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Volume 34, Issue 13
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The Big Freeze
February 18, 2021 | 50 Cents
Liberty Hill weathers week-long deep freeze
CHARLEY WILKISON PHOTO
A view of downtown Liberty Hill as the sun set Thursday evening. While power has been restored to much of the newspaper’s circulation area, water customers of the City of Liberty Hill, which includes the downtown area, remain without water.
By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor While everyone across Liberty Hill is expecting a weekend thaw, the updated forecast Thursday afternoon called for another 24 hours of bitter cold and potential precipitation. The freezing temperatures – which first reached the area Feb. 11 – turned that day’s freezing rain into ice that has not melted in seven days as temperatures dropped to as low as one degree in Liberty Hill. The temperature has not risen above 32 degrees since Feb. 13, and is expected to remain below freezing until Friday afternoon. The loss of running water and electricity plagued area
See FREEZE, Page 4
Residents weather area’s winter challenges
By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer For the second time in five weeks, Central Texas has been covered in an unfamiliar blanket of snow, but this time the winter wonderland was accompanied by a week’s worth of hazards and challenges. What began as an ice storm Feb. 11 evolved into a weeklong winter storm with more ice, snow, power outages, road hazards and water issues. But Liberty Hill residents made the best of the chilly situation, coping with the frozen fallout as well as possible. Many lost power. “We were able to light the gas stove burners with a lighter to make some extra heat,” said resident Lynda Hampton Jones of the outages. “I had coffee and oatmeal prepped and ready to go as soon as the power came back on. We dressed in layers. We shoveled snow off the front
and back porch before letting the dog out.” Taking advantage of the cold days at home, Jones hunkered down in her kitchen to whip up some sweet and savory treats, even finding the time to work on some crafts. “I’ve been doing more cooking and decided to shabby chic an old dresser. The dresser was one my husband had when he was young,” said Jones. “I made basic sugar cookies for my husband as a sweet gesture on Valentine’s Day. Some we sprinkled with red sugar, some with white, and some with cinnamon/sugar mix. Nothing fancy, baked with love. I made homemade vegetable soup from my mom’s recipe and cornbread.” Tiffany Skaggs’ children put their craft room to good use, while the adults enjoyed the snowy conditions Monday morning around a warm fire. “The kids have been making bracelets, necklaces, painting, coloring, making dream
County threatens legal action against City of Austin
By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer With the support of State Sen. Charles Schwertner and Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office, Williamson County sent a clear message to the City of Austin and Travis County last week over the purchase of a hotel intended to eventually ©2021 The Liberty Hill Independent
house people experiencing homelessness. During a press conference, Williamson County representatives reprimanded the City of Austin’s purchase of the Candlewood Hotel, which is inside the Austin city limits but also in Williamson County. Those in attendance included County Judge Bill Gravel, Pct. 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long, Schwertner, Deputy Attorney General Aaron
See COUNTY, Page 5
catchers,” she said. “They have made snow cones with the snow and some melted popsicles. They made snow angels. We started a fire outside and have been standing outside watching the weather. Great conversations always happen by a fire with a beer in hand. We haven’t had any issues from the weather at our place.” Before the harsher days of the winter storm rolled around, Lori Hartsfield and her family noticed issues with their heater. “Our heater went out in the middle of the night on Thursday,” said Hartsfield. “We woke up to the house being 58 degrees Friday morning. Fortunately, the guys from Liberty Air HVAC came out, They were able to get the part the same day, and they fixed us up. I know people are without power today, but it would’ve been miserable to have to go through this cold streak with no heater.” Kathy Witherspoon and her
husband thought about more than just their own wellbeing during this teeth-chattering weather, making an effort to help out some of their feathered neighbors. “We’ve spent the day filling our feeders and providing warm water for our feathered friends,” she said. “The birds have kept us thoroughly entertained. It’s a winter wonderland, and we’ve stayed nice and cozy with a fireplace and hot chocolate.” Danette Robles’s husband and 10-year-old son used the extreme weather as an opportunity for some creative fun. The pair transformed a surfboard into a sled. “They spent majority of (Monday) outside in their ski gear,” she said. “When I went to call them inside a neighbor was towing an adult in a motorcycle helmet in an animal feeder bucket/storage bin going over a speed bump.”
Tiffany Skraggs (right) and her son Skyler (left) enjoyed the snowy weather bundled up from head to toe. (Courtesy Photo)
May ballot crowded with options
Voters in Liberty Hill will have options up and down the ballot with five contested races, a list of school bond propositions, and a sales tax election for the Emergency Services District (ESD). Filing for all three City Council places and two of the four Liberty Hill ISD Board of Trustees places closed Feb. 12 with two or more candidates. In the school board race, four candidates will be on the ballot for Place 3 – Steve Messana, Michel Ferguson, Charlene Stevens and Antonio Canas – while incumbent David Nix did not file seeking reelection. In Place 6, most recently held by Vickie Peterson who re-
signed in January due to work obligations, there will be six candidates. On the ballot for the one-year remaining on Peterson’s term will be Aurora Trahan, Robert Baughn, Lockie Ealy, Cory Milam, Kristi Hargrove and Jennifer Williams. It is not necessary for any candidate to achieve a 50-percent majority in either race, so a runoff election will not be necessary in the pair of crowded places. Incumbents Kathy Major (Place 4) and Anthony Buck (Place 5) did not draw an opponent and will serve another term. In the race for three City
Council seats, Chris Pezold, Kim Sanders and Michael Helbing filed to run for Place 1. Incumbent Steve McIntosh did not file for reelection. Place 5 Council member Liz Rundzieher is seeking another term, but Angela Lynn Jones has filed to run against the incumbent. Crystal Mancilla is running against incumbent Gram Lankford in Place 3. In addition to the School Board and Council places, voters will decide the fate of a $491 million bond election that will appear on the ballot as four separate propositions. The first proposition totals $457.7 million, and makes up
most of the total bond package. It includes funds for new schools, campus renovations and expansions, planning funds for additional new campuses, land purchases and a variety of other infrastructure projects. The second proposition voters will decide on is $8 million for technology devices for both teachers and students. Proposition 3 is for $6 million for the expansion of Panther Stadium at the high School, and Proposition 4 is for $20 million to construct a stadium on the second high school campus.
