Spring Mulch Sale!
TEXAS CUT MULCH 6 for $10 BLACK & DARK BROWN MULCH 4 for $10
Must present coupon at time of purchase. Liberty Hill location only. Delivery not included.
2021
Volume 34, Issue 18
Community rallies to assist businesses
By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer BERTRAM -- Several local businesses in Bertram suffered significant storm damage caused by straight-line winds late Monday night. Bertram Blend & Boutique, the Bertram Library & Thrift Store, the Red Rooster Antique Store, Fratelli Pizza, Mambo Italiano, and Downbeat Music absorbed the brunt of the damage. The loss of the business, owned by Amanda Powell, is a major hit to Bertram’s economy. “It takes a lot for us to get businesses in and a lot for them to stay,” said Bertram Chamber of Commerce President Lori Ringstaff.
See BERTRAM, Page 9
www.LHIndependent.com
News@LHIndependent.com
Bertram down, but not out
Businesses heavily damaged by Monday storm
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor BERTRAM -- On the west-facing exterior wall of Mosaic Garden Treasures in Bertram hangs a bouquet of artificial flowers owner Jean Porras placed there to decorate the outside of her business. “I put those there just a few days ago,” said Porras, whose business was one of several that were damaged Monday night along a stretch of SH 29 when straight-line winds brought havoc to the small town. The plastic flowers and the styrofoam they were rooted in were left untouched by the SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO heavy winds that ravaged the Tommy Franklin, Doris Allen, and Noelle Paulette salvage the sign of Bertram’s historic McGill building. The building stood for a little over a century before having to be torn down after damage from straight-line winds Monday night. Paulette is the See STORM, Page 10 great-great-granddaughter of the Reeds family who built the building.
BUSINESS
Commercial development ramping up this spring across Liberty Hill
By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer With the weather finally taking a turn for the better, construction has taken a turn for the busier across Liberty Hill. New buildings are being constructed while existing buildings are starting to fill up with new tenants, bringing a slew of new companies to town. Highway 29 Office Park, located at 14001 SH 29, is expected to be completely full by the end of April, said Ryan Perry, vice president and broker with Asterra. “We have about 2,000 feet remaining to lease,” he said. “We’ve got a nice mix of construction offices, counseling groups, therapists and marketAustin Regional Clinic is scheduled to open its Liberty Hill medical offices in late May. With ing groups there.” improved weather this spring, construction has increased on new office parks and strip centers in See COMMERCIAL, Page 4 the area making room for new business development. (Courtesy Photo)
Focus narrows on future city projects
By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor The Liberty Hill City Council prioritized the downtown intersection of Loop 332 and CR 279 and the realignment of the Liberty Parke subdivision entrance over the future realignment and signalization of Bailey Lane on SH 29 Monday as members got their first estimates of the new debt that would come with the projects. Dan Wegmiller of Specialized Public Finance outlined some basic debt payment numbers for the Council on two funding options and two dollar amounts, though what the Council seemed likely to pursue would be less than
See COUNCIL, Page 5 ©2021 The Liberty Hill Independent
March 25, 2021 | 50 Cents
Place 3 candidates seek change from different perspectives
GRAM LANKFORD
CRYSTAL MANCILLA
Seeking his second term on the City Council, Gram Lankford defends the actions of the Council over the last two years behind a similar premise to what he campaigned on before taking office in 2019. “Whenever I first decided that I was going to put myself on the ballot, one of the
When Crystal Mancilla decided to run for Liberty Hill City Council, she had a clear focus to bring back something she believes has been lost in recent years – community representation. She has lived six years in Liberty Hill and is the daughter of former Council member Ron Rhea, and she
See LANKFORD, Page 8
See MANCILLA, Page 8
Elementary boundaries set for next school year
By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor When the first day of school rolls around in August the doors will open to Liberty Hill ISD’s fifth elementary school, and now students across the district know which doors they will be walking through. The LHISD Board of Trustees voted in favor of the new elementary boundaries Monday, and officially introduced the new shift to kindergarten through fifth grade campuses. Liberty Hill Elementary will be home to most of the students living south of SH 29 and west of Liberty Parke, while Bill Burden will encompass the Stonewall neighborhood and portions of the district west and north of that subdivision on the north side of SH 29. The newest campus, Noble Elementary, will include Liberty Parke, and portions of the district north along US 183 and along Ronald Reagan Blvd. with the exception of Santa Rita. Santa Rita Elementary will be comprised primarily of that neighborhood, while Rancho Sienna will be that neighborhood and MorningStar and The LHISD Board of Trustees approved Monday the new boundaries for the district’s five elementary schools for the 2021-22 school year. Next year the elementary campuses will include fifth grade, and sixth graders will attend the two new middle schools. See LHISD, Page 4 (Courtesy Graphic)
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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Liberty Hill Spring
Curbside Pickup 8AM to 3:30PM on
Wednesday- April 7, Thursday-April 8 and Friday - April 9 for those who are unable to transport discarded items on the drop-off day of Saturday-April 10. Pick-Up piles at curb should be no larger than 10’ x 10’.
The City crew is unable to go onto residential property- PLEASE LEAVE AT CURB.
How to Schedule CURBSIDE PICKUP
(MUST BE SCHEDULED PRIOR TO APRIL 7) • Call City Hall at 512.778.5449 and provide your name, phone number, and address • Place items for pickup near the curb and mark “City Pick Up” • Small items must be in boxes or trash bags • No items will be picked up on Saturday: any items left at your curb on Saturday must be brought to the Drop Off location at 2801 RR 1869 (Municipal Court parking area) on Saturday, April 10
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Liberty Hill Police Blotter
Prepared by Liberty Hill Police Department
Week of March 15-21, 2021 The Liberty Hill Police Department responded to or self-initiated a total of 619 incidents resulting in 11 cases, 52 citations, 128 warnings and two arrests. Weekly Highlights: - On March 15 at approximately 10:14AM, officers responded to the 10000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard. - On March 15 at approximately 2:46 PM, officers responded to the 12000 block of W. SH 29 for a fraud complaint. - On March 15 at approximately 5:30 PM, officers responded to the 2000 block of Loop 332 for a disturbance. - On March 15 at approximately 8:55 PM, officers responded to the 12000 block of W. SH 29 for an assault. - On March 16 at approximately 2:00 AM, officers responded to Aynesworth St. for an animal complaint. - On March 16 at approximately 6:04 AM, officers responded to US 183 and W. SH 29 for an accident. - On March 16 at approximately 10:37 AM, officers responded to the 2000 block of Loop 332 for a harassment
complaint. - On March 16 at approximately 11:15 PM, officers responded to the 14000 block of W. SH 29 for suspicious activity, resulting in the arrest of a male adult, for possession of drugs. - On March 17 at approximately 10:10 AM, officers responded to the 1000 block of Loop 332 for a traffic hazard. - On March 17 at approximately 3:32 PM, officers responded to the 15000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard. - On March 17 at approximately 6:13 PM, officers responded to Independence Ave. for a disturbance. - On March 17 at approximately 10:14 PM, officers responded to the 12000 block of W. SH 29 for suspicious activity. - On March 18 at approximately 6:32 AM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard. - On March 18 at approximately 7:15 PM, officers responded to the 12000 block of RM 1869 for a welfare concern. - On March 18 at approximately 10:44 PM, responded to Deserti Rd. for suspicious activity. - On March 18 at approximate-
DROPOFF IS AVAILABLE from 8 AM until dumpsters are full or 2 PM, whichever comes first, on Saturday-April 10th at 2801 RR 1869 (Municipal Court parking area).
Bring Your Water or Wastewater Bill and your identification (Driver’s License, etc.) for proof of residency
The following items will NOT be accepted:
Tires • Paint • Paint Thinner· TV’s • Batteries • CFL Light bulbs Computers • Printers • Refrigerators • Freezers • All Appliances Any Hazardous Materials or Substances including Oil
Thursday 3/18 Thursday 3/25
15
ly 11:13PM, officers responded to Stubblefield Ln for suspicious activity. - On March 19 at approximately 5:39 PM, officers responded to Ancellotta Way for an alarm call. - On March 19 at approximately 9:42 PM, officers responded to Continental Ave for found property. - On March 19 at approximately 11:39 PM, officers responded to Holmes Rd. for suspicious activity. - On March 20 at approximately 7:29 AM, officers responded to Drystone Trail to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On March 20 at approximately 4:49 PM, officers responded to the 15000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident. - On March 20 at approximately 6:15 PM, officers responded to Continental Ave for a disturbance. - On March 20 at approximately 8:47 PM, officers responded to the 1000 block of Loop 332 for a theft complaint. - On March 21 at approximately 1:11AM, officers responded to Becker Rd. to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On March 21 at approximately 9:51 AM, officers responded to Agave Azul Way for suspicious activity. - On March 21 at approximately 10:58 AM officers arrested a male adult with an outstanding warrant, as the result of a traffic stop on the 12000 block of W. SH 29. - On March 21 at approximately 6:06 PM, officers responded to the 15000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard.
