Liberty Hill Independent Monthly - April 2023

Owners Chad & Amanda Moore

FEATURES

5 | NEW OWNERS FOR THE PAPER

Two employees have purchased The Independent

8 | TAKE A HIKE THIS SUMMER Balcones Canyonlands is home to boundless hiking possibilities

10 | EXPLORE THESE SUMMER CAMPS

Liberty Hill is home to a variety of innovative camps for children

17 | MEET THE LHISD CANDIDATES

Learn more about the six candidates running for LHISD Board of Trustees

26 | SWIM INTO SUMMER

Joy Swim School uses unique model to teach skills in the pool

30 | CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

What’s new on US Hwy 183

34 | WILLIE’S LUCK FAMILY REUNION

Consider a summer trip to Spicewood

40 | PANTHER SPORTS

Catch up with LHHS baseball, golf and softball

DEPARTMENTS

7 | BIZ BRIEFS

See the businesses planned or opening soon in Liberty Hill

29 | OBITUARIES

31 | WORSHIP GUIDE

Celebrate Easter at a local church 31 | LOOKING BACK Ruby Forbes Wykes

44 | LOCAL EVENTS

Local entertainment on tap for April

ABOUT OUR COVER

With just a couple short months until summer, parents may be thinking about swimming lessons for their children. One local instructor, Joy McCain, has a unique approach. With her in the pool on a recent chilly spring day are her children, Heidimae and AmberRae.

LIBERTY

| Shelly Wilkison GRAPHIC DESIGN | Katie McLaughlin ADVERTISING SALES Stacy Coale CONTRIBUTING

The information in this publication was compiled with great care to assure the accuracy of editorial content and advertising copy. Liberty Hill Independent Monthly and its parent company assume no liability for the accuracy of the information reported to us herein, and the opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. For advertising rates and information, or to obtain additional copies, call (512) 778-5577 or send email to news@LHIndependent.com. This publication is truly a collaborative effort of experienced journalists, a professional design team, advertising specialists and many others passionate about sharing the story of Liberty Hill, Texas. Copyright©2023 Texas Independent News Corp./Liberty Hill Independent. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher. Contact Us: (512) 778-5577 News@LHIndependent.com Liberty Hill Independent, PO Box 1235, Liberty Hill, TX 78642

Liberty Hill Independent announces ownership change

After 13 years of continuous publication under Shelly Wilkison and the Texas Independent News Corp., The Liberty Hill Independent is being sold to local journalists Rachel Madison and Scott Akanewich, both longtime employees of the current owner. Wilkison will retire effective July 1. Madison, who began working for The Independent in 2017 as a freelance reporter, now works full-time covering City government and writing engaging feature stories. Akanewich, who joined the staff in 2019 as Sports Editor, now also covers the education beat.

Wilkison said employees taking over the business was the ideal situation. As trusted, experienced journalists, Madison and Akanewich live in Liberty Hill and have a long-standing commitment to the community. Madison’s community service and involvement in various local organizations makes her an ideal leader for the future.

“I like to say being a journalist is more of a calling than a job,” Madison said. “I have loved writing and journalism since I was a kid. I have a passion for telling people’s stories, and fair and balanced story telling is important to me.”

Wilkison said she has every confidence in her successors.

“I have every confidence in them as journalists and community leaders, and look forward to watching and celebrating their success,” Wilkison said.

“When I learned Shelly was looking to sell the paper, I didn’t want it to just go away, which could have been a possibility if she didn’t find the right buyer,” said Madison. “The thought of Liberty Hill not having a reliable source of news was enough to prompt me to put my hat in the ring. Luckily, she accepted the offer.”

Wilkison, whose corporation was the third owner of The Independent in its 36-year history, purchased the newspaper from Dan Pogue in 2010 following the death of his wife, Diane. The Pogues, who are both deceased, worked together at the newspaper for many years, purchasing it from founder Jim “Linzy” Hudgins, who started it in 1987. Hudgins passed away in 1999.

Wilkison purchased The Leader newspaper in 2017 and took it out of circulation because she believed Liberty Hill was better served by having only one newspaper staffed by professional journalists.

“The Independent has been around for 36 years. No other publication in Liberty

Hill has lasted that long or has the kind of legacy The Independent does, and that’s because it has always been far more than a newspaper. We intend on continuing that legacy by staying involved in the community. We have a lot of ideas for the future and are excited to share those when the time comes,” Madison said.

“A small-town publication such as The Independent has an obligation to be a shining light in the community it serves,” said Akanewich. “In addition to covering news as we have done in the past, we intend to cultivate new relationships as the community continues to grow. We want to be known as the preeminent media source for Liberty Hill -- one residents can count on.”

Madison and Akanewich, whose corporation Liberty Hill Independent News & Media LLC purchased the publication, are starting their venture at a time when the future of the newspaper industry is uncertain.

“It’s no secret that people say no one reads newspapers anymore. While that may be true in a lot of places, I don’t think it is for Liberty Hill,” Madison said. “We are a city that prides ourselves on having a closeknit community and instilling small-town values in our children, and I believe part of that culture comes from The Independent. No other publication is reporting on the local government, local schools and sports the way we do. No other publication tells the stories of our most interesting residents or most accomplished business leaders. We have so much opportunity here at The Independent to grow alongside Liberty Hill.”

“What we have here in Liberty Hill is a vibrant, ever-growing community,” added Akanewich. “Although it may not be the small town it once was, I believe the same mentality remains and is one of the reasons families choose to move here. We must be willing to let go of old ways and progressively meet the needs of our audience.”

Stacy Coale, with an education and professional background in graphic design, has played a significant role in the business’ success since 2018. She will continue to stay with The Independent as its Advertising Director and Media Specialist.

During the past 13 years, Texas Independent News Corp. added several additional publications to its media holdings including Liberty Hill Living Magazine, ConnectED Magazine, Liberty Hill Area Business

(Above) Current staff of THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT includes, from left, Advertising Director Stacy Coale, Owner/Publisher Shelly Wilkison, Sports Editor Scott Akanewich, and Staff Writer Rachel Madison. Rachel and her husband, John Madison (right), along with Akanewich are the new owners of the newspaper and its specialty publications. PHOTO BY KATIE WILKISON

New pool highlights City’s summer plan

Memorial Day weekend will be grand opening

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR

As temperatures continue to rise as spring begins to transition to summer, residents of Liberty Hill will finally have a municipal pool to cool off in.

The Liberty Hill Swim Center is located at 251 County Road 200 as part of City Park, a project that was constructed at a cost of $1.8 million, with the City of Liberty Hill financing $1.3 million to go with a $500,000 grant from Texas Parks & Wildlife.

With opening scheduled for Memorial Day, the finishing touches are being applied to the center, which will be the jewel of what the City sees as a stepping stone to future additions, said Jamie Higuera, Parks and Recreation supervisor.

“This is all part of our comprehensive plan,” she said. “We’re mapping out the future as far as everything we would like to do.”

The pool is 4,200 square feet and includes a beach entrance, a tanning shelf

and two 25-meter swim lanes to go with an adjacent splash pad.

Higuera said making the pool a reality after years in the planning stages proved to be challenging on a number of fronts.

“We had to go out and find grants and funding,” she said. “In addition, there were supply-chain issues and policies and procedures that never existed before.”

With an official grand opening scheduled for June 3, Higuera said that occasion will only mark the beginning of other events the City hopes to utilize the pool for.

“We want to have ‘Dive-in’ movies and we hope to introduce swim lessons at some point,” she said. “We’re all just really excited to have a place to go.”

Higuera, who has an aquatics background as a competitive swimmer, said she envisions there perhaps one day being a community center in Liberty Hill that would house many different activities under one roof.

“It would be great to have an indoor recreation center and natatorium,” she said. “It

would serve a ton of different needs and be year-round.”

For now, though, Higuera is focused on what’s right in front of her.

“We have to take care of what we already have before we start adding things,” said Higuera. “But, I can promise we’re working on it.”

With so many new businesses locating in Liberty Hill, it's time to choose the BEST OF THE BEST!

Reader voting for the 5th Annual Best of Liberty Hill begins April 24 and ends May 12 at 9pm. The winners and runners-up will be featured in our annual Best of Liberty Hill edition in July. Follow us on Facebook for more details.

NOMINATE YOUR BUSINESS TODAY TO BE INCLUDED ON THE 2023 BALLOT

SCAN TO NOMINATE

NOT SURE WHICH CATEGORIES TO CHOOSE FOR YOUR NOMINATIONS?

Scan the code at left to view the 2022 Best of Liberty Hill winner’s list or visit:

https://issuu.com/lhindependent/docs/2022bestoflibertyhilllist

List your business on the ballot in as many categories that apply to your business for $10 each.*

Choose your ballot categories by scanning the QR code above or visit https://liberty-hill-independent-news-media.square.site Questions: stacy@lhindependent.com or call 512.778.5577

Nominations end: April 18 at 9pm

*Businesses that advertise in the Best of Liberty Hill edition may apply the category listing fee(s) toward the price of a 1/4 page or larger ad. Don’t want to pay for a listing on the ballot? That’s ok! Each category on the ballot also has a ‘fill in blank’ option where voters can add your name to cast votes for your business.

The new Liberty Hill Swim Center is scheduled to open on Memorial Day weekend, with a grand opening set for June 3. (Courtesy Photo)

BIZ BRIEFS:

Latest business openings and what’s coming soon to Liberty Hill What’s New?

FOOD & BEVERAGE

RETAIL

Dirty Swine Customs

Mobile, Liberty Hill

Rabbit Hole Neighborhood Bar

2082 US 183, Leander

A new neighborhood cocktail bar is coming to The Shops at San Gabriel in north Leander. The bar will be owned by the same family who owns Lucky Rabbit in Jonestown.

BTX Co ee

170 S. San Gabriel Street, Bertram

A co ee shop and cafe will soon replace the Texas Pecan Cake Shop located inside the Joann Cole Mitte Memorial Library in Bertram. It will be opened by owner Jason Jewett by the end of June.

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS

• Whitestone Brewery

15390 SH 29, Liberty Hill

• Van's Damn Tasty Tacos and Ronburguesas

15390 SH 29, Liberty Hill

• Bearded Beauty BBQ Mobile, Liberty Hill

News

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

Dirty Swine Customs is a new veteran owned and operated business in Liberty Hill that o ers auto/UTV upfitting and customization, laser engraving and Cerakote application for most interior and exterior car and truck parts.

The Lash Bar & Boutique

342 N. Grange Street, Bertram

A new boutique and lash bar in Bertram o ers clothing, spray tans, waxing, and full sets of lashes to customers.

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS

• Longhorn Ammunition

CR 233, Florence

• Liberty Hill Mart

13677 SH 29, Liberty Hill

SERVICES

Jack Brown Cleaners

19392 Ronald Reagan Blvd. The Bar W shopping center, where H-E-B is located, will soon be the home of a new location of Jack Brown Cleaners, an Austin-based dry-cleaning company that o ers drive-through service.

Impact Family Wellness

9017 SH 29, Liberty Hill

A new location of Impact Family Wellness is opening soon in Liberty Hill. The original location in Cedar Park was opened seven years ago. The clinic operates under a direct primary care model, and will be headed up by Kerstin Gillespie, a family nurse practitioner.

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS

• It's Sew My Party Mobile, Liberty Hill

• Urtiz Roofing and Waterproofing

Liberty Hill

• Songbird O ce Condos

135 Mourning Dove Lane, Leander

• Bright Spot Pediatric Therapy

Mobile, Liberty Hill

• Farmers Insurance

Je rey Schultze

14362 SH 29, Liberty Hill

• Queen of Hearts CPR 10806 SH 29, Liberty Hill

ON THE MOVE

Texas Honey Hole

1201 Loop 332, Liberty Hill

Jodi McCumber, owner of downtown candy store Texas Honey Hole, recently announced the store will be closing after three years due to ongoing medical issues.