See ELECTION, Page 5
Page 2
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Thursday, February 18, 2021
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Sgt. Robert Fox, with the Liberty Hill Police Department, is certified with the FAA and is trained to pilot LHPD’s Mavik 2 Enterprise drone. The drone is set to help in a variety of situations from missing persons to natural disasters.
Drone expands police tool chest in Liberty Hill
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By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Since the Liberty Hill Police Department acquired a drone, the new tool in local law enforcement has proven to be worth the investment. “I think it was about six months ago, but we were the first drone on the scene to the Cedar Park shooting. We were able to keep overwatch of the house and continue to relay messages to the command center,” said LHPD Sgt. Robert Fox. “The system that we have
is called Drone Sense. We monitor the entire flight via an iPad. It’s all over the internet, so when we are monitoring what’s going on at our incident command post, they can watch the video live. During an incident, they can make the calls at a safe distance.” Several potential uses for the drone were taken into account when the department decided to purchase the machine. “A little over a year ago, we decided to get the drone,” said Fox. “They’re helpful when it
comes to search and rescue and also trying to locate missing and elderly people. They’re also great when you’re trying to locate a fugitive.” A crucial step in deploying a done is training to pilot the device through a variety of scenarios. “I was the first one to attend Drone Pilot Inc. They send you through a course and teach you how to fly them indoors, in high-risk situations, through the wind, or even against armed suspects,” said
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Fox. “We were provided some smaller drones, training drones that are for any mishaps.” With many drones on the market, the department reached out to the company Unmanned Vehicle Technologies, to get a feel of what would fit best with their needs. “After we spoke with them, we were able to hone in on what we wanted for our drone. That’s when we chose the Mavik 2 Enterprise drone,” said Fox. “That drone is our distance drone. It takes off and can go a couple of miles and a few hundred feet up into the air. It also has infrared, so at night we can look for suspects or any missing person.” Along with the Mavik 2, the department has several smaller drones that are less expensive, easily replaceable, and can help in infiltration situations. “We’ve also got micro-drones that fly with first-person goggles. They are the type of drones that if we have a high-risk situation or something dangerous, we can put them inside,” said Fox. “The officers can stand outside and view what’s going on. If we have a suspect in a home, with the drone, we can see everything inside. They’re also more disposable. If they’re taken down, then the drone can be replaced.” Beyond traditional police situations, the drone can help in natural disaster situations. “If we have flooding or anything like that, usually the next day Emergency Management will come out and want to see how things are. The drones can be sent to see the damage,” said Fox. Ultimately, the drone is a tool that helps the department do more with less risk. “The main concern of it is officer safety at all times,” said Fox. “Before drones came in, you were trying to find a building owner to give you blueprints for places, but you still wouldn’t be able to know where a suspect was. You can keep officers safe and get a view of an area that you typically wouldn’t get.”
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OPINION You city folks are losing your natural ability to survive
By WILT CUTTER Columnist This week a lot of us suffered. It’s true. This was the biggest weather event we’ve dealt with. Out here on the Shin Oak Ridge this week’s winter storm seemed to us like a hurricane of ice. We had to fall back on simple things that perhaps only our grandparents or great-grandparents. We’ve been blessed into softness. Our memories of hearing stories of working on old cars in cold weather has been blurred by a life our recent ancestors would only marvel at how luxurious we have lived for so long. We’ve forgotten how to do basic things. Now, I believe in Roombas. If you have the spending money, you should get one. I also think it’s okay to drive up to a place and let them change the oil in your car. I’m too busy to change my own brake pads but that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten how to do it. I can still make coffee in a percolator. I don’t, but I can. A work colleague stood in line at the HEB supermarket only to discover that the canned biscuit aisle had been pilfered by people who last wintered in sunny California and voted against his pres-
ident. He called me and was mighty pissed off that the grocery store was out of most things that he needed. He babbled on for a bit and asked if I was laughing at him. No, I told him I only laugh at funny people and he was basically just annoying. I privately wished cell phones could freeze up like everything else this week. As he babbled on I heard a grown man, a year older than myself, in a tizzy over prepared food. He continued on about how cold weather was good for biscuits and all his kids were at home and even a grandson who really would like to wake up to a pan of biscuits. We don’t even have any milk he offered in an even louder voice. After a minute of silence he asked if I was still there? I asked whether he had lost his mind. Don’t you people have any food in your house, in your kitchen cabinets? Biscuits go in the fridge he said in his annoying, know it all voice. Well do you have any flour? He sighed as though I had asked for a personal loan. He yelled out to his wife and she said they had flour. I said, read the front label to me. He said it was self-rising. I said do you have any margarine? Again, he yelled and responded yes. Do you have a bottle of water? He knew the answer
to this and sounded downright exasperated. Well, pour about 2 1/2 cups of that flour into a bowl and dump a stick of butter in there and mix it up until it turns into one thing. Mix it with what? How about a pastry cutter, or a fork or the hands your mama gave you. It should be crumbly. He relayed my messages in a loud voice to a wife who I expect will get into heaven simply because of her long suffering relationship to this high maintenance husband. WE DON’T HAVE ANY MILK I’VE DONE TOLD YOU! I know, I said quietly. Just slowly add some water and stir until it turns into a ball. Okay, now roll the ball in the flour and flatten it with your hands and wait a few minutes. Then take a drinking glass down out of the cabinet and use it to cut out biscuits. Put the open end of the glass against your dough. Get yourself a metal pan or a cookie sheet or something and plop them down on that. Then stick them in that big fancy oven you never use and wait until they are brown. I’d try 450 degrees. Don’t call me again until we are both retired. I mean it. Oh, but he did call me back and his kitchen had erupted into applause. They wanted to know how I knew that recipe
for biscuits. From being poor, from having a grandmother and mother who lived through the Great Depression during which apparently every day was kind of like this week. I also don’t remember when I learned how to rebuild a starter on a Chevrolet, when I learned how to repair the hem of a jacket, nail a brace on a corner of a fence, chord a mandolin or run a trot line without getting caught. Biscuits are better with buttermilk, like a porterhouse is better than a hamburger, but the people who raised me went to the cemetery without ever tasting a Porterhouse. They also believed in keeping a stash of old wood in case everything was frozen and you needed something guaranteed to start a fire. Driving slow and in low gear was also a tried and true way to stay out of the ditch. And also this deep belief that everything could go south on you and all the fancy footed luxury you’d come to take for granted could be worthless someday. You just never know. 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 finds beauty in the people and naturally occurring poetry of the Shin Oak Ridge.