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Thursday, March 25, 2021
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Page 3
Courthouse’s Confederate statue debate reemerges
By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer GEORGETOWN -- Williamson County residents packed the Commissioners Court Tuesday, anticipating a long-awaited discussion on the committee to determine the fate of Georgetown’s controversial Confederate statue. Split down the middle, many in support of and opposition to creating the committee arrived to make their voices heard. The idea for the committee was first introduced in August 2020 by Pct. 4 Commissioner Russ Boles. “I do think this is something we need to discuss this issue in the next 30 to 45 days,” said Boles. “I need more information. I need more information concerning that statute. I get all the emails, and I read them. I hear the public speakers. I get calls from the media as well. I look at the statue, and it is general. It’s generally toward the Confederacy. I’m just asking myself a few questions. How did it get there, why was it put there, what is its purpose? I want to understand it all better.” The planned timeline for the proposed committee selection was at first December 2020, but an initial postponement turned into weeks without an update until the committee found itself on the agenda Tuesday. “I’m looking for people so we can do our best to get good neutral information on this,” said Boles. “I’m not looking for a referendum from the committee or a vote from the committee. I don’t know that I’m looking for them to meet as a committee. I’m looking for them to provide us information and let us digest it.” Strong Feelings The initial proposal of the committee came during the closing weeks of a summer filled with civil unrest across
the country that led to protests locally. Just as it was then, the committee is stirring powerful emotions and opinions from those supporting or against the statue’s removal. Tommy Turner, commander of the Williamson County Grays, a chapter of the national organization Sons of Confederate Veterans, fiercely opposes the committee. Turner questions the constitutional grounds of the committee. “To this date, I have seen no answers to the following questions. Who selects the chairperson and under what criteria is that decision made?” asked Turner. “What criteria will be used in the selection of the three members of the committee chosen by each commissioner? What powers do you propose to give to this committee of unelected representatives? Does using a 15-member committee to speak for more than 600,000 citizens of Williamson County even recognize the very basis on which a constitutional republic stands.” Dawn Korman, one of the familiar voices repeatedly calling for the statue’s removal, believes that the monument praises those who took up arms against the U.S. in the name of white supremacy and slavery. “I appreciate that last summer, amid our country’s reawakening to the fact that racism is alive and well in our nation as well as our county, you agreed to form the committee,” said Korman. “The statue outside of this courthouse is nothing less than a monument that honors traitors and racists, and what I hope is a long-passed need to praise the confederacy.” Shelby Little, another representative of the Williamson County Grays, can be found on the south lawn, often in full confederate attire defend-
ing the statue’s place. Little says the group has spoken with thousands of County residents and visitors. “They are tired of all this needless controversy and spectacle, very tired, and they are getting increasingly angry,” he said. “I have no doubt that many of our citizens have expressed as much to you [county commissioners] over these last few months with their letters, phone calls, and emails. An oft-heard comment from people who have no love for the confederacy is, that like it or not, they were a part of our collective history and can’t be erased or ignored.” Iraq War veteran Jason Norwood wasted little time getting to the crux of his argument for the statue’s removal. Norwood spoke with a total of 2,200 signatures in hand, all against the monument’s location. “I was medically retired in large part due to injuries I sustained during combat and training for combat. I have literally put my life on the line to defend the freedoms that we hold dear in this nation,” said Norwood. “I have no problem if you all decide or an individual decides to fly the battle flag of northern Virginia or erect a statue on their private property. When we as a county give an enemy combatant’s flag space on our square, we defile the service of veterans who fought under the flag we pledged allegiance to this morning. Our government cannot serve two masters.” Ultimately, despite the heated exchange of opinions on the statue’s fate, the Commissioners tabled the issue for now, with no specific plan for how it will be dealt with in the future.
More Liberty Hill Living to Love in 2021 Six years after the launch of the first annual issue of Liberty Hill Living, we’re excited to announce the community magazine will be delivered to Liberty Hill area homes five times in 2021! Packed with more indepth articles, professional photography and regular features on local business, cooking, home and garden, travel, history and entertainment – each issue holds something for everyone without the long wait!
CONTACT US TODAY FOR SALES OPPORTUNITIES! (512) 778-5577 or Stacy@LHIndependent.com www.LibertyHillLiving.com • 921 Loop 332, Liberty Hill TX 78642
Abbey Byrns and Jack Coker advanced to state choir competition, earning gold medals for their solo performances. (Courtesy Photo)
Students sing their way to state
By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Liberty Hill High School choir students Abbey Byrns and Jack Coker continue the school’s impressive list of students to make it to state – but this pair accomplished it through song. The entire choir group – Morgan Coleman, Giovanna Kirschner, Kierstun Miller, Andrew Vernengo, Braylee Davidson, Tyler O’Brien, and Brayden Parker – along with Coker and Byrns, earned superior ratings. Coker and Byrns tacked on gold medals for their Grade 1 Solos, qualifying them for state. “It feels incredible to achieve something so cool,” said Byrns. “I am so thankful for the opportunity to participate in a competition of this caliber. I think this is such an amazing way to end the senior year and my high school choir career.” A more intimate task, Grade 1 Solos demand far more from their performers. “Choir solos are more of a personal achievement rather than a competition,” said Coker. “I had to sing the hardest level of music and receive first division to advance to state. It is surreal to make it to state competition, music has always been my passion.” Preparation for their taxing solos requires dedication to
perfection and lots of repetition. Even then, there are unexpected obstacles. “I prepare for the competition by singing through my solo at least once a day and finding one thing that I can improve upon every run through,” said Byrns. “The hardest part of preparing is when I have off days with my voice. It can be a little discouraging when things don’t go the way you want them to, but I try to remember that tomorrow is a fresh start full of opportunity.” For Coker, preparation methods focus more on the mental side and not just the physical aspects. “My preparation methods are unconventional. I have a musical mind,” said Coker. “I find myself spontaneously scoring musical pieces to fit the random events of my daily life. It’s very useful since I can quickly memorize my music to focus on two major aspects of a high-scoring solo – confidence and musicianship.” The UIL competition begins with a list of solos for students to choose from. Instructor Davina Hendrix says a critical part of the process is choosing a solo that fits the vocal range of the performer. “I provided the students copies of the music, practice tracks, and online performances of other students performing
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events leading up to June 20 are already underway. “The Longest Day is a fun way for people to get involved in the fight to end Alzheimer’s by involving their business, friends and family,” says Christy Hill, Longest Day Manager with the Capital of Texas chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “All proceeds provide local Central Texas care and support, as well as critically needed global research.” Hill adds that the need for support is greater than ever.
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the solos,” said Hendrix. “The students had an accompanist, Susan Neff, who worked with the students one on one before the contest. We encourage all soloists to sing their solos in front of a choir class to help with nerves before they perform for a judge.” As state nears, Coker’s focus early-on is resting his voice and mind. It’s then the opportunity to compete and perfect his craft. “I feel that I’m prepared, and I have the drive to succeed,” said Coker. “I enjoy the family the choir has built throughout the years. Although some people are not there to be musicians, it is amazing to be a part of the collective sound that has developed throughout the years.” Byrns shares the same confidence and philosophy as Coker. The choir is a specially crafted family of peers for Byrns. “I think all my hard work will pay off, and I fully believe that I can make first division on my solo,” said Byrns. “For me, it is all about the choir family we have built. It is so nice to have a group of people to turn to when you need support, and it is so satisfying when we all work together and put on some amazing shows.”
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“There are over 400,000 Texans currently living with Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia, with over one million caregivers watching over them,” says Hill. “The chances are very good that you or someone you know has been affected by this disease in one way or another.” To learn more about this campaign visit alz.org/tld or reach out to Christy Hill, Longest Day Manager at chill@alz.org. Visit alz.org or call the 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.
Page 4
LHISD
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Continued from Page 1
areas east of that. “The biggest concern was the neighborhood of Liberty Parke,” said Superintendent Steve Snell. “We wanted to keep that neighborhood together and move them to Noble, but there was lots of conversation about the traffic patterns and how all that is going to work out. We’re going to see how it works next year and if there are any changes that need to be made.” The decision came after taking into account 603 survey responses from parents, representing 864 of the district’s students. The location of each campus created some challenges, as well as the recognition that over the next decade, five campuses are projected to turn into 15. “At the end of the day in Liberty Hill is we have three elementary schools right next to each other basically on the same road,” Snell said. “You’ve got Liberty Hill Elementary, the new Noble and Burden, which are basically all within one mile of each other from east to west and we’re pulling in kids from all corners of the district to go to those three schools.”
