News

A group of protesters marched around the Wimberley Square on Friday afternoon asking for the immediate release of Victor Avendano-Ramirez from the Pearsall immigration detention center.

Avendano-Ramirez, who has lived in Wimberley for over a decade, was arrested by the Kyle Police Department and subsequently turned over to the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and then Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Update 8 pm:

 From Hays County: The approximately 750-acre grass fire that began earlier today near Wimberley is estimated to be 90 percent contained as of 8 p.m. January 30. Area Fire Department personnel with brush trucks will be working at the scene overnight. The situation will be reassessed in the morning to determine if assistance from the Texas Forest Service air operations is needed again. Persons who were asked to leave their homes as a precaution have been allowed to return home, and no structures have been damaged by the fire.

ORIGINAL STORY:  A wildland fire spread quickly throughout Wimberley on Tuesday afternoon as dry winter conditions have left the land ripe for wildfires.

As of 5 p.m., the fire was not considered contained, but there were no known structures threatened by the fire.

After decades of efforts to get a sewer system in Central Wimberley, it appears that the Wimberley City Council has finally reached the point of fruition on the project. 

“This is that moment, I believe,” Wimberley Mayor Mac McCullough said. “…There have been so many occasions I thought ‘This is it. We are going to put a nail in this thing and be done with it,’ and they have all blown up or been delayed. I couldn’t be more proud. I realize there is not unanimity among the council, but I think even the dissenting votes understand and are beginning to work in a good fashion.”

While there could still be some bumps left in the road, city officials agreed that this vote was seemingly the final step needed for the sewer system.

Despite the freezing rain and sleet that fell on Tuesday, the Hays County Commissioners Court voted to reinstate a burn ban based on recommendations from County Fire Marshal Clint Browning.

Browning told the commissioners that winter months are difficult because the KBDI -- the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, commonly used to determine wildfire risk -- might be low even though actual conditions are favorable for fires. Right now, Browning said, the KBDI is 233 on a scale of 800, indicating low fire risk. The KBDI takes into account air moisture and recent rainfall, Browning said, but, “What KBDI does not take into account is fuel moisture and soil moisture.”

The county does monitor fuel and soil moisture at four sites, however, and has observed that after recent freezes, a lot of grasses have died and dried out.

The Wimberley Fire Department named the Firefighter of the Year and the Rookie of the Year at the department’s annual banquet over the weekend. 

Bill Perdue was named Firefighter of the Year.

“Bill is the poster child for a firefighter,” Wimberley Fire Chief Carroll Czichos said. “He and his wife have been great to the department. We remodeled the inside of the station, and they took a room and did everything to it themselves. The whole family is involved.”

The Rookie of the Year is Klaus Becker. 

“He is a good guy. He came in and wanted to learn more. Him and Bill are similar in that they go above and beyond. They volunteer for everything that is out there. They take as many classes as they can. Both of them are extremely active, and well looked up to by all the guys in the department.”

Hays City Store & Ice House and Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity were honored as the 2017 Wimberley Valley Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year and the 2017 Nonprofit of the Year respectively.

The announcement was made at the chamber’s January luncheon, held January 17 at the Wimberley Community Center.   

“Hays City Store and Habitat for Humanity continue to make our community proud,” said Cathy Moreman, director of the Wimberley Valley Chamber of Commerce. “It’s always a tough decision for our members and this year we had some wonderful businesses and non-profits nominated.” 

Wimberley VFW Post 6441’s Auxiliary’s officers for 2018-19 were installed Thursday evening at a special meeting.  Conducting the installation were representatives of the VFW Department of Texas Auxiliary.

The VFW Auxiliary supports the Veterans of Foreign Wars, serves veterans, active-duty military and their families, and promotes patriotism among the community’s youth.  Wimberley VFW members are active in the community, and their programs are designed to bring needed services, information and assistance to these target groups.

Relatives of those who served in overseas combat are eligible for auxiliary membership.

Photo Caption: Newly-elected Wimberley VFW Post 6441 Auxiliary officers:

Back Row - Sr. Vice President Karen Hobbs, Trustee Beth Tucker, Conductress Audie Bravo, Chaplain Linea Loveless-Wood, Guard Sandy Pellerin, Trustee Connie Byers.

Hays County Office of Emergency Management has issued the following information.

A Hays County Wintry Mix Warning has been issued for Tuesday January 16, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

A program to restore vegetation along the Blanco River will continue, as the Hays County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved an agreement with TreeFolks Inc. for riparian restoration efforts stemming from the flood of May 2015. The professional services agreement will allow TreeFolks to consult with landowners, determine what is needed to provide continued reforestation services and perform reforestation on private properties.

Director of Development Services Clint Garza spoke about the popularity of the TreeFolks program and the benefits of riparian restoration after a major flood.

“The feedback that I’ve gotten from our citizens … has been maybe overwhelming, but it’s been all positive,” Garza told the commissioners.

Have a cough? Sneezy? Make sure you cover your mouth or nose when it happens, then wash your hands — and do it well.

Flu season is continuing unabated in Hays and nearby counties, with cases up more than 2,000 percent over a year ago — and the outbreaks aren’t expected to peak until late this month or early February.

No deaths are believed to have occurred in Hays County, epidemiologist Eric Schneider of the county’s public health department said; however, the only flu-related deaths that are required to be reported are pediatric. And, he added, most people don’t actually die of the flu but of complications, like pneumonia, that are not required to be tracked.

The flu season officially began on Oct. 1 of 2017, the State Department of Health Services says. As of week 52, which ended Dec. 30, the disease continued to be “widespread: throughout Texas.