW and American Legion. Over the years I was lucky enough to have enjoyed friendships with several members of the Liberty Hill post, and was among those who volunteered time to help in the construction of the headquarters the veterans built on their downtown property back in the early 1990s. Among those I befriended was the late Carl Williams, who was instrumental in seeing the Walls of Honor become a focal point of Veterans Park; and Jimmy Waterston, who before his death kept the park mowed for several years. There were many other men and women who gave countless hours to the community through their membership in the local VFW and its auxiliary, and I shared their sadness when the decision came to disband the organization a few years back. Fortunately, the City of Liberty Hill made the decision a few years back to finance several upgrades to the park and the property is now one of the crown jewels of the community…a fitting tribute to those who sacrificed much for this country.

Continued from Page 2

Gravell disputed the claims of gerrymandering. “Not one elected ofﬁcial was drawn out of their precinct. And if this court wanted to be nefarious and gerrymander, every person could have been drawn out of their precinct,”

he said. “Not one Democrat was drawn out of their precinct and not one Republican. And I think that’s pretty dadgum fair with the timeline that we’ve had.” The court reviewed ﬁve small changes that help align

COURTESY PHOTOS

My maternal grandfather, Charles Ickes, was among those Americans who served in World War I.

My late brother-in-law, Joe Nowinsky, was among those who spent a tour of duty in Vietnam.

This photo of my late father-in-law, John Lane, was taken during his tenure in the Marines.

the map with Congressional boundaries, which is required by law. Those changes will be reviewed and ofﬁcially ratiﬁed on Friday, and will take effect Jan. 1, 2022. Candidates for county commissioner, Justice of the Peace and

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county constables will use the new maps to ﬁle for their candidacy and campaign. But they would not take over the newly drawn precincts until they take ofﬁce on Jan. 1, 2023.

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, November 11, 2021

K9s being vetted for LHPD by local Girl Scout

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer Jillian Hamrick, a 15-yearold sophomore at Liberty Hill High School, just returned from Poland where she spent days testing and analyzing dozens of dogs with the potential to become a K9 for Liberty Hill Police Department. Hamrick is working toward earning her Gold Award through the Girl Scouts of America, which is the highest award that can be earned as a Girl Scout. Hamrick, who is a senior member of Troop 40101, decided that for her Gold Award, she would train and donate a K9 to the LHPD. She partnered with Brad Langham, owner of Pacesetter K9 in Liberty Hill, to find the perfect pup for the job. Over the last several months, Hamrick has learned how to train and handle a drug detector dog. She attended a 720-hour handlers’ course at Pacesetter alongside law enforcement officers from across the country. During her training, she learned how to lead a dog to search a room and a car for narcotics and has learned several Czech commands. She’s also learned how to search an open field, how to lead a dog to search for bombs, and what it’s like to be attacked by a K9. Langham donated all the training to Hamrick for her cause. In October, Hamrick and Gina Giachetti, her troop leader and mother, went with Langham to Poland to pick out a group of dogs that had good potential for working as a K9 for the LHPD. Langham supervised the trip and showed Hamrick what to look for when choos-

ing a dog. Together, they ended up choosing six dogs that they felt had the most potential. The dogs were purchased by Pacesetter K9 and were transported across Europe, flown to Houston, and driven to Liberty Hill, where they were escorted by LHPD Officer Esteban Gomez-Sanchez to Pacesetter K9, where they will spend the next few months training. “The trip was fun,” Hamrick said. “It was really interesting to watch the testing process.” Langham said the testing process for the dogs involved throwing a ball in the field to see how the dogs run and search for the ball, and if they use their nose more than their eyes. They also watch to see if the dog needs help from its handler and if it’s confident enough to search furniture in a building, jump onto things, not spook at loud noises and navigate slick floors. “We chose the best six dogs we could find,” he said. “[In Poland,] they work more on the developmental stuff. We do the fine tuning and training to find odors at Pacesetter.” Langham and Hamrick have yet to choose the top dog for the job but hope to make that decision by next week. For now, they are still analyzing all six dogs and deciding which one will be the best fit for the LHPD. They are also waiting to hear which officer at LHPD will become the handler. The dogs—Fido, Asta, Kendo, Rimon, Dragon and Rado— are all between one and two years old, and are either German shepherd, Dutch shepherd or Belgian Malinois breeds.

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“I’ve got my idea of who the dog needs to be,” Langham said, “but we’ve got more testing to do to make sure the dog will ﬁt. The dogs have only been here since Thursday, so we’re still getting them used to being here. The trip across Europe to the U.S. can be traumatizing for them.” After selecting the best dog for the job, Hamrick will be working with the future K9 beginning in January to get it ready for its new job. The dog will be ready to work the streets by the end of January or beginning of February, Langham said. The other ﬁve dogs who aren’t selected for LHPD will still become K9s—but will be sold to other police departments from across the country. The cost for Hamrick’s project, as well as the training for the K9, is approximately $5,000. Over the last several months, Hamrick has raised $4,300 through donations and selling paw balm at local farmer’s markets. She is still actively raising money. To cover her trip to Poland, Giachetti pitched in another $1,000. In addition, veterinarian Todd Murphy of Sam Bass Veterinary Wellness in Round Rock—who is opening a veterinary clinic in Liberty Hill in 2022—donated full care for the K9 for the duration of its life. “We are really just a couple hundred dollars short,” Giachetti said. “We are currently partnering with Scentsy and selling dog shampoo and spray. They are giving us $7 for every bottle we sell.” Hamrick said she will be at

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Jillian Hamrick (left) and Brad Langham (right), owner of Pacesetter K9, work with one of the six dogs brought to Liberty Hill from Poland to become a K9 for the LH Police Department. Pacesetter whenever she can will provide sustainability to So far, Hamrick has spent over the next few months to her project, which is a require- 1,128 hours on her Gold get the K9 ready for LHPD. ment of the Gold Award. She Award, and is expecting many “I am also going to be writing will put together a program more hours ahead. lesson plans to send with the that will help teach students “Now the fun really begins,” K9,” she said. across the community about Langham said. Hamrick said the lesson plan the importance of K9s.