Flock Fitness

12780 SH 29, Liberty Hill

Flock Fitness owner Nicole Rysdyke announced in March that she was handing the business back over to former owner Maranda Basey. Basey plans to renovate the building and rebrand the business as Flock Studios.

with three floors of o ce space and a mezzanine for manufacturing storage and surrounding concrete pads for machinery.

Ginger Roots Boutique

104 Brown Bridge Rd, Liberty Hill

In March, Ginger Roots Boutique celebrated its third anniversary.

CrossTech Automotive

4333 SH 29, Bertram

In March, CrossTech Automotive celebrated its second anniversary. The business recently moved to Bertram.

Main Street Marketplace

704 Loop 332, Liberty Hill

The newest vendors to join Main Street marketplace include Glenny Bee Hats, Signal Hill Designs tumblers, Lakeline Designs charcuterie boards, Poppy Lane Boutique and ETX bath trays. Additionally, current vendor Call Me Darlin' recently expanded its o erings inside the marketplace.

Duckworth Insurance Agency

100 E. Myrtle Lane, Liberty Hill Duckworth Insurance recently moved to a new location in downtown Liberty Hill. The agency is under the direction of owner Daniel Duckworth.

Firefly Aerospace

285 CR 210

Firefly Aerospace is expanding its Bertram site to include two metal buildings of manufacturing space

Smalltown Trendy

118 Vaughan Street, Bertram

Bertram-based boutique Smalltown Trendy recently moved locations and is now housed inside Cherokee's Beauty & Blessings Hair Salon.

In addition to the multiple publications and a news website, Wilkison and her staff started such popular community events as the Independence Day Spectacular and Whimsy & Wonder, and also played an organizing role in the Liberty Hill Christmas Festival and the Sculpture Festival. Before COVID, Wilkison’s team established the Liberty Hill Day of Giving where local non-profits benefited from online donations during a 24-hour period. In addition to raising money for the organizations, the newspaper boosted their awareness and presence in the community.

Recognizing the important role the newspaper plays when it comes to informing voters at election time, The Independent

hosts candidate forums like the one scheduled April 19 at Santa Rita Middle School in the races for school board.

Wilkison has made significant financial contributions to local non-profit groups through the years, as well as school-related clubs and organizations.

In 2015, she facilitated the publication of the first high school newspaper -- The Panther Post -- inside the pages of The Independent as a way to help grow local journalists and promote a new journalism program at the high school. Through the years, dozens of high school and college students have completed internships at The Independent under her leadership.

“We have always looked for more ways to

connect with our community and tell the stories of Liberty Hill,” she said. “It’s been such a blessing to have earned a position of trust.

“Further, it’s been the honor of my life to have served as owner and publisher of a newspaper,” said Wilkison, who graduated from Baylor University in 1984 with a degree in journalism. “The dream started there, and came true with the never-ending support of my husband, Charley, and our family. We were driven by a commitment to make a difference in our hometown and invest in its future, and looking back, I'm proud to say that I believe we did.”

Learn more about the new owners of The Independent at www.LHIndependent.com.

Scott Akanewich and Rachel Madison are the new owners of The Independent, e ective July 1.

Hitting the trails with nature

Balcones Canyonlands offers boundless hiking possibilities

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH STAFF WRITER

One need only enter the visitors’ center at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge to instantly come face-to-face with many of the hundreds of species found on the 27,000-acre swath of Central Texas terrain that serves as a sanctuary for animals, plants and flowers that call this particular part of the Lone Star State home.

Of course, those are just a taxidermist’s rendition, but the possibility of meeting up with real-life critters of all shapes and sizes is right back out the door on the refuge’s 16 trails that range from two-tenths of a mile all the way up to 1.53 miles in length.

However, even in a state the massive size of Texas, places like Balcones are few and far between due to the fact only six percent of the state are public lands, which means the federal government must make full use of what land it has at its disposal to create refuges.

According to Kelly Purkey of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this is becoming more and more difficult as progress and growth continues to infringe on nature’s boundaries.

“Used to be all we had to do was work with local ranchers and farmers in this area to maintain conservation,” said Purkey, who is Balcones Canyonlands refuge manager. “But, now we have more and more housing developments, so it’s more of a challenge to keep land open so we can do what we do.”

Originally formed by Congress in 1992, Balcones was opened in order to protect a pair of birds that were on the endangered-species list at the time – the golden-cheeked warbler and the black-capped vireo, which presented a tricky proposition for conservationists, said Purkey.

“Those two birds actually have opposite habitat requirements,” she said. “Exactly contrary to each other.”

Although the black-capped vireo has since been moved off the endangered list, the golden-cheeked warbler remains, primarily due to its rapid loss of habitats as urban development has continued to take away land that once provided fertile breeding grounds.

Interestingly enough, help came from a rather unlikely source in the U.S. Army, which protected large juniper tree groves on Fort Hood, the sprawling base in Killeen

that is home to the trees warblers use to build their nests.

Purkey said due to the fact birds such as the warbler and vireo aren’t the most glamorous or recognizable species threatened, they perhaps don’t get as much attention from the general public.

“I think when it comes to endangered species, people tend to think more about animals like bears and wolves,” she said. “But, who really gets to decide which ones are more important?”

Hiking with a hand

Recently, Balcones introduced guided tours in addition to the other activities available to the public – with the primary objectives to not only make hiking more enjoyable, but to also provide more of an insight into what the average hiker sees out on the trails, said Purkey.

“We want people to know why we’re here in the first place,” she said. “We also want as much of the refuge as possible to be open to the public and these guided tours allow people to go places they ordinarily wouldn’t be able to on their own.”

Purkey described a snapshot of any random moment a hiker might take in and how the entire experience can be enhanced with insight added to visuals.

“Our guides have the background and knowledge to be able to take a moment of nature and describe everything that is happening in that particular picture,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to learn about the natural world around them in a different way – how everything from the soil to the water to the plants and animals all work together in the environment.”

Along with the knowledge provided by the guides – who go through a six-week training course to be certified in areas including water, geology, cultural resources and wildlife – there’s a certain sense of security provided by the presence of a trained professional when one never knows what might be lurking around the next bend in the trail.

“When people are managed and led, they feel more safe out in the wilderness,” said Purkey. “We’re trying to reach people who might’ve stayed away because they’re afraid or just don’t know what to expect.”

Must-see areas

Among the most desirable spots on the refuge from which to view Balcones in all

its splendor are the Warbler Vista and Doeskin Ranch trails, but the real beauty of the refuge is regardless of where one chooses to carve out a portion of nature for enjoyment, there is a number of combinations hikers

can customize for their own interactive experience, said Purkey.

“We have two really awesome trail sections,” she said. “But, you can also combine many of our smaller trails.”

(Above) Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge recently added guided tours to provide hikers with a more enjoyable experience through knowledge and insight. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

(Below) The Sunset Deck on the Warbler Vista Trail offers panoramic views of Lake Travis and the Colorado River. (Photo by Melissa Cheatwood)

Consider creative camps this summer

Liberty Hill area is home to a variety of innovative camps for children

BY RACHEL MADISON STAFF WRITER

Most parents will admit that they need some way to keep their kids occupied during the summer months. Whether they are working while their kids are out of school, or they are home with them every day, keeping them engaged and boredom-free can be a challenge.

That’s one reason summer camps have become so popular. And while there’s a lot of options out there for kids based on their interests, some camps are more unique than others.

Check out these Liberty Hill area summer camps with a creative twist to keep kids occupied while also learning new and innovative skills.

Country Fire Volleyball

At Country Fire Volleyball, camps will be going all summer long for kids looking to improve their volleyball skills. The camps are available to ages 3 through 18.

Jason Tuggle, owner of Country Fire Volleyball, said this summer, they added several new programs for different age groups to give more kids a chance to learn new skills in an age-appropriate setting.

“We start with volley tots that is for ages 3 and 4 and then we go all the way up to kids in 12th grade,” he said. “We also have beach volleyball, which kids start when they’re a little bit older because it’s way more technical, but both our indoor and beach camps are at the same facility.”

In the past, summer camps would just go for four to six weeks, Tuggle said, but this year he’s decided to add week-long and allday camps as well, to give more flexibility.

“That gives kids a lot of cool options, because they can come to our long-term camps, or just come for the week or a day,” he added. “There is something going on for ages 3 to 18 all summer long. This year is the most in-depth offering we’ve had.”

Some of the camps give kids an introduction to playing volleyball, while others are more specific based on their ages and the positions they play on their club or school teams, such as teaching setting skills or defense.

“The other thing is that for people who want some one-on-one work and interaction, in addition to camps we have private lessons, so they can come and do one on one work with one of our 20 coaches,”

Tuggle added.

While the camps are primarily filled by girls, boys are also welcome.

“Boys can definitely come to the camps,” Tuggle said. “We’ve never had a big enough number of boys that wanted to play at the same time to make a club team, but we do have boys come to the camps.”

Camps range in price from around $75 to $300. Information on the camps can be found at countryfirevolleyball.com.

F5 Ranch Camp

F5 Ranch Camp gives kids a taste of living the ranch life, which for many, is something they’ve never experienced before.

“The ranch environment is great for kids to find their freedom, because everything is a new experience for almost all of the kids,” said owner Joy McCain. “A lot of them don’t have farm experience or horse experience, so they are all learning the same things but at their own level.”

F5 Ranch Camp gives kids from age 4 through eighth grade the chance to spend a week working on McCain’s ranch, where they learn how to ride horses, care for farm animals, learn short- and long-range archery, and even try their hand at axe throwing.

“Every camp is different because the animals are in different phases and stages,” McCain added. “The kids get to ride the horses, feed the animals, muck the stalls, gather eggs—things like that. At the end of the week we have a fun competition with the archery and axe throwing, and we give out awards as well as character awards.”

This year, McCain is only planning to hold one camp in June, which will take place June 5-9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., but if enough people sign up by May, she will add a second camp at the end of May. She will cap the camps at 50 kids.

The kids do separate during their specific lessons based on age, but some of the activities are done as a group.

“The dynamic this environment creates is really great for those kids who are basically in the classroom with the same 20 kids all the time,” McCain said. “We mix the younger and older kids together and it creates a dynamic that is a really beautiful thing to see.”

McCain created the ranch camp not only as a way to teach kids about ranch life, but also as a way to learn life skills like respecting peers and staff, learning how to be

independent, and building confidence. At the end of the week, McCain hosts a family day so the kids can show their parents all the new skills they’ve learned.

The cost for F5 Ranch camp is $250 for the week per camper. To learn more about the camp, visit facebook.com/F5RanchCamp.

The Greatest Showman Camp

Liberty Hill locals Lauren and Zach Brown are the couple behind The Greatest Showman Leadership and Cattle Showmanship Camp, which they host every summer to teach kids all the skills they need to successfully show cattle.

Both Browns are former teachers—Zach Brown served as Liberty Hill High School’s ag teacher a few years ago—and have taken their teaching skills to their annual camp, which they’ve hosted for the last six years.

“Kids who sign up for the camp bring their own animals, and we work on skills like washing their animal, taking care of them both at home and at the show, and all the show ring skills,” Zach Brown said. “We also teach a leadership aspect, like how to have integrity and step out of your comfort zone.”

This year’s camp will be held July 20-23, and is an intensive, overnight camp. The camps have been held in Burnet and Llano in the past, but this year it will be held in

F5 Ranch Camp gives kids a first-hand look at caring for animals such as horses and chickens, while also giving them the chance to try their hand at learning different skills like axe throwing and archery. (Courtesy Photo)

Lampasas. Campers bring their animals to stay in the barn, and they are welcome to stay at a nearby hotel or if their family has an RV, they can hook up at the barn for the camp.

“We need a barn with a show ring and a cafeteria or a hall for workshops and meals, so this year we are going to Lampasas,” Zach Brown said. “We are local to Liberty Hill, but there’s just not a facility big enough in Liberty Hill so we have to go where there is room.”

Another unique aspect of the camp is that parents are actually asked to stay with their kids during the camp, Lauren Brown said.