The goal was to move as few students as possible, and that will remain the case, though some shifts will occur each time campuses are added. “It’s just impossible to not move anybody,” Snell said. “When you’re going from four schools to five some people will have to get moved, but our promise is we will have an excellent school for them to attend with great teachers and a great educational experience.” Each of the campuses are expected to be between 450 and 775 students next fall, with each growing by more than a third over the following two years, pending the openings of elementaries six and seven. Liberty Hill Elementary remains at a lower projected enrollment because more students can’t be added until the campus is expanded, a project that is part of the bond proposal on the May 1 election ballot. Future consideration will also have to be given to the Noble Elementary boundaries as the adopted boundary for the two middle schools splits its enrollment area. “We’ve got a zone now that’s split between two middle
COMMERCIAL Current tenants at the office park include Islet and Goertz, Homebuilders; Elite Construction: Roofing and Construction; Erica Thomas with Vita Nova Counseling, PLLC; Hill Country Pharmacare; Denis Silva and Sons Insurance; Jenna Fleming Counseling, PLLC; Parasec/Paracorp Business Consulting; and Randolph Texas, Development and Homebuilding. Vista at 29, about a mile west of Ronald Reagan Boulevard on the south side of SH 29, is about a month out from having its first completed building, and about two months out from having its second completed building. “We are going to be completely full on these buildings by the time they are completed,” Perry said. “We’ve got a lot of letters of intent signed, and I want to wait until I get leases in place before I name the businesses, but we have a mix of medical, restaurants, a UPS store, a liquor store, professional office users, and a coffee shop. We’re also working with a breakfast café.” According to the City of Liberty Hill, the new Tex-Mix location will be at the Vista at 29 business park and will be the company’s primary sales and dispatch office. Perry said when Vista at 29 is complete, it will include six different buildings and several pad sites. “This is going to be a very positive addition to the Highway 29 corridor in Liberty
a chance to explore some careers and some electives.” Smaller grade levels across the campuses is also a plus for students on a social and participation level with athletics and activity options. “It will provide an opportunity to know more kids in the grade level and do some things together,” Snell said.
last year and all the spring activities were canceled and we don’t want that to happen again. We want everybody to finish everything they love to participate in. We’re not quite ready yet just to rip off the mask and go 100 percent out there. We want to go slow and responsible.”
COVID-19 procedures Two weeks after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott curtailed a number of mandatory COVID-19 protection protocols, including rescinding the mask mandate and capacity restrictions on businesses, LHISD has announced how it plans to adjust moving forward. The primary change will be somewhat looser mask requirements. “Outdoor activities will be mask optional,” Snell said. “Extracurricular activities, like when parents come to sporting events outside, the mask will be optional.” Masks will not be optional inside, but there will be more opportunities to remove them in certain circumstances. “Inside there will be lots of breaks and once students are
socially distanced then they can take their mask off for short periods of time,” Snell said. “The data supports that. Where we are in our district we feel it is safe to loosen those mask restrictions. Then we’re going to revisit it in April at the board meeting to see if we can move to Phase 2.” The district has only four active COVID-19 cases this week, but Snell said there’s a chance that might increase some once again. “We’re expecting a little bit of a bump after spring break, and the only reason I say that is because we’ve had a bump after every holiday starting with Halloween,” Snell said. “With vaccines in place and all the other county and local data trending downward we’re hoping to finish the school year with very few cases.” He urges the community to continue to be cautious and adhere to protocols to avoid a new surge and face the same potential end to this school year as last. “We just want to make sure we stay safe,” Snell said. “We want all of our programs to be able to finish strong. This is when we got shutdown
adviser with RESOLUT RE, added that she’s also talking to a couple of restaurant groups about leasing the remaining space at the plaza, but nothing has been signed yet. At Live Oak Center, where Comanche Trail Veterinary Center and Country Girl Consignments are located, the final 2,000 square feet available were recently leased to Selah Hills Church, Niekdam said. On the south side of Highway 29 and RM 1869, the McCoy’s Building Supply project is moving along and is estimated to be complete by May, said MJ Toops, communications specialist for McCoy’s. “The design team is working on several components of the interior of the store including the STIHL products display area,” she said. “The Liberty Hill store will be a certified dealer of STIHL outdoor equipment.” Toops added that the store has also begun the hiring process for its core team members. “Some of those team members will be internal hires but the jobs are also posted externally,” she said. “After that team is in place, our people development team will begin hiring for other option positions that would include cashiers, sales associates and yard crew members. It’s likely that the store will employ between 25 and 35 people, both full- and part-time.” At the Heritage Ridge development, which is located along eastbound SH 29 in
front of Liberty Hill Junior High, construction is underway on Starbucks, which will be the primary client at the development. The project is slated to have seven to eight lots for food service and retail as well as a car wash upon completion. In north Leander, at The Shops at San Gabriel Ridge, occupancy is officially at 100 percent, said developer Dwain Schuh. “The Asian restaurant, An Thinh, is expanding and opening up a neighborhood bar just south of their restaurant,” he said. “It will be a classy, really nice place. You’ll be able to get food from the restaurant in the bar. On other side of An Thinh is a beauty supply company called RDA Salon Centric. Just south of that business is a title company called Acclaimed Title, and then south of that is Liberty Mail. They’ll have PO box rentals and shipping and packaging services. In between Liberty Mail and the salon suites that are already there will be PT Solutions, a physical therapy group. These businesses will all be opening in July and August.” Schuh said there is another business going into the space between Perky Beans Coffee and Frontier Bank, but he’s not able to disclose the name of it just yet. “I’m finally full,” he said. “It’s been a long road, but quality tenants are what I wanted here.” At the 183 Highlands Re-
tail Center, located on Highway 183 heading north into Liberty Hill, Mason Turner, associate with Turner Commercial Properties, said they are getting a lot of interest, but there’s nothing new to officially report on new tenants or move ins. Texas AC Supply Inc. and #thesmiledoc are the current tenants in that center. Behind A-line Auto Parts, at 12700 W. SH 29, a new strip center is being constructed by Star Developers, LLC. There will be six units, each coming in at approximately 1,900 square feet. The property is slated for a mixed use of retail and office. Jardin Plaza, located next door to Mexican restaurant Jardin Corona at 15395 W. SH 29, is nearing completion and will consist of six units ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 square feet each. Other new businesses making their way to town include Golf Cart King, which will be relocating its facility from Austin to Liberty Hill and will be located just north of the QuikTrip convenience store at SH 29 and County Road 214. Happy Hill Country Liquor, a family-owned liquor store, will be opening across from Smokey Mo’s on Hwy 183. Construction on HEB continues at the intersection of SH 29 and Ronald Reagan Boulevard, and Main Street Social, on Loop 332 near downtown Liberty Hill, is set to open soon.
2021-22 Calendar The first day of school next Fall will be Aug. 19, and school will end May 26, 2022. The new academic calendar was adopted by the School Board Monday. Christmas break will be Dec. 20 through Jan. 3, 2022, and Spring Break will be March 14-18, 2022. An additional day has been added to the usual October holiday so students will be off Oct. 11-12, for staff development days. Graduation will be May 27, 2022.
Continued from Page 1
Hill,” he added. “It’s very needed retail and office condos. What you have here is the ability to purchase or lease retail or office space in a really cool mixed-use development in a great location.” At the Austin Regional Clinic (ARC), at 12779 SH 29 West, the sign has been installed and building finish out is underway. The projected opening for the clinic is late May. “We anticipate opening in late spring and look forward to having our new clinic ready for Liberty Hill residents then,” said Darlene Guynes, ARC’s operations director. Norman Phillips, property manager for Life Long Property Management and associate with Hawkins Family Partners, said half of the new strip center behind Liberty Meadows Plaza at 12705 SH 29 West—where the Donut Palace is located—has been leased to PT Solutions, a physical therapy company. The other half of the building is still available for lease. On the east side of Liberty Meadows Plaza is the new site for Liberty Hill Pediatrics. “We are supposed to break ground April 1,” said Dr. Tiffani Scott of Liberty Hill Pediatrics. “COVID and the ice storm delayed things.” The new office will have two separate entrances, one for sick children and one for well children. It will also have a breastfeeding room for moms to have privacy. Scott added that the office is currently only
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schools in Noble, and we want to kind of shore that up a little bit, but when we get elementary schools six and seven built the boundaries will make more sense,” Snell said. In addition to having the boundaries established, Snell is looking forward to the shift to a kindergarten through fifth grade elementary and middle school model. “It gives us more of a true elementary feel and a true middle school feel,” Snell said. “Part of that is keeping the fifth grade at the elementary and letting them assume a leadership role at those elementaries.” At the middle school level, adding sixth grade and creating small grade level sizes will open new doors as well. “When we get to sixth, seventh and eighth grades, we really want to take off instructionally,” Snell said. “We want to see project-based learning introduced into the curriculum, I want to see some interdisciplinary options to where they can take the curriculum and put some real world applications to them across those disciplines and really give those middle school kids
Thursday, March 25, 2021
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open Monday through Friday, but with the new building opening, Saturday hours will also be offered. Phillips said the construction and renovations at the former Hobo Junction are nearing completion. Farm to Fork plans to open its second location—the original restaurant is in Leander—in early April. At 13750 SH 29 West, Happy Wok plans to move within the next 60 days to a new location at the Water Tower Plaza, in the same building as Texas Taco Kitchen and The UPS Store. “We are working with the family of the owners of Happy Wok to put another restaurant [in their current location],” Phillips said. “The new restaurant would be a seafood restaurant. Details of the deal are being worked out now and we hope to lock that deal in place very soon.” Phillips added that they are also in talks with a cellular phone distributor to take space in the plaza where Texas Pawn & Jewelry was located before it completed its new building. “Those talks are also progressing nicely and look to be finalizing soon as well,” Phillips said. Panther Plaza, on the corner of County Road 200 and Highway 29, still has just one tenant, Security State Bank and Trust. Building finish out is underway and the bank hopes to open this spring. Emilie Niekdam, commercial
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COUNCIL
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
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both example amounts. Wegmiller explained the annual cost on a seven-year tax note to borrow $3 million would come in at about $480,000 annually over the term, and the option of a 20year bond would cost the City $205,000 each year. To borrow $4.5 million on a seven-year note would be $480,000 annually, and $305,000 per year on a 20-year bond. The tax notes are currently carrying an interest rate around one percent, while the bonds have a rate between two and two and a half percent. Mayor Liz Branigan asked Wegmiller to speak on the question of affordability for the City. “Can you afford it?” Wegmiller said. “It all comes down to property tax, what revenue you have coming in and where you want to pick and choose to prioritize. It comes down to where you have budgetary pressures and where do you have desire to make the dollars fit.” The two projects at the top of the list, the downtown intersection of Loop 332 and CR279 and the Liberty Parke entrance, were projected Monday to cost $900,000 and $700,000 respectively, meaning those would likely be completed with less than $2 million. One method the City might be able to use to fund the future debt would be the sales tax revenues that are received for streets. That sales tax revenue has generated $160,038.72 over the last five months. It is unclear how using those funds for these projects would impact standard annual maintenance projects. The City recently issued $2.5 million in tax notes to fund the swim center project, community center and renovations at City Hall. That note added right around $430,000 in annual debt payments to the City’s Interest and Sinking fund from 2022 to 2027. If a similar debt number is settled on for the intersection projects, Liberty Hill could be adding about $800,000 in annual debt service to its budget next year. The current General Fund budget is $5.68 million and about a third of the current property tax rate is for debt service. The Interest and Sinking – or debt service – portion of the total tax rate of $0.454559 is $0.145096. Salaries for City employees – based on increases and additional staff – increased $486,971 over the previous year across all city funds including water and wastewater which can’t be spent elsewhere.