LHHS actors present ‘Alice in Wonderland’

The Liberty Hill High School Panther Theatre cast had two shows for its fall performance last week. “Many of the show’s creative lines, snappy remarks and clever, but impressive stunts, prompted roaring applause from the audience,” according to the LHISD Facebook page. “The cast members proved to be incredibly skillful, fully embracing and encompassing the true nature of Lewis Carroll’s original characters and personalties of Through the Looking Glass.” (Courtesy Photo)

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, November 11, 2021 Page 5

Nearing the finish line

Senior linebacker enjoying final stretch

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Two years ago at this time, Reid Bynum was holding practice dummies for Liberty Hill’s varsity football team as they got ready for the playoffs. Not glamorous work, by any means, but a task he was willing to do with one eye on the future. “At the time, I looked at it as a rite of passage,” said Bynum, who starts at inside linebacker for the Panthers. “I knew I still needed to build up my skills to be varsity-worthy.” In the time since, Bynum has certainly done just that and much more since moving up to the varsity last season as a junior, when he also played on the offensive line in addition to his linebacker duties. However, this year he’s been strictly a defender and is currently second on the squad with 105 tackles on the current campaign in averaging 10.5 stops per game.

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Liberty Hill senior linebacker Reid Bynum (#62) is enjoying his final season of football as the Panthers get ready for the playoffs. Another statistical department in which Bynum is tied for the lead is takeaways, with an interception and a pair of fumble recoveries to his credit, both of which occurred Nov. 5 in Liberty Hill’s 59-0 home win over Northeast in the regular-season finale.

Bynum said when defensive players get to shine by getting their hands on the ball in a positive manner, it’s good to get some credit where it’s due. “Plays like that are a chance for us to get some glory,” he said. “Everyone always usually looks at the running backs

and what they do.” When a loose ball is on the ground with a mass of humanity heaving itself toward the pigskin with extreme prejudice and designs to claim it, a split-second decision must be made – try to pick it up and run with it or just jump on the ball.

Sometimes the proper course of action is clear, while at other times, not exactly – a conundrum Bynum found himself in on his first recovery of the evening, he said. “On the second one, I was just going to dive on it,” said Bynum. “But, on the first one,

there was chance for a scoop, but instead I decided to shield the running back from the ball and jump on it.” Either way, taking the ball away from the grasp of the opposition is certainly good enough, whether the ball can be returned or not. “I have confidence in our offense to be able to score points,” he said. Lined up alongside Bynum is fellow senior Andon Thomas, a teammate who makes everyone around him better, he said. “Andon is the most intelligent guy I’ve ever had the blessing of playing with,” said Bynum. Head coach Kent Walker said the duo is a formidable force for offenses to deal with. “Reid complements Andon really well,” said Walker. “He just always finds himself around the ball a lot and that’s because he’s so coachable. As this year’s gone on, he’s continued to get better.” Bynum said he’s pleased to be playing defense exclusively. “Linebacker feels more natural for me,” he said. “I have a better understanding of what I need to do and I also like to hit people.” Speaking of physical contact,

Adding size to speed

See BYNUM, Page 8

Liberty Hill hoopsters have more height this season

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When the Panthers of Liberty Hill take the court this season, they will play the same kind of high-pressure, up-tempo basketball they have for years. However, this season the Purple-and-Gold have added some size to go with their trademark speed as they embark on their second season of Class 5A competition. In fact, Liberty Hill head coach Barry Boren can boast of a roster that features four players who are 6-foot-4 or taller, which is what will provide his team with a different dimension this season – one that he hopes will help propel his squad higher in the district standings than the third-place result they achieved last season. As a matter of fact, earlier in the planning process for the new season as the Panthers played in the fall league, Boren decided to try a new approach to take advantage of the newfound size, he said. “We’re long and athletic, so I thought we’d try something different,” said Boren, who is entering his 20th season as Liberty Hill’s bench boss. “I thought we could play man defense on the back end instead of zone.” However, as the double-digit defeats piled up, he quickly realized it was simply best to go back to old reliable. “I realized even with our size,

we were still good enough to do what we’ve always done,” he said. “You can’t be good at everything. If you have something which is your breadand-butter – which for us has always been our press and transition – if you spend so much time working on something new, then guess what, you’re not working on the bread-and-butter, so we decided to simplify things again.” Judging by the way the Panthers dispatched their three scrimmage opponents in the days leading up to the season – Anderson, Round Rock and Dripping Springs – basic seems to still be best. But, along with the added height and length comes a toughness that wasn’t always present last season, as the Panthers were manhandled on more than one occasion by more physical teams, which is a result of a different strength and conditioning program that has seen Boren’s players develop an edge to their collective game. However, the genesis of all this was in the hours after the Panthers’ opening-round, 6256 playoff loss at the hands of Dripping Springs last season, when Boren delivered his annual “State of the Program Address” to his team and conducted individual one-on-one exit interviews with each of his players. “You can’t move on to what’s next if you don’t finalize what

ALEX RUBIO FILE PHOTO

Liberty Hill senior point guard Zane Lauper (#5) will be charged with running the Panthers’ offense this season. you’ve already done,” said Boren. “I told them, okay, we know what it looks like to win – how are we going to go about doing it.” The result was a renewed offseason program that didn’t suffer restrictions as it had the previous spring and summer due to the pandemic, including spring workouts and five

weeks of open-gym summer training sessions for his players to sharpen their bodies and minds for the upcoming campaign. “We had a lot of good work going on,” said Boren. “We also had a lot of chemistry-building.” As the open gyms during the summer are voluntary, Boren

decided to make it a bit more enticing for his players to attend by dangling a certain strategic carrot in front of them, he said. “We only did offensive drills and no defensive ones,” said Boren. “Because we wanted all of them to come to the workouts.” The Panthers have seven

seniors on the roster – including 6-foot-1 point guard Zane Lauper, 6-foot-3 forward Anthony Sierras and 6-foot5 center Walker Weems, who form three-fifths of Liberty Hill’s starting lineup, along with 6-foot-5 junior forward Gunter Daniels and 6-foot-2

See HOOPS, Page 7

Working to get back up

Senior hoopster returns to varsity after JV stint

SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO

Senior Alexa Solis had to work her way back up to the varsity from the JV after moving to Liberty Hill from Bastrop, where she was freshman on the Bears’ varsity team.