“We want the parents to stay and do the workshops and learn alongside their kids, because it’s an intimidating industry and they put a lot of time, effort and money into it,” she added. “We make the camps family based.”

Kids as young as 5 have participated in the camp before, and the Browns train kids up until age 18. They typically cap their camps at around 35 to 40 campers. The coaches they hire to help out are typically former campers, many of whom are also a part of Liberty Hill’s FFA program, or are state leaders in FFA.

“We take a very teacher mindset to the whole thing,” Zach Brown said. “The first workshop we hold is a stepping out of your comfort zone workshop because we want the kids to break out of their shells.”

The cost for each camper is $450. For more information on The Greatest Showman camp, visit zbltshowcalvestexas.com.

Iron Horse Motocross Camp

Iron Horse owners Eric and Annelise Turner have been teaching kids how to ride dirt bikes every summer for the last 16 years. Their 100-acre property in Bertram allows kids, ranging from ages 8 to 13, to experience a week-long sleep-away camp that focuses on the skills needed to learn how to ride dirt bikes.

“We teach them how to hide by reflex,” Eric Turner said. “We do feet up, feet down, hands on, hands off—it’s all about calisthenics. They will be all over the place, but after about four stops, they’ll start to get it. The first time they go all the way around the circle track, they have the biggest smiles.”

While campers primarily focus on riding bikes, because it’s a sleep-away camp, they also get free time during the week for swimming, playing games, watching movies and more. All meals are provided by Annelise Turner, and there are separate bunkhouses for all the campers based on gender and

The week-long camps start with the basics of dirt bike riding, and by the end of the week, many of the kids are confident enough to do a jump on their bike. All bikes and riding equipment are provided by the Turners as part of the camp. On the last day of camp, parents are invited to sit in the on-site stands and watch their kids ride around a track that will highlight some of the skills they’ve learned.

Because the property is so spacious, there are several tracks for kids to learn to ride, from an easy-going trail through the grasses to a more intermediate trail the Turner’s call the “roller coaster” track. Each camp runs Monday through Friday, and the Turners host seven different weeks of camp throughout the summer. About 300 kids per summer go through the camps.

“These are machines, but little kids can do it,” Annelise Turner said. “It’s really pretty amazing to see what they can do.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

(Above) The Greatest Showman summer camp gives kids the chance to learn everything they need to know about showing cattle. (Below) Kids from ages 3 to 18 can participate in summer camps at Country Fire Volleyball, where they can learn the ins and outs of playing volleyball. PHOTOS BY RACHEL MADISON age.

LHISD Trustee candidates share their views

Voters in the Liberty Hill Independent School District will consider candidates for School Trustee when they go to the polls May 6. Early voting is April 24-May 2.

In Place 1, the seat currently held by Terry Smith, there are three challengers. Those include Brandon Canady, Chris Neighbors and Cory Milam.

In Place 2, incumbent Kendall Carter is being challenged by Antonio Canas.

The Liberty Hill Independent recently asked the candidates a series of questions and their responses appear unedited below. Learn more about the candidates by attending a Candidate Forum hosted by The Independent at 6:30pm April 19 at Santa Rita Middle School.

LHI: What compelled you to run for school board?

BRANDON CANADY: I have two daughters ages 7 and 3. My wife and I both attended Liberty Hill schools: Kindergarten through graduation. We want our daughters to experience the same great school district we did. I have decided to run for school board, because I have concerns that we could lose sight of the culture and values that have made our district exceptional. Growing up in Liberty Hill, I know first-hand how great this district sets students up for life after graduation, and I want to see that continue for many years to come. I do not want to let big government tell us how to raise and teach our children. Instead, I want to advocate for LHISD’s values. Knowing the history of this town and ISD, I can offer the board a different perspective on policies and decisions than someone who hasn’t grown up here and been through this school system. I want to give back and serve the community that helped raise me. I am running for my kids, as well as yours. Let’s get back to our roots!

CORY MILAM: I have a deep passion for the culture and values that make this community so great and the main reason why we moved here. I want to ensure that they are at the forefront of every decision we make as a district with all of the current & future growth. Another reason I was compelled to run is due to the fact that the East side of town has no representation and there are a lot of big decisions that will be made in the next two years regarding the new high school that I would like to be the voice of our community and represent their wants and needs I say this in no way to cause division in our community. Unity

as a Liberty Hill community is critical as we grow, but I believe the best way to avoid division is representation across our district. I will not be a divisive member, but one who strives to give a voice to the Eastern side of our district. With my background in construction,  I feel I would  be an asset with the growth  we currently have and the growth we have in the future.  I also believe that it’s important for us to have strong leadership on the School Board - leadership that is committed to preserving the core values of this community and ensuring that all voices are heard. I want to be a part of that leadership and I want to work with the community to make sure that our schools are the best they can be and their voices are heard.

TERRY SMITH: I wanted to get involved in the community and with the district. I wanted to learn what it was like to serve on a school board. It has been a learning experience for sure.

KENDALL CARTER: Originally I was asked to run for the school board by sitting members of the school board.  I served on the long range planning committee and bond committee and decided to run for school board.  Now that I’m up for re-election, I know more about the role and responsibilities associated with the position.  I now understand how the board is doing everything possible to give the students the best possible opportunity to become champions in academics, character, and community.

ANTONIO CANAS: I am a modest individual who loves to help others in need and positively impact our community with tangible actions, such as helping communities during a disaster and guiding teenagers that need assistance. I’m resourceful, always finding a plan B for a problem. Quitting is not an option; if I set my goal of becoming a board member, I will continue

to run to obtain my goal. I would be very proud to be a member of the LHISD school board and serve this great district and community with so much potential. With three children currently enrolled in LHISD, I am interested in the quality of education provided and in managing our tax dollars and having participated in many school district activities, such as attending the monthly board member meetings and providing public testimony regarding community concerns regarding fixing street traffic lights and caring for our disabled students. To assist the district with the shortage of teachers, I recently started working as a substitute teacher for half a day at least once a week.

CHRIS NEIGHBORS: I have served on multiple committees and boards for LHISD, including the Campus Education Improvement Committee, but it was my most recent involvement with the Long-Range Planning Committee that motivated me to run for school board. The LRPC provided valuable insights into the incredible growth Liberty Hill is experiencing and will continue to experience in the years ahead. I feel my background and experience in construction and development and long-term planning would be a great addition to the board. I want to ensure that LHISD remains one of the top school districts in the state without sacrificing the Liberty Hill that brought us

all here in the first place.

LHI: Describe your general philosophy about public education.

CANADY: Public education is the cornerstone of our society. When done correctly, it gives children the foundation needed to go into the next chapter of their life and be successful. If we, as a district, can continue to focus on letting teachers teach and remove any political distractions in our classrooms, we can continue to give our kids the foundation they deserve. Politics belong at home between the parents and their children. The focus in the classroom should be on core subjects and allow the students to learn, grow, and develop the ability to think critically for themselves. This traditional education gives students fundamentals they need to be successful while maintaining parental rights to teach politics and family values how they see fit at home.

MILAM: I believe that public education should be accountable to the community it serves. We need to be transparent and open about how our schools are performing and make sure that we are using taxpayer dollars responsibly. All kids deserve the best education, it does not matter what campus you attend in Liberty Hill you should have equitable facilities and high quality

BRANDON CANADY CORY MILAM CHRIS NEIGHBORS TERRY SMITH (I)

LHISD TRUSTEE PLACE 1 (I) = INCUMBENT

LHISD TRUSTEE PLACE 2 (I) = INCUMBENT

ANTONIO CANAS KENDALL CARTER (I)

Candidates

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 instruction.

SMITH: Public School should be the first choice for kids. LHISD is a huge part of the community and provides so many opportunities for kids to learn and grow.

CARTER: In Texas, about 90% of the eligible students attend public schools.  The school districts can only be as great as their leadership and the school policies that are implemented.  Luckily Liberty Hill has some of the best leadership and great policies that help our students become Panther champions.

CANAS: Public schools are crucial to individual students, community, and national success; everyone can accomplish their dreams and be productive citizens. Public schools are one of the most important functions of government and play a significant role in developing the future leaders of the United States. Public education has been known as the great equalizer, giving all children the same opportunities. To learn regardless of the neighborhood in which they live. All students and faculty should feel welcomed in our district and be given the tools to reach their full potential. School boards should serve the best interest of all students, school faculty, and the community. Trustees must be forward thinkers and invite all parties to collaborate to make the best strategic decisions for our district.

NEIGHBORS: I am the product of a smalltown public education system, and for the most part I love the systems in place. Do they need improvement in areas? Sure, everything does. But I feel its success requires a balance of parent involvement and teachers who are passionate about teaching. I feel like we have gotten away from these two basic tenants of public education. We need parents to be engaged, active participants in their children’s education, which plays a major role in student success. At the same time, we need to attract and retain great teachers, while also providing the tools they need to thrive.

LHI: What personal strengths or professional qualifications would make you a good candidate for Trustee?

CANADY: Over the last year, I have been attending school board meetings and served on the Student Health Advisory Council. At these meetings, I have learned about the process of how money is spent by

the board, how curriculum gets created or purchased, and how policies are created. This will help me serve the board effectively and be able to create policies that protects our small-town values. My career has prepared me to be a board member during this time of huge growth in our district. I have project management skills that include: managing a team of people, being a project manager for the construction of large electrical substations, ordering and delivering equipment, working with contractors, and navigating chronic supply chain crisis during covid and acute supply chain issues during storms. These skills will benefit the school board while building new schools and managing finances responsibly.

MILAM: As a resident of Liberty Hill for over 7 years and a parent of 3 children in LHISD, I have a deep understanding of our communities values and culture, and I am committed to ensuring that our schools provide the best possible education to our kids. In the community I served on the Board of the Liberty Hill Youth Baseball League, I also am a substitute teacher in the district and help when I can and also most recently served on the Long Range planning committee that focused on the future growth and what our needs are for the upcoming bond election.   Professionally, I have been in the construction industry for over 20 years which I feel would be a great resource for the current & future construction to ensure that we are being fiscally responsible with the budget for construction.

SMITH:  According to LHISD policy, the qualifications for school board are to be over the age of 18 and live in the district boundaries. I meet both of those requirements. Other than that, you have to make decisions, along with the other board members that will be in the best interest of the children.

CARTER: As a National Account Manager, I work with home builders, manage multi-million dollar contracts, etc. Some of the skills and knowledge transfer directly to our ISD as we work to partner with builders coming into our district.  Having the ability to obtain key contacts from the builders is information I have and can get to help out district.  Also, I have an understanding that being on the school board isn’t about me - this is about the students and how are we, as a school board, going to

work as team to make the best decisions for the kids.  Another thing I try to do is engage the community to have meaningful discussions were I listen to the feedback and suggestions from everyone.

CANAS: I am a lifelong learner; I earned my dual Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science in 2009, 2016 I completed a Master’s Degree in political science in 2016 from the University of West Florida with a 3.6 GPA, and in 2022 I completed a certificate in Disaster and Emergency Management Graduate Certificate. My love for serving did not end with my retirement from the military; instead, it has expanded. Last year I started employment with the State of Texas with an agency that deals with emergencies. My volunteer work is extensive, and I am a member of a disaster relief group called Team Rubicon. Most of the Team Rubicon members are retired military members and first responders. Team Rubicon assisted in the mitigation requirements of Williamson County Parks and Recreations and ensured our community in Liberty Hill was represented. I am a youth mentor for a Williamson County mentoring program, RESET. As a member of the Reset Mentoring program, I have mentored multiple at-risk teenagers needing someone who would be there for them and guide them in the right direction aimed at reducing recidivism and elevating them to the next step to fostering life-long success., I also serve as a catechist at Saint; a catechist passes on to students a set of Christian shared meanings and values. Finally, I am very involved in my community and was a critical member of the Lively Ranch community preparing for our yearly community garage sale. My education, work experiences, and community involvement make me a well-rounded candidate for this position. My skill set is broad and will lend to the planning for our district.

