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2021
Volume 34, Issue 27
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May 27, 2021 | 50 Cents
Mundy named LHHS Valedictorian
LH INDEPENDENT PHOTO
The Liberty Hill City Council following the swearing-in of new members on May 12. From left, are Tony DeYoung, who was named Mayor Pro-Tem this week, Angela Jones, Mayor Liz Branigan, Crystal Mancilla, Kathy Canady and Chris Pezold. Jones, Mancilla and Pezold were elected to the Council earlier this month.
Council debates residency rule for P&Z appointees
By SHELLY WILKISON Publisher The Liberty Hill City Council decided Monday that expertise was more important than city residency when it comes to choosing volunteers to serve on the City’s Planning & Zoning Commission. When considering a change
in the ordinance dictating the composition and term of office for P&Z members, the newly-seated members of the Council swayed the vote in favor of expertise with Council Member Kathy Canady opposed. The change requires only one of the five members of
the advisory commission to reside inside the Liberty Hill city limits. Others may be residents of the Liberty Hill ISD or Liberty Hill ETJ. Rather than the place of residency being the predominant qualifier, Council Member Chris Pezold said professional expertise is more important.
The current composition of the panel includes three members who must reside inside the city and two who may resident in the school district, plus one city council member. “We are probably one of the fastest growing cities in
See COUNCIL, Page 5
LHPD makes hometown hire
By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Liberty Hill Police Department’s newest hire, Officer Conner Lowe, grew up watching his mother and grandmother serve the greater good as nurses. Inspired by them, Lowe adopted the goal of community service. “I always wanted to do something to make a difference in the community,” said Lowe. “So, when I got out of high school, I looked at a bunch of majors but wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I liked law enforcement because of the challenges and the opportunities.” As a resident and graduate of Liberty Hill High School, Lowe says it’s an honor to have the opportunity to work in his hometown -- a community he understands. Lowe graduated in 2016 before attending Austin Community College and
eventually transferring to Texas Tech University, where he majored in Conservation Law Enforcement. “I think I had the best major I could have. It set me up for what I’m doing now,” said Lowe. “Conservation law enforcement specialized in wildlife biology and conservation science and natural resource management. It combined criminal justice classes and wildlife. It’s like a two for one degree. A lot of my classes were taught by Texas game wardens.” Through his major, Lowe worked for Texas Parks & Wildlife for two years. “It was everything to me and such a great experience,” said Lowe. “I specialized in emergency management and water quality. I did a lot of safety
By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer The Michael Ingalls Band is kicking off the summer with a bang as part of the Dancing Under the Stars charity concert series’ first show. The festivities kick off June 4, from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. “We just now started booking
again,” said Ingalls. “This gig in Liberty Hill is going to be a real fun time for us all. Looking forward to performing.” Ingalls is a staple of the Texas music scene. Raised in Dallas, it wasn’t long before he felt the itch to pick up a six-string. “I grew up in Dallas, and that’s when I started learning how to play guitar. I always wrote my own songs from the time I started playing,” said Ingalls. “Around the late 90’s I moved to Austin and ended up getting some great gigs as a lead guitar player. The guys from Double Trouble, Lisa Tingle. I’ve opened up for
See LOWE, Page 4
ROBERT MUNDY JR. LHHS 2021 Valedictorian four years ago. “I can see my growth as a person,” said Mundy. “I remember when I was a freshman and being extremely scared being in high school and not sure what would happen. I feel like I
See MUNDY, Page 4
Holliday ranks second in Class of 2021
LHPD’s newest officer, Conner Lowe, (center) is a 2016 graduate of Liberty Hill High School. He is pictured above with Lt. Jeff Ringstaff (left) and Chief Royce Graeter (right) at his graduation ceremony from the South Plains College Law Enforcement Academy earlier this month. (Courtesy Photo)
Dancing Under the Stars kicks off June 4 with Michael Ingalls Band
©2021 The Liberty Hill Independent
By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Robert Mundy Jr. prides himself on his competitive edge and the drive to excel at everything he does. Mundy lived up to his high standards over the past four years, taking the top seat in his class at Liberty Hill High School and earning valedictorian honors. “It reflects on the hard work and determination to excel and be the best of our class,” said Mundy. “A lot of people assume it’s natural and that you’re book smart. I’d say it’s more about the work ethic. Mine is different, and that’s why I am where I am.” Mundy played basketball four years, baseball for two years, served as a member of the student council, and was president of the National Honor Society. Mundy credits balancing his full plate to time management skills he developed over time. The Robert Mundy that’s about to graduate and head off to Texas Christian University in August is a far cry from the nervous kid who first walked through the doors of LHHS
Cory Morrow recently.” Ingalls is joined by drummer Paul Ramsey, and bassist Scotty Nier. “Paul Ramsey has been around the Austin scene for a while now, and he’s played with guys from all over town,” said Ingalls. “He had a studio as well, so he’s really familiar with the recording process. “Our bass player is Scotty Nier. He works out of his church, but he’s an incredible bassist. We only do it as a three-piece right now because those guys fill up so much sound space that it’s more than enough for us,” Ingalls said.
After years working for other musicians, Ingalls was ready to start his own band. “I was a hired gun for a long while before I got tired of being only the lead guitar,” he said. “I said, you know what, I’m going to put my own band together again. Life is short, so I feel like I have something to say, and I want to say it. Before I run out of time.” After a taste of the Central Texas music scene, Ingalls relocated to Austin, and the rest is history. “Not just Austin, but the scene
By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Space. The final frontier. For Jessica Holliday, solving the mysteries of space rests at the center of her passions, pushing her to achieve great things. Holliday is Liberty Hill High School’s Salutatorian. “I love space. I love everything that has to do with space,” Holliday said with excitement. “My backup plan if I don’t like biology is to go into aerospace engineering. My long-term goal is to somehow study microbes in space working for someone like SpaceX or NASA.” Before she can get out of orbit, Holliday has to take on college. The LHHS Salutatorian is set to attend Texas Tech in the fall. In her LHHS career, Holliday played four years of basketball and was a member of the National Honor Society. The accomplishment is a prod-
JESSICA HOLLIDAY LHHS 2021 Salutatorian uct of determination and hard work, and Holliday doesn’t hesitate to make that clear. “I think a common
See HOLLIDAY, Page 4
Michael Ingalls Band is the first featured artist in the Dancing
See INGALLS, Page 4 Under the Stars Concert Series hosted by L4 Cares and Community Pathways. (Photo by Christopher Winston)
Page 2
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Bertram Nursing celebrates Visit Your Relative Day
Opening In LIBERTY HILLJune 7 HARDWARE STORE & Full Service Lumberyard LIGHTING PLUMBING ROOFING SIDING HARDWARE
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BERTRAM - Bertram Nursing & Rehab recently hosted families for National Visit Your Relative Day. “It feels so good to have families back inside of our facility,” said Tonya Maldonado, Administrator of Bertram Nursing & Rehab. “Our residents get so excited for these events!” Bertram Nursing & Rehab will continue to observe numerous core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention. This includes health screening for everyone who enters the facility, hand hygiene, mandatory face coverings, PPE for staff, elevated cleaning and disinfection practices, resident and staff testing as required, and separate areas for COVID-19 care as needed. The new Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) face covering recommendations do not apply to healthcare settings. “We are still requiring that visitors wear a mask. We still
have to follow State guidelines for healthcare centers. We also just take our residents’ safety very seriously,” she said. Learn more at BertramNursing.com or call (512)355-2116.
