LH Independent 4-29-21

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2021

Volume 34, Issue 23

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LHHS welcomes new band director

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor When Shawn Murphy steps into the Liberty Hill High School Band Hall this summer, the new director will have his sights set on the kind of success that makes him a proud onlooker.

He says seeing the band perform well, be it at halftime or at contest, is everything.

“It’s what we’ve trained the SHAWN MURPHY kids for,” said Murphy. “We LHHS Band Director train them so they can be sucoff, give them the tools they cessful without us. You teach them as much as you can, catch them when they fall, dust them See MURPHY, Page 2

Liberty Hill EDC revamps mission, vision

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor The Liberty Hill Economic Development Corp. may be in the midst of negotiating a long list of potential economic development deals, but that didn’t stop the Board from taking a step back and rethinking its foundation and what it means for the future.

“In preparation for the new strategic plan and proactive direction the Board wishes to undertake, it was agreed that the Economic Development Corporation needed to start at the beginning and determine its mission, vision, and core values,” said EDC Executive Director Matt Powell. “The mission is what they want to be doing right now, the vision is the future they see for Liberty Hill, and the core values are the fundamental beliefs they wish to operate within.”

All three – the mission, vision and core values – were approved by the Board April 21.

The mission statement now reads, “Help Liberty Hill prosper by facilitating positive,

healthy, and self-sustaining growth.”

And the vision statement is, “A prosperous, charming, lifetime destination.”

The seven core values outlined by the board are: Integrity, Transparency, Sustainability, Partnership, Community First, Engagement, and Accountability.

“The process was extremely collaborative and gratifying,” Powell said. “Each member shared what they want Liberty Hill to be, and how the EDC could help the city become an even better place to live and do business. The board members each have their individual ideas, but they all share a positive vision and an optimism about Liberty Hill.”

For Powell, there was one part of the approved building blocks that he found most telling.

“Personally, I especially like the term ‘lifetime destination’,” he said. “The Board wants Liberty Hill to be a place you never want or need to leave.”

Election Day is finally here, and a crowded ballot awaits Saturday for those who did not vote early. There are decisions to make in five races for school board and city council, and then there is the $491 million school bond election and a fire department sales tax proposition.

Voting locations in Liberty Hill on Saturday will be the Municipal Court building, 2801 RM 1869, and Liberty Hill High School, 16500 W. SH 29. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Early voting in Liberty Hill – which doesn’t necessarily reflect all voters from the area – was 724 through April 24.

Voters can cast their ballot at any of the 14 early voting locations within Williamson County, meaning local turnout could be higher than what is reflected.

In the race for three City Council seats, Chris Pezold and Kim Sanders are running for Place 1. Incumbent Steve McIntosh did not file for reelection and moved away from Liberty Hill at least six weeks prior to his term ending.

Place 5 Council member Liz Rundzieher is opposed by Angela Lynn Jones. Friday, Rundzieher, who has not at-

tended the last two Council meetings, announced via social media that she has been diagnosed with cancer.

Crystal Mancilla is running against incumbent Gram Lankford in Place 3.

In the school board race, four candidates are on the ballot for Place 3 – Steve Messana, Michael Ferguson, Charlene Stevens and Antonio Canas – while incumbent David Nix did not seek reelection. In Place 6, most recently held by Vickie Peterson who resigned in January due to work obligations, there are six candidates.

On the ballot for the one-year remaining on Peterson’s term are Aurora Trahan, Robert Baughn, Lockie Ealy, Cory Milam, Kristi Hargrove and Jennifer Williams.

It is not necessary for any candidate to achieve a 50-percent majority in either race, so a runoff election will not be necessary in the pair of crowded places. Incumbents Kathy Major (Place 4) and Anthony Buck (Place 5) did not draw an opponent and will serve another term.

In the LHISD school bond election, the first proposition totals $457.7 million, and makes up most of the total bond package. It includes funds for new schools, campus renovations and expansions, planning funds for additional

Voters weigh in on bond, candidates

©2021 The Liberty Hill Independent

See ELECTION, Page 4

News@LHIndependent.com

April 29, 2021 | 50 Cents

Council grants Rundzieher medical leave

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor The City Council again met with only three members and the mayor Monday, as Council members Steve McIntosh and Liz Rundzieher were absent.

Rundzieher, who has missed the last two meetings, announced Friday on her campaign Facebook page that she had recently been diagnosed with cancer.

Council member Kathy Canady added an item to the Monday agenda to propose a 90-day medical leave of absence for Rundzieher.

“We have a thing that we can’t miss three meetings in a row without having a reason to,” Canady said. “I know most of you know, but Liz has been diagnosed with cancer. I think her fear is that she needs it known that she may not be able to be here for a period of time and that’s why I asked – she asked me to ask for medical leave. She will not be at the next meeting.”

The Council passed the leave unanimously, but not before Council member Tony DeYoung asked for documentation that Rundzieher had re-

quested the issue be brought to the Council, rather than it coming under the initiative of Canady who placed the item on the agenda.

“With all due respect, is there any correspondence from Liz herself – an e-mail or text message – for the record of her requesting the medical leave versus you asking for it?” DeYoung asked.

“I’m sure she didn’t think she had to do that,” Canady responded. “I’m sure she would be glad to get a note from her doctor.”

DeYoung clarified he was not questioning the diagnosis or looking for something from a doctor, but clarification that Rundzieher initiated the request and wanted the leave.

“She didn’t send me anything,” Canady said. “She asked me to handle it.”

Rundzieher is currently on the ballot seeking reelection.

She is opposed by Angela Jones.

Budget plan Liberty Hill will begin its budget process early this year, kicking off with its first budget workshop scheduled

for May 10, and returning to an old way of discussing expense needs.

“It will be the department heads who will be standing before you,” said Finance Director Becky Wilkins.

“You’re going to get to know your department heads and hear them make their spiel and they will be telling you what they want. After those are done we will come back to you with a proposed budget, trying to accommodate the things that people ask for within reason, depending on tax rates and what expected revenues are.”

The change was embraced by the Council, despite the much less public discussion of the budget through its formulation the last two years.

“I think this is what we’ve been talking about and this is what we needed and what we wanted,” said Council member Gram Lankford. “This is really, really important. This needs to continue. This is going to be good for anyone sitting up here, anyone who is elected, having face-to-face interaction with department heads.”

The new method of putting

LIZ RUNDZIEHER City Council Member together the budget is the way it was developed and discussed prior to Rick Hall’s term as Mayor.

In both the 2019 and 2020 budget process members of the Council repeatedly expressed its faith in Hall and his leadership in preparing the budget behind closed doors, ultimately leading to almost no discussion of how departmental expenses were determined or justified.

Each budget workshop is scheduled throughout the summer months and will begin at 5:30 p.m. prior to Council meetings in most cases.

“I like the idea that we’re spreading it out and starting

See COUNCIL, Page 8

Lundy named Intermediate Teacher of the Year

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer With more than two decades in the classroom, Liberty Hill Intermediate math teacher Katy Lundy says she’s seen almost everything her job can throw at her. That was until this school year started.

“Almost everything was different. From talking in a mask all day to making everything digital,” Lundy.

“We couldn’t pass things out or share materials. We weren’t able to do a lot of activities. I teach math, so math manipulatives and other math activities were things we couldn’t do. It was like reinventing the wheel all year long.”

Katy Lundy received Liberty Hill Intermediate’s Teacher of the Year award. The 23-year LHISD Lundy started working for teacher voluntarily took on more responsibility during the pandemic, earning the recognition of See LUNDY, Page 8 her peers.

