HAP
20% OFF
PY
DAY
PURCHASE
Offer valid June 17-19. May not be combined with other offers or on delivery.
2021
Volume 34, Issue 28
www.LHIndependent.com
News@LHIndependent.com
June 3, 2021 | 50 Cents
Weather fails to dampen Panther spirit on graduation night
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor In a year when they were faced with obstacles no other senior class had ever encountered, it was only fitting Liberty Hill High School’s Class of 2021 Commencement was forced indoors after severe thunderstorms blew through town in the hours leading up to the event. However, the fact the festivities took place in the confines of the gym as opposed to the spacious climes of Panther Stadium did little to dampen the atmosphere within the walls of the building to match the conditions outside. In fact, the close quarters only added to the event, said Liberty Hill ISD superintendent Steve Snell. “I think it actually provided a more intimate setting,” said Snell. “Being up closer, you can see the joy on the faces of
See GRADS, Page 7
LHISD educators look forward to fresh start
ALEX RUBIO PHOTO
Excitement for new beginnings was evident on the faces of 308 graduating seniors who participated in the commencement ceremony at Liberty Hill High School May 28. The event was forced indoors due to inclement weather.
Changing Grange
Couple turning dilapidated houses into new business in downtown Liberty Hill
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of stories following the process of building a business from the ground up in Liberty Hill. By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer Amy and Mike Gandy know a thing or two—or a thousand—about what it takes to completely gut and remodel a home. They’ve done it four times, including the Liberty Hill home where they have resided since moving from Austin in 2016. When the opportunity came to buy another fixer upper, right in the heart of downtown Liberty Hill on Grange Street, the Gandys knew they couldn’t pass up the chance to at least make an offer. With her background as a real estate agent and broker, Gandy has always
had an eye and a love for historical homes. “I’ve always had this search set for homes built from 1800 to 1930, and I just look for those all the time to see if there are deals,” she said. “Sometimes I find them, but they’re too far away to manage. When this home on 109 Grange popped up and the price was amazing, I knew I had to go see it. It’s right downtown, and even just for the land, which is a quarter of an acre, it was worth it.” Amy Gandy went to see the property—built in 1900—and realized it was a total disaster, with wood rot everywhere and the ceiling falling in. But the property already had seven other offers and the deadline was the next day.
By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer A year ago at this time, no one knew what impact the COVID-19 pandemic would have on the world, let alone how it would change the school year for students, teachers and administrators alike across the Liberty Hill Independent School District. Now that the school year is over, district and campus leaders are breathing a sigh of relief -- and anticipating a much smoother start to the next school year. LHISD Superintendent Steve Snell said because school ended so early in the 2019-20 year -- right after spring break -- the students were starting this school year after a five-month hiatus. “Normally you see a slide in learning over the summer, and then we realized it had been five months since kids had been in school,” he said. “One great thing is that across the country schools were staying closed and teachers were refusing to come back to school, yet in Liberty Hill our teachers were begging to come back. They wanted us to do whatever it took to get the kids back in front of them, and the parents and community wanted our schools open, too. We had task forces that worked last summer to figure out how we could open safely, and we did a fantastic job of that.” Snell said as the school year went on, the district had many ups and down, including a lot of quarantines for various classes and grades. “As the state and county went with cases, so did LHISD,” he said. “We saw a spike around November and December, but as we got into spring we figured it out and hit our stride. After spring break as the numbers went down, students were able to take their masks off, and then teachers were able to take
Amy and Mike Gandy of Liberty Hill are changing the landscape downtown as they renovate two
See GANDY, Page 4 old homes at 109 and 111 Grange Street built in the early 1900s. (Courtesy Photo)
See RETURN, Page 5
Liberty Hill graduating seniors earn nursing, pharmacy technician certifications
By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Kalley Klinksiek’s nursing practicum class is a small group of eight students. Relying on each other throughout the year, the group worked hard to prepare for their nursing certification exam. Their work paid off, with each student walking away as a certified nursing assistant. “We feel productive. Now we can move forward and use this for future plans,” said Ashleigh Dubbs. “Even with not going to the nursing homes this year, I think we all did pretty good overcoming the obstacles.” Interacting with the classroom, the dynamic of Klinksiek’s class comes across almost like a real-life take on “The Breakfast Club”. A group of students from different circles ©2021 The Liberty Hill Independent
LHHS nursing and pharmacy tech students include Olivia Shelton, Bret Yarborough, Alexis Andreasen, Esmeralda Munoz, Hanna Turman, Ashleigh Dubbs, John De La Cruz, Lillianna Wilkins, Piper Tabor, Ryley Tanner, Abbey Janicek, Kat Burden, McKenzie Garner, Elizabeth Chong, Sara Hesskew, Taylor Swieczkowski, Ember Alvarado, Gabrielle Blackmon, Makayla Herrington, Hira Umer, Libbie Faria, Jared Dumas, Isaiah De La Garza, Victoria Pencheva, Kylie Goodrow, Delaney Foster, Madison Fuller and Mynia Farnsley. finding common ground and also a football player in here. “We got so close with each eventual friendship. I don’t talk to anyone here. other that it got to where we “I remember the first day of After a few weeks, we started would just look at each othclass. I wasn’t close with any- opening up and laughing all er and burst out laughing for one,” said Alexis Andreasen. the time.” almost no reason at all,” said “When I saw them, I was As the year progressed, the Andreasen. like ‘Oh my god, barbies’. group’s comfort level continSee NURSING, Page 5 I thought to myself, there’s ued to grow.
Memorial Day tribute
Members of Boy Scout Troop 196 and Cub Scout Pack 196 of Liberty Hill replaced worn flags on the graves of veterans at the Liberty Hill Cemetery for Memorial Day. Both Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts promise to do their duty to God and country as part of their scout oaths. Honoring American veterans is a way to do that. It was also a promise kept to the troop and pack’s former chartered organization, the Liberty Hill VFW, which began the service. The scouts promised to continue the service after the LH VFW disbanded several years ago. (Courtesy Photo)
Page 2
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Thursday, June 3, 2021
Last day of school - teacher style
Rebecca Kott of Bill Burden Elementary won tickets from The Independent to Dancing Under the Stars concert Friday when her photo was selected from entries submitted to the newspaper’s Facebook page. The concert raises funds for L4 Cares and Liberty Hill Community Pathways.
Liberty Hill Police Blotter
Prepared by Liberty Hill Police Department
Week of May 24-30, 2021 The Liberty Hill Police Department responded to or self-initiated a total of 771 incidents resulting in six cases, 102 citations, 107 warnings and three arrests. Weekly Highlights: - On May 24 at approximately 2:25 PM, officers responded to the 1000 block of Loop 332 for an alarm call. - On May 24 at approximately 3:38 PM, officers responded to the intersection of US 183 and W. SH 29 for an accident. - On May 24 at approximately 4:50 PM, officers responded to the 2000 block of RM 1869 for suspicious activity. - On May 24 at approximately 6:12PM, officers responded to Tequilana Pass for an alarm call. - On May 25 at approximately 1:34 AM, officers responded to Liberty Way for suspicious activity. - On May 25 at approximately 6:49 AM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 20 for a traffic hazard. - On May 25 at approximately 12:17 PM, officers responded
to the 14000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident. - On May 25 at approximately 3:59 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard. - On May 25 at approximately 11:24 PM, officers responded to the 11000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident. - On May 26 at approximately 5:11 AM, officers responded to the 10000 block of W. SH 29 for an alarm call. - On May 26 at approximately 9:36 AM, officers responded to the 15000 block of W. SH 29 for a burglary complaint. - On May 26 at approximately 1:38 PM, officers responded to Quarry Bluff, to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On May 26 at approximately 3:15 PM, officers responded to the 6000 block of US 183, to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On May 26 at approximately 11:08 PM, officers responded to Hummingbird Lane for suspicious activity. - On May 27 at approximately 2:48 AM, officers responded to
the 12000 block of W. SH 29 for suspicious activity. - On May 27 at approximately 9:21 AM, officers responded to Syrah Ct. for a welfare concern. - On May 27 at approximately 3:15 PM, officers responded to Majestic Way for a suspicious incident. - On May 27 at approximately 6:08 PM, officers responded to the 14000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard. - On May 27 at approximately 11:11 PM, officers responded to Clear Fork Loop to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On May 28 at approximately 9:21 AM, officers responded to the 10000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident, resulting in the arrest of a male adult for an outstanding warrant. - On May 28 at approximately 2:08 PM, officers responded to Hickman St. for a 911 silent call. - On May 28 at approximately 3:35 PM, officers responded to the 11000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard. - On May 28 at approximately 9:01 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for an agency assist. - On May 29 at approximately 1:27 AM, officers responded to CR 200 for a suspicious vehicle. - On May 29 at approximately 7:01 AM, officers responded to the 14000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard. - On May 29 at approximately 12:00 PM, officers responded to the intersection of US 183 and W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard. - On May 29 at approximately 7:55 PM, officers arrested a female adult with an outstanding warrant, as the result of a traffic stop. - On May 29 at approximately 8:42PM, officers responded to the 3000 block of RM 1869 for a disturbance. - On May 30 at approximately 4:05 PM, officers responded to the 11000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard. - On May 30 at approximately 8:03 PM, officers arrested a female adult with an outstanding warrant, as the result of a traffic stop.