Liberty Hill Police Blotter
Prepared by Liberty Hill Police Department
Week of May 17-23, 2021 The Liberty Hill Police Department responded to or self-initiated a total of 663 incidents resulting in nine cases, 77 citations, 101 warnings and no arrests. Weekly Highlights: - On May 17 at approximately 9:28 AM, officers responded to US 183 and W. SH 29 for suspicious activity. - On May 17 at approximately 3:49 PM, officers responded to the 14000 block of W. SH 29 for suspicious activity. - On May 17 at approximately 7:44 PM, officers responded to the 12000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident. - On May 17 at approximately 11:07 PM, officers responded to Freeman Ranch St. for suspicious activity. - On May 17 at approximately 11:46 PM, officers responded to the 2000 block of RM 1869 for an agency assist. - On May 18 at approximately 5:42AM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 20 for a theft complaint. - On May 18 at approximately 11:15 AM, officers responded to CR 200 for a welfare concern. - On May 18 at approximately 5:38 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29
for an accident. - On May 18 at approximately 9:05 PM, officers responded to CR 200 for suspicious activity. - On May 19 at approximately 6:46AM, officers responded to the 10000 block of W. SH 29 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On May 19 at approximately 2:02 PM, officers responded to the 700 block of US 183 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On May 19 at approximately 6:48 PM, officers responded to Barton Dr. for an animal complaint. - On May 19 at approximately 10:33 PM, officers issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia as the result of a traffic stop. - On May 20 at approximately 1:17 AM, officers responded to Munroe St. for an assault complaint. - On May 20 at approximately 7:08 AM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard. - On May 20 at approximately 6:42 PM, officers responded to the 11000 block of W. SH 29 for a welfare concern. - On May 20 at approximately 8:10PM, officers responded to Hillcrest Dr. for a suspicious incident.
GRIFFON RAMSEY
- On May 21 at approximately 4:51 AM, officers responded to Horseshoe Loop for a disturbance. - On May 21 at approximately 6:22 AM, officers responded to Syrah Ct. for a 911 Hang up call. - On May 21 at approximately 1:51 PM, officers responded to Flexus Ln, to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On May 21 at approximately 2:45 PM, officers responded to Purser St. for a traffic hazard. - On May 21 at approximately 6:48 PM, officers responded to the 2000 block of CR 279 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On May 21 at approximately 8:17 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident. - On May 22 at approximately 2:06 PM, officers responded to Hillcrest Ave for case follow up. - On May 22 at approximately 4:54 PM, officers responded to the 4000 block of US 183 for a traffic hazard. - On May 22 at approximately 7:40 PM, officers responded to Russel St. for a trespassing complaint. - On May 22 at approximately 11:35 PM, officers responded to Wild Sage Ln. to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On May 23 at approximately 1:04 AM, officers responded to Blue Sage Dr. to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On May 23 at approximately 12:01 PM, officers responded to Speedhorse for suspicious activity. - On May 23 at approximately 3:44 PM, officers responded to W. SH 29 and Ronald Reagan, to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On May 23 at approximately 9:50 PM, officers responded to the 1000 block of CR 279 for an accident.
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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Page 3
Throwback Thursday
Wilson was a memorable constable, sheriff
By JAMES WEAR Columnist Jim Wilson was just about the tallest fellow I ever knew personally, and I have to believe his towering build was an asset to him during his law enforcement career. He’s been gone for more than 10 years, having passed away at his home in 2007 at the age of 53. Many longtime residents of Liberty Hill will recall Jim served as Pct. 2 Constable for several years, back before Liberty Hill incorporated and eventually created its own police department. Jim and his reserve constables were the primary source of law enforcement for Liberty Hill for several years. That responsibility became more and more of a challenge as the Cedar Park-Leander area began to grow.
Jim was a likable fellow, and he and his wife were close friends with my late mother-inlaw, Wanda Lane, who would sometimes take a Sunday trip with the Wilsons up to Fredericksburg for the horse racing. Law enforcement was not his only interest, as I recall. He also ran a pest control business and if my memory serves me correctly he opened up a laundromat in the building that currently serves as Liberty Hill’s municipal court on RM 1869. I do believe it was Jim who told me that termites will burrow through concrete as well as wood. As constable, Wilson worked closely with the late D.W. Hays who also served Precinct 2 for a number of years as justice of peace. Hays would eventually serve a term as Liberty Hill mayor. After leaving his constable duties, Jim rejoined the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department and became a highly visible figure on the news as he was often pictured escorting
accused serial killer Henry Lee Lucas from one point to another during the investigation into Lucas’ confessions to many unsolved murders. The late Jim Boutwell was sheriff at the time, and his fame as the consummate Texas lawman spread across the country during that time. Unfortunately, that fame was fleeting as Lucas would recant on most of his confessions, and Boutwell’s reputation would be tarnished by information turned up by others investigating the cases. Jim would eventually serve as sheriff himself, after being appointed by the Williamson County Commissioners Court to the position in 2004 after the previous sheriff, John Maspero, resigned. He made waves, firing 21 deputies and claiming the department was in disarray. His actions would eventually have political consequences, as many of those he fired organized and campaigned against Jim in his bid to win the Republican Primary. Jim wound
Back in the 1980s these three men were the leading law enforcement officers for the Liberty Hill area. From left, Constable Jim Wilson, Pct. 2 Justice of Peace D.W. Hays and Williamson County Sheriff Jim Boutwell. (Courtesy Photo) up finishing third in the race. At the time of his death, Jim and his wife were living in Granite Shoals. An article that
appeared in the Austin American-Statesman at the time quoted a longtime friend of his as saying, “Jim was a straight
shooter and did the right thing. I would say that he’s a man that left good footprints for other people to follow in.”
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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
HOLLIDAY
Continued from Page 1
misconception is that people at the top of their class are just smart in every topic,” said Holliday. “That’s not the case. I didn’t understand a lot of the math subjects that easily. It’s important to take into consideration the work ethic that goes into it.” Sitting in the number two spot comes with expectations and pressure. Holliday has her own ways of coping. “There’s a lot of stress that comes with trying to stay at the top,” said Holliday. “I love to read and watch TV shows. Whenever I get super stressed about things, I really like to read and escape into a new world. That’s my go-to.” With her deep love for books and television, Holliday is always looking to try new flavors. Hobbies can say a lot about a person. Holliday’s approach to books shows her interest in details. She takes time to read the same books multiple times to uncover missed details or connections. “Details are important to me for projects, assignments, essays, or anything like that,” said Holliday. “I like my stuff to be, well I wouldn’t say perfect because you can’t be perfect, but I like to make things the best I can.”
