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2020

Volume 33, Issue 25

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May 14, 2020 | 50 Cents

LHHS sets graduation June 5th

ROYCE GRAETER Liberty Hill Police Chief

Council picks Graeter as new Chief

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor The City of Liberty Hill didn’t have to look far for its next police chief as the Council voted unanimously Monday to hire interim Chief Royce Graeter. Graeter most recently served as lieutenant in the Liberty Hill Police Department under former Chief Maverick Campbell, and was named interim chief when Campbell was terminated in March. Mayor Rick Hall told The Independent Tuesday he believes Graeter has the qualities to lead the department. “We feel that Graeter is the right choice for the position of chief of police because of his background in law enforcement with over 24 years of service and extensive training and knowledge and previous experience,” he said. “Integrity and honesty is something that we should also be looking for in any leadership position. His department highly respects him and that is a good thing for that department.” The Council deliberated the decision as one of ﬁve

See COUNCIL, Page 3

(ABOVE) Parents and teachers set up in the parking lot at the high school May 8 to cheer on the Class of 2020, who ﬁled through in cars to pick up their caps and gowns. Masks and social distancing were the order of the day, but the message was clear, Liberty Hill was going to give this year’s seniors a special send off “whatever it takes.” (LEFT) Seniors enjoyed some special attention and a lot of smiles when they drove through to pick up their cap and gown for the June 5 graduation ceremony.

Salons adjust to new guidelines as they reopen

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer When Gov. Greg Abbott announced businesses could begin to reopen in early May, salons were not part of that order. But just a few days later, Abbott announced salons could open their doors beginning May 8. In Liberty Hill, many salons worked hard to prepare to reopen, while others

are taking a more cautious approach to seeing clients once again. Dana Clark, owner and stylist at Dana’s Hair Salon, was able to get back to work right away, but not without some changes to support social distancing. “I used to be a two-chair salon, but I had to rearrange to be a one-chair salon,” she said. “I lost the income of renting a

providing a home and mentorship for two young adults herself. “In 2007, my husband and I took in our first student that was homeless,” she said. “After helping her, it was on my heart that there are just so many kids that need help.” Community Pathways aims to help guide at-risk teenagers and young adults through life’s challenges by pairing them with mentors that can provide a positive influence. “If they have someone to help them figure out life challenges and navigate through them, then they have a better chance of being a successful adult,” she said. A combination of working with the high school for almost a decade and her time at OLH,

McCown saw how much help could be provided. “There continued to be a need for students that needed shelter or assistance, so I started volunteering at Operation Liberty Hill,” said McCown. “A lot of the students that I knew would come and see me and want to sit and talk. I figured out that this was something that was needed.” The experience of working with OLH allowed McCown to put her skills as a youth minister into action. In one case, she was able to help someone struggling with substance abuse reconnect with her family, fight temptation, and ultimately find a job. “She looked at me and said, ‘I’m tired of this life. I have the money in my purse to go to

See GRADUATION, Page 6

second station, but I had to get rid of a station because my salon is so small.” She is also no longer double-booking clients, which she used to do. “I’d do a color and do a cut in between, but now I can’t do that,” she said. “That’s really different for me. I usually

Dana Clark, owner of Dana’s Hair Salon, is one of many local stylists who made adjustments to reopen their salons May 8. See SALONS, Page 6 (Courtesy Photo)

Nonproﬁt charts path for young adults By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Discovering the path that one is meant to walk in life can be clear to some, hazy to others, or for others may take ages to reveal itself. For Vicky McCown, the executive director of Community Pathways, a new nonproﬁt in Liberty Hill, her life calling is now clear as day. McCown, a volunteer at Operation Liberty Hill (OLH) and a veteran of 20 years working in youth ministry, decided to create Community Pathways after

MIKE EDDLEMAN PHOTOS

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Not many things have been a sure thing for Liberty Hill High School seniors since they left for spring break in mid-March. What was to be a celebratory week before kicking off the home stretch in a 13-year journey that promised to be filled with celebrations and accolades turned into unending questions and uncertainties for the Class of 2020. But now those seniors have one date to circle on their calendar and that’s the grand finale – a graduation ceremony at Panther Stadium. District officials announced last week – following guidance issued from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) – that Liberty Hill High School graduation ceremonies will take place June 5 at Panther Stadium. “The goal was always, if possible and if we could safely do it, to have a somewhat traditional graduation in Panther Stadium,” said Superintendent Steve Snell. “I think that’s an important rite of passage for our seniors.” For all adjustments and changes this school year, and the oddity of how it will come to a close, capping it with a ceremony.

my dealer, and I don’t want to live this life anymore. I can’t even talk to my family or see my children,’” McCown recalled from one conversation. “I told her we would pray for strength and that any time she struggled with this addiction that she needed to take a few minutes and seek someone out, to work on something else, and try to keep her mind busy. We talked quite a bit, and as of now, she is drug-free and working.” On another occasion, McCown and her husband took in the troubled grandson of a friend as he was getting out of prison. For the McCowns, it was almost Divine intervention that led to this. Vicky McCown and Kayla Johnson, a student McCown helped guide and one of the inspirations for the start of Community See PATHWAYS, Page 8 Pathways. (Courtesy Photo)

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Liberty Hill Police Blotter

TRACTOR SUPPLY LIBERTY HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MAIN STREET SOCIAL RYS ABOVE QUICK SERVICE NUTRITION GARAGE SWEET TEXAS PARKER’S MALTED GRAINS BAKERY LO GROCERY O FELLOWSHIP P CHURCH 33 AGAPE JAVA DANA’S INDIGO VETERANS 2 ( M 869 HAIR SALON PARK A Y. 1 IN HW HELL OR B HIGH WATER ST.) A R BREWING T E TL

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Thursday, May 14, 2020

Week of May 4-10, 2020 The Liberty Hill Police Department responded to or self-initiated a total of 243 incidents resulting in three cases, 10 citations, 17 warnings and one arrest.

Prepared by Liberty Hill Police Department

for a fraud complaint. - On May 5 at approximately 5:15 PM, officers responded to the 15000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard. - On May 6 at approximately 7:45 PM, officers responded to the 100 block of US 183 for a traffic hazard. - On May 6 at approximately 8:35PM, officers responded to the 12000 block of W. SH 29 for a trespassing complaint. - On May 7 at approximately 12:19 AM, officers responded to Stubblefield Lane to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On May 7 at approximately 3:48 AM, officers responded to Hillcrest Ave to assist Liberty Hill Fire/ EMS.

Weekly Highlights: - On May 4 at approximately N 9:20 AM, officers responded to U . M ST L the 15000 block of W. SH 29 EL W LL for suspicious activity. FA - On May 4 at approximately 2:04 PM, officers responded to the 4000 block of RM 1869 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On May 4 at approximately New 2BR 1BA Apartments • Downtown Liberty Hill 5:02 PM, officers responded to Walk to Grocery, Salons, Restaurants + More the 10000 block of W. SH 29 Back Porches + Balconies • Green Space for Kids + Pets for an animal complaint. Discount for Military + First Responders - On May 5 at approximately 12:34 PM, officers responded to Deserti Road to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. By MIKE EDDLEMAN - On May 5 at approximately Managing Editor 4:08 PM, officers responded to After Williamson County the 12000 block of W. SH 29 announced only 39 new confirmed cases over five days between May 7-11, numbers for the following two days – May 12-13 – were dramatically higher with 44. The 17 on Tuesday and 27 on PASTURE-RAISED Wednesday represent the two highest single day counts aside from the confirmation April 26 of a cluster of 50 cases in a Round Rock nursing home. The cases announced this week were not linked to a case cluster. Among the new cases, only one was confirmed in Liberty Hill, bringing the total to seven, with five of those being LOCAL FRESH SEASONAL reported as recovered from the virus. Williamson County has reported four fatalities in the last week, with two announced FREE BOOTH SPACE FOR ALL FUNDRAISERS FOOD TRUCKS WELCOME Tuesday, a female in her 70s STAY TUNED FOR NEWS OF SUMMER MARKET EVENTS and another in her 80s. ALWAYS ACCEPTING NEW VENDORS BOOTH SPACE $20/WEEK The total case count for the County has reached 424, with 231 reported as recovered. LOCAL! (weather permitting) The gap continues to widen, though, between new cases We’re committed to social distancing & safe shopping and recoveries, with the increase outpacing the recoveries creating an increase of 47 active cases in the County over 12805 Hwy 29 W | Liberty Hill • indianmoundranchtx.com • IMRMarket the last week. Texas Department of State Health Services spokesperson Lyndsey Rosales said that widening gap should not raise concerns. “We estimate that more than 50 percent of confirmed cases have recovered; this is a positive sign,” she said. “As of (Monday), there were 41,048 cases in Texas and 22,674 estimated recovered patients.” LIBERTY HILL GARDEN HOMES AT CENTRAL PARK