The Liberty Hill Independent YOUR AWARD-WINNING HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987
~~ A Publication of Texas Independent News Corp. ~~
(512) 778-5577
Send Email: news@lhindependent.com www.LHIndependent.com www.LibertyHillLiving.com PO Box 1235 | 921 Loop 332 Liberty Hill, TX 78642
The Liberty Hill Independent is published every Thursday at 921 Loop 332, Liberty Hill, TX 78642. Periodical Postage Paid at Liberty Hill, Texas. Publication #018932 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Liberty Hill Independent, PO Box 1235, Liberty Hill, TX 78642 Shelly Wilkison - Publisher/Managing Editor Stacy Coale - Media Specialist Scott Akanewich - Sports Editor Rachel Madison - Staff Writer
DEADLINE Noon Monday prior to Thursday publication
SUBSCRIPTIONS
$29 per year in Texas outside of Williamson County, and $32 per year outside Texas.
ADVERTISING
DISPLAY RATES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Liberty Hill Independent welcomes letters to the editor, but requests that letters be limited to 300 words or less and address issues rather than personalities. Unsigned letters or those deemed unacceptable by the publisher will not be published. Children under the age of 17 must have signed parental permission. Phone numbers and addresses must be included for verification purposes. Opinions expressed in the articles, letters and columns do not reflect the views of The Liberty Hill Independent or its owners.
COPYRIGHT
The entire contents of each issue of The Liberty Hill Independent, including editorial and advertising copy, is protected under the Federal Copyright Act. Reproduction of any portion of any issue will not be permitted without the express written permission of The Liberty Hill Independent.
$25 per year in Williamson County,
2021
Follow The Independent on Social Media!
Facebook.com/LibertyHillIndependent
@LHIndependent
Thursday, June 3, 2021
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Page 3
Polar opposite commencement quite refreshing
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor What a difference a year makes. Sounds so cliché, we know. But, comp a r i n g this year’s Liberty Hill High School commencement to last is like apples and oranges. (There goes another, oh, well.) For starters, let’s first acknowledge the fact and be thankful for even having a graduation ceremony last spring, as in many places around the country seniors were denied the opportunity to walk across a stage and enjoy the moment they’ve envisioned in their minds for so long. Zoom ceremony, anyone? No thanks. Only problem was the entire scene was completely sterile due to the health restrictions that were in place at the time. Chairs six feet apart from one another on the field at Panther Stadium. No hugs, no handshakes, smiles concealed by masks. Remove those things from something like a high school graduation and the life is completely sucked out of it along with all the emotion.
After all, life isn’t meant to be sterile. However, this year was an entirely different story altogether and not even severe thunderstorms that forced the event indoors to the gym could dampen the enthusiasm of those involved – whether you were a grad, parent, teacher, administrator – or writer, for that matter. As sports editor of The Independent and self-elected Mayor of Pantherville, I usually stick to covering events that involve a scoreboard and there it was, hanging on the wall completely dark last Friday evening inside the Purple Palace. No winners or losers in a sports sense on this night. In fact, attending such an occasion allows us to view all the athletes we normally see wearing cleats or sneakers in dress shoes and heels, which provides a completely different perspective. Speaking of which, the only real fashion statement one can make when covered from top to bottom in a gown is with one’s choice of footwear. We saw cowboy boots, fourinch heels, athletic shoes and a number of other in a variety of shoe styles as the seniors strode up to the front of the
assembly to receive their diplomas. But, before the festivities began, the seniors were led into the main gym by teachers who each guided an entire row like squad leaders in a military formation as each rank filed in and took their seats. Everyone is so prim and proper, too, as suits and ties and dresses highlight many we usually encounter wearing athletic or casual attire during the course of their daily duties. First, the honor grads were singled out, with their gold medals signifying such around their necks, of which there were 34 of the 308 soon-to-bealums. Next, a much smaller group stood to be recognized. Nine Panthers seniors will move on to serve in the various branches of the military and were given the heroes’ tribute they deserved with a standing ovation from the capacity crowd. Take it from one who knows. Joining the armed forces and leaving home is an unknown unlike any other, so for this select few to have made the decision to do that – in addition to entering the grown-up world at the same time – is quite the undertaking, so a salute was indeed deserved.
One of the aspects of the proceedings that struck me most was how many more students there actually are who don’t play sports – young people who I never get to know because of the fact they’re good at giving speeches or building robots as opposed to scoring touchdowns or hitting home runs. On this day, though, there were no cliques or anything of that nature. Everyone on that gym floor was a Panther – and will always be one. However, it was cool both the valedictorian and salutatorian were both ballers. Must be nice to be young, athletic and intelligent. Graduation Day is a gateway to the future that is always bursting at the seams with optimism and hope and the Class of 2021 commencement was certainly no exception. But, after everything this group of seniors has been through, completing their high school experience under the constraints of a pandemic, finally being able to once again have full-on fellowship with their peers was the only righteous ending. Congrats to all.
KYLIE GOODROW
HIRA KHALID UMER
Liberty Hill Garden Club awards scholarships
The Liberty Hill Garden Club recently announced the winners of its annual scholarship awards. Kylie Goodrow and Hira Khalid Umer, both graduating seniors at Liberty Hill High School, were selected to receive $1000 scholarships to assist with their college financial needs. Goodrow has completed a Health Science program that allows her to graduate high school as a certified Pharmacy Technician. She plans to attend Angelo State University. While completing her undergraduate studies, she will also work as an in-patient Pharmacy Technician and part-time member of the National Guard, working in a hospital pharmacy. She is majoring in Mathematics and Biology. After undergraduate school, she plans to transfer to Baylor Medical School to earn a Medical Doctorate. Following her M.D degree,
she will start her surgical fellowship and residency. Goodrow’s ultimate goal is to become a General Pediatric Surgeon. Umer ranked eighth in her class of 318, will be attending the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in neuroscience from which she will go on to medical school followed by her residency work. She is well on her way to achieving her career goals in medicine. The Liberty Hill Garden Club congratulates Goodrow and Umer, 2021 Liberty Hill Garden Club scholarship recipients. Selecting scholarship winners from a group of extremely smart and talented youth is not an easy task. All of the scholarship applicants should be very proud of their achievements and are wished much success in their future endeavors.