INGALLS
Attention to detail and work ethic are only two parts of the complex equation that equals Holliday’s achievements. The other is her willingness to seek out help when it’s necessary. “I love asking for help. It’s my favorite pastime,” Holliday joked. “I do love asking different teachers questions. I think it’s important to do that because you’re not going to know everything, so why not ask others for help. It doesn’t mean you’re dumb. It just furthers your learning.” The final part of the equation is her time management skills. Holliday developed into a master of time management through high school and a pandemic. “I follow the method where I only do one thing for an hour and then something else for an hour,” said Holliday. “I blocked my time really well, and I was able to set aside time for basketball, school, and other clubs. I also love to sleep, so I was not willing to give up my sleep time. I knew when to cap things and sleep.” Whether she seeks the position actively or not, Holliday is viewed as a leader amongst her peers. A role that she accepts. “I think I try to do the best I can in every subject, and
Continued from Page 1
around it is amazing,” said Ingalls. “It’s the Liberty Hill, Taylor, Pflugerville, and Round Rock areas. I play all of those areas because the vibe is just incredible. That smalltown vibe.” It’s the small-town vibe that keeps Ingalls in the area. He says the experience in a small town is so different from a city experience. “I love the personal interactions with people,” said Ingalls. “You’re not dealing with all the crowdedness of everything. There can be a lot of people, but they all seem so grateful that you’re playing.
They’re very receptive to everything. They’re hungry for good entertainment and aren’t distracted with the city stuff.” Ingalls’ booker and friend Dan Stevens initially approached him about the performance. “He brought it up, and I asked what the cause was. It was a no-brainer,” said Ingalls. “Even if we don’t make any money, it’s for a great cause, and that’s all that matters. Plus, I have family in Liberty Hill, and they’ll get to come out.” Concert-goers can expect a marathon show as Ingalls predicts a four-hour performance. He is focused on one thing and
it does feel great when your friends come to you for help,” she said. “It does feel like an honor when someone comes to ask for help. I love teaching people material if I can.” Holliday can sense the changes she’s experienced over time. Maturing and learning to accept her failures as lessons. “I used to have this horrible fear of failing,” she said. “In basketball, when I would have a bad game, I’d be so upset with myself. There was a big change, and I started being able to move past my failures. I was able to internalize my failures and learn and do better on things. I used to be very self-berating. Now I have a much more positive attitude.” Holliday’s journey to the stars starts with her choice of school -- Texas Tech. The salutatorian is majoring in cellular and molecular biology and believes this is the doorway to her career goals. “When I was younger, I used to watch all kinds of documentaries talking about how the moon was formed and about stars and stuff like that,” said Holliday. “Seeing the unknown and all the possibilities excites me for the future.
one thing only -- giving Liberty Hill a show worth talking about. “I just want everyone to have a great time out there,” said Ingalls. “It’s for a good cause. For just a few bucks, you can bring the lawn chairs and a cooler, and we can have a great time together. It’s going to be a four-hour show, and I’m looking forward to meeting some new peeps.” The Dancing Under the Stars concert series is a fundraising event for local charities L4 Cares and Community Pathways.
READ THE INDEPENDENT! Complete local news and sports coverage,
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MUNDY
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Continued from Page 1
grew in my confidence.” Mundy credits his confidence for the majority of his success. While some might look at asking for help as a weakness, Mundy’s confidence leaves little room for the opinions of others. “I always ask questions. I go to my teachers and coaches, and I ask them what I did wrong and how I can get better,” said Mundy. “Once I know, I apply myself and work hard to fix it. If I have a problem to solve and I can’t, then I learn from it. You get more knowledge out of it. If I go to a teacher and ask for help, then they at least know that I’m trying, that I want to learn more. I feel like it’s important. I feel like I ask questions all the time. Even when we’re remote, I turn my microphone on to ask for help.” At the top of his class, Mundy is a leader amongst his peers, taking on the responsibility to help them when he can. He understands his position in school and welcomes it. “I know that some of my friends knew that I was in the running for valedictorian, and they would try and give me a hard time about it,” he said.
LOWE
“That to me was very special because it was them recognizing that I’m highly intelligent. To me, it’s an honor when I get asked for help from my peers.” The pressure of living up to his standards can be mentally taxing, and to escape for even a few moments, Mundy turns to sports. “My stress relief is sports,” said Mundy. “Anytime I would struggle to get something done for school or needed to get my mind off things, I’d go out and shoot. I would work on drills and try to get my mind refreshed instead of getting super stressed or worrying about school the next day.” Despite a year filled with obstacles at every corner, Mundy used his skills and discipline to continue to excel in class. “I know what helped me this year was setting a schedule for myself. I made sure at a certain time to turn on Zoom and get things ready,” said Mundy. “It also helped to go to the gym and playing basketball. Those helped get my mind off school and not worry about having to be at home for 10 hours in front of
Continued from Page 1
aspects working at the state park. Law enforcement observation is one of the biggest things I did there. A lot of ride alongs.” At face value, some might question how conservation law enforcement translates to policing in a small town. “Even though it’s wildlife-centered, you get to see how to do community policing,” said Lowe. “We also learn how to interact with the public. It was a great experience, and I’m beyond grateful for it. The people there really treated me good.” Lowe gets his love of the outdoors from his father. “He’s a big hunter and fisherman,” he said. “I enjoy hunting, fishing, and going hiking. I love going to state parks. I love to do that in my off time. My dad and I go fishing every time I have the chance to get off. It’s a big part of my
life, and it was great to go to school and learn about managing all of this.” Lowe graduated from Texas Tech in December 2020 and applied for the job with LHPD a month before. The young officer noticed a job post by the LHPD and took a shot at the open position. “It never crossed my mind, and all of a sudden, I saw that they were hiring. I applied and had to do a physical agility test later that month,” he said. “If you pass that, then you go on to a board interview. That was in December. I passed that and moved on to the background check. That took two months. The process was professional, and you had to strive to get the job.” With the screening process complete, Lowe’s first day was May 10. “It’s almost surreal,” he laughed. “To get sworn in
a screen doing work.” Mundy is excited to get out on his own. The valedictorian narrowed his options down and decided TCU was the perfect fit for him. Continuing to aim high, Mundy is double majoring in neuroscience and math. His ultimate goal is to satisfy some of the questions he has about the human brain’s functions. “I want to be either a neurologist or someone who studies addiction to substances,” said Mundy. “The reason I want to do that is I know a lot of people in my life who were on drugs or suffered from alcoholism. I want to know what goes on in their brain and why?” Looking back, Mundy is grateful to have attended school in Liberty Hill ISD. He says that he wouldn’t be where he is without the intimate classroom environment. “There are a lot fewer students here than other places, and that let me focus on academics and my teachers,” said Mundy. “The teacher to student ratio helped me learn more and excel to where I am.”
and have a badge and a gun. To ride out with the guys and learn how to police Liberty Hill is special. I graduated from Tech in December and earned my basic peace officer certification two weeks ago. It started right away. I’m fortunate I was able to get the job here.” Only weeks on the job, Lowe is eager to see where this new journey in his hometown takes him. “One of the things that excites me the most is serving here,” said Lowe. “I’ve been here since the fourth grade. Liberty Hill had a huge impact on my life. My best friends and family are all still in the area. To be able to make a difference in this community means everything. I want to give back to the community that gave so much to me.”