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6:24PM, officers responded to the 14000 block of W. SH 29 for a suspicious incident. - On May 9 at approximately 10:47 PM, officers responded to the 3000 block of RM 1869 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On May 19 at approximately 12:49 AM, officers responded to the 1000 block of Loop 332 for a disturbance. - On May 10 at approximately 8:39 AM, officers responded to Wandering Oak to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On May 10 at approximately 5:04 PM, officers responded to Agave Azul Way for a suspicious incident.

- On May 8 at approximately 2:03 PM, officers responded to Stonewall Pkwy to assist the Liberty Hill Fire/ EMS. - On May 8 at approximately 7:59 PM, officers responded to Peggy Drive to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On May 8 at approximately 9:25 PM, officers responded to Democracy Ct for a suspicious incident. - On May 9 at approximately 5:46 AM, officers arrested a male adult with an outstanding warrant for assault. - On May 9 at approximately 9:10 AM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for a suspicious incident. - On May 9 at approximately

County COVID-19 cases jump

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Testing options Statewide, testing continues to be a priority, with more than 538,000 tested through Tuesday, representing 1.9 percent of the state population. A majority of testing continues to be reserved for those showing symptoms, but Family Emergency Room, with locations in Round Rock and Cedar Park, announced through Williamson County this week that testing is available for

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those not showing symptoms. Family Emergency Room is conducting COVID-19 tests by appointment free of charge at its facilities, but residents must go to www.wilco.org/ coronavirus to ﬁll out the form ﬁrst. Schedulers contact patients Monday through Friday; however, appointments are available seven days a week. “Having more people tested is an important step to being able to track the spread of COVID-19,” said Williamson County Commissioner Cynthia Long. “We appreciate that our partners at Family Emergency Room have the capacity to open up testing to more individuals who wish to be tested.” The Williamson County Commissioners Court agreed to provide COVID-19 tests and personal protection equipment (PPE) to Family Emergency Room, which will be administering the testing services at no cost to the County or the public. Williamson County residents can be tested at either 3620 E. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park; or 1925 A.W. Grimes Blvd., Round Rock. According to Rosales, from a public health perspective, the State looks for a positivity rate of 10 percent or lower to determine whether enough testing is being conducted. As of Monday the positivity rate for Texas is 6.92 percent. Testing for COVID-19 is a collective effort by many agencies in the state, including the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the Texas Military Department and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. However, most of the testing conducted in Texas is processed by private labs. Primary care providers order these tests the same way they would for other diagnostic tests. She also said that in spite of reports to the contrary, there is no shortage of tests available in Texas. “There are many different types of tests for COVID-19 made available through the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization (EUA),” Rosales

said. “The only test that can diagnose a current case of COVID-19 is a PCR test processed in a CLIA-certiﬁed lab. You may have read in media stories that there was a shortage of “tests” in Texas. However, it’s important to clarify that there was not a shortage of ‘tests,’ but a shortage of specimen collection materials. This issue seems to have been resolved and DSHS continues to receive specimen collection materials regularly from the federal government as well as from private companies.” Nursing home assistance Due to the increasing numbers of cases found in nursing homes across the state, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that the Texas National Guard has activated Facilities Disinfection Teams to support Texans in nursing homes and to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Six Facilities Disinfection Teams, formed in coordination with Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), have already been mobilized to facilities across the state with more coming online. “The Texas National Guard plays a crucial role in our ongoing response to COVID-19, and I am grateful for their work to address the unique challenges our nursing homes face during this pandemic,” Abbott said. “The training these Guardsmen have received will equip them with the knowledge and tools they need to provide this crucial assistance to these facilities.” The Facilities Disinfection Teams consist of Guardsmen from Joint Task Force 176, and each team is equipped with unique supplies such as advanced personal protective equipment, ionized sprayers, and vital oxide. The teams received training from the Texas Military Department 6th Civil Support Team, who specialize in man-made and natural disaster assessment and rapid response in hazardous environments.

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Thursday, May 14, 2020

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 3

OBITUARY The Politician’s Guide to Patriotism, Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Stubbleﬁeld Altruism and Volunteerism There once was this Texas politician, parroting someone in DC. We should sacriﬁce our lives help elect his ilk and reopen the economy. Pandemic, plandemic, slandemic, he says it’s all a deep state conspiracy. He waves his arms on the news but he kept pointing right at old people like me. But wait a minute, I ain’t never been lazy I’ve always made a good living for my wife. He’s quick to push us back to work quick and cheap Something he’s never done a day’s worth in his life. He says us elderly shouldn’t be scaredy cats. If we have faith we won’t get hurt, but ain’t it always the billionaire preacher man telling others to get back to work?

Mr. Billionaire says we should fight for our freedom. Fight for our right to get out and work. I think he’s onto something important here as long as he’s willing to go first. So, let’s see you work intake at the hospital E.R. Let’s see you anywhere besides a stage. Let’s see something besides a selfie with other rich politicians. Why don’t you do something that we’ll all have to do -- for the same minimum wage? My people crossed the line for William B. Travis, even went to die in Lyndon Johnson’s war, too. But I doubt you could raise an army of deadbeat dads for a chicken-hawk Maryland Terrapin like you.

I don’t consider it weak to believe in science. I believe Jesus holds us in his arms but Jesus, he also gave me this brain to help keep me and mine from walking into obvious harm.

~ By WILT CUTTER Columnist for The Independent

Elizabeth “Betsy” Stubbleﬁeld passed away on April 8, 2020, at her home in Liberty Hill, Texas. She was born May 26, 1957, in Beaumont, Texas, to Lindsay and Patricia Boykin, and lived in Southeast Texas until relocating to the Hill Country in her mid-20’s. She later moved to Grapevine, TX, but came to call Liberty Hill home the past 22 years. Elizabeth married her husband of 43 years, Tommy, in 1974, and they were together until his death in 2017. They had a passion for the care of animals opening their home to numerous foster dogs especially Brittany Spaniels. Together, they opened Fiber Horizons Recycling, which they ran for over 25 years. Elizabeth loved being amongst people and never met a stranger. Her friends in Liberty Hill and surrounding communities meant the world

to her. She especially loved her granddaughters and made sure to always have something special for them during each visit. She was the eternal student, always studying some unique piece of history, which she readily shared through school programs and historical events. She immensely enjoyed being outdoors gardening, hunting, or simply working in her yard. Elizabeth is survived by her son and his wife, Austin and Courtney Stubbleﬁeld, along with their daughters Ava and Avery. She is also survived by her mother Patricia Aitken of Houston, her sister Kathy Lamb of Houston, her brother Lindsay Boykin Jr. of Plano, and her sister Pam Mehaffy of White Salmon, Oregon, as well as numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. She is preceded in death by

her husband, Tommy Stubbleﬁeld, daughter, Ash Lorraine Stubbleﬁeld, and her brother, Patrick Boykin. A Memorial Service is pending and will be held at the best available opportunity. In the spirit of Elizabeth’s love for animals, donations are welcome and can be made to Brittany Rescue in Texas (brittanyrescueintexas.org).