staff notebook Our views and other news and musings from THE INDEPENDENT Staff
This week’s edition of The Independent
It iced over. We waited. It snowed. We waited. Temperatures dipped lower each day. We waited. Through each day of the last week The Independent has adjusted print plans, and looked for ways to get a newspaper in your hands, but this week, Mother Nature is making that mail version an impossibility. The Independent has not missed a print edition in 11 years under its current ownership, and has published continuously since 1987. It is not easy to accept this week’s reality. Like you, we have battled icy roads, constant power outages and intermittent internet service that has kept our office closed. Our printer in Bryan was unable to guarantee a print time and we weren’t sure we could make it there and back safely if they did. The U.S. Post Office was struggling like all of us and may or may not have had the ability to get your paper delivered in a timely way. But none of this means we would stop bringing you important local news. In this time, we continued to report on what’s happening in our community and sharing with you all that much-needed information on utilities, openings, closures and safety precautions. Today, we are posting a digital version of this week’s paper for everyone in the community. When it is uploaded we will announce it on social media so you can catch up with the last week in this strange wintry world we were navigating. We appreciate our subscribers and business partners and want CHARLEY WILKISON PHOTO to thank the community for its support and loyalty through this strangest of all Central Texas weeks. And like you, we are look- An icy view of the rock wall of the building we call home at 921 Loop 332. We can’t be sure how many times this building has ing forward to the coming thaw. ~ Shelly Wilkison, Publisher seen icicles of this magnitude in its 100-plus-year history.
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, February 18, 2021 Page 3
EDITORIAL:
Keep the public in the discussion
For a very long time, residents in Liberty Hill have had 15 minutes set aside and available to them to speak their minds and address the City Council during its meetings. Those 15 minutes more often than not go unused, but they serve as a sort of bookmarked place where residents know they have a platform to vent, raise concerns or make suggestions. That 15 minutes appears as though it may be too much to expect in the eyes of at least one Council member, and has others questioning the point of the open floor policy. If the Council attempts to eliminate public comments that don’t address an item on the agenda then the voice of the public is truly being silenced, and the message is exactly what Council member Kathy Canady said at the last meeting. “I don’t want to talk about ducks or the price of tea in China. I don’t want to hear about things that don’t pertain to the agenda at this time,” she said. Is this really about what the Council wants to hear or not hear? The Council should take a moment to remember exactly why it exists, and continue with the current policy, even if the occasional uncomfortable moment rears its ugly head. At the initial request of Council member Steve McIntosh, and most recently Canady, members of the Council are debating how to manage public comments during meetings. They appear ready to alter what should be a sacred right of taxpayers over a handful of comments they didn’t appreciate having to listen to. Some members have defended the right of the public to come in and speak on any issue under public comments, while others think the minimum under the law is all anyone is entitled to. The law requires that citizens be allowed to comment on a particular agenda item when that item comes up for discussion during the meeting. In the spirit of public service, the minimum should not be the measuring stick for success. Doing simply what state law requires should not be seen as adequate. But residents can always contact a Council member directly to voice their concerns, right? Away from the public forum there is no requirement that a Council member returns an e-mail or a phone call or agrees to meet with a local resident. But residents can speak on issues as they come up on the agenda for discussion, right? They can if that item is not taken into executive session for a lengthy discussion, where ultimately their comments after the closed door debate won’t have much impact. And lately, with meetings that often go five hours or more, should a resident wishing to address the Council have to wait around until after 10 p.m. to be heard? Citizens should never have to ask themselves “how bad do I want to speak” as they weigh the value of waiting out elected officials. What the Council appears to want to do now is create some standard of decorum for those speaking under public comments. While the particular comments were never identified specifically, the move appears to be a response to a series of occasions where resident Chris Pezold called out McIntosh during public comments. The pair has a history, and neither is an innocent bystander in this back and forth that dates back nearly two years. And while the current debate on the Council is to stem what is referred to as personal attacks against members who don’t have the opportunity to defend themselves, McIntosh did just that in one instance. While the Council will tell you members can’t respond to public comments, when one of Pezold’s comments was read into the record in his absence, McIntosh had a scripted response he offered by signing up himself for public comments. It was odd that he was prepared ahead of time to respond to the comments that he should not have seen prior to the meeting. Canady herself has signed up to speak under public comments a few times in the last year and a half to call out The Independent’s reporting on City issues. The Independent was not on the agenda, and its integrity was questioned by Canady. Two things she now wants to use as barriers to comments from the public. If the rules are changed, who will decide when public comments cross the line? What will be the measuring stick for silencing a resident who is speaking – in anger, frustration or otherwise? And all this over a handful of comments made by one person? No other person in recent memory has called out a particular Council member, and in fact, public comments are few and far between to begin with. It’s not broken, so don’t fix it. If transparency is what the Council and City value, then the more open the lines of communication are the better. If public service is at the heart of sitting on that dais every other Monday, then absorbing the occasional three minutes of frustration from a local taxpayer shouldn’t be too much to ask.
