HOG HEAVEN HEA NOT EXACTLY CLOSED LABOR 1336 | 989ROCK.COM | DELIVERY AVAILABLE9DAY! OPEN MON-S T 7-5 | 14775 H Y 29 | 512-515GOOD LUCK PANTHERS! GET OUTDOORS THIS FALL! Learn more about scenic campgrounds close to home p.11 and try some favorite recipes over the campfire p.20 Meet the candidates for Pct. 2 County Commissioner p.8 September 2022 | LHIndependent.com Catch up with the Home Team in Panther Sports p.22-26 FERAL SWINE – A MENACE TO LOCAL LANDOWNERS
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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | SEPTEMBER 20224
FEATURES8 | MEET THE CANDIDATES Pct. 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long is being challenged by Brigid Lester. Learn more about each candidate on November’s General Election ballot. 11 | CAMPING CLOSE TO HOME This fall, explore exciting camping opportunities within a short drive of Liberty Hill. 14 | NOT EXACTLY HOG HEAVEN Feral hogs are a growing menace to area landowners . 19 | PICNIC IN STYLE Local company offering exquisite outdoor events this fall. 20 | CAST IRON COOKING Cooking outdoors this fall? Whether at the campground or in your backyard, these Dutch oven recipes are sure to delight. 22 | PANTHER SPORTS ARE BACK Catch up with Panther football, volleyball, cross country and tennis. 28 | STUDENT OF THE MONTH Meet LHHS senior Kennedy Bye 33 | TRAINING MAN’S BEST FRIEND Business teaches animals, owners DEPARTMENTS7 | BIZ BRIEFS See the businesses planned or opening soon in Liberty Hill 9 | LOOKING BACK Remembering the Panthers’ first venture in postseason playoffs 27 | CLASSIFIED ADS 30 | WORSHIP GUIDE Find a church home for your family 34 | LOCAL EVENTS Local entertainment on tap for September SEPTEMBER 2022 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly 5 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 as sume 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©2022 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 Stop by at 921 Loop 332, Liberty Hill, TX 78642 LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT MONTHLY | A Publication of Texas Independent News Corp. PUBLISHER | Shelly Wilkison GRAPHIC DESIGN | Katie McLaughlin ADVERTISING SALES | Stacy Coale CONTRIBUTING WRITERS | Rachel Madison, Scott Akanewich, James Wear, Shelly Wilkison www.LHIndependent.com CONTENTS 11 ABOUT OUR COVER One of the most effective methods to eliminate wild hogs is aerial gunnery from low-flying helicopters. An estimated 2.6 million wild hogs inhabit Texas, costing landowners $1.5 billion in annual damage and control. PHOTO COURTESY SPRINGCREEKOUTDOORS.COM 22 20 8 14
Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | SEPTEMBER 20226 Family owned and operated since 2009 TACLA28781C SchneiderMechanical.com512-695-4323ServiceInstallationMaintenanceNewConstruction HVAC • Commercial HVAC • Wine Cellars • Locally Owned Since 2009 A MY G A ND Y B ro ke r/ Ow ne r | M C N E , CLH M S 111 Grange Street, Liberty Hill ww w.agandyandco. c o m 512 589 9005 From Belton to New Branfels, and Llano to LaGrange, we have you covered with boots on the ground. RESIDENTIAL | LUXURY | FARM & RANCH OR CALL OR TEXT: (512) 971-2872 or (512) 507-0253 NOW HIRING Use the QR Code to Apply JOIN TEAM!LIBERTYTHEHILL Crew Members up to $15/hour | Managers up to $20/hour
Starr of Texas Mobile, Bertram Starr of Texas balloon stylist Starr
A Texas Girl’s Guns 13987 Hwy. 29 Judith and Dennis Baker recently announced they would be closing their gun store in early September so they could retire. The shop opened in Liberty Hill in 2010 and has remained the city’s only gun store. The building has been sold to Brent Cloyd, owner of The Thirsty Penguin. Fratelli Pizza 240 W. Hwy. 29, Bertram nottoitsexpandedrecentlyBertramPizzaFratelliinoeringsincludejustpizza and other Italian fare, but also co ee and gelato in the space next door. The eatery is now also open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Main Street Marketplace 704 Loop 332
OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS: • La Tequila Jalisco Mexican Restaurant, 13850 Hwy. 29
LibertyRETAILHillPop-Up Market 1651 Loop 332, Main Street Social A new outdoor vendor market started recently in Liberty Hill. The pop-up market is held on designated Saturdays at Main Street Social and typically features over 30 local vendors, selling everything from baked goods and fresh meats to jewelry and clothing. Fletcher’s Florals 13651 Hwy. 29 Fletcher’s Florals is opening a occupiedpreviouslyinmortarbrick-and-locationthespacebyThe Wildflower Republic. The shop will sell a variety of fresh florals and plants.
Wedding & Event Venue
OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS: • QuikTrip, 7601 Hwy. 29, Georgetown
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Liberty Axe Throwing 3610 RR 1869, Agape BBQ Liberty inAgapelocationpermanentsettingThrowingAxeisupaatBBQLibertyHill. Guests can come to throw axes while also enjoying barbecue, listening to live music and enjoying cold beverages.
Anchored by Hope 3608 RR 1869 Anchored by Hope, a bookstore that focuses on JoshbystoreishomeChristianeducation,nowopen.TheisownedEllenandMcGinty,former owners of Agape Java before it became Agape BBQ. as before, including nail trims, baths and shaves. Dahlia Cafe 2450 RR 1869 Dahlia Cafe is up for sale at a price of $5.9 million for the 2-acre plot. The building that houses the restaurant was built in 1957. The sale is being represented by Kim Sanders of Keller Williams Realty.
Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation 9073 Hwy. 29, Vista at 29 E ective Oct. 1, the Liberty Hill Economic Development Corp. will have a brick-andmortar o ce at the Vista at 29 project. This will be the first time the EDC has had its own o ce. A Grade Ahead 9073 Hwy. 29, Vista at 29 Ground has been broken for A Grade Ahead at Vista at 29, which is an after-school math and English enrichment program for students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. Classes are currently being held virtually but will transition to in person once the facility opens.
BIZ BRIEFS: Latest business openings and what’s coming soon to Liberty Hill What’s New? OPENING A BUSINESS? JUST MOVINGPROMOTED?LOCATIONS? Scan this code to sign up or www.lhindependent.com/users/signup/visit SHARE YOUR BUSINESS NEWS WITH US! Email rachel@LHIndeDAILY DELIVEREDNEWS FREE TO YOUR INBOX! Information gathered from the City of Liberty Hill, Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation, LoopNet and Williamson County ESD No. 4. Best Community Facebook Page Best Community News/Information Best Graphic Design Best Local Website Matters!Journalism Thank you, Liberty Hill, for choosing the hometown newspaper as your primary source for local news.
Several new vendors have joined on at downtown Liberty Hill’s co-op Main Street Marketplace, including The Wild Bunch, Homestead Handcrafted Skincare, Stained Glass by TJ, Call Me Darlin’ Boutique, June + Mae Co. Jewelry, and Twinkle, Sparkle and Shine Baby Bows. Santa Rita Ranch 175 Elizabeth Park Blvd. Karlien Cordier was recently announced as the new Director of Fun for Santa Rita Ranch. Cordier comes to Liberty Hill from South Africa and will be o cing at The Hub in Santa Rita Ranch. Happy Dog Grooming 100 E. Myrtle Lane Happy Dog Grooming is under new ownership and has been given a facelift. The new owner, Whitney Wessels, said the grooming facility still provides the same services
•Blvd.Vaquero
OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS
Schlotzsky’s 13613 Hwy. 29 Schlotzsky’s recently announced it has a new manager, Johnni Chappell-Hajda.
isStarrtoSouthbusinessrelocatedrecentlyCuellarherfromAustinBertram.ofTexasaballoonand event decor company that specializes in unique balloon arches, towers and more.
Downbeat Music 100 W. FM 243, Bertram Downbeat Music Owner Randy Jarvis recently announced the closure of his business. The decision to close his store is due to ongoing health issues, but Jarvis plans on continuing to sell instruments and other musical wares online.
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Lone Star Paving, 9017 Hwy. 29, Vista at 29 • Liberty Hill Pressure Pro, Mobile, Liberty •HillBertram Nails by Tish, 118 E. Vaughan St., •BertramAnytime Fitness, 8250 Hwy. 29 Caliber Collision, 12373 Hwy. 29, Stonewall Crossing • Edge Fiber Center, 15841 Ronald Reagan Plumbing, Durham Park, Liberty •HillMonica Bartels Photography, Mobile, Liberty Hill • Rattler Crossfit, 119 Holmes Road ON THE MOVE Rek’d Alternative Therapy 719 Hwy. 183 Gabrielle Fallacara, owner of Rek’d Alternative Therapy—a rage and smash room, announced the closure of her business in mid-August. She hopes to reopen the business in the future, but no timeline for that has been set.
FOOD & BEVERAGE Farm to Fork Mobile, Liberty Hill Amy Scha ner, owner of Farm to Fork, which previously had a brick-and-mortar location in Liberty Hill, has now transitioned her business to catering, private chef work and weekly meal prep.
HillSERVICESCountryBliss
7610 CR 252, Bertram Hill Country Bliss Wedding & Event Venue is a new luxury event venue designed for weddings, corporate events and other large gatherings. The venue is family owned and sits on 145 acres. The venue can accommodate up to 275 guests for dining and entertaining. The Shaggy Paw Spa 204 Church St. A pet grooming business recently relocated to Liberty Hill. The Shaggy Paw Spa is owned and operated by Stacie McDonald, who has over 25 years of experience working in a professional grooming environment.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly 7
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Brigid Lester seeking to unseat Long on Commissioners Court
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Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | SEPTEMBER 20228
POLITICS
When Cynthia Long was seeking her first term as County Commissioner 16 years ago, she spoke frequently about the need to attract new business and create jobs in Williamson County. “Instead of the traffic jam leaving Wil liamson County at 8 o’clock in the morning, I wanted it to be coming here,” she said recently.Longcelebrated when she read in the June edition of Austin Business Journal that more residents are now staying in William son County for work rather than commut ing to Travis and other counties. Long, who served four years on the Cedar Park City Council and seven years on its Planning Commission before seeking the Pct. 2 position on the Commissioners Court in 2006, attributes the change to collabora tion and partnership between the County and the cities’ economic development groups.“We’ve done a good job collectively as a county, recruiting businesses and provid ing the job opportunities for people to stay in the county,” she said. “If we can attract and find the right kinds of jobs, then some body who might have been having to go to Round Rock or Austin for work, if they can do that near home, then guess what, they can get to that soccer game or that function at school.”Planning for economic and residential growth, especially when it comes to trans portation and connectivity, is essential to continued quality of life issues, although getting there is often painful. Liberty Hill has changed dramatically since Long took office in 2007. Less than 10 years ago, the population of the City of Liberty Hill was less than 1,000 while today county officials say it is over 5,000. Perhaps the most visible sign of that rapid growth is the traffic. A lack of con nectivity between major roadways in the community has become a daily grind.
Lester has come out of retirement once again to run for public office. Her main rea son for running for county commissioner is that she’s not pleased with a lot of what’s going on in the county, from water and Brigid Lester has come out of retirement to run for Coun ty Commissioner. A lifetime of public service includes an extensive military career, project management positions, and volunteer work. (Courtesy Photo)
BY RACHEL MADISON STAFF WRITER Brigid Lester’s signature color is purple, and that’s not just because it’s her favorite. She wears the color to highlight the fact that while she is a Democrat, she believes issues across Williamson County aren’t blue or red, but are instead nonpartisan. “I wear purple because I’m picking the best of the blue and best of the red,” she said. “County politics should be nonpartisan. I believe the issues that divide the parties are at the national level. Purple is also my favorite color because it’s the color of both strength and peace. Those colors define me and what I aspire to be.”