Liberty Hill & Surrounding Communities
DOMESTIC • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL R.V. Fuel | Bottle Filling | Gas Piping in Home Propane Tanks | Grills & Replacement Parts | Gas Logs
ACTION PROPANE, INC. We Provide Keepfull Routing Service
512-259-1196
Murray Hoggarth • Wanda Hoggarth 2601 S. Hwy 183 | Leander, TX 78641
Hill Country K9 Obedience Dog Training in Your Home Hand & Verbal Commands on Leash
Request Refills Online
NOW OFFERING CURBSIDE PICKUP!
Ed DuSablon, K9 Trainer
30 Years' Experience • Retired Police Officer
Mon-Fri 9am-7pm Saturday 9am-1pm 512-548-6838 | 13740 W. Hwy 29, #4 | Liberty Hill, TX 78642 Libertyhillpharmacy@gmail.com | LibertyHillPharmacy.com
edusablon42@gmail.com
(512) 650-5495
BUSINESS DIRECTORY YOUR LOCAL RESOURCE FOR LIBERTY HILL AREA BUSINESSES
An Overall Inspection is your Best Protection! KEN COFER Professional Real Estate Inspector Certified Infrared Thermographer
Your Official Texas Sticker Shop
Insured & Bonded - TREC #20262
Overall Inspection Services, LLC
www.overallinspectionservices.com
keep it local
Locally Owned & Operated • GO PANTHERS GO!
512-548-6773
123 Holmes Rd, #3, Liberty Hill (behind Wag-A-Bag)
Tues-Fri 8:00-5:00 / Sat 7:30-3:30
License #6P054793
Feather Dusters House Cleaning We clean it right the first time!
Kim Glosson
512-569-7587
CUSTOM PERSONALIZED PRODUCTS
www.SquirrelSquared.BIZ
512-695-4260
WANT TO SEE YOUR AD HERE?
Free Estimates References Available Satisfaction Guaranteed P.O. Box 953, Bertram TX • TECL#32830
Page 4
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
The salt-box architectural style at 109 Grange Street is what initially caught Amy Gandy’s eye when she and her husband, Mike, purchased the home. So far, the foundation of the home has been leveled, but much more work to both the interior and exterior is required.
GANDY
Continued from Page 1
“I told my husband I wanted the house, so that night after dinner he said, ‘Let’s go look at it.’ It was already getting dark, so we looked at it with a flashlight. He didn’t give me a lot of feedback, but he told me the project was way over his head. He is handy, and he’s done a lot of work on our other homes, but he’s not like a contractor. We went home and didn’t talk too much about it, but the next morning, I called him and said ‘Hey, somebody is going to buy that, and I’m going to kick myself if we don’t at least try.’” The appeal of the land itself and its location in downtown Liberty Hill was enough to convince the Gandys to throw their hat in the ring. They won the bidding war. “When you look at this house, you’re like, ‘Who wants this piece of junk?’ Most people would probably tear it down and just want it for the land, but the neighbor who live across the street has lived there his whole life. He told us he remembers going across to that house when it held the switchboard for the City of Liberty Hill’s phone lines. Just that little piece of history and the character inside made us realize we just needed to fix it up.” So far, the only thing the Gandys have done to the home
is have it leveled, mainly for safety reasons. “It was like walking in a fun house in there,” Amy Gandy said. “The foundation company that came out said there was one beam across the center of house, and you could feel that because it sloped. That beam was held up by stacks of rocks. They had lasted that long in a 121-year-old house. Bruecher Foundation redid the whole foundation and added on to it for an addition we plan to add in the back. We also want to widen the porch in the front to go the whole length of the house. But when you straighten up an old house, it pulls on everything else. The walls are all cracked and will have to be pulled down and redone first.” After purchasing the house at 109 Grange, the Gandys turned their focus on the house next door at 111 Grange—built in 1910—which was most recently lived in by long-time Liberty Hill resident Elizabeth Stubblefield until her passing in early 2020. “The house at 111 Grange was owned by the same estate as the one at 109 Grange, so we knew the owner and knew they were having an estate sale after [Stubblefield’s] passing,” Amy Gandy said. “She had a recycling business and would take things and turn it over and make money off reselling it,
but what didn’t sell piled up at her house in the yard. Our biggest motivation for buying the house was so we had control of cleaning up the yard and fixing the house.” Amy Gandy said the estate owner was ultimately happy to sell the homes to her, because he knew she wouldn’t be tearing them down, and that they’d be preserved. After the estate sale, the Gandys offered to take care of anything that remained, and in he process, have scored a couple of great finds, like a Victorian-style velvet settee with matching chairs and a hoosier cabinet. The house at 111 Grange also needs foundation work, but because they now have two homes to renovate, the Gandys are limited by time and budget. For that house, they are doing the minimum to make it usable. In about six weeks, the home is scheduled to be painted, and landscape work will also begin. A large roll-off dumpster will be arriving at the property soon so the Gandys can haul off any remaining items stored in the yard. “We’re excited about these projects and beautifying the downtown area,” Amy Gandy said. “These are houses most people would probably tear down, but we want to bring them back to life. We have some ideas for the property
Thursday, June 3, 2021
Amy and Mike Gandy plan on turning this home, at 111 Grange Street, into an office space for Amy Gandy’s real estate business, A. Gandy & Co. The house is set to get a facelift with new paint, plumbing and more this summer.
at 109 Grange, but we aren’t ready to share yet. We are still working with the City of Liberty Hill on some things, and working on a site plan, which alone is $15,000. That could pay for a whole new bathroom, so it’s expensive.” The home at 111 Grange will be Amy Gandy’s new real estate office for her recently opened business, A. Gandy & Co. “We didn’t plan that in the beginning,” she said. “It was going to just be a rental property, but the more we’ve gotten in there and seen it cleaned out, we’ve seen it’s not in good enough shape to rent it for enough money to cover the mortgage. After the freeze [in February], there were eight plumbing leaks under the house. We just decided to turn it into a business place where we don’t need it for things like daily showering.” The home has two bedrooms and two bathrooms with an open floor plan, which Amy Gandy said will be perfect for a conference table and seating area. The bedrooms will become offices. She also hopes to preserve the barn on that property, which locals call the Model T Barn, but isn’t sure if it will be salvageable since it’s falling apart, needs a new roof, and will have to be moved to allow for parking.
The Gandys hope to be able to move their office into 111 Grange by the end of this summer, while the home at 109 Grange they hope to have renovated by early 2022. It can be hard to find contractors who are willing to take on the projects needed in house. Some contractors have shown up, seen the homes, and have told the Gandys “no” from the beginning, while others come and take notes, but then tell them they’re not interested in the project. “When contractors come and we tell them our vision, some of them just don’t see it,” she said. “This requires massive vision. It’s already taken longer than I anticipated. The biggest challenges with 111 is getting rid of everything in the yard and hauling off the extra outbuildings. There is also a giant wisteria vine growing in the front trees, and the vine itself is like a tree trunk. That will be a challenge. Then there’s the leaking problems, and we have a feral cat problem. There are cats on the property all the time, so under the house is flea infested. The plumber told us before he could go back under there to put insulation on the pipes, we needed to spray for fleas under there. It’s a lot of things you just don’t expect.” At 109 Grange, the challenges
are even bigger. “This house needs everything,” Amy Gandy said. “When we leveled the foundation, we had them raise it 24 inches off the ground so everyone can get under the house when they need to work on it. It’s going to need all new walls and floors. It has an upstairs, but you wouldn’t know it because it’s unfinished—it’s just rafters. We want to add two full bathrooms, finish out the upstairs and raise the roof on the back to add a bedroom. Right now it’s one bedroom and one bath, and we want to have three sleeping areas and three bathrooms when it’s done. The house is salt box architectural style, so we’ll call it ‘The Salt Box on Grange’ when it’s finished.” The Gandys realize renovating the two homes on Grange Street is a major undertaking, but they’re not afraid of the work. “We like bringing things that are old back to life,” Amy Gandy said. “We like seeing something reborn. We want to contribute to our city and the downtown atmosphere. Financially, it makes sense longterm wise for our children because it’s a good investment for us and them. It’s going to be hard work but neither one of us is afraid of that.”