Projects at a glance The plan for the downtown intersection will alter the Loop coming from the east toward CR 279 to create a T-intersection with a three-way stop. Traffic coming into downtown from CR 279 would be able to turn right onto the Loop or continue into downtown after a stop. Drivers entering downtown from the east on Loop 332 will be able to continue right on the Loop with a yield or turn left onto CR 279 after a stop. Traffic leaving downtown will be able to continue south on CR 279 or turn left and continue on the Loop following a stop. To assist with traffic control at the intersection and designate the continued right into downtown from the Loop, a triangular median will be constructed at the intersection. The project replaces a plan scrapped by the Council in May 2019 to construct a roundabout at the intersection. The City spent close to $400,000 on engineering for the project and awarded a bid in April 2019 for $1,372,104 for the roundabout and adjacent parking lot project on the washateria property. Under the new plan, the intersection and parking lot come in at a combined projected cost of $1.2 million. The parking lot has been separated from the intersection work as it has already been completed as part of a larger downtown street and utility project totaling $1.2 million. That project package specifically included the parking lot, Van Alley parking, utilities for Barton, Aynsworth, a new water line going down CR 279, resurfacing of those roads, and completion of Munro. The estimated cost of the Liberty Parke entrance realignment – which would move the entrance further east and align with Stonewall Parkway – was $1.33 million without engineering and contingency costs, but the City is hoping to cut that cost some by diverting Williamson County road bond funds originally intended for the Long Run extension project, which would have extended that road on the north side of the Stonewall subdivision east to intersect with US 183. Public comments New rules were put in place Monday regarding the public comments portion of the meeting, when the Council approved changes that mean residents wishing to speak on an item not included on the agenda will have to request through the City Secretary to be placed on the agenda no later than the Tuesday before the next meeting. “It doesn’t preclude anyone
from getting on the agenda to speak in public comments,” said Council member Kathy Canady, who first began calling for changes to how public comments are handled by elected officials. As she tried to defend the change, she was interrupted by Mayor Branigan, who was opposed to the changes. “If our citizens want to talk about ducks, maybe it’s your job to find out what about ducks concerns our citizens,” Branigan said. “There’s a way to do that, and if you had read the agenda you’d know that,” Canady responded. “You will sign up ahead of time, and the City, by you signing up ahead of time, may be able to reach out to you and fix what you want to talk about. Maybe not. It doesn’t keep anybody from speaking in the meeting.” Others argued it created a better structure for handling comments. “What we’re doing is we’re structuring it in a way that makes it more applicable,” said Council member Gram Lankford. “You want to talk about something that’s not on the agenda, just like you would submit for public comments, you would have to give the notice that instead of speaking about an item on the agenda you want to speak about a particular subject.” But the new method includes other changes, including that comments will now be placed as an agenda item under public comments, making speakers and their concerns a part of the meeting agenda. Procedural questions were raised by Council member Tony DeYoung regarding how a member of the community would be added to the agenda when only Council members, the Mayor or certain members of City staff can place items on the agenda. He continued that his goal was to protect the right of citizens to speak on any issue they choose. “They get to say anything they want to us,” DeYoung said. “If we’re being scrutinized, welcome to public service.” The new rules also mean there can be an exchange between citizens and Council members during public comments. “Since it is being put as an agenda item under public comments, we then have the availability to actually speak on it and have a discussion with them, as opposed to now where we can’t respond,” Lankford said. In original discussions on possible changes, opening the door to an exchange might lead to problems, something now that is less controlled than
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before, and it is not clear who can or should put an end to potential exchanges or step in if they become heated. Canady’s initial stance, when bringing the issue to the Council for discussion in January and February, was that she did not want citizens to be able to comment on things not already on the agenda. “I really feel like for citizens comments it needs to be what’s on the agenda,” Canady said in February. “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. If somebody has concerns they have the opportunity to look at the agenda, come in and make their comments. This avoids things that happen in citizens comments that have nothing to do with the agenda.” Administrator contract Following a discussion in executive session, the Council returned to open session and on a motion from Canady unanimously approved a new three-year contract for City Administrator Lacie Hale. Effective immediately, Hale’s annual salary is $155,000, up from $120,000. She received a $29,000 raise last summer in her position as Chief Operating Officer after being hired last spring in that role. The contract includes a salary increase next March to $170,000 and another increase the following March to $185,000. Hale was hired in March 2020, when the Council decided not to fill the Administrator post and leave management in the hands of then-Mayor Rick Hall. Former City Administrator Greg Boatright’s last salary increase was in September 2018 when he was bumped from $119,000 to $134,000 -- five years after first stepping into the role. Hale formerly served as the City Secretary in Hutto from May 2019 to her move to the City of Liberty Hill. Prior to that she worked six years as City Secretary in West Lake Hills. She is a graduate of Liberty Hill High School, and graduate of Ashford University. Interim City Attorney Hale introduced – and the Council approved – the interim city attorney Monday. William McKamie will serve in that role until a new full-time city attorney is hired. The Council previously approved spending $25,000 on a search firm to help in the hiring process and the projected timeframe for the search is 15 weeks. The City will pay McKamie
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know. • The cost is $35; the date is Saturday, April 10, 2021 from 9 AM to 12 PM. All required supplies will be provided. • If you have your own pressure canner, you can bring it with you for safety testing. • You will leave the workshop with educational materials and
a special canned creation! • The location is Texas A&M AgriLife Williamson County, 100 Wilco Way, Room 205, Georgetown, 78626 Limited to the first 20 people to register. Click on the flyer or the QR code on our website, https://williamson.agrilife.org For more information, con-
tact Andrea Haubner, Family and Community Health Agent-Williamson County, at 512.943.3300 or London Jones, Family and Community Health Agent and 4-H Coordinator-Burnet County, at 512.756.5463.