Surprise, it really is about your kids

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Let’s be honest, Z o o m may be all the rage, but that’s not really where it’s at for teachers. Over the last week or so I have talked to at least a dozen Liberty Hill ISD staff members – from teachers to administrators to support staff – and no matter where the discussion started, it made its way to the subject of kids. Kids are their business, so it makes sense. But it wasn’t about kids as a commodity, where they talk STAAR statistics, attendance, passing or graduation rates. It was a

COUNCIL

very emotional discussion that made it seem like something important had been taken from them. Too many times people complain that schools “teach to the test” or “push kids through” or “don’t pay enough attention,” so it might be a little surprising to some that right now teachers are longing so much to be in a classroom full of kids. The fact is, though, that those old assumptions have always been false, and the last few months of this school year prove it to us all. We should put to rest, once and for all, the myth that people become teachers for summer vacation. The last two months have been far from an extended summer, but surely life for school employees could be a bit easier with kids at home.

Continued from Page 1

items on the executive session agenda for an hour and a half, before returning to open session and unanimously approving the hire with no public discussion. Graeter was hired as an employee and not under a contract at an annual salary of $115,000. “He preferred it not to be under a contract because he felt like he wanted to be able to

continue to prove himself to the City and not be bound by contract,” Hall said. “He wants to show he is willing to do the job and can do the job, so he was ﬁne either way. I think it shows dedication on his part not to be under contract and if he’s okay with it then the City is too.” James McLaughlin, General Counsel and Executive Director for the Texas Police Chiefs

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There’s a lot more time for wearing slippers. It got easier to go get a cup of coffee or check e-mail anytime than it was with a classroom full of kids. No more planning trips to the bathroom. Lunch in your kitchen without having lunchroom duties must be pretty nice. Surely there were some perks to being in their living room on the couch rather than standing in their classroom for eight hours at a time. Of course there were curriculum and lesson delivery challenges to work out. It took some extra effort and logistics to get meals to kids and a computer device into everyone’s hands, but now mom and dad are sharing in the workload. It took a load off, right? Seems not so much. The emotional load was ampliﬁed by the distance.

Each person I have spoken to has expressed their frustration, sadness or curiosity over not being with their students every day. No one talked about the perks of this situation. For school district employees it seems no small advantage gained made up for what was missing for them. I don’t think this is exclusive to Liberty Hill, but it is abundantly clear that we have a school district of employees that are in it for the right reasons. They want to spend their days with your children. I know, you are probably thinking what I am right now, “My children?” as you harbor some doubt they really mean you, too. Yes, even your children. They miss their hugs and high-ﬁves. They miss seeing

the lightbulb go on when a lesson takes hold. They miss their role in a room full of students’ lives, the responsibility of helping them on to the next challenge and the chance to watch them grow. A weekly Zoom chat doesn’t fill all the voids and provide all the answers to their curiosities about how the students are doing. And when they voice concerns, it is not about whether your child is truly grasping the fundamental lesson in long division, it is about how he or she is feeling, how they are coping and whether they are smiling. There’s no doubt that had school continued on as normal, teachers would be counting minutes to the final bell along with their students. They’d be exhausted, eyeballing that first day of summer like a finish

line they hope to limp across. Reaching a point each year where a break is necessary to preserve one’s sanity is not a sign they don’t want to be with students, but a recognition that we all have limitations. They stop counting down as you begin counting down to the ﬁrst day again, right? Be honest, you’ve spent all day every day trying to get your kids to learn for a grand total of 60 days and you would consider emptying your bank account to get them back on campus right now. So let’s give teachers the credit they deserve and never overlook again how much our children mean to them on a personal level. That’s a blessing that should never be overlooked, because love and care for our children is the most important thing in this world.

Association, said most Texas cities hire police chiefs as employees who are not under contract. Campbell was employed under contract by the City with a salary of $124,000. Campbell’s attorney, Tiger Hanner, ﬁled a grievance on behalf of the former chief with the City, seeking reinstatement. The Mayor would not address the issue of the griev-

ance and Campbell’s request for reinstatement. “That’s currently being investigated and until that’s done the only comment I will make on that is the City decided to hire Royce Graeter as the Chief of Police for Liberty Hill,” Hall said. The grievance was ﬁled April 9, one month after Campbell was terminated without public explanation by the City Coun-

cil. “The grievance seeks that he be reinstated,” Hanner said. “He shouldn’t have been terminated and they violated his contract as it is. Ultimately that’s the request in the grievance that it be investigated and he be reinstated.” Hanner added that Campbell would not hesitate to take further legal action if the City does not act on the grievance.

“We will pursue appropriate legal actions,” Hanner said. “We are trying to give the City an opportunity to review this and correct it, but if they choose not to take that opportunity we will pursue the appropriate legal route. In ﬁling the grievance, Maverick has been committed to serving the City. He’s also committed

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, May 14, 2020

ACC moves to online only courses for summer

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer As Texas begins the process of reopening during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, adjustments are being made on many fronts, including retail stores, restaurants, and the area of higher education. Austin Community College opened registration for summer classes May 4, to both current and new incoming students. More than 13,000 students enrolled in courses by the end of the ﬁrst day of registration, almost 60 percent of summer 2019’s total enrollment. ACC President and CEO Dr. Richard Rhodes believes the recent rise in unemployment is playing a large part in the increased rate of enrollment. “The coronavirus pandemic hit a lot of people hard. They’re out of work or have seen their hours get cut, and they’re looking for that next step,” he said. To ﬁght the spread of COVID-19 and still provide courses to the community, all classes during the summer semester will be online only. “We are in uncharted territories that requires extraordinary teamwork to navigate. We hope to bring back in-class instruction as soon as possible. Still, our primary concern is the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff,” said Rhodes. Students will be provided the same services they would as if it was a typical semester,

including advising, academic coaching, library services, and technical support. Each service will be virtual. “Students can expect the same level of engagement and support that they would have received in person,” said ACC Director of Recruitment David Zuniga. “The college has done an amazing job of expanding and growing our online programs.” Despite the need for quick adjustments due to COVID-19, ACC is more than prepared to take on the load because of the large percentage of online enrollment they already have. From infrastructure to the readiness of professors, Zuniga feels they are more than prepared to adjust. “This is something that we’ve always had,” he said. “The online student population is one of the largest programs we have, and now what we’ve done is extend it to include our support services, too. We’ve had a strong infrastructure in place.” With the change to a fully online format, out of state and out of district students will see costs drop $70-$80. “For students who fall outside of our service area or out of state, there is a tuition reduction in fees,” said Zuniga. “They’ll be paying about $75 less than if they had taken them in person. Students coming from out of state are going to pay about $81 less per cred-

it hour than in person. I think what we’re seeing is a good change.” Liberty Hill ISD students are considered out of district. The most challenging aspect of moving to 100 percent an online semester is making sure students have the right technology for an entire semester. “One of the biggest challenges has been meeting the students where they’re at when it comes to technology,” said Zuniga. “We know and understand that technology, while great, still presents a lot of challenges to many of us. Every student is different in terms of background and experiences and whether they have what they need to transition to this online environment.” To help students who face technological hurdles for online courses, ACC is offering students the tools they need. “Technology, as David mentioned, has been an issue,” said Senior Media Relations Coordinator Sydney Pruitt. “ACC is providing iPads, kits, laptops, and other devices to students that need them, and that support will continue at least throughout the summer.” ACC summer semester begins June 1. Registration is open until May 31, and students can apply or register at Austincc. edu. For students interested in a payment plan, the deadline is June 12.