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COUNCIL
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Continued from Page 1
America, and we need the best,” he said. Pezold said two of the current volunteers live outside the city limits, but that doesn’t lessen their commitment to the community. Their professional experience has been invaluable to the process. Canady argued that those who live out of town have no stake in the decisions they make. “We have six people in the city limits now who have asked to be on P&Z. And you’re saying they aren’t the best. But what makes you the best is not that you’re an engineer, it’s that you have common sense and you want to do a job in the community where you have to live by the rules,” she said. “They are the best. They have to live here and have to abide by what we have done. If their intent is to serve, they deserve the opportunity first before anyone else in the ETJ or school district.” She said city staff are the experts and should be guiding the P&Z Commission. Expertise of appointees is not necessary, she said. “I have to live by the rules that P&Z and this board establish. You’re telling your voters they aren’t the best. What you’re doing is short-changing your community. One person (appointee)? That’s ridiculous. It’s time the city (residents) started taking care of the responsibility of making the rules for the city,” she said. Council Member Tony DeYoung, who made the mo-
tion to change the composition to require at least one appointee to reside in the city limits, said with only four members currently, it’s becoming more difficult to get a quorum to hold a meeting. “To require all five members to reside in the city limits would put three of them (current members) out,” he added. “Having some turmoil in that department now would not be beneficial.” Council Member Angela Jones said after talking with members of the P&Z, she learned that for more than a year, it was common for them to show up to a meeting where there was little discussion. On occasion, members told her that the director of planning didn’t attend. “They haven’t had a great experience and I’d like to give them a better experience,” she said. “They say there really is no discussion happening. They just approve what is brought before them and they go home.” Later in the meeting, the Council voted to appoint Diane Williams to the Commission. While the vote was unanimous, Jones expressed concern that she had not had time to review all of the applications and thought more time was needed to properly screen them. Canady reminded her of the urgency in filling the open seat now so that a quorum could be met to hold a meeting. According to her application, Williams resides in the city
limits and formerly worked for Texas Department of Transportation before spending more than 20 years as an international consultant. Some of her duties included consulting on processes relating to public works, highway planning and design. Also Monday, the Council asked the City Attorney to draft a new ordinance regarding public comments at council meetings to allow anyone to speak for up to three minutes on any topic they wish, removing the restrictions put in place by the previous council. The restrictions adopted by the previous council, which were supported by Canady, required speakers seeking to talk about issues not on the meeting agenda to request time in advance of the meeting and consent to being contacted by city staff or an elected official before the meeting. Speakers could continue to address the council without reserving time in advance on issues posted on the meeting agenda. The restrictions put in place in March became an issue during the campaign for city council as the challengers criticized the incumbents in the race (Gram Lankford and Liz Rundzieher) for taking action to restrict public input. Pezold said as long as people want to address the council, “I don’t think there is any bureaucracy we should put in place to keep people from speaking. I’m the reason you guys did that ordinance in the first place. Anyone who wants
to come in here and chew on us for three minutes, thank you for participating.” The Council also voted to change its official meeting day from Monday to Wednesday. Currently, the Council meets on the first, second and fourth Monday each month. The change means the Council will meet the first, second and fourth Wednesday each month, with the first meeting date on June 9. In June, there will only be two meetings with the second being June 23. In other business this week, the Council: - Elected DeYoung as Mayor Pro-Tem - Directed Chief Financial Officer Becky Wilkins to provide samples of Revenue and Expense reports that should be
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included in the council members’ regular meeting agenda packets - Approved a facility use agreement with Liberty Hill Football & Cheer for use of the football field at City Park, and a maintenance contract for the field - Allowed a temporary suspension of the City’s Outdoor Burning Ordinance for Cross Tracks Church to burn brush - Approved a task order not to exceed $233,200 for improvements to Lift Station #12 and Force Main #12 by Steger Bizzell - Approved a plan for additional signage at the crosswalk between Central Park and Wetzel Park downtown - Heard a presentation by area residents on a “Dark Skies”
initiative, but no action was taken; and - Heard a presentation by former Mayor Connie Fuller chronicling some important milestones in the history of Liberty Hill city government. She offered encouragement to the newly-seated council to seek advice from experts when it comes to planning and future development, and updating the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Plan and more. Prior to the regular meeting this week, the Council held the first in a series of budget workshops. In the coming weeks, department heads will make presentations to elected officials regarding their budgetary needs for the coming fiscal year. The workshops are open to the public.
