News

Sarah Jarosz took home two Grammy awards on Sunday night.

The musician’s fourth album Undercurrent won Best Folk Album and her song “House of Mercy” won Best American Roots Performance.

Jarosz, who grew up in Wimberley, gave a nod to the musicians who helped her along the way.

“Oh my goodness, this is just such a thrill,” country music website The Boot quoted Jarosz as saying after taking the stage. “I’m so thankful for the music community that I grew up in, and I just want to thank all of my musical heroes … I feel so thankful, and, wow. Thank you so much.”

While Jarosz had been nominated for multiple Grammy awards in the past, this was the first time she was able to bring home a trophy.

Two locals have been charged with theft and evading arrest after stealing a cash register from a thrift store and subsequently leading police on a high-speed chase.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Elias Giovanny Ramirez-Cruz, 21, and Jessica Nicole McAdoo, 17, walked into the Wimberley Thrift Shoppe and walked out with the cash register just before noon on February 7.

Hays County Deputy Constable Cody Cheatham saw a car matching the description of the vehicle involved in the theft in Woodcreek. The vehicle ran a stop sign and a red light.

“He tried to pull them over, and they took off,” Hays County Constable Ray Helm said. “They went about 100 miles per hour down Winter’s Mill and threw the register out the window.”

At noon on January 27, Steve Jaggers opened the gates to the Paradise Valley River Park.  TreeFolks employees and volunteer supervisors streamed in. Quickly the small group prepared for an anticipated onslaught of volunteers.  Among the red shirted “volunteer supervisors” was Master Naturalist Estelle Murchinson who recently attended a “volunteer supervisor” training session.  Volunteer supervisors are responsible for guiding volunteer workers to the designated planting locations, teaching them proper planting techniques and keeping them stocked with trees.  But, most importantly, the main job of the supervisors is to make sure everyone is having fun.

A local woman was allegedly murdered by her husband on the afternoon of Thursday, Feb. 9.

Christina Pollock Anderson, 67, of Wimberley, was allegedly killed by her husband Jimmy Lee Rhodes, 68, of Wimberley.

The incident occurred at 6 Cripple Creek Court in the Woodcreek North Subdivision.

According to police, Anderson called 911 around 4:45 p.m. on Thursday and reported that her husband was out of control and that she needed help from law enforcement.

The emergency call was disconnected and the Sheriff’s office was unable establish contact again.

Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the residence on Cripple Creek Court to find Rhodes walking towards the front door when deputies on scene first observed him, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office.

UPDATE

For Immediate Release:   DECEASED PERSON INVESTIGATION

February 9, 2017 – 9:47 p.m.

The Hays County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call today at approximately 4:45pm from an unidentified female who reported that her husband was out of control and that she needed help from law enforcement. The caller was disconnected and return call attempts by Hays County Sheriff’s 911 dispatchers were unsuccessful in establishing a reconnection.

Responding Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the residence located in the Wood Creek North subdivision and observed a 68 year old male armed with a firearm standing in the front yard.  The man was disarmed without incident and informed deputies that his wife was inside the residence.  

Pedernales Electric Cooperative will have to take the proposed transmission power line upgrade project to the Public Utility Commission after property owners were unable to come to an agreement with the cooperative.

The project plans to upgrade the transmission lines from the station near The Junction that brings power into the Wimberley Valley.  Without the unanimous agreement from all property owners along the line, the decision will be required to go before the commission for a final decision. 

If it seems like half the town is under the weather, you’re not far off. San Marcos and Hays County have seen a run lately of people suffering from flu and flu-like illnesses.

“We have had a spike actually, not only people testing possible for flu but also for just a number of influenza-like illnesses,” Hays County epidemiologist Eric Schneider said, describing “flu-like illnesses” as causing fever over 100 degrees, accompanied by cough and sore throat.

Schneider said the county saw more than 700 cases of flu-like illness during January along with 98 positive tests for influenza, mainly influenza Type A. That’s significantly up compared to the 398 cases of flu-like illnesses and two confirmed cases of flu the county saw in December.

Wimberley may be gaining a new big box store as Tractor Supply made a variance request for property near the South River Business Park.

A public meeting will be held for the company to make a presentation on the proposed store on February 22 and the Wimberley Community Center at 6 p.m.

The store is requesting a Wimberley Planned Development District, which would allow for a larger building. The store is proposed at 19,000 square feet. During the last Wimberley City Council meeting, officials estimated the size of other large buildings in Wimberley for comparison.  Wimberley Ace Hardware was stated to be in the 25,000 square foot range while the new H-E-B- was 41,000 square feet.

The property is an eight-acre tract immediately south of the undeveloped fields of the South River Business Park. 

Wimberley City Administrator Don Ferguson will be leaving his position in the next 90 days in what the mayor and Ferguson described as an “amicable agreement.”

The Wimberley City Council voted 4-1 in favor of accepting an amended employment agreement, which will end Ferguson’s tenure soon. Councilmember Bob Dussler was the only vote against the agreement. 

“Change is inevitable,” Mayor Mac McCullough said in a press release provided by the city. “While the City Council feels Mr. Ferguson has done an outstanding job managing our city over the years, the Council, at this time, is interested in a change in direction and leadership.”

McCullough would later praise the job that Ferguson has done in his ten years working for the city of Wimberley, but he said they both agreed that a change in leadership could be a good thing for the city.

A suspect related to burglaries in Woodcreek North was apprehended late last week by the Hays County Constable’s Office.

Elijah Lawrence Ruckman, 20, of Wimberley, was found in a San Marcos apartment on Thursday afternoon. 

According to Hays County Precinct 3 Constable Ray Helm, Ruckman was allegedly caught on camera inside of a home in Woodcreek North.

“The victim went to walk his dog,” Helm said. “His alert went off that he had movement in his house. He saw this guy on video in his house, and he found him inside. I think there may have been a short struggle before (he) took off out the back.”