For more than 32 years, THE INDEPENDENT has been the trusted source of local news. During these rapidly-changing, challenging times, you can continue to trust our coverage of COVID-19 and the virus’ impact on our hometown. If you’re not already subscribing to the newspaper, please consider it now. Your subscription (only $25/year) - either in print or online - helps our locally-owned small business continue to provide critical advertising support for other small businesses in our community. Your subscription also ensures that we can continue to provide you with the most current news from trusted, experienced journalists. Local Journalism Matters! Subscribe today online at www.lhindependent.com/Subscriptions

Gina Doolittle, who teaches ﬁfth grade math at Liberty Hill Intermediate School, was recently named Teacher of the Year for that campus. (Courtesy Photo)

Joy of learning, seeing students succeed drives Doolittle

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When Gina Doolittle steps into her classroom at Liberty Hill Intermediate School to teach fifth-grade math each day, there are more than numbers bandied about in the daily quest of finding answers to problems. “What I get the most out of teaching is the pure joy that comes from seeing any one of my students be successful – whatever that looks like for that particular student,” said Doolittle, who was recently named the school’s Teacher of the Year. “It is especially exciting when a student has a positive change of attitude towards math while in my class.” Doolittle, who has been teaching for 23 years in all and has spent the past 16 in Liberty Hill, chose math as her specialty because of the challenges and the stimulation it provides young, inquiring minds, she said. “I’m blessed to teach fifth grade as the children are at an age of discovery and curiosity that is unstoppable,” said Doolittle. “I enjoy teaching math because it offers opportunities for problem-solving every day. We often have

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discussions about the many different ways a problem can be approached and solved. Sometimes math is just like a puzzle and we’re putting the pieces together for a desired outcome – that’s the exciting part of teaching math.” Liberty Hill Intermediate School Principal Josh Curtis said the passion Doolittle brings to her profession heightens the entire learning experience for all involved. “Mrs. Doolittle is one of the most kind, patient and caring teachers I’ve ever been around. She is a true servant-leader and always has a smile on her face when working with students,” he said. “Gina is part of our leadership team and brings valuable insight to the campus and to the ﬁfth-grade team. She’s not only an extremely hard worker, but is very knowledgeable in her content, as well. When teachers say they love all of their students, this is especially true for Mrs. Doolittle. She’s what makes Liberty Hill Intermediate the best in the state.” According to Doolittle, being honored with an individual award simply validates her belief of being only part of an entire network of educa-

tors who together make it all happen. “Receiving Teacher of the Year is the most humbling experience I’ve had in my professional career,” said Doolittle. “I work with an amazing staff and together we make a great team. I don’t like to be singled out, but rather see myself as one component in a machine of many moving parts.” Doolittle added teaching students of the age she does provides the best of both worlds as far as the point there are in from a learning standpoint, although the bottom line remains the same. “Teaching intermediate students is different from teaching other levels because the maturity of a ﬁfth-grader is just so that he or she can work independently, but still enjoy doing group projects and activities,” she said. “Some students need more attention than others, but often students in the class are willing to help others out in a peer-tutoring situation. I don’t think there are any additional challenges between grade levels. I think the challenges each grade level offers are universal. We

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 5

BUSINESS

Local business ďŹ nds way to thrive despite pandemic

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer When the coronavirus pandemic hit Texas in mid-March, businesses were losing customers and closing their doors, and Liberty Hill-based Game Shows To Go was no exception. The company, which has been around since 2003 and provides live entertainment game shows to colleges, corporate organizations and more, lost more than $50,000 in bookings in just one day. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My phone was ringing every 20 minutes with cancellations,â&#x20AC;? said C.J. Johnson, president and co-owner of Game Shows To Go. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were in full-on panic mode. By the end of the day on March 14, our next event that was not canceled wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t until September. We had a nice full schedule and then literally no income coming in. It was heartbreaking. We started trying to ďŹ gure out how long we could survive without wiping out our personal savings and still meet payroll. We are a small businessâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; there are six of usâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;so our employees are family. I knew I could survive on my savings, but I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make payroll until September. I actually threw up after I hung up the phone from telling my employees, these people I loved, that we werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t going to make it.â&#x20AC;? Before the pandemic hit, Game Shows To Go was on track to have a highly successful April and May. Because the business primarily does game shows for college campuses, the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s busy season is in the spring when most colleges do big end-of-the-year events. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We always count on April and May to carry us through the summer until August hits and we go back to working at colleges,â&#x20AC;? Johnson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We always use this season as our build-up to see us through the slow summer season. Had this pandemic hit from June to August, there would be no impact on our business at all.â&#x20AC;?

Because of the hit Johnson knew his company was taking, he and his wife, Kim, decided to unplug for a few days and avoid the news and social media, but not before a friend called him and gave him a pep talk, telling him to use the pandemic to his companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advantage. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I texted my crew and told them Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d decided to see what we could do to take the show virtual,â&#x20AC;? Johnson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be able to come up with anything, but I told them weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d talk the following Monday and see what they came up with.â&#x20AC;? Johnsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business partner, Gus Davis, and technical director James Caldwell jumped at the chance to save the company, and immediately got to work. The next Monday, they showed Johnson a pitch for a virtual game show. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They had ďŹ gured out all these amazing elements,â&#x20AC;? Johnson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our crew worked together and used their expertise to make the virtual shows great. Colleges didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what this new virtual show would be like, but they took a chance on us and the feedback was amazing. The ďŹ rst schools that booked with us booked three to four more additional shows because their students responded so well. The only reason this worked is because we had the right team with the right sets of sub skills to pull this off.â&#x20AC;? Johnson said Davis, who also hosts the game shows, has an uncanny ability to connect with people virtually. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He is so amazing at it,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It still surprises me every night. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talking to a camera, with a green screen behind him, and he uses action ďŹ gures as his audience. He canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see his real audience because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a one-way feed. He sees nothing except whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on in the chat room.â&#x20AC;? Two days after their ďŹ rst virtual game show was when most of the country was asked to shelter in place, which meant

the team of six had to produce the show from their individual homes in four different cities and two different states, but that didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once we were up and running, we started booking shows left and right,â&#x20AC;? Johnson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the month of April we did 56 shows. By last Thursday night we ended up completing 69 virtual shows. On May 12, we did our 70th and 71st shows.â&#x20AC;? He added that he liked the story of his company overcoming a problem a lot more than giving up when times got hard, which is just one reason why they built their virtual game show. The other reason is because Johnson said his company doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just host game showsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it builds community. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No college needs a game show or a magician or a hypnotist,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about creating an experience that makes you feel like part of your college community. Students engaged are students retained. We are really in the college student retention business.â&#x20AC;? Johnson, who is also a magician and a hypnotist, said if college campuses do reopen in the fall, he thinks it will be a much different landscape than what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been in the past, which is why heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continuing to run with the virtual game show idea. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are going to take the experience virtually to the next level and do some really fun things,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give details on that now, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be bigger and better.â&#x20AC;? Over the summer, Johnson has a steady group of colleges, apartment communities and corporate groups booking virtual game shows, which he is excited about, because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a whole new way to market his company. Game Shows To Go has done about 2,600 live shows since its beginning and has traveled to nearly every state in the nation as well as places like Fiji and Cancun. There are six

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(ABOVE) C.J. Johnson running a chatroom from his home shed pub. (RIGHT) Gus Davis hosting a live show before everyone was isolated. (Courtesy Photos) different game shows the company does. A couple are homages to popular televised game shows like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Deal or No Dealâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Family Feud,â&#x20AC;? while others were grown in house. For more information, visit www.gameshowstogo.com.

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GRANTS

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Continued from Page 3

to protecting his rights under the contract. The grievance process is part of reviewing their actions and it is the ﬁrst step we’ve taken in that regard.” The grievance was on the April 27 Council agenda under executive session, but the issue was not addressed in open session. The Independent ﬁled a Freedom of Information Request for the grievance on April 30, but has not received a response from the City as of May 6. The deadline to the allowable 10 business day period to respond to the request is May 14. EDC grants After the Liberty Hill Economic Development Corp. considered an initial proposal April 30 for a business grant program in response to the crunch on local businesses due to the impact of COVID-19, the City Council stepped in Monday and moved the proj-