Liberty Hill ISD partnered with Benny Boyd Car Dealership to provide staff with two dinner plates as a thank you for their hard work over the last year. Administrators worked to help prepare and serve meals.

Benny Boyd offers tasty thank you to teachers

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer The Liberty Hill Junior High parking lot was packed with teachers driving through to pick up free meals as a thank you for the work they put in over this pandemic-affected school year.

LHISD principals formed

an efficient conveyor line, preparing two plates for each passing vehicle. Local auto dealership, Benny Boyd, partnered with the district to provide the meal for teachers.

“We want to give a big shout out to Benny Boyd for approaching us and saying they had the ability to do this,

and they wanted to serve our teachers,” said Superintendent Steve Snell. “I’m thankful that businesses like this recognize that teachers can use a helping hand, and thanks now and then.”

Jamie Erickson, head of community relations for Benny Boyd, helped organize the

event as a gesture of thanks.

“We wanted to partner with Liberty Hill ISD, and they wanted to reward their teachers in a unique way because of the last year,” said Erickson.

“With all the challenges that they had, we feel like these

See DINNER, Page 8

Page 2

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, April 29, 2021

OBITUARY Roger Dale Flowers

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Roger Dale Flowers was born July 7, 1955 to Gilford and Gertrude Flowers of Tulia, Texas. He passed away on Thursday, April 15, 2021 in Leander, Texas at the age of 65. He attended elementary, junior high and high school in Tulia and graduated in May of 1973.

Roger married Lorrie Buchanan April 8, 1977. They just celebrated 45 years together.

Roger and Lorrie moved from Tulia, Texas to Round Rock, Texas where he went to work for the United Parcel Service driving a delivery truck. He worked there for eight years.

Roger and Lorrie then moved to Leander, Texas where he worked for the City of Leander

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Parks and Recreation Department as a supervisor until he retired in August of 2020. He retired after 15 years of dedicated service to the Leander community.

Roger had an abundance of friends and loved life. He loved everybody with his whole heart. He left us too early, as there were still goals he would have liked to accomplish. His cheerful personality and genuine caring attitude will be missed by anyone who knew him. He had a contagious smile with an ornery side and great sense of humor.

Roger is survived by his wife, Lorrie Buchanan Flowers of Leander; his son, Tanner Flowers of San Antonio; his

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great-nephews, and friends.

Lorrie, Tanner and Janae would like to thank the City of Leander Parks and Recreation Department for all the love and support they have given them at this time of loss.

A Memorial Celebration will be held at the Mason Homestead, 1101 S. Bagdad Rd., Leander, Texas 78641 on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 10:30 A.M.

Shin Oak Ridge Bulletin Board Send news to: News@LHIndependent.com

Greenleaf Fisk Chapter meets May 1

More than insurance … insurance with a God-given purpose.

daughter, Janae Flowers Burns of Leander; grandchildren, Kenzie, Chase, and Cyler; his brothers Roland Flowers (Sherma) of Happy and Doug Flowers (Marketta) of Amarillo; his nephews, Kirk Flowers (Penny) of Canyon, Gabe Flowers (Christina) of Happy, Roy Flowers (Jennifer) of Dallas, Shane Flowers (Tiffee) of Amarillo, Rob Bice (Julie) of McKinney and Bobby of Lytle; his nieces, Courtney Oles (Lee) of Lubbock, Kathryn Coppinger (Eric) of Amarillo and Jodie of Lytle; his brother in-law, Mark Buchanan (JoAnn) of Lytle; his sister in-law Vicki Buchanan Brant of Fort Worth and numerous aunts, cousins, great-nieces,

The Judge Greenleaf Fisk Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas will meet on Saturday, May 1, at 10 a.m. at Cross Tracks Methodist Church, 101 Church Street.

Our Hats & Bonnets Luncheon will include the installation of new members and Officers.

MURPHY

Chisholm Trail Quilt Guild meets May 4

The next meeting will be Tuesday, May 4, via zoom.

Our educator Cheryl Matzen of Quilt-N-A-Flash presents “911 for Quilters” and shares her quilting journey from novice to ribbon winner. Contact president@ctquiltguild.org if you would like to be a visitor.

Our May 18th workshop is EQ8: Beyond the Basics. For more information, visit our website.

Continued from Page 1

need to be successful and then once they’ve had enough practice you step out of the way and let them do it.”

The University of North Texas alum is stepping in as the new band director at Liberty Hill High School, after John Perrin decided to take his talents to the middle school level.

“I’m excited to get started at Liberty Hill,” he said. “There’s a lot of great potential, great support, awesome kids and parents. It’s an exciting opportunity for me to join the team of band directors in Liberty Hill.”

Murphy has been the director at Burleson Centennial High since 2015, and was in Azle before that dating back to 2011. Coming to Central Texas – and to Liberty Hill specifically – is something he sees as a great opportunity.

“The band scene here is incredible,” Murphy said. “All the Austin area bands are just amazing, and a lot of them are led by friends of mine. To be able to come to a part of the state I really love and come to a place with the overwhelmingly positive growth and community, with a drive for excellence, is a great atmosphere to be able to join.”

The involvement of stakeholders throughout the community was something that impressed Murphy in his interview process.

“This was a very unique process, having a room full of faculty and administrators,

then moving to another room with students, and then another room that had parents,” he said. “No other interview for a job has been quite like that.

Talking to the kids was where I was most comfortable. I connected immediately with them and the questions they asked.

They came from the heart and it was easy to answer them from my heart.”

The connection with the students was instant, and the message was one Murphy was excited about.

“They want to be really good, and they wanted to know how I would make them really good,” he said. “We had a nice discussion. It was a really comfortable part of the interview and I liked the fire in their eyes. Their commitment to be a part of that process shows they care about the future.”

Liberty Hill ISD Superintendent Steve Snell was not only excited about the experience Murphy brings to the district, but the overall strength he sees in the band program.

“I am very excited about the hire of Shawn Murphy and the future of the band program,” Snell said. “He brings with him a wealth of large band program success in both marching and UIL. “I am also excited that Mr. Perrin is staying on and will be at the middle school giving those students a solid foundation to build on during those critical years,” Snell said. “We

Liberty Hill Garden Club meets May 11

The Tuesday, May 11th, garden club meeting will be to install new officers, announce scholarship winners and discuss next year’s budget. The garden club will then take the summer off and the next meeting is Sept. 14th.

Visit the website for more information or write to gardenclublibertyhill@gmail.com.

will have solid personnel in our program sixth through 12th and I look forward to the growth, energy, and success moving forward.”

His experience growing up in band was special for Murphy.

“I had great band directors when I was a kid,” he said. “I was shown the way by some pretty incredible teachers, and I didn’t know at the time, but they were legends. I just happened to be in their program just by virtue of where I lived.

They gave me a great foundation and I worked at it and got better.”

Being in the band was always part of his plan, but the decision to become a band director came later.

Many of his friends in the University of North Texas (UNT) Band were music education majors and to Murphy, it seemed like they were having the most fun. He changed his major to music education and never looked back.

He calls his music journey a “work in progress.”

“I’m a living mosaic of every teacher I’ve ever had,” Murphy said. “I’ve taken what works in certain situations from certain band directors. I’ve also gone to learn from directors themselves, taking a personal day and with permission going in and sitting and taking notes as though I was a student teacher all over again.”

