LH INDEPENDENT 11-18-21 by The Liberty Hill Independent

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2021

Volume 34, Issue 52

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November 18, 2021 | 50 Cents

LHISD employees to receive stipend

Assessment illustrates how Liberty Hill can improve downtown

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer An assessment by the Texas Downtown Association earlier this year will become a blueprint to follow for the future of Liberty Hill’s downtown district. The assessment, discussed at the most recent meeting of the Downtown Beautification Committee on Nov. 9, began in late 2020 and was completed in July. The assessment began with a “windshield tour” of downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. In April, a Zoom meeting was held between the team and approximately a dozen downtown business owners, where TDA was able to learn more about the specific challenges, initiatives and opportunities occurring, said City Administrator Lacie Hale. The team also met with staff to learn more about city events and economic development, then conducted an onsite visit and put together an assessment of short-term, mid-range and long-term recommendations for the revitalization of downtown. Now that the City has the report, Hale said, she wants the Downtown Beautification Committee to spearhead the recommended projects. The assessment, which cost the City $1,500, was Hale’s idea, she said. “I advocated for the assessment,” Hale told The Independent this week. “When I came on in March 2020, I was excited about the beautification committee and getting it up and running again. I was looking for opportunities to create a starting point for [revitalizing] downtown. We know what we want to do, but for making downtown Liberty Hill an attractive tourist destination, we had an opportunity to bring in specialists who could identify exactly what we needed to make it more successful.” Hale said some of the short-term recommendations include pedestrian safety, building local community support for downtown, small business development, more downtown signage, the revitalization of downtown buildings, create a larger focus on the arts, and better online presence. Pedestrian safety was a top

Santa Rita Elementary families enjoy Thanksgiving lunch

KRISTEN MERIWETHER PHOTO

Ashley and George Vasquez enjoy Thanksgiving lunch at Santa Rita Elementary School Wednesday with their daughter Aryah (second from left), 4, and her best friend Alicia (left), age 5. The newly-opened elementary school enjoyed its ﬁrst Thanksgiving lunch celebration with parents allowed on campus after missing out last year due to the pandemic. Parents lined up with their children to enjoy turkey, cornbread stufﬁng and cranberry sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, buttered green beans, a wheat roll and peach crisp. The celebrations continue on every campus Thursday and Friday before students and staff take a week-long holiday break.

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer Liberty Hill ISD employees will receive an early Christmas present as the ﬁrst set of employee retention stipends begin to roll out next week. Teachers, nurses and librarians will each receive a $900 stipend next week. Cafeteria, custodian, transportation and maintenance workers, paraprofessionals and non-contract employees will all receive a $600 stipend next month. Administrators, excluding Superintendent Steven Snell, will all receive a $500 stipend next month. “It’s been a tough two years and they deserve it,” Snell said at the board meeting on Monday. “I wish we could give them more.” The stipends were included

See LHISD, Page 3

Teachers to the community: ‘We just need help’

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer When a teacher needs to take a day off, it’s not as simple as turning on an out-of-office reply and shuffling a few tasks to a co-worker. When teachers are gone, the students’ education must continue. In theory, school districts hire substitute teachers to fill in when teachers need to take a sick or personal day. The subs ensure the lesson plans for the day are followed and make sure the students continue to learn. But that theory is being tested this year at Liberty Hill ISD. The district, like many across the country, is experiencing a substitute teacher shortage. It’s putting a strain on teachers and administrators who are having to be creative to come up with

solutions. “It’s kind of putting some teachers at the end of their rope, and we just need help,” Blake Boren, LHHS algebra teacher and boys basketball coach, said Friday. “We have a great community, and we have really good people in this area. And I would like to believe there’s some people that could come help out if they just knew about it.” LHISD currently has 163 subs approved to cover the 456 teaching positions. On paper it seems like more than enough, but on an average day only 2530 of those approved subs are picking up assignments. It is not enough to cover the need, which can be upwards of 80 subs on some Fridays. Teachers at the high school are being sent emails nearly every morning asking if they

Foundation sells land for Noble playground

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer The Liberty Hill Development Foundation has sold 4.4 acres in Lions Foundation Park to the Liberty Hill Independent School District in what Craig Hanley, president of the Foundation, is calling a “win-win situation.” “We sold 4.4 acres to the school district toward the back of the park so they can build a new playground for the elementary students,” he said. “It’s basically a triangle shape behind and adjacent to Noble. Part of our agreement is they are going to move the walking trail and our playground, and then put a fence up for security for the school, so it’s really a

can cover a classroom during their conference period. It’s not mandatory and teachers oblige to help their co-workers. But doing it means re-

turning emails, making calls to parents and grading papers gets pushed to home time, taking them away from their own families.