GRADUATION

“The whole goal at Liberty Hill ISD is to graduate kids and prepare them for life, so even though the ceremony is just a symbol of that transformation from public school to growing up, to being an adult, I think

ect forward. The Council approved the framework for the program by a 4-0 vote, with Council member Kathy Canady abstaining. Canady said she abstained because she owns a business within the city limits. Hall said he expects the application to be posted on the City website this week, but did not have a speciﬁc date or details. He said applicants would be considered at the next EDC meeting, which is scheduled for May 20. “I don’t know all the details of that off hand,” he said. “All those applications will come into the City portal then they will go to the EDC for acceptance. It will be the same as the facade grants (and other programs). The EDC will be the approval authority and it will come to the City for ﬁnal approval.” The program will take $100,000 of EDC funds and make available up to 20 grants

for up to $5,000 each for local businesses. The criteria stipulates to be eligible a business must have 50 or fewer employees, have a publicly accessible location within the corporate limits of Liberty Hill, must not be home-based, have been in continuous operation over the previous 12 months, in good standing with the City regarding fees and ﬁnancial obligations, and must provide a current sales tax certiﬁcate. Businesses must also demonstrate current or anticipated declining revenue beginning March 1, due to the impact of COVID-19. The EDC had named a committee of Board members Liz Rundzieher, Jamie Etzkorn and John Clark to work on the issue and bring it back for consideration at the May 20 meeting, but the Council moved forward with approval of the program Monday. “This is extremely important

Continued from Page 1

it’s important and it brings closure to the last 13 years of their education,” Snell said. When districts could hold graduations, if at all, was an unanswered question until last week, when TEA put out its

guidance for districts that allowed in-person ceremonies, one of four options. To have in-person ceremonies districts had to schedule them outside and they could not take place before June 1. The original date for LHHS graduation was May 22. After getting the go-ahead from state and county ofﬁcials, LHISD leaders talked to other districts about their own plans, and developed a strategy for the Liberty Hill ceremony.

to continue to help supporting our businesses,” Hall said. “As bad as our economy has been hit right now, anything the EDC and City can do to help these businesses during this struggling time is beneﬁcial to sustain them. It was extremely important we were able to get this done.” Municipal Judge contract Council gave Hall permission to renegotiate the contract of Municipal Court Judge Kevin Madison. Hall discussed the issue with The Independent Tuesday as more of a contract formality. “It is supposed to be done every two years when the Mayor is elected and unfortunately the City didn’t do anything,” Hall said. “The contract essentially says that if nothing is done it is automatically renewed, which is okay by the contract language, but in speaking to (City Attorney) Tad (Cleaves), he feels that we should have

“We think if we give every student just a few tickets for their immediate household then we can separate them and keep them distanced all over Panther Stadium,” Snell said. “We can separate our kids and we can have as normal a ceremony as possible without the handshakes and hugs, getting everybody in and out safely.” Measures will be in place to accommodate social distancing for family members as well as students.

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a reconﬁrmation of contract signatures every two years just from a legal standpoint.” He added that it is something he is trying to do across the City. “I’m trying to make a standardized contract for everybody, whether they are a contractor, under a professional services agreement or whatever,” Hall said. “We’re basically going to put it in our language so it meets our standards.” No changes are anticipated to the contract, according to Hall. “At this point there are no changes I am aware of, unless he is wanting something that I’m not aware of,” he said. “From the City’s side it is just putting the proper language in the contract that we need to have in all contracts going forward.” Public information The Council approved its new public information policy and named recently-hired

To help make the ﬁnal memories for the Class of 2020, district leaders have rallied staff, administrators and teachers to come up with some non-traditional events to honor seniors. Seniors were treated to a parking lot full of cheering teachers and parents when they drove through May 8 to pick up their caps and gowns for the ceremony. As each senior pulled through the parking lot, they were greeted with signs of encouragement, cheers, applause and a chance to talk brieﬂy – at a distance – with teachers and administrators many had not seen in a couple of months. Each left with a Chick-Fil-A lunch and the purple cap and gown for the June 5 ceremony. Sunday, seniors will be honored once again with a community parade from 1-4 p.m.

Chief Operating Ofﬁcer Lacie Hale as the new public information ofﬁcer. The new policy, which mirrors Texas Code 552, spells out the requirements and methods for requesting information, the timeline for a City response and rules for determining whether requesters can be charged for information. “I really think this is very aligned with the local government code and the open meetings act,” Hall said. “We didn’t divert anything from that, but it gives us local understanding and quick reference for making sure our requesters are clear in what they’re asking and making sure everybody fully understands the timeline. It is just to me more of a bookkeeping thing to make sure everybody knows this is the process.”

Final details are being worked out and can be found on the district or The Independent’s website. Other celebrations will include a virtual awards ceremony, social media highlights and more yard signs for seniors. The graduation ceremony will also be live-streamed to allow for extended family and the community to participate in the special occasion. “Graduation ceremonies, to me as Superintendent and the staff I’ve talked to, is just a very, very enjoyable experience,” Snell said. “It’s very rewarding to see those young men and women walk across that stage and celebrate their accomplishments. To us, it’s more about celebrating the kids and their families, it will just be different this year.”

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SPORTS

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, May 14, 2020 Page 7

Former coach returns to Panthers’ football fold

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Who says you can’t go home again? During the 2013-14 seasons, Scott Hawkins roamed the Liberty Hill sidelines as the Panthers’ offensive line coach, helping the Purple-and-Gold compile a 22-5 record with an offense that produced three 1,000-yard rushers on the roster and a berth in the Class 4A state semifinals. Hawkins has returned for the upcoming 2020 season, only this time around he will focus on the opposite side of the line of scrimmage as the Panthers’ defensive line coach, as well as coaching track in the spring. When he steps back on the Liberty Hill sideline, Hawkins will be among many familiar faces, he said. “I’ve known (Athletic Director and Head Coach) Jeff Walker since 1998 when we coached together in San Marcos, as well as (offensive coordinator) John Hall and (inside linebackers coach) Carlos Garza,” said Hawkins, who arrives in Liberty Hill after serving as athletic director and head football coach at Thorndale High School for the past five years. “I’ve also known (defensive coordinator) Coach Kent Walker for about the same amount of time and worked with (defensive backs coach) Tommy Foster and (offensive line Coach) Rudy Acevedo when I was at Liberty Hill in 2013-14.” According to Hawkins, he’s always had admiration for the players the Panthers produce and the qualities they possess – not the least of which is an undying work ethic.

“I have, for a long time, praised the athletes of Liberty Hill – they’re a different breed of child – they may not be some of the top athletes on the field and usually aren’t the largest or highly-recruited, but there is a mentality of the athletes in Liberty Hill which is like none other,” said Hawkins, who complied a 27-28 record with the Bulldogs. “They are some of the hardest-working kids I’ve been around – they believe in what they do and the coaches they play for.” Hawkins is now the fourth member of the Panthers’ coaching staff who has also served as an athletic director and head coach during their respective careers, which is something head coach Jeff Walker doesn’t take for granted, he said. “Coach Hawkins adds more experience and knowledge to an already great staff. He’s not only a great football coach, but he’ll be a great asset to our track program, as well,” said Walker. “Anytime you can add a coach that has been a head coach and athletic director, it’s a plus. He’s not only a great coach, but he’s a great person the kids will love.” However, all that being said, Hawkins knows he still has to win over his new football family. “Being a new coach on a staff is always a little tough – you’re usually expected to ‘prove’ yourself,” he said. “But coming to Liberty Hill will be a little different for me because most of the staff are my friends and have been for a while, although I still need to prove myself to the entire staff as well as the players. Being an

Ryder Martin spend an afternoon fishing on Stillhouse Hollow recently. (Courtesy Photo)