While much has changed in 15 years, Long’s goals haven’t
As County Commissioner, Cynthia Long started Williamson County’s Learn to Fish Day -- a popular annual event that draws children of all ages. Long, of Cedar Park, has represented Liberty Hill on the Commissioners Court since 2007. (Courtesy Photo)
Long has drawn criticism over the past year from residents along a proposed eastwest expressway between US Hwy 183 and the Burnet County line, and a connector between the new expressway and SH 29. Although the I-2 Corridor study has been paused by county officials, residents living within the initial right-of-way organized themselves and continue to voice their disapproval.Thestudy is part of the County’s LongRange Transportation Plan that aims to plan and preserve
BY SHELLY WILKISON PUBLISHER
Following her graduation from West Point in 1980, Lester joined the U.S. Army, where she spent the next 24 years of her life.“The Army didn’t dissolve the women’s corps until 1978, so when I joined the Army, I was still on the cutting edge of women being in the regular Army,” she said. “Every unit I was in, I was the first woman to do that job or the first woman they had seen. I had a lot of firsts all through my career because of that.”
Lester is running for Williamson County Commissioner in Precinct 2, which includes Liberty Hill, Leander and Cedar Park. She is up against incumbent Cynthia Long, who has held the position for 15 years. Lester grew up in a military family in California. After high school, she enrolled at West Point and was part of the first group of women to graduate from there. “I instantly found my calling there,” she said. “I have always loved leadership and service, and this place was and is the leadership pinnacle of the world. Being in the first class of women, it was the chal lenge you could imagine, but it strength ened me more than not and opened my eyes to strength and compassion.”
“The current road system doesn’t give you alternatives to stay off of (SH) 29 and to stay off of (RM) 1869 and Hwy 183,” she said. “And if we don’t plan for these other connections, it’s just going to continue to be gridlock on those major roadways.”
Lester served in many locations around the world during her Army career. She also served as a civil engineer with the Corps of Engineers where she managed the con struction and maintenance of a 250-unit housing division overseas. Lester retired in 2000 as a lieutenant colonel and moved to Cedar Park with her husband. Between the two of them, they have a blended family of five children and nine grandchildren. Retirement for Lester didn’t last long. She got a job working for Cedar Park-based National Oil Well as a project manager and retired for a second time in 2016. Lester also spends a lot of her time volunteering for various local organizations, including the Austin Children’s Shelter and SAFE Place, as well as serving as a lifetime member of the Leander Veterans of Foreign Wars and a volunteer deputy registrar for Williamson County.
It was the fall of 1984, and the high school football season was already underway. I had taken a position with a fledgling newspaper in Georgetown, and the publishers of that publication had launched a sister publication they dubbed as the Williamson County Express to cover the northwestern portion of the county. As sports editor, I was fortunate enough to determine just what ballgames I would cover, and as it turned out, we had plenty of stringers to write about and take pictures of Georgetown’s Eagles with the same being true about teams from Round Rock and Leander. Being a small-town boy, I chose to spend my Friday nights with Coach Charlie Braun and his Liberty Hill Panthers. It wasn’t Braun’s first year at Liberty Hill. He took over as head coach in 1978. In his first year the Panthers went 5-5 and over the next four years hovered around .500 before breaking out and recording a 6-3-1 record in 1983. The stage was set for another successful season in 1984, and Braun, along with assistant coaches Larry Fulcher and Jim Brock, unleashed an experienced team that was undefeated in its first nine outings.Along the way, Liberty Hill posted six shutouts, and limited its first nine opponents to 38 points—20 of those coming in the season debut against Blanco. The Panthers were finally derailed by Thorndale in the regular season finale, but the one-point loss didn’t keep the Panthers out of the playoffs, although Thorndale was deemed the first-place team owing to its 3534 victory over LHHS in the District 26-2A
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Volunteer Captains Needed!
Liberty Hill Fishing team is a Non-Profit Youth Fishing Club for 6th-12th grade students. Tremendous growth this year means we need volunteer boat captains for this season.
The 2 tournament trails we follow are Texas High School Bass (THSBA) and Faith Angler Network (FAN). We need boat captains 19 yrs or older willing to take anglers to tournaments this season. Each team includes 2 student anglers and a boat captain.
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OPINION LOOKING BACK
The minimum boat requirements are 16' or larger. If you have a boat and are willing to help the team please let us know and we can go over all of the requirements. Our goal is to get every angler on the water for the tournaments. For more information, email libertyhillfishingteam@gmail.comus:www.LHFishing.org
BY JAMES WEAR COLUMNIST
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Is there anything better than camping in Texas in the fall? Whether you prefer the luxuries of a trailer or the ruggedness that only a tent can offer, Central Texas has plenty to offer when it comes to spending a weekend in the great outdoors. To get your camping fix this season, check out some fa vorite locations, all within a couple of hours of Liberty Hill.
Camping costs at Inks Lake State Park range from $11 to $23 per night, depending on the type of campsite. Reservations are required. For more information, visit tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/inks-lakewww.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly 11
PHOTOS BY RACHEL MADISON
Enchanted Rock State Natural AreaFredericksburg 74 miles | 1 hour, 20 minutes from Liberty Hill If you’re going to visit Enchanted Rock, you might as well plan on staying for more than one day to give it the time it deserves. Luckily, there is camping nearby so you don’t have to miss out on the 11 miles of hiking trails surrounding the rock. The trails will give most people the dose
The lake’s levels are known for staying con sistent, which means no matter the time of year you visit, there will be plenty to do, including swimming, water skiing, boating, scuba diving and fishing. The state park also offers paddle boats, canoes and kayaks forAtrent.the campground, the amenities are more cushy than other parks, and many include electricity, flushing toilets, showers for public use, water hook ups, fire rings and grills. The campground also has several playgrounds, a sand volleyball court, and a store where campers can buy supplies.
Nearby places to enjoy a weekend in the great outdoors
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BY RACHEL MADISON STAFF WRITER
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Camping close to home
Tejas Park - Georgetown 8 miles | 16 minutes from Liberty Hill Tejas Park, which sits on the south side of Lake Georgetown, is less than 20 minutes from Liberty Hill, but once you enter the park, you’ll feel like you’re a world away.
Inks Lake State Park - Burnet 33 miles | 46 minutes from Liberty Hill If you like being on the water, then Inks Lake State Park is the place to spend a weekend.Thepark offers 200 campsites (and 22 cabins for those who prefer that style of camping) that offer easy access to the lake.
OUTDOORS
Krause Springs - Spicewood 44 miles | 58 minutes from Liberty Hill Just outside of Austin in the heart of the Hill Country is Krause Springs, which is well known for its swimming, but if spend ing just one day there isn’t enough, visitors can also Foundedcamp.in1955, the property has been privately owned by the Krause family and is listed on the National Registry of Historical Sites. The 115 acres of land has 32 differ ent springs that can be explored, many of which feed both a natural pool that flows into Lake Travis and another man-made pool that offers even more swimming opportunities for visitors. A fun fact—the springs have never closed due to drought. This particular campground is recom mended when the weather is predicted to be hot, because the cool waters of Krause Springs will keep everyone comfortable, Additionally, don’t forget to wear water shoes when in the springs as some of the edges do have jagged rock formations. Camping options include primitive tent camping as well as RV sites with water and electricity hookups. The campground also offers bathroom facilities with toilets, sinks and showers; however, it’s important to note that the showers use fresh spring water and are not heated. Prices for overnight camping range from $10 to $15 nightly, depending on each camp er’s age and the type of campsite. Reserva tions are only taken for RV sites, while tent camping is first come, first serve. Krause Springs closes for the winter season from Nov. 1 to Feb. 15. For more information, visit krausesprings.net
(Above) Tejas Park in Georgetown is a short drive from Liberty Hill, but you will feel like you’re camping a world away. (Right) Inks Lake State Park in Burnet is not only a good place to camp, but also a good place to enjoy the water, whether that’s swimming, fishing, kayaking or boating.
The park offers 12 primitive campsites that include fire rings, grills and picnic tables at each site. The sites surround a large grassy area that is perfect for outdoor games offering kids plenty of room to run and play. Adjacent to the camping area sits the north fork of the San Gabriel River, which feeds into Lake Georgetown. This offers campers a wide variety of activities, like fishing, swimming, hiking and wildlife viewing.Personal favorites at this park include hiking and wading in the shallow water. There is nothing better than following the game trails near the river and spotting ev erything from deer to rabbits along the way, and then cooling off in the waters of the San GabrielCostsafterward.pernightat Tejas Park are $6 for tent camping and $14 for trailer camping. Camping is by reservation only. For more information, visit camping/campgrounds/234643www.recreation.gov/
The best activity at Inks Lake has to be Devil’s Waterhole, which isn’t as scary as it sounds. It’s actually a great way to get in a little hiking, fishing, swimming and scenery appreciation. Devil’s Waterhole is located on the east side of the park, where the lake itself and Spring Creek meet. The Devil’s Waterhole Nature Trail, which is an easy 0.18 mile trek, will take you directly to the swimming hole. Ultimately the entire adventure is kid friendly, but those who are more adventurous will like climbing the rocks around the waterhole.
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SEPTEMBER 2022 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly 13 W h o W e A r We h o W e A r e T h e B r a n i g a n T e a m i s a p a r t o f S t r a i g h t R e a l t y , a l o c a l l y o w n e d r e a Tl h e B r a n i g a n T e a m i s a p a r t o f S t r a i g h t R e a l t y , a l o c a l l y o w n e d r e a l e s t a t e f i r m h e r e i n L i b e r t y H i l l . J o n a n d R o s e B r a n i g a n a r e b o t h l i f e l o n eg s t a t e f i r m h e r e i n L i b e r t y H i l l . J o n a n d R o s e B r a n i g a n a r e b o t h l i f e l o n g r e s i d e n t s o f L i b e r t y H i l l , h a v i n g o v e r 2 5 y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e c o v e r i n rg e s i d e n t s o f L i b e r t y H i l l , h a v i n g o v e r 2 5 y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e c o v e r i n g a l l a r e a s o f r e a l e s t a t e i n c l u d i n g , n e w h o m e c o n s t r u c t i o n , c o m m e r c i a l a, l l a r e a s o f r e a l e s t a t e i n c l u d i n g , n e w h o m e c o n s t r u c t i o n , c o m m e r c i a l , l a n d d e v e l o p m e n t , r e s a l e l i s t i n g s l. a n d d e v e l o p m e n t , r e s a l e l i s t i n g s . J o n a n d R o s e h a v e d e v e l o p e d a n Jd o n a n d R o s e h a v e d e v e l o p e d a n d s o l d m a n y o f t h e l o c a l L i b e r t y H i l l s u b d i v i s i o n s s u c h a s , R i o A n c h o s, o l d m a n y o f t h e l o c a l L i b e r t y H i l l s u b d i v i s i o n s s u c h a s , R i o A n c h o , I r o n O a k , S t o n e C r e e k R a n c h , R a n c h e s a t B e n t l e y R i d g e a n Id r o n O a k , S t o n e C r e e k R a n c h , R a n c h e s a t B e n t l e y R i d g e a n d R o s e m o n t . W i t h o v e r 5 0 0 + h o m e s s o l d i n t h e L i b e r t y H i l l a r e a , t h Re o s e m o n t . W i t h o v e r 5 0 0 + h o m e s s o l d i n t h e L i b e r t y H i l l a r e a , t h e B r a n i g a n s h a v e p l a y e d a k e y r o l e i n L i b e r t y H i l l ’ s g r o w t h o v e r t h Be r a n i g a n s h a v e p l a y e d a k e y r o l e i n L i b e r t y H i l ’ s g r o w t h o v e r t h e y e a r ys e a r s . W h y C h o o s e U s W? h y C h o o s e U s ?