READY FOR YOUR SUMMER ROAD TRIP? JOIN US JUNE 8-13 FOR OUR
VACATION VIBES FEATURED ALL WEEK HATS SWIM TOWELS
Our caring, professional staff is focused on keeping your family healthy. And like you, we live in Liberty Hill and are working to make a difference in our hometown. From coaching youth sports teams, sponsoring community events and contributing to local causes, your hometown pediatric clinic is investing in Liberty Hill.
Farmers Roadside Assistance covers emergencies like towing, dead batteries, flat tires and auto lockouts so you can focus on vacation fun.
TRAVEL GAMES
GOGGLES
Call us today for a free quote!
PARTY FOOD & DRINK MIXES SUMMER READS
McCoy Agency Honest, Local & Trusted David & Christa McCoy, Wendy Neill
www.SimplyHomeTX.com 15280 W Hwy 29 | Liberty Hill, TX
12780 W Hwy 29, Liberty Hill • 512 900-4422 www.farmersagent.com/cmccoy
BANKING SHOULD BE SIMPLE, DON’T LET IT STRESS YOU OUT. Whether business or personal, First Texas makes banking simple. Call us or visit us in-person to find out how we can help make you and your finances stress-free. WE PUT YOUR BANKING FIRST!
Community. Banking. Perfected. www.firsttexasbank.bank
Thursday, June 3, 2021
NURSING
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Continued from Page 1
Before reaching the practicum class, students must take Principles of Health Science as freshmen, Medical Terminology as sophomores, and Health Science Theory as juniors. After the first three classes in the program, students in LHHS’ medical pathway must decide on their practicum. Students have the option of nursing or pharmacy technician. Before taking the state nursing exam, students need to complete 60 hours of the Texas curriculum and 40 clinical hours in a facility. Due to the pandemic, students were forced to simulate their clinical hours. “The classes before us got to go to the nursing homes and work with residents and work under nurses with experience,” said Lillianna Wilkins. “For us, it was all just scenario-based. We used mannequins and had to follow the guideline and checklist to a T because we didn’t know in real life how it will be like.” Students had to take what they’ve learned over the years and apply it to mock scenarios. “In order to be in this class, we had to take other classes our freshman, sophomore,
and junior years,” said Dubbs. “There was a lot that went into just being in this class. Before we entered this class, we were all OSHA and CPR certified. It was like combining that and learning about working in a nursing home and bringing it all together.” Critical and daunting aspects of the class included learning hundreds of terms and acronyms in the medical field and how to focus on the details of the job. “We switched between doing procedures on beds one day to doing exam practice. It’s a lot of memorizing steps. We had to know things like how many washcloths we need, how many towels, or how to address your patient. You learn a lot about indirect care and direct care. It’s also a lot about learning to trust yourself,” said Dubbs. With their new certification, the students will have a leg up on others in the field. As they’ve progressed through the program, each student is figuring out what aspect of medicine they’re interested in. For Bret Yarbrough, it’s a career in forensic pathology. At the beginning of her
invite parents back into our buildings. We had a fantastic end of the school year, including an in-person graduation ceremony for our seniors, and we were so excited to be able to celebrate with them and their families.” Tanya Lambert, principal at Bill Burden Elementary, said she’s excited and ready for the new school year already. “The kids have been gone [a few] days and I’m ready for them to come back and get after it,” she said. “This time last year we were all really scared about how to provide a safe and loving environment for these kids when there was so much unknown. Last year we were nervously and anxiously awaiting school to start, but this year I’m ready to go.” Lambert said it was nice ending the year on a high note, with parents able to come into the school for events like Field Day and end-of-the-year awards ceremonies. “I’m glad we ended with things feeling a little more normal,” she said. “That gets us in the mode for next year’s planning. We are ready to forge ahead with what we consider normal, and have our parents as involved at the school as we have in the past. We are hoping to kick off our year the way we normally would with Meet the Teacher and our staff being able to do things in-person together again.” Julie Clark, who most recently taught sixth grade science at Liberty Hill Intermediate School, said she’s relieved the school year is over, and is grateful to have the summer to decompress. “It’s definitely been a challenging year,” she said. “I think it’s the most challenging I’ve ever encountered as a teacher. It was even more difficult than my first year, and I think a lot of other teachers feel the same way.” When the new school year starts, Clark will be teaching fifth grade math and science at
“I’m hoping we’ll start the new year the same way we left this last one off,” she said. “I hope there will be no masks for teachers and students, and we’ll be letting visitors back in the building. We missed having functions where parents could be there, and we couldn’t do field trips -- we couldn’t do a lot of things we normally do.” Stephen Traynor, who taught U.S. History to eighth graders
R ETURN Continued from Page 1 their masks off, and we could Bill Burden Elementary.
SERVICES COMPUTER TUTOR At your place, at your pace, I can help you with your computer, iPhone, iPad, or tablet. Helpful tips and tricks. Reasonable rates. Call Karen, 432553-2468. (7/8p)
PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS, THAT: The City of Liberty Hill, Texas proposes to institute annexation proceedings to enlarge and extend the boundary limits of said city to include the following described territory, to-wit: FOR A 1.293 ACRE TRACT OF LAND SITUATED IN THE JOSEPH M. GLASSCOCK SURVEY, ABSTRACT NO. 254, WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TEXAS. AND BEING OUT OF THE CALLED 15.692 ACRE TRACT OF LAND (TRACT 1) CONVEYED TO CASEY PEZOLD, RECORDED IN DOCUMENT NO. 2018072328 OF THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC RECORDS OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TEXAS (EXHIBIT “A”) A public hearing will be held by and before the City Council of the City of Liberty Hill, Texas on the 14th day of June
journey, Esmeralda Munoz planned on walking down one path before taking an unexpected detour. “I have been interested in the medical field for so long,” said Munoz. “I at one point planned to be a nurse, but now I’m going to study dental hygiene. I’m going to dental school. This class has helped me get ready for this so much.” At the end of a challenging year, this diverse group is like a family. “We were the most random group of people put together, but we somehow work together so good,” said Dubbs. “I feel like we can just hang out now.”
Page 5
Pharmacy Technician Practicum Next door to Klinksiek’s classroom is Lida Riddick’s Pharmacy Technician class, the sibling to the nursing class. “Pharmacy tech is a challenging course, and I like that,” said Jared Dumas. “I got to meet people in this class looking to go into the same fields. It’s challenging, but when you get to work with other people in the same set of circumstances, you can overcome it. I met
people that helped me study, and a lot of that was really fun for me. I loved being challenged to try new things and become better in ways that I never have before.” Of Riddick’s 20 students, 13 passed their exams, walking away certified as pharmacy technicians. “I’m relieved and exhilarated,” said Libbie Faria. “It does open up a lot of opportunities. I was nervous because it means a lot after putting in a year of all the studying. We were sitting in the cafeteria area of the campus were resting after the test, and you’d see kids skip through the door. It was safe to assume they passed, too. I did a victory dance in the testing room.” The pressure from the sheer amount of material to study proved to be a formidable challenge for the class, making the flavor of victory sweeter. “Memorizing everything is a challenge,” said Katherine Burden. “Things are drilled into your head. Even this year, we went through the body systems. There were times I had no idea what was going on. I actually failed every test. I did not believe it at all when I
passed my certification. When the proctor came and got me, I glanced over and saw I passed. I thought to myself, that’s not right. He handed me the printout, and I was shocked.” Dumas was one of the students who just missed passing the exam. Despite coming up short, the soon-to-be graduate plans to retake the exam. Dumas says it’s a testament to the difficulty of the course. “There was a lot of information we had to cover in class,” said Dumas. “It wasn’t just a lot in one topic either. There were several subtopics we needed to know. We had to know laws, drugs, and a lot more. It all culminated in a difficult but worthwhile class.” Students are required to develop an extensive knowledge of different drug types, what they do and how to prescribe them. Due to COVID, students weren’t able to take part in their pharmacy rotations. Isaiah De La Garza credits Riddick for playing a critical role in building up her students and supporting them through challenging times. “Even though we had little confidence in ourselves throughout the year, Ms. Rid-
dick never lost faith or confidence in us,” said De La Garza. “She told us we had this and we’d pass, and 13 out of 20 of us passed, and that was amazing. She was always there for us. She also knew our strengths and weaknesses.” With goals in the medical field, the certified pharmacy tech students hope their accomplishment pays off in the college arena. “This will make knowing a lot of the drugs and terminology easier as I work to become a doctor,” said Faria. “It could make certain parts of medical school easier. This will help me when I actually work in a hospital pharmacy.” As the year ends, Dumas says the students in the class are grateful for more than the chance to get certified. “This class was worthwhile,” said Dumas. “I certainly recommend taking it. This class is going to help me in other ways that aren’t just medical. I recommend it to kids interested in the field or ones looking to challenge themselves.”