His philosophy for creating

See BAND, Page 4

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OPINION

EDITORIAL:

Throwback Thursday

Rapid growth somewhat unsettling for columnist

By JAMES WEAR Columnist I suppose I’ve reached the age where the simple act of reading through a local newspaper can be somewhat of a jarring experience, and it’s often the numbers associated with the news that can leave one shaking his head, wondering just where did time go.

Perhaps my most unsettling experiences come as I read through the pages of The Independent and learn of the latest goings-on in a community that I called home for most of my married life…and even though I endeavor to bring readers memories from the past a couple of times a month I can assure you to this day I don’t consider myself a Liberty Hill “old timer” as I have to think to qualify for such a status would require one to have attended school in the old red brick school house that was torn down more than 50 years ago.

I look back to my early days of The Independent in the late 1980s and recall how, in a little more than three months, it was possible to know and have spoken with every teacher in the entire school district, and only slightly more time was required to be familiar with most of the student body. I can look back now at enrollment projections that were provided to school board members and while the numbers were enough for the community to take action and build a new high school on Loop 332, those numbers also reflected a time when Liberty Hill was truly a small school system.

There was a time one would have to know only two or three phone numbers to connect with anybody in the schools, and often, when dialing up the high school, one of the coaches would pick up as the field house shared the same number.

And there was a time one didn’t call 9-1-1 to report a fire or medical emergency; instead, the Liberty Hill Volunteer Fire Department had a number of “fire phones” scattered throughout the community in members’ homes and businesses, and while I do recall that number I won’t share it as it could well be in use by some-

Independent columnist James Wear pictured back in 1988 as the newspaper prepared to begin its second year of publication. At the time The Independent office was located in the Stubblefield building. Wear says he is astonished by the growth Liberty Hill has experienced over the past three decades. (Courtesy Photo) one else today. And while the fire phone had its disadvantages, it served as an effective tool for many years in getting help to those who needed it. The 9-1-1 addressing system was not yet in place, and so it took folks familiar with the area to make sure fire trucks were headed to the right place.

By the time I had joined the department in the late 1980s, it boasted of four trucks and a station located in the downtown area across from the Stubblefield building that had cost volunteers $7,500 to erect a few years earlier. Quite a step up in a few short years as the department had launched operations with a 1946 Dodge serving as a pumper and depended on a yearly barbecue/auction to fund operations…and communications were done over citizens band radio.

The early days of The Independent found the newspaper largely dependent on out-oftown businesses advertising to survive, and it wasn’t because local merchants didn’t support the newspaper…there just wasn’t that many of them.

Thinking back, I can recall three food establishments.

There was a barbecue place up at Seward Junction, a diner out on SH 29 and my mother-inlaw’s café downtown.

Liberty Hill was without a bank at the time, other than a branch office of Burnet Savings and Loan, and there were a handful of places to get your oil changed, including a business downtown and J&R Tire

and Automotive out on the highway. The late Jim Brinson operated J&R, and was among the key supporters of the newspaper in its early years, running a large ad that dominated page three and often posing the question, “Did you really try to buy it in Liberty Hill?” as he suggested, despite Liberty Hill being a small town, there were a number of businesses providing goods and services.

All of this looking back got me to thinking as to what would truly qualify one as an old timer in Liberty Hill. As I mentioned earlier, attending the red brick school house would certainly serve as one qualification.

But other than that, would it be enough to honestly say one was among those to attend Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July picnic?

Would it be enough to say you witnessed the International Sculpture Symposium headed by Mel Fowler?

Would one qualify as an old timer if you took a dip in the

Blue Hole?

Would you be eligible for old timer status if you worked or shopped at Allman’s Grocery and remember charging groceries there, or at the “Green Store” once known as McMahan’s?

If you remember the days when Liberty Hill had its own phone system and local persons took turns operating the switchboard before “Ma Bell” took over and modernized communications (and believe it or not that only happened within the past 50 years) would that be a qualifier?

If you ever enjoyed a cup of coffee at the Foust Café downtown, or later, a cheeseburger at the Liberty Hill Café?

No doubt, there’s many other experiences that many in our community may recall, and they perhaps too are somewhat astounded by how quickly Liberty Hill is growing.

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, April 29, 2021 Page 3

Go vote!

Saturday is the last day.

It is the last day to make your vote count in our local elections – arguably the most important when it comes to our daily lives and local future.

If you did not vote early, it is your last opportunity to participate in the decisions that will have an immeasurable impact on our community.

There’s a school bond package, a fire department sales tax proposition and 16 candidates across two school board seats and three council places looking for your vote, but turnout is key and there has not always been a history of real turnout in local races.

Over the two City Council elections – 2018 and 2019 – prior to last November, there was a total of 247 ballots cast.

In 2019, there were 118 ballots cast in the city election, down from 129 the previous May when Rick Hall defeated Connie Fuller for Mayor.

Steven McIntosh finished with 74 votes, Gram Lankford grabbed 72 votes and Liz Rundzieher had the highest vote total with 77 to claim victory.

Prior to last November, when Liz Branigan defeated Hall in the Mayor’s race, only six candidates since the incorporation of Liberty Hill had surpassed the 100 vote mark in an election. In 2020, Branigan took 609 of 1,115 total votes, and that number – or more – is what we need to see when the polls close May 1 if we want a truly representative Council in Liberty Hill.

Historically, the school board races have drawn more voters – encompassing a much larger population area, but everyone should help choose our next two new board members.

The bond election should draw thousands to the polls. The 2018 bond passed with 59 percent of the vote in the biggest election in terms of turnout ever in a Liberty Hill ISD election. There were 7,579 ballots cast in that election – 4,477 for and 3,102 against – more than doubling the previous high 3,455 in 2010 for the high school bond election.

What will the results and participation tell us this time about how important the future of our community is to us?

Voting is not difficult, it is not a chore and should never be seen as an inconvenience, yet many never make the effort.

When we take our problems, challenges and dissatisfaction, and trace them back to their root cause, a lack of interest and participation in the democratic process always plays a part.

Cast your ballot Saturday, and know that however you vote, you have helped make the system we value so much work better with that five minutes of your time.

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Page 4

ELECTION

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Continued from Page 1

new campuses, land purchases and a variety of other infrastructure projects.

The second proposition voters will decide on is $8 million for technology devices for both teachers and students.

Proposition 3 is for $6 million

for the expansion of Panther Stadium at the high school, and Proposition 4 is for $20 million to construct a stadium on the second high school campus.

Williamson County Emergency Services District #4

currently receives one cent of sales tax revenues within the fire district, but if its May proposition passes, then all of the maximum 8.25 percent in sales tax would be sewn up in the area, with a quarter cent going to the Library District

and 6.25 percent to the state.

Inside the Liberty Hill city limits, the 1.75 above the library’s share and the state’s portion goes to the City, not the ESD. The three quarters of a cent available outside the city limits is what will be vot-

Thursday, April 29, 2021

ed on, and in some areas outside the Library District the ESD could gain an entire cent if the measure passes.

Liberty Hill & Surrounding Communities

BAND

Continued from Page 2

and building success with his band has a few key components.

First, it is important to build strong bonds with kids and families, then there is the importance of setting goals.

“You have to have goals of where you want to be, big goals and little goals all along the way,” Murphy said. “That helps motivate kids and makes the work more meaningful.”

After that, it is a good mix of hard work, kindness and fun.

“It’s also about climate and atmosphere,” he said. “What is the energy in the air in the band hall? It’s about hard work, and we’re going to work hard.

That’s what we’re going to be about. We’re also going to be kind and we’re going to have fun.”