A s R E A L T O R S ® i n t h e L i b e r t y H i l l a r e a r e a l e s t a t e m a r k e t , w e h a v Ae s R E A L T O R S ® i n t h e L i b e r t y H i l l a r e a r e a l e s t a t e m a r k e t , w e h a v e m a n y f e a t u r e d p r o p e r t i e s f o r s a l e . W e h a v e a n e x t e n s i v e m a r k e t i n mg a n y f e a t u r e d p r o p e r t i e s f o r s a l e W e h a v e a n e x t e n s i v e m a r k e t i n g p l a n t h a t i n c l u d e s s e v e r a l s t r a t e g i e s o f a d v e r t i s i n g a n d m a r k e t i n g f o pr l a n t h a t i n c l u d e s s e v e r a l s t r a t e g i e s o f a d v e r t i s i n g a n d m a r k e t i n g f o r o u r c l i e n t s t o s e l l t h e i r h o m e s a n d l a n d w i t h m a x i m u m e x p o s u r e . W oe u r c l i e n t s t o s e l l t h e i r h o m e s a n d l a n d w i t h m a x i m u m e x p o s u r e W e h a v e e x t e n s i v e e x p e r i e n c e i n d e v e l o p i n g l a n d a n d c a n u s e t h a ht a v e e x t e n s i v e e x p e r i e n c e i n d e v e l o p i n g l a n d a n d c a n u s e t h a t e x p e r i e n c e t o h e l p o u r c o m m e r c i a l a n d l a r g e l a n d o w n e r c l i e n t s f i n ed x p e r i e n c e t o h e l p o u r c o m m e r c i a l a n d l a r g e l a n d o w n e r c l i e n t s f i n d b u y e r s f o r t h e i r p r o p e r t i e s . C a l l u s t o f i n d o u t h o w w e c a n h e l p y o bu u y e r s f o r t h e i r p r o p e r t i e s C a l l u s t o f i n d o u t h o w w e c a n h e l p y o u r e a c h y o u r r e a l e s t a t e g o a l s r. e a c h y o u r r e a l e s t a t e g o a l s
“Unfortunately, most folks can’t spend enough time at their ranch in order to get the job done effectively, so prevention is likely the best first step and that means physical barriers when and where possi ble,” said Ledbetter. “Feral hogs can’t jump over a standard 48”-52” net wire fence, so if you construct any fences on your ranch, go back with high-quality net wire fencing and that will make a huge difference, especially around sensitive areas of farmland.”
“Some landowners aren’t aggressive enough when the time is right,” said Ledbetter. “For example, in times like now with severe drought and low production, now is the time to be very aggressive on
For Ledbetter, it’s simply a matter of pay now or pay later.
Feral swine a menace to landowners
First, feral swine have a very high rate of reproduction, with females being able to reproduce as early as three months old and the ability to have three litters of between four to six sows in a single year. In addition, feral hogs are omnivores and aren’t very picky with what they eat – in other words, anything they can get their snouts on, which means they can survive in a wide range of environments. As if all that wasn’t enough, feral hogs have no natural predators to help cull the population, so they’re left to run wild with only man in their way to stop them. This is because they’re non-indigenous animals that were first brought across the Atlantic by Christopher Columbus to the West Indies in the late 15th Century before being introduced to the continental U.S. by Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto in the early 16th Century.
Another way to be proactive in the control of wild hogs is attention to detail concerning additional threats.
Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | SEPTEMBER 202214 OUTDOORS Not exactly hog heaven
One of the most effective methods to eliminate wild hogs is aerial gunnery from low-flying helicopters. An estimated 2.6 million wild hogs inhabit Texas, causing landowners $1.5 billion in annual damage and control costs.
Propensity of problems
All that being said, though, landowners must be present to employ such methods, which isn’t always practical, he said.
According to Christopher Watts, a wildlife damage management biologist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, the mangy varmints present myriad prob lems – despite the fact they largely keep to themselves.“Feralswine have been residents to Cen tral Texas for decades now and the primary threats they pose are related to the physical damage they cause. The most common reports of damage are to pastureland, hay land, cropland, golf courses and other landscaping and turf grasses,” said Watts. “As with all wildlife and domestic animals, they can carry and transmit various dis eases and this is something to be conscious of. However, for people not butchering them or handling them directly, the risk is low. Physical attacks from feral swine are extremely rare given the number of feral swine in the country and close proximity in which they live to humans.”
However, Watts added the population of wild hogs has leveled off lately following the massive increase from the early ‘80s into the second decade of the 21st Century.
Eradication efforts
BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR Spend any time wandering around a ran dom swath of land in Central Texas and one is bound to either stumble across feral hogs – or at the very least – their handiwork, in a manner of Destroyedspeaking.cropfields, lawns laid to waste, water sources contaminated. Just a few of the dastardly deeds of these creatures that are seemingly bent on agri culturalAccordingdestruction.toTexas Parks and Wildlife, from 1982 to 2016, the wild hog population in the U.S. increased from 2.4 million to 6.9 million, including 2.6 million in Texas alone – and it’s a problem that’s not going away anytime soon for a couple of reasons.
Timing is also paramount when it comes to hog eradication and there is no room for procrastination, but rather relentless ruthlessness, he said.
“Landowners have all tools afforded to them from a legal perspective to help con trol their numbers,” said Macy Ledbetter, a wildlife biologist and owner of Spring Creek Outdoors, a consulting and field services firm based in San Saba. “They can hunt them at night, trap them, shoot them from a helicopter, chase them with dogs, hunt them year around and with no season or bag limits. So the toolbag is crammed full for landowners to pick and choose.”
“Swine populations have held relatively steady over the past several years,” he said. “Increased management activities and new technology has helped to manage their numbers. But this is a broad statement and local populations vary greatly depending on the habitat and the time of year. Some folks have enjoyed a break from the damage, while others are battling more hogs than they’ve seen in recent years.”
Due to the fact approximately 93 percent of Texas is privately-owned land, it’s largely up to landowners to wage war against these destructive creatures. However, hunting them down is made easier because just about any old way one can track them down and kill them is authorized by law – and there is no shortage of effective methods.
“Water gaps are another easy access point for feral hogs. Most people don’t
construct, then monitor their water gaps regularly and feral hogs use these weak points as major travel corridors,” said Ledbetter. “Again, prevention costs money, but control costs more, so build heavy duty-quality water gaps and maintain them often and that will help prevent a lot of ingress and egress of feral hogs.”
“Yes, network is more expensive than barbed wire, but so is constant feral hog control measures,” he said. “So spend the money on fencing the first time and much less money and effort on control efforts later.”
Feral hogs were seen as an inexpensive source of food aboard ships on trans-Atlan tic voyages and were often left behind by early explorers for expeditions that would follow.
(Photo Courtesy SpringCreekOutdoors.com)
According to Ledbetter, perhaps the most critical realization in the battle against feral hogs is the fact it’s really more of a protracted war that requires resolve over the long haul.
Good eating Cole Stevens knows a thing or two about wild hogs – not the least of which is how even the most vile-looking and ill-man nered beast can still make for a fine meal.
But, just because they can be quite tasty doesn’t make them any easier to track down – hence the challenge, said Stevens. “Hogs are fun to hunt because not only are they prolific,” he said. “But they’re smart.”Once processed, wild hog meat can be used for any number of different dishes, including smoked sausage links, pork jerky, burgers and schnitzel, just to name a few.
“Only about 10 percent of wild hogs that are killed are eaten,” he said. “A lot of the reason is there’s a stigma around wild hogs – they’re unsafe to eat and so forth – but if prepared properly, it can be just as delight ful as other kinds of game.”
Stevens is the owner of Hunters Creek Processing, located on U.S. Hwy 183 five miles north of Seward Junction in Lib erty Hill, and when one enters his estab lishment and peruses the large menu of services hanging on the wall, right up near the top is “Wild Hogs.” However, despite their palatable prow ess, Stevens said most people will automati cally turn their nose up at such a prospect.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly 15 (Left) Wild hog hunting is year-round, no license is needed and there is no limit to how many can be killed. Chelsea Stevens shows off a wild hog following a hunt. (Center) Wild hog meat can be cooked in a variety of ways and be just as tasty as traditional meats if processed, handled and seasoned properly. (Right) One of the most common ways to process hog meat is to make it into sausages of various flavors and varieties. (Photos Courtesy Hunters Creek Processing) control efforts. Hit the remaining hogs as hard and as often as you can to knock them down further or possibly even out for a while. With this heat and this drought, you know exactly what they’re doing now – they’re traveling only at night and they rarely are more than a quarter-mile from reliable water. So set up traps, get the guys with dogs, or hunt during the daylight only in the proximity of the water. The hogs are there and they are close, so go in aggres sively and get them out. But if you wait and the rains come once again, the hogs will disperse and scatter all over the landscape and now you’re much less effective and efficient in controlling their numbers.”
Hunters should be wary, though, to make sure to bag a big enough hog that will still provide a good amount of meat once pro cessed, said Stevens. “You want to shoot the larger sows – 100 pounds or heavier,” he said. “The females are better because they don’t have hor mones running through their bodies.”
“Feral hogs are so prolific, so intelligent, so resourceful and so good at surviving, it takes a long-term, steady approach to be successful,” said Ledbetter. “Constant, yet changing pressure on the feral hogs has proven the key to success. We most often use the helicopter and aerial gunning technique with great results, but it’s not for everyone. Helicopters are limited by tall trees and mid-story brush density – we can’t shoot what we can’t see. So, helicop ters are our first option and choice because they are so effective where they work. Again, for those areas where helicopters may not or will not work, you still have the entire kitchen sink to throw at them so we do that, too.”
At the end of the hog-hunting day, Led better said the majority of roadblocks are constructed of the two-legged variety. “Most of our control challenges do not involve feral hogs, but rather people,” he said. “Some folks say, ‘I don’t like traps or I don’t like hog dogs’ or maybe ‘I don’t like leaving them laying in the field after shooting them from the helicopter.’ So, those folks are making excuses instead of wanting to really control feral hogs. If you want to control them, use the legal means and methods afforded to you by state law and leave any warm and fuzzy emotions at home because feral hogs do not have warm, fuzzy emotions and they will do whatever they need to do in order to survive and reproduce. Control is a numbers game and without knocking out big numbers, control is not possible.” As far as Ledbetter is concerned, there are two starkly separate steps to effective feral hog “Controleradication.andprevention are two entirely different things, so you may first want to improve the prevention as best you possibly can. Once that is in place, control efforts will be more effective. So prevent what you can, then control the rest,” he said. “And again, leave the warm and fuzzy at home when means and methods are involved. If it’s legal, you should do it. Deer hunting season is only four to five months out of the year, but feral hog hunting season is 12 months and 365 days per year. If your lease hunters won’t take care of the feral hogs, get others in there outside of the deer sea son that will. If your neighbors won’t con trol the pigs themselves, see if they will let you fly over their property and you can help them. If you don’t want to stay up late at night shooting pigs, use a trap or a remote sensing trap to catch them while you are literally laying in bed. If you know someone that likes to hunt or eat the tasty pork meat, invite them out to your property and let them have as many as they want. If the local 4H or high school welding class builds a hog trap as a fundraiser, buy three of them and put them on your ranch. So there are lots and lots of options to control pigs and there are a few to prevent them from being a pest. But the key to keeping their numbers down and limiting their damage is to remain consistent and flexible and to adapt to the changing seasons and opportunities that afford the best net return on investment.”
Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | SEPTEMBER 202216 T o p 1 % I n v i s a l i g n ® P r o v i d e r i n A u s t i n 1 4 3 6 5 W S t a t e H w y 2 9 # 1 2 , L i b e r t y H i l l , T X 7 8 6 4 2 512-716-0307 O N L Y " D IA M O N D P L U S " P R O V I D E R B Y I N V I S A L I G N ® I N L I B E R T Y H I L L 2 0 Y E A R S O F E XP E R I E N C E B O A R D C E R T IF IE D O R T H O D O N T I S T A F F O R D A B L E P A Y M E N T O P T I O N S S IX C O N V E N I E N T L O C A T I O N S S c h e d u l e y o u r F R E E C o n s u l t a t i o n O r t h o 3 6 0 . c o m M A D E Y O U S M I L E Braces and Invisalign® for Children and Adults Proud Supporter of LHISD! GO N HE RS t ANNUALSHOULDMEDICAREBEEASYLETUSHELP!ENROLLMENTSTARTSNEXTMONTH Emily Hanson (512) 817-6906 Lauren Fostel (832) 816-2653 Tia Pruett (737) 747-0026 (512)Paul816-2653Allin657-0263 We’ll help Medicareunderstandyou01 We’ll help you decide if you need extra coverage 02 We’ll help you enroll in your extra coverage 03 We’ll continue to help after you enroll 04 Our help is NOtoCOSTyou! We are here to help you in-person, over the phone or online. We are LOCAL, independent brokers, contracted with every insurance company. We will help you through the entire process; education, enrollment and customer service – at NO COST to you! YOU are our priority! www.HansonFirst.com Contact Us Today (512) 817-6906 Or Book An Appointment Online!