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PUBLIC NOTICES 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. (5/27)
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, June 15, 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, June 28, 2021, at 6:30 PM at the Liberty Hill Municipal Courthouse, 2801 Ranch Rd 1869, Liberty Hill, TX 78642. For more information, you may either visit the Development Services Department at 100 Forrest Street, call (512) 778-5449, or send an email to planning@libertyhilltx.gov. By order of the Development Services Administrative Assistant on May 18, 2021. (5/27) 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 at the Liberty Hill Municipal Courthouse 2801 Ranch Road 1869, Liberty Hill, Texas 78642 on Tuesday, June 15, 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, June 28, 2021 at 6:30 PM at the Liberty Hil Municipal Courthouse 2801 Ranch Road 1869, Liberty Hill, TX 78642. 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 May 18, 2021 (5/27)
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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, May 27, 2021 Page 6
Hooking the big one
Competitive fishing requires strategy, knowledge
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When day dawned on Lake Texoma, the skies were clear and sunny for the opening day of the Texas High School Bass Association state tournament – much to the delight of the 272 teams of anglers who were looking to land the biggest haul of bass and take home a trophy. Among the armada of craft on the water were three boats with Liberty Hill anglers on board – a trio of two-man teams, one of which was the sophomore duo of Holt Avery and Michael Evans. Suffice to say, they had a good day, finishing with four fish weighing in at a total of 14.54 pounds, which was good enough to land them in 14th place after the first day of competition. However, the second day wasn’t so kind, as Avery and Evans could only muster a single catch between them, which dropped them to 68th in the final standings. Not helping was the fact it was pouring rain all day, but that’s where knowledge and strategy enter the equation in competitive fishing, as it’s much more complex than simply dropping a line into the water and waiting for the big one to bite, said Bo Stubblefield, a sophomore on the Panthers’ fishing team. “Actually, it happens to be hard,” he said. “You think you have the fish dialed in, but then it changes completely.” What changes are weather conditions, which play the biggest role in how to go about catching fish and how an angler reads and reacts makes all the difference between having a full haul at day’s end or heading back to the dock empty-handed. Stubblefield and teammate Gavin Salinas did well in that
department on the second day, landing five fish weighing 14.15 pounds, which put their two-day total at 22.87 and resulted in a 28th-place finish. “We got lucky,” said Stubblefield. “We hit all the fish at the right time and were all-in and hit them with everything we could.” But, certainly there’s more than just good fortune involved, right? Indeed there is, said Evans. “When it’s raining or if the water is darker, you want to throw a darker bait,” he said. “Or sometimes, you want to use one that looks like a fish.” Care must be taken when casting a line to ensure the spool of the rod doesn’t continue to spin once the lure hits the water, in which a calamity known as a “bird’s nest” occurs when too much excess line without enough tension causes the line to knot up and requires the time-consuming process of either untangling it or replacing the spool altogether. In addition, it seems as if the scaly schools that lurk just beneath the surface of the water are more clever than most people think, meaning a degree of deception is necessary when one attempts to fool fish. According to Stubblefield, one way to get a jump on them is to do some recon in advance. “You can look on Google maps, for example,” said Stubblefield. “As far as the water depth and trying to find coves where the fish will be.” As it turns out, bass don’t particularly like daylight, so when the sun is shining brightly, there’s one place you can always find them, he said. “Under a dock in the shade,” said Stubblefield. “They like it there.” Easy enough, but getting to them requires a special technique, known as “skipping,”
in which an angler bounces the lure across the surface of the water – much like a rock – in order to direct it underneath the dock. Of course, learning and mastering such tricks takes time and practice – just like various disciplines in other sports – and anglers put in plenty of time away from competition in doing exactly that, but technique must be melded properly with know-how, including how far down to cast, said Avery. “Sometimes you fish shallow and other times deep,” he said. “From two feet all the way down to 10. Usually, the fish are closer to the bottom.” Days on the lake during tournaments begin bright and early and last up to 10 hours, during which there’s no time for anything but what the anglers are there for – meaning eating and drinking on board are out of the (ABOVE) Panthers anglers Michael Evans and Holt Avery show off a pair of striped bass caught question, said Stubblefield. during the practice day at the state tournament in Lake Texoma. (BELOW) Liberty Hill’s fishing “I’ll usually have a big team includes Holt Avery, Michael Evans, Colton O’Dell, Gavin Salinas, Logan Warr, Bo Stubblefield, Skyler Meuse and team sponsor Christine Huppee. The team recently competed at the See FISHING, Page 7 state tournament. (Courtesy Photos)
Lady Panthers soccer dominates spring sports season
Liberty Hill’s Mykenna Russo (#3) was named District Most Valuable Player after scoring 20 goals and helping the Lady Panthers to a district championship.
Russo honored with district MVP
In all, 15 local players, coaches were recognized
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor One thing Mykenna Russo did this season for the Lady Panthers was score goals – many in spectacular fashion from distance – racking up 20 in all, as well as providing a calming, steadying influence in the midfield. For her efforts, the senior co-captain was named District Most Valuable Player for a Liberty Hill squad that won a district title with a 13-1 record on the way to an overall mark of 21-4-2 as she and her teammates advanced to the Class 5A regional semifinals. Several other Lady Panthers won district distinction, including junior midfielder Emma Stephens, who was named offensive MVP and senior defender Bryden Bourgeois, who was co-defensive MVP, while first-year player Carson Glenn was co-freshman of the year. Stephens was instrumental as
Liberty Hill’s maestro in the middle, as she took on more of a set-up role for the strikers deployed ahead of her at the tip of the Purple-and-Gold spear this year, but still scored 14 goals to go along with 16 assists while pulling the strings for the attack. Bourgeois remained a rock at the back in providing defensive cover for further-advanced players, while playing shutdown defense in front of her own net and jump-starting the Lady Panthers’ possession-based offense. Glenn burst onto the varsity scene with an energetic style in providing a spark off the bench, including scoring one of the biggest goals of the season in Liberty Hill’s district-clinching 3-1 win against Georgetown with a 35-yard effort to secure victory. Nine other Liberty Hill players received first or second-team district honors or honorable mention.
Receiving first-team all-district honors were seniors Madi Fuller, Abbey Janicek and Piper Tabor, along with sophomore Kaylie Fowler and junior Katie Wilson. Fuller scored 10 goals and brought a rugged blend of speed and power to her midfield position, while Janicek recorded a team-high 20 assists on the season to go with 10 goals. Fowler led the team in scoring with 23 goals, with Tabor adding 19 in her final season and Wilson provided dogged defending at the back. Second-team status was awarded to sophomore Cordelia Brown and junior Alyssa Lee and senior Kylee Bush and sophomore Kassidy Contreras were honorable mention. Liberty Hill head coach Darren Bauer and assistant coach Michaila Spradlin were named district coaching staff of the year.