at Liberty Hill Junior High this year, said the disruption of routine to those who have been teaching for a long time was difficult. “As teachers, we have muscle memory and habits that were just disrupted by social distancing,” he said. “I usually have an active classroom, and I had to become unactive. My students normally have their desks in four-person, cooperative groups. Instead, I had to sit them in rows. It was a
disruption to my flow and how I usually teach, but the kids were quite resilient.” Traynor, who will be transitioning to teach eighth grade U.S. History at the new Liberty Hill Middle School, said the most difficult aspect of the year was having to balance teaching students who were both in the classroom and who were learning from home. “I had some students that learned from home all year that I never met, and that was
unusual,” he said. “One of the joys of working with kids is seeing them overcoming their struggles and learning. It was hard not being able to see that, because students really had to do a lot on their own through the computer.” Although the school year was difficult for everyone, Lambert said the resiliency of the staff and students was encouraging all year long. “No matter what was thrown at them, everybody just fig-
ured out a way to make it through it together,” she said. “That was definitely the best part of the year—seeing the support and how everybody came together.” Clark added that teachers and staff also saw the challenges students faced. “When you teach sixth graders, they are aware of what’s going on in the world and I saw some heightened anxiety
2021 at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chamber of the Municipal Court Building of the City of Liberty Hill, Texas, for all persons interested in the above proposed annexation. At said time and place all such persons shall have the right to appear and be heard. Of all said matters and things, all persons interested in the things and matters herein mentioned, will take notice. By order of the City Council of the City of Liberty Hill, Texas this the 24th day of May 2021. (6/3) NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Sale of property to satisfy a landlord’s lien. Sale to be held at American Self Storage-Liberty Hill at 13740 Hwy 29, Liberty Hill, TX 78642 on Thursday, July 1st, 2021 at 12:00 noon. Cleanup deposit required. Contents of storage units sold for cash to highest bidder. Property includes the unit contents of the following tenants: Tracy Forester: 2 units containing boxes and miscellaneous items. Susan Kulbeth: 1 unit containing boxes, furniture, and miscellaneous items. (6/10p) 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
CLASSIFIED ADS $15/week for Minimum 30 Words Additional Words $0.20 Deadline: Noon Mondays NEWS@LHINDEPENDENT.COM (512) 778-5577
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. (6/24)
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 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. The City Council will conduct its own public hearing and take final action on this matter on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 6:30 PM at the Liberty Hil Municipal Courthouse 2801 Ranch Road 1869, Liberty Hill, TX 78642. For more information, you
FOR ALL YOUR
Live in Historic Downtown Liberty Hill
Repair and Replacement Needs
Walk to restaurants, salons, corner grocery and more! Just minutes to highly acclaimed Liberty Hill Schools.
HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE and A/C & HEATING
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 28, 2021. (6/3)
e, Get her Te
e Pant
304 Stubblefield Lane | StubblefieldPark.com *During normal business hours
IS YOUR AC READY FOR SUMMER?
FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR*
512-219-0900
325 E State Hwy 29 • Bertram, TX
Located between PEC and the Train Depot *During normal business hours
CALL TODAY 512-453-6566
Military & First Responders Discount • Locally Owned + Managed
LEGAL NOTICE An application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a Wine & Beer Retailer’s Permit & Food and Beverage Certificate by Quach Inc., Limited Liability Company dba Happy Wok Asian Diner, to be located at 14125 West State Highway 29 Suite B206, Liberty Hill, Williamson County, Texas. Officers of said corporation are Daniel Quach, owner.
SUBSCRIBE 512.778.5577 *Free tee of equal or lesser value
Buy On
New 2BR 1BA apartments | Porches + balconies | Privacy + gorgeous scenery Washer/dryer hookups | Green space for kids + pets to play
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 28, 2021. (6/3)
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. The City Council will conduct its own public hearing and take final action on this matter on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at 6:30 PM at the Liberty Hill Municipal Courthouse, 2801 Ranch Rd 1869, Liberty Hill,
We work on most brands of household appliances, air conditioners, and heating systems.
*
See LHISD, Page 7
ee*!
One Fr
SPORTS
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, June 3, 2021 Page 6
Panther athletes among grads 72 Liberty Hill seniors played sports
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Piper Tabor did some of her best work during her four years in Purple-and-Gold wearing cleats as an integral part of the Lady Panthers’ soccer team. However, on this day, the senior featured a pair of high heels to go with her outfit as part of an ensemble she wore under her robe on graduation day for the Class of 2021 commencement. Before heading into the main gym for the event, Tabor and her fellow grads were gathered in the auxiliary gym as the anticipation for the proceedings mounted. “This is an achievement,” she said. “I’m really excited to finally be done.” Tabor scored 82 goals during her four seasons on the pitch and is one of only two players – along with fellow graduate Madi Fuller – to play in at least 100 varsity games and was in-
credibly consistent in finding the back of the net, as she averaged 20.5 goals per campaign over the course of her career. But, Tabor has decided to no longer pursue her playing days, as she plans to attend Blinn College before moving on to Texas A&M and knows the challenges waiting for her as she moves on will be as rugged as a burly center back attempting to knock her off the ball and stop her from scoring. “I know the next couple of years are going to be tough,” said Tabor. “But, I’m really excited.” Fellow footballer Rhett Hofmann was also among the large contingent of Panthers athletes who were receiving diplomas on the day and was glad to be back in a normal environment in the wake of the pandemic and everything it stood in the way of this past year – although after being away for so long, he wasn’t so
sure the ceremony was going to hold the same poignancy, he said. “Over the past year, we’ve all been so disconnected,” said Hofmann, who was a defender and team captain for the boys’ soccer squad and will study business at Texas Tech. “I don’t know if all this feels as meaningful as this is the only thing we’ve been able to experience.” Ryan Rhoden was one of several baseball players who were part of the senior class and chose jeans and cowboy boots for the occasion. “When we moved here, I got into liking rodeo,” said Rhoden, who was a leader of the Panthers’ pitching staff this past season. “It kind of represents my family.” Speaking of which, Rhoden was already familiar with the graduation day routine after
See ATHLETES, Page 7
ALEX RUBIO FILE PHOTO
Piper Tabor scored 82 goals during her Lady Panthers soccer career and plans to go to Blinn College and Texas A&M.