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“The challenge is that with all the new growth, it brings some of these problems,” she said, referencing the plans for new roadways, as well as a proposed rock crushing plant that many claim is needed in direct response to Liberty Hill area construction demands.
Long said her office has received many inquiries and pleas for help to stop the plant due to concerns about air quality and water conservation. While she has met with residents, there isn’t much the County can do as the authority rests with the State through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and even the Texas Legislature. However, she is meeting with the Williamson County legislative delegation to voice community concerns and explore the possibility of giving more authority to TCEQ or even the counties with regard to groundwater issues.
Long said she has never seen the amount of growth now prevalent in Liberty Hill and all of Williamson County. “From a transportation perspective, that’s why the County has been so bullish on trying to plan ahead,” she said. “It’s a very frustrating and upse ing process, and I get that. I’ve sat in this office and cried with people over projects and impacts to them. But the other part of me has seen what happens when you fail to plan. We just have to look south and see the gridlock in Austin, and as uncomfortable and painful as some of the planning is, I don’t think we want to trade it for what Austin is. And that’s sort of the balance and the challenge.”
“My experience in the military is unparalleled and unmatched to any civilian leadership,” she said. “I had people’s lives in my hands 24-7 for 24 years. For me, the big thing is that human element. I’m not running for this position for self-gain. I’m genuinely trying to help. It’s not about the money for me. I intend to donate major portions of the salary to various charities, including Operation Liberty Hill. I’m the right person for the job because it’s not about me and I have the right skill set. I believe that’s the perfect combination for a successful elected official.”
Long CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 right-of-way for future roadway projects as the county grows.
Long said she is proud of the investment the County has made in its park system since she has been on the Court.
“We’ve added thousands of acres to the park system since I’ve been Commissioner, and I’m really passionate about that,” she said.She said like many Liberty Hill residents, she has been frustrated by the delays to opening the River Ranch Park on CR 279. She said the company that was awarded the contract to construct the park “failed to complete the construction in some areas and problems were found in other areas in which the contractor represented they were complete. The County began the process of filing a claim against the contractor’s surety bond last year. That process is ongoing. In the meantime, the County issued a request for proposals (RFP) to find another contractor who was qualified to fix and complete the work begun by the previous contractor.”
Lester is hosting a meet-and-greet event for the public Sept. 29 at Agape BBQ in Liberty Hill. For more information on Lester, visit be erwithbrigid.com.
On May 24, the Commissioners Court selected Chasco Constructors, LTD, LLC as the new general contractor and that company has been working on a project plan and schedule for completion.
Several of the issues facing Liberty Hill specifically are things Lester plans to address if elected, including working alongside residents to prevent the Exfluor chemical plant and Wilco Aggregates rock crushing plant from relocating to the area, improving voter rights, addressing the area’s need for water including creating a groundwater conservation district, and being proactive on how future roads are developed.“Liberty Hill hasn’t been targeted, but I believe it has taken the brunt of everything coming in policies from the Commissioners Court,” Lester said. “That’s why I’m really focusing on Liberty Hill, because it’s the area that’s been the most abused, and I think it can benefit the most from a more caring, service-minded commissioner.”
For more information on Long, visit www.cynthialong.com.
Look for continuing election coverage in the October edition of THE INDEPENDENT MONTHLY County Commissioner Cynthia Long said her priorities continue to be support for county law enforcement, parks, and infrastructure needed for a growing county. (Courtesy Photo)
Lester added that she feels like she’s in the right place and time in her life to serve in a political role. “Lots of people coast through retirement, but that didn’t sit well with me,” she said. “There are so many others who don’t have what I have, so I decided I needed to give back and pay it forward. My dad used to always say, ‘In everything you do, write your epitaph,’ meaning how do you want this phase of your life to be remembered? That has really stuck with me.”
“I always seek to have that one on one conversation with people,” she said, adding that knocking on doors and talking to constituents is her favorite part of the campaign. “The more people that I get the opportunity to talk long-term vision with, they get it.”
SEPTEMBER 2022 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly 17 Lester ELECTRIC,BERTRAMLLC. CALL 24/7 FOR EMERGENCIES 10% Military & First Responders Discount P.O. Box 953, Bertram, TX • TECL#32830 Brian 512-525-0621Houts bertram_electric@yahoo.com Your O cial Texas 512-548-6773ShopSticker 123 Holmes Rd, #3, Liberty Hill (behind Wag-A-Bag) Tues-Fri 8-5 / Sat 7:30-3:30 Locally Owned & Operated GO PANTHERS GO! License #6P054793
Fast easy! No appointment rights to school issues and the roads. She is especially upset about the plans for the proposed I-2 Corridor, which is slated to go through several ranches around Liberty Hill. “I was pre y content in retirement, but it’s not right for people to ba le these issues on their own,” she said. “I’ve always been for the li le guy, because sweeping something under the rug doesn’t make it go away -- it affects everything.”
Lester added that she believes if you can’t change the behavior of an organization—in this case the County Commissioners Court—then you have to change the composition.“Ibelievethe focus of the current Court is economic development and what could move here, but I think it should be focused on the people who are already here,” Lester said.She added that she’s right for the role because of the amount of leadership experience she has had throughout her life.
Brigid Lester enrolled at West Point and was part of the first group of women to graduate from there. Following graduation, she spent 24 years in the U.S. Army. (Courtesy Photo)
“There are definitely people that don’t want to see any more growth,” she said. “They want to close the door, right? But given that Texas is such a strong private property rights state, we can’t close the door. So for both the city council and at the County, we have to figure out how do we use the tools that the Legislature has given us to help manage and work with that growth? Because shu ing the door isn’t an option.”
Long also noted that one of her continuing goals from day one has been to keep the property tax rate low. She says in her 15 years of service, the County’s tax rate has dropped more than 30 percent. County commissioners voted on a proposed tax rate in mid-August that coupled with multiple residential homestead exemptions should bring down the County’s portion of the average tax bill, she said. Long, a Republican, said she looks for opportunities to talk with taxpayers about county government. She said it seems that many people don’t really understand the role of county government in Texas, o en believing that county commissioners have more authority than they do.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
needed! voter
Charlie Braun, at far right, guided Liberty Hill to its first ever playoff appearance in 1984. (James Wear Photo)
Barbara Ann Gallagher Imken, 91, of Liberty Hill, TX passed away on August 25, 2022 of natural causes. She had been a res ident of the Bertram Nursing and Rehabili tation Center for many years. Barbara was born December 27, 1930 in Corpus Christi, TX to Joseph Henry Gal lagher and Josephine Emmert Gallagher. She is predeceased by her husband, Elmer Imken, of Bishop, TX. Her greatest joy in life was to spend time with family and friends, of which she had many.She is survived by two sons: Louis Muen nink and wife, Ladonna, of Liberty Hill, TX and Joseph Muennink and wife, Linda, of Rockport, TX. Three granddaughters: Kamie Jo Spain and husband, Jon, of King wood, TX; Caitlin Muennink and husband, Oscar, of Liberty Hill, TX; and Melissa Howard Hoyle of Kilgore, TX. Great-grand children: Hannah and Holly Spain, Kaylee and Kallie Muennink, Oliver Leos, Shane Irvy and wife, Cheyenne, and Chris Irvy. Great-great-grandchildren, Remedy and Hazel. Also, numerous nieces and nephews which were very dear to tionher.Visitawill be on SeptemberbeserviceAMortuary.Piperat9:005:002,SeptemberFriday,2022fromp.m.top.m.Turcottechapelwillheldon3, 2022 at 10:00am. Interment to follow at Restland Cemetary in Bishop, TX.A Memorial Service will be held on Satur day, September 24, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of Christ in Liberty Hill, TX. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Texas Chapter of the Paralyzed Veter ans of America (TCPVA) at texaspva.org.
In 1988, during The Independent’s first year of publication, I had the opportunity to interview Coach Braun and he spoke of the 1984 season, recalling “John Montgomery and Scott Breen did super jobs as quarter backs…gosh, we had so many good kids that year that gave super efforts. “Bradley Hicks was a super athlete, Scott Kirk, Clint Timms, Mick McMillan…just a number of them in that group that were just quality kids.”
Barbara Ann Gallagher Imken
In 2011, Braun, having retired from coaching years earlier, was asked by a sportswriter about the 1984 team. “That group of guys worked so hard during the summertime that I knew…they’d come to the weight room religiously and work out and compete against each other,” Braun recalled. “They were just very competitive and I knew that we were going to be good thatThreeyear.”years later, Braun and his Panthers won Liberty Hill’s first outright district championship on the gridiron. “I’ll go on record saying this is going to be the toughest non-district schedule Liberty Hill has ever played,” he said. “It’s going to be really tough, but our coaches are excited for the challenge.”
Looking Back CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 of rock climbing they’re looking for, but for those who want a more extreme climbing journey, area rock climbing businesses do lead tours and more information on those can be found at park headquarters. Each of the trails at Enchanted Rock is more gorgeous than the last, and the views you’ll see at sunrise or the stargazing you’ll see after it gets dark make camping here even more worth it. I recommend finding a wide open, clear spot to hang out once the sun goes down—you will not see a more spectacular starry night anywhere else in Texas.Campsites at Enchanted Rock are for tent camping only, and range in price from $16 to $20 per night depending on their location. The more affordable sites are a one-to-three-mile hike over rugged terrain, while the $20 sites have water, bathrooms, showers, picnic tables, grills and firepits. Reservations are required. For more infor mation, visit parks/enchanted-rockwww.tpwd.texas.gov/state.
Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | SEPTEMBER 202218 OBITUARY
Lost Woods Campground – Helotes 115 miles | 2 hours, 6 minutes from Liberty Hill While this campground is the farthest away from Liberty Hill, it’s one of the more unique camping experiences you can have in Central Texas. Nestled among 50 acres of woods near the town of Helotes, Lost Woods Camp ground gives campers a chance to get away from it all. The campground has 17 different sites, all of which are primitive but can house tents or trailers. No water or electric hookups are available, but each site does have a fire ring and there are on-site portable toilets. Large oaks cover the network of trails through the property, which are perfect for taking nature walks, riding bikes and look ing for wildlife. The most unique aspect of the campground, though, is the small farm housed on the same property where you can see and visit with goats, chickens and pigs—a favorite for kids. Each campsite is $35 per night for up to four guests, and reservations are required. For more information, visit groundcom/texas/lost-woods/lost-woods-campwww.hipcamp.
titleAsgame.co-district champs, the Pan thers qualified for the postseason playoffs. Liberty Hill advanced by defeating Troy 21-6 in bi-district ac tion and then defeating Shiner in the area matchup. The two teams were tied 20-20 at the end of regulation, but Liberty Hill advanced as the result of having more penetrations into their opponent’s territory. The season finally ended with Universal City Randolph defeating Liberty Hill the following week in the regional championship game.
Camping Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is known for its numerous hiking trails, star gazing opportunities and gorgeous views, which makes it a great place to spend a weekend camping. PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON
BY RACHEL MADISON STAFF WRITER Gone are the days of eating Sa ran-wrapped sandwiches on a red-andwhite checkered table cloth under a tree at the local park—that is if Tamara Patel, owner of Native Picnic Co. has anything to say about it. That’s because she is in the business of creating beautiful, Instagram-worthy picnics that give her clients a unique event experience. Patel grew up in Texas, but she didn’t start Native Picnic Co. until Septem ber 2021 after moving back to Texas from Colorado with her husband and newborn son to be closer to family. After graduating from college, Patel worked in catering and events for major productions, like Austin City Limits and Lollapalooza.“Iloveddoing those events, but they burnt me out because they were so large scale,” she said. That’s when Patel tried out several other careers—including working as a high school biology teacher, selling real estate and practicing functional nutritional ther apy—but she always had a desire to go back to catering and events, just on a smaller scale.“Ikept thinking about how I’d love to do something small like picnics, and when we lived in Colorado, there was a company there doing pop-up picnics,” she said. “I saw that and realized it was similar to what I had wanted to do, so when we moved back to Texas, I decided to bite the bullet and do it.”The appeal of hosting smaller events is the ability to work closer with clients, Patel said, and being able to give them a unique and personalized experience. “The picnics look great in pictures, but in person it’s really that wow factor,” she added.Thename Native Picnic Co. is fitting for her business, Patel said, because she tries to source everything locally. “I source all my floral, charcuterie items and even as many picnic décor items as possible,” she said. “I use everything I can from other local businesses.” Besides hosting private events, Patel is also breaking into hosting ticketed events. For her one-year anniversary, she is hosting a ticketed picnic to celebrate being in business for one year. That sold out faster than she expected, which is why she plans on hosting more similar events.