“If you know that work is going to be put on another teacher and they don’t get to have

See SUBSTITUTE, Page 9

win-win situation for everyone.” LHISD Superintendent Steve Snell said Tuesday the school district approached the Foundation to see if they could buy the 4.4 acres of land adjacent to Noble Elementary School for the expansion of the school’s playground and outdoor play area. “We approached them to see if we could square our side off and they agreed, so we paid them for that,” Snell said. “Now our property line shifts, and it just goes straight back RACHEL MADISON PHOTO and we can install a play area behind the school instead of Craig Hanley, president of the Liberty Hill Development Foundation Board, stands in the conhaving kids walking across struction zone where ﬁve sculptures from the International Sculpture Park will be moved in the coming weeks. The sculptures are being moved because the Foundation sold 4.4 acres of Lions See PARK, Page 4 Foundation Park to the school district to build a playground for Noble Elementary School.

Page 2

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

OBITUARIES June Lincoln Irene B. Lay

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Irene B. Lay, age 97, of Liberty Hill, passed peacefully on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 surrounded by her two loving daughters, Lori and Lucy. She passed one day shy of her 98th birthday. Irene was born in Creedmoor, Texas to Archie and Bertie (Davis) Boothe on November 10, 1923. Irene married Harrell O. Lay Jr. on January 30, 1942. Harrell and Irene moved to Liberty Hill in 1947. Together they had several businesses, including Lay’s Layers and Lay’s Antiques. Irene was a lifelong member of the Liberty Hill Church of Christ. Irene was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Harrell O. Lay Jr.; and her son, Lynn Lay. Irene is survived by her daughters, Lori (Ricky) Andrews of Llano, Texas, and Lucy (Jeff) Kemper of Liberty Hill, Texas; her six grandchildren; several step-grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and several loving nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank

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Glen Rube Hays, former longtime resident of Liberty Hill, passed away peacefully at the age of 83 on Saturday, November 13, 2021. Glen was born on February 26, 1938, to parents Lee Hays and Winnie (Rhea) Hays in Liberty Hill, Texas. All 12 years of school were spent as a Liberty Hill Panther. He played basketball, baseball (aka Lefty for being the left-handed pitcher), football (All-District Quarterback) and FFA President with his FFA Sweetheart, Shirley (Mather), who later became Mrs. Hays in 1959. They lived in Austin for about 7 ½ years before moving back to Liberty Hill where they raised their daughters, Sherry Lynn and Rebecca Pauline. They moved to Kingsland, Texas in 2012 to

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Traditions Hospice and the Legacy of Georgetown for their unconditional care, love, and support. A committal service for Irene was held on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at Liberty Hill Cemetery. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldendavisfuneralhome.com for the Lay family. Final arrangements entrusted to Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628 (512) 863-2564.

June Lunsford Lincoln, beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed away on November 10, 2021. Born June 1, 1947, and the eldest of four children born to Macy S. Lunsford and Bernice Pate Lunsford, June possessed an independent streak from childhood. A lifelong resident of Central Texas, June attended Georgetown schools. June is survived by her children Bobby Gene Lincoln, Paula June Lincoln Flores (Ricardo), and Liana Lincoln, the beloved granddaughter June raised as a daughter; grandson Devin Miller (Carlie); great-grandchildren Hadley Miller and Rhett Miller; sister Bessie Lunsford; and brother Wesley Lunsford. June will also be missed by many cousins, nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Donald Lunsford. A longtime home health care

provider, June had great compassion for those in greatest need. She was often at her best when caring for young children and the elderly. “Aunt June” could be relied upon to introduce the little ones to treats their parents wouldn’t allow. Visitation took place November 16, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel in Georgetown, with a service at The Gabriels on November 17 at 11:00 AM. She was laid to rest amid generations of family at Whiteley Cemetery near Georgetown.

Glen Rube Hays

be by the lake until they moved in with their daughter, Rebecca, in Leander. During his junior year in high school, he started working for Wayne Dayton Plumbing in Austin for many years, where he gained his Master Plumber’s license. Liberty Hill ISD hired him as a Maintenance Technician and Bus Driver where he thoroughly enjoyed working for the staff, teachers and students and he retired after 20 years of service. Glen and Shirley owned and operated the Panther Den (arcade) in Liberty Hill. He loved helping the community with 35 years on the LH Volunteer Fire Department and he was a member of the LH Water Board. Glen is survived by his daughters: Rebecca Myers and

Sherry Montemayor; sister: Geniva Simpson; niece: Crystal Childers; grandchildren: Valerie Johnson, Jaime Montemayor, Madison Myers, Baylie Brewster and Chelsea Fikes; great-grandchildren: Josephine Johnson, Charles Johnson and Dean Fikes; niece, Marcy