Scott Hawkins will coach the Panthers’ defensive line in his return to Liberty Hill. (Courtesy Photo) older coach gives you a little respect in the coaches’ office, but sometimes the athletes may think you’re the ‘old guy,’ But I know with time, they’ll know I love and care about them and that’s what makes a good

coach-player relationship.” Hawkins was inspired to get into coaching and teaching after witnessing first-hand the enjoyment those around him derived from the profession. “I had several high school

coaches that influenced my decision to become a coach. They all seemed to enjoy what they did every day, no matter what the situation. I knew I needed to do something that kept me active. But, I didn’t know just how much I would love the job,” he said. “I can’t think of anything more exciting and rewarding than working with children every day. I’ve been blessed to have worked with some amazing coaches and teachers in my career, not to mention the students I’ve worked with have been the best in the world. Teaching and coaching is different every day and that’s what makes it so exciting.” In fact, seeing students and players who have been under his tutelage blossom into young adults is the most gratifying aspect of what he does, said Hawkins. “The best part of the profession would have to be seeing the children develop into young men and women as they grow up,” said Hawkins, who teaches English. “During grades nine through 12, there’s such a transition during that time and being a part of that transition and molding is a great responsibility I feel that God has called me to do.” For Hawkins, whether he’s on the gridiron or in the class-

room, being good at one helps him excel at the other. “I think there’s very little difference in coaching and teaching,” he said. “When out on the field, you’re teaching your players to understand the concepts of the sport better, while in the classroom sometimes you have to ‘coach the kids up’ and get them to feel comfortable with whatever concept you’re teaching in the class. I think coaching has helped me become a better teacher because you have to be able to ‘coach on the run’ as we say, because things change at a moment’s notice and in the classroom, you may have to deal with several different learning styles in one classroom and differentiate your instruction in order for every student to reach mastery of your concepts.” As far as on-field philosophy is concerned, Hawkins isn’t one to over-complicate the game. “Like any coach, I believe we have to use the ‘KISS’ principle – keep it simple,” he said. “When an athlete feels comfortable with his position and feels he can play the position without having to think about it, he’ll play much better. I believe any child can be

See COACH, Page 8

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Liberty Hill fishing team member Holt Avery shows off a catch on the San Gabriel River. (Courtesy Photo)

Respite with a rod and reel

Albert Konovalski fished on Stillhouse Hollow on March 22. (Courtesy Photo)

Fishing provides outdoor escape from virus reality

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Perhaps there is nothing more solitary than someone standing on the shore of a lake or banks of a river or sitting alone in a boat while dangling a line into the water while waiting for a frisky fish to have a go at whatever bait is being tantalizingly teased on the end of

a hook. During the global pandemic, the Liberty Hill Fishing team has been keeping busy at what it loves and does best as a way to combat the coronavirus outbreak from an emotional and psychological standpoint. “I’ve used fishing as a way to get out and do something I love to do during this time,”

said Bo Stubblefield. “I’ve been getting out there once or twice a week.” Panthers teammate Michael Evans has employed a similar strategy. “I’ve been going fishing to deal with this current situation,” he said. “But, I’m not in contact with my teammates due to the restrictions of fam-

ily-only contact. I don’t think the pandemic has affected me any different than others. I’m playing games and stuff to keep me occupied and going fishing about once a week.” Holt Avery doesn’t have to go very far to engage in his favorite activity, as he has a fishing spot right on his family’s property.

“It’s not different for us from other sports because we can’t be together,” he said. “We can’t fish in the tournaments together at all -- we can only fish on our own and it’s not near as fun to be alone, but I’m grateful to be able to fish at all. I’m lucky to have the opportunity close by, so I’ve gone several times since we’ve been

out of school.” Avery has filled the rest of his time with some common pastimes, he said. “I play basketball for the high school and I’ve been shooting hoops when the weather is nice,” said Avery. “My dad and I have been turkey hunting lately and I’ve played Xbox, too.”

Something may be better than nothing

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Last week in this space we railed against bringing any kind of activities – or in our particular case – sports back in a “new normal” manner. We still feel that way for the most part, but a funny thing happened that got us thinking since then. One night this past week in the wee hours, a baseball game was being broadcast. A real, honest-to-goodness baseball game actually unfolding live as opposed to either a classic game from the past or a virtual version from video-game land. You see, South Korea is a country that decided to be absolutely militant concerning COVID-19 measures right from the outset of the outbreak back in March. Draconian measures

were put in place to ensure nothing got out of control like it has in just about every other place in the world. Taking temperatures before admitting people to public places and the like were quickly their version of the “new normal” and guess what? It worked. South Korea has one of the lowest coronavirus rates on Earth and so it’s only fitting their curve has flattened a whole lot faster meaning they can once again concern themselves with the kind of curves pitchers conjure up on the mound to befuddle batters. We had the pleasure of being stationed in The Land of the Morning Calm – as South Korea is known – for a year while serving in the U.S. Army and saw firsthand the kind of culture that exists not only there, but in most Asian countries, including Japan, which we also had the privilege of spending some time in during our days in uniform. Enough time to realize people over there on the other side of the world

where it’s always already tomorrow have quite a different outlook on how society in general should be run. While the Western world places a quite strong emphasis on “me,” Asian nations concern themselves more with “we.” So, when Korean authorities were allowed to confiscate the cell phones of the infected to determine who that individual had come into contact with – and hence potentially passed it on – the practice was simply accepted as what was best for the greater good. You heard right. The Greater Good. Imagine the outrage if the FBI or whoever in this country was allowed to pry into your privacy and compromise your constitutional rights by being able to see who you’ve been talking and texting with. Wouldn’t be American, would it? But, we’re all about sports here, politics be damned, so let’s get back to the point. South Korea has baseball back – al-

beit without fans and with social-distancing practices in place – while America still doesn’t as our powersthat-be continue to do what they always do. Make a mess of everything while getting nothing done. Major League Baseball is currently brainstorming to find a way to bring the National Pastime back in some way, shape or form as soon as possible. We can only hope and pray it’s soon. However, back to the game. Despite the fact it was a contest that was played behind closed doors (although one team is creative enough to have cardboard cutouts in place of humans in the stands) and the players were all unknown, we felt a slight tug on our emotions as we thought, “Wow, there’s actually a real game going on in the world right now!” Suddenly it didn’t matter if we didn’t know the players (coincidentally and curiously, the players’ names on the back of their jerseys is in Korean

while the team name is emblazoned across the front in English). Suddenly, we had something back that we’ve been cheated out of for the past two months by this wretched virus. Living. Ironically, the same region of the world where all the death began was now providing us with life – and a reminder of what it was once like, but never may be the same again. So, all that being said, maybe something is better than nothing, after all. Perhaps the “old normal” will be permanently replaced by the “new” version in a world where we won’t be able to go anywhere or do anything the same ever again. Should we embrace it? We don’t think so. But, maybe we greet it with an open mind – regardless of how closed-minded some of us are.

Page 8

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Options exist to remain healthy with gyms closed

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor One of the biggest challenges people are faced with during the pandemic is to stay healthy and despite the fact gyms are scheduled to re-open on May 18, there are still many options for those who would rather continue to work out at home. Some health clubs are getting creative in continuing to meet the needs of their clients during this time and Flock Fitness in Liberty Hill is definitely one of them. According to owner Maranda Basey, keeping connected with her customers is a critical component to maintaining a healthy lifestyle – even when one is stranded at home. “It’s very important,” said Basey. “This is a unique time for everyone, so it’s all about helping our clients get creative and learn how to adjust with the environment and still keep health and fitness a top priority.” In order to comply with the new health guidelines upon re-opening her business, Basey has taken measures to ensure she meets the regulations. “I’ve purchased extra sanitizing stations and have ordered paper towel, soap and sink hands-free dispensers,” she said. “We will also be operating at 25 percent and have only classes on the schedule where we’re ensured participants have their own equipment and space. We also will be having a sanitizing system set in place as participants arrive, workout and leave the facility.” CrossFit Liberty Hill owner Brandon Leath is also making sure his gym is ready for the return of his clients. “We’re going to cap our classes at 12 people instead of the usual 20 and fill the spots by reservation,” said Leath. “We’re also going to end our classes a bit earlier than usual in order to properly sanitize before the next class.” Other measures will include things such as participants only using one barbell during a workout, no shower access and limiting restroom use to one person at a time. However, aside from tangible differences, a bigger challenge will be to recreate the camaraderie aspect of exercise under