“When you come to me, you are com ing for what I provide,” she said. “We try to make it a mirage of our style and what you have in mind. My goal is to make the picnics look as aesthetically pleasing and professional as possible without getting too kitschy.”Patelachieves this by using only fresh florals as well as curating a very distinctive design with different textures and medi ums.The picnics come with charcuterie, which includes everything from fruits and cheeses to vegetables and nuts. She can also provide champagne or a bar cart add on, which provides picnic-goers with everything they need to make a signature cocktail. Patel currently does all of the food in-house as part of her packages, but in the future as she grows, she may team up with other local businesses to outsource the charcuterie offerings.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly 19 OUTDOORS
Patel can set up a picnic almost any where—from a client’s backyard to a local park.“It depends on what you’re looking for,” she said. “I will host picnics all over, not just in Liberty Hill. I’ve done picnics in Freder icksburg, San Antonio, Georgetown, Round Rock and Austin.”
The number of guests for her picnics can range from a date night or mommy and me package for just two guests, up to 28 people for a larger party or shower. The typical picnic size is between eight and 16 people, sheEveryadded.picnic comes with a wooden table, rugs, floor pillows, and everything need ed for a place setting, including plates, flatware, glassware and napkins. Floral and can dles are always included as well, Patel said. “From there, I can change the pillow colors, table runner and floral,” she said. “The floral changes the look of a picnic the most. I really design each picnic based off what the event is, the time of year, and if the client has any specific requests. I try to make each picnic unique for each client. A lot of times I will do a full dry run at my house and set it all up to make sure it looks cohesive. That’s how I can do these large picnics but set them up in 45 minutes to an hour. Everything is decided ahead of time.” Patel aims to make the whole planning process hands on while also being hands off, meaning she focuses on being commu nicative with her clients and accommodat ing their requests, while also allowing them to sit back and let her do all the planning, set up and clean up of the picnic itself. Outside of having a creative outlet for herself, Patel loves being able to give people an experience they don’t have every day. “It’s easy to do what you’re used to when you have a baby shower or bridal show er, but I can help to make it unique,” she said. “The best part is seeing my clients’ reactions. Even the people who aren’t the most outwardly expressive have the best reactions.”Pateliscurrently booking about two to three months out and is coming up on her busiest season of the year with fall and the holidays approaching. For more information, visit nativepicnic co.com.
Native Picnic Co. offers unique, intimate outdoor events
(Top) Tamara Patel creates unique and beautiful outdoor picnics through fresh florals, locally sourced foods and seasonal decor. (Above) Patel uses her boho style to create gorgeous outdoor picnic settings She curates everything for the event, from the food and beverages to the flowers and pillows. (Courtesy Photos)
“People want to have something fun to do that’s out of the ordinary,” she said. “It’s not just going to dinner at the same place every weekend. It feels like you’re into an Insta gram-worthy, Pinterest-worthy picture.”
Patel’s inspiration for her picnic set ups come from her previous experience doing events, but she also puts her own boho style on everything she does.
2 28 oz. cans Pork and Beans, drained and rinsed16oz. can pineapple chunks 8 Tbsp. pineapple juice, reserved from canned pineapple In preheated dutch oven, cook bacon until brown and crispy. Add onions, salt and pepper. Cook until on ions are translucent. In a large bowl, mix pinto beans, brown sugar and tomatoes with green chilies. Add to Dutch oven and allow to cook for five min utes. Add water, Pork and Beans, pineapple chunks and juice and cook for 30 minutes at 350 degrees or with charcoal briquettes until dish is heated through and bubbling.
• Ignite them 20 minutes before you need them.
Maple Lightlysyrupoil12-inch Dutch oven. Remove pancakes from boxes, unwrap and separate. Set aside to partially thaw. In large bowl, beat eggs and half and half with whisk. Coarsely chop pancakes. Add pancake pieces and chopped sausage to egg mixture; toss to coat. Let stand five minutes. Pour mixture into prepared Dutch oven. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes in oven, or on charcoal briquettes until eggs are cooked through. Sprinkle with cheese, cover and cook for 10-15 minutes more or until edges are set and golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes. Cut into squares and serve with maple syrup.
• Wash your Dutch oven with lukewarm water and mild dish soap. Dry thoroughly.
MAIN HEARTYDISH:BAKED BEANS
4 1½eggscups half and half 1 14 oz. package cocktail-sized smoked link sausages, chopped 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
How to prepare briquettes:
1-2 cans of fruit of your choice (either in heavy syrup or pie filling) ½ tsp. cinnamon ½ tsp. nutmeg 1 box yellow or white cake mix ½ cup butter, sliced Lightly oil 12-inch Dutch oven. Pour canned fruit/pie filling into oven and stir in cinnamon and nutmeg. Sprinkle cake mix evenly over top. Place slices of butter on top of cake mix. Bake at 350 degrees in the oven for 30 minutes, or with charcoal briquettes until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
PIGSBREAKFAST:INABLANKET
COBBLEREASYDESSERT:FRUIT
BY RACHEL MADISON STAFF WRITER
Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | SEPTEMBER 202220 OUTDOORS Cast iron cooking
3 slices bacon, diced 1 cup onion, chopped ¼ tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. pepper 1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed 1/8 cup brown sugar 1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
• Apply a uniform amount of your choice of oil over the entire interior surface of the Dutch oven, including the lid. Remove the excess oil with a paper towel.
• Place the Dutch oven in a 350-degree oven and bake for 60 minutes. Allow to cool.
(Above) A blueberry cobbler cooking in a Dutch oven over charcoal makes a perfect dessert for that weekend camping trip. (Below) For even cooking, arrange charcoal below and above the Dutch oven. (Courtesy Photos)
2 16 oz. boxes frozen buttermilk pancakes
BAKE
Dutch oven recipes to try this fall
• Repeat these steps as needed, typically every six months, to keep your Dutch oven seasoned and to prevent food from sticking.
How to season a Dutch oven:
• Figure out how many charcoal briquettes you need. Use the size of your Dutch oven and multiply it by two.
½ cup water
It can be argued that cooking in cast iron just makes food taste better. Add to that the multiple options for cooking -- whether you’re at home baking the dishes in your oven or cooking a meal with charcoal briquettes to enjoy in the great outdoors -and you’ve got a versatile vessel for creating simple and delicious recipes, all in one pot.
• To get an even cook, place briquettes around both the top and bottom of your Dutch oven. Place the majority of the briquettes directly underneath the Dutch oven in the form of a circle and the rest along the outer rim of the lid if you are roasting, and the opposite if you are baking. For boiling, stewing and frying, only place briquettes underneath the Dutch oven.
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Part of that mentality is to have the ability to shake off adversity during games, he“Assaid.asafety, you need to have a shortterm memory when you get beat on a play,” said Schrank. “Be able to flip the switch and moveWalkeron.” is confident Schrank can help fill the void left as the Panthers’ defense continues to rebuild.
Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | SEPTEMBER 202222
“In the first scrimmage (against Hays), we messed up a lot – it was a struggle,” said the 6-foot-2, 270-pound Jacobs. “We weren’t playing as a team and didn’t understand what we were supposed to be doing.”
Just as the Liberty Hill offense faced a remake last year, the defense finds itself with a similar challenge this season – which can cost coaches some sleepless nights, said Walker.“Sure, I’m concerned because there’s a lot of added pressure and we have high expectations,” he said. “We’re young and inexperienced, which is nerve-wracking, but I’m excited to see them do well.”
Carlton Schrank was a member of last year’s defense and is back this season with cornerback Aden Burrell as the only two returning starters, which means there has been a lot of shuf fling of players around in different spots to find the right 11-man combination. But, despite the massive turnover on his side of the ball, Schrank said it hasn’t been as much of an upheaval as it may appear on the“Wesurface.have a lot of guys who have just moved up to being starters,” he said. “But, they’re still playing the same positions as before.”Head coach Kent Walker said the Pan thers’ first four games of the campaign will function as live dress rehearsals for when the district schedule begins. “We’re still figuring out positions,” he said. “So, those non-district games help us bigAstime.”faras replacing last season’s seniors, Walker said it was a daunting prospect. “It was definitely a challenge to lose four Division I players,” he said. “But, we have great kids who have worked extremely hard to get it Seniordone.”nose tackle Ryan Jacobs – who transferred from East View in Georgetown (Above) Senior safety Carlton Schrank (#23) is one of only two returning starters on the Liberty Hill defense this season after the unit lost its core players from 2021 to graduation. (Below) Liberty Hill’s has had to replace players such as Andon Thomas (#10) and Drake Torno (#44) in rebuilding the defense.
Panthers rebuild after losing seniors to graduation for his final year of high school – is one of the newbies who have stepped in and kept the positive momentum going, but said it was a process that needed to play out over the course of time.
Andon Thomas, Lloyd John son, Jr., Kade McMahan and Aaron Brewer – mainstays for a unit that backed the Purple-and-Gold all the way to a berth in the Class 5A Division II state championship game – have moved on to the college level. To say there was a void left by the quartet is anHowever,understatement.seniorsafety
“Carlton is a great leader for us,” he said. “He’s an extremely intelligent young man –we couldn’t ask for a better leader.”
Schrank said both the offense and defense are galvanized due to long-term familiarization.“Thisyear,it’s really different than in previous years,” he said. “A lot of us have played together since seventh grade.” Schrank himself is an offensive convert that switched from running back to the defensive secondary last season, only to find a home stopping opposing ballcarriers instead of trying to elude them as one of a pair of safeties in Liberty Hill’s defensive scheme.“Wehave the ‘bandit,’ who plays more in the box and the ‘free,’ which is me,” said Schrank. “You can’t be slow because there are some guys that are super-fast, but I really think the mental aspect of the game is more important. We’re not the biggest, fastest or strongest defense, but we can stay with some people.”
When the Liberty Hill defense stepped onto the field for the opening game of this season, there were nine new starters tasked with seamlessly moving on after losing critical players from last year’s squad to graduation.Standouts
“I think people will see our defense is just as good as our offense,” he said. “It’s just about getting more reps, playing together and getting closer to one another.”
FILE PHOTOS BY ALEX RUBIO
neverDefenserests
Onward and upward, though, as next time out against Boerne, the Panthers showed signs of improvement, said Jacobs. “In the second scrimmage, we put up more of a fight,” he said. “We know we have guys that can make plays – we all just need to do our individual jobs.” Before Jacobs switched teams, he said he had preconceived notions of the program he is now a part of – not unlike many who are on the outside looking in.
“You would hear about Liberty Hill and everyone was afraid because they’re known as this powerhouse,” he said. “But, when I got here, there was definitely a culture shock from what I was used to before –things here are a lot more disciplined and structured, but that’s because our expecta tions are so high.”
Jacobs added although the Panthers’ famed Slot-T offense gets most of the attention, he believes he and his new mates across the line of scrimmage are also capa ble of great things.
BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR
BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR
As the district schedule fast approaches, head coach Marie Bruce and her squad continue to battle through tournaments that are testing their mettle for when the matches count in the league standings. After winning the prestigious Westwood Showcase, Liberty Hill participated in Volleypalooza, one of the largest annual events in the state, staged at seven different schools across Central Texas featuring 68 teams.This time around, the Purple-and-Gold finished 15th in the field with a 4-4 record over the course of the three-day extrava ganza.Liberty Hill was one of the host schools and played the first two days of the tour nament on its home court, beginning with a pair of victories over Heath, 2-0 (25-19, 26-24), as Kealy Dirner had seven kills and Marcus, 2-0 (25-13, 25-18), with Gigi Mason collecting six. Finally, the Lady Panthers finished the day with a 2-0 (25-18, 25-13) loss to Dripping Springs.Thefollowing day saw the Lady Panthers defeat Southlake Carroll, 2-0 (26-24, 27-25), with Annie Witt hammering six kills and Carson Glenn dishing out nine assists. Next up was Prestonwood and a 2-0 (2516, 25-14) defeat, before rebounding with a 2-1 (16-25, 26-24, 25-12) victory over Strat ford to close the day, as Mason had nine kills and Morgan Poulain five blocks.