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Two years ago, Alexa Solis had already made it. She was only a sophomore, but was already a member of the girls’ varsity basketball team at Bastrop High School. However, after she and her family moved to Liberty Hill, Solis found herself on the Lady Panthers’ junior varsity last season. For some, it would’ve been perhaps a reason to pout, but not for Solis, said Liberty Hill head coach Chris Lange. “Alexa took it with grace,” he said. “When you’re a move-in, you have so much to learn and she also switched positions because we were guard-heavy

last year.” As a result, Solis played forward last season, but is now back at her natural position at shooting guard as she and her teammates embark on a new season – although it’s taken some time to dust off the rust, she said. “Last year, I wasn’t really practicing my guard skills that much,” said Solis. “Also, with the short season because of COVID, I didn’t get to achieve the goals I had for myself as a player.” So, Solis used the summer in trying to make up for lost time with a workout regimen designed to help finally make her into the player she always wanted to be.

“I went to the gym every day because I needed to be faster and stronger,” she said. “I worked on my legs and improving my balance and made basketball moves with weights.” Being able to quench her desire for improvement was more than enough to convince her to keep going, she said. “Sometimes, it takes a lot to stay motivated – even when you want something,” said Solis. “But, I knew it would make me better.” In addition to Solis’ on-court adjustment, she also had to assimilate into a new school last year after her arrival, but said the transition was made easier due to her immersion on the

court. “I think being in basketball helped me a lot,” she said. “It would’ve taken longer without.” After an entire year now under her belt in Liberty Hill, Solis is finally back where she was two years and one school ago – a product of the Panthers’ hoops culture, said Lange. “The reality of it is when you have a program like ours, which has a lot of talent, sometimes you just have to wait your turn,” he said. “You have to put the team first and not be selfish, whether that means being a cheerleader on the bench or getting a chance to go out on the court and play.”

Page 6

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Panthers look to tame Bears in playoff opener

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor One of the perks of being district champions is the chance to host a playoff game in the opening round of the postseason and Liberty Hill is taking full advantage with a contest against Bastrop on Friday in the bi-district round of the Class 5A Division II state playoffs. The Panthers (8-2, 6-0) enter the game on a six-game winning streak, while the Bears (4-6, 4-3) are currently riding a four-game winning run of their own, one that propelled them into the fourth and ﬁnal playoff spot in the district standings after having gotten off to an 0-3 start to league play. Bastrop features a balanced offensive attack which rushed for 1,811 yards this season, while gaining 1,168 through the air, led by 6-foot-5 junior quarterback Seth Mouser, who was 71-of-130 for 800 yards and ﬁve touchdowns to go with one interception. The Bears also have junior running back Demire Thompson, who rushed for 1,262 yards on 163 carries and nine touchdowns on the season. Yet another junior, Julius Baynard, was Bastrop’s leading receiver with 25 catches for 347 yards and three scores. According to head coach Kent Walker, the Bears are peaking at the right time. “They’ve gotten a lot better throughout the year and are coming in on a high note,” said Walker. “They have a quarterback who can get their receiv-

ers the ball and does a good job of managing their offense. On defense, they’re starting to play much better, so they’re rolling at the right time.” Managing the Panthers’ offense will be junior signal-caller Reese Vickers, who has started under center now for the past four games in replacing injured senior starter Will Szewczyk, who was lost for the season with a broken arm. Although Vickers has shown he has the arm talent to get the ball downfield on occasion, of course, the Purple-and-Gold have once again relied almost exclusively on its running game. Sophomore Noah Long leads Liberty Hill with 1,237 yards on 136 carries and 18 touchdowns, while junior Logan Dyer has gained 633 yards on 73 attempts and six touchdowns and sophomore Joe Pitchford has run for 502 yards on 66 carries with 11 touchdowns since being moved to the backfield from his backup quarterback position earlier in the season. However, Walker added despite the confidence he has in his current backs, the absence of the graduated Blake Simpson, who led the Panthers in rushing last season has left an enormous void to fill – especially now that the playoffs are upon his team. “We rode Blake last year – he really carried us – especially in the last four playoff games,” he said of a playoff run that saw the current Texas State player rack up mind-blowing

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Liberty Hill’s Logan Dyer (#12) and the Panthers will host Bastrop in a ﬁrst-round playoff game with the hopes of advancing in the postseason. numbers that included 1,174 yards and 17 touchdowns. “But, we still have others like Logan Dyer, Joe Pitchford and Grady Flinn and we might not have Blake Simpson anymore, but we have Noah Long.” The numbers certainly back up Walker’s claim, as the Panthers are currently averaging a healthy 350.2 rushing yards per game, although last year’s squad produced 434.8 yards

per contest. Entering the postseason last year, there was much concern on the part of Panthers coaches and players as to whether or not they would be ready to handle rugged playoff competition after a soft district schedule. Liberty Hill answered that question with a remarkable run all the way to the state semiﬁnals before falling to Crosby,

cision to defer after winning the coin toss, the Panthers received the opening kickoff and actually lost yardage on their ﬁrst two plays from scrimmage. However, Logan Dyer took a handoff from quarterback Reese Vickers on a 3rd-and-18 on the Liberty Hill 44-yard-line and rumbled 56 yards for the game’s opening points and a quick 7-0 advantage after only 1:20 had elapsed off the game clock. The Panthers took only a pair of plays for Pitchford to score

his first touchdown of the night after a Northeast threeand-out on its first possession of the game and a 14-0 lead. After another Raiders punt, Dyer fumbled on the opening play of the following series, but was picked up by teammate Reid Bynum when the senior linebacked pounced on a Northeast fumble – his first recovery of two on the night – on the ensuing series. At that point, the PurpleALEX RUBIO PHOTO and-Gold launched its longest Noah Long (#21) ran for 100 yards on eight carries and a touchdown in the Panthers’ 59-0 home win over Northeast.

Panthers end regular season with rout of Northeast

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor After Liberty Hill’s road win Oct. 28 over Navarro, head coach Kent Walker preached to his players there was only one more game between them and what they were truly seeking – a chance at another postseason run to match last year’s march all the way to the Class 5A state semiﬁnals. Consider that box checked with a 59-0 home victory over Northeast in the regular-season ﬁnale at Panther Stadium on Friday night.