Pathways

Coach

SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO

Maranda Basey, owner of Flock Fitness in Liberty Hill, has found creative ways to help her clients stay healthy and maintain proper fitness during the pandemic. (Courtesy Photo) of weight. But, we always give the new restrictions. “I think that’s our biggest chal- options.” lenge moving forward,” said However, one thing that can’t Leath. “Group fitness tends to be replicated is the ability to lose its appeal when people exercise with others, which is a can’t move around, be close crucial element in most of the together. But, we’ve modified programs her gym runs. That is our workouts, although it’s why it’s all the more important hard to stay in one place while to have the ability to connect via the internet, enabling her you work out.” Technology is allowing Basey clients to feel as if they’re not to remain in contact with cli- alone, said Basey. “For most people, it’s easy to ents in helping them with their lose motivation when you’re fitness needs. “Currently we are offering alone,” she said. “Our fitness live classes via Facebook,” she studio is all about ‘group’ trainsaid. “Also, we have an online ing, so our target clients get schedule and a private group. their ‘fuel’ off the others in the We find even though we can’t group. We hope offering these see our clients, we’re able to virtual live classes, they’re still connect with comments and getting that connection they all have them post pictures after love and feed off.” Despite the fact exercise and their workouts.” Basey said although most a healthy lifestyle are always don’t have access to fitness of the utmost importance, it’s equipment at the moment, there even more so under the current are many viable options to re- conditions, said Basey. “Exercise is so good for not place the usual methods. “The options are endless. First only the body but the mind,” of all, body-weight exercises she said. “Exercise helps boost are great and there are so many your mood and also can help strength and cardio moves you combat anxiety. With everycan do with just your body thing going on in the world, weight,” she said. “Also, think- this is an especially important ing outside the gym and using time to stay active and movwhat you have at home. I’ve ing.” Leath added the best way to posted lots of articles on household items that are equivalent approach staying fit during this to dumbbells and weights and time is to maintain a proper easy to use while doing some perspective. “I don’t think these changes of the exercises we’re posting. We’re trying to keep most of need to affect us negatively,” our workouts with little to no he said. “We have to find ways equipment, but we do offer a to make it positive, take charge few that we ask for some sort and be healthy.”

With her path clear, the next step for McCown and Community Pathways is building a group with the tools needed to provide guidance. “In the beginning, we have to do a lot of recruiting of the volunteers and training,” she said. “I am currently finishing up my courses in a certificate of ministry from Austin Presbyterian Seminary.” Creating a staff of volunteers that are regular people and aren’t professional counselors is an essential step for McCown. In her time working with young adults, the executive director finds that often students are more resistant to help in a professional setting. “To me, it’s being there for them and not as a professional counselor. Because if you talk to these students about getting them to a professional counselor, a lot of them don’t want to go to a counselor,” she said. “Some of the students say, ‘I’ve been there, done that, and it doesn’t work.’ If you have

Continued from Page 7

successful in athletics if they’re willing to work hard and understand failure is part of becoming good. I’m going to coach the kids hard and have high expectations, but will also love each player as if they were one of my own boys, which they really are.” Liberty Hill is coming off a 7-6 season during which they reached the Class 4A state quarterfinals and featured a defense that allowed 23 points per game, but will be loaded with seniors, combining experience with athleticism. “The Panthers’ defense under Coach Kent Walker has proven to be a tough, fast and aggressive defense,” said Hawkins. “I’m looking forward to working for Coach Walker and helping the defensive line to become the best they’ve

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Charlie Calabretta and some of his Panthers teammates work out with weights while maintaining proper social-distancing procedures.

Continued from Page 1

“We had gone to church in 2016, around nine years after we had taken in Kayla,” she said. “My husband looked at me and said, ‘I guess we have to find another Kayla,’ and I said if God wants us to have another Kayla, he’ll send one,’ That was on Sunday. Wednesday, someone approached me and said, ‘I need some help finding a halfway house for my grandson,’ and right then, I knew that this was something I needed to talk to my husband about. I told him ‘God didn’t send us another Kayla, but he sent you a boy.’” McCown provided a home for him and kept him on the straight and narrow for over a year. Since then, the young man has started a new life working as a driver in Austin. It was after this that McCown saw the path she was meant to traverse, her calling in life. “I thought okay, God, I get it, you want me to help those transition into adulthood or get back on their feet,” she said.

been.” Hawkins grew up in Austin and graduated from Lanier High school (now known as Navarro Early College High School), played offensive line at Ranger Junior College in 1986-87 and completed his education at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Beginning his coaching career in Harper in 1994, he moved on to San Marcos in 1998, worked for (longtime Texas high school coach) Bruce Bush and was the defensive line coach under (former Liberty Hill head coach) Jerry Vance. Hawkins also spent time at Fort Worth Western Hill High School, where he was offensive coordinator for (current Panthers assistant) John Hall and took his first athletic director-head coach job in 2007

someone who’s been through the same who is very empathetic and be a listening ear and friend, then they’re more willing to talk and get help.” To help with volunteer work or to apply to be a mentor, members of the Liberty Hill community can reach out to McCown through the Community Pathways website, cpotx. org. McCown hopes that her faith can strengthen her work with Community Pathways and strengthen relationships with others and their faith. “Some students or even adults have been hurt by someone within the church or a Christian, and so one of my goals is to let them see Christ through what we do,” she said. “I want to show them unconditional love through our actions.”

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at Dawson High School, where he remained until his first stint in Liberty Hill from 2013-14 before making the move to Thorndale in 2015. Hawkins is a single father of two boys – Mastin, 18, who is graduating from Thorndale this year and Maverick, a fourth-grader who will attend Liberty Hill Intermediate School next school year. One could say Hawkins was always destined to return to Liberty Hill, as he is currently engaged to Liberty Hill High School librarian Lauren Claymon, who he will marry in June. “I was dating Lauren before I left for Thorndale,” he said. “So, I guess it was going to happen eventually.”

LH football squad conditioning under health guidelines

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Liberty Hill’s football team is doing now what they always do in the spring – getting ready for the fall when the lights are back on and the ball is kicked off for a new season. However, there are some distinct differences from what one usually sees. Changes such as the players lining up six feet apart upon arriving for another workout to have their temperatures taken before being admitted to the field, as well as bottles of sanitizer dotting the natural grass surface at City Park are noticeable as they get to work away from their usual stomping grounds of Panther Stadium. Yes, the Panthers are working out – but it’s certainly not business as usual. Absent from the scene are the Liberty Hill coaches and in their place are parents of the 50 players who are being put through their paces on an overcast, but warm Central Texas morning in May. On May 4, the Panthers began doing conditioning work three days a week, with the plan to continue until mid-June in the absence of school-sanctioned activities until the UIL once again clears them to engage in their usual spring football drills. According to Shawn Lapuszynski – whose son Jed will be a senior for the Panthers in the fall – the idea for the workouts came about after he realized there was a need for a collective effort as opposed to the players attempting to stay in shape on their own. “Jed was working out on his own in our garage at home,” said Lapuszynski. “We put him through one of the workouts and he got physically sick due to the fact he was out of shape and we figured if someone like him who always keeps himself in top condition was like this, the other guys would have prob-

lems, too.” So, Lapuszynski, along with T.J. Garza, who owns and operates Speed Killz Period in Liberty Hill and several other Panther parents devised the plan to reunite the players while keeping social-distancing practices and sanitizing procedures firmly in place. Lapuszynski said he felt it was not only important for the players to have the opportunity to train together from a physical standpoint, but perhaps more importantly to provide a psychological and emotional lifeline in the wake of the isolation of the pandemic. “When a young man says he’s bored, it probably means he’s depressed,” he said. “So, we felt this was something we needed to do for them.” Incoming senior quarterback Charlie Calabretta was all for the idea when he first heard about it and is even more enthused after having been back among his gridiron brothersin-arms, he said. “I was really excited because we had that opportunity taken away from us,” said Calabretta, who had been working out with father Craig at home. “It’s awesome to be out here because I’ve been stuck at home for two months.” Strategically placed around the field are 12 stations, with each one offering a different physical challenge designed to push the players with a complete-body workout. Everything from dumbbells and an oversized tire for strength to plyometric boxes for agility and speed are employed – along with a couple of particularly challenging devices – including one known as a Demon Sled and another called Pegasus and Orthus, which are both heavily-weighted machines that must be pushed and lifted, respectively. Players are required to stay in small groups of three or four and must maintain proper distance between one another while they work out