“Over the course of the year, you just learn what each other are going to do,” said Mason. “It’s like the Force.”
PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO
Size indeed matters
Liberty Hill’s second-place finish on the second day of pool play seeded them in the Silver bracket, where it first faced Lake Travis, losing by a score of 2-0 (26-16, 25-19), which relegated the Lady Panthers to the losers bracket, where their weekend ended with an 2-0 (25-20, 25-19) loss to Round Rock.
When opposing volleyball teams take on the Lady Panthers this season, they face a formidable Purple-and-Gold wall across the net – one that provides Liberty Hill with a fortress-like defense against any and all attackers.Fourplayers standing six feet or taller grace the Lady Panthers’ roster in senior middle blocker Morgan Poulain (6-foot2), junior outside hitter Gigi Mason (6-0), sophomore outside hitter Taylor Gaines (6-0) and sophomore middle blocker Ava Kostroun (6-1). Having that kind of length along the net creates massive problems for opposing of fenses when it comes to hitting around the block because there is no hitting around it –instead they must find openings in between to exploit, which is easier said than done. However, height is only as good as the player that utilizes it, said Liberty Hill head coach Marie Bruce. “Some players have height, but they don’t have the talent to match,” she said. “All four of our girls have both.” Mason said having an entire front line that is so tall provides the Lady Panthers with an advantage many other teams have difficulty dealing with. “All of us can get up high enough to hit over the block on offense,” she said. “On defense, having so many tall girls can intim idate the other side.”
Lady Panthers push on districttoward BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR
Ava Kostroun (#11) is one of four Lady Panthers who stands six feet or taller, providing Liberty Hill with superior net presence.
Lady Panthers’ length at net is formidable Keegan Walton (#7) plays a ball during the home loss to Dripping Springs.
“In Liberty Hill, we’re all friends and we all know each other,” she said. “So, it doesn’t take long to build those connec tions.”According to Mason, once the kind of chemistry required to consistently resist other teams’ shots is developed, it becomes second nature for the players involved – in fact, almost Jedi-like in nature.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly 23
PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO
Last season, Mason moved from the bench into a starting role when an injury felled a teammate and hasn’t looked back ever since in becoming a hallmark on the right side and has already racked up an impressive number of kills. But, it’s sending an opponent’s shot back over the net that gives her the greatest gratification, she said. “Kills are always going to happen – it’s only a matter of time until you get one,” said Mason. “But, blocks are a lot more difficult because you don’t always get one when you go Inup.”order for an outside hitter to be effec tive, one must have the ability to anticipate plays as they unfold and have the spatial awareness of what is transpiring along the entire front of the net, she said. “One of the most important things is to be able to see the block move with your periphery vision,” said Mason. “So, you can determine where the defense is going to be.”Every year, new players arrive on the var sity – just as she did last season as a sopho more – so Mason knows first-hand what it’s like for this year’s newly-promoted players to work their way into the team, although the transition is usually seamless due to the solid foundation the entire volleyball program is built on.
SPORTS
PHOTOS BY ABBY GLENN
Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | SEPTEMBER 202224 SPORTS Braving the elements
However, McCarn has already gained valuable knowledge of an individual variety she’s applying with favorable results this season compared to last, she said. “I used to just sprint at the end to the fin ish line,” said McCarn. “But, now I sprint at the start – for about the first three minutes of the race – because that way I can push the pace and not have to pass as many people later.”Both McCarn and Hogge both run track in the spring, but it’s clear which one McCarn prefers – if only for aesthetic reasons. “I like the consistency of track,” said Mc Carn. “But, I love the unpredictability and surroundings of cross country.”
“A race like this is a good way to kick off the season because it lets us see how they’re going to compete and be able to mentally handle everything,” said Holt. “We don’t want to throw them into a 5K right off the bat.”Liberty Hill’s top girls team at the event was the sophomore duo of Nina Burnett (13:16.2) and Laney McCarn (13:19.5), who combined for a time of 26:35.7, which was good for 12th in the 42-team field. Despite the horrific conditions, McCarn took pleasure in splashing her way around the slippery course, she said. “Weather like that makes running more fun because it helps you forget about the pain,” said McCarn. “But, that’s what I love most about cross country – the conditions and courses are always different and you never know what you’re going to get, so that just brings more energy and excitement.”
In addition to faster times on the course, McCarn has already become more of a leader off the trails despite her status as a sophomore – a role she relishes, she said.
“The weather really affected the race a lot – the mud was tough – I felt like I was in a Spartan race,” said Hogge. “Also, my hair was flying around in the wind and getting in mySeniorface.”
Ryan McCarn (10.17.0) and sophomore Brandon Escobar (10.38.5) combined to finish sixth in 20.55.5.Hogge is now ensconced as a member of the Panthers’ varsity squad after a fresh man campaign that saw him bounce back and forth from the varsity and JV teams – a predicament not helped by health issues, he said. “I was on JV to start the season, then made it up to varsity,” said Hogge. “But, then I got sick and went back down to JV before finishing the season on varsity.” Competing against the big boys is a far cry from racing the
When the Liberty Hill cross country team lined up for its first competitive event of the season at Southwest Williamson County Regional Park in Leander, it was a beautiful morning for a run. If you were a duck. Rain was pouring out of the blackened sky at a biblical rate, but the show – or in this case, the race – had to go on.
BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR
“I’m really settled into varsity this year,” said McCarn, who spent all last season on the varsity. “Now as a non-freshman, it’s enjoyable to be able to help my younger teammates because I know last year there were older girls I looked up to.”
So, the Panthers – along with a dozen other teams – slogged their way around a soggy, two-mile loop through the mud and puddles, with the varsity girls claiming a fifth-place finish and the boys third at the Battle for Wilco Park.
Cross country presents daunting challenges
pointingseniors.”seasonIsameatinplayers,not-ready-for-prime-timehesaid.“YougofromfinishingfirstaJVracethat’seasyto80ththevarsitylevelwiththetime,”saidHogge.“But,wanttodoreallygoodthis–especiallyforourLastseasonendedindisapfashion,asboththePanthers’ girls and boys squads failed to make it past the district meet at season’s end – a calamity Hogge wants to help avoid this time around. “A lot us have gotten faster this year,” he said. “Ryan (McCarn) has gotten a lot faster.”
As older brother Ryan is a senior this sea son, McCarn said she will take full advan tage of the opportunity to learn from him before they’re no longer teammates.
Sophomore Nick Hogge (10:58.5) teamed up with junior Caden Glenn (10.49.6) to finish 17th in a field of 42 in the boys’ varsity race with a time of 21:48.1 and also endured a dual with the elements.
“Ryan has always been a big supporter of mine, so it’ll be sad when he’s gone next year,” she said. “So, now I want to learn from him how to be a role model.”
McCarn puts much emphasis on her en (Above) Nick Hogge (#1150) and Anthony Barreras (#1147) traverse a large puddle while being cheered on by teammate Caden Glenn during the opening event of the season at Southwest Williamson County Regional park. (Below) Laney McCarn (#1057) negotiates a water obstacle at the Battle for Wilco Park.
joyment of the sport and knows if she puts in a proper shift, the results will be there organically, she said. “I feel like there’s always room for im provement,” said McCarn. “But, at the end of a race, if I had fun and I know I did my best, that’s what really matters.”
The event wasn’t the typical 5-kilometer race, though, as two-runner teams from the schools filled out the field, with each com pleting a tour of the course with the times combined in relay-race fashion. According to Head Coach Kim Holt, the event – regardless of the conditions – was exactly what her team needed to start up the new season.
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According to Liberty Hill head coach Sherry Rhoden, Fay has grown into the kind of person and player she always knew he could be. “I think his confidence is the biggest thing I see that’s different from before – Pat rick’s gained a lot of that over the past four years,” said Rhoden, in her third season Panthers duo takes advantage of experience, maturity
Seniors Ella Bodnar and Patrick Fay have embraced leadership roles on this season’s Liberty Hill tennis team after years of experience.
“I’ve always been a true middle,” said Poulain. “I’ve played a little bit across the entire front row, but I like middle – it’s fun to close down the block, but it’s a lot of work always transitioning off the hitters.”
PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH Leadership net gain for tennis seniors
“I’ve already had a few of the freshmen come up to me and ask me questions,” said Bodnar. “It’s pretty cool they do that – there’s definitely more pressure, but everybody kind of looks up to me.”
“There’swilderness.something about being out side,” she said. “It brings a peace to me that doesn’t come around very often.”
BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR
“When I was playing at nationals for my club team, their coach happened to notice me,” said Poulain. “They had just lost a mid dle and after we talked awhile, she offered me on the spot – it’s a funny story how it all just fell into place.”
FILE PHOTO BY ALEX RUBIO
Liberty Hill senior middle blocker Morgan Poulain (#18) - who has verbally committed to play volleyball at Sam Houston State University - is equally adept at golf.
Morgan Poulain at ease on court or course OF THE MONTH
PANTHER
Fay said it took awhile to settle into his role as the Panthers’ top gun on the court after so much being expected of him as a freshman.“Ithink during my sophomore year, I got much better,” he said. “Things like being able to set up a point and out-think my opponents.”EllaBodnar is a fellow senior on the squad that is also embracing the opportu nity to pass along knowledge and wisdom gained to her younger teammates.
When Patrick Fay first arrived on the purple tennis courts at Liberty Hill High School three years ago for his freshman year, he stood 5-foot-7 and had all the awkwardness of a first-season high-school athlete to go with a mild-mannered person ality.Fast-forward to the present and Fay –now a Liberty Hill senior stringer – has blossomed like a beanstalk all the way up to 6-3 after having spent much of his time in Purple-and-Gold as the Panthers’ No. 1 boys’ singles’ player. However, despite his rapid growth phys ically, Fay still maintains the same under stated nature – only now it projects an air of confidence brought on by experience and the maturity that has come with it.
“We’ve been talking about me being a leader this year,” said Fay, whose older sis ter Lorelei, was a senior on the team when he was a freshman. “Just things like setting the tone in practice and making sure the effort is always there.”
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From the net to the fairways
BY SCOTT AKANEWICH SPORTS EDITOR Standing six feet, two inches tall, Morgan Poulain strikes a formidable figure on a volleyball court and the Liberty Hill senior middle blocker certainly collects her fair share of kills and blocks for the Lady Panthers.However, when she’s not pounding a piece of leather into submission at the net, Poulain is as equally adept at driving, chipping and putting her way in tee boxes, through fairways and on greens as a mem ber of Liberty Hill’s golf team.
Poulain’s stature isn’t the result of any re cent growth spurts either, as she’s been her current height since she was a freshman, meaning her place on the court has always been right in the middle of it all – literally.
Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | SEPTEMBER 202226
According to Poulain, she first picked up a club at the behest of peers who were already playing the game. “All my closest friends were guys that played,” said Poulain. “So, I decided to pick it up and play.” But, her greatest athletic success has come on the hardwood, where her height truly pays the largest dividends and as it turns out, Poulain – who provides a most menacing net presence, featuring a wiry frame and massive wingspan that covers the entire middle of the net in repelling enemy attacks with a blend of athleticism, grace and agility – comes from a long line of length, she said. “Both of my parents are tall,” she said. “My mom (Toni) is 5-11 and my dad (Marc) is 6-3.”Truth be told, though, her size hasn’t always been a benefit – especially in her younger years. “I remember as a little kid, I was too tall to go in the play gym at the mall because there was a height limit,” said Poulain. “I’ve always been the tallest kid.”
Next season after graduation this year, Poulain will be headed off to Sam Houston State University, where she will play NCAA Division I volleyball while pursuing a dual major in both physics and aerospace. How she got the opportunity to attend the university is Huntsville is a story of fate.