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Page 4
FREEZE
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Continued from Page 1
residents – as well as those across Texas – and hazardous driving conditions kept many at home. Even those able to venture out had trouble finding open stores and when stores were open shelves were often bare. As ice and snow accumulated early in the week electric utility losses were compounded by rolling outages dictated by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) in an effort to protect the state’s power grid. In addition to keeping many homes in the dark and without heat, the power outages impacted water service as well. By Tuesday, Liberty Hill and Western Georgetown water customers were under a boil water notice, and by Wednesday afternoon there was no water for Liberty Hill customers. It was unclear Thursday afternoon how many, if any, Liberty Hill water customers had water service again, but City officials said the boil water notice would still be in effect once service was restored. In a social media post, City officials said Liberty Hill water comes from Leander and when PEC began power outages Sunday, Leander’s Sandy Creek Water Treatment Plant had its power cut. Once Liberty Hill’s elevated tanks were depleted, no more water was coming in because of the shutdown in Leander. Tanks in both Liberty Hill and Leander are said to be refilling slowly now, but Leander Mayor Troy Hill has urged residents to conserve water so that the tanks can be fully refilled. The City of Liberty Hill said, “As the system is refilled, water will make its way to the Liberty Hill tanks. It is unknown at this time how long that will take. Restoration will have a trickling effect, and some customers may notice water before others depending on location. Once water returns, boil water notices will continue. Customers could continue to have water issues due to main breaks and frozen pipes.” By Thursday afternoon Pedernales Electrical Cooperative (PEC) notified customers that only 4,857 meters in its ser-
vice area were without power, and PEC had received word that rotating outages had been suspended by ERCOT. Fewer than 100 customers in the Liberty Hill area were reporting outages as of 4 p.m. Thursday. Neighbors helping neighbors There have been numerous times this week where Liberty Hill businesses and residents were stepping up to assist others in need. On Wednesday evening Operation Liberty Hill (OLH) put a call out for donations to assist Meridell Achievement Center with feeding its 150 residents. Thursday morning, OLH was able to make a sizable delivery of donated food to help the Center. Thursday, Liberty Hill Storage, with the assistance of the Panther Pit Crew delivered more than 100 cases of bottled water to the City of Liberty Hill, which was then made available to families in need at a variety of drop off locations around town. Liberty Air on SH 29 made non-potable water available for those needing water for flushing toilets on a first-come first-served basis. Under the direction of Mayor Liz Branigan, a warming station was opened at 217 Grange in downtown Liberty Hill Wednesday night. She said about 10 people came by, and volunteers primarily gave out water to those in need. The plan was to keep the location open Thursday night as well. Emergency services Liberty Hill Police Chief Royce Graeter continues to urge people to stay home and off the roads as temperatures are expected to dip again this evening. “The snow actually helped traction as far as the roads went,” he said. “But the reverse effect of that is it then made it worse later because it iced over. Everything had turned to slush and got mashed down before turning into straight ice. I wish everyone would just take the advice and stay home. It has truly been bad.” Williamson County ESD #4 Chief Anthony Lincoln said
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local fire crews had responded to about 120 calls between Monday and Thursday, but not all of them have required firefighters to drive to an incident scene. “It started for us last Thursday (Feb. 11) over the slick roads and things like that,” Lincoln said. “There are a lot of calls not in our system that we’ve taken care of through telephone calls where we are taking care of things to reduce our exposure of our staff and trucks. A lot of them were alarms going off and things like that because of the power issues.” He expects the calls regarding broken frozen pipes to increase in the coming days. “That business is starting to pick up and will do so even more as pipes start thawing out,” Lincoln said. The ESD has reduced its Engine staffing by one to allow it to deploy more squad trucks. The Police Department has been fully staffed up all week. Liberty Hill area residents responded this week to a call for help from Meridell Achievement Cen“A lot of calls have been peo- ter, which was short on food to feed its 150 residents. Operation Liberty Hill and its supporters ple just sliding off the road, made a sizable food donation Thursday. (Courtesy Photos) just single vehicles losing control and sliding off the roadway,” Grater said. “Even though they’re driving slow they reach a certain point where they break that traction.” On Monday alone, police responded to nine accidents. “We’re handling what we can via phone, and then we’re trying to stay staged out away from each other, that way maybe we will be closer to a call on either end of town,” Graeter said. “Our response times are of course increased because we’re having to drive slow. Every time we go somewhere there’s a risk of us being involved in something.” Closures Liberty Hill ISD decided Wednesday to close its schools for the remainder of the week. City and County offices have been closed, with minimal staffing. City meetings scheduled earlier this week were canceled and the Thursday evening Town Hall for Liberty Hill ISD regarding the upcoming bond election has been postponed to Feb. 25.
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Thursday, February 18, 2021
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
The 2021 Deep Freeze
Residents shared photos with The Independent this week. (LEFT) The city limits sign covered in icicles shared by Nicole Denette. (BELOW) Julie Dupree melts snow outdoors to be used for flushing toilets. (Alex Rubio Photo) (BOTTOM) Birds looked to feeders in search of food. (Alex Rubio Photo)
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County takes steps to establish mental health court
By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Williamson County has taken steps in recent years to focus more energy and resources on the mental health needs of area residents. One place county leaders have decided those specialized services need more emphasis is in the court system. That’s why the Williamson County Commissioners Court has authorized county employees to seek grant funding to establish a felony mental health court. If the grant is approved, 26th District Court Judge Donna King will oversee the new court. King, an advocate for mental health awareness, sees the need to create a system to serve those with mental health issues. “The criminal justice system isn’t designed to deal with those issues,” she said. “A couple of years ago, I formulated a plan with the input of other judges and other experts in the field here in our community and with attorneys specially trained in dealing with mentally ill clients. We have formulated a special docket to prioritize and address those issues.” King said this court falls in line with other specialty courts already established in Williamson County. “We have a DWI specialty court, a veterans specialty court. This mental health court