in keeping with CDC guidelines, something that Jan Taylor, a local nurse practitioner and volunteer, helps monitor. “We had to do some research, but with the amount of kids out here, we knew keeping everyone six feet apart was going to be a challenge,” said Taylor, who is certified in infection control. “In fact, when you’re breathing heavily, six feet isn’t enough, so we position the stations about 15 feet apart.” Taylor said when she heard about the workouts she was both excited as a mother and concerned as a medical professional. “I was excited about it, but I also thought ‘how are we going to do it?’” she said. “But, we’ve had a tremendous amount of support from the community and we’ve done the best we possibly can to follow all the guidelines – I’m just proud of everyone here.” Lapuszynski credited Garza with offering his services and equipment free of charge for the players to use. “If we had to pay for something like this, it would cost $16,000 to $17,000,” he said. “So, it’s great for him to have done this for us.” Once again reiterating the psychological impact the workouts have had on the Panthers, Lapuszynski is pleased to have seen such positive results from the players. “It’s really good for them emotionally to be out here,” he said. “I got an e-mail from a mom who said she hadn’t seen her son smile like that for two months. The attitudes of the players out here have been phenomenal – they really just want to be around each other.” Calabretta said the workouts were helping he and his teammates capture something that wasn’t necessarily there last season. “I think we’re really starting to grow closer together as a team,” he said. “We’re going to be ready.”

All information concerning Liberty Hill High School sports summer camps has been removed from the school’s website due to the uncertainty of the current situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Affected sports include football, soccer and baseball,

which are still planned, but currently on hold. Earlier, both girls’ and boys’ basketball camps had already been canceled. “Nothing has changed concerning our camps,” said Walker. “But, due to the uncertain nature of the current situation, we wanted to elim-

inate any confusion because everything is so up in the air right now. We all want to hold our camps, but only if it can be done safely,” said Athletic Director Jeff Walker. Walker said a further update will be given on June 1.

LHISD camps in holding pattern

Doolittle

all focus on instruction, classroom management, student needs and reaching mastery within our classes.” Methods of teaching have evolved dramatically since her career began in 1988. “There were fewer standards and little accountability for students to meet those standards as there was not a state-required test at the time for lower elementary students,” she said. “Many of our units were teacher-created and only had to follow broad themes. Presently, we have a curriculum that is aligned across the state with well-defined standards. This helps ensure all students in the state are being taught equitably as we work together to help our students meet and exceed these standards.” As a result, the way in which she approaches her job each day has changed along with the curriculum, she said. “My teaching style has definitely changed. Being a math

Continued from Page 4 teacher, I still often have direct-teach lessons prepared for my students, but I now ensure I have small group lessons when necessary,” said Doolittle. “My classroom is very collaborative and has a lot of movement. This is quite a change from the days when all the desks in my room used to be in rows with children working independently all day. I use more of an inquiry method and try to spend as much one-on-one time as I can with my students.” However, although there are many reasons Doolittle enjoys her profession, there is certainly one big downer, as well. “The best aspects of being a teacher are working with students all day and watching them grow, collaborating with my math Professional Learning Community planning lessons and brainstorming activities, working with my quad teachers discussing students and their achievements

and working with a staff of amazing people every day,” she said. “The worst aspect of being a teacher is hearing the alarm clock go off at 5:15 in the morning.” But, aside from occasional early-morning blues, Doolittle has sage advice for any of her students who are considering following her career path. “I would advise one of my students who had an interest in a career in education to spend time with children at the age they would want to teach,” she said. “Knowing the nuances, abilities and independence level of the age group you might want to teach is incredibly important. I would also let my student know there is no other career as rewarding as teaching. Each day offers new opportunities, challenges, joys and yes, sometimes setbacks, but that’s what makes education the incredible adventure it is.”

Thursday, May 14, 2020

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SALONS

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double book because a client sits for 45 minutes while waiting for processing. Everything will just be at a much slower pace.â&#x20AC;? Clark is also asking clients to wait in their cars when they arrive at her salon and call to let her know they are there. Clients must wear masks and wash their hands upon entering the salon, and Clark is making sure she sanitizes everything well between each person who comes in. She also has a questionnaire clients will ďŹ ll out, answering questions about any symptoms and likelihood of exposure to COVID-19. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a salon, we sanitize really well anyway, so that was not a big change for us,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The kicker is the mask. It makes it hard to get around the guyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ears. I have to ask clients to hold their mask on their face while I get around their ears. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just not as friendly as it used to be.â&#x20AC;? Ket Vora, owner of Absolute Nails, also reopened May 8, but has put strict measures in place to protect herself and her

clients. In fact, while she was closed, she took two separate refresher courses on sanitization and infection control. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always been very particular about being clean, so there hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been much impact on us in that way, but when I found out we could open, I went in a couple of days before and cleaned, sterilized and soaked everything a client could touch in Barbicide,â&#x20AC;? she said. Barbicide is a hospital-grade disinfectant that salons use to keep tools and areas clean between clients. Vora has also decided to close her salon every other day to help keep things as germ-free as possible. She is now open only on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I personally feel like itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safer if I open my shop every other day,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I sterilize at the end of day, and then let it sit for a whole day, everything should be dead. Saturdays are my only exception, so I can accommodate people who work during the week.â&#x20AC;? Vora has also implemented

contactless payments, which means she uses payment apps such as PayPal and Venmo to complete transactions. She said she will make exceptions for elderly clients who may not use those apps. The Hair Stop also opened last week, but adjustments were made to follow state guidelines and support social distancing. Owner Mary Ledezma said clients are asked to stay in their cars until someone comes out to get them, and upon entering her salon, they will have their temperature taken, and they will ďŹ ll out and sign a questionnaire regarding any possible symptoms. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are only allowing one person per stylist or barber, unless itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a child,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a child, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re asking for just one parent with them only. We are wearing masks and asking clients to wear one as well. If they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a mask, we have some disposable towels at the front door, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re asking them to hold that over their face.â&#x20AC;? Because of a renovation done

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before COVID-19 hit, the chairs in Ledezmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s salon are already six feet apart. She and barber Tim Flem are the only two working in the salon as of now, but she has room to add a third stylist and still be six feet apart. She plans on hiring a third stylist soon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had to cancel a month and half of appointments, and now Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m working to get all those rescheduled,â&#x20AC;? Ledezma said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are working by appointment only and not taking any walk-ins, so weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing the best we can. We want to take care of everybody like before, but patience is important with everyone trying to reopen.â&#x20AC;? Kayla Witbeck, owner of Radiant Salon & Boutique, couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe how many texts and Facebook messages she received as soon as Gov. Abbott announced salons could reopen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone was doing what they could to get their appointments as fast as they could,â&#x20AC;? she said. Sanitization has always been strict at her salon, Witbeck

said, which means that aspect hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t changed much. However, clients are being asked to wait in their cars until their technician is ready for them, and the salon is only accepting no contact payment. All the stations in the salon were designed six feet apart anyway, Witbeck said, which means they did not have to make any modiďŹ cations to the stations before reopening. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re letting clients wear masks if they want to, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re leaving it up to them,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a sign that says itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recommended, but not required. I will have my N-95 mask on. If people are more timid about going into places where people arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wearing masks, we are deďŹ nitely informing them that we arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t requiring it.â&#x20AC;? Indigo Salon will not be reopening until May 19, said Owner Jaime Amezquita, and for good reason. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We actually pulled up stations and moved them so that they are at least six feet apart,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are having to

patch the ground underneath them, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turned into a bit of a remodel. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just been crazy implementing all these protocols, but we werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t going to reduce our standards just to open up a week earlier.â&#x20AC;? Employees at Indigo Salon will be wearing masks and requiring clients to wear them as well. Amezquita said sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also suspended all blowouts, hand massages, neck massages, and hot towels for now. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have basically suspended anything thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unnecessary to getting your hair done,â&#x20AC;? she said. In addition, clients will be asked to wash their hands upon entering the salon and will be having their temperature taken. To help the inďŹ&#x201A;ux of clients that she expects to come in once her salon is open, Amezquita has decided to extend her salonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hours to be open on Tuesdays, when it was previously closed. She has also hired another stylist to help with the load when the salon reopens.

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