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Before we move on to our evaluation of Liberty Hill’s spring sports season in the third and final installment of our series, let’s first think back to where we all were a year ago. We certainly weren’t looking back on soccer, baseball, softball or track seasons which had just ended after being played to their respective conclusions once the pandemic wiped everything out from mid-March on. Just the fact we could once again have full campaigns in the Purple-and-Gold pantheon was a much-needed breath of fresh air and signaled our long-awaited return to normalcy. Of course, normal by Panthers standards means one thing and one only. Winning. As we saw during the fall and winter seasons, Liberty Hill endured a mixed bag of results during the spring, which resulted in not as much victory in Pantherville as we’re accustomed to. Some flourished, while others floundered. But, that’s simply the nature of the steep learning curve when an athletic program moves up in classification. After all, the big ol’ bass who ruled the pond isn’t necessarily so formidable when he’s suddenly thrown into a lake full of fish as big or bigger than he is. Soccer is the first sport on our radar, as the regular season begins right after the calendar turns the page to the new year, so let’s begin there, shall we? Perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect of the previous spring shutting down was the Lady Panthers soccer squad’s
denial of its much-awaited state championship, which had been a very real possibility in its final season as a Class 4A club. Instead, they were shut down right on the eve of the playoffs following a dominant regular season that saw them poised to bring home hardware in the form of a trophy. So, head coach Darren Bauer went back to square one and began a march that saw his side have to work much harder than they ever had for results, but one which still resulted in a district championship after prevailing under a hard-fought challenge from new rivals Georgetown. Alas, the Lady Panthers would ultimately fall in the third round of the playoffs, leaving a star-studded senior class wondering what might have been if their destiny the previous year had been fulfilled. However, of all the Liberty Hill teams competing in Class 5A this entire school year (aside from football, who was in a horrible district from a competitive standpoint), girls’ soccer not only looked like they belonged with the big girls, but beat them many more times than not. So, hats off to them for rising up and meeting the challenge. On the boys’ side of the pitch, life wasn’t nearly quite as rosy, as the Panthers struggled mightily to score goals in what ended up resulting in a fifth-place district finish which saw them miss out on the playoffs. Head coach Wayne Munger certainly knows what he’s doing at the wheel, but his team simply didn’t have the finishing quality at the top end of the field to score big goals at critical times of games, which ultimately doomed them to their fate. Some good, young players emerged as a result of getting valuable experience by perhaps being exposed to varsity
competition a bit too soon, but it will hopefully pay off in the future. Off to the diamond now, as we examine the Panthers’ baseball and softball squads. Panthers head coach Steve Hutcherson was concerned about his young, inexperienced pitching staff heading into the campaign, but those underclassman arms ended up being the strength of the club by outperforming expectations – and against much more dangerous opposing lineups than in seasons past. But, as effective as they were at preventing runs, Liberty Hill struggled to score them – especially once district play began and in the end, a string of one-run defeats cost the Panthers a playoff spot in an extremely difficult league. However, they acquitted themselves very well in the process and now know firsthand exactly what it will take to break into the postseason moving forward. For the Lady Panthers softball team, it was a very difficult season, indeed. An overall losing record was accompanied by a seventh-place district finish and no playoffs, as the gulf in class proved too much to overcome in a district that featured four ranked teams, including No. 1 Leander. Head coach Kristen Brewer certainly has her work cut out in closing the gap that separated her team from the competition in its first season of Class 5A, but the pieces are in place to do exactly that in time. As far as Panthers track and field was concerned, it was a lot more field than track, as Liberty Hill qualified five athletes for the regional event – all jumpers and throwers – with nobody moving on to the state meet. Girls’ powerlifting had a pair of Panthers place in the top
See SPRING, Page 7
Thursday, May 27, 2021
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Melissa Harrington has been an athletic trainer for 21 years and Liberty Hill’s head trainer for five and was inspired to take up the career after suffering a football injury in junior high school. (Courtesy Photo)
Susan Slagle is currently in her fourth year as a Liberty Hill athletic trainer after originally having aspirations to be a physical therapist. (Courtesy Photo)
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor They’re always there. On sidelines at Liberty Hill games, yes. But, also long before the lights go on and after they go out. They’re a three-person team who works mostly behind the scenes and among the shadows, but are as vital to the Panthers’ cause as any playbook. Melissa Harrington, Susan Slagle and Danny Barringer are Liberty Hill’s athletic trainers and together comprise a formidable team that helps not only keep the Purple-andGold from needing treatment, but also helps them rebound when the injury bug does strike. Twelve-hour days are commonplace in a world where only the three of them are charged with providing support across the entire spectrum of sports and sometimes, it can seem on the surface to be downright thankless. However, all it takes is a single beam of sunshine to fight its way through the everyday drudgery to make it all worthwhile, said Harrington. “About 90 percent of the time, it’s like that,” she said. “But, then I’ll get that one phone call or e-mail from a coach or parent which validates everything I do.” Harrington has been an athletic trainer for 21 years, the last five of which have been
later, he was able to walk across that stage.” Slagle also got into training by relative happenstance. “When I was a kid, I would go to a place to ride horses and they did personal therapy there, so I really wanted to do that,” she said. “But, when I got to UT, they didn’t have a physical therapy program – only athletic training – so I got into that and realized how awesome it was.” On the other hand, Darringer has a more diverse background, having served as sports medicine director in his previous post at The Physicians Centre Hospital in Bryan before joining the Panthers, in addition to having done work as an athletic trainer in the past and was spurred to move to Liberty Hill to be closer to family in Austin. So far, his experiences here have been nothing but good, as he closes out his first school year on the job, he said. “This place is incredibly appreciative of what we do here as trainers,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed the relationships and being able to share in the program’s success.” With 14 teams to care for – and as many as eight or more competing at the same time – there’s always plenty on the plate for the Panthers’ trainers to concern themselves with, which is a pace that becomes quite dizzying at times, said Harrington.
Page 7
Danny Barringer has a sports medicine background and enjoys being dedicated to one school and its athletes. (Courtesy Photo)
Panthers athletic trainers work tirelessly to keep kids healthy as Liberty Hill’s head trainer, where she’s been joined by Slagle and Darringer, who are currently in their fourth and first years, respectively, with the Panthers. According to Harrington, the reason she got into the business of healing in the first place was an experience she had while a junior high student growing up in her hometown of Odessa. “I hurt my back playing football,” said Harrington, who was a running back and linebacker and the only girl on her team. “We grew up poor, didn’t have medical insurance and couldn’t afford a doctor. But, we had a person who got me better and that was our trainer.” From that moment on, she was inspired to pay back what was afforded to her, she said. “I always wanted to do something in athletics and would’ve loved to have been a doctor,” said Harrington. “But, I realized I could never bring myself to tell someone their loved one wasn’t going to get better.” Instead, she pursued a career in which most stories usually have happy endings – even one that seems tragic at the time. “When I was at Cedar Ridge, we had a senior quarterback who broke his leg in October and didn’t walk again until graduation because of complications he had,” said Harrington. “But, eight months
“Our busiest time of the year is from around Thanksgiving up until the end of basketball season in February,” she said. “We have every single sport going on at one time, so each one of us will have three or more teams each.” Typically, the training staff will arrive on campus at 6:30 a.m. on an average day and not leave until about 7 p.m. Unless, of course, there’s a game that night – or especially during football season when the Panthers are on the road, said Harrington. “On those nights, we might not get back until 2 or 3 a.m.,” she said. Harrington said her craft has grown by leaps and bounds since she first began over two decades ago. “The medicine has gotten so much better over the years – it’s not just about taping wrists and ankles anymore,” said Harrington. “We’re able to get kids back on the field so much faster now than we used to.” Part of being able to do that is to build proper rapport with the athletes, which Slagle has done as she’s increased in her own assuredness. “I’ve definitely become more confident in myself and my skills,” said Slagle, who has also worked at Liberty Hill Junior High. “I trust myself more and it helps I’ve been here for several years.” All that being said, though, Slagle said she still finds her-
self deferring at times to Harrington – who is affectionately known to Panthers athletes as “Mrs. H.” “For example, when the football team comes in to be taped, there’s a line out the door waiting for her,” she said. “So, I’m kind of over here saying ‘Okay, anybody need to be taped?’ But, I’ve learned a lot from her as far as how to create a tape job – I don’t know how she does it so fast.” One down side of the job is when an athlete must miss time due to injury and the emotional ripple effect it creates, said Harrington. “I see them when they’re at their worst and have to find a way to make them better,” she said. “Especially when a kid thinks their world is over – it’s the hardest thing you’ll ever have to do.” In order to avoid such situations, Harrington said a big part of the job is to be a detective of sorts. “As a trainer, you need to be able to recognize the small things before they become big things,” she said. “It’s also a mental health issue now, too, and we monitor that to make sure kids are okay in that regard.” Only problem with that is sometimes the athletes are slow to lead on to the training staff when something is bothering them. “All we want is for the kids to tell us what’s wrong so we
can help,” said Harrington. “A lot of times they’ll say ‘We thought if we told, you would hold us out.’ But, our goal is for them to play as much as possible.” Despite the enormous role trainers play in modern-day athletics – even at the highschool level – Slagle said her profession is still misunderstood by many. “I think a lot of people think we still just tape ankles or only work on football,” she said. “But, there are athletic trainers in so many different settings now – places like NASA and the Army even have them because of everything we do.” Darringer said he prefers his new setup to when he covered several schools at once, due to the ability to have all his eggs in a Purple-and-Gold basket. “I like being dedicated to one school, which allows me to be passionate about the school and its athletics,” he said. “It gives me the freedom to be a fan.” Once the athletes are back in their respective arenas, Slagle said she derives a great deal of satisfaction from knowing she played a small role in helping make it happen. “Just seeing the kids succeed,” she said. “Especially the ones who I know have been through a lot just to get back out there.”