Walker adjusting to new duties after six months as Athletic Director
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When Kent Walker took the reins of Liberty Hill’s athletic program – as well as the title of head football coach – in the wake of the passing of older brother Jeff in December, it wasn’t the first time he had held the dual-role position, having also followed his brother in that regard at Rogers High School. However, the previous post was at a Class 3A school, as opposed to the Class 5A program – in its first season as such, no less – he inherited with the Panthers. Still, the new neighborhood isn’t all that contrasted from the old haunts, said Walker. “I don’t think it’s really that much different,” he said. “Here we just have more numbers of kids.” Along with a higher enrollment, which means more athletes to manage, comes a bigger set of responsibilities regarding the bottom line. “There’s definitely a learning curve as far as how things work and the budget,” said Walker. “Different districts do things differently as far as how everything operates.” But, regardless of the loca-
ALEX RUBIO FILE PHOTO
Kent Walker has been in his dual role of athletic director and head football coach for six months since taking over the program. tion, the primary focus always remains the same. “We all go to work every day for the kids,” he said. “We’re solely there for them to try to improve their abilities.” According to Walker, the biggest challenge for him in the
position to this point has been overseeing the establishment of the athletic program at the new Santa Rita Middle School, which is set to open in the fall just in time for the new school year. “We have new coaches to hire
and have to order all the equipment,” said Walker. “All of it just adds a new element, but I enjoy every minute of it.” In order to take on his new role, Walker had to step out of the classroom – where he taught health – to have the
time to focus solely on the athletic program. He said he misses that aspect of his interaction with the student body as a whole. “I love teaching and just being with the kids in the classroom,” he said. “I made sure I stopped by before the end of school to wish them all a good summer.” As for Walker, his summer will be much like the other three seasons of the year – tinted with Purple-and-Gold – as there are summer camps in all the various sports to oversee, as well as his personal favorite, Panther Athletic Conditioning – or simply PAC, as it’s commonly known – a seven-week program for athletes in all sports to sharpen and hone foundational fitness skills that will serve them well in their respective arenas and goes right along with his overall philosophy, he said. “I really love what I do now,” said Walker. “Trying to help our kids get better, which I love.” The individual sports camps are run primarily by the respective coaches of those sports, a group Walker gives autonomy in doing so and a great deal of credit for what they’re able to
accomplish. “Right now, PAC is our focus,” he said. “But, I always try to step over and say hi to all the kids at the camps. Other than that, I just let our coaches do their jobs in making the camps as fun as possible.” However, once the leaves begin to change, so will Walker’s attention to the gridiron, as the Panthers will look to build on a hugely successful first season as a Class 5A team – one in which they posted a 12-1 record and included advancing all the way to the state semifinals. “I’ll definitely spend a lot of time with my focus on football,” he said. “But, I know we have great coaches in volleyball, cross country and tennis who all do such a great job and make sure all our sports are doing well.” As for the delicate balance between carrying on his late brother’s legacy while stamping his own style on the program, Walker said it’s an easy task. “My main focus is exactly the same as Jeff’s was,” said Walker. “To always put our kids first in everything we do.”
THE LAST GAME
Two yards away Panthers QB haunted by what might have been
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Charlie Calabretta didn’t know when his last game as a Liberty Hill football player was going to be. When the Panthers’ senior signal-caller walked onto the field at Merrill Green Stadium in Bryan on an early January evening, it was for a Class 5A state semifinal game – one step away from advancing to play for a championship on the biggest of stages at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. “Getting the opportunity to play for a state championship is something you always think about,” said Calabretta. “Going all the way back, even before your high school years.” Once a senior reaches the playoffs, one never knows when the last game will be. Each time you step on the field in the postseason could end in defeat and in so doing, signal the end of a prep career – or is simply a springboard to bigger and better things in the form of a chance to continue playing for the ever-coveted trophy that will live on in history and be the subject of conversations for the rest of your life. On this unseasonably, bitterly-cold central Texas night, it simply wasn’t meant to be for Calabretta and his teammates, who fell to Crosby in an overtime heartbreaker by a score of 62-61 after a two-point conversion failed, which would
have propelled the Panthers to the state title game in Big D the following week. To this day, Calabretta said he doesn’t know exactly what happened on the fateful play as he went to hand the ball off to senior running back Blake Simpson for what would have been the game-winning points. “I think either I was too aggressive in handing it off or Blake got it and squeezed the ball too tightly,” he said. “There’s not a day that goes by when I don’t think about it.” Either way, the ball fell helplessly to the turf and in doing so ended the Purple-andGold’s quest to win a state title – and all of this after a wonderful playoff run in the wake of the passing of former head coach Jeff Walker on the eve of the playoffs in December. In fact, Walker left such an impression on the program – along with everyone involved – Calabretta got a tattoo with the date of the late coach’s passing in Roman numerals on the right side of his midsection with a small crown placed on the last number. “Coach Walker was the king of the Slot-T, after all,” said Calabretta, of his emotionally-inspired ink. According to Calabretta, the week leading up to the Crosby game was one in which he and his teammates conducted themselves in a businesslike manner – despite the stakes be-
ALEX RUBIO FILE PHOTO
Liberty Hill senior quarterback Charlie Calabretta (4) hopes to fondly remember his final game someday, as opposed to tinged with sorrow over what might have been. ing so high. “You know the next game is more important than the last,” said Calabretta. “But, you just try to slow things down because you know what it is you have to get done. We didn’t have to do anything special – just do what we do – knowing we were super close to where we wanted to be.” Once game day finally arrived, the Panthers boarded the team bus and set out for the field of battle, which was 115 miles away from the front door of the fieldhouse on the Liberty Hill campus and took about three hours to traverse.
But, not before a splendid sendoff from the faithful, followed by a convoy of well-wishers who accompanied them every mile of the way – a fact that wasn’t lost on Calabretta, nor his teammates, he said. “It was cool the whole town was out supporting us,” said Calabretta. Still, three hours is a long time to sit and contemplate the gravity of the situation that awaited upon arrival, but Calabretta said the mood among the team was rather upbeat. “We were thinking we were about to go make history,” he
said. “We all went in confident.” However, about 30 minutes out from their gridiron destination, the Panthers fell silent, as each player was left to consider the task ahead. “When we get that close, that’s our quiet time,” said Calabretta. “All of us run the game through our minds and visualize what we need to do to be successful.” Turns out the convoy was running a bit behind, which meant time was of the essence once boots hit the ground. “We didn’t have as much to get ready as we usually do,”
said Calabretta. “So, we were in a hurry to get dressed to have a chance to walk the field and throw the ball around a little, which we enjoy doing.” Soon thereafter, the butterflies would set in – as they would before every game – only this time they were the size of jumbo jets, although the notes of “The Star-Spangled Banner” would always act as a signal to round up the proverbial anxiety-causing insects with a mental net until one’s stomach was clear and ready to move forward.
See GAME, Page 7
Thursday, June 3, 2021
Game
Continued from Page 6
“During the anthem, when it’s most quiet,” said Calabretta, “is when you know it’s game time.” Calabretta added the fact that knowing there was so much hanging in the balance didn’t necessarily lend itself to one being able to fully soak in the moment in order to be able to appreciate what was playing out before them. “It wasn’t life or death,” he said. “Going back, you wish you would’ve enjoyed it more.” Of course, at the time, it seemed every bit as if life itself was at stake each and every time the ball was snapped – not only to the players on the field, but to the raucous, passionate crown of supporters who had migrated east for the contest. Liberty Hill found itself down by four at the break after a wild-and-crazy opening two quarters saw Crosby up by a 35-31 score as the squads headed to the halftime locker room. Calabretta said despite the deficit, the Panthers definitely felt good about themselves. “We were confident and felt like we were in a position to win the game,” he said. Still, as a team leader, he felt compelled to gather his fellow seniors around him before
emerging for the second half in order to deliver a pointed message. “I tried to get all the seniors together before we went back out,” said Calabretta. “I just told them we all needed to go out there and fight. Everybody was motivated and we were all confident.” But despite the Panthers’ renewed sense of urgency, they still found themselves trailing by a 55-39 score entering the fourth quarter. Something special was certainly needed at this point in the proceedings and it was the Liberty Hill defense that came up clutch by shutting Crosby out over the final eight minutes of the game while the Panthers’ offense continued to move the ball seemingly at will, with touchdowns from Simpson and Trey Seward – along with successful twopoint conversions on both – evened the score, which was where it remained as the clock ran down and eventually expired. Once the contest had played out to its sudden-death conclusion and the heartbreak it caused, Calabretta said he was left in a state of stunned disbelief at what had just unfolded before his eyes. “I just dropped to my knees because I couldn’t believe it,”
seeing a sibling go through it. “I watched my sister Shelby do this a few years ago,” he said. “Now my mom and dad are going to have an empty house.” Rhoden will attend Texas Tech and study either mechanical or petroleum engineering and is definitely looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead during his matriculation. “I’m ready for the next step,” said Rhoden. “Really looking forward to the future.” Liberty Hill athletic director and head football coach Kent Walker said it’s always good to see athletes achieve away from the playing field. “It’s awesome to see them graduate and go on to pursue what they want to do in life,” he said. “But, it’s always bittersweet for me because you
go from seeing these kids every day to not at all anymore.” However, a re-connect is always only a phone call away. “All of them have my number,” said Walker. “They can always call me if they ever need anything.” Tabor said the gravity of graduation hasn’t quite hit her with full force yet. “I’m sure I might get a little sad,” she said. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet.” All that being said, it was simply good to just be able to gather with all of her classmates one last time after all the Class of 2021 had gone through to get to this point. “This is really the first normal thing we’ve gotten to do as a class,” said Tabor. “Which I think is how I’ll look back on it.”