NEIGHBORS: Early in my career, I served at the Texas State Capitol as a Legislative Aide for Senator Teel Bivins, ushering bills into law, meeting with lobbyists and citizens from our district, and working with groups on all sides to work together for the common good. I sat on the Business and Commerce and International Relations and Trade committees and assisted Senator Bivins in his role as chairman of the Finance Committee. I also own two companies in the area—an artificial turf company I started from the ground up 15

years ago and a real estate holding company that develops land and builds commercial properties. For both companies, I have considerable experience in construction and development and served as the General Contractor. And finally, my proudest contribution to LHISD is my love for kids. I have served as a youth leader at my church for the past 15 years. My wife and I have been in the trenches with kids from all backgrounds and understand the challenges they face on a day-to-day basis. We consider it a blessing to pour our time and hearts into kids and I can say that is what I most look forward to bringing to LHISD.

LHI: What are the school district’s biggest challenges with continued fast growth, and how would you propose they be addressed?

CANADY: Two challenges we face areSchool Safety- The district has had to add more portables this year due to outgrowing current campuses. Portables are not as safe as permanent structures. Portables make keeping exterior doors locked more difficult and hinders our security. Staying ahead of the growth by building more schools will decrease our need for portables and increase student safety. The district added a police officer to each campus this year and I feel this was a great addition to our safety measures. I would like to see this continued.

Small-Town Feel- As our district grows, I want to make sure we do not lose our small-town, big heart feel. I have heard people from Rancho and Santa Rita schools say their schools feel overlooked and are worried that when the second high school is opened it will get worse. As a board member, I will focus on making sure all campuses in the district follow the same set of standards that keep LH values strong. This will create unity. I will continue to focus on all schools, no matter where they are located within our district.

MILAM: In my view, the biggest challenges facing our school district are managing growth while preserving our values and culture, ensuring that we have the resources and talent we need to provide our students with the best possible education, and promoting transparency and accountability in our schools. We need to take a thoughtful and strategic approach to managing growth in our district, which includes developing a long- term plan for accommodating new students and ensuring that our facilities are

equipped to meet the needs of a growing and diverse student population. We need to make sure that our schools are preserving the values and culture that make Liberty Hill such a special place to live and learn. This includes promoting respect while also fostering a sense of community and shared purpose. We need to ensure that we have the resources and talent we need to provide our students with the best possible education. This includes investing in our teachers, providing them with the resources and support they need to succeed, and attracting and retaining the best talent possible to our district. We need to be transparent and open about how our schools are performing and make sure that we are using taxpayer dollars responsibly. This includes regular communication with parents and the community, providing accurate and timely information about our schools, and holding ourselves accountable.

SMITH: I would the biggest challenge is having new schools ready in time for the upcoming school years. We have a lot of new kids coming to the district and we need to be able to have room for the kids. These new schools will allow the district to keep a low student to teacher ratio. We are asking the voters to pass this bond. These funds will allow the district to build a new high school and improve campus security and fund new technology devices for our kids.

CARTER: Fast growth districts face a lot of challenges - hiring enough teachers, attracting the best talent, building new schools and facilities, maintaining the identity and integrity of the district as you grow, etc - just to name a few.  2 key components that LHISD continues to do well is communicate as much information as possible to the parents, teachers, and entire district, and the second is using committees to make sure we are getting the input from the community regarding the most important items - bond, dress code, school zoning, etc.

CANAS: As our community expands, with new residents and students, the community needs an equal voice and representation; this can be accomplished by creating single-member districts. I believe consideration should be given to creating single-member districts. Single-member districts would: provide voters with strong constituent representation by giving each voter a single, easily identifiable district representative; encourage constituent services by providing voters with an easily recognizable ‘ombudsman’ (public

advocate; give voters the ability to hold their representative accountable through the election process; and lastly, it ensures geographic representation. Our current school board makeup should represent our community areas; residents in the developing area between Ronald Reagan and Highway 183 do not appear to have board member representation. We should study the advantage of creating member districts. This is a legislative year, and no doubt the Texas Legislature will pass significant bills that will impact the operation of our school district, with many decisions to be made by the school board. I am ready to work with my fellow trustees and all stakeholders to determine how to implement best any new requirements imposed by the state.

NEIGHBORS: Purchasing land, developing buildings, balancing student/teacher headcounts, and preserving the Panther Nation culture are all easy things to consider. But as I meet with teachers and administrators from around the district, I believe one of the biggest challenges is one of the easiest to overlook. As LHISD continues to grow, consistency across the school district, particularly in policies and enforcement of policies, is the framework that everything else is built upon. I would like to work on developing clear and consistent messages on all our policies (operations, educational standards, expectations) and enforce those policies to ultimately create a more positive and productive learning environment for everyone.

LHI: Identify an issue regarding district or campus management that you believe needs improvement and explain what a difference you could make if elected.

CANADY: The biggest challenge our district management is facing is the current staff shortages. With new schools opening and more positions to fill this problem is going to get worse before it gets better.  We need to get creative with our compensation packages for new teachers, as well as, retaining current teachers and staff. Even with the 8.3% raise the board put in place last year, our teacher salaries are lower than neighboring districts. We need to increase our pay scale to be competitive with other districts. Working at a company with over 100 employees, I am used to working within budgets to get creative with compensation to recruit and maintain staff. I can take that experience and aid in the development of compensation plans to help the district attract and retain more people.  If we can find ways to set LHISD apart from our surrounding districts, we

can increase teacher morale and retention rate. Happy teachers that stay with our district long term will give our students the best education.

MILAM: The Biggest issue facing our district right now is managing growth while preserving the core values and culture that makes Liberty Hill such a special place. I would say Keeping the Culture and values as the core to everything we do in all decisions is vital and the other ways we can do that is by passing the upcoming bond. The bond is critical because it will provide the funding we need to update and improve our facilities, build new schools, and improve infrastructure. These projects are essential to ensuring that our kids have access to a quality education and that our schools are equipped to meet the needs of a growing community. That’s why passing the bond is so important. It’s an investment in the future of our schools and our community, and it’s essential to ensuring that Liberty Hill remains a great place to live and raise a family. As your representative on the board I will ensure that we don’t ever forget where we came from or how we got here. I stand up for what I believe in and I am not afraid to voice it.

SMITH: The great thing about being a member of the school board is we have amazing administrators and staff at each school. Mr. Snell is very involved with the campuses and is able to solve 99.9%  of the problems before it reaches the board level. People have to realize that 1 person cannot make a difference by themselves. It takes all members of the school board to work together. Again, the children have to be and remain your #1 priority.

CARTER: One of the items we are working on with Mr. Snell is building his administrative staff to a level it needs to be for a district of our size.  We are working with Mr. Snell to make sure he has enough support with his staff so each campus can be supported.  The direct result will be that the kids in our district will continue to be the leaders in our community, our region, and our state.

CANAS: One improvement item is how funding is allocated to ensure all our campuses are equally and appropriately equipped with educational materials and safety measures. Our teachers continue to be overworked and underpaid. How will we compete if our teachers make as much as their students? In addition, I will ensure that when bonds are proposed, we are not

just kicking our debt with a never-ending payment date because, as a resident, I’m concerned it will never go away if we keep adding last-minute surprises or similar bond requests over and over.

NEIGHBORS: Again, it may not be sleek and attractive to talk about, but communicating and enforcing the basic house rules, or the policies, of the district need to remain a top priority. Policies maintain a safe and positive learning environment for students and teachers, alike. They establish expectations for everyone—teachers, students, coaches, administrators and so forth. I feel my political background, business insight and experience with kids make me a great fit for school board and I look forward to the opportunity in developing a strong foundation of communication at LHISD.

Swim into Summer

Joy Swim School uses unique model to teach area kids skills in the pool

BY RACHEL MADISON STAFF WRITER

When Joy McCain was just a baby, she’d go to work with her dad all the time. He taught swimming lessons, and she was frequently used as the “demo baby” to show other parents what to do with their young children in the pool. Fast forward to adulthood and five children of her own, and McCain hasn’t strayed too far from her beginnings.

“I’ve been doing swimming lessons in one form or another since I was an infant,” McCain said. “My dad’s philosophies from teaching lessons was engrained in me, and I kept those going as I started my own business in Texas.”

McCain moved to Texas from California in 2007, and started teaching swimming lessons locally that summer. She settled first in the Cedar Park area but has since moved to a farm in Bertram. Joy Swim School has been an option for swimming lessons in Liberty Hill since 2010.

For the longest time, McCain would have to turn people away because her client list for Joy Swim School, as she started calling it, would fill up for the summer in just a week. After a couple of summers of turning potential clients away, she decided to grow her business by training more instructors in her way of teaching. Since then, the amount of clients Joy Swim School serves nearly doubles every summer and she has instructors in towns across the Austin area.

The philosophy McCain swears by for her swim school is “together we can,” which to her means that the instructors will build trust with their students while helping them understand they can do hard things.

“We teach our students that we’ll do the hard things together, and we do give them a little tough love, but we also just don’t dunk them over and over in the water,” she said. “It’s a good balance between building trust and telling them, ‘You are going to do this, but I will keep you safe.’”

The expansion of the business has happened organically, McCain said, adding that the swim school’s come-to-the-client model has helped a lot. The areas she sends instructors to are really based on need and client volume.

“If a new person contacts us and they

have enough clients in their area for us to send an instructor to them, then we can do it,” she added. “The demand continues to grow, because our service is a different type of service than what some of these bigger swim schools offer. People aren’t calling it apples to apples anymore— they are realizing the come-to-you service is fantastic.”

To maintain high quality instructors, McCain said she’ll know after one season if her instructors are going to work out.

“We offer a caliber of service we’re known for, so if I train someone and they don’t work out, they aren’t coming back,” she said. “The ones that are really great will be invited back and given a raise the next season.”

Last summer, Joy Swim School served about 700 families with 15 instructors. McCain hopes to hire 20 instructors this summer so that even more families can be served.

“Most of my instructors are college-aged to young moms, or teachers who aren’t working in the summer,” she said. “Every single instructor spends two weeks with me in the pool learning the program. All I teach is the program and philosophy, and I hire my instructors based on genuinely liking kids and having patience.”

In the future, McCain plans to film a series of training videos for parents who don’t live in the school’s service area so they can subscribe and learn how to teach the skills to their kids from wherever they are.

“Teaching these kids for the last several years has been so rewarding and fun,” McCain said. “Every kid is different—they develop differently, learn how to breathe differently and tread water differently. What makes our program unique is that it’s individualized. It’s student driven, not curriculum driven.”

Liberty Hill resident Mary Linn King has been using Joy Swim School for six years. Her oldest daughter has completed the entire program, while her youngest hopes to graduate this summer.

“I would never go anywhere else,” King said. “We have never put our kids in floaties and we’ve been adamant about them learning to swim and feeling comfortable in the water. Joy has made it easy for them to build on their skills every summer, so they know what is coming.”

Liberty Hill resident Kari Pavlenko’s daughter has also been taking lessons through Joy Swim School for the last two summers.

“This program is the best money I’ve ever spent,” she said. “I’ve seen the results over the last two years with my daughter, and I really believe she can teach any child to swim. She has used our pool to teach lessons, so I’ve been able to watch all different kids with all different personalities learn to swim.”

McCain’s program doesn’t just teach kids, either. She has a growing number of adult clients who have never learned to swim and want to take swimming lessons.

“One of my favorite things to do is teach adults who haven’t learned how to swim

that they can do it,” she said. “They get so excited about conquering that.”

She also offers infant water safety classes for babies from six months to two years of age in the form of parent-tot classes.

“We teach reflexive water safety skills in this class, so we aren’t just throwing the kids into the pool or just having them blow bubbles in the water,” McCain said. “We provide a much more relational and less intense environment, and we teach parents how to help their babies hold their breath safely, float on their backs, climb in and out of the pool and turn around if they fall in and reach the wall. I say if your child can crawl or walk to the edge of a pool, they need swimming lessons.”

McCain also has instructors who are available to teach kids with special needs.