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HELP WANTED! Truck Driver for Operation Liberty Hill Food Pantry - Pick Up/ Delivery. Requirements: 21 or older, able to lift 50 lbs, work 15-20 hr/week (combined time between pantry/driving), must pass background/driving record check. To Apply – email operationlh@att.net, call 512778-4175 or come to Operation Liberty Hill, 1401 N. US-183, Leander. (3/25)
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Liberty Hill has been asked to review and approve the following application(s), to wit: A request for a Zone Map Amendment from the Agricultural (AG) zoning classification to the Multi-family Residential (MF2) zoning classification on the following property: AW0643 WEST, R. SUR., ACRES 10.52, (MHP-M1012) Williamson County, Texas; specifically, generally located along the west side of SH 29, between CR 277 and Bevers Rd, and identified as Assessor’s Parcels Number R-023043. In accordance with Section 211.006, Texas Local Government Code, a public hearing on this application will be conducted by the Planning and Zoning Commission (Commission) at the Liberty Hill Learning and Event Center, 14875 West State Highway 29, Liberty Hill, Texas on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 6:30 PM. Upon receiving a recommendation from the Commission, the City Council will conduct its own public hearing and take final action on this matter on Monday, April 26, 2021 at 6:30 PM at the Learning and Event Center, 14875 West State Highway 29 Liberty Hill, Texas. For more information, you may either visit the Development Services Department at 100 Forrest Street, call (512) 778-5449, or send an email to planning@libertyhilltx.gov. By order of the Development Services Administrative Assistant on March 18, 2021. (3/25)
PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Sale of property to satisfy a landlord’s lien. Sale to be held at American Self Storage-Liberty Hill at 13740 Hwy 29, Liberty Hill, TX 78642 on Saturday, April 10th, 2021 at 11:00 am. Cleanup deposit required. Contents of storage units sold for cash to highest bidder. Property includes the unit contents of the following tenants: Thurmis brown: 1 unit containing furniture. Crystal Hamilton: 1 unit containing bags, boxes, and totes. Joe McIntosh: 2 units containing storage bins, treadmill, furniture, bicycle, and tools. (3/25p) MISSING PROPERTY If you believe the police department may have a found item that belongs to you, you can call the Property Division directly at 512-548-5530 or email at ekrause@libertyhilltx.gov. When contacting the Property Division, describe the item(s) you are looking for, in detail, and we will let you know if we have it. If we do, we will make arrangements to get it back to you. (3/25)
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SPORTS
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, March 25, 2021 Page 6
Clearing life’s hurdles Panther track duo attacks obstacles together
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Truth be told, Payton Hanson never even wanted to be a hurdler. But, after some other track aspirations had gone awry, it all came together quite by mistake. “The reason I started hurdles in the first place is because I was bored at track tryouts in seventh grade,” said Hanson. “I had already run and tried out for triple jump – both of which I didn’t end up making the team for – and was bored. Eventually, I figured I might just kill time over at the hurdle tryouts.” Suffice to say, she made the team, after all. Lexi Whitmore can be found side-by-side with Hanson these days attacking the obstacles put in front of them as
teammates on Liberty Hill’s track team, and her origins in the event also took root back in junior high, she said. “What made me get into hurdles in the first place was seeing all the older girls in junior high doing it and how cool I thought it would be to one day be as good as them,” said Whitmore. Ever since, the duo has been in competition with one another and are usually found close together in the results at meets. However, it’s a matchup without malice, said Hanson. “Lexi and I compete with each other all the time and it definitely makes us both a lot better and more motivated,” she said. “Since junior high, we’ve been neck-and-neck and alternately winning, so not only
Ready to make a run See HURDLES, Page 8
Lady Panthers geared up for state title
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor At this time last season, the Lady Panthers had already missed out on a chance for a state title – not because they had failed to get it done on the field, but due to the pandemic that wiped out the conclusion of spring sports – including their bid for the championship they had been so close to the previous two campaigns. However, this spring it’s a different story. After a season that saw Liberty Hill win a district championship in its first season as a Class 5A team, the Purple-and-Gold are now setting their sights on the trophy at the end of the line. Following a six-day break after their last regular-season contest against Glenn, the Lady Panthers got back to work in getting ready for their opening-round playoff opponent in Canyon and the players are chomping at the bit to get back after it, said head coach Darren Bauer. “The girls came back hungry and ready to play,” he said. “I
SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO
Payton Hanson and Lexi Whitmore have been friendly rivals in the hurdles since junior high school, when both took up the event.
ALEX RUBIO PHOTO
Cordelia Brown (#14) has adjusted to a new role in the Lady Panthers’ defense this season, helping solidify the unit as a whole. think they needed a bit of a weeks completely, then it will provide a challenge right Boerne Champion, Nos. 3 and mental rest.” would’ve been a different sto- out of the gate for his team, 25, respectively in Class 5A, Despite not getting any work ry,” he said. “But, not four or said Bauer. were two of the three teams in on the practice pitch for five days.” “They’re a good team,” he that finished ahead of the Counearly a week, Bauer said he’s Canyon, which finished its said. “They’re really good for gars in the league standings. not concerned about his side’s regular season with an overall a No. 4 seed and played in one Liberty Hill boasted balanced fitness level heading into the record of 13-6-1 and a 10-5 of the toughest districts in the scoring once again this season, postseason. mark in District 26 that was state.” with five players hitting for “If we had been off for two good for a fourth-place finish, Indeed, Dripping Springs and double-digit goals in Kaylie
ALEX RUBIO PHOTO
Fowler (23), Mykenna Russo (17), Piper Tabor (16), Emma Stephens (13) and Madi Fuller (10), which means the Lady Panthers have a variety of weapons and ways to beat opposing defenses. Stephens is a curious case, as this season the junior midfielder is down from 38 goals last year, but is perhaps more valuable to the team in more of a playmaking role in the middle of the park in providing 14 assists, second only to senior Abbey Janicek, who has 19. In goal, Kylee Bush has been solid with 13 shutouts on the season, behind a strong defense made up of Bryden Bourgeois, Alyssa Lee, Katie Wilson and Cordelia Brown – a back four that has laid a proper defensive foundation for his team to build on all season, said Bauer. “Our defense has always been stout,” he said. “But, this season, we had some players like Alyssa and Cordelia, who were adjusting to new spots at the back and they’ve both done a really good job of communicating, which is crucial because if you don’t do that, you leave holes and give up goals.” Unlike seasons past, when the Lady Panthers breezed to district titles in Class 4A, they’ve
See SOCCER, Page 8
ALEX RUBIO PHOTO
Jackson Knox (#8) has helped Liberty Hill win two of its first three district contests of the season.
Molly Cochran (#5) uses speed and smarts on the bases for the Lady Panthers.
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Liberty Hill head baseball coach Steve Hutcherson knows in order for his team to compete for a district title this season in its first campaign as a Class 5A club, it needs to get off to a strong start. After three games, the Panthers have done just that, with victories in two of them. An 11-1 thrashing of East View in the district opener was followed by a 5-2 home victory over No. 6-ranked Rouse, with only a 9-6 road defeat to Cedar Park ruining a perfect record to this point. “Our competitiveness has been good,” said Hutcherson. “We weren’t wide-eyed even playing against a good team
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When Molly Cochran smacks a ball into the outfield, there’s only one thing on her mind. “Always try to take the extra base,” said Cochran. “My sole purpose as a slapper is to get on base.” A “slapper” is a hitter who attempts to place the ball where the defense isn’t, then take advantage of speed and base running skills. Cochran has become quite adept at this craft and has multiple approaches in the batter’s box compared to most traditional hitters who always employ the same stance. “I have six different kinds of slaps and two different kinds of bunts,” she said. “For me,
Liberty Hill takes two of first three league contests like Rouse. We feel like we can play with the teams in our district.” In the opening pair of fixtures, it was pitching which carried the day for the Purple-and-Gold, as sophomore Logan Bailey and freshman Blaze Milam both provided complete-game victories on the mound. Bailey allowed only one unearned run on three hits, with six strikeouts in a 91-pitch outing against the Patriots, while Milam was equally as impressive in his start against the Raiders, throwing 95 pitches in giving up one earned run on five hits, while striking out eight. Following the departure of his top two starters from last
season in Ryan Flake and Rowan Guerra, knowing he’s already managed to ably replace them has been a shot in the arm to his pitching staff, said Hutcherson. “I thought our youth would leave some question marks,” he said. “But, they still go out, play hard and compete just like our juniors and seniors. We’ve had some growing pains and teaching moments, but these kids are growing up fast.” Milam is 3-0 with a 0.91 earned-run average, with 20 strikeouts in 23 innings, while Bailey has posted a 3-1 record, 2.72 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 18 innings. One upperclassman who has
See BASEBALL, Page 8
Lady Panthers outfox softball opponents on offense it’s all about placement.” Once she’s reached safely, Cochran places more of an emphasis on intelligence than quickness, she said. “It’s all about being a smart baserunner,” said Cochran. “You need to have a high softball IQ.” Sometimes that includes taking advantage of opponents who momentarily go to sleep. “If a catcher is just lobbing the ball back to the pitcher, you can do a delayed steal,” she said. “Or, if the pitcher keeps throwing her changeup in the dirt. You need to be able to read the signs and know the catcher’s arm.” These kinds of skills – which are evident up and down the Lady Panthers’ roster – bode
well for a team which counts on manufacturing runs over waiting on long balls, said Cochran. “As a team, we really rely on our baserunners,” she said. “We have a lot of smart ones.” Liberty Hill head coach Kristen Brewer said there’s one characteristic of good baserunners which is the most important of all. “Anticipation,” she said. “You need to be able to read the other team and know things like arm strength, defensive positioning and their overall characteristics of play. For example, an outfielder might walk to a ball instead of running.”
See SOFTBALL, Page 8
Thursday, March 25, 2021
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Page 7
PANTHER OF THE WEEK
Liberty Hill’s Taylor Sims and Charlie Harris were joined by teammates Elise Eckford and Marissa Ezzo and head coach Rudy Acevedo at the Class 5A state powerlifting championships in Corpus Christi. (Courtesy Photo)
Panthers place pair at state powerlifting
Taylor Sims and Charlie Harris made the long trip to Corpus Christi worthwhile as the pair of Panthers placed fourth and sixth in their respective weight classes at the Class 5A state powerlifting championships. Sims, a senior, competed in the 181-pound division and had a squat of 335 pounds, a bench press of 180 and a dead lift of 300 for a score of 815, while Leksi Martinez of Medina Valley won the competition
with an effort of 400-230-365995. In finishing fourth, Sims became the first Liberty Hill girl to ever medal at the state competition. Harris – only a freshman in her first year of competitive powerlifting – competed in the 105-pound class and had a squat of 210, bench press of 125 and dead lift of 225 for a score of 560, behind winner Aileen Garza of Roma, who had an effort of 280-125-260-
665. In the team standings, Liberty Hill finished 21st in the 31-team field, with two points to winners Edcouch-Elsa, who had 42. Liberty Hill head coach Rudy Acevedo was joined by assistant coach John Hall and Demitra Becker at the event, while Elise Eckford and Marissa Ezzo also provided support for their teammates.