Athletes Continued from Page 6
Grads
Continued from Page 1
the graduates and the parents.” Liberty Hill High School Principal Jonathan Bever added to the positive outlook. “Wow,” said Bever, as he began his remarks to the standing-room-only crowd. “This is the most people I’ve ever seen here in the gym.” Of course, everyone in the stands were there to see those who had gathered below on the hardwood floor where basketball and volleyball are usually contested – 308 Liberty Hill seniors who were a short walk and a handshake away from being newly-minted high school graduates. The fact the ceremony was able to be feasibly switched from an outdoor venue to an indoor one is something that couldn’t have happened a year ago in the midst of the pandemic, so simply having the ability to do so – as the administration waited as long as possible to make the final decision of where the ceremony would take place – was a blessing, said Snell. “Our kids and staff have been through a lot this year,” he said. “So, it was great for all the parents to be able to come in and celebrate the accomplishments of all our seniors.” Following an introduction by senior Aryn Bagley and an invocation led by fellow grad Haley Polsner, senior Kristen Holliday led the crowd in the “Pledge of Allegiance” before the Liberty Hill High School Choir sang the National Anthem. Class of 2021 salutatorian Jessica Holliday was the first of the featured speakers to step up to the podium and delivered a speech that was centered on fancying herself as a “collector of dreams” and how she cultivated her own by observing and taking into account those of others. “We’ve all had aspirations,” said Holliday. “I’ve become quite the collector and I specialize in collecting dreams.” Holliday went on to describe how she witnessed a classmate who made words come to life in the form of writing and col-
ors splash across a blank canvas by another, which inspired her. “The more I looked at the dreams of others, I developed my own,” she said. “I have dreams for this entire student body and I know our innovation will forge a path to the future.” Valedictorian Robert Mundy, Jr. began with a tribute to those closest to him who he attributed much of his success over the past four years to – leading off with a good-natured jab founded on a hoops sibling rivalry. “First, my younger sister Gabby,” he said. “Who knows I’ll always beat her at one-on-one because I’m still the best basketball player in the family.” After that, his tone became more serious. “I would like to thank the people who I couldn’t have done this without,” he said. “My dad, of course and my mom. She’s always been my constant source of encouragement and reminded me school comes before sports. Both of them are who got me here.” However, Mundy ended up getting one over on mom, too, as he had with his sister moments earlier. “Whenever I looked for Mom’s old report cards so I could compare them with mine, I could never find them,” he joked. Mundy then shared a story that he said fueled him all the way through high school to be the best student he could possibly be. “When I was in eighth grade, I had a teacher who said another student was going to be the smartest one once we got to high school,” he said. “I always worked hard in order to prove her wrong.” But, that was only half the story. “I think if there’s one thing the Class of 2021 has learned, it’s how to turn a negative into a positive,” said Mundy, of the trials and tribulations that were rained down on them by the pandemic. In closing, Mundy returned to
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
he said. “But, you can’t let something like that haunt you for the rest of your life.” Calabretta said he attempted the impossible in consoling Simpson in the aftermath. “I told him a hundred times it wasn’t his fault,” he said. “It was more on me than it was on him.” In the moment, Calabretta and his teammates were absolutely inconsolable. But, in the time since, those emotions have given way and feelings of disappointment have been replaced by those of accomplishment, he said. “Nobody expected us to get as far as we did – especially in our first year in Class 5A,” said Calabretta. “We were just a bunch of small, little white boys running around, but what we were able to do was what Liberty Hill means and is all about.” As opposed to a celebratory bus ride home, all the Panthers could do on the long road back was think about what might have been – although the mood wasn’t funereal, he said. “We were all talking to each other about the game and how we couldn’t believe it was over,” said Calabretta. For Calabretta – who, like most of his fellow seniors, aren’t moving on to play in college – the Crosby contest was
not only their last high school game, but their last game, period and in the days and weeks that have followed, he said it’s been quite an adjustment to fill the void left by the absence of the seemingly never-ending practices and weight-lifting sessions that were a staple of his existence for such a long time. “For the first couple of weeks, especially, it seemed like you weren’t entitled to go do anything else,” he said. “We practiced from mid-summer until January every day after school and into the evenings. Now, I finally have some time to myself and I like it, but I also miss football.” Calabretta envisions the day when what happened on that field on that night won’t perhaps have such an emotional impact on him. “I think as the years go by, I’ll realize it maybe wasn’t as big of a deal as I made it at the time,” he said. “Once I’m used to not having football, I’ll be good.” However, four months later on the eve of graduation, the wound is still foul and festering, said Calabretta. “I really wish it would go away soon,” he said. “I want to remember playing for one of the best teams Liberty Hill ever had.”
Page 7
LHISD Continued from Page 5
throughout the year,” Clark said. “Some days they would miss school, or they would want to learn online because it was a struggle. That was heartbreaking to see. The theme for many of us this last year was to give a lot of grace and hope to get some grace in return.” She added that because students and teachers were required to wear masks much of the year, it was hard to make connections. “The kids didn’t let their true personality show when they were wearing the mask,” she said. “You can’t see their face and they can’t see yours. It caused them to shut down a bit. Towards the end of the year, once we lost the masks, I saw their personalities come out and it was really nice to see.” While building relationships with students proved to be more difficult, Clark said she also learned that teachers are much more malleable than she thought, citing that many teachers switched from teaching online to teaching in-person, and with that came big changes in how classroom procedures and rules were set. “We had to learn to be flexible,” she said. “I’m still a little apprehensive going
into the new year, but I think we’re headed in the right direction.” Lambert said teachers at her school are ready to get back to hands-on learning with small groups, as that wasn’t possible during much of the 2020-21 year. Traynor said he’s looking forward to seeing his entire class and knowing he can start under normal conditions. “I don’t know what will change between now and August when we start school, but if the current trends hold, I anticipate all our kids will be in a better position,” he said. Snell said now that this difficult school year is in the rear view mirror, he can look back and see what the district is capable of achieving. He expects it will be a “blueprint for success”. “Next year will be 100 percent in person, and masks will be optional,” he said. “We’ll still do some things, like encouraging hand washing and cleaning our buildings. We can’t wait to have everyone back. We are going to work hard this summer to be prepared for an awesome school year next year.”