In addition to reading greens on the golf course, Poulain also reads just about any kind of book she can get her hands on and often seeks refuge from her busy schedule out in the
Does towering over most of her peers –of either gender, for that matter – create awkwardness or self-consciousness for Poulain?Inaword, no. “I’ve always been raised to be proud of being tall,” she said. “Sure, I hear jokes like ‘How’s the weather up there?’ or whatever, but they’re just jealous.”
“The best part for me has been seeing how much bigger and be er the program has go en since I got here,” he said. “It’s been really good to play a role in what we’ve done.”
“We’ve gone from 13 kids up to 60,” she said. “We have an amazing booster club with great parents and (Liberty Hill ISD superintendent) Mr. (Steve) Snell is behind me 100 percent.”Foradditional evidence of the program’s growth, one need look no further than the fact former players now return over the summer to help at the camps Rhoden runs – a residue of the culture she has striven to instill since the day she took“Weover.have kids like Lorelei Fay and Ethan Wukasch that have come back because they still want to be a part of it,” said Rhoden. “I love I get to be a part of something like that.” Fay said he’s proud to have contributed to the growth of the team during his time on the squad.
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Tennis CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE running the Panthers program.
Rhoden was hired by late Liberty Hill athletic director Jeff Walker, whom she credits with giving her the confidence to move forward with the bold plans she had when taking over the team. “I remember him telling me ‘I’m bringing you in her to build this program,’” she said. “So, I’ve felt the support from the very beginning.” - Middle School #3 - BP2, is requesting competitive proposals from subcontractors and suppliers. Subcontractor and supplier proposals will be received via Fax to (512) 326-4339 or (512) 3263990 Fax or via email to bidaus@ bartlettcocke.com no later than 2:00:00 PM on 10/6/2022. Any proposals received after this time will not be Electronicaccepted.copiesof the proposal documents may be obtained from Bartlett Cocke or viewed at local and online planrooms. Contact Stefan Doerr via email Sdoerr@ bartlettcocke.com or phone (512) 326-4223 to make arrangements. Small, Woman Owned, Disadvantaged, HUB, HUBZone, 8(a), Minority, and all similar firms are encouraged to submit proposals on this project. Bartlett Cocke General Contractors is an equal opportunity (EEO) employer.
Merchant Services! Does your business need a comprehensive, and innovative Credit Card processing capability? We have the PERFECT solution for you! www.firsttexasbank.bank CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING $25 for Minimum 30 Words (Print Edition) Additional Words $0.20 NEWS@LHINDEPENDENT.COM Contact us for Online Rates PUBLIC NOTICES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Georgetown ISD Elementary #11 – All Trades Package American Constructors, the Construction Manager-at-Risk for Georgetown ISD, requests proposals for the All Trades Package for the Georgetown ISD Elementary School #11 Proposalsproject.aredue Wednesday, September 14th at 2:00 pm. Proposals may be emailed to americanconstructors.comstructors’downloading(512)TXmerConstructorsoring@americanconstructors.comestimat-mailed/deliveredtoAmericanat11900WestPar-Lane,Suite200,CedarPark,78613,orsubmittedviafaxto328-2520.DocumentsarealsoavailableforfromAmericanCon-ftpsite.Pleasevisitwww.for details. Please contact American Constructors at 512-328-2026 for additional information on this project. SUBCONTRACTOR & SUPPLIER INFORMATIONPROPOSALPACKET Bartlett Cocke General Contractors, Construction Manager-at-Risk, for: Liberty Hill ISD
SEPTEMBER 2022 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly 27
“He’s not afraid to talk in front of people or to encourage his teammates and that’s because he’s always been held to a higher standard at home and it shows in his grades, actions and words.”
A er only two full seasons in charge, Rhoden has ratcheted the program up another level from the one she inherited, with the increased numbers in participation to show for her efforts.
Rhoden said Bodnar tends to lead more mentally than physically. “Ella is a quiet leader and a major thinker,” she said. “Everyone on the team likes her and she’s very open with her teammates.”
Extracurricular activities is the order of the day BY SCOTT AKANEWICH STAFF WRITER To say Kennedy Bye is a busy young lady would be an understatement of the highest order.The Liberty Hill senior has a calendar that is constantly chocked full of extracurricular activities in addition to her class schedule as she begins her final year of high school matriculation.
“All of us have yellow lanyards on our backpacks,” said Bye. “So, if someone has a question, they can just stop us and ask.” As if all that wasn’t enough, Bye also volunteers as a religious education teacher at Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church in Andice and had also founded a local women’s Bible study group that meets on Sundays.Withsuch a history of service already behind her, Bye said she will seek a career that follows along the same path – particularly one that involves youth.
“Finding someplace to sit at lunch can be a big deal,” said Bye, who is one of 62 student ambassadors. “Everybody has their own groups they always sit with.” Despite the fact each ambassador is only assigned one new student at a time, Bye and her comrades are always on call, she said.
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According to Bye, that can be something as simple as having a friendly place to consume a midday meal.
Bye is president of the student council, editor of the school yearbook, on the Panthers’ UIL journalism team, a member of the National Honor Society – and oh, by the way, for good measure, is a varsity cheerleader.So,howdoes this Purple-and-Gold dynamo manage to find enough hours in the day to fulfill all her obligations? “It’s a lot,” said Bye. “But, my sponsors are all understanding as far as allowing me time for everything.”
“I used to want to be a teacher,” she said. “But, now I’m thinking about being a pediatrics nurse because I like to make kids feel comfortable.”Byesaidshe has narrowed down her college choices to Baylor, Texas A&M and TexasBut,Tech.before she moves on to whichever university she decides on, Bye still has her entire senior year of high school to tend to, which means plenty more activities to take up her time – although she’s already had her first taste of nostalgia, she said.
“When I was at senior cheer tryouts, I realized I’ll never have to stay a er school wearing my black shorts and white shirt again,” said Bye, of the requisite customary kit. “This year is going to be fun, but it still doesn’t feel like the last one yet.”
Being so busy is certainly nothing new for Bye, either, as she’s been heavily immersed in a wide variety of activities ever since she arrived on the high-school campus three years ago. “I started ge ing really involved my freshman year,” she said. “I wanted to do as much as I could for college.” However, being such a staple of the student body has been about much more than a resume-builder for Bye. In fact, one of the undertakings she has taken the most pride in over the years has been in her role as student ambassador, in which she is tasked with escorting new students around campus during their first days as a Panther in order to help ease the stressful transition of a brand-new academic and social environment – a situation she’s all too familiar with herself by experience, she“Isaid.moved to Liberty Hill in sixth grade,” said Bye. “So, I know what it’s like to have to make new friends and fit in.”
Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | SEPTEMBER 202228
PHOTO BY SCOTT AKANEWICH
Never-ending senior schedule for Bye
Kennedy Bye is involved in a variety of extracurricular activities including student council, yearbook and cheerleading.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly 29 LET FREEDOM RAIN! BENEFITS OFRAINWATERHARVESTING5 1. Reduces groundwater demand 2. Rainwater can be treated and used in your home 3. Low-cost maintenance 4. Rainwater is better for your plants 5. Reduces your water bill Whole House Potable • Irrigation • Fire Tanks Livestock Watering • Agricultural Use Contact us for a free quote for your own rainwater collection systems! Liberty Hill | Locally owned by Travis & Kerry Redding Authorized Dealer 512-851-1526 | info@freedomrainwater.comFreedomRainwater.com|
Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | SEPTEMBER 202230 Locally Owned & Operated Since 19 61 14251 W Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill • (512) 259-4 710 • WWW.PRPROPANE.COM We’re Fired Up For THE PANTHERS! Sign up for our KEEP FULL PROGRAM,soyounever run out of Propane! Residential & Commercial Propane Sales, Tanks & Cylinders, Service & Installation ANDICE BAPTIST CHURCH 6570 FM 970, Florence (254) www.andicebc.org793-2557 PASTORS Derrick Norris, Senior Pastor Matt Koehler, Associate Pastor of Students & Families SERVICES Sunday Bible Study 9:45am Sunday Worship 11am Wednesday AWANA 6:30pm Sun. Online facebook.com/andicebaptist/ CROSS TRACKS CHURCH 101 Church St., Liberty Hill (512) www.crosstrackschurchumc.org515-0070 PASTOR Michele Lott SERVICES Sunday School 9am Sunday Worship 10am Sun. Online Facebook.com/crosstracks church/ FELLOWSHIP CHURCH 3600 RR 1869, Liberty Hill (512) fellowshiplh.com515-5579 PASTORS Tim McIlhaney, Dan Riemer, Ed Billock, Angel Perez SERVICES Sunday Worship 8:30 & 11am Servicio española a las 11am Sunday Bible Study All ages 10-10:45am Wednesday Bible Study All ages 6pm THE HILL CHURCH 111 Holmes Road, Liberty www.thehillchurch.churchHill PASTORS Tim Richardson, Pastor Kendall Ringler, Youth Pastor SERVICES Sunday Worship 10:15am Sunday Online facebook.com/thehillchurch.church10:15am HOLY ORTHODOXANNUNCIATIONCHURCH 5205 County Road 236, Liberty Hill (512) annunciationtx.com782-9940 PASTOR Bp. Irineos Placek SERVICES Vespers, Sat. 6:30pm Divine Liturgy, Sun. 10am LIFE CHRISTIANSPRINGSCHURCH 15611 W. State Hwy 29, Liberty Hill (512) www.lifespringschristianchurch.org633-6074 PASTOR Dr. William Brannan SERVICES Sunday Bible Study 9am Sunday Worship 10am Sun. Online youtube.com/c/LifeSprings MISSION LIBERTY HILL LUTHERAN CHURCH (LCMS A liated) 15725 W Hwy-29 #7, Liberty Hill (512) www.missionlibertyhill.com778-9310 PASTOR Rev. Mike Cofer SERVICES Sunday Bible Study 9am Sunday Church Worship 10am Sunday Online missionlibertyhill.com/onlineworship/10am NEW LIFE CHURCH 1015 US-183, Liberty Hill (512) www.newlifechurch.family567-3809 PASTORS Stephen Behrman, Senior Pastor Kimberly Behrman, Worship Pastor SERVICES Sunday Worship 10am Wednesday Bible Study/ Livinit Youth 7pm Sunday Online media/livestreamnewlifechurch.family/ ONE CHAPEL LIBERTY HILL 811 Loop 332, Liberty Hill (512) onechapel.com/liberty-hill729-6200 PASTOR Darren Shaw SERVICES Sunday Service 10am Online Service online.onechapel.com10am Wednesday Youth 7pm SELAH HILLS CHURCH 14370 W. SH 29, #10, Liberty Hill (833) info@selahhillschurch.comwww.selahhillschurch.com735-2489 PASTOR Chris Wimberly SERVICES Sunday Services 9am & 11am Sunday Youth Service 11am Wednesday Services 7pm Wednesday Youth 7pm Roam Co ee Shop Thurs-Sat 7am-2pm Live Stream selahhills church.com/ livestream RESTORATION CHURCH Meets at Liberty HIll Event Center 14875 W. SH 29, #10, Liberty Hill (512) www.restorationchurchtx.net271-1976 PASTOR Mike Kimmons SERVICES Sunday Services 10:30am WORSHIP GUIDE Liberty Hill & Surrounding Communities Call (512) 778-5577 or email us at stacy@LHIndependent.com to include your church in the Worship Guide.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly 31 355 Loop 332 Liberty Hill, TX ∙ Located in Lions Foundation Park September is NATIONAL LIBRARY CARD Sign-Up Month DO YOU WANT FREE BOOKS (PRINT & ELECTRONIC), MOVIES, AUDIOBOOKS, MORE? GET A FREE LIBERTY HILL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT LIBRARY CARD! Visit the library, bring an ID or a piece of recent mail with your correct address on it and get your library card today. Sign-up for a card or renew your account this month for a chance to win a prize! Check out our Facebook page for our upcoming events, programs, & services. 512.778.6400 ∙ Text: 512.675.2428 ∙ askthelibrary@lhpl.org Monday-Friday 9am-6pm ∙ Saturday 9am-4pm ∙ Sunday 1pm-6pm If you live in the Liberty Hill ISD, you are eligible for a FREE library card!
Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | SEPTEMBER 202232 State Bloomington,Farm IL 2101271 Hi, I’m your new good neighbor. Brent Allen, Agent 12701 W State Highway 29 Suite 3 Liberty Hill, TX 78642 Bus: brent@sflibertyhill.com512-244-6641 I’m excited to be a new State Farm® agent in Liberty Hill and am here to help you with your insurance and financial needs. Contact me anytime. ESTATE ADOPTIONPLANNING•PROBATEGUARDIANSHIPREALESTATEBUSINESSLAW VOTED BEST20212019ATTORNEY•2020•2022 T he C ar ing Downtown A ttor ney925 Loop 332, Libert y H ill EtzkornLaw.com jamie@etzkornlaw.com 719 N Hwy 183, B-104 (across from Smokey Mo’s) | Family Owned & Operated $5 OFF with $30 or more purchase $10 OFF with $60 or more purchase Dine in only. Must present coupon to receive discount. No cash value. Expires 9/30/22. 512-548-6673KrabKingzLibertyHill.com Homecoming Mums • Weddings • Bouquets Fletcher ’ s Floral, Decor & More • 13651 W. State Hwy 29, #C (512) 694-1100 • info@fletchersflorals.com
Carrier said the effectiveness of the training is attributed to the fact the animals are away from their owners for the entire two weeks, which allows them to build strong bonds with the trainers in bringing about the desired results.
Of course, some breeds of dogs are easier or more difficult to train, said Carrier. “For example, huskies are in the top 10 as far as the toughest to train,” she said. “They just have a wild hair and are stubborn, so we have to break the training down into shorter sessions.”
SEPTEMBER 2022 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly 33
However, in order to fully maximize one’s relationship with their canine compan ion, proper training by professionals can further enhance the experience of being a dogUnitedowner.K9 Academy – located on High way 29 in Liberty Hill’s Jardin Plaza – is a sanctuary for four-legged critters and their owners – a place where lessons are learned by both that result in lifelong chemistry.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, though, is the Goldendoodle.
BUSINESS Training to be man’s best friend
“We show them photos of their owners,” she said. “But, if the owner were to stop by, then leave, the dog might not be as respon sive to the trainers.”
Along those lines, Carrier and her staff take the time to properly instruct owners on their responsibilities as far as maintain ing what their dogs learn once they return home.“What we want to do is teach them cor rectly, making sure we’re getting through to them,” she said. “Happy dogs mean happy humans. One of the most rewarding things for me is when we have a dog that needs a behavior modification and we can send that dog back home as a good dog.” Certain breeds – such as German Shep herds and Malinois – have what’s known as a “high drive,” which basically means their motors never stop running, said Carrier. “They’re hunting dogs that are drawn to certain items,” she said. “Whether it’s a toy, other animals or food.” Interesting enough, Carrier doesn’t believe in rewarding dogs she trains with treats.“Iwant them to please me, not their stomach,” she said. “But, in general, dogs just want to please and they want to follow, notOnelead.”ofthe most crucial skills dogs learn is the ability to interact with others of their canine persuasion, she said. “It’s good for a dog to be able not only to interact with humans, but to play with others dogs,” said Carrier. “It builds their confidence.”HowCarrier came to her current posi tion is a story of leaving the corporate world behind for greener – or in this case, furrier – pastures after a career in the insurance industry left her wanting more out of life – especially after a successful bout with breastAftercancer.owning her own boarding business at her home in Leander, Carrier moved to Liberty Hill and found the mentor she needed to take her new career to the next level in United K9 Academy founder Craig Hanna, a former U.S. Army K9 handler who owns the chain of 14 locations spread across Central Texas. “At first, I told him I just wanted to be a trainer and learn from him,” said Carrier. “But, he was always saying, ‘No, you really want to be a franchise owner.’”
“People will see a video on YouTube, then make mistakes when they try it,” said Carrier, who has been a trainer since 2018. “When you do that, a dog can shut down.” United K9 offers a variety of services, with the gold standard being the two-week board-and-train during which dogs are put through the paces in learning a number of basic commands such as “Come,” “Sit,” “Leave It,” “Off” and “Place.”
So, in May, the Liberty Hill franchise location owned by Carrier came into exis tence and it’s been full speed ahead ever since as her days are now filled with the joy of what she loves to do. In addition, there’s one fringe benefit Carrier – who owns seven dogs herself – can enjoy.“There aren’t many jobs,” she said, “where you can take your dog to work.”
United K9 teaches animals, owners(Above left) United K9 Academy owner and head trainer Jennifer Carrier changed professions after experiencing discontentment in the corporate world. (Above right) United K9 Academy co-manager and trainer Branden Herner and his personal dog – a German Shepherd named Gunnar, during a training session.
PHOTOS BY SCOTT AKANEWICH
Perhaps there is no other connection as strong as the bond that exists between humans and dogs – man’s best friend, after all, as the old saying goes.
BY SCOTT AKANEWICH STAFF WRITER
“My all-time favorite,” said Carrier. “They have the temperament of Golden Retrievers and the intelligence of Poodles.” However, regardless of breed – or anything else, for that matter – there’s one thing that’s most important of all in getting good results, she said. “People need to have patience and not get greedy too quickly,” said Carrier. “When you build a house, you need a strong foun dation and it’s the same with a puppy. If you do it right, you can teach a dog anything –the human side is the most difficult.”
According to Jennifer Carrier, owner and head trainer, many dog owners believe they can train their dogs after a quick internet tutorial – but not the case.
SECOND HAND ROSE BAND Hometown Watering Hole 3317 E. Hwy. 29, Bertram 8-12:30 p.m. $10 Cover alicia.boychuk@gmail.comhometownwateringhole.net512-355-7377
Park 8 Ticketsp.m. $21.50– $34.50 hautespotvenue.com512-986-7411 Sept. 16 DJ TX RENEGADE Hometown Watering Hole 3317 E. Hwy. 29, Bertram 8-11:30 p.m. No Cover alicia.boychuk@gmail.comhometownwateringhole.net512-355-7377 MIKE RYAN WITH SLADE COULTER Haute Spot 1501 E. New Hope Dr., Cedar Park 8 Ticketsp.m. $24.50– $39.50
LEANDER BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL 1101 Bagdad, Leander Live music, food and fun zone 6-9:30 p.m. | Free der-bluegrass-festivalpage/17th-annual-honda-lean-leandertx.gov/parksrec/admission
Oct. 7-8
Oct. 8
ORLANDO GARZA Main Street Social 1651 Loop 332, Liberty Hill 6-9:30 mainstreetsocial.comp.m. Sept. 24 A sculptor creates art for a demonstration at the 2018 festival. Stryper Colt Ford Nameless Road Preachers on the Radio
Every Friday in September
COLT FORD Haute Spot 1501 E. New Hope Dr., Cedar hautespotvenue.com512-986-7411
Liberty Hill Independent Monthly | SEPTEMBER 202234 LOCAL EVENTS SHARE YOUR OCT & NOVEMBER EVENTS WITH US! Email news@LHIndependent.com OR SCAN THIS CODE TO POST YOUR EVENT TO OUR WEBSITE FOR FREE! September October Sept. 3 JESSE LOPEZ Y LOS
Sept. 7
SONNY WOLF BAND Main Street Social 1651 Loop 332, Liberty Hill 6-9:30 mainstreetsocial.comp.m. Sept. 17 NAMELESS ROAD Agape BBQ 3610 agapebbq.com6230548-512-7-9HillLiberty1869,RMp.m.
TOMMY T. AND THE 210’S Main Street Social 1651 Loop 332, Liberty Hill 6-9:30 mainstreetsocial.comp.m. Sept. 10
LIBERTY HILL POP-UP MARKET Main Street Social 1651 Loop 332, Liberty Hill 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Shop over 35 different vendors featuring a wide variety of goods. mainstreetsocial.com Sept. 15
PATRIOT DAY COMMUNITY 1-MILE RACE Liberty Hill High School Event hosted by Liberty Hill Cross Country Booster Club with 50 percent of proceeds going to the Liberty Hill Fire Department. Free t-shirts to the first 100 hill.isdRegister$10registrants.atfacebook.com/liberty-orpaypal.me/LHXC
PFLAME Agape BBQ 3610 RM 1869, Liberty Hill 7-9 512-548-6230/agapebbq.comp.m.
STRYPER Haute Spot 1501 E. New Hope Dr., Cedar Park 8 Ticketsp.m. $22.50– $39.50 hautespotvenue.com512-986-7411 Sept. 28 NATIONAL DRINK BEER DAY Agape BBQ 3610 RM 1869, Liberty Hill All 512-548-6230/agapebbq.comday Sept. 30 BOOT ROCK BOYS Agape BBQ 3610 RM 1869, Liberty Hill 7-9 agapebbq.com512-548-6230p.m.
2040 Artesian Springs Crossing, Music,Free12-5Leanderp.m.admissionentertainment, food, art vendors and the grand opening of the Lakewood Sculpture Walking der-arts-festleandertx.gov/pac/page/lean-Trail Sept. 23
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X-LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME HEB
PREACHERS ON THE RADIO Agape BBQ 3610 RM 1869, Liberty Hill 7-9 agapebbq.com512-548-6230p.m.
Oct. 22
LANCO Haute Spot 1501 E. New Hope Dr., Cedar Park 8 Ticketsp.m. $22.50– $32.50 hautespotvenue.com512-986-7411
JUKEBOX FRIDAY Hometown Watering Hole 3317 E. Hwy. 29, Bertram 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. No Cover alicia.boychuk@gmail.comhometownwateringhole.net512-355-7377
LIBERTY HILL LIONS CLUB RIP, ROAR’N RIDE Liberty Hill Middle School 8 a.m. | $49 Cyclists can choose from 30, 50, 65 or 80-mile routes, through Liberty Hill, Oatmeal and Burnet complete with rest stops and lots of beautiful Hill Country scenery. Proceeds benefit Junior Diabetes Research Foundation and the Liberty Hill Lions Club. Register at ing-ride#Notesbikereg.com/rip-roar-
LEANDER ARTS FESTIVAL
Sept. 27
HONKY TONK WEDNESDAY WITH THE WESTERN EXPRESS Globe Theater 132 W. Vaughn St., Bertram 7-9:30 p.m. Free globetheatertx.comadmission Sept. 9
LIBERTY HILL INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE FESTIVAL Lions Foundation Park 355 TX-332, Liberty Hill 4-10 Visitp.m.Liberty Hill’s famous sculpture garden for the annual celebration of the 1976 event that a racted artists from around the world. Event features live sculpting demos in a variety of mediums, art activities hosted by local businesses, along with live music, food vendors, street dance and silent experiencelhtx.comdisco. FUNKY MONKEYS Hometown Watering Hole 3317 E. Hwy. 29, Bertram 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. $10 Cover alicia.boychuk@gmail.comhometownwateringhole.net512-355-7377
FUN FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS The Backyard Food Truck Park 202 W. Myrtle Ln., Liberty Hill Grab a beer, food and treats and watch the LHHS football game on an outdoor movie screen. Every Friday from 5pmwww.workrelated.co/backyard11pm
ar t activities are hosted by local businesses. Shop from vendors, listen to live music, and end the night with the Street Dance & Silent Disco! 4 – 7 PM Live Sculpting Demos Interactive Craf t Booths Inflatable Kids Zone Vendors 7 – 10 PM Silent Disco with 3 DJs Street Dance with 3 Chord Rodeo Vendors, Food & Drinks E x pe ri e nc e LH T X . com/ S cu l pt ur e - F e st iv a l O c tob e r 22 , 2022 | 4 – 10 P M LI O NS F OU N D A T IO N P A R K
par ticipating in
live
variet y of mediums,
Each October, the Liber t y Hill communit y gathers at the Sculpture Park to celebrate this histor y. Join for sculpting a while hands-on
demos in
In 1976, 27 sculptors from six countries gathered in Liber t y Hill as par t of the International Sculpture Symposium. The sculptors worked for t wo months to create the monuments that now stand in the Sculpture Park.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | Liberty Hill Independent Monthly 35
us
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