Walker said it was a relief to ﬁnally have the regular season in the rear-view mirror with the playoffs at hand. “It’s good to be district champs and to ﬁnish district undefeated,” he said. “But, the real season for Liberty Hill football starts next week.” Joe Pitchford led with 163 yards on eight carries, including scoring runs of 39 and 33 yards, respectively, in the second quarter of a contest that was never in doubt from the outset. Following the Raiders’ de-

62-61, in overtime. But, this season a different team enters the fray, which causes concern for Walker as he waits to see how the squad will react when the pressure is immediately turned up right on the heels of a stretch that saw them outscore district opposition by a 317-37 margin, with the only true test being a 2114 home victory over Marble Falls, which came down to the

See NORTHEAST, Page 7

R PANTHER GAMES FOR NOV. 11 1. Bastrop at Liberty Hill

final play of the game. “Against these teams we’ll be playing, the speed of the game is much faster,” said Walker. “But, our kids usually respond well.” Defensively, the Panthers are led by senior linebacker Andon Thomas, who leads the team with 161 tackles – averaging 16.1 per game – with 23 tackles for loss, while fellow senior linebacker Reid Bynum has added 105 stops on the season in bolstering the group backing up a defensive line led by senior end Lloyd Johnson, Jr. But, it’s the defensive backfield that worries Walker a bit, as the Panthers have proven vulnerable to giving up some long passes over the course of the campaign. “Our secondary is going to be tested – we know that,” he said. “But, I feel like we’re in a better position this year as far as that’s concerned and our run defense is really good, but we still have a lot of work to do.” In fact, if the Panthers advance to the third round, a potential rematch with Rouse looms, which means another meeting with Raiders junior quarterback Mason Shorb, who put up 408 yards passing on the Panthers last year in Liberty Hill’s 56-42 win. But, the first order of business is Bastrop, the first step in getting back to where they were last season – and perhaps one step further, said Walker. “I think our kids will play their best,” he said. “This is the time of the year when all their work pays off.”

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Page 7

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

Soaking in the sports experience Liberty Hill junior refused to choose

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Unlike many of her peers, Abbie Billingsley isn’t worried about what one sport she should focus on in high school in order to have a better chance at a college scholarship. Billingsley is a junior on Liberty Hill’s basketball squad who also runs track and never felt the need to give in to specialization upon reaching the prep level – and for a very realistic reason. “I know I’m not going to play anything in college,” said Billingsley. “So, for me it’s important to just have the experience now of playing both.” Billingsley has broken into the varsity lineup this season on the court after paying her dues on the freshman and junior varsity teams the past two seasons and in addition, has switched positions. “This year, I’m playing the 2 (shooting guard) and 3 (small forward), so it’s been an adjustment,” said Billingsley. “So, it’s a test of my abilities – I need to just go out there and not worry about making mistakes.” According to head coach Chris Lange, Billingsley has what it takes to not only assimilate to her surroundings and survive in them, but thrive. “What you get from Abbie is a lot of pride and passion,” said Lange. “She puts a lot of both into everything she does and always does everything we ask of her.” Despite her permanent presence on the varsity roster this season, Billingsley got some playing time with the big girls last year to help soften the shock of full-time varsity ac-

tion this season. “I got to play a few games last year and I also play AAU,” she said. “So, I haven’t noticed a significant difference in the speed of the game.” However, Billingsley has noticed the fact she now has less time to make decisions on the court – although that might be a blessing in disguise, she said. “Before I tried to think too much sometimes,” said Billingsley. “Now, everything is more frenzied, but I think it helps develop your basketball IQ – although it’s a little stressful at the moment.” When spring rolls around, Billingsley moves from the artificially-lit confines of the gym to the sun-splashed track at Panther Stadium, where she competes in the long jump, triple jump, 200 meters and relays for the Purple-and-Gold. In fact, Billingsley is always working to get better, she said. “I’ve had to work a lot on my game to get where I am today,” said Billingsley. “Things like staying calm, getting stronger and working on my shooting form.” Turns out her indoor-outdoor sports experience comes in handy when she’s shooting hoops on the outdoor court near home at City Park instead of practicing in one of the gyms at the high school – and facing a couple of very different opponents. “There’s a big difference between the court there and at school,” she said. “First of all, the rims are much stiffer at the park, so if you don’t get all net, you’re probably going to miss. Also, theres’ the wind to deal with, so I’ll have to alter my shot to adjust when it’s blow-

ing.” Of course, Mother Nature proves to be a bit tougher of a defender on some days than others. “If the wind is really blowing hard, I’ll just stop,” said Billingsley. “Because that will just mess me up.” Despite the fact college is still two years away, Billingsley already knows what course of study she plans to pursue in cultivating a seed that was planted many years ago when she sat down one night in front of the living room television. “I want to get into journalism, probably broadcast,” she said. “I remember one time watching the evening news and saying to myself ‘Wow, I could do that’ – it would be fun to be an anchor or reporter and be able to serve the community by making people aware of what’s happening around them.” Naturally, having a love for English goes right along with her career goals, but Billingsley has also taken a keen interest in another subject recently. “I really like chemistry – mostly because of my teacher, Mr. Vega – he makes it really fun,” said Billingsley. “One time, I turned a Bunsen burner up too high, too fast and he saved me by coolly turning it back down.” In her spare time, Billingsley extends her desire to serve by volunteering at the Central Texas Food Pantry in Austin. “I feel like everyone deserves the opportunity to have a good meal,” she said. “I can’t imagine going through the day not knowing where it was going to come from.” Billingsley said most people

SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO

Abbie Billingsley has been hard-working and patient while waiting for her chance to play on the Lady Panthers’ varsity squad. are surprised to realize how “All the work they’ve put in to der sibling will be the only gregarious she is once getting help me succeed.” one engaging in more than one Next up for Billingsley is to athletic endeavor, which was to know her a bit better. “People don’t know I can be convert younger sister Lila – the result of much experimenloud and talkative,” she said. currently a seventh-grader – to tation in her earlier years, she “Until I open up to someone, I adopt the multi-sport stance said. can be closed off.” her older sister has, but so far “When I was younger, I wanted to try everything – volleyBillingsley went out of her with little success, she said. way to praise those who have “I keep trying to get her to ball, soccer, even tennis,” she helped her along her athletic play basketball,” said Billings- said. “But, eventually I fell and academic journey. ley. “But, she runs cross coun- in love with basketball and “I really appreciate all my try and doesn’t like basketball track.” teachers and coaches – and of at all.” So, for now, anyway, the elcourse my parents,” she said.