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NEWSPAPER DELIVERY ORDER OF PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Virginia The Independent is seeking a VA.CODE 8.01-316 backup delivery person to work Case No. JJ008994-03-00 up to three hours delivering newspapers to businesses in Bristol Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court the Liberty Hill area on ThursJuvenile Division days. Must have vehicle and insurance. For information, call Commonwealth of Virginia, in (512) 778-5577 or send email re. Degooyer, Anevay Sakari. Bristol VA DSS /v. Degooyer, to Mike@lhindependent.com. Julien Leon. The object of this suit is to: terPUBLIC minate residual parental rights NOTICES of the said Julien Degooyer, father, including but not limited MISSING PROPERTY to the right of visitation, right If you believe the police de- to determine religious affiliapartment may have a found tion, responsibility for support item that belongs to you, you and consent to adoption. can call the Property Division It is ordered that Degooyer Judirectly at 512-548-5530 or lien Leon appear at the aboveemail at ekrause@libertyhill- named Court and protect his tx.gov. When contacting the or her interests on or before Property Division, describe 03/18/2021 at 8:30 a.m. the item(s) you are looking for, Date: 02/04/2021 in detail, and we will let you Lisa Prichard, dep. know if we have it. If we do, (3/11) we will make arrangements to get it back to you. (2/25)
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Reitz, Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly and several local business owners and residents. Reitz said Paxton is looking into what legal avenues are on the table to challenge the City of Austin’s move. “At the last minute, without consulting anybody, without conducting economic analysis, a safety and security analysis or a health analysis of its decisions, the city council entered into a major contract and just sort of kicked the problem up to Williamson County. It’s not fair. It’s not just. It stinks,” said Reitz. The Austin City Council voted 10-1 to approve the proposal to purchase the Candlewood and provide 80 housing units for people experiencing homelessness. The council voted Feb. 4, two days after the Williamson County Commissioners Court sent a letter requesting a 180-day hold on the decision. The court said they needed the time to discuss the issue and engage with the community. Commissioner Long clarified that the idea of housing the homeless isn’t where her issue lies. Her problems are with the
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brary District and 6.25 percent to the state. Inside the Liberty Hill city limits, the 1.75 above the library’s share and the state’s portion goes to the City, not the ESD. The three quarters of a cent available outside the city limits is what will be voted on, and in some areas
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The ESD, which provides fire and emergency services, currently receives one cent of sales tax revenues within the district, but if its May proposition passes, then all of the maximum 8.25 percent in sales tax would be sewn up in the area, with a quarter cent going to the Liberty Hill Public Li-
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will be of that same variety,” she said. “It will be a specialty court that is a formal court, with formal processes and additional staff dedicated just to servicing those folks.” The funding for the court comes from Gov. Greg Abbott’s Public Safety Office. The grant opens the door to bring in the additional staff required to devote time to each case. “We’re taking our normal workload and giving special attention to this additional group of individuals with mental illness,” said King. “With the nature of the crimes, the rehabilitative efforts, and wellness efforts put towards this population, it’s very labor-intensive. The grant is to be able to get that additional personnel to offer meaningful rehabilitation and meaningful supervision.” This is the second attempt at applying for the grant. The county tried for the first time in 2020, but due to COVID-19, the governor’s office did not issue any grant funds. District Court Administration director Ron Morgan said that 20 percent of inmates in Williamson County Jail have a mental health diagnosis. “The impact of this is wide-ranging. It’s important to do this because the jail does have the opportunities for mental health treatment,” said Morgan. “That’s not always the right place for the indi-
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methods the city has taken to move forward on their project. “I am here today because of Austin’s lack of transparency and their failure to communicate with other local governments, nearby neighbors, and other property owners,” she said. “Williamson County has worked and even obtained the City of Austin’s approval to work on road projects in the City of Austin in Williamson County. We have spent millions of taxpayer dollars but sought Austin’s approval before we did that. That’s called respect and being a good neighbor.” In response to the issue, Schwertner, R-Georgetown, added that he has filed Senate Bill 646. The bill will require notification and coordination between a county and city when addressing the homeless population. The bill requires county approval before a city can purchase or convert a property to house homeless individuals. “Let there be no mistake that the City of Austin’s City Council and Mayor (Steve) Adler have completely failed the homeless with the policies they have enacted in Austin,”
vidual to get treatment. This court provides us the opportunity to look at each individual and determine whether or not it’s safer and more effective to provide them with treatment outside of the jail.” A focus for the specialty court is rehabilitation to give individuals the tools necessary to be able reintegrate into society. “This provides access to treatment, access to peer support, connection with programming that will help them with life skills,” said Morgan. “We have a connection with organizations like Jails to Jobs, which helps them with employment opportunities. They can get substance abuse treatment and crisis care in hopes of breaking that cycle. We don’t want them to come back into the criminal justice system. We want them to go out and be successful.” Along with King, several other key players are pivotal in the court’s establishment and success. “This is in collaboration with the local mental health authority, Bluebonnet Trails, with the District Attorney’s office, the defense bar, and the probation department,” said Morgan. “We’ve gotten a tremendous amount of support from Commissioners Valerie Covey and Cynthia Long. It is something that represents the best of Williamson County trying to do what it can to serve justice to those with mental health issues.”
outside the Library District the ESD could gain an entire cent if the measure passes. The ESD brings in a majority of its revenues in property and sales tax. In 2020, with the one-cent allocation the ESD brought in $1.28 million in sales tax revenues.
said Schwertner. “The citizens of Austin have seen that, and now they want to transport their failed problems to Williamson County without the services, the support, and the coordination that is necessary to benefit the homeless.” Considering potential legal action against the City of Austin, the Commissioners Court took steps to approve that their general counsel propose an engagement agreement with a law firm to represent Williamson County. Gravell made it clear the county would not allow Austin to move forward with the plan without legal action. “I want to say this unequivocally clear to the City of Austin: don’t mess with Williamson County. I want you to know that Williamson County will use any and all resources to protect our citizenry,” said Gravell. “You have stepped over the line without coming to the table and having a conversation. I’m willing to have that conversation, but if you are not, we will take you to a conversation in the local courthouse, and you will not be pleased with the outcome.”