Williamson County Sheriff’s Office to conduct DWI initiative
GEORGETOWN -- The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit will conduct a three-day DWI initiative starting on May 28th and ending on May 30th. The initiative will consist of several units participating in high visibility patrol in areas that experience high volumes of crashes and impaired driving. Although it’s illegal to drive when impaired by alcohol, in 2019, one person was killed every 52 minutes in a drunk driving crash on our nation’s roads. Among the 10,142 alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in 2019, 68% (6,872) were in crashes in which at least one driver had a BAC of .15 or higher. In 2019, motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes had higher percentages of alcohol impairment than any other type of motor vehicle driver (29% for motorcycle rid-
Fishing
ers, compared to drivers of passenger cars (20%), light trucks (19%), and large trucks (2%). Nighttime is a particularly dangerous time to be on the roads. The rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2019 was 3.3 times higher at night than during the day. “Protecting the community is our goal, and we work especially hard during these initiatives to keep the community safe from impaired drivers. We want our community to have a happy and safe Memorial Day, one that they’ll remember for years to come, for all the right reasons,” said Lt. Craig Gripentrog. Celebrate with a Plan This Memorial Day, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office urges drivers to designate a sober driver before heading out for the evening. If you
Continued from Page 6
breakfast and drink three or four bottles of water before heading out,” he said. “But, after that nothing because the time spent putting down your rod can cost you a catch.” Skyler Meuse also plays football and said there are definitely parallels between fishing and traditional sports, but also stark contrasts. “When you play football, you’re a team and there’s a common goal,” he said. “But, with fishing, you feel like you’re out there on your own.” During a tournament, each two-man team competes sep-
arately for individual honors, but there is also a team competition – although the format can sometimes create a bit of a conflict of interest, said Evans. “We’ll share information with teammates as far as some things are concerned,” he said. “But, not everything.” A maximum of five fish are permitted in a boat at any one time, which means the process of sizing up one’s catch is a constant process over the course of the day, with on-board scales to determine whether or not a fish is a keeper.
plan on drinking, plan how you will get around without driving. Remember these tips for a safe night on the roads: • It is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely. • If available, use your community’s sober ride program or ride share program. • If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact 9-1-1. • Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Help them make arrangements to get home safely. This Memorial Day, commit to driving 100-percent sober, because Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. For more information on impaired driving, visit https:// www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.
Each team’s two-day total is then compiled to determine the winners. In addition to the other two Liberty Hill team’s results, Meuse and Colton O’Dell landed two fish weighing 6.15 pounds and finished in 181st in the field. But, regardless of winners and losers, Stubblefield said he just enjoys being out on the water with a rod and reel. “Fishing is my passion,” he said. “I like other sports, but there’s just something about it – I don’t know what it is.”
Simpson plays in Blue-Grey Bowl
Liberty Hill senior Blake Simpson, who led the Panthers this season with 2,024 yards rushing and 30 touchdowns, played in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl in Dallas and will play football next season at Texas State University. (Courtesy Photo)
Spring
Continued from Page 6
six at the state meet and the spring tennis team advanced a trio of players to the regional tournament, but golf failed to qualify on both the girls’ and boys’ sides. All of that means the spring sports went 4-for-8 in postseason berths, bringing the overall season numbers to 10-for-15, which is pretty good on the surface. However, of the traditional team sports, 5-for-8 was the
result, with only football and girls’ soccer advancing past the first round of the postseason. So in conclusion, we can say we had about what we expected from this first year in the brave, new world of Class 5A competition across the board with success and failure intermingled. Moving forward, it will definitely be interesting to see how the entire Panthers athletic
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program reacts after firsthand experience in its new environment as opposed to only being able to anticipate. But, one thing is for sure. Liberty Hill will never settle for being average or mediocre – regardless of competition level, so it’s only a matter of time until the same commitment and work ethic which made it a Class 4A power will translate to the higher level.
Page 8
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
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Clawson Disposal, inC. Residential * Commercial * Roll off
(512) 746-2000 301 County Road 307 PO Box 416 Jarrell, Texas 76537
Jarrell (512) 746-2000 Leander (512) 259-1709 FAX (512) 746-5807
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Commissioners approve increase in Homestead Property tax exemptions
GEORGETOWN – The Williamson County Commissioners Court voted this week to increase property tax exemptions, providing tax relief to all residential homesteads in the county. Property tax exemptions for persons 65 and older increased from $30,000 to $90,000. Property tax exemption for
disabled persons increased from $20,000 to $75,000. In addition, the Commissioners Court added a homestead property tax exemption for all homeowners of 1.5% of their homestead’s assessed value or $5,000, whichever is greater. In order to qualify for the Homestead Exemption, the property owner must have
owned and occupied the property as of Jan. 1 of the tax year. “In a time of rising home values, I wanted to let our residents know that we recognize the importance of providing tax relief specifically for them. It is my hope that other taxing entities in the county will look closely at increasing their exemptions as well,” said Pre-
cinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long who spearheaded the effort. Homeowners can apply for property tax exemptions through the Williamson Central Appraisal District’s website www.wcad.org. Applying for exemptions is free.
HOMES AROUND THE HILL
SELLING L LIBERTY HIL FOR
40 YEARS!
Georgetown 2611 Sunrise Valley East Lake Forest - Round Rock 1264 Pine Forest Circle Coming Soon! Kempner Ranch - 40 acres 820 Panther Creek
BUYING OR SELLING A HOME?