Wise leads LHHS in opening win

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Time and again, Kenzy Wise cut to the basket off a screen and found the ball right in her hands for an easy layup in Liberty Hill’s 39-38 home victory Tuesday over Killeen in the season-opener. “Regan (Walker) was doing a really good job of setting screens,” said Wise. “All I had to do was shoot the ball.” The Lady Panthers’ senior forward led the home side with 14 points in a contest that saw wild swings of momentum – especially during a first half dominated by runs for both teams. Liberty Hill got out to an 8-2 lead – including Wise’s first six points of the night on a pair of free throws, then back-to-back buckets, the second of which saw her get a rebound before going back up to score. But, the Kangaroos hopped back into the proceedings with an incredible 16-0 run – which bridged the first and second quarters – to take a 20-8 lead after having led, 10-8, at the end of the opening period. However, Madison Walker then stepped up with three baskets sandwiched around a 3-pointer by Emma Hubbard, as the Lady Panthers ended the first half with a 9-0 run of their own in cutting the deficit to a single point at 20-19 in favor of the visitors. Wise’s basket to open the second-half scoring set a see-saw in motion that saw both sides trade buckets back-and-forth for the remainder of the contest, although Killeen managed to build as much as a 28-23 lead midway through the third quarter. Wise then came to life just as she had in the first quarter in duplicating her earlier effort by hitting a pair of free throws followed by consecutive baskets

Hoops

U10 Softball wins tournament ALEX RUBIO FILE PHOTO

Kenzy Wise led Liberty Hill with 14 points in the Lady Panthers’ 39-38 season-opening home win against Killeen. and the Lady Panthers led, “Ashlyn coming off the 32-30, entering the fourth bench and hitting that three period. for us was huge,” he said. As the final quarter got unPraise was also in order for derway, Abbie Billingsley another pair of players who made a critical contribution helped out when called upon to the cause off the bench, in crucial situations. as the junior hit a three, then “Payton (Hanson) and Abscored on a nice assist from bie (Billingsley) both came Hubbard in staking the home in and did a good job for us,” team to a 36-34 lead with said Lange. “Especially after about three minutes left. Emma (Hubbard) got in early The Kangaroos hit a 3-point- foul trouble.” er of their own to take a 37-36 Wise said the win was imlead with under two minutes portant in getting some of her left, but then senior Ashlyn teammates who are new to Calhoun – who had been si- varsity this year some valulent since scoring the game’s able experience right out of first two points – set up be- the gate. hind the arc and hit a three “With it being our first game with 1:30 remaining to put and all, we needed to get Liberty Hill up by a score of people in their who haven’t 39-37. played before,” she said. “I After trading fouls in the think it’s different this year – waning moments, Killeen we’re all family – everybody could only pull withing a loves everybody.” single point in providing the Walker added 11 points, final margin. while Hubbard and Calhoun Lange said Calhoun’s effort each had five in the victory. was enormous.

Continued from Page 5

junior guard Cayden Branch. According to Boren, though, the lynch pin of the Panthers’ offense must be Lauper, who will be primarily charged with getting the ball to the other four – a task that plays right into his strengths. “Zane’s best attribute is he’s very fast with the ball,” said Boren. “When you have a guy like him who can advance the ball and get it to the four scorers around him, that’s a recipe for success and it’s some-

thing he’s embraced, which is huge. Our floor is balanced – we have scorers all over the floor.” Boren added having already gone through a season of Class 5A district competition will only help soften the blow their league opponents will present them with this year and provided him with an epiphany for the program in the process. “We were always more skilled than our opponents in

Class 4A and sometimes felt like we could just win because we were Liberty Hill,” he said. “But, now we have to match teams who have more skill and athleticism and if we do that, we could be very good.” Liberty Hill will open the regular season at Copperas Cove on Nov. 13 before returning for the home opener against St. Michael’s on Nov. 16.

Liberty Hill Youth League’s 10-and-under softball team won the Georgetown Strike Out For Cancer tournament in their age bracket. Members of the team include Sofia Brooks, Braelynn Cottingham, Kelsey Etheridge, Brilynn Fults, Brehna Havelka, Felicia Kurczewski, Sammie Lain, Caleigh Newberg, Oliva Oehrlein, Jocelyn Willis and Juliana Willis. (Courtesy Photo)

Band

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fixture in the community. The band began rolling out the marching show little by little at football games this fall. They performed their entire competition performance for the first time during halftime of the Oct. 1 Homecoming game against Austin Travis, and all their hard work finally came together. Murphy said once the band finished the performance, they received a standing ovation from the sold-out Panther crowd. “I remember the looks on the kids’ faces as they came off the field, how blown away they were, how moved, how shocked they were that people would react that way to a performance of theirs,” Murphy said. Superintendent Steven Snell took note of the performance and the energy the band has brought to the games the entire

Northeast

offensive march of the game, moving 84 yards on 12 plays, finished off by Pitchford’s second score to make it 21-0. A trio of Panthers ballcarriers scored rushing touchdowns in the second quarter, including Noah Long from 48 yards out, followed by senior Grady Flinn (21 yards) and Dyer (40 yards) before senior kicker Ethan Minix closed the opening-half scoring with a 30-yard field goal as time ran out for a commanding 45-0 lead.

year. “There is so much more energy in the stands on football night,” Snell said on Monday. “They are an integral part of the game now.” Murphy called the Homecoming performance a pivotal moment for the band, which used the momentum to fuel their competition season. They went into the area competition on Oct. 16 and received a first division. They were one of 19 bands to advance to the area competition at familiar John Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park. “Those kids were on fire for both prelims and finals in area,” Murphy said. “I’m so glad that we had so many contests there to get used to it and get comfortable in that venue.” The band had numerous supporters cheering them on at the area competition, where they placed fourth out of 19 bands.

They missed going to State by 0.6 points. “In the past, we didn’t even have a seat at the table,” Snell said. “The fact that we moved to 5A, and we’re right there in year one under a new director and new expectations, it’s nothing short of amazing.” It was tough to lose by such a slim margin, but it has motivated Murphy to leave no questions for the judges next time. “We came so close. Let’s make it undeniable next time around,” Murphy said. “Let’s come together, let’s build up our numbers, let’s build up our fundamentals and have another amazing show.” Marching band, unlike other UIL sports only competes every other year. The next marching band competition for Liberty Hill will be in the fall of 2023.