SPORTS
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, February 18, 2021 Page 6
Mother Nature weighs in on Panthers’ hoops season
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When Hunter Clayton drained a 3-pointer from the right-wing corner as time ticked down to win Liberty Hill’s road game against Leander by a score of 39-36, the senior guard was mobbed by his Panthers teammates. However, all the warmth of the celebration quickly dissipated once they exited the gym for the short trip home due to the subfreezing temperatures which have gripped central Texas in recent days. But, for the Panthers, Mother Nature’s curveball was simply the latest in a long line they’ve been forced to deal with over the course of the campaign. Head coach Barry Boren said the day’s events were simply par for the course. “Our varsity boys climbed onto a frozen bus with ice hanging all over it and made its way to Leander High School to play an afternoon game to a near-empty gym,” he said. “The game had playoff ramifications and the Lions led from start to the near-finish, but we hung in there.” Ironic it was the combination of Clayton and Kadin Knight – who had passed the ball to him on the game-winning play – were the duo who pulled victory back from defeat, as they had been in high-pressure situations earlier in their Panthers playing days, said Boren. “Fortune smiles on those who are ready,” he said. “These two were – in fact, they both played in a state championship game just two years ago – they had Liberty Hill on their jerseys then, too.” After seemingly endless hurdles beginning with a teamwide quarantine in mid-De-
ALEX RUBIO PHOTO
Hunter Clayton (#20) hit a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer in Liberty Hill’s 39-36 away victory over Leander to help the Panthers clinch a playoff spot.
cember, the Panthers have managed to persevere and prevail – poised to secure a playoff spot in their first season of Class 5A competition – despite the fact they’re no longer top dogs in their new district. “No, we’re not going to be district champions on any level in boys’ basketball at the high school this year – this will be the first time that has happened in 18 years,” said Boren. “Our freshmen were 14-3 (8-1), junior varsity 13-5 (5-3) and varsity 18-6 (7-4). We didn’t get to play everyone twice because of COVID and the
weather, but we beat most, if not all, of the teams we didn’t play, which means our records would have likely been even better. We definitely made the transition to an upper division with some success – not bad in year one (of Class 5A), especially with all the distractions.” From not getting to finish last season when the pandemic broke out to the present – with many additional obstacles in between – remaining competitive has certainly been a remarkable accomplishment, he said.
“This year has been wacky, to say the least – and, it didn’t start this year – it started last March. We didn’t get to have full closure on our 2019-20 season. We didn’t get to have our team and individual year end meetings, like we’ve normally had. We didn’t get to launch into our springtime of building the next year’s team. We didn’t get to play or attend camp – at least as a group – as we normally do,” said Boren. “Our summer was not fully directed at player development and evaluation as it usually is. Also, we
didn’t include our players that played other sports. Then, our return to school and the preseason preparation wasn’t the same. We didn’t spend the time together that we normally do – players with players, players with coaches and coaches with coaches.” The result of all the tumultuous times has been both tangible and intangible, he said. “We’ve not been as crisp or precise as we have been in the past,” said Boren. “In addition, we haven’t had the number of players we’ve had in the past – remember, football lasted
until January – and our practices lacked depth and quality due to missing players who were involved in other sports. There were multiple interruptions due to COVID and its quarantines. Then, when we actually got started, we had most kids go remote, which meant we practiced once a day instead of twice.” All of these factors contributed to the inability to improve by way of quality time together and having a full roster to work with, but despite all this, the Panthers still achieved a successful transition up in class, he said. “Our cohesiveness didn’t improve because we missed all of those bonding opportunities,” said Boren. “Yet, we made the move from playing a 4A schedule to a 5A one, although yes, it has been a challenge.” Through it all, though, Boren added the mettle of his players passed muster during the most trying of times for the program in large part due to the values the entire hoops family abide by. “The remarkable thing is for the most part our players have made the most of a difficult situation,” said Boren. “Yes, there have been some losses when there might’ve been victory. But, for the most part, Liberty Hill has shown itself to be ‘Liberty Hill.’ Despite the COVID, despite the move to 5A and finally despite the weather that has caused the most recent of the cancellations, our players and parents have been patient and considerate of the difficulties. Despite the challenges, our Runnin’ Panthers could be counted on to answer the bell and put up a fight no matter the opponent.”
ALEX RUBIO PHOTO
Ashleigh Heiderscheit (#7) is one of several pitchers who will provide the Lady Panthers with formidable arms in the circle this season.
LHHS softball squad can do it all By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor If there’s one thing Liberty Hill’s softball squad has going for it as it begins a new season, it’s depth – and plenty of it. Not only that, but the Lady Panthers boast a roster which contains a wide variety of versatile players who can contribute all over the diamond, said Liberty Hill head coach Kristin Brewer. “We absolutely have strength in numbers this season,” she said. “We’re currently carrying 16 players on both junior varsity and varsity. What helps us is the increased number of utility players than usual that can play more than one position if needed.” According to Brewer, a critical factor will be making sure the ball remains on the ground as much as possible, based on what she’s seen over
the course of the scrimmages her side has played in the runup to the season. “We’ve learned we need to focus more on pressure plays and keeping the ball out of the air when we need to,” said Brewer. “It’s still super early, but we want to make sure we focus on the little things and be consistent through our fundamentals.” As with any team, pitching will be a critical ingredient in the recipe for success and Brewer has several strong arms in her arsenal who already have the experience of pitching in pressure situations and feature an array of ways to get hitters out. “Our varsity returners will lead our team in the circle. Each one is different and compliments each other,” she said. “Ashleigh Heiderscheit – working through a shoulder injury currently – has a great rise ball and change up
and works to keep the batters off balance. Kylie Kirk has a great curve ball and does well at making batters chase her pitches. Hannah Kline also has a great curve ball and change up and has great control when she’s on the mound. We also added Reese Albrecht this year, who has the ability to come in when needed and get the job done.” As for at the plate, Brewer said the jury is still out as far as how her team will approach the offensive side of the game – but time will tell as the season unfolds. “Currently, we haven’t played anything but scrimmages, so we don’t have a set lineup just yet and it will probably fluctuate through some of the tournament games, as well,” she said. “We’re looking for some consistency within the lineup with the top being
See SOFTBALL, Page 8
ALEX RUBIO PHOTO
Gunter Daniels (#22) scored 10 points in Liberty Hill’s 39-36 away victory over Leander.
Runnin’ Panthers defeat Leander to close in on playoff spot
Badly needing victories down the stretch of the regular season in order to qualify for the playoffs, Liberty Hill’s boys’ basketball squad continues to come through with flying colors. The latest example of the grit and determination the Purpleand-Gold have shown with their postseason lives at stake was a dramatic 39-36 away win over Leander in which senior guard Hunter Clayton hit a 3-pointer from the rightwing corner at the buzzer – which provided the Panthers with their first and only lead of the game.
