News

This is part one of a two part series that looks into a recent study by the U.S. Census Bureau. Part one will focus on the city of Wimberley and part two will look at the city of Woodcreek. 

The U.S. Census Bureau can’t seem to decide if the city of Wimberley’s population is growing or shrinking. A five-year study that was recently released shows a population estimate for the city in 2015 that is 17 people fewer than in 2010, but the number fluctuated up and down every year in between. 

In what seems to be a now common occurrence, another vehicle drove off of Slime Bridge, also called Bendigo Crossing, last week. 

This time it was an 18-wheeler that drove off the crossing into the Blanco River last Monday. Two large wreckers were needed to pull the truck back onto the road and kept the crossing shut down for at least two hours. 

“It seems to be getting worse,” Wimberley Fire Chief Carroll Czichos said. “I don’t know if its getting used more to get around Wimberley traffic or what, but something is going on over there.”

Czichos said that there had been eight calls in the last few months at Bendigo Crossing for vehicles driving into the river. Most were relatively harmless with only a wheel or two falling off the upstream side of the low-water crossing, but some were more serious.

Before you break out the knight’s amour you had stored in the garage or under the bed, this is not that type of knight school. No Camelot, Arthur or Round Table. But, It is much more powerful than the myths from the Middle Ages. It’s all about achieving a high school diploma and degree, which is powerful stuff.

The program started at Katherine Ann Porter School a year ago, but on a daytime basis. The program is for those that can’t attend school during the regular school day or fitting into a traditional school schedule. 

There are a lot of reasons and situations that this could be a solution, such as having a job during the school day, taking care of family or many other personal reasons. This program helps with achieving credits towards a high school diploma for those situations.

Camp Young Judaea is attempting to expand, but the public discussion on the topic has brought up potential zoning issues for the property.

The camp is asking the city of Woodcreek to approve a site plan and concept plan that would add four new buildings to the property. Each building would have six units with two queen beds. 

During a public hearing on the expansion, Camp Young Judaea representatives said that the expansion’s primary purpose was to “expand our services to the children.” The camp would use the new buildings to house staff during the summer camp season allowing for staff barracks to be converted into camper housing.  During the offseason, the rooms would be used for “primarily religious retreats and camp events.”

The American Prize named local conductor of the Starlight Symphony Orchestra, Dr. David Oertel, as a finalist for the national award in Orchestral Programming.  Oertel was one of four finalists for the coveted prize for his programming of the 2014-2015 season, titled, “Musical Inspirations Through Emotions.”   

“Wimberley is so blessed to have a talent like David Oertel and an amazing group of musicians like Starlight Symphony Orchestra right here in our area.  I’ve been attending their concerts for years and they are always so moving and compelling.  I’m glad David is getting recognition for his amazing work,” said Steve Thurber, former Wimberley mayor.  The American Prize is a non-profit organization whose mission is to recognize artists around the country that are not typically lauded by the media in areas ranging from musical composition to stage directing.

A business caught fire in Wimberley for the third time this year as Councilmember Steve Thurber’s office burned on Saturday. 

The Madrone Office Park building, located at 706 FM 2325, houses Thurber’s Certified Public Accountant office and was severely damaged. However, nobody was injured in the fire. 

“We are happy no one was in the building and no one got hurt,” Thurber said. “We are as optimistic and in as good of spirits as can be under the circumstances.”

The fire is still under investigation by Hays County Fire Marshal Clint Browning, but he said he does not believe there was any foul play involved. 

Plans for a bridge over the Blanco River linking Kyle to the to the Hillard area near San Marcos are “premature,” according to some members of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Board.

At its meeting Monday night, the board heard public comments on the proposed Blanco-Nance Bridge and other projects listed in amendments to the CAMPO 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement Program and 2040 Regional Transportation Plan.

The Blanco Nance Bridge would be a multi-lane construction, including a pedestrian and bike lane, spanning the Blanco River and connecting to a new road that would then connect to Hilliard Road. The city of Kyle requested the project’s addition to the 2040 Regional Transportation Plan with a let year of 2025 and a cost of $30 million.

Technology has been accelerated in the past few decades. What were once dreams out of comic books and graphic novels are now reality. Robots were just something one would see in kids’ cartoons, but now kids are building them and competing against one another.

As an outshoot of the STEM Club (Science, Technology, Engineering and mathematics) BEST Robotics team of Wimberley High School, along with other competing BEST teams, attended the main Kickoff meeting at Liberty Hill High School on Saturday September 9.

BEST stands for Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology, a group of students who are engaged in a high school robotics competition. The mission is to “engage and excite students about engineering, science, and technology as well as inspire them to pursue careers in these fields.”

As with most of us, the KAPS student government felt useless watching the devastation of the Gulf Coast. What could be done to help fellow Texans in a meaningful way?

Zachary McCrimmon, the sponsor and English teacher along with the students, came up with the idea of having a blood drive. Student Alexandra Dishman thought it was a great idea and she was soon leading the project, with the help and backing of the school.

“I was the only student not freaked out about the blood bank. The people in charge were contacted and at KAPS the next day (setting the drive up),” Dishman continued.

“There’s a lot of planning that goes into it. People always need blood. We set up to have a drive every eight to twelve weeks and encourage people to give. One donation can save three lives.” 

South Texas Blood and Tissue Center provided the blood collection.

Cypress Creek Café has sold, and it was purchased by a long-time resident whose family has ties to the property.

Grady and Kathy Burnette, owners of Grady Burnette Builders on Old Kyle Road, purchased the 1.4 acre-tract of land on the Wimberley Square that includes the burned-down, historic building. 

“Kathy and I are very pleased to be able to purchase the Cypress Creek Cafe property,” Grady Burnette said. “This is a property that has been in our family before. My grandparents Lynn and Maxine Storm owned the property years ago, and we are happy to have it back in the family again.”

Burnette said that plans for the structure have not been solidified but he hopes to maintain its historic nature.