Continued from Page 6 Northeast’s only scoring threat of the game was on its final possession when it put together a 13-play, 69-yard drive against Liberty Hill’s backup defense before missing a field goal attempt as time expired to preserve the Panthers’ shutout. Earlier, Gavin Salinas ran one in from 27 yards out and Flinn added his second with an 18-yard run – both in the third quarter – to close out the scoring. Dyer ran for 116 yards on five

carries, as Liberty Hill rushed for 466 yards in all for the game. Defensively, Andon Thomas led Liberty Hill with 15 tackles, while Reid Bynum added 11and Colin Brandt nine in the game. Liberty Hill (8-2, 6-0) will open the playoffs at home against Bastrop (4-6, 3-3) – the No. 4 seed from District 13 – on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Page 8

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Frank fifth-fastest freshman at State cross country

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Liberty Hill’s lone runner finished 65th overall

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When Avery Frank stood on the starting line of the Class 5A state championship cross country race at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, there was something definitely different from most other races the Liberty Hill freshman has competed in. “It was a lot more quiet than usual,” said Frank. “I didn’t have anybody to talk to.” Frank was the only Liberty Hill runner on both the girls’ and boys’ squads that qualified for the state meet after a 21st place finish at the regional event, so it was solo effort for her from a Purple-and-Gold perspective. Once the gun fired and the race began, all 152 athletes bolted from the line, with the race playing out in unfamiliar fashion as far as Frank was concerned, she said. “Usually, I’m up at the front most of the time,” said Frank. “But, in this race there were so many girls in front of me, I ran in the middle of the pack pretty much the whole time.” When all was said and done, Frank crossed the finish line in 65th place in a time of 19:36.40 – not a personal record, but certainly a fine result

Bynum

Continued from Page 5

Bynum said he uses the chance to put a hat on someone when he’s on the gridiron to perhaps release any frustration he may be feeling at a given moment – for whatever reason, he said. “It’s definitely a way for me to channel aggression,” said Bynum. “Whether it’s because I flunked a test, just had an argument with a friend or whatever.”

Corridor

to widen an already existing road, like County Road 236. Others expressed concerns about the County using eminent domain if they refused to sell. No representative from the County was on-hand to answer questions or discuss the project. Eminent domain may only be used once construction is funded. There is currently no funding for construction on the I2 Corridor. “I care about this community, that is why we are reaching out to impacted property owners to ensure that they are aware of the project and invite them

Park

and one that ranked her fifth in the race among the 22 freshman who had qualified for the event. According to Liberty Hill head coach Kim Holt, Frank did just fine. “Avery competed well against the best girls in the entire state,” said Holt. “It was a good experience for her to see that kind of competition.” Speaking of experience, Frank confirmed her coach’s perspective. “I’m very thankful for the chance to have that experience because some runners never get that opportunity,” said Frank. “Now I’ll know what to expect when I hopefully make it back the next three years.” As far as Frank’s future on the trails is concerned, Holt is optimistic her work ethic will propel her to greater heights – under one condition. “I just hope she continues to want to get better and keep improving her time,” said Holt. “Because the competition isn’t going to get any slower.” Despite the fact she was the only Panthers runner on the prowl, Frank said she was bolstered by a traveling party that included one of her teammates. “Cayden Branch was there –

Following the Northeast game, the Liberty Hill band put on its tribute to late Panthers head coach Jeff Walker and Bynum was running to and fro looking for the Purple-and-Gold flag that is part of the team’s entrance onto the field for use during the performance. Finally, he was able to secure it and all was well, but that’s

he’s supported me through the whole thing,” she said, of her junior teammate. “He’s been really sweet and helping me before races.” In addition to Branch, several family members were in attendance to offer additional support. “Especially after the race, I had my family all around to make memories with,” said Frank. “Everyone was telling me how proud they were of me – they really helped a lot and I couldn’t have done it without them.” For the record, senior Cameron McConnell of Randall won the race in a time of 17:15.40 and in doing so provided Frank with a target to aim at for down the road. But, for now, she’s pleased with how her freshman campaign unfolded. “I’m proud of the season I had,” she said. “But, I know I still have a lot of room for improvement to work on for the next three years.” (RIGHT) Avery Frank was the fifth-fastest freshman at the Class 5A state cross country championships, crossing the finish line in 65th place overall as the only Liberty Hill runner who qualified for the event.

just Bynum in a nutshell, said Walker. “More than anything, Reid is a pleaser,” he said. “He wants to do well, so you can ask him to do anything.” As his high school playing career approaches its end, Bynum is making sure to soak in every last drop of the experience as he and his teammates head into the playoffs.

Continued from Page 1 to work with us to make sure we get this right. We have to plan for the future and want the community’s input in doing that,” Williamson County Commissioner Cynthia Long said Thursday. “This corridor study and the other ones in the county will only be built when and if the project is needed in the future. The landowner meetings are the initial steps of the study.” The County is currently collecting feedback from property owners and conducting field studies. Project engineers will use that feedback to refine the footprint of the project with

the hope of reducing the impact to property owners. According to the County, once the footprint is set it will pursue funding when the need arises to build the road. No timetable has been given and it is unclear what population or traffic milestones would need to be achieved to begin the process. If the project makes it to construction, phase one will be a three-lane road, one lane in each direction and a center turning lane. It could be expanded to four, six, or eight lanes over several decades, depending on demand, according