Liberty Hill trailed 6-5 after one quarter and 20-14 at halftime before beginning to claw back against the Lions in the second half. The Panthers managed to outscore Leander by a 10-9 margin in the third quarter, but still found themselves on the wrong end of a 29-24 scoreline entering the final eight minutes. Kadin Knight came alive in the fourth, scoring eight of his game-high 16 points, including a pair of threes, but it was the senior guard’s assist on the game-winning play to Clayton which proved to be his most
valuable contribution to the cause on the afternoon. Gunter Daniels added 10 points for the Panthers, while Anthony Sierras scored eight – all on a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line – in the victory. Liberty Hill (18-6, 7-4) is currently waiting for the resumption of activities due to the cold weather which has hit the area, already causing cancellations of contests against Marble Falls and Cedar Park, with an additional game against Rouse, which was scheduled for Feb. 16, yet to be determined.
Thursday, February 18, 2021
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Boys of summer?
Page 7
ALEX RUBIO PHOTO
Liberty Hill’s baseball team is currently waiting for the resumption of warm weather to continue getting ready for the new season.
Baseball continues preparations in spite of cold delay
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Usually this time of year, the sound of graphite hitting cowhide can be heard echoing throughout the northeast corner of the campus of Liberty Hill High School as the Panthers’ baseball team is going through its paces in anticipation of the season opener. However, due to the deep freeze which has gripped central Texas in recent days, the Purple-and-Gold are relegated to finding other ways to ready themselves.
Although all field activities were put on hold until the icicles hanging from the dugout roofs have thawed, the Panthers had already been ahead of schedule in the build-up to the new campaign before the frosty conditions arrived, said Liberty Hill head coach Steve Hutcherson. “Well, it has obviously had an effect, but not necessarily from the practice standpoint – mostly just the scrimmages so far,” he said. “We were able to start a week earlier this year and that week had great
weather, so I feel like we took advantage of it even though we’re currently stuck inside.” At this time of the season, hitters and pitchers are both looking to get into the swing – a process which has now been interrupted – but Hutcherson is more concerned with potential medical issues arising once the green light is given for the resumption of full workouts. “It’s bad for both – hitters need reps and pitchers need arm care, so really those are my concerns,” he said. “More than rhythm, I worry more
ALEX RUBIO FILE PHOTO
about things from the injury standpoint of having several days off, then jumping back in and being ready to go full speed.” Despite the current restrictions, though, Hutcherson is confident his players are finding innovative ways to get ready for the season regardless, he said. “Luckily, our guys are baseball junkies and I know they’re finding a way to hit, throw, do drills, etc.,” said Hutcherson. “While we may not be able to get together as a group, I
would think the majority of our guys are still finding ways to get some work in.” Hutcherson is no stranger to frigid conditions on the diamond, as he once experienced some inclemency in his own college playing days. “2015 was a very bad weather year, but it wasn’t near as widespread as these past few days,” he said. “As a player, my first game at the University of Central Oklahoma, the wind chill was in the teens and we started the game in sleet.” But, at the end of the day,
Hutcherson realizes the benefits of being in the Lone Star State – especially considering a majority of the country doesn’t get baseball-friendly weather until late spring. “We’re very fortunate baseball in Texas can be played for pretty much 12 months, so this is definitely out of the norm,” he said. “Of all the sports, the three that seem to have to deal with weather the most are soccer, baseball and softball – February is always a crap shoot for weather and this year, it didn’t disappoint.”
ALEX RUBIO FILE PHOTO
Blake Wilson (#56) will be chasing down quarterbacks next season in Abilene after signing a national letter of intent to play football at Hardin-Simmons University.
Lilli Wilkins (#1) will miss the camaraderie with her Lady Panthers teammates after she heads off for Lamar University to play Division I college volleyball.
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Blake Wilson will be taking the customary cowboy hat he’s been known to don after games to the college level after signing a national letter of intent to play football at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. After a senior season which saw him record 52 tackles and four sacks, including a season-high nine stops in Liberty Hill’s 42-0 win over McCallum, the 6-foot-3, 270-pound defensive lineman made his decision on where to play at the next level based on how his new school made him feel, he said. “I chose HSU because the coaching staff was great and the school has a great feeling of home,” said Wilson, who will study exercise science. “It’s an amazing opportunity and I feel incredibly blessed and so glad to be part of the few kids that get to keep playing football after high school. I truly love football and I’m so excited to continue to play.” Liberty Hill interim head coach Kent Walker said Wilson’s versatility will make him more valuable to his new coaches, but he feels he’ll probably remain on the defensive side of the line of scrim-
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Not many high-school athletes get the chance to continue playing their chosen sport at the college level. Even fewer ascend to the loftiest possible level of competition – NCAA Division I. However, Lilli Wilkins has done just that. Liberty Hill’s senior middle blocker has signed a national letter of intent to play volleyball at Lamar University and will now appear on the same television screens she sat in front of while growing up and dreaming – a fact she can’t quite believe. “It’s crazy to think I’ll be playing the same teams I grew up watching on ESPN like Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin,” said Wilkins. “On the court, the biggest challenge will definitely be the level of competition I’ll see even within my own team, but I’m super excited to take on the challenge.” Wilkins grew and matured in her role defending the middle of the Liberty Hill net – particularly during her senior season when the 5-foot10 bomber was a force both offensive and defensively, ranking among the leaders in blocks and kills during the
Senior lineman Blake Wilson signs to play at Hardin-Simmons mage. “Blake will probably play somewhere on the defensive line, but he also has the ability to play on the offensive line as well – they’ll be able to use him on either side of the ball,” he said. “Although I think with how well he played for us this year defensively, that’s where he’ll wind up playing.” Hardin-Simmons is an NCAA Division III program, but just because it’s not the highest level of college competition, it’s still an enormous adjustment, said Walker. “I believe playing at any level after high school is a big jump,” he said. “I’ve seen some Division III games and they have some outstanding players and great coaches, but Blake is a great young man that know how to work and will do well at HSU because of his work ethic.” Wilson certainly knows what he’s in for when he takes the field for the Cowboys, as well as the challenges he’ll face off the gridiron. “I think on the field the biggest challenge will be having to get use to the speed of the game,” he said. “Off the field is going to be having to be independent and keeping myself responsible for getting school done while doing all my foot-
ball-related commitments.” Speaking of the postgame headgear Wilson has been known to feature, it was his idea in the first place to award it to a defensive player who recovers a fumble or intercepts a pass, said Walker. “Blake started our new tradition of the ‘turnover’ cowboy hat,” he said. “He brings a lot to the table and is a great teammate.” After all is said and done and he leaves Liberty Hill behind in a physical sense, Wilson said the many things he learned along the road of his Panthers existence will follow – but, there’s one source he will rely on above all. “I’ll remember the long, hard, off-season workouts and the exhausting practices for how they made me a better athlete, but most of all I’ll miss getting to play with my brothers on Friday nights,” he said. “I’ve made lifelong friends at Liberty Hill among my teammates and friends and I was blessed to have incredible coaches as mentors. These lessons will help me as I move forward at HSU. But, the top thing I will remember are all of the lessons I learned from (Former Liberty Hill Head ) Coach (Jeff) Walker and how he taught me to work hard.”