Murphy and his wife, Kim, who he met in the band at UNT, have two sons, Mason, who is 13, and Hayden, who is nine.

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On the issue of public comments, these three voted to restrict YOUR voice!

KATHY CANADY

“Well they’re at home where they can do something besides sit there and twiddle their thumbs like the people out here are. 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.”

- Kathy Canady Liberty Hill City Council, Feb. 8th, 2021

GRAM LANKFORD

“I have a hard time wrapping my head around letting them voice, uh, say whatever they want to say.

I think that there needs to be policing, some guidelines, you know.”

- Gram Lankford Liberty Hill City Council, Feb. 8th, 2021

LIZ RUNDZIEHER

“Liz has served Liberty Hill since the very first City Council in 1999.

I appreciate all of the time and energy she has spent over the years volunteering. I wish her a complete and speedy recovery. With that said, I would be remiss in this critical time in our growth not to voice my belief in term limits.”

- Chris Pezold

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Thursday, April 29, 2021

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

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SPORTS

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, April 29, 2021 Page 6

‘Call to Leadership’ inspires next season’s seniors

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor As the sun set in the western sky behind the main grandstand at Panther Stadium, a brand-new day was just beginning, as the young men who will be seniors on next season’s football squad stood on the field with their parents, united and committed to the Purple-and-Gold gridiron cause.

Each player received a dog tag with a special message engraved on it – one which will resonate with this group from this day forward up to, including and beyond when they reconvene on the same surface wearing helmets and shoulder pads in the fall.

“If it is to be, it’s up to me.”

The solemn ceremony was the conclusion of the 2nd Annual Call to Leadership banquet – an evening’s festivities designed for next season’s seniors to soak up and embrace the roles they will all be expected to play once the Friday night lights go in come

autumn.

Twenty-two Panthers will walk onto the field next season carrying the banner of the senior class, not the least of which is linebacker Andon Thomas, who will be counted on to lead the Liberty Hill defense in its quest to follow up on a campaign which saw them advance to the state semifinals in its first season as a Class 5A program. He said the message delivered to him and his teammates was crystal clear.

“It really let me know how close we are as a team,” said Thomas, who led the Panthers with 161 tackles last season, along with five sacks and three interceptions. “I’m really looking forward to the season.”

The evening began in the school’s cafeteria with a steak dinner provided for all by the Panther Pit Crew, then was followed by the guest speaker, Tim Kennedy, a U.S. Army Special Forces operator and former UFC fighter, who delivered an empowering address to the seniors, who were

seated in a single rank at the front of the audience.

Kennedy spoke to the players about teamwork, camaraderie and brotherhood and used his experience as a master sergeant on a 12-man Special Forces team to illustrate the importance of these values in the endeavor they’re about to take on next season.

“Adversity is the name of the game,” said Kennedy, who served multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq – winning a Bronze Star with a “V” device for valor under fire and is now a member of the Texas National Guard’s 19th Special Forces Group. “You need to be able to look to the man to the left and right of you to meet those challenges.”

Kennedy also described what it was like to lose friends and fellow soldiers in combat and made reference to the passing of former Liberty Hill head coach Jeff Walker as an example of the kinds of obstacles one will face – and must be ready for.

Liberty Hill’s Blake Simpson (#42) was selected to play in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

Simpson to play in Blue-Grey Game

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Blake Simpson rushed for 2,024 yards and scored 30 touchdowns during his senior season for a Class 5A football team which advanced all the way to the state semifinals.

Yet, somehow, the 6-foot-2½, 215-pound running back still doesn’t have a place to call home for his college career.

Hopefully, all that will change after May 17, when Simpson will play for the West squad at the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Dallas after being selected to play in the prestigious contest that attracts the top highschool talent from across the entire country.

“It’s an honor to be able to play with the best – it’s a big deal,” said Simpson, who ran for 4,388 yards and 56 touchdowns during his three seasons on the Panthers’ varsity. “I feel like I have something to prove that I can play.”

Many of Simpson’s teammates and opponents in the showcase contest have long since committed to some of the top schools in the country, so he’s definitely ready to measure himself against such a high caliber of players, he said.

“This opportunity makes me happy – I’m excited to see what I can do,” said Simpson.

“I want to see if I can make

something out of my college career.”

Simpson burst onto the scene as a sophomore for the Panthers, including a Class 4A state semifinal performance in Liberty Hill’s 44-41 victory over Carthage in which he rushed 22 times for 192 yards and two touchdowns.

Ever since, Simpson has used a bruising running style in rising to become one of the top running backs in the entire state, but knows he must prove what he can do against the big boys in Dallas.

“I need to show I’m a versatile player,” he said. “I can run, catch and block and I’m very coachable.”

Liberty Hill head coach Kent Walker certainly knows what Simpson brings to the fight.

“I think Blake’s biggest strength is how physical of a runner he is,” said Walker. “He also has great vision, which all good running backs have.”

Simpson said he’s proud of the opportunity to represent his hometown at a national event.

“I just hope the community looks on me in a good way,” he said. “I feel like I’m a role model, I’ve had good integrity and I’m leaving a good legacy for when people look back.”

Walker added having a Panthers player appear on such a grand stage is something the entire Purple-and-Gold foot-

Liberty Hill athletes excel in lacrosse

ball family can be proud of.

“It’s awesome anytime we have a player or athlete who gets to participate in something like this,” he said. “It’s definitely a big deal for Liberty Hill.”

Simpson got word he had been selected for the game via a social media message in late February, but word of his invitation didn’t change his approach as far as his workout regimen is concerned, he said.

“I was already working out, running and lifting every day,” said Simpson. “Also, I was eating right without a lot of sugar.”

Despite the fact he doesn’t yet know where he’ll be playing next season, he has somewhat of an idea where he would fit in best, he said.

“I think a small Division I school,” said Simpson. “But, I’ve also considered going to a junior college and then moving up.”

In 2020, Liberty Hill alum and current University of Texas-San Antonio defensive lineman Walker Baty was named defensive MVP of the game and Simpson said he’s had contact with his former teammate regarding his participation this year.

“I’ve been texting with him about it,” he said. “Seeing how he was defensive MVP, he challenged me to be offensive MVP.”

While Liberty Hill High School doesn’t offer lacrosse, competitive local athletes have joined with athletes from Leander and won the District Championship on Saturday. The Raiders will play for the Regional Championship on May 1 in Dallas. The Leander Raiders beat Austin’s Hyde Park High School 10-7 at the Round Rock Sports Complex in Round Rock Saturday to clinch the District Title.

The district-champion Raiders are led by Coach Lewis Porter and Coach Marty Kelly. State Championships will be played later in May. (Courtesy Photo)

SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO

Next season’s football seniors gather around Liberty Hill ISD superintendent Steve Snell and Panthers head coach Kent Walker at the end of the Call to Leadership banquet.

“Know what the mission is collectively,” said Kennedy.

“It’s all about individual responsibility and holding each other accountable because you can’t be a great leader if you’re not ready.”

Finally, Kennedy made the players a promise.

“There’s not enough time in the day to get better,” he said.

“But, the reward at the end is far better than any instant gratification.”

Thomas was fired up by Kennedy’s speech and the message it held.

“I’m totally 100 percent ready to get the job done,” he said. “It really makes me want to get after it.”

In addition to his lead-by-ex-

ample style of play, Thomas knows he needs to pick up the mantle of leadership in other ways this upcoming season, he said.