Continued from Page 1

Pezold, who owned the property for nearly a decade before donating it, has always had an “open door policy” on the land, allowing Liberty Hill residents to visit the property freely. “Long-time residents who live in Liberty Hill have all used this piece of property to access the river,” Pezold said. “Because Liberty Hill has always had this as a way to get down to the water, I thought it would be a good thing for the City to have.” The Liberty Hill Bypass project, a proposed new two-lane roadway from RM 1869 to CR 279, will pass through the park after its built, Pezold said. “I envision people being able to go under the 16-foot bridge they plan on building to get shade, and then walk down through the property for river access,” he said. The new park is also adjacent to Williamson County’s soonto-open park, River Ranch. “They have a really cool vision for the horse trails and nature area at the County Park,” he said. “But I felt like Liberty Hill really needed its own place for people to go to and enjoy the water.” Pezold added that he has seen plats from as far back as the 1860s that show easements allowing access to the river on the property. “This way the people of Liberty Hill can continue having access to the river that they’ve been using since the 1800s,” he said. “There are even wagon wheel tracks embedded in the river from the 1800s.” Pezold’s only stipulation for the park, he said, is that it should be named Grace Park,

after longtime Liberty Hill resident Grace Williams, who passed away a couple of years ago. “What I see in my head is where you come in where the bypass goes over the park, there will be a bridge with a sign that says ‘Grace Park’ on it and there will be a concrete path with lights on it that you could drive a golf cart down to the water,” he said. “I like the idea of it being a passive park. I don’t want it to cost the City a lot of money to run it, so it’s not a burden to own it. I think it’s something that should just be left natural, and people can come in and enjoy the water.” Pezold said he wants the park named after Williams because of her impact on the Liberty Hill community as a local artist. “I became a fan of Grace’s artwork first—I have four or five of her paintings,” Pezold said. “When you were around Grace, you felt like you were in grace. She was such a beautiful person. If you mention Grace to anyone in Liberty Hill, they’re going to have a story about her artwork and who she was. She embodied everything you wanted to be.” Williams’ son, Will, learned how to swim in the river at the park site, and City officials, like Mayor Liz Branigan and City Administrator Lacie Hale, remember swimming in that same spot when

they were children. “I think people in Liberty Hill are going to love it and appreciate it just as much as I do, and it should be appreciated,” Pezold said. “This is something we have that other cities don’t have. It’s something convenient for people to enjoy.” Besides swimming, Pezold said the park will be perfect for fishing, horseback riding, hiking, kayaking and any other outdoor recreating people can think of. “Anything you can do in nature that is respectful and keeps the park beautiful, bring it on,” he said. “This is good, clean fun, and exactly what

ABBY GLENN PHOTO

“The fact it’s going to end soon is both humbling and heartbreaking,” he said. “You’ve been working so long for this – your senior season of football. I’ve been thinking about how I’m going to feel when it’s over. But, it’s been a great way to grow up.”

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SALES

MULTI-FAMILY YARD SALE Saturday, November 13 8am to 2pm. Awesome stuff! Christmas decorations, plush toys, camping, quilted purses, furniture – wide selection of to the County. large and small items. Durham Travis ended the meeting by Park, 1050 Double File Trace, urging residents to let their Liberty Hill. Cash only! voice be heard by emailing (11/11p) Commissioner Long on the project and to issue public SERVICES comment at County meetings. He also urged landowners to COMPUTER TUTOR stick together. “As soon as some of us start At your place, at your pace, I selling right away, that’s it,” can help you with your comTravis said. “If we have a puter, iPhone, iPad, or tablet. line of resistance all the way Helpful tips and tricks. Readown to (U.S. Highway) 183, sonable rates. Call Karen, 432they’re not going to take all of 553-2468. (12/23p) us by eminent domain.”

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC HEARING: To Discuss Liberty Hill Independent School District’s Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas Accountability Rating. Liberty Hill ISD will hold a public hearing on November 15, 2021, at 6:00 P.M at the Liberty Hill ISD Administration building located on 301 Forrest Street, Liberty Hill, Texas. The purpose of the hearing is to discuss Liberty Hill ISD’s financial accountability rating from the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas. (11/11)

Liberty Hill should be about.” In addition to creating a public park, the City also plans on constructing a lift station on the property to assist wastewater customers in the downtown area. Pezold said the park will use just 8 percent of the lift station’s capacity, meaning the other 92 percent can be used for restaurants and other developments that come to downtown. The timeline for the project hasn’t been set yet, but the City plans to conduct a survey of the property first, and the lift station is slated as one of the MISSING PROPERTY City’s top capital improvement If you believe the police deprojects. partment may have a found

(512) 778-5577

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. (11/25)

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS JOERIS GENERAL CONTRACTORS, LTD. Joeris General Contractors will be accepting competitive Proposals from Suppliers for GMP1: Additions and Renovations to Liberty Hill ES and Noble ES, until 2:00PM on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. Proposals will be received by email at bidsAustin@joeris.com. Project Description: GMP1 includes all structural steel, steel erection, metal wall panels, metal soffit, roofing, and masonry at Hill and Noble Elementary Schools. Obtain project plans and documents at: https://joeris.com/ trade-partners/ For a project invite contact Ancle Davis at adavis@joeris. com. Participation by S/M/W/DBE firms & Certified HUB firms is encouraged. Joeris General Contractors is an equal opportunity (EEO) employer. (11/11p)

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Anxiety

Continued from Page 1

got the idea after seeing a similar program’s success in her former district, Dripping Springs. “We started with just a couple of sessions one year, and the Education Foundation ended up funding it,” Whitsett said. “It took off like crazy.” Whitsett said after seeing the success of the program the Dripping Springs Education Foundation provided funding for more counselors and resources. She doesn’t have plans for that here in Liberty Hill yet, but hopes to open the door to more conversations. “Last night was really just a first step,” Whitsett said. “We are trying to start somewhere, and then we’re going to build from there.” At LHISD’s first PAWsitive Parenting session Dr. Karen Kinsel Silcox, a child development and social emotional learning specialist, gave an hour and a half presentation that unpacked the issues and helped offer solutions. Silcox noted the increase in anxiety in children coincided with the invention of the iPhone in 2007. But she said her research showed social media, the high pressures kids face to succeed, and living in an uncertain world as contributing factors as well. Children today, many of whom grew up in front of an iPad or tablet, are forming their world view based on what they see on social media, she said. Their ability to feel accepted becomes based

Council

on “likes” and online comments. The fear of negative comments leads to anxiety. Children are also under pressure to succeed. Instead of having fun at a game, they are worrying how their performance will affect getting a scholarship. Instead of focusing on the information on the test, they are worried about how their grade will affect their ability to get into college. The focus is on outcomes, not performance, she said. As part of the presentation, she said kids are doing this in what feels like a very uncertain world, although there are no major global wars, prosperity is at an all time high and medical technology is helping to cure or fight diseases. But turn on the news or open social media and it doesn’t feel safe. Every school shooting is magnified, incidences of violence in remote parts of the world are brought right into your living room and phone alerts bring people the latest disaster in real time. For kids the inundation of largely negative events paints a world view that is creating extreme fear and anxiety. That anxiety can manifest in a variety of ways including acting out at home or at school, or withdrawing from social events. And it can result in physical symptoms like upset stomachs, or headaches that will keep kids from going to school.