Ryan Rhoden - pictured with mother and Liberty Hill head tenRhett Hofmann, who was a captain on the boys’ soccer team and nis coach Sherry and father Mark - will attend Texas Tech and will study business at Texas Tech in the fall, here with mother study engineering after his days on the baseball team. Shannon and father John on Senior Night. (Courtesy Photo) (Courtesy Photo)
his theme of family in quoting from The Holy Bible. “Exodus 20:12 says ‘Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you,’” he said. “Always remember family is the most important thing and we need to harness that and embrace all the moments we have with them.” Finally, a request to his classmates in the same regard. “Make sure tonight you tell all of them how much you love them,” said Mundy. Bever made reference to the journey traveled by all involved in the process of making the evening’s events a reality – first toward his staff. “The past 15 months have changed how we approach education,” he said. “It’s been a time of transition, but it’s wonderful to finally be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.” Then, it was time for praise of those who had succeeded despite the upheaval all around them. “Whether you were goal-driven or parent-driven, you showed the ability to adapt to change,” said Bever. “But, the attitude you carry forward will have more of an impact on you than anything you’ve learned.” Bever added some words of wisdom of his own to the capand-gown-donned group before him. “Three rules,” he said. “Number one, trust your instincts, number two, stay true to yourself and your core values and never try to be something you’re not, and number three, wake up ready to be happy every day.” Finally, Bever had some words for the parents, as well as their children. “I know this may be a bittersweet milestone for you, but these young adults have you to thank for all this,” he said. “As for you seniors, make sure you show appreciation for all the sacrifices they’ve made for you.”
ALEX RUBIO PHOTOS
Page 8
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
SUBSCRIBE 512.778.5577
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
SELLING L LIBERTY HIL FOR
40 YEARS!
BUYING OR SELLING A HOME?
RE/MAX Town & Country 13561 W. Hwy 29, Liberty Hill shanetwhite@remax.com www.ShaneTWhiteTeam.com
512.515.5253
Thursday, June 3, 2021
HOMES AROUND THE HILL Palmera Ridge - Leander 2201 Bonavista Way East Lake Forest - Round Rock 1264 Pine Forest Circle Coming Soon! Kempner Ranch - 40 acres 820 Panther Creek
Homes for Sale
3BR/2BA 2 car garage 4BR/3.5BA - Pool 6BR/5BA Acreage/Property for Sale Tract 4B N Hwy 195 No restrictions, Ag exempt Lot 12 Cloudwood Ranch Rd Lots of trees Lot 22 Cloudwood Ranch Rd Lots of oaks, backs to creek Under Contract / Pending
Florence Cloudwood Ranch Lot - Briggs Cloudwood Ranch Lot - Briggs Georgetown Liberty Hill - 2.2 acres
2611 Sunrise Valley 140 Shin Oak Lane
Bertram 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 Purser Estate John Loupy - Marble Falls San Gabriel River - 3/4 acres Liberty Hill Liberty Hill Flores Sundance Ranch - Liberty Hill Downtown Liberty Hill Iron Oak - 2 acres
367 Mesquite
Liberty Hill - No restrictions - Ag exempt Liberty Hill 10.1 acres - Ag exempt San Gabriel River Ranch
257 CR 278 301 CR 278 330 Remuda
San Gabriel River Ranch Liberty Hill Rosemont - Liberty Hill Carrington Ranch - Liberty Hill Live Oak - Granite Shoals Whitewater Springs 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
101 Far Vela Ln 108 Green Branch Ct 3623 Hawk Ridge 601 Cole Dr 20809 Catwalk Ct 216 Munro 712 Judge Fisk Dr 214 Barrington 1900 Timber Ridge 121 River Rd 2190 CR 282 2210 CR 282 550 Stadium Dr 101 Shetland Ct 107 Forrest St 232 Oak Hill
107 Lariat 2170 CR 282 112 Charli Circle 300 Dillo Trail 113 W Cedar Dr 00 N Creek Ct Tract 3A 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
3BR/2BA 2 car garage 3BR/2BA + pool
$ 430,000 1855 sq ft $ 800,000 3819 sq ft $ 990,000 4483 sq ft
Amy Gandy Amy Gandy Cheryl Stephens
$ 564,300 20.9 acres $ 255,000 7.74 acres $ 197,500 4.25 acres
Dax Oglesby Cheryl Stephens Cheryl Stephens
$ 380,000 1566 sq ft
Amy Gandy
$ 200,000 1624 sq ft $1,950,000 8280 sq ft
Shane T. White Kristen Childers
$ 430,000 1611 sq ft
3BR/2BA 7BR/7.5BA 5BR/5.5BA - Main house + casita 4BR/2.5BA 4BR/4.5BA 4BR/3BA 3BR/ 2.5BA 4BR/3BA 3BR/2B 3BR/ 2.5BA - 8.92 acres 3BR/2BA Build to suit home site Build to suit home site Cleared & level 4BR/4BA 3BR/2BA + 1BR/1BA 4BR/4BA Sold! Can adjoin to 301 CR 278 4BR/2.5BA Lot 177 - Heavily treed 4BR/2BA Build to suit home site 5BR/3BA 4BR/3.5BA 2BR/2BA Hill Country views No restrictions, Ag exempt 4BR/2BA 5BR/2.5BA 3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA 4BR/3.5BA 3BR/2BA - 1 acre 3BR/2.5BA 3BR/1BA 3BR/2BA
$1,200,000 4473 sq ft $ 399,000 2741 sq ft $1,100,000 3611 sq ft
$ 599,000 2921 sq ft $ 325,000 1825 sq ft $ 635,000 3002 sq ft $ 325,000 1683 sq ft $ 799,000 3320 sq ft $ $ $ $ $ $ $
230,000 245,000 245,000 750,000 925,000 525,000 765,000
1440 sq ft 2.883 acres 2.883 acres 1.337 acre Side-Pad 3034 sq ft 1654 sq ft 2800 sq ft
Shane T. White
Amy Gandy Amy Gandy
Shane T. White Amy Gandy
Kristen Childers Kristen Childers Shane T. White Kristen Childers
Cheryl Stephens Sabrina Jordan Sabrina Jordan Shane T. White Amy Gandy Adrienne Hughes Dax Oglesby
$ 500,000 10.1 acres $ 650,000 2800 sq ft $ 45,000 1.98 acres
Dax Oglesby Dax Oglesby Shane T. White
$ 550,000 2673 sq ft
Adrienne Hughes
$ 398,000 2307 sq ft $ 245,000 2.883 acres $ 635,000 3441 sq ft $ 329,000 1686 sq ft $ 58,900 1.2 acres $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
338,168 515,000 560,000 325,000 275,000 410,000 650,000 399,000 450,000 299,000 399,000
11.3 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
Shane T. White Sabrina Jordan Tammy Wise
Kristen Childers Kristen Childers 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
LIBERTY HILL’S REAL ESTATE GUIDE
SABRINA JORDAN REALTOR®
512.680.0375 cell sabrinajordan.kwrealty.com RESIDENTIAL, LAND, FARM & RANCH HOMETOWN ROOTS - HOMETOWN VALUES
Feature your property listings weekly! (512) 778-5577
Real Life. Real People. Real Estate.
Residential • Farm and Ranch Minerals • Land and Leasing
Is NOW the time to sell your home? Call us ... We know the answer! Kristen Childers
Dax Oglesby
REALTOR®
REALTOR , RPL daxoglesbysgrhomes@gmail.com ®
AustinAndHillCountryRealEstate.com
3103 Ranch Road 1869 Liberty Hill
www.DaxSellsTexas.com
Amy Gandy, Broker/Owner | MCNE, CLHMS 512-589-9005 | amy@agandyandco.com www.agandyandco.com
REALTOR®
(512) 501 501-0777
(512) 635-7529
From Waco to New Braunfels, Llano to LaGrange and everywhere in between.
Tammy Wise
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.”
Adrienne Hughes
Cheryl Stephens
512-810-0185
512-417-0026
Broker/Owner
Realtor ®, GRI, MRP
3106 Ranch Road 1869 | Liberty Hill, TX 78642 | www.Hughes-and-Company.com