“I’ll need to be more vocal than I have in the past and I know people will be watching me,” said Thomas, who has

See LEADERS, Page 8

Logan Bailey (#4) had adjusted well after moving back to Texas from Alaska before this season.

Panther pitcher trades Alaska cold for Texas heat

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Last year at this time, Logan Bailey and his baseball teammates were just getting their season started.

They had to wait for the snow to melt.

Bailey played his freshman season far to the north of where he currently finds himself, in the town of Wasilla, Alaska, a burg of a little over 10,000 people located in the south central region of the state. It is a place where the average high temperature never even reaches 70 degrees at any time of the year and an average snowfall of 52 inches gets in the way of any outdoor baseball activities until well into the spring.

However, these days, Bailey and his new teammates are already embroiled in a heated playoff race 30 games into a season which began when the flakes were still falling in his previous home – although there was one hobby he enjoyed there which he no longer can.

“I used to snowboard a lot,” said Bailey, who was actually born in San Angelo, where he lived until age 10 when he and his family decided to make the move north for five years before returning this year.

Bailey has been a revelation for the Panthers this season, as the sophomore right-hander has been one of the leaders of the Liberty Hill pitching staff, posting a 4-3 record with a 2.42 earned-run-average to go with 23 strikeouts in 26 innings, the highlight of which was a six-inning outing in the Panthers’ 4-0 victory against Class 6A Vista Ridge, in which he pitched six shutout innings allowing only three hits while striking out five.

According to Bailey, there are certainly talented players in Alaska – just not as many.

“I think the skill level of the good players there isn’t as far off as people think,” said Bailey. “But, there are just

fewer.”

Despite his gaudy strikeout numbers, Bailey said he’s more of the kind of pitcher who is a hybrid of power and control.

“I’m a little bit of both,” he said. “I have decent movement and rely on my changeup and curveball, but I do like strikeouts.”

Liberty Hill head coach Steve Hutcherson said he thought twice when he heard he was getting a move-in from Alaska – but any trepidation didn’t last long.

“You never know – Alaska isn’t known for its baseball,” he said. “But, the first couple times we saw him throw, we thought he could be pretty good with how the ball moves out of his hand, so we knew he had an arm.”

Along with freshman Blaze Milam and junior Conner Sherburn, Bailey has cemented a rotation dominated by underclassman this season, but one difference is the fact Bailey was new to the team and had to acclimate himself to his new surroundings – and teammates, said Hutcherson.

“It’s always a concern when you get a move-in,” he said.

“But, out guys have always been good about that and I think Logan fit it pretty quick after he got here and will tell you some of his best friends are already here.”

Hutcherson added the fact his team is relying on so many young arms is an aberration.

“Usually, when you have such a young team as we do, you have a senior-heavy pitching staff,” he said. “But, we have some young pitchers who are really good.”

Bailey said the fact he’s only a sophomore doesn’t affect his mindset when he takes the mound.

“I just go out there and don’t think about messing up a lot,” he said. “But, I do get really amped up.”

There was an adjustment period needed, though, upon his arrival and perhaps an over-

zealousness to prove himself to his new teammates and coaches.

“At first, I was trying to do a bit too much,” said Bailey.

“But, now I know if I work hard, I’ll get what I deserve.”

Which is plenty of opportunities in the form of innings – as both a starter and a reliever – although Bailey definitely prefers one over the other.

“I’m not a big fan of relieving,” he said. “I feel like I pitch better when I start because I know what I’m going to be doing as far as my pregame routine.”

Hutcherson said Bailey’s reputation will certainly begin to proceed him as he gains more experience – especially facing district opposition time and again in the future.

“Logan has a high ceiling,” he said. “I think the more he pitches against people, they’ll know who he is, so he’ll have to keep elevating his game as a result.”

Bailey also realizes this, but doesn’t think what he has going is anything so special.

“I think anybody can be as good as they want to be,” he said. “As long as they’re willing to work hard.”

However, having the chance to hone is craft in his new home isn’t something Bailey takes lightly.

“Coming here has been a blessing,” said Bailey. “I’m thankful to Coach Hutcherson for giving me the opportunity.”

The fact he’s getting that opportunity in a vastly different climate is something he’s also soaking in, but central Texas hasn’t exactly been what he expected, he said.

“I expected it to be really hot all the time,” said Bailey.

“But, we still got to start our season back in February when there was still four feet of snow on the ground in Alaska.”

Thursday, April 29, 2021

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 7

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

Ryan Rhoden (#18) is the only Liberty Hill player who wears his pant legs pulled down as a tribute to his father, who wore them in similar fashion as a player in college.

Stylish in silence

Panthers senior pitcher humble in nature

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Of all the players on the Liberty Hill baseball team, only one chooses to wear the pant legs of his uniform pulled all the way down to his shoe-tops as opposed to kneeheight, thus showing off the Panthers’ stylish purple-andgold-striped socks.

However, in the case of senior pitcher Ryan Rhoden, it’s not a symbol of rebellion or of wanting to stand out from his teammates – but a tribute.

“My dad played college baseball and always wore his pants like that,” said Rhoden, of father Mark, who pitched at Emporia State University.

“So, that’s why I do it.”

Interestingly enough, Rhoden’s mother – Sherry – just happens to be Liberty Hill’s head tennis coach and is a former college player and current teaching professional, but he said he’s never felt compelled to pick up a racket.

“I tried it,” he said. “But, tennis just wasn’t for me.”

So, Rhoden followed in Dad’s footsteps instead onto the baseball field, where he has taken up residence on the mound for the Panthers for the past four years and has enjoyed being the center of attention in the middle of the diamond.

“When I’m out there on the mound, I feel like I’m in control of the game,” he said. “I get to set the pace.”

Rhoden’s highlight so far this season was a shutout in the Panthers’ 10-0 victory over Temple, a contest in which he allowed only two hits, while striking out five in an 81-pitch

performance.

Although his best pitches are his curve ball and change-up, he said perhaps the most challenging aspect of pitching is when things aren’t necessarily going your way during a given outing.

“I think when you get hit hard is the toughest,” said Rhoden.

“You have to get your focus back and just keep going.”

For example, take Rhoden’s home start in a district game against Glenn, when he gave up a run on a pair of hits and a walk in the first inning, only to maintain his composure in getting out of the inning with limited damage and only allowing one more hit over his four innings of work, keeping the Panthers in a game they would ultimately go on to win by a 5-4 score in eight innings.

Rhoden plans on attending Texas Tech University – where older sister Shelby is currently a senior – and will study engineering of either the petroleum or mechanical variety – a profession he said his mother suggested looking into.

“I wasn’t really interested in it,” he said. “But, I’ve always been a hands-on learner, so I started to like it.”

Something else Rhoden likes to get his hands on is his 2011 Chevy Silverado truck, which he works on himself and has customized with various amenities including super deeplip wheels and ground effects – a hobby which was influenced by another member of his family.

“I’ve always like messing around with trucks,” he said.

“I have an uncle up in Dallas who’s a mechanic who kind of got me into it.”

But, Rhoden takes his passion for trucking one step further as a member of Texas Outlaw Rigs, a local truck club where he and fellow enthusiasts can gather and share and compare the latest in truck trickery – although there’s one thing he won’t be doing with his anytime soon, he said.

“I don’t take my truck offroad,” said Rhoden. “You need different kinds of suspension parts. Besides, I prefer to not have to clean it as often.”

Rhoden is also a selfstyled entrepreneur, with a lawn-mowing business he has built from the ground up – so to speak.