Wilkins will play Division I volleyball at Lamar University Lady Panthers’ maiden voyage in Class 5A. According to Liberty Hill head coach Gretchen Peterson, Wilkins definitely has what it takes to carry her prep success over to her college career. “Lilli will be able to grow and be challenged at the next level, but I have no doubt she’ll handle it remarkably well,” said Peterson. “She has the foundation of hard work, determination and a strong faith and support network to make that happen. This will be an amazing stage in her life and I’m excited to see where she takes it.” For the immediate future, Wilkins will be taking it to Beaumont, where she will join a Cardinals squad which is currently in the midst of its season, after the Southland Conference pushed back the fall season to the spring and whose roster can use the size she brings with her from central Texas, as Lamar features only three players six feet or taller. On-court competition aside, though, Wilkins said her most imposing obstacle will be in the form of the 273 miles which will separate her from loved ones. “I think the biggest chal-
lenge for me is going to be having to live far from my family,” she said. “They’re my biggest supporters and it’s going to be tough having to be on my own, but I feel like I’m ready for it at the same time.” Wilkins said her decision to head for east Texas was based on a variety of factors. “I chose Lamar because of the many opportunities it held for me both on and off the court,” she said. “It felt like home and was one of the few Division 1 schools that allowed their girls to play volleyball and go into nursing school. The coaching staff is amazing and I connected with them from the very start and could see myself growing as a leader, player and a person in their program.” Despite the fact her everyday existence is about to be more intense than anything she’s ever experienced, Wilkins truly recognizes the value of what lies before her and is ready to embrace the challenge – after all, it’s what she’s always wished for. “It’s a true blessing to be able to continue my athletic career and I’ve never been more excited for a new
See WILKINS, Page 8
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WILKINS
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Continued from Page 7
school year to start,” she said. “I know the training will be tough and I’ll have plenty of long days of practicing, studying, lifting, etc. ahead of me, but this is something I’ve wanted for as long as I can remember and its amazing seeing all the work I put in and the support I had throughout my life getting paid off so I can play the sport I love for even longer.” As far as what she’s leaving behind, Wilkins will always cherish her time in Purpleand-Gold – but she’ll still be around for her former team-
mates, even if it’s a long-distance proposition. “I’ll remember and take with me the amazing memories I’ve had with my girls in volleyball,” she said. “They played one of the biggest roles in my life and stuck with me through it all, encouraged me to be the best teammate and leader I could be and never failed to put a smile on my face even if we were running a bleacher mile singing Backstreet Boys. I’m going to miss them the most by far, but I know they’ll always be one phone call away.”
SOFTBALL
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Continued from Page 6
some of our quicker players. We do have some power, but right now we need to focus more on working together to get each other around the bases.” Senior leadership will be leaned on to provide a steady rudder to guide the Lady Panthers’ ship as they venture across Class 5A softball waters for the first time.
“We’re looking at our seniors this season to step up and lead by example on and off the field,” said Brewer. “To be the leaders their teammates want to follow and go to battle with each and every game day.” The Lady Panthers played six scrimmages – going 3-2-1 in the process – which provided Brewer the opportunity to learn firsthand what her
players are capable of, but the bottom line is after last season was interrupted and not finished due to the pandemic, she and her team are simply pleased to be back on the field. “Scrimmages have gone pretty good – it’s given us a chance to see kids at multiple positions to see where players can best help the team and
it’s given all of our hitters a chance to have opportunities at the plate against several different pitchers,” she said. “We’re blessed to have a program full of girls that love to be out here and love to play the game, which equates to a never-quit mentality and will play to the end. After last season, we’re all happy to be out here competing again.”
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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Page 9
In the thaw
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(LEFT) Long lines were common at P&R Propane Wednesday as residents without power lined up to fill propane containers. (RIGHT) On Friday afternoon, Liberty Hill water customers brought containers to city parks to collect potable water. Liberty Hill water customers continue to be without water, and those who have water are reminded to boil it before consumption.
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40 YEARS!
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RE/MAX Town & Country 13561 W. Hwy 29, Liberty Hill shanetwhite@remax.com www.ShaneTWhiteTeam.com
512.515.5253
Feature your property listings weekly! (512) 778-5577
Real Life. Real People. Real Estate.
Is NOW the time to sell your home? Call us ... We know the answer! Kristen Childers REALTOR®
Residential, Luxury, Farm & Ranch
Tammy Wise REALTOR®
(512) 501 501-0777 AustinAndHillCountryRealEstate.com
900 Quest Parkway Cedar Park, TX 78613
“Our family of seasoned professional agents is what makes us unique. We’re here to help you, whether it’s selling your property or assisting in finding and purchasing the home of your dreams.”
Residential • Farm and Ranch Minerals • Land and Leasing
Dax Oglesby
REALTOR®, RPL daxoglesbysgrhomes@gmail.com
(512) 635-7529
3103 Ranch Road 1869 Liberty Hill
www.DaxSellsTexas.com
Adrienne Hughes
Cheryl Stephens
512-810-0185
512-417-0026
Broker/Owner
Realtor ®, GRI, MRP
3106 Ranch Road 1869 | Liberty Hill, TX 78642 | www.Hughes-and-Company.com