LARRY LESTER Broker Associate
c 210.347.4546 t 830.816.7002 Larry.Lester@SothebysRealty.com KuperRealty.com
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Burn Ban Off
THE BOERNE STAR
Covering the community since 1906
Friday February 20, 2015 • 24 pages
For breaking news, visit boernestar.com
Austin police track down Moran Passersby rescue fugitive’s daughters from burning vehicle
$1
Inside Let the playoffs begin
BY
GAIL YOVANOVICH
■ Public Affairs Reporter gail@boernestar.com
In the early morning hours Thursday, Austin police captured fugitive Aurelio Moran after he jumped out an apartment window attempting to elude the law. A Boerne resident, Moran, 30, Monday fled the scene of a fiery crash on FM 1376 in Kendall County, leaving behind his three injured daughters who were rescued
by passersby. Although on parole on a possession of dangerous drugs charge and wearing an ankle monitor, Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Allen Meyer said the type Moran wore only indicated when he left or returned to his residence and didn’t have GPS capability. With help from major providers AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile, law enforcement personnel used cell phone pings to track
Moran
Happy... ...Birthday
BY CARLINE SCHWARTZ
February 20 Bill Barnard Michael Flynn Neil King Stanley Linder Dana Loewen February 21 John Creswell Sammye Reagan Sandra Riley Kathryn Wisenbaker February 22 Conner Anderson Harvey Blackson Tom Cassidy Emilie Castander Gordon Marshall Dora Salinas Clarence Schaeffer February 23 Carrie Astoria Gail Biggs Doris Gerber Lupe Martinez Henry Paine Tom Richter James Roumillat February 20 Daniel & Susan Gudas February 23 Donald & Adrienne Lees Stanley & Yolanda Powers Garry & Lorna Spellman
Deaths Harbin Jane Anderson Thomas ‘Tom’ Wyatt Jordan Irma Rogge
For complete obituaries, see page 2A and online at www.boernestar.com.
Index Business Calendar Celebrating the Arts Classifieds Crossword Faith Family Historian From the Heart Games Hill Country Gardener Real Estate Service Directory Sports Viewpoints
9A 8A 16A 1B-6B 12A 7A 16A 11A 12A 11A 1B-2B, 6B 4B-5B 13A-15A 4A-5A
Volume 109 • Number 15 All contents copyright 2015 The Boerne Star
Cibolo Creek provides accommodations in the heart of Boerne, with individualized therapy programs that enable one to return home quickly.
See FUGITIVE, page 17A
Comfort ISD trustees approve bond refunding; expect to consider Head Start later
Champion’s Delaney Carter dribbles during this week’s playoff game vs. Highlands. The BHS girls were also in action. For playoff results, see pages 13A-15A.
...Anniversary
brush. Meyer said Moran was driving at a high rate of speed - and with a flat tire when he lost control of the vehicle. The car slid off the right side of the roadway in the 400 block of FM 1376, struck an embankment and rolled twice. Since Moran left the scene and no evidence was found in the burned car, police couldn’t determine if alco-
Moran to an apartment in Austin where he was apprehended while trying to escape at around 1 a.m., Feb. 19. Passersby rescued the three girls from Moran’s 1995 BMW passenger car at about 7 p.m. on Feb. 16 after it rolled and crashed on a wet road in central Kendall County. According to witnesses, Moran stood by watching and, after the girls were pulled from the vehicle, disappeared into the
■ News Editor
news@boernestar.com
Elliott Lozano shot a layup during half-time at the Special Olympics basketball game Feb. 12. This year marked the first time the Boerne Hot Wheels, a wheel chair basketball team, played during the event. More photos on page 17A. Star photo by Carline Schwartz
‘Big Game’ draws big crowd Boerne Special Olympics hosted its ninth annual “Big Game,” a basketball event at the Boerne Champion High School gym Feb. 12. This year a wheel chair basketball team, Boerne Hot Wheels, took part in the games for the first time. The team’s exhibition program was a big part of the halftime show. Those interested in volunteering with Boerne
Special Olympics or enrolling their loved one or child with special needs, can call Boerne Special Olympics Director Jenny Cashion at 210-279-0663. In order for people to be a Special Olympics athlete, they must be at least 6 years old and possess an intellectual disability. Cycling season for the Special Olympics team is expected to start in a few weeks.