Continued from Page 1

Main Street Social wasn’t 100 percent operational. At that point, the data will be brought to Council for further discussion. The Council agreed that in the future, all businesses need to have their LUEs evaluated to make sure commercial entities are being charged a fair amount based on their water usage. Hale said staff will work on acquiring LUE data for all businesses in Liberty Hill and will bring that information to Council to discuss at the Nov. 22 meeting.

She added that she will provide information on how many LUEs businesses are using, how many LUEs they have paid for, and whether or not an evaluation was done by the City. Also last week, the Council: • Approved Joshua Jacobi to fill the final open seat on the Parks and Recreation Board 4-1, with Council member Kathy Canady opposed because she said Jacobi does not live within city limits. • Approved a new project manager job description for

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

“Anxiety can lead to children missing class time if they’re going to the nurse for an upset stomach, headaches, etc.,” Silcox said. “That’s pulling them out of the classroom, so they’re losing instructional minutes.” Silcox said there is a lot of advice out there, but there is no magic formula to “cure” anxiety. “If a child starts to feel anxious, don’t worry so much about it has to be three of this and five of that,” Silcox said. She recommends simple strategies like putting the phone down to check in with your child and walking outside, which helps to naturally release feel-good endorphins. To help alleviate some of the school pressure Silcox recommended focusing on the process, not just the outcome. For example, instead of telling the child to go to their room to learn spelling words, invite them to write the words in sidewalk chalk outside. The task becomes something fun instead of the pressure of an outcome. Silcox also pointed out the advantage of letting kids understand that it’s okay to fail or make a mistake. A parent’s natural instinct is to fix problems, which may save them from the initial pain. But it doesn’t teach kids the valuable lesson of resiliency. “If we never let them stumble, they don’t know they can get back up,” Silcox said.

the public works department. Jay Holmes, public works director, asked Council to approve this so he can hire a new project manager to help with project management and day-to-day construction operations with upcoming projects like the swim center, lift stations and road improvements. Holmes said the salary would be paid the current market rate of $90,000 annually, commiserate with qualifications and experience. • Approved Hale’s request to award Langford Communi-

Page 9

KRISTEN MERIWETHER PHOTO

Superintendent Steven Snell speaks with the public at Perky Beans Cafe on Tuesday for Liberty Hill ISD’s Coffee and Chat series.

Snell gives district update over coffee

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer Liberty Hill Independent School District Superintendent Steven Snell met with a handful of parents on Tuesday at Perky Beans Cafe during the district’s Coffee and Chat series. With coffee and muffins to help break the ice, the event offers parents a chance to meet and speak with the Superintendent. Snell warmly greeted each parent as they came into the cafe, taking time to individually speak with everyone. He then launched into a general district update before giving an update on the now-completed 2018 bond and the recently passed 2021 bond. He noted current enrollment in LHISD is 6,860 students, an increase of 1,300 students

from last year. This marks the second year in a row LHISD has grown by 1,300 students. Snell said projections show the district is expected to grow to 12,000 students by 2025 and 30,000 by the end of the decade. To accommodate the growth, voters passed a $491.7 million bond in May that will fund news schools and the expansion of several existing schools and facilities. Snell noted the district has already purchased 240 acres of land for new school sites using this year’s bond money. Those sales are expected to be competed this month. He said the district’s COVID numbers are low, a stark turnaround from the start of the school year when Liberty Hill Middle School was forced to close due to high case numbers.

As of Tuesday the LHISD COVID dashboard showed three staff members and nine students with active cases. The low COVID numbers allowed the district to open their campuses up to parents again, something the school had been unable to do for almost two years. “Part of our focus on culture getting parents back in our schools and connecting,” Snell said. “To do that, we have a lot of activities to bring them back in.” Parents were invited to attend Veterans Day celebrations on Thursday and can also join their child for the annual Thanksgiving Day lunch the week prior to Thanksgiving break. This year’s event marks the first time parents can attend the Thanksgiving lunch since the pandemic began in March 2020.

ty Management the bid for grant administration services for American Rescue Plan Act funds of approximately $700,000. The cost for the services is $43,500 and will be taken from the ARPA funds. • Authorized Hale to execute an audio/visual services contract with Jarvis Technology Services. The company will conduct an audit of the City’s current audio/visual equipment. The company will also be on site during city meetings to assist with problems such as screeching microphones. The

City will pay Jarvis $125 per hour, which will come out of the City’s $120,000 audio/visual budget. • City Attorney Marinella Joseph drafted an ordinance on regulating sexually oriented businesses within the City of Liberty Hill. She said these types of businesses cannot be regulated for content, but they can be regulated for the time, place and manner in which they are authorized. Joseph suggested staff create a zoning district where those types of businesses would be allowed

to operate. • Voted to join the Texas Global Opioid Settlement Agreement formed by the Texas Attorney General’s Office. The first installment of the funds, which is yet to be determined, can be used for whatever project the City sees fit. The second installment of the funds must be used for a drug remediation or prevention program. • Accepted the El Dorado development agreement after an executive session discussion.

Page 10

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

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Broker/Owner

Realtor ®, GRI, MRP

3106 Ranch Road 1869 | Liberty Hill, TX 78642 | www.Hughes-and-Company.com

Real Life. Real People. Real Estate.

San Gabriel Realt y Gr oup

Is NOW the time to sell your home? Call us ... We know the answer! Kristen Childers REALTOR®

Tammy Wise REALTOR®

(512) 501 501-0777 AustinAndHillCountryRealEstate.com

900 Quest Parkway Cedar Park, TX 78613

Serving Williamson, Burnet and Travis Counties Residential • Farm and Ranch Minerals • Land and Leasing

Dax Oglesby

Team Realty of Texas | REALTOR®

(512) 635-7529

www.DaxSellsTexas.com daxoglesbysgrhomes@gmail.com

Love thy neighbor.