“About three or four years ago, I was looking for a way to make extra money over the summer,” he said. “I started with a push mower, then moved up to a ride mower, which makes it a lot easier.”

Kind of like mowing down hitters on the mound.

However, one thing which won’t be mowed any time soon is Rhoden’s long, flowing mane – although unlike his pant legs – his ‘do makes him more one of the guys in appearance, as the Panthers have a host of players who feature untrimmed locks under caps and batting helmets.

“All the way up to my eighthgrade year, I always had military-style buzz-cuts,” said Rhoden. “But, then my freshman year of high school, I let it grow long and I think about cutting it every so often, but I just don’t look the same.”

Panthers blow out Mustangs, 18-0

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor On an evening that began with a sun-splashed field for Liberty Hill’s district road game against Marble Falls April 20, the contest’s quality degenerated as quickly as the weather did in an 18-0 Panthers victory over the Mustangs which was called after five innings due to the 10-run rule.

Jackson Knox went 3-for-4 with a double and a run batted in on a night that saw six Liberty Hill players drive in a pair of runs, including Kash Durkin, who hit a towering two-run homer down the rightfield line in the first and a triple which banged off the metal fence in left-center, just missing another long ball, by a few feet in the third.

Andon Thomas, Logan Dyer, Kade Neuenschwander, Everett Huddleston and Garrett Neeley all drove in a two runs each, in addition to Durkin, who hit his first home run of the season.

After the Panthers had defeated the Mustangs by a 13-3 score in the first meeting of the clubs this season, one might’ve expected more of the same in the rematch and that’s exactly what the wind-blown crowd got as the game continued on into the night.

With his team in the midst of a battle for its playoff lives,

Liberty Hill head coach Steve Hutcherson said a blowout was the last thing the Panthers needed to stay sharp at this point, but he wasn’t worried about a lack of focus on the part of his players.

“I didn’t worry about coming down here for this game,” he said. “My only concern was we approached it the right way.”

Not even an injury sustained in warm-ups to senior shortstop and leadoff man Ryan Leary could slow the Liberty Hill offense down, as standin Ty Maldonado – who has largely been used exclusively as a courtesy runner this year with only eight at-bats all season – led off the game with a single to left, bringing Thomas to the plate, who skied a long foul ball down the right-field line before singling in Maldonado with a base hit to right and a 1-0 lead only two batters into the proceedings.

After Thomas stole second, Knox singled to center, leaving runners on the corners for Dyer, who placed a bunt far enough away from the plate to allow Thomas to motor home and Knox to advance to second.

Neuenschwander flied out to left, which brought Durkin up for his big blow and a 4-0 Panthers lead.

After having to wait out a

long top of the first, Liberty Hill right-hander Conner Sherburn took the mound after his teammates had already staked him to all the offense he would need before ever throwing a pitch.

Sherburn got the win with three innings of work, allowing only one hit and striking out two before Cole Jefferson closed the game with two scoreless frames, giving up only a single hit while picking up a pair of strikeouts in the junior’s first appearance in five weeks after battling injury and illness.

Liberty Hill build its lead to 10-0 after the top of the third, then exploded for eight runs in the fourth – six of them plated with two outs – an inning which featured four doubles, including a Huddleston drive to left which drove in a pair of runs in only his fourth at-bat of the campaign.

In all, 13 batters came to the plate for the Panthers in the inning which saw the Liberty Hill bench emptied, including senior Ryan Rhoden getting his first at-bat of the season.

Hutcherson said it was good to be able to get his backups some playing time.

“It’s good to be able to reward those guys,” he said. “We always want to keep them engaged.”

SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO

Here’s a scene we’re once again privileged to see, one which we were deprived of last year at this time.

Thankful to be back to ‘normal’

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Over the course of the past few weeks, as we’ve traveled around to various venues in chronicling all things Purple-and-Gold, we’ve come to a quite profound conclusion.

It’s good to be back to normal.

Not the “new normal” or the “old normal.”

Just normal, period.

At one point during a Liberty Hill home baseball game, it hit home where all of us were at this time a year ago.

No playoff chases, no track meets, no nothing.

We were all cozily sequestered away in our sanitized bubbles waiting to get back to normal while all the doomsayers were constantly preaching the virtues of social-distancing due to the pandemic.

In the meantime, we deprived of simple pleasures like watching the Lady Panthers soccer squad fight its way to the third round of the playoffs in a quest to win a championship – including an absolutely glorious evening for the postseason opener in New Braunfels, where the temperature hovered in the 80s as the sun set over the stadium and eventually sunk below the horizon in an exquisite example of natural

beauty.

Or the Panthers’ baseball-softball home doubleheader we were privileged to witness and document, none of which was happening 12 months ago.

Sure there have been plenty of bumps in the road along the way during this school year, which have had an enormous impact on the Liberty Hill athletic program, with entire teams missing valuable practices and vital games while in quarantine only to have to make up missed contests in rapid-fire fashion upon their return.

But, the important thing is we carried on.

Liberty Hill’s football team advanced all the way to the state semifinals in the wake of the passing of its beloved head coach, Jeff Walker, in what has been the most moving story of the year – all of which wouldn’t have been possible if the plug had been pulled on the season before it even began.

Sure, COVID is still lurking about like a monster in a bad horror movie which just can’t be killed.

But, it’s certainly on the run as more and more people get vaccinated and return to how things were before we ever heard the term coronavirus.

All the things we took for granted and were ceremoniously taken away for an entire year are beginning to return and it feels very good.

The one thing we were robbed of during that time was

perhaps the most important part of being a human being – having fellowship with others – and that’s the best thing about sports.

Being able to sit or stand sideby-side with others who share the same passion for a team or a game as you do – clapping, cheering, screaming our lungs out in approval or anguish.

It was all gone.

But, now it’s back.

Liberty Hill has had a mixed bag of results so far in its move up to Class 5A this year, with three of the Panthers teams failing to make the playoffs, but the good news is there were playoffs to make or miss – a fact which can’t be overstated under the conditions of the past year.

When the baseball team lost a heartbreaker at home against Leander last week, the mood around the ballpark in the aftermath was absolutely funereal among players, coaches, fans, everyone.

Losing isn’t fun and it’s not something folk around these parts are accustomed to.

But, it sure beat the alternative, which we experienced all too much beginning last spring when a season that started was never finished.

Games not played. Races not run. Matches not contested.

But, all that is behind us now.

Bottom line is it’s good to be back to normal.

Not some new or old version.

Just normal.

Liberty Hill’s Kash Durkin (#24) went 2-for-3, including a two-run homer and a triple in the Panthers’ 18-0 road district win over Marble Falls.

Leander 2, Liberty Hill 1 to go home with a win,” said keeping the Liberty Hill hitters Liberty Hill got exactly what Liberty Hill head coach Steve off balance all night. it needed from freshman Blaze Hutcherson, of Milam’s bril“He was pitching backwards, Milam in its home district con- liant 93-pitch performance starting off with breaking test Friday against Leander. during which he hurled 16 balls, which got our hitters However, despite a com- first-pitch strikes to the 27 bat- guessing,” said Hutcherson. plete-game effort in which the ters he faced on the evening.

“We just couldn’t get the bit rookie right-hander allowed Only problem for the Pan- hit when we needed it.” only three hits and two runs thers was the fact Leander Indeed, the Panthers left mulover seven innings, the Pan- starter Garrett Landry was just tiple runners on base, includthers still lost to the Lions by about as effective as his op- ing in the second and third ina score of 2-1. posite number, as the Lions’ nings, when they left the bases “When you get a game senior also went the distance pitched that well, you deserve in throwing 111 pitches while See BLOW OUT, Page 8

Page 8

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Council Continued from Page 1 it early,” Canady said. “That does give us the opportunity to all be participants in this and if we don’t try to do it in the last couple of months, we do it starting now, we will all have that opportunity.”