Comfort Independent School District trustees unanimously approved refunding about $10 million of the 2006 bond series during their regular meeting. After the Feb. 9 meeting, Superintendent Leslie Vann said refunding the bond is expected to save the school district an estimated $1.1 million. During the meeting Vann also gave an update on work needed on the district’s facilities. Last month trustees unanimously chose Stantec as the architectural firm to address district-wide repairs and establish a master plan. Last summer the CISD leadership team, which includes Vann, principals Katherine Kuenstler, Chris Yeschke and Susan Light and maintenance director Randy Hector, evaluated facilities and identified needs. “Sands Cottage, the historical building, the original middle school structure and our high school track are our four priority areas,” Vann said. “I’ve asked Stantec to look at them.” Vann said a waterline project is on schedule and ready to begin when a contract is in place and signed by all the parties involved. During a regular December meeting, trustees unanimously approved the waterline project bid. Once the waterline is in place, Comfort High School will be connected to a more reliable water source managed by Kendall County Water Control & Improvement District No. 1. The first phase of the project includes constructing a waterline and infrastructure that will connect the high school to an existing water supply north of the Love’s truck stop at U.S. Highway 87. The second phase of the project is connecting the high school to the waterline and disconnecting from its current well. The total cost for both phases of the project is estimated to be $290,000. Vann also said design work for the water-
See CISD, page 17A
CAF moves forward with Comfort strategic planning BY CARLINE SCHWARTZ
■ News Editor
news@boernestar.com
The Comfort Area Foundation is addressing some issues named in the Comfort Community Strategic Plan, namely safety concerns regarding the Interstate 10 - U.S. 87 intersection near the Love’s truck stop and understanding area nonprofit roles for addressing some of the plan’s objectives. The strategic plan, published in September, was created to identify Comfort’s greatest needs and figure out ways to address them. The plan was formed based on input collected during public forums and the CAF’s steering committee, as well as data
from a communitywide survey. Last spring the CAF called on Opportunity Strategies, an economic development and community-planning firm, to perform the survey and collect data. CEC, a civil engineering firm, recently conducted a traffic count at the I-10 and U.S. 87 intersection near the Love’s truck stop for the CAF at no charge. CAF Vice President Gary Lindner said safety at the I-10 and U.S. 87 intersection was considered a communitywide concern. He also said the traffic count results are currently being reviewed. “When we had the community meetings, the roundtables and surveys the intersection’s safety was a
consistent concern,” Lindner said. “There were other concerns, but that one seemed to be repeated by residents more than any other topic from a quality of life standpoint. That’s why we tried to get on that one as quickly as we could.” Don Durden, CEC founder and president, grew up in Comfort and said the traffic count will provide a basis for deciding how to make the interchange safer and more efficient. “If you know how many cars and trucks go through an intersection per hour or per day, you will know how many lanes you need and other features of the intersection that can make it operate more effectively,” Durden said. “The traffic count
provides a basis to plan for future growth.” Next week CEC officials will meet with members of the CAF and county officials to further discuss traffic count results and determine next steps. On Feb. 10, the CAF hosted a meeting for area nonprofits at the Comfort VFW Hall to explore opportunities for them to help achieve some of the strategic plan objectives. Most of the discussion focused on two of the eight objectives in the plan: quality of life - community preservation and youth engagement. “The idea was to get nonprofits together so that they can work better together,” Lindner said Now
See COMFORT, page 17A
830-249-7979 222 S. Main Street • Boerne www.hillcountryproperties.net