BASEBALL BRIEFS Liberty Hill 11, East View 1 A 10-run third inning fueled Liberty Hill to an 11-1 road victory against East View in the district opener. Ryan Leary went 3-for-3 with three runs and two runs batted in, while Kade Neuenschwander also drove in a pair of runs for the Panthers, who failed to get any extra-base hits in the contest, but benefited from 10 bases-on-balls issued by Patriots pitchers. Logan Bailey got the win on the mound for Liberty Hill, allowing only one unearned run on three hits over five innings with six strikeouts and three walks on 91 pitches. Liberty Hill 5, Rouse 2 The Panthers defeated the No. 5 Raiders despite being held without a hit in the game, by taking advantage of four bases-on-balls and a hit-by-pitch in a three-run first inning. Blaze Milam pitched a complete game, allowing one earned run on five hits, while striking out eight on 95 pitches. Cedar Park 9, Liberty Hill 6 Liberty Hill found themselves behind against Cedar Park by a score of 9-0 after five innings, before battling back with five runs in the final two innings,
ALEX RUBIO PHOTO
Blaze Milam (#14) pitched a complete game, allowing one earned run on five hits with eight strikeouts in Liberty Hill’s 5-2 home win over Rouse. but the comeback wasn’t enough in a 9-6 road loss to the Timberwolves. Ryan Rhoden struggled on the mound in allowing seven runs on six hits in the first inning, before Conner Sherburn, Taylor Gutierrez and Tyler Williams combined to limit Cedar Park to only two more
runs the rest of the way. The Panthers managed only three hits on the night, led by Leary, who went 2-for-3 with a double ans two RBIs. Liberty Hill (14-6-1, 2-1) will next host Marble Falls on March 26, then play at Leander on March 30.
As a Lady Panthers center back, Bryden Bourgeois (#19) must always use her head – literally and figuratively.
Pillar at the back
Defender began sports reluctantly
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor To hear Bryden Bourgeois tell it, she was never going to be an athlete in the first place. “My parents didn’t really think I was going to be very athletic,” said Bourgeois. “They put me in soccer because my brother played.” However, from the age of six until now – her senior year of high school – Bourgeois has blossomed into the kind of center back any coach would want anchoring the back line of a soccer squad. But, for her first two seasons with the Lady Panthers, she was a midfielder, something which changed after her sophomore season due to a roster shakeup caused by departing seniors, she said. “We had some people graduate,” said Bourgeois. “I guess it’s worked out pretty well.” Bourgeois said she dabbled briefly in other sports as a youngster, but not for long, as the beautiful game was the one she favored all along. “I’ve always really liked the team aspect of it all,” she said. “I think soccer is the one sport where there can be no individuals, which is something not all sports have.”
As a senior and a team captain, Bourgeois knows she has more responsibility on her shoulders than just the average player and how she carries herself can have a profound effect on those around her – particularly younger players. “I think my attitude can affect others on and off the field,” she said. At the moment, Bourgeois and her teammates are looking forward to the playoffs and the chance for a state championship they missed out on last season when the pandemic hit. “We kind of forgot what it’s like to be in the playoffs,” said Bourgeois, of a campaign that was halted and never completed. “It’s really exciting and we’re not looking for anything short of a state title.” Bourgeois plans to attend Texas State next year and study for a career as an orthodontist. “I had a lot of dental work when I was younger,” she said. “So, it got me thinking about it.” She also enjoys cooking and baking, with a flair for crafting dishes that may look a bit more exquisite than they actu-
ally are, she said. “I like to make a lot of different pastas,” said Bourgeois. “Easy stuff that looks hard to make.” While many athletes have extensive routines to get themselves right before a game, Bourgeois said she prefers to focus more on the mind than the body in anticipation of the ball kicking off. “I don’t like to warm up physically,” she said. “I think the most important thing for me is to be able to just relax. Other players are always thinking about the players on the other team or whatever.” Bourgeois has scored only 10 goals in her Lady Panthers career, but as a central defender, her job description is more centered on preventing goals from entering her own net, rather than being overly concerned with putting them in at the other end of the pitch. Now, she’ll be fulfilling those requirements as she and her teammates strive for what they’ve been missing in recent years. “It would be really great for us to win,” said Bourgeois. “Really nice.”
Following a successful first season in Class 5A, Liberty Hill’s boys’ basketball squad was duly represented among the all-district selections. Senior guard Kadin Knight and junior forward Anthony
Sierras were named to the first team, while sophomore forward Gunter Daniels and junior center Walker Weems received second team honors and senior guards Hunter Clayton and Bobby Mundy were honorable mention. Sierras led Liberty Hill with 19.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, while Knight was
second on the scoring charts at 12.3 points and Daniels third, with 10.5 points. Off the court and in the classroom, Knight, Sierras, Daniels, Clayton, Mundy, Cayden Branch, Aaron Brewer, Camden Justice, Zane Lauper, Kaden McMahan and RJ Sanchez received academic all-district honors.
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor We witnessed firsthand s o m e t h i n g recently that in the long and storied history of the game of baseball certainly hasn’t happened very many times. A no-hitter. But, that’s not all. No, we saw a no-hitter in which the team that failed to produce even a single base hit ended the game celebrating victory in the center of the diamond. Liberty Hill’s 5-2 home district win over Rouse featured a scoreboard with a big, fat zero in the hits column for the home team after the Panthers took advantage of early wildness and mistakes by the Class 5A No. 6 Raiders. Four bases-on-balls and a hit-by-pitch in the first inning will do wonders for one’s confidence moving forward in a contest and that’s exactly what it did. One young man who needed no such boost, however, was freshman pitcher Blaze Milam, who continued to dominate varsity hitters in his first season of big-boy baseball, in allowing only one unearned run on five hits in a complete-game effort, which
saw the rookie righty strike out eight over the course of a 95-pitch performance. Not exactly Nolan Ryan yet, but a shot in the arm (pun intended) for a pitching staff which lost its top two starters from last season to graduation in Ryan Flake and Rowan Guerra. On this night, Milam showed both sides of a poised – but young – hurler in breezing through the opening three innings and striking out four of the first 10 Rouse batters he faced – only one over the minimum – before running head-first into trouble in the fourth. Back-to-back singles to lead off the frame followed by a sacrifice fly and another base hit brought the visitors to within a run at 3-2 and he didn’t help himself a balk and an error on an errant pickoff throw to first certainly didn’t help matters. But, before the Raiders could even the score, Milam regained his composure and struck out the final two batters of the inning with the tying run stranded on second. Back to the Panthers hitters, though. Or the lack of solid bat on ball, as it were, though. A laser off the bat of Ryan Leary to center in the fourth – which was good for a sacrifice fly – was the only hardhit Liberty Hill ball of the
evening. No matter. In fact, most in attendance probably didn’t even realize the home side had been held hitless as Milam strode to the mound to begin the seventh. Earlier we mentioned the Ryan Express. Well, something that certainly was Ryan-esque about Milam on this night was the desire and insistence to finish what he started despite having already thrown 88 pitches through six innings. So, Panthers head coach Steve Hutcherson obliged and let his young mound man return for the seventh and Milam did what any good pitcher does when his pitch count is rising late in a game by not dilly-dallying and going right after hitters with extreme prejudice. Eight pitches later, it was all over, as Milam caught a comebacker and escorted the ball nearly to first base himself before flipping the ball to the bag, then peeling away in a celebratory semi-circle in joining his joyous teammates. At the end of the evening, we don’t know what was truly more remarkable. Seeing a freshman perform with such poise in defeating a top-10 team – or the fact it was done without any hits in support of such a fine effort. How about we go with both?
Hoopsters honored with all-district status
No hits? No problem
ALEX RUBIO PHOTO
Liberty Hill’s Tannis Brewer (#13) lunges to hold onto a throw to third base during the Lady Panthers’ 11-7 home loss to East View.
SOFTBALL BRIEFS
Liberty Hill 13, Rouse 3 The Lady Panthers scored at least two runs in every inning on the way to a 13-3 home district win over Rouse, as Tannis Brewer led the way in going 3-for-3 with three runs and four runs batted in for the home side. Katelyn Castleberry was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, including a solo home run in the fifth, her second blast in as many games, while Allie Potts added a pair of hits and two runs scored. Ashleigh Heiderscheit got her fourth victory of the season on the mound in pitching a complete game, allowing three runs on four hits with four strikeouts and three bases-onballs on 77 pitches.
Glenn 4, Liberty Hill 1 In a close-contested game, the Lady Panthers fell to Glenn after allowing the Grizzlies to plate a pair of runs in the sixth inning, which provided the final margin. Kylie Kirk pitched the first four innings for Liberty Hill without giving up a hit, but allowed two runs after walking seven Glenn batters, while Hannah Kline worked the final three innings in giving up two unearned runs on three hits. Molly Cochran, Brooke Armstrong, Cadence Wiese, Kirk and Madison Hodges managed the only five hits – all singles – for the Lady Panthers in the loss. East View 11, Liberty Hill 7 Despite four runs in the bot-
tom of the seventh, the Lady Panthers still fell to No. 7 East View, 11-7. The Patriots scored five runs in the opening two innings off Heiderscheit for an 5-0 lead before the sophomore settled down and pitched a scoreless third. Kirk tripled in a pair of runs in the third to close the gap to 5-2, but the visitors plated four in the fifth to take a 9-3 lead. Castleberry was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while Brooke Armstrong also had a pair of RBIs for the Lady Panthers, while Heiderscheit got the loss on the mound. Liberty Hill (12-11-1, 3-5) will next host Georgetown on March 26 and Cedar Park on March 30.