Revenues and expenses Wilkins gave a brief summary of revenues to date for the fiscal year, reporting that all revenue categories were well ahead of the estimated totals for the year.

The City has collected 85 percent of the budgeted property tax revenues for the fiscal year, and at 77 percent of budgeted sales tax revenues

Lundy SHANNON HOFMANN PHOTO

Konnor Bye finished third in the triple jump at the regional track and field meet with an effort of 43-10.50.

TRACK BRIEFS

Panthers compete at regionals Liberty Hill had five athletes compete at the regional track and field meet at Heroes Stadium in San Antonio, with senior Konnor Bye the highest finisher with a third-place result in

Leaders

the triple jump after an effort of 43-10.50, missing qualifying for the state meet by only a half-inch.

Panthers teammates Collin Lyons was eighth in the event with a jump of 42-10.50 and

Continued from Page 6

received an offer to attend and play at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. “Being out here and seeing all these people is heartwarming.”

Liberty Hill head coach Kent Walker said an event such as this can never be a bad idea.

“Any time you can get all the kids together like this, it’s a good thing,” said Walker, who was honored by Texas High School Football as Class 5A Coach of the Year after leading the Panthers to a 4-1 record upon taking over following his brother’s passing. “These seniors know they’re the leaders of this team, but it’s not something they don’t already know – this is their team.”

Walker added the cherry on top of events such as these is the passion of the parents who stand firmly behind their players.

“Always good to have their involvement,” he said. “It’s a

great sign – all of our parents across all the sports are very supportive.”

Near evening’s end, Walker stood in the same place on the field where his late brother did at the inaugural event last year and delivered an impassioned address to his seniors with each one’s parents standing behind them in a symbolic gesture of support.

“Nobody trains harder than we do,” said Walker, to the group gathered before him, which stretched from one 40-yard-line to the other across midfield of the place the Panthers call home. “But, there’s a method to the madness and that transfers directly into life – it’s not just about football.”

Walker then asked them a question.

“How do you respond to adversity?” he said. “What defines us is how we’re able to handle adversity.”

Kaden McMahan finished 11th with a leap of 41-04.50.

On the girls’ side, senior Taylor Sims was 12th in the discus with a throw of 100-00, while Kenzy Wise finished sixth in the high jump at 4-10.

Following that was a brief anecdote.

“You know, I was thinking earlier today, ‘What is a leader?’” said Walker. “Then I realized it’s someone who inspires others. Well, my brother was that to me – we were as close as siblings can be and he believed leaders aren’t afraid to get out of their comfort zones. There’s a reason we do that – it makes you grow and allows you to become better.”

With that, the players were presented each with a dog tag with the inscription – something Walker hopes will serve as a constant reminder of what must be done in the days and weeks ahead.

“I want you to wake up every day, see this and be determined to make yourself better,” he said. “Not only as a player, but as a young man.”

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(7/8p)

PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE In accordance with the Texas Property Code Chapter 59, Panther Storage and Parking located at 15725 West Highway 29 Liberty Hill, Texas,78642 will conduct a public auction to satisfy a Landlords lien. Units will be sold to the highest bidder online at Storageauctions.com A $100 cash clean up deposit is required.

Seller reserves the right to withdraw any unit or not accept any bid at the time of sale. Sale will be held online at www.storageauctions.com starting on or after April 29th 2021 and Bidding will close on or after May 6th 2021 at 12:00pm. Names of Tenants and unit number(s) as they appear on the lease: unit#101 Angelia Cardwell General description of contents: personal belongings, and household furniture. Unit#791 Travis Glosson General description of contents: Household items and Personal contents. Unit #782 Hazel Sheppard General descriptions of contents: Personal contents, household items, and fishing tackle.Unit#755 Amber Moersch General description of contents: household items and personal contents, Tenants may redeem their goods for payment in full in cash or money order only up to the time of auction. Call Panther Storage and Parking at 512-515-5430.

(5/6)

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.

(4/29)

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Liberty Hill has been asked to review and approve the following application(s), to wit: A request for a Zone Map Amendment from the General Commercial (C3) zoning classification to the Light Industrial/Warehousing (I1) zoning classification on the following property: S11488 – Kennedy SUB, BLOCK A, LOT 3 ACRES 0.691, Williamson County, Texas; specifically, generally located along the west side of SH 29, between Bevers Rd and CR 277, and identified as Assessor’s Parcels Number R-562347.

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 at the Liberty Hill Municipal Courthouse, 2801 Ranch Rd 1869, Liberty Hill, TX 78642 on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 6:40 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, May 24, 2021 at 6:40 PM at the Liberty Hill Municipal courthouse, 2801 Ranch Rd 1869, Liberty Hill, TX 78642. For more in-

formation, 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 April 22, 2021.

(4/29) 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, May 18, 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, May 24, 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) 7785449, or send an email to planning@libertyhilltx.gov.

By order of the Development Services Administrative Assistant on April 23, 2021.

(4/29)

Continued from Page 1

LHISD right out of college, and for 23 years, she has remained in the district, teaching fifth grade the entire time.

“I’ve always been with fifth grade,” said Lundy. “We’ve moved a couple of times from building to building, but I’ve always been with the fifth graders. I used to think I wanted to go lower, but I’m acclimated to them now. I figured out that they’re pretty independent. They get you, and you can have fun with them at the same time.”

For her work through this most challenging time, Lundy was voted Liberty Hill Intermediate’s Teacher of the Year by her peers.

“It was a crazy year for it to have happened this year,” said Lundy. “This was one of those years where you feel like you’re starting your first year all over again because it’s all so different. To earn this award was a great feeling.

Like it all paid off.”

Principal Josh Curtis believes all staff members went above and beyond to keep things running smoothly, but Lundy shined bright.

Dinner

– both categories that are considered recurring revenue streams. Revenue from onetime fees such as permits is at 108 percent of the budget estimate for the year.

Total revenue in six months is 4.2 million in six months, after having budgeted 5.6 million in anticipated revenues.

“The reason I put this on here as my agenda item is because it was exciting to find out that we were halfway through the year and we had more than halfway collected the revenue we needed,” Canady said. “And our expenditures are at 47 percent, so we’re

“What made Mrs. Lundy stand out was her unselfishness throughout the year,” said Curtis. “She switched from remote learning to in-person learning, back to remote, then back to in person across both grade levels.

She did this with a positive attitude and volunteered to do whatever was best for the students and the campus.

That much switching could make one more stressed, but not Katy. She took it in stride and came to work every day focusing on helping all students, not just the ones on her roster.”

For Lundy, part of the issue with remote learning was the lack of liveliness during some classes.

“Communication and being able to talk to the kids was hard,” said Lundy. “There is silence for the most part. It’s like talking to an empty room.

You can’t have them all talk at the same time and have to set up some expectations.

Even when they’re quiet in the classroom, there are still things going on. It’s not like that on the computer. You

Continued from Page 1

guys are our first responders in the community. They were the ones that stepped up. It was the teachers, the staff, the custodians and bus drivers.”

Erickson brought in outside help to get the menu set and prepared.

“We thought it would be best to help in any way we could,” said Erickson. “With the help of John Reynolds from Lockhart, we got together and said let’s go ahead and feed all of the teachers two dinners.