“That is a growing community and population, and I’ve been told by clients that other swim schools won’t work with their kids,” she said. “But I have some nurses and some special education teachers on my roster, who for them, nonverbal autism is no big deal. I’ve worked with kids who are wheelchair bound and can’t walk, but they can do the butterfly stroke.”

McCain added that teaching kids with

First row from left are Heidimae McCain, Emmy King, Kennadee McCain, Joy McCain and Corban McCain. Second row from left are AmberRae McCain, Lacylyn McCain and Ellis King. All share packages of Skittles after going for a swim with Joy Swim School. (Courtesy Photo)

Michael Ray Lowden

Michael Ray Lowden, 67 years old, of Liberty Hill, Texas, passed away unexpectedly the last week of December in 2022. He was known as Mike to the Lowden Clan and Cootsie or Spit to his Navy Buddies.

Michael was born December 26, 1955, to Aubrey Dale Lowden and Janice Marie Burch in Austin, Texas. He was a free spirit with a way with words as one might be in the United States Navy or as a heavy equipment operator. He had a saying for everything. One such saying was “busier than a tomcat in an alley…”

He was a good man and a hard worker. If the sun was up and he was still home, he was late.

Mike was a patriot and served in the Navy as a Mineman 3rd Class Pe y Officer between 1974 and 1978. While he did not graduate high school before enlisting, he was proud when he was recognized as part of Operation Recognition, granting him his high school diploma from Hays High School.

He was so much like his father in the fact he could pick any instrument up, and a er feeling it out for a bit, he was playing it. Michael loved to entertain people through music and song. His ability to entertain was so strong he would pull out his guitar and sing to impress, including music he composed. He also drove semi trucks, installed drywall, was a site supervisor, and operated heavy equipment.

He was a social bu erfly who knew the name of every neighbor and loved to speak

Loraine Dorcas Williams

with friends at the grocery store and reminisce about the good ole’ days when he and the neighbor friend were in rock bands.

Needless to say, he was a man of many talents, and he will be missed by many, too.

Survived by wife, Laura Lennon, daughter, Margaret Carr, stepsons, Michael, Ma hew, Mitchell, and Mark; siblings Dale (Lane e) Lowden, Gayle (Larry) Carman, and Darrel (Debbie) Lowden, and Becky Lowden-Knight (Thomas Knight), Roy Glen Welch (Michelle), Molissa Welch, two granddaughters, Kathy Anne Barfield and Hannah Joy Pye, and 13 nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Wiley and Mamie Lowden; and Robert and Marie Burch; father, Aubrey Lowden; mother, Janice Marie Brawley; stepsisters, Evelyn and Lalonnie Braswell; and uncles and aunts, Jim Lowden, Cleo Glosson, Bob Lowden, and Connie Shanley.

A graveside service will be held 11:15 a.m. April 10 at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery located at 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, Texas 78209.

Williamson County ranked 3rd healthiest

The 2023 County Health Rankings again deem Williamson County as third healthiest among ranked Texas counties. Since the rankings were first introduced in 2010, Williamson County has been ranked among the top healthiest.

Ranked counties are evaluated using a variety of data including Health Factors, which measure the rate of education, housing, crime, employment, unhealthy behaviors, and exercise. These components are considered to be “changeable behaviors” and indicate the current and future health of a county. Additional measures make up Health Outcomes, which are based on length of life and the quality of daily physical and mental health. The 2023 Rankings are based on data sources from 2014 through 2021.

The Healthy Williamson County coalition contributes to the Community Health Im-

provement Plan, which outlines actionable steps in priority areas of focus, including access to care, behavioral health resources, and chronic disease prevention.

Loraine Dorcas Williams age 96, of Liberty Hill, Texas passed away on March 23, 2023, a er a long illness.

Loraine was born in the town of High Splint in Harlan County, Kentucky, on February 9, 1927.

Loraine was truly a coal miner’s daughter. Her father, Thomas Brassfield, worked in coal mines in Kentucky and Virginia. In 1943, Thomas along with his wife Bertie, Loraine and her sister Nadine and brother Paul moved to the newly built “Atomic City” of Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

In Oak Ridge, Thomas, Loraine and Nadine worked in Plant Y-12 of the top secret Manha an Project. As was the norm at the time Loraine corresponded with soldiers overseas in the war zones.

One of these soldiers, stationed in Libya was Carl Williams who returned to Tennessee a er the war. In September 1945, Loraine and Carl were married in West Palm Beach, Florida. Loraine would soon travel with Carl to Roswell, New Mexico, Atlanta, Georgia, Albany, Georgia, Biloxi, Mississippi, Andersen AFB, Guam, Del Rio, Texas, Wilmington, Ohio and finally Austin, Texas.

In Austin, Loraine worked her way up through the Civil Services System to retire as the Budget Officer for the Air Force Reserve Wing at Bergstrom AFB. A er retirement, Loraine and Carl moved to Liberty Hill, Texas. Loraine had always been community minded and while in Liberty Hill she volunteered for Hospice, Meals on Wheels, she was a charter member of the VFW Auxilliary and also a member of the Lions Club.

In 1998, Loraine and Carl came up with an idea to start a club to provide senior citizens a place to go to share a meal, a few laughs, and make new friends. This became known as The Over the Hill Gang. The Over the Hill Gang

Building also offers a lending library, with shelves and shelves of books, puzzles and plenty of engaging activities for those over 50.

Loraine loved her God and her faith. She dearly loved her children and grandchildren and would take them on trips with her and Carl around the country. Two of Loraine’s favorite traveling destinations were Deadwood and Las Vegas. She made many trips to Las Vegas over her lifetime.

Loraine is survived by two sons of Liberty Hill. Tom Williams and Partner Judy Ranum, Billy Williams and wife LaJuana. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Spencer Williams of Austin, Thomas G. Williams Jr. and wife Kim of San Antonio and Jeff Williams of Liberty Hill, Mandy Winters and Husband Chris of Lake Worth, Florida, Jackie Williams and husband Chris of Austin, Texas and Sinead Williams of Liberty Hill. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Carl, her son Carl Ray and granddaughter Rachel.

A memorial service for Loraine will be held Saturday, April 8, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, TX 78628.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in memory of Loraine to Baylor, Sco and White Hospice Austin/Round Rock, 3121 Eagles Nest St., Unit 140, Round Rock, Texas 78665, phone: 512-509-7200.

17.053 acres with a tiny house just five minutes from downtown Liberty Hill. Corner property with lots of road frontage and beautiful trees. NO RESTRICTIONS or HOA. LHISD. Near soon to open River Ranch Park. This can be the perfect property for home/workshop, gentleman's ranch or subdivided into smaller tracts. The possibilities are endless.

On the toll again

Construction on 183A Toll through Liberty Hill is halfway done

BY RACHEL MADISON STAFF WRITER

Settle in and get used to the lane shifts, extra delays and orange construction cones at Seward Junction, because the project taking place there is just halfway done—but promises to increase mobility significantly once completed.

The project, dubbed the 183A Phase III Project by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA), will be the third and final phase of the 183A toll road. This phase is extending the toll road 6.6 miles from Hero Way in Leander to just north of State Highway 29 in Liberty Hill.

When it’s finished, the project will include two tolled lanes in each direction, alongside the non-tolled frontage roads already in existence. The tolled lanes will go underneath SH 29, and additional project improvements just north of SH 29 will include turnarounds and dedicated turn lanes onto CR 213 and CR258.

The first phase of the project brought a tolled roadway from RM 620 to RM 1431, with non-tolled frontage roads from RM 1431 northward to the San Gabriel River. That section opened in 2007. A few years later, in 2012, a five-mile extension northward from RM 1431 to Hero Way opened.

County Commissioner Cynthia Long, who oversees Precinct 2 in which Liberty Hill is located, said planning for the extension of the toll road northward has been on the County’s radar since before her time, more than 16 years ago.

“This has been a strategic and very important project to the County,” Long said. “It’s a critical roadway through our county that will give residents another opportunity to get north and south more quickly.”

As of now, once this project is completed, no additional toll roads will be constructed farther north, said Sylvia Shelton, assistant director of communications for CTRMA, adding that the only plans for the roadways will be necessary maintenance.

The need for the 6.6-mile extension stems mainly from the population growth predicted for the area, Shelton said.

“Projections show both residential and commercial growth along the Highway 183 corridor will more than triple by 2030,” she said. “With this unprecedented growth in Williamson County, most notably in Leander and Liberty Hill, increased traffic volumes are driving the need for proactive

congestion relief. The 183A Phase III Project will save commuters time, provide a reliable transportation option, and eliminate the need to use signalized intersections.”

Long added that there will still be the option for drivers to take the frontage road instead of the toll road, so people will only have to pay for the tolls if they choose to.

“As long as people continue to love living in and moving to Liberty Hill and increasing their footprint in the area, we are going to need more capacity on our roadways,” she said. “This is an option for people who want to pay for it to use it.”

The project is on track to be open to traffic in early 2025. Since it began in 2021, significant progress has been made on earthwork, drainage and bridge construction, Shelton added.

“This project includes construction of an impressive 17 bridges,” Shelton said. “So far, roughly 80 percent of both drilled shafts and bridge columns for these structures have been completed.”

Now that significant progress has been made on bridge columns and other elements, the focus of the project has shifted to bridge decks, intelligent transportation systems infrastructure, and retaining walls, Shelton said. Additionally, crews have begun the large excavation and retaining wall system surrounding SH 29.

Traffic at that intersection will be shifted through the end of the project to accommodate the excavation underneath SH 29, as well as the construction of a new bridge. To construct the toll lanes under the highway, more than 230,000 cubic yards of dirt will be moved and reused elsewhere on the project.

In addition, based on analysis completed during the planning and design phases, the 183A Phase III Project will include the addition and improvement of signalized crossings at SH 29, Whitewing Drive/Larkspur Park Boulevard, Bryson Ridge Trail/US Highway 183 and Hero Way.

Besides the toll roads themselves, the 183A Phase III Project also includes an extension of the existing 183A shared use path from Hero Way to Seward Junction Loop along the southbound US 183 lanes.

The current shared use path is a 10-footwide, 7-mile-long dedicated bicycle and pedestrian path that borders 183A from South Brushy Creek in Cedar Park to Hero Way in Leander. It also includes a trailhead and pedestrian bridge that crosses Brushy

Creek and connects to Williamson County’s Brushy Creek Regional Trail.

“Once the project is complete, pedestrians and cyclists will have a safe, dedicated bicycle and pedestrian route from Cedar Park to Liberty Hill,” Shelton said. “In anticipation of the City of Leander’s future San Gabriel River Park, the path will also cross underneath [Highway] 183 so that pedestrians may safely access the northbound side and future park location.”

Though the project will take the better part of four years to complete, the opportunities it will create for Liberty Hill are worth the wait, Long said.

“When the first phase of this project was completed in Cedar Park, it really opened

up huge opportunities for economic development in that area, and it will do the same for Liberty Hill,” she said.

For more information on the 183A Phase III Project and real-time construction updates, visit 183a.com.