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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Mancilla
said she wants to support new Mayor Liz Branigan and be a voice for the people. “I’ve always been involved in the community,” Mancilla said. “Seeing things my dad and the council were able to do in helping our community grow led me to things I started seeing that I felt I could do in service in creating Liberty Hill as a place people want to come to to raise their families.” With a background in marketing and serving with nonprofits, Mancilla said her experience lends itself to listening to and representing all points of view. “I think you have to have
Softball
Continued from Page 1 an unbiased opinion because you’re there to serve the people, and it’s not my agenda – I’m not going in with my own agenda – I’m going there to serve the people as a whole in this community,” she said. “I’m really good at working with people, hearing different opinions and having a conversation about things and deciding what’s best for the whole.” She cites her work with nonprofits in the county as well as with programs instituted for teens by Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Edna Staudt as beneficial experience in preparing her for a role on the Council. The changes Mancilla saw
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Brewer agreed with Cochran as far as if she had to pick one aspect on the bases over the other. “I’ll definitely take smarts over speed any day,” she said. “But, if you’re going to be aggressive, you have to know yourself – although I’d rather have a player make an aggressive mistake on the bases than a hesitant one. However, you also need to be aware of the situation, like if we just got momentum and we need to play it safe.” Certainly an awful lot to think about, but that’s where muscle memory and just plain knowing what to do and when comes into play, said Brewer. “You can teach certain things to baserunners,” she said. “But, a lot of it is pure instinct.”
For example, taking an extra base whenever the opportunity presents itself. “Anything in the outfield and we’re looking to take two bases,” said Brewer. “We tell our players to just pick up their base coach to tell them what to do. We always want to put pressure on the defense to make a play.” Although Brewer admitted she certainly wouldn’t mind having a lineup of big bombers at her disposal, the opposite kind of offense tends to lend itself more to a cohesive concept. “I like having a small-ball game,” she said. “Because then your players work more closely together and it’s less about yourself and more about the team.”
Baseball Continued from Page 6 shone so far is senior shortstop Ryan Leary, who continues to show why he’s already inked his name to a Division I offer to play at Texas State next season. Leary – hitting in the leadoff spot – has been the Panthers’ offensive catalyst in hitting .500 with two home runs, 17 runs batted in, 30 runs scored, eight doubles and 20 stolen bases – all of which lead Liberty Hill. “Ryan’s as good as anybody in the entire state,” said Hutcherson. “He’s the one guy in our lineup other teams know they have to control to have a chance to win.” One thing Hutcherson is concerned about is his club’s propensity to strike out. The Panthers have already struck out 111 times in the first 21 games of the season – or 5.28 punchouts per game – leaving runners on base in the process, when they could be moving them around the bases and ultimately in to score. Hutcherson believes that issue is down to his players not
staying within themselves at the plate. “I think sometimes we try to do too much up there,” he said. “Instead of just focusing on hitting line drives and hard ground balls and using our baserunning to put pressure on defenses.” Despite the promising district start, he said he thinks his team is only beginning to scratch the surface of what they’re truly capable of. “I don’t really think we’ve played all that great yet,” said Hutcherson. “I think we have a lot higher ceiling than what we’ve shown so far. We have some work to be done.” Concerning the criticality of bursting successfully from the starting gates of the district schedule, Hutcherson continues to relay a sense of urgency to his players. “Early in district, you can either put yourself in the driver’s seat or behind the 8-ball,” he said. “With a good start, once the second half of district rolls around, you can make a good push.”
Protect your plants and your power
on the Council that raised concerns for her began when former Mayor Rick Hall was elected in 2018, and those changes she said reflected what she’d seen from him in other roles prior to that. “I served with Rick Hall on the Chamber of Commerce for Liberty Hill before he became Mayor,” she said. “I could see the control, or just how things were hush hush, with things very closed door instead of open door.” A number of concerns top her list of questions for the Council to dig deeper into, including the City’s staffing. “I would love to see what other communities our size, what their staff is like and where their salaries are,” she said. “How do we compare to them? We’ve doubled in city employees in two years under Rick Hall as Mayor. It raises questions about whether we are using funds best for the whole and are all these positions really needed. I’d just love a comparison to cities our size.”
Lankford
main reasons was the input I got that nothing had changed as far as the conversations people were having about some of the alleged unethical behavior that was coming from the previous administration or council members,” he said. “That was one of the initial reasons I decided to get on, and more or less this is a continuation of that. I made a pledge that I was going to bring citizens voices to the council so they would feel like they were being heard.” Lankford, who is a lifelong Liberty Hill resident, ran on a similar message in 2019 as current members Steve McIntosh and Liz Rundzieher – all three of whom were supported by then-Mayor Rick Hall. Much of the campaign focus then was on rooting out unethical behavior and dealings alleged against unnamed individuals. But in the two years since, nothing has been presented publicly demonstrating that any unethical behavior was uncovered or proven. While he said he can’t vouch for allegations that there was unethical behavior among private citizens, what he saw once elected showed the situation with City staff was worse than he previously believed. “I didn’t think things were as bad as they were,” Lankford said. “We found some pretty unethical things that were happening over the last couple of years and we’ve just kind of been making moves to eliminate that and try to bring people into the City to work for the City that are making ethical decisions and who want to be there and are proud to come to work every day.”
Soccer
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When asked for examples of specific issues addressed by the Council, Lankford was hesitant. “I can’t get into too many specifics as some of the things are still in ongoing litigation,” he said. “I can’t necessarily give you names or anything like that. I don’t know what I can or can’t say. I don’t want to get in trouble. In a broader term, there were some unethical things being performed and we found out about what was happening and we addressed it over the course of a process.” Lankford defended the actions of the Council over the past two years, but did say he wished there had been better communication. “The fact that people feel the City was not being transparent during that period of time is a fault of the City,” Lankford said. “I absolutely agree with that and I would never deny that. The citizens deserve to know what the City is doing.” He also said the information provided to Council members themselves could have been better. “I wish there had been more information from a Council member standpoint,” he said. “We are elected to make an informed decision, but that decision is only as good as the information we receive. There needs to be a system where that information is first vetted by an individual or two and then from there it would come to Council. I wish that would have been happening in the past, it wasn’t, but it is something we’re looking to implement in the very near future.” As far as the departure of former City Administrator
According to Bauer, the fact it means so much is the primary reason his team has been able to avoid the quarantine bug that has already derailed other Liberty Hill teams this school year. “I think the fact it happened to other teams made our girls focus more,” said Bauer. “But, it’s also because we’ve stressed it so much. We wanted to make sure if our season
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have we been competing with each other, we’ve been getting better together, as well. We both want to win, even at practice and that competitiveness motivates us to push harder and in the end, get better.” According to head girls’ coach Susie Kemper, Hanson and Whitmore are invaluable to one another for this reason. “Lexi and Payton have done a great job as training partners this season,” said Kemper. “They push each other to compete and help watch and correct each other in practice. They’re our only two varsity hurdlers, so they spend lots of time practicing together and helping each other to get better.” Whitmore and Hanson compete in both hurdles events – the 100 and 300 meters – races that are more starkly contrasting than they may appear due to the difference in length, said Kemper. “The 300 hurdles is one of
community.” The answer to many concerns can be found, in Mancilla’s opinion, in creating more community involvement, and one simple improvement could make a huge difference she believes. “The recordings for our City Council meetings are horrendous,” she said. “I do marketing and my recordings don’t need anything fancy and I do it myself. Sound quality is huge and we need more community involvement, and to have that people need to know what is going on. People are not going to waste there time getting on a link if they can’t hear anything.” She also opposes any steps to limit or complicate the public’s ability to address the Council during meetings. “Why would we limit or take away anything when it comes to the public’s comments?” she asked. “To me transparency should be one of our biggest things. We need to let the community have a voice, that’s why we’re there.”
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needed to work much harder to achieve the same lofty standards – meaning when they step on the field in New Braunsfels to begin the postseason, they are a team that has already been through the wars. “We’ve had games this season which have been like playoff games,” said Bauer. “I think our players know how much this means.”