Pork Chops, potato salad, and green beans. We couldn’t be more thrilled to support the ISD. It hasn’t been an easy

Blow Out

loaded and men on second and third, respectively.

But, before those missed opportunities, Kash Durkin came through with a single to right on a 3-2 pitch from Landry in the second, which plated Logan Dyer, who had led off with a base hit then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball, for a 1-0 Liberty Hill lead.

The game remained at 1-0 until the top of the sixth, when with two outs, Milam walked Lions’ No. 2 hitter Noah Ruen, bringing Dyron Dixon to the plate, who slashed a double down the right-field line which sliced away from Jack Stavinoha, allowing Ruen to score all the way from first, sliding just under the tag at home plate by Garrett Neeley after a pinpoint relay from second baseman Jackson Knox to tie the game at 1-1.

But, Milam bore down to strike Landry out to end the inning, stranding the goahead run on second.

The Panthers’ inability to strike with runners in scoring position reared its ugly head once again in the sixth.

Kade Neuenschwander banged a one-out single to center, then courtesy runner Ty Maldonado advanced to second on Durkin’s grounder to first, only to be left there when Chase Maxwell struck out swinging to end the inning.

Milam made a rare mistake in the seventh when he hit leadoff man Caden Sisson with a 3-2 pitch, who was then sacrificed to second, which brought Major Maydon to the plate, who rocketed a shot right back at Milam, taking the pitcher’s glove right

year.”

Snell said this is a nice way to show how grateful the district is to the staff, which put students first.

“This year was one of the most difficult years in public school history,” said Snell.

“From COVID to winter events, to hail storms, safety protocols, and in-person learning to remote. Our teachers have done all this with a smile on their faces. The ability to give back to them is incredible.”

Despite the year they’ve dealt with, the LHISD administration aims to make the re-

Thursday, April 29, 2021

under budget. When she let me know, I really wanted the public to know where we are in our funds right now.”

Canady has previously vehemently opposed budget discussion in Council meetings since Branigan was sworn in as Mayor.

In light of the good revenue news, the Council approved adding two new positions – one being a new building inspector and the second being an executive assistant for Hale. The mid-range for the building inspector position

See BUDGET, Page 9

hardly get them to talk there.”

Although she misses the in-person interaction, Lundy is just happy to have any communication with students.

“It wasn’t hard connecting, but it was kind of weird,” she said. “There were some that I hadn’t ever seen. You can’t force them to turn on their camera, so there were some that I had been teaching all this time without knowing what they looked like. Overall, it was very refreshing.

Even though it wasn’t normal, it was still somewhat normal.”

Despite the stressful year, Lundy is hopeful for the future. With the school year almost behind her, Lundy plans to relax and rejuvenate over the summer.

“It’s relieving. It feels like we’re on the downhill slope, it’s going to be over soon, and things will all be normal again,” said Lundy. “I am going to find sun and water.

A beach. A lake. That’s my thing. I’m going to be by the water relaxing this summer.”

maining weeks of the school year the best they can for their students, and especially for graduating seniors.

“We have five weeks left, and we’re going to make the most of it,” said Snell. “We’re trying to have all of the rituals that we canceled last year. Everything we do leans toward graduating out our senior class. So we’re looking forward to having great events for them. It’s been exhausting, and we’ve tried to make the most of it, and to be honest, even with everything else it’s turned out to be a fantastic year.”

Continued from Page 7 off his hand, then deflecting to Knox, who fielded the ball right in front of second base and made a rushed throw to Durkin at first, who expertly scooped the low ball out of the dirt for the out.

Leander’s Eddie Speer then stepped in and battled Milam through a nine-pitch at-bat before grounding sharply to Ryan Leary deep in the hole at shortstop, who fielded the ball cleanly, but made a high throw to Durkin at first, who leaped for the ball, caught it and tagged Speer on the way down, but not before he had beaten the throw for an infield single, which drove home courtesy runner Jaron Cotton with the go-ahead run and a 2-1 lead.

So, despite Milam’s heroic effort, the Panthers were down to their last three outs to get their starter off the hook and rescue victory from defeat.

Stavinoha led off with a looping drive which seemed destined to elude Leander second baseman Andrew Buentello and end up in center field for a leadoff single, but the Lions’ infielder made a full-extension lunging catch to his right in making the play for the first out of the inning.

Neeley then struck out on a 3-2 pitch before Leary lined out to right for the final out, leaving Landry to raise both arms in triumph as he walked off the mound and was joined by joyous teammates who had stormed the field from the dugout to celebrate clinching a playoff berth with the win.

But, it wasn’t to be on this night for the home side to further its postseason hopes, as the loss left Liberty Hill (19-10-1, 7-5) in fifth place in

the district standings, a game behind Rouse (8-4), who lost to Georgetown, 4-3.

Leander, Cedar Park and Georgetown are tied atop the district at 9-3 with two games remaining for all the teams.

Hutcherson was left to rue his squad’s squandered scoring chances early on in the game.

“I feel like we turned what could’ve been a four-run game into a one-run game,” he said. “We backed ourselves into a corner.”

Dyer went 2-for-3 with a run scored to lead the Liberty Hill offense.

The game marked the second straight 2-1 district defeat for the Panthers – sandwiched around a pair of victories – and in close games such as those, the razor-thin margin for error leaves no room for mistakes, said Hutcherson.

“Tonight we didn’t do some of the things we take pride in as a team,” he said. “Like putting the ball in play with two strikes, taking the extra base and making routine plays.”

Now, the Panthers must win their final two games – at home against Georgetown on Tuesday and at Glenn on April 30 and get help from teams ahead of them in the standings in the form of losses.

But, despite the gloomy atmosphere which hung around the players after the game, which was as heavy as the humidity which enveloped the premises all evening, Hutcherson was determined to not let them hang their heads.

“All we can do is show up and go back to work,” he said.

“We still have a chance.”

Thursday, April 29, 2021

BUDGET Continued from Page 8

and for the executive assistance is $59,529.

The financing of four new vehicles was also approved.

The City will purchase a pair of 2021 Ford F150 trucks for the inspectors at a total cost of $54,404, a 2022 Chevy Pickup for the police department at $32,140 plus $24,496 in equipment, and a 2019 Ford F350 for the water department at $45,522 after the addition of

equipment for the truck.

The annual cost for the vehicles is $35,720 for five years.

Community center The price tag for the new community center near the northwest corner of RM 1869 and Loop 332 increased Monday with the first change order for the project, though City staff said this increase was expected and budgeted for when

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

the bonds were approved for the project.

“This is to add fire hydrants and water line for the community center,” said Curtis Steger of Steger Bizzell Engineering.

“The original plan did not have any utility improvements and they were expected but were not included at the original start date.”

The addition includes a sixinch water line and a six-inch

Page 9

water line into the building for fire suppression at a total cost of $92,728. The change adds 10.8 percent to the total cost, and brings it to $951,371.

“We knew this expense was coming but we didn’t have the final dollar amount for it, so this is what the change order is for,” Hale said.

The bid was awarded to Jimmy Jacobs Construction in October for the renovation of the

former County barn.

The Council heard estimates for the project ranging from $500,000 with potential grant funds to help cover costs back in January 2020, then a higher projection last July of $750,000 with no grant possibilities, the approved bid in October was $858,643.

In January, the Council approved the sale of $2.56 million in bonds to cover the cost

of construction for the Community Center, the planned swim center and renovations at City Hall. The bond is a seven-year note.

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