RE/MAX Town & Country 13561 W. Hwy 29, Liberty Hill shanetwhite@remax.com www.ShaneTWhiteTeam.com
512.515.5253
San Gabriel River - 3/4 acres Cloudwood Ranch Lot - Briggs Far Vela Estates - Lakeway Rio Ancho - 1 acre Eagles Ridge - Round Rock Cole Drive Estates The Park at Blackhawk - Pflugerville Central Park - Liberty Hill Bryson San Gabriel River Ranch Purser Estate John Loupy - Marble Falls Carrington Ranch - Liberty Hill San Gabriel River - 3/4 acres Liberty Hill Liberty Hill Liberty Hill Rosemont - Liberty Hill San Gabriel River Ranch Flores Sundance Ranch - Liberty Hill Liberty Hill - No restrictions - Ag exempt Liberty Hill 10.1 acres - Ag exempt Downtown Liberty Hill Iron Oak - 2 acres Live Oak - Granite Shoals Whitewater Springs Florence Florence Country Living Estates - 5 acres Sundance Estates - Liberty Hill Summerlyn - Liberty Hill Block House Creek McShepherd Ranches - 4.6 acres Carrington Ranch - Liberty Hill Sundance Estates - Liberty Hill Orchard Ridge Bertram - Res/Commercial Georgetown - River Lot 1.32 acres Ranch/Florence - 4.3 acres Silver Creek Ranch - 2 acres Downtown Liberty Hill Georgetown - No restrictions Driftwood - Running Rope Estates Liberty Hill Crystal Falls - Leander Vista Ridge - Leander
Homes for Sale
3BR/2BA 2 car garage 4BR/3.5BA - Pool 6BR/5BA Acreage/Property for Sale Lot 12 Cloudwood Ranch Rd Filled with oak trees, very secluded Lot 22 Cloudwood Ranch Rd Lots of oaks, backs to creek Under Contract / Pending 101 Far Vela Ln 108 Green Branch Ct 3623 Hawk Ridge 601 Cole Dr 20809 Catwalk Ct 216 Munro 712 Judge Fisk Dr 107 Lariat 214 Barrington 1900 Timber Ridge 300 Dillo Trail 121 River Rd 2170 CR 282 2190 CR 282 2210 CR 282 112 Charli Circle 330 Remuda 550 Stadium Dr 101 Shetland Ct 257 CR 278 301 CR 278 107 Forrest St 232 Oak Hill
113 W Cedar Dr 00 N Creek Ct Tract 3A N Hwy 195 Tract 4B N Hwy 195 1220 CR 282 108 Stallion Way 424 Moorhen Cv 802 Luke Ln 2750 CR 282 231 Dillo Tr 229 Hobby Horse 157 Fire Wheel Pass 1340 W State Hwy 29 20501 McShepherd Cv 905 CR 222 620 Silver Creek Dr 111 Grange St 2462 CR 255 184 Vista Sierra Ln 807A Oak Lane 2808 Courageous 625 Cerezo Dr
7BR/7.5BA 5BR/5.5BA - Main house + casita 4BR/2.5BA 4BR/4.5BA 4BR/3BA 3BR/ 2.5BA 4BR/3BA 4BR/2BA 3BR/2B 3BR/ 2.5BA - 8.92 acres 4BR/3.5BA 3BR/2BA Build to suit home site Build to suit home site Build to suit home site 5BR/3BA Lot 177 - Heavily treed Cleared & level 4BR/4BA Can adjoin to 301 CR 278 4BR/2.5BA 3BR/2BA + 1BR/1BA 4BR/4BA Sold!
$ $ $
380,000 800,000 990,000
1566 sq ft 3819 sq ft 4483 sq ft
Amy Gandy Amy Gandy Cheryl Stephens
$ $
255,000 197,500
7.74 acres 4.25 acres
Cheryl Stephens Cheryl Stephens
8280 sq ft 4473 sq ft 2741 sq ft 3611 sq ft 2921 sq ft 1825 sq ft 3002 sq ft 2307 sq ft 1683 sq ft 3320 sq ft 3441 sq ft 1440 sq ft 2.883 acres 2.883 acres 2.883 acres 2673 sq ft 1.98 acres 1.337 acre Side-Pad 3034 sq ft 10.1 acres 2800 sq ft 1654 sq ft 2800 sq ft
Kristen Childers
1686 sq ft 1.2 acres 11.3 acres 20.9 acres 2305 sq ft 3516 sq ft 1716 sq ft 1407 sq ft 1584 sq ft 3521 sq ft 1645 sq ft 2339 sq ft 1468 sq ft 1588 sq ft 1664 sq ft 3825 sq ft 1588 sq ft 10 acres 3.34 acres 7.9 acres 2862 sq ft 1822 sq ft
Kristen Childers Kristen Childers
$1,950,000 $1,200,000 $
399,000
$
599,000
$
635,000
$1,100,000 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
325,000 398,000 325,000 799,000 635,000 230,000 245,000 245,000 245,000 550,000 45,000 750,000 925,000 500,000 650,000 525,000 765,000
2BR/2BA $ 329,000 Hill Country views $ 58,900 No restrictions, Ag exempt $ 338,168 No restrictions, Ag exempt $ 564,300 4BR/2BA $ 515,000 5BR/2.5BA $ 560,000 3BR/2BA $ 325,000 3BR/2BA $ 275,000 3BR/2BA $ 410,000 4BR/3.5BA $ 650,000 3BR/2BA - 1 acre $ 399,000 3BR/2.5BA $ 450,000 3BR/1BA $ 299,000 3BR/2BA $ 399,000 3BR/2BA $ 235,000 5BR/3.5BA/4 car garage, casita, pool $ 925,000 2BR/2BA $ 399,000 Fully fenced/wet weather creek $ 499,900 Lot 16 $ 240,000 100% fenced, light restrictions $ 232,000 4BR/2.5BA $ 425,000 3BR/2BA $ 295,000
Amy Gandy Amy Gandy
Shane T. White Amy Gandy
Kristen Childers Kristen Childers Shane T. White
Shane T. White Kristen Childers Tammy Wise
Cheryl Stephens Sabrina Jordan Sabrina Jordan Sabrina Jordan
Adrienne Hughes Shane T. White Shane T. White Amy Gandy Dax Oglesby Dax Oglesby Adrienne Hughes Dax Oglesby
Dax Oglesby
Dax Oglesby Amy Gandy Shane T. White Shane T. White Shane T. White Shane T. White Tammy Wise
Tammy Wise Dax Oglesby Cheryl Stephens Adrienne Hughes Shane T. White Amy Gandy Adrienne Hughes Dax Oglesby Dax Oglesby Dax Oglesby Adrienne Hughes Adrienne Hughes
LIBERTY HILL’S REAL ESTATE GUIDE
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Is NOW the time to sell your home? Call us ... We know the answer! Kristen Childers
Dax Oglesby
REALTOR®
REALTOR , RPL daxoglesbysgrhomes@gmail.com ®
Tammy Wise REALTOR®
(512) 501 501-0777
(512) 635-7529
AustinAndHillCountryRealEstate.com
3103 Ranch Road 1869 Liberty Hill
www.DaxSellsTexas.com
900 Quest Parkway Cedar Park, TX 78613
“Our family of seasoned professional agents is what makes us unique. We’re here to help you, whether it’s selling your property or assisting in finding and purchasing the home of your dreams.”
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Adrienne Hughes
Cheryl Stephens
512-810-0185
512-417-0026
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3106 Ranch Road 1869 | Liberty Hill, TX 78642 | www.Hughes-and-Company.com