Hurdles
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The lack of willingness among current Council members to discuss the City budget is something she doesn’t understand and would work hard to change. “We just don’t know where the money is at, so when it comes time to carry out plans we can’t do it, they say there’s no funds and we should ask ‘why not?’” she said. “Where are our funds going and no one wants to look at that. That raises the question, ‘Why would you not want to?’” With the departure – mostly through terminations – of eight city employees over the past two years, Mancilla worries that Liberty Hill might have trouble drawing quality staff. “There’s been a lot of turnover in the last two years, so finding quality employees for us is another big issue,” she said. “We want people that are experienced who in my opinion have had success in bigger cities and can come to Liberty Hill because of the opportunity they see and because of the
the top three hardest races, in my opinion. If you get off in the first couple of hurdles with your steps or rhythm, you have 200 meters still to try to tough that out at a sprint speed, not to mention the endurance needed to just complete that sort of event,” she said. “On the other hand, the 100 requires less endurance, but there is far less room for error as their form has to be super-clean to be fast in that event.” Kemper added that hurdles require a blend of speed and power. “The hurdles are different because they combine an additional technical and strength aspect to a sprint,” she said. “For an athlete to be successful at hurdles, they have to have endurance and the coordination to be efficient at hurdles.” Hanson said getting into a proper groove in the shorter version is something she also employs to great success in the longer discipline.
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Personality conflicts and personal agendas among the Council have made it difficult to keep focused on what should be the priority. “We should always ask ‘How is this going to effect our community in two years?’” she said. “If we can’t answer that we need to table the issue and go look for the answer. If we can’t agree then get expert opinions, see what other cities are doing and educate ourselves, then come back to that conversation.” Ultimately, Mancilla believes that the proper focus and motivation among Council members is what will make a difference today. “I’m coming into this to serve the community and that’s my heart,” she said. “I want to do what’s best for the whole, I want to hear everyone and I will do my best to educate myself as I serve Liberty Hill so I can vote the best way possible.”
Greg Boatright and the Council’s vote to hand administrative control to Hall, Lankford again said more information would have made it more clear to the community why things were done as they were. “I understand the frustration of us terminating the city administrator and everybody feeling like they’re being left sitting on their hands, not knowing what’s going on because the flow of information from the city was not in abundance,” he said. “I understand that frustration and I sympathize with it.” Lankford voted with the rest of the Council in approving the budget over the last two years that expanded dramatically, and also voted in recent months to not hold public discussions during a meeting over the current budget. He said he supports the staff recommendations that have led to the current budget. “Obviously the Council reviews the budget, but speaking for myself, we hire people in the positions for a reason and the expectation is that they are the subject-matter experts so if we have a finance director or a city administrator or attorney and we ask them questions about the budget the expectation is they will be able to give us the right answer,” he said. “Currently we have outstanding City staff.” In terms of what he wants to focus on going forward if reelected. Lankford cites infrastructure and adding jobs. “I’m a big believer in our citizens being able to live here, work here and spend their money here. Primary jobs are something a lot of our citizens
are looking for as a majority of them have to commute,” he said. He also said he wants to make sure projects get completed, citing the previous failure to complete the swim center project. “We need to make sure the tasks we have set right now get followed through on and finished out,” he said. “I hear it all the time from city staff, that there was a project that was being talked about, they will start the process for it and there will be a change in Council and that project will be set aside and worried about later or discarded altogether. I’d like to ensure the projects we have set up currently will continue to be paid attention to.” The current Council did not act on the swim center until late last summer after it had been approved and prepared to go for bid in June 2019, and also scrapped the downtown roundabout project, choosing not to implement an alternate solution for the downtown intersection of CR 279 and Loop 332 until last Fall. He stands behind the action of the Council over the last two years, and said he will continue to dedicate himself to community service in his hometown. “I’d tell people to look at the track record,” he said. “Look at the track record of the City over the last 20 years and then what’s happened in the last three. To me that will tell people everything they need to know. I grew up here, the Liberty Hill community is my family.”
was going to be taken away from us again, it was going to be the UIL or the state. But, it was in our hands to make sure we had a season to play.” Bauer said added motivation for how last season abruptly ended without a chance at a title has continued to be the primary fuel to light the Lady Panthers’ collective fire this season. “I think our players are going
into the playoffs with a chip on their shoulders,” he said. “Last year, we wouldn’t have lost.” All that being said, if the Lady Panthers fail to claim the crown they’ve sought for all these years, Bauer won’t mind under one condition, he said. “If we walk off the field having given everything we have,” said Bauer. “The season won’t be a disappointment.”
“I think my favorite part of the 100 hurdles is there’s a rhythm and technique to it rather than just running hard and hoping for the best,” she said. “For the 300, the best part is probably the very first stretch because it gives me a lot of confidence if I can manage to beat everyone to the first hurdle.” The endurance needed in both races often comes from remaining focused down the final stretch, even when one’s muscles are crying out for help, said Hanson. “The most difficult aspect of hurdles in general is likely the fact after pushing your hardest and being exhausted by the end of the race, you still have to go over more hurdles,” she said. “That’s when it’s very difficult to maintain good form and the chances of hurting yourself on the hurdle are a lot higher.” So, what kind of advice would each give to prospective, young hurdlers who find themselves in the very same
spot as they were at one time? “Running hurdles is so fun and if you can get past the initial fear of them, you should know that’s much farther than lots of people have made it,” said Hanson. “Everyone falls and messes up eventually, but if you accept that and push through, you’ll have so much fun. There really aren’t many people that do so – at least in Liberty Hill – so if you’re interested, you definitely should try it out.” Whitmore preached patience and a whole lot of resolve. “The biggest piece of advice I would give to the younger athletes is this,” she said. “Even though there will be some days when you feel like just giving up and never looking at a hurdle again, just keep practicing and pushing yourself because that’s the only way to get better.”
Thursday, March 25, 2021
BERTRAM
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
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“Not having very many businesses, when you lose one, it makes a big impact.” City Council and Chamber of Commerce member Stephanie Fitzsimmons was early on the scene to check on damages. Fitzsimmons broke the news of the building damages to Powell, being as straightforward as possible. “I figured I was going to drive around town and check things out,” said Fitzsimmons. “I called a few
people then saw Bertram Blend and unfortunately had to give Amanda the bad news.” On Tuesday, workers began tearing down the century-old A.B. McGill building as it was the building that suffered the most damage. Aside from building damages, several locations were without power after a power line was damaged. “I drove down to check the thrift store, I manage it, and wanted to see what the damage was,” said Fitzsim-
mons. “I ran across a downed wire. I had to go the wrong way down the road to get around that. That was all around 11 at night. There could be other damaged buildings we may not have identified yet.” Taking the initiative, Bertram community members and residents from the surrounding area arrived to help in whatever way they could. Trisha Zeimetz, the owner of Board Me, set up a table offering a spread of food for people working to clean up debris.
Page 9
out of a devastating situation, there were no injuries. “The Chamber knows we’re going to do something,” said Ringstaff. “Most of us have been here all day, and we’ve been throwing around ideas. We’ve talked with the people at the Globe, and hopefully, we can do some benefits. We need to determine the needs and let everyone get their insurance first.”
“Our community is great, and this morning I did a Facebook Live asking for volunteers, and within five minutes, we had three people. Our librarians are three women, and we were trying to figure out how to get a scissor lift to get up and put plywood where the damages were. Morgan, the building owner of the places destroyed, supplied us with the plywood, and we got help with the scissor lift.” While it is difficult to draw positives
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century-old stone walls of the surrounding structures and Porras counted herself fortunate her business was left relatively unscathed, with only a front awning torn off the facade. The fact an adjacent building was undamaged didn’t seem to faze her as she stood and looked around. “I don’t question acts of God or acts of nature,” she said. Not so fortunate was Amanda Powell, who owns Bertram Blend & Boutique, located on the corner of SH 29 and Grange Street – perhaps 100 yards from Porras’ business. Her building was doomed to destruction, as she salvaged what she could from the business she’s owned since 2019. “I was in shock – I cried,” said Powell, who said she was initially aware of the damage after seeing several social media posts, although she added she wasn’t sure at first if her business was one of the affected. “We’ve put our blood, sweat and tears into this place for the past two years – it’s worse than I thought it was going to be.” Now, much of it is gone, despite the fact many corners of
the coffee bar/boutique were virtually untouched – including the chalkboard menu that still hung over the counter. Powell said she chose the spot due to its location at the center of the community she also calls home, after previously having lived in Leander and Liberty Hill. “It’s a great location,” she said. “Also, I love old buildings.” Indeed, many of the buildings in the affected area are over 100 years old and have certainly seen their fair share of bad weather over the decades, but nothing like what hit the small community, seemingly out of nowhere. Al Redzematovic owns Mambo Italiano and Fratelli’s Pizza – located on consecutive blocks approximately 500 feet apart. Mambo Italiano suffered major damage to its roof and facade, while Fratelli’s was much less affected. The Montenegro native, who opened Mambo in 2017 – and recently established a second Fratelli’s location in Liberty Hill – received a phone call while surveying the damage to his building. “It was just one of the locals,”
Thursday, March 25, 2021
said Redzematovic. “Checking on me to see how everything was.” According to Redzematovic, tragedies such as this – while they may seem unfair or unexplainable at the time – can not only bring out the best in people, particularly in a small community such as Bertram, but after the global pandemic has done its best to tear people apart over the past year, perhaps bring back what once existed. “Something like this can restore the values of our humanity,” said Redzematovic. “Getting people to work together.” As far as why something such as this might have happened, he remained steadfast in his faith. “God has a plan for all of us,” he said. “Everything happens for a reason.”
SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTOS
(RIGHT) Not much is left of Bertram Blend & Boutique after straight-line winds did heavy damage to businesses along a stretch of SH 29 in Bertram on Monday night.
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