News

If you would give a definition for “patriot” from 10 different people, you might get 10 different definitions. Mirriam-Webster dictionary defines it as “one who loves his or her country and supports its authority and interests.” This defines Wimberley’s 2016’s Patriot of the Year down to a “T,” as in T for Travis Brown.

Constable’s Deputy Travis Brown of Precinct 3 (Wimberley and Woodcreek) was honored on 9/11 as the day of remembrance for the attack on the Twin Towers, fifteen years ago. His commitment to serving the area is evident each day. 

Whether patrolling Wimberley or Woodcreek, on bicycle patrol at Blue Hole, directing traffic at one of the WISD schools, Brown is there usually with a smile on his face.

The Wimberley Valley Studio Tour showcased 23 local artists last weekend at studios throughout Wimberley. The tour allows artists the opportunity to show multiple pieces of work while attendees get an inside look at the studios of various artists.

Tailgate with the Texans raised more than $14,000 for the Wimberley Texan Athletic Booster Association last weekend. Hundreds were in attendance at the football field for the event with seemingly every one of them waiting in line to knock Head Coach Doug Warren into the dunking booth.

“It was very popular,” Darryl Krebs, president of the Wimberley Texan Athletic Booster Association, said of the dunking booth. “You saw a lot of kids paying $5 to try and dunk these coaches.”

The money raised will go towards fulfilling the requests of Texan coaches.

“The purpose is to raise money for all sports,” Krebs said. “Sports come in with requests for money, and we try and fulfill 100 percent of the needs of our coaches.”

Tailgate with the Texans one of the biggest fundraisers for the WTABA.

Nearly a year and a half after the low water crossing washed away in the Memorial Weekend Flood of 2015, the Hidden Valley crossing appears set to finally be replaced. 

The city council voted to send the project out for bids during the last meeting.

The crossing will be built to very similar standards as to what was washed away in the flood. 

“The goal for this project will be to build what was there before,” City Administrator Don Ferguson said.

Previously, the crossing essentially acted as a dam by backing up water to create a deeper swimming hole. It was important to surrounding property owners to keep similar characteristics to make sure property values weren’t negatively impacted. 

The design of the crossing will allow for water to pass through the lower portion of the dam.  

The all-volunteer Wimberley Adoption Group and Rescue has, for the past seven years, operated without any permanent facility. They rescue anything from pups to dogs, regardless of the condition they are in, and taking care of them in volunteers’ homes. 

WAG is now real close to having a permanent operating facility – and step one has already been completed. On Aug. 25, the property was purchased in Driftwood and the completion of a dream was close at hand.

WAG bought six acres with a house; it is a place to rescue abandoned, injured or lost dogs. Kennels will be set up both inside and outside, with walking paths, and a playroom for the dogs. It’s a dream come true.

Hays County is among the beneficiaries of $3.5 million in flood protection grants announced on Thursday by the Texas Water Development Board. Other local entities getting a share of the money are the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (GBRA) in both Hays and Caldwell counties. 

Hays County is slated for $500,000 for an early warning system and flood response that will augment other ongoing efforts to install more river gauges and to update gauges to register data every 15 minutes — something that can be crucial in times of rapidly rising water.

The GBRA in the two counties will be getting a total of $108,094 — $70,688 for Caldwell County and $37,406 for Hays County. Additionally, the city of Buda is slated to receive $292,890 for an early warning system. 

Rep. Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) is calling for fundamental reform of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) 

“Flawed testing practices threaten the State of Texas’ ability to fulfill our education system’s goals — and our children’s futures,” Rep. Isaac said Monday. “The litany of errors being uncovered about STAAR is simply a disservice to our students, hard-working teachers, and families. To that end, I propose that schools be given the freedom to choose from a variety of nationally normed standardized tests, not have their hands tied while the State of Texas tries to iron out STAAR’s many kinks.”

Wimberley prides itself on its ability to care for children. Typically, that starts with the stellar local school district. But in a different vein entirely, Burke Center for Youth in Driftwood helps provide a live-changing foundation for children in crisis.

The Burke Center takes in boys who have suffered abuse and neglect and gives them a loving and safe environment to grow in. That environment got a bit of a facelift last weekend as part of a project to remodel the dining hall with the help of Operation Warriors Path, a non-profit set up to help veterans.

“We are doing this in true HGTV Kitchen Crasher style,” James Irwin, founder and CEO of Operation Warriors Path, said. “We have converged. We have destroyed. We have repaired, and we are putting lipstick on the pig now and all in 72 hours.”

Far-reaching improvements to public safety and transportation will go before Hays County voters on Nov. 8 when they are asked to approve a nearly $238 million bond election. 

Broken down, Proposition 1, concerning public safety, comes to $106.2 million while Proposition 2, dealing with transportation issues, comes in at $131.4 million. 

The details were ironed out in a marathon meeting of the Hays County Commissioners Court Tuesday that ran more than 11 hours, including the times commissioners and Judge Bert Cobb were in executive session. Proposition 1 would enlarge the current jail on Uhland Road by 192 beds and also refurbish and modernize the existing lockup with special attention on revamping the intake and booking area, infirmary, kitchen and food service areas and other support facilities. 

Aqua Texas has put options on the table for the city of Wimberley to consider for the proposed sewer system, one of which even peaked the interest of Aqua opposition on the dais. 

In the meeting held on Aug. 16, Aqua Texas proposed four possible options for their involvement in the system. One of them was a retail option, essentially full Aqua Texas service as occurs on the north side of Cypress Creek, a wholesale system and two possibilities for distribution of excess effluent.

The retail option would require the city of Wimberley to give up a portion of its Certificate of Convenience and Necessity, known as a CCN. A CCN is an area designated to the city of Wimberley allowing them control over wastewater service on the Wimberley Square and through much of northern Wimberley to towards the Junction.