By the Numbers

Project Cost: $277.3 million

Project Length: 6.6 miles

Project Timeline: 4 years

Construction on the 183A Phase III Project is halfway completed. Once finished, it will include 6.6 miles of twolane tolled roadways extending from Hero Way in Leander to just north of State Highway 29 in Liberty Hill. PHOTOS BY RACHEL MADISON

GUIDE

Liberty Hill & Surrounding Communities

SATURDAY, APRIL 8

CROSS TRACKS CHURCH

Community Easter Egg Hunt 10am

Lions Foundation Park 10am

355 Loop 332, Liberty Hill (512) 515-0070

www.crosstrackschurchumc.org

SUNDAY, APRIL 9

ANDICE BAPTIST CHURCH

6570 FM 970, Florence (254) 793-2557

www.andicebc.org

SERVICES & ACTIVITIES

Community Easter Breakfast 7:30am

Easter Sunday Service 9am

Community Easter Egg Hunt 10:15am

CROSS TRACKS CHURCH

101 Church St., Liberty Hill (512) 515-0070

www.crosstrackschurchumc.org

SERVICES & ACTIVITIES

StoryWalk “The Morning of Easter”

Easter Sunday Sunrise Service 7am in the outdoor prayer garden

Easter Sunday Worship Service 10am in the Worship Center. This service is very child-friendly including a special activity for children during the Service

ANDICE BAPTIST CHURCH

6570 FM 970, Florence

Vacation Bible School

Dates: June 26-June30

Time: 8am-Noon

Ages: 3 yrs-5th grade

Cost: Free

Contact: Lindsey Vaughan lindsey@andicebc.org

Register: https://vbspro.events/p/events/ andicevbs

MISSION LIBERTY HILL LUTHERAN

15752 Hwy 29, #7, Liberty Hill

Vacation Bible School

Dates: June 12-15

Time: Light meal 5-5:30pm VBS from 5:30-7:30pm

Ages:  Potty-trained through 5th grade

Cost:  Free

Contact: kidmin@missionlibertyhill.com

Register: missionlibertyhill.com/vbs

HOLY ANNUNCIATION ORTHODOX CHURCH

5205 CR 236, Liberty Hill (512) 782-9940

www.annunciationtx.com

SERVICES Divine Liturgy 10am

LIFE SPRINGS CHRISTIAN CHURCH

15611 W State Hwy 29, Liberty Hill (512) 633-6074

www.lifespringschristianchurch.org

SERVICES

Easter Sunday Worship 10am

MISSION LIBERTY HILL LUTHERAN CHURCH (LCMS Affiliated)

15725 W Hwy 29, #7, Liberty Hill (512) 778-9310

www.missionlibertyhill.com

SERVICES & ACTIVITIES

Easter Breakfast* 9:15am

Easter Sunday Worship* 10am

*Both events are outdoors. Please check our Facebook page and website in case of inclement weather.

ROCKPOINTE CHURCH LIBERTY HILL

170 CR 214, Liberty Hill (512) 259-8872

www.rockpointechurch.com

SERVICES

Easter Sunday Worship Services 8:30 and 10am

CROSS TRACKS CHURCH

101 Church St., Liberty Hill www.crosstrackschurchumc.org

Contact: Teresa Kingsbury at christianeducation.ctc@gmail.com

Armored Sports Camp

Dates: June 12-15, 9 AM-1PM

Ages: 5-12

Cost: $125

UM ARMY Mission Trip

Dates: June 18-24 in Fredericksburg for middle school & high school students

Ages: MS & HS students

Cost: $275

Vacation Bible School

Dates: July 16-20, 5-7:30 PM

Ages: 4 year olds - going into 5th grade Middle school & high school students serve as volunteers

Cost: $10

Born in Liberty Hill, Ruby Forbes Wykes left and became widely-known educator

BY JAMES WEAR COLUMNIST

In my years of reporting the news of Liberty Hill, I’ve been fortunate enough to meet many women who were shining examples of success in their chosen field, despite facing hardship and many other obstacles along the way. Many of these women were not born and reared here, but after moving to Liberty Hill were certainly accepted by the community…both the late Gloria Myers and Louine Noble come immediately to mind.

But today we are going to share some information we recently came across about a young girl who was born in Liberty Hill, in a log cabin no less, back in 1895…and who would leave in the early 1900s to pursue challenges in New Mexico.

Ruby Forbes Wykes was raised by her aunt, Beulah Forbes Smith of Lampasas, after her mother, stricken with illness, was unable to care for her. Ruby’s father, John, died during Ruby’s infancy. Ruby was a student at Liberty Hill until her mother, having regained her health and custody of Ruby, decided she and Ruby would move to New Mexico. There, Ruby would graduate from Roswell High and at age 17, while living in a dugout, homesteaded 320 acres… and taught school. She soon claimed another 320 acres, all the while as she continued teaching.

Historians say Ruby attended 12 universities over a 38-year period as she managed to meet the ever-changing requirements to teach. She would eventually earn her Bachelor’s degree in 1948.

By the time she had reached her 17th birthday, Ruby Forbes Wykes (above) was overseeing 320 acres of land in New Mexico. (Below) Ruby Forbes Wykes, at far right, pictured with her students in New Mexico in the early 1900s. (Courtesy Photos)

In 1920, Ruby married Edward Wykes from Oakalla, Texas. The couple remained together until death claimed Edward in 1973. Along the way they raised four daughters.

Ruby passed away in December 1983, at the age of 88. She had spent 52 years of her life as a teacher, including a stint at Quanah, Texas. Perhaps it is only fitting that her grave marker includes the notation, “A Seeker of Knowledge.”

Camps

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

The cost for the week-long camp is $1,980. For more information on Iron Horse, visit ironhorsecountry.com.

The Clubhouse Camp

Honing in on baseball and softball skills is the focus at The Clubhouse, where weeklong summer camps give kids a healthy dose of the game.

A new location for The Clubhouse this summer is allowing the baseball and softball training facility a chance to expand its offerings, which will be reflected in this year’s upcoming camps, said owner Cory Patton.

“We will keep giving the opportunity for baseball and softball training in this community as much as we can, but now with more space, there is so much more we can do as far as taking it to other sports, particularly wrestling and football. Multi-sport athletes are really important, because you can bring stuff you know from other sports into what you’re learning.”

So far, Patton has plans to host a weeklong camp each month of the summer, but may add on more camps if there’s enough

interest. He tries to keep the headcount at each camp to 25 kids at the most and will include kids up through high school.

“The camps run Monday through Thursday for about four to five hours each day,” he added. “We will work on hitting routines in the morning and fielding routines in the afternoon. We also add in strength and agility throughout the week. On the last day of camp, we always finish it up with a whiffle ball game, which the kids really look forward to.”

The Clubhouse’s space is increasing by four to five acres at its new location, so a lot more will go into future camps, Patton said, adding that he’s not sure what the camps will look like yet, but that they’ll be able to delve deeper into a lot more of the skills multi-sport athletes need to compete at a high level.

The new location of The Clubhouse is estimated to open May 1 at 1575 CR 279 in Liberty Hill. Prices for the summer camps range from $250 to $300 per week. For more information, visit theclubhouselh. com.

(Above left) Campers at F5 Ranch Camp get to try their hand at several different outdoor-based activities, including axe throwing. (Courtesy Photo) (Above right) Camps at Iron Horse give kids the chance to learn how to ride motocross-style bikes during a week-long sleep-away camp. Owners Eric and Annelisse Turner have been teaching kids the art of riding for the last 16 summers on their 100-acre ranch in Bertram.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

The Clubhouse Sports Academy is moving into a new facility this summer and will be expanding its camps to include not just baseball and softball camps, but also speed and agility and strength and conditioning camps. (Courtesy Photo)

Take a trip to Spicewood

BY RACHEL MADISON STAFF WRITER

SPICEWOOD -- As we drove down one of the many meandering country roads in Spicewood, my husband said it best: “Spicewood is less of a place and more of a state of mind.” He was right. There’s no downtown, no city center, no cluster of fast food restaurants and gas stations like you might think, since its epicenter sits along Highway 71 just west of Austin.

Instead, it’s rolling hills, blooming wildflowers and herds of longhorn. It’s winding roads through dense green forest, scenic lake views and, perhaps the most noteworthy -- a chance to see country music legend Willie Nelson (he’s made Spicewood his permanent residence).

The decision to take our family on a trip to Spicewood was simple. It’s only an hour drive from Liberty Hill, and activities that appeal to both adults and kids are easy to come by. Whether you love exploring the outdoors, listening to live music or eating iconic Texas foods, you can find it all in Spicewood.

Where to Stay

Centrally located on Highway 71 in Spicewood is Green Acres, a family-friendly glamping resort. Options for lodging include 200-square-foot cabins each with their own Texas flair, or a variety of different nostalgic, vintage trailers.

Our family chose a trailer—the 1952 Trailette—for our week-long stay, which proved to be an experience for four people and a dog, but only brought us closer both literally and figuratively. Each of the vintage trailers has been restored and revamped with modern amenities like electricity, running water and wooden decks for enjoying the outdoors, and each has its own personality.

Besides the lodging accommodations, Green Acres also has a well-maintained bath house, which includes four bathrooms, two indoor showers, two outdoor showers, a laundry room and a kitchen fully stocked with breakfast foods, snacks, coffee and tea fixings and even a s’mores station.

Around the grounds of Green Acres, there are yard games and a miniature golf putting green; a large fire pit and relaxing hammocks; picnic tables and a dog park;

donkeys, cows, chickens and ducks all living on site; and a playground for kids unlike any I’ve ever seen. Complete with its own trailer for kids to play on, as well as a wooden John Deere tractor, vintage seesaws and other fun equipment, my kids never got tired of visiting the playground.

Another fun part of Green Acres is all the photo ops you’ll find. There’s an antique ice cream truck, a giant Texas swing, an old classic car and a giant lawn chair, which are perfect for all the cheesy family photos you will want to take.

Green Acres: greenacresspicewood.com

Eat + Drink

You can’t go to Spicewood without stopping by Poodies Hilltop Roadhouse. The bar and music venue was opened by Nelson’s stage manager of 34 years, Randall “Poodie” Locke, who lived by the motto of “No Bad Days” and brought in major country acts like Nelson himself, as well as Toby Keith, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Kevin Fowler and Cross Canadian Ragweed.

Though Locke passed away in 2009, his legacy lives on at the bar. There is live music every day, including a special songwriter’s night every Monday, where locals can come and share their new songs with the community.

Typical bar food and strong drinks are on the menu at Poodies, and while nothing we ordered truly impressed us, the chicken strips, steak fingers and fries were all solid options. Add a cold beer or a margarita on the rocks with the live music, and it makes for a pleasant outing.

Another staple in Spicewood is Opie’s BBQ, which is open seven days a week, but will close early on if the barbecue runs out (which it often does). You can’t go wrong with your order at Opie’s, but my family’s personal favorites are the baby back ribs and the tender brisket. Add on a side of the tator tot casserole, and your meal will rival any of the most talked about barbecue joints in Austin.

Lastly, if you’re looking for a fun place to take your kids while enjoying delicious food and creative cocktails, check out Iron Wolf Ranch & Distillery. The venue sits on 15 acres and offers a playground for kids, lawn games like cornhole and giant Connect Four, and live music most days they’re open, which is typically Friday through Sunday.

The ranch is named for its mascot, Luna, who is an actual Siberian grey wolf, adopted

by the owners when she was just 8 weeks old. Luna visits the ranch every Friday and loves taking photos with kids and dogs alike.

The spirits crafted at Iron Wolf include bourbon, vodka, rum, gin and whiskey, each with a Texas twist. Tastings are available to try all the spirits, or you can order a creative cocktail off their menu to pair with something from the Phoenix Grille, the onsite food truck that serves up everything from quesadillas and loaded fries to rice bowls and sauteed veggies.

Poodies Hilltop Roadhouse: poodies.net

Opie’s BBQ: opiesbarbecue.com

Iron Wolf Ranch & Distillery: ironwolfranch. com

What to Do

Outdoor adventures are aplenty in Spicewood, so bring your sunscreen and hiking shoes. The first place we visited was Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area ($5 per adult, kids under 12 are free), situated on the shore of Lake Travis. Tent and RV camping there is an option, but we made our visit a day trip and spent most of our time hiking.

Numerous trails for hikers, bikers and equestrians span across the 600-plus acres, and the terrain varies enough to satisfy any hiker’s goals. Most of the trails are fairly short, but if you combine them all, you have

nearly 10 miles to explore. I recommend hiking the longest trail in the area, called the Great Escape Trail, but if you have small children with you, prepare to cut the hike short.

If hiking isn’t really your thing, there’s also kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing available on Lake Travis. You can rent kayaks or paddleboards at the recreation area for either a half or full day.

Another unique outdoor adventure in Spicewood is the Narrows Recreation Area ($5 per adult, kids under 12 are free), also located on the shore of Lake Travis. Much smaller than Muleshoe Bend, the Narrows is great for fishing, swimming and lounging on the “beach.”

Although there’s not exactly a beach at the Narrows that resembles anything you see on the Texas coast, there is plenty of soft sand and, believe it or not, shells to collect. My kids spent hours searching for and collecting shells of all shapes and sizes in between casting their fishing lines in hopes that they would catch something. Unfortunately, no one caught anything that day.

The most beautiful place we visited was the Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center. At $10 to $25 a ticket, I was concerned about my family getting our money’s worth, but after visiting the preserve, that was no longer a worry.

Our tour guide took us on a one-mile,

Spicewood is home to country music legend Willie Nelson, who invites the public to his private ranch, dubbed Luck, Texas, for a music festival every March. The Luck Opry House is one of the many historic buildings on his ranch that were created in the 1980s as a movie set for his film “Red Headed Stranger.”

PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

moderately difficult hike (read: lots of stairs) that took us from an arid savanna down through a limestone crevice and into a stunning canyon. Inside that canyon was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen, right in the Texas Hill Country. The canyon opened into a lush grotto, where water falls along a 40-foot cliff into an emerald pool. We got to walk behind where the water falls to see the pool from a different perspective, and then we had the chance to go inside the one-roomed limestone cave where we could see stalac-

tites and stalagmites actively growing. The experience was truly cathartic and worth the two hours it took for the guided tour.

The preserve also has a small museum where visitors can learn more about the flora and fauna of the area, as well as an art exhibit showcasing area artists.

Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area: lcra.org/parks/muleshoe-bend

Narrows Recreation Area: lcra.org/parks/narrows

Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center: westcave.org

Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion gives glimpse of 1970s Liberty Hill festival

BY RACHEL MADISON STAFF WRITER

SPICEWOOD -- As a newcomer to Liberty Hill, one of the first things you probably learned about your new town is that one time, back in the mid-1970s, Willie Nelson hosted his third annual Fourth of July picnic in a field just west of downtown.

And you’ve probably heard that the allday music festival brought in tens of thousands of people from around the country, and by the next day, naked and intoxicated people were found lying all over the place. Ah, to be alive in the 1970s.

Since I didn’t get the privilege to experience one of our town’s biggest claims to fame, I decided it was only fitting to represent Liberty Hill in Spicewood at Nelson’s annual Luck Reunion, which is another all-day music festival he hosts at his own ranch every March.

The Liberty Hill Independent received a personal invitation to the 12-hour event. Throughout the day, more than 35 different musical artists took various stages in Nelson’s fictional town of Luck, Texas, which was built on his Spicewood ranch as a movie set for his 1980s film “Red Headed Stranger.”

Everyone I talked to had their own personal story about Nelson. One man in line at the food trucks remembered going to the “middle of nowhere” for Nelson’s Liberty Hill Fourth of July picnic. Another woman outside the saloon talked about how Nelson performed close enough to her house as a

child that she could hear his music, but her mother wouldn’t let her go outside. As the day continued, I couldn’t wait to add my own Nelson story to the list.

Iconic Texas bands, like Spoon and Band of Heathens, were just a couple of the headliners at the festival, keeping the crowds entertained throughout the day while a variety of curated beverages and culinary creations kept everyone energized until Nelson entered the stage just after 10 p.m.

Waiting for Nelson to begin his set was an experience in itself—people from all walks of life were lined like sardines in front of the stage, anticipating his appearance. When Nelson ambled quietly onto the stage, the crowd erupted as he grabbed his guitar, sat down on a stool and started to sing the lyrics to “Whiskey River.”

Nelson may be approaching 90 years of age, but he’s still got swagger. He wore his signature braids and red bandanna as his youngest son, Micah Nelson, accompanied him on guitar. Nelson talked about how great it was to be back on stage in between performing his laundry list of hit songs, and even played 20 minutes longer than was planned.

As I rode the shuttle out of his ranch after a 12-hour day of music, drinks, food and some of the best people watching around, I thought about the similarities the day must have had to Nelson’s Liberty Hill picnic in 1975. Although the Luck Reunion was probably much more organized and far more tame, I think I caught a glimpse of what must have transpired.

At Green Acres in Spicewood, guests can go “glamping” in vintage trailers that have been restored with modern-day amenities, like electricity and running water. PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

Particle Kid, headed by Micah Nelson, Willie Nelson’s youngest son, performed during the Luck Reunion inside the saloon. Later, Micah Nelson accompanied his dad on guitar while he sang some of his greatest hits, like “Whiskey River.” PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

Westcave Preserve’s beauty can be seen in a canyon that opens to show a lush grotto. Hikes are only allowed with tickets and a guide, but the adventure is well worth the price. PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

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Lady Panthers powering up with long balls

Liberty Hill’s increased home-run production has fueled o ense

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR

The dimensions of Liberty Hill’s so ball field are the same this season as last year – 197 feet down the le -field line, 196 to right and 204 to dead center.

Which means it only seems as if the fences have moved in as the Lady Panthers’ power production has increased significantly during the current campaign.

Last season as a team, Liberty Hill hit 29 home runs, with Kylie Kirk and Rylee Slimp tied for the individual lead with seven each.

Through the opening three games of district play this season, the Purple-and-Gold had already pounded 32 home runs in the first 20 contests and Kirk had matched her seven for the entire previous year.

So, what’s with the pop in the Lady Panthers’ bats this season?

According to head coach Kristen Brewer, her team is simply finally tapping into a power source that was there all along waiting to be unleashed – albeit with a different approach at the plate.

“We’ve always had the ability,” said Brewer. “But, now we’re being more aggressive as far as having smart at-bats.”

Brewer said a big part of that has been her hi ers’ willingness to take what pitchers give them and make the most of it.

“We’re not waiting for the perfect pitch anymore,” she said. “We’re a acking the ball a lot more and are ready to swing.”

Kirk said with power threats throughout the entire lineup, each hi er can

take a more relaxed approach at the plate knowing if she can’t get it done, someone else will.

“It’s a really good feeling knowing anyone can hit one out,” she said. “We’ve all put a lot of work in.”

Ge ing hold of a pitch and turning it into a souvenir is perhaps her greatest joy on the diamond, said Kirk.

“Amazing,” she said. “But, I’m really just trying to be productive and do whatever the team needs from me.”

One of the newest long-ball lashers is sophomore outfielder Addison Shiffle , who has burst onto the varsity scene this

season with a maturity beyond a player of her relative inexperience, said Brewer.

“Addison has played a lot of so ball over the years,” she said. “She’s also played up against higher age groups in select, which has go en her a lot of good experience in facing be er pitchers and she also has the right mentality in that everything she does on the field matters to her.”

One of the Lady Panthers’ varsity returners this season is junior Cadence Wiese, who has turned a corner from a mentality standpoint, said Brewer.

“Cadence is a completely different player now than she was last year,” she said. “She’s always been a good hitter, but in the past she wanted to hit so bad, she would get in her own head a li le bit.

Now, that’s not the case anymore.”

Brewer added a large part of the Lady Panthers’ success this season has been the cohesiveness of her entire roster.

“It really makes a huge difference when players buy in and it’s not just about ‘me,’” she said. “I keep telling them we’re going to need everybody this season and everyone has a role. Whether that’s as a hi er, a pitcher, a base runner or whatever it is and that might even change during the season. Nobody needs to go out there and be a hero – we just need to pass the bat.”

Senior Kylie Kirk (#11) has already matched the seven home runs she hit last year, as the Lady Panthers’ power production has increased significantly this season. PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO

Panthers golfers in the swing of things

Liberty Hill duo represents Purple-and-Gold on local courses

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR

Every year, once spring has sprung on Liberty Hill’s golf team, the Panthers can once again pick up their clubs and head out to local courses for practice and competition.

On this day, junior Rylie Clayton has just returned from playing a practice round at Crystal Falls in Leander, which happens to be the closest municipal course the team has at its disposal.

Without a home layout to call their own, the Panthers must play at the Leander course in addition to Delaware Springs in Burnet, which means the players are unable to practice as a team, only coming together for tournaments.

According to Clayton, having the ability to see her teammates on the course more o en would undoubtedly help morale and results on the scorecard.

“I think we’re a step behind all the other schools in our district,” said Clayton. “We’ve been fighting for an off-campus athletics period, but don’t have one yet. We have a group of good players, but are a li le

underrecognized compared to some of the other sports.”

Senior Dhanush Kondapalli agreed with his teammate.

“I usually play every weekend, but by the time I get out of school during the week, it’s too late,” he said. “So, it would be great to actually get to practice with other members of the team – I don’t think we get very much respect.”

However, similar to Liberty Hill’s swim team – which also doesn’t have a home venue – the golf squad continues to grow in numbers and quality, said Kondapalli.

“We’ve go en a lot be er because we have more people out for golf now than in the past,” he said. “A lot of kids think golf is just for old people, but that’s not the case. We even have a JV team now.”

Clayton began playing golf while she was in elementary school and eventually started entering competitive tournaments.

“My dad always played golf while I was growing up and I always enjoyed going to the course with him,” said Clayton. “Once I got to middle school, I started playing competitively.”

Clayton said the mental aspect of the

game can be just as challenging – if not more – than the physical part and especially difficult when a round isn’t going so well.

“It’s all in your head,” she said. “When I have a few rough shots, it takes everything I have to not slam my club, but I just tell myself I can’t have two bad shots in a row.”

Kondapalli seeks solace on the fairways in the form of escapism, he said.

“I look at golf as both a method of release and recreation,” said Kondapalli. “It lets me get away from it all and meet other people –it brings me relief.”

Of course, competitive tournament golf provides quite a bit more intensity than an average, casual practice round, which is when the pressure gets upped a notch or two and much focus and concentration is required.

“You have to be able to adapt to how you’re playing on that day,” he said. “Some days, it just feels different.”

The predicament one finds him or herself in will also play a role in determining the best course of action on a shot-to-shot basis, said Kondapalli.

“It really depends on the situation,” he said. “If the pin is in the back of the green,

I’m not just necessarily going to go for it and it also depends on how I’m feeling that day. Sometimes it’s be er to just play a safety shot because there’s a fine line between trying to make a hero shot and just playing aggressively.”

Clayton has an equally philosophical viewpoint.

“Usually, I’m pre y aggressive, but maybe not if I’m already having a rough day,” she said. “But, if my irons are on point, I won’t even see water and go for the pin.”

(Above) Liberty Hill golfers Dhanush Kondapalli, Jaxon Hicks, Joseph Sherman and Reese Vickers -- led by Panthers head coach Ryan Revere -- finished third at the Burnet Invitational this season. (Right) Panthers junior Rylie Clayton won the closest-to-the-pin competition at the Leander Invitational at Crystal Falls Golf Club. (Courtesy Photos)

Above and beyond

Panthers senior always focused, striving for more

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR

When Ella Pogue awakens each morning, it doesn’t take long to get her motor running.

Quite simply, it never stops.

Under one condition, though.

“As long as my alarm doesn’t wake me up,” said Pogue. “I like to wake up before then.”

Pogue is what one would call a morning person – but the Liberty Hill senior is also an afternoon person, an evening person –really, an any-time-of-the-day person.

“I’m bubbly and energetic,” she said. “Life is too short to have negative feelings, so I always try to find the good.”

According to Pogue, her father Justin taught her from an early age to be an engaging personality.

“My dad really influenced me to have people skills,” said Pogue. “He told me I wasn’t going to be just another one of those kids that’s over in the corner with their phone or tablet.”

It’s an effervescence that will certainly serve Pogue well in her chosen career path of marketing, although listening to her tell the story, it’s one she never would’ve pursued if not for another profound influence on her young life.

“I was actually in the agriculture path and was planning on being a veterinary tech,” she said. “But, then I had (Liberty Hill marketing teacher Mikyela) Mrs. Tedder for a class when I was a sophomore and I liked

her so much, I asked how I could have more classes with her and she recommended I take all her marketing classes.”

Once in the marketing fold under the guidance of Tedder, Pogue said she found her true calling.

“It was Mrs. Tedder that really helped me find my desire and passion,” she said. “She also showed me where and how to channel that passion and desire.”

Pogue said perhaps the most alluring aspect of marketing is the challenge of finding solutions to problems clients face in getting the message out about their businesses or products to varying audiences.

“You need to have a general idea of the target market you’re trying to reach,” she said. “As a result, I really fell in love with the freedom of creativity that provides.”

Pogue is planning on attending Texas A&M University to study telecommunications – which Pogue described as like “if digital marketing and advertising had a baby” – with the ultimate goal to get into the renown Mays Business School in order to better hone her marketing skills.

In addition to the academic atmosphere College Station provides, Pogue said the environment also lines up with her personal beliefs.

“Along with the country atmosphere, it’s a place that’s Christian and conservative, which goes right along with the morals I hold close,” she said. “God has always been a huge factor in my life and I feel going to a place like that with like-minded people will help me grow as a person even more.”

Pogue said she has even considered getting into politics some day.

“I just think there’s so much corruption in government,” she said. “Maybe I could go in and try to clean it up. So many politicians don’t keep their word and follow through on what they say to get elected.”

But, Pogue is not just all about classrooms and academia, as she played several sports in her younger years and continued playing softball up until her sophomore year of high school – and has a six-inch scar on her left elbow to prove it.

“I tore my triceps while lifting weights,” said Pogue. “I needed surgery and was going to try to come back, but the doctors told me it could happen again and I realized it wasn’t worth having lifetime issues just to play a sport in high school.”

Pogue is also heavily involved in DECA and Liberty Hill’s Incubator marketing program and said the required amount of focus and intensity to excel sometimes projects an unwarranted image when it comes to her approachability.

“I think people are surprised to find out I’m not as intimidating as I might seem,” she said. “I’m very confident, which might come across to some people as arrogance. But, I just have a big drive to get things done. Sometimes people will say to me ‘Wow, you’re not really as mean as I thought you were,’ which I think is funny.”

Liberty Hill senior Ella Pogue is planning to attend Texas A&M University in order to pursue a marketing career.

(Courtesy Photo)

Blazing a trail from the mound

Panthers pitcher having bounce-back campaign

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR

Blaze Milam burst onto the Liberty Hill baseball scene two years ago as a freshman when the right-handed hurler put up numbers that belied his relative lack of experience – a 5-1 record with a 1.83 earned-run average along with 37 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings – leading the Panthers in wins and strikeouts and having the lowest ERA of any pitcher with at least 15 innings pitched.

According to Milam, his success that season was a bit of a surprise – as well as being on the varsity squad in the first place.

“Definitely, it was pretty cool to be on the varsity as a freshman,” said Milam. “I really didn’t expect to play as much as I did – I thought I would get a few games.”

However, instead of being able to build on that success his sophomore season last year, Milam was derailed by a knee injury that caused an elbow ailment.

“I dislocated my kneecap hitting, which caused a tendon strain,” he said. “I altered my pitching motion to compensate for that, which caused me to strain my UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) in my elbow.”

Milam only missed a short amount of time, but went on to post a 2-4 record with a 2.89 ERA, with 32 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings – not exactly the kind of campaign he had envisioned coming off such a stellar freshman year.

“It was tough,” he said. “It got really bad during the season, but I was still able to pitch. During the summer, though, it got worse and I missed about six weeks.”

In fact, Milam said he might be better off now from having been shut down for an extended period.

“It was kind of helpful because it gave my arm time to completely heal up,” he said. “Now, I’m back to full strength again.”

Surgery wasn’t eventually needed and after rest and recuperation, Milam is back flashing the form that made him such a sensation two years ago.

Through his first six starts of this season, Milam had a 4-1 record to go with an ERA of 1.00 with 36 strikeouts in 35 innings and has established himself as the Panthers’ ace in the process.

Head coach Brandon Creek said it’s not just Milam’s numbers that have impressed him, but his overall character and work ethic.

“Blaze is a leader and a great teammate

– a very dependable young man,” he said. “Never late to a practice, leads by example and is the best kind of player a coach can hope for.”

Despite his gaudy strikeout stats this season, Milam said he’s not the kind of pitcher that goes out and tries to blow hitters out of the box – but rather the opposite.

“I think I’m a ground-ball pitcher more than anything,” he said. “I like to get ground balls and trust my defense to make plays behind me.”

Milam added this particular approach allows him to remain in games longer than perhaps a strikeout pitcher that racks up a much higher pitch count earlier in a contest.

“With the way I pitch, I can go most of the way in games,” he said. “I never really want to get to 100 pitches – 90 is a comfortable number for me – even better if I can keep it at 80-85.”

Creek is just fine with Milam’s mound mentality, he said.

“I’ll never put getting a win over the health of a young man’s arm,” said Creek. “I’ll never have a pitcher throw too many pitches.”

Case in point was Milam’s outing against Leander in the Panthers’ home district contest on March 28, when he threw exactly 90 pitches before exiting the game after six innings of what would ultimately end in a

2-1 loss – his first defeat of the season.

In doing so, though, Milam kept the Purple-and-Gold in a game that certainly could’ve produced a larger scoreline for the visitors – including pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth to keep the score at 2-0.

“Coach Creek came out to the mound to talk to me that inning,” he said. “I told him I was going to get a ground ball and we did.”

Catcher chemistry

When Milam first appeared for the Panthers as a freshman, his teammate behind the plate was then-sophomore catcher Carson Riley, who is now a senior and has reunited with his batterymate after a brief absence earlier this season when Riley was pressed into service at shortstop.

During the interim, freshman backstop Carson Sharp had taken over catching duties and Milam did just fine throwing to the first-year player, but said the bond he and Riley have 60 feet, six inches away from one another is undeniable.

“Carson (Riley) has been my catcher for most of the past two-and-a-half years,” said Milam. “Sharp is a good young player who’s still learning and growing and I’m good with either one, but Carson and I have that chemistry.”

Strong, but not too strong

Since his freshman season, Milam has developed an affinity for the weight room,

which he credits with helping him gain strength he has used to positively influence his pitching.

But, it wasn’t always like that, he said.

“When I was a freshman, I hated working out,” said Milam. “It was the worst part of my day.”

So, what changed his outlook on throwing iron around?

“I started to see results,” he said. “Now, I even work out in the offseason, which I never did back then, either.”

Creek said it’s important for pitchers to build strength through weight training –just not the same type of regimen position players are put through.

“With pitchers, we have them work upper body mostly with dumbbells as opposed to bar work,” he said. “While our position players do their auxiliary lifts, we’ll have our pitchers focus more on hip flexors and core muscles.”

For Milam, he understands this concept, which makes it easy for him to now embrace something he once despised, he said.

“For a pitcher, it’s more of a flexible strength we try to build,” said Milam. “We just lift differently. In the offseason, I’ll lift heavier, but in season, it’s more reps with lighter weights.”

Baseball in his blood

Milam has played baseball since age four and despite the fact he dabbled in other sports such as football and basketball while growing up, it was always the diamond that was his first home.

“Baseball has always been No. 1 for me,” he said. “My dad (Zack) actually played at Liberty Hill and my mom played basketball.”

But, just because home was on a baseball field, it wasn’t until the past few years when Milam migrated to the mound.

“When I was young, I was just about everything but a pitcher – I played first, second, third,” he said. “My arm wasn’t good enough to be a pitcher back then.”

By the time he got to middle school, though, it became apparent the hill was going to be where he spent most of his time.

“When I was in seventh grade, I started pitching a little more,” said Milam. “By the time I got to eighth grade, I was pretty good at it and said, ‘Hey, I like this.’”

Now, Milam is looking to not only continue to dominate Panthers opponents for the rest of this season and next, but to continue honing his craft at the next level.

Blaze Milam (#27) is enjoying a bounceback to top form this season after injuries derailed his sophomore campaign last year. BY ALEX RUBIO

hole.net alicia.boychuk@gmail.com

April 21

April

High Strung Band

April 7

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE WITH HIGH STRUNG BAND

Agape BBQ

3610 RM 1869, Liberty Hill

6:30-9pm 512-548-6230/agabebbq.com

April 8

LIBERTY HILL COMMUNITY

EASTER EGG HUNT

Lions Foundation Park

10am

FREEDOM BIKES 1ST

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION GROUP RIDE

1201 Loop 332, Liberty Hill

4-8 p.m.

Swim

A fun, family event for all ages with a route that begins at the shop and ends at Liberty Hill Beer Market.

737-444-7120/freedombikesllc. com

STEPHEN PEARCY OF RATT Haute Spot

1501 E. New Hope Dr., Cedar Park

8 p.m.

Tickets $29-65 512-986-7411 hautespotvenue.com

April 12

AHL HOCKEY

TEXAS STARS VS. MANITOBA MOOSE

HEB Center

2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park

7 p.m. Tickets $20-64 HEBCenter.com

April 13

BEAT THE HOUSE TRIVIA

Whiskey Barrel Pub

1004 Loop 332, Liberty Hill

7 p.m.

512-548-6151 whiskeybarrelpub.com

April 15

MUSIC UNDER THE OAKS WITH M.A.R.S.

Agape BBQ

3610 RM 1869, Liberty Hill

6:30-9 p.m. 512-548-6230/agapebbq.com

PAUL THORN

The Globe Theater

SECOND HAND ROSE BAND

Hometown Watering Hole

3317 E. SH 29, Bertram

132 W. Vaughn Street, Bertram 8 p.m. Tickets $25-35 globetheatertx.com

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE WITH NAMELESS ROAD

Agape BBQ

3610 RM 1869, Liberty Hill

6:30-9 p.m.

512-548-6230/agapebbq.com

April 26

DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS

FROZEN & ENCANTO

HEB Center

2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park

7 p.m. Tickets $33-75 HEBCenter.com

512-986-7411 hautespotvenue.com

April 29

MUSIC UNDER THE OAKS WITH DEPARTURE ATX

Agape BBQ

3610 RM 1869, Liberty Hill

6:30-9 p.m.

512-548-6230/agapebbq.com

COMEDY NIGHT

Whiskey Barrel Pub

1004 Loop 332, Liberty Hill

8-10 p.m. Tickets $12 advance, $15 door 512-548-6151 whiskeybarrelpub.com

SHARE

April 28

THE KENTUCKY HEADHUNTERS

Haute Spot

1501 E. New Hope Drive, Cedar Park

8 p.m. Tickets $22-50

OR

CODE

“You have to have patience and good reactive skills, and we really try to do that so we can meet their needs,” she said.

Registration for Joy Swim School opens on April 1 every year, and lessons primarily occur during June and July. Clients can have the instructors come to their own personal pools, a friend’s pool, or their community/HOA pools in their neighborhoods if an agreement is made with Joy Swim School.

McCain said she tries to be as accommodating as possible for her clients every summer. Once all clients have submi ed their lesson orders, she does a lot of coordinating to make sure she is maximizing both her instructors’ and clients’ time based on their locations.

“We ask that people fill out the lesson registration and then be patient,” she added. “It takes a few weeks to get everything coordinated.”

McCain encourages most clients to take two weeks of swimming lessons, unless they are already proficient swimmers and just need help with stroke instruction.

“Two weeks is best, because if you have a child who is crying and upset on the first day, by the fourth or fi h day they are usually doing everything, but still not confident or independent,” she said. “During that second week, the trust is already there with the instructor, and they can gain that confidence.”

McCain’s program only offers lessons for one or two weeks. Hosting lessons just once a week isn’t beneficial for kids, she said, because their muscle memory won’t develop fast enough.

“My goal isn’t to make money off clients, it’s to create confident swimmers,” she added. “I could charge you for once a week lessons the whole summer and your kids wouldn’t be swimming on their own. That’s why we only offer lessons by the week.”

special needs is all about ge ing them safe in the pool and helping them understand their own limits.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

Kentucky Headhunters

Nameless Road Band

Shane T. White Clyde Davis Connie Fuller Ginger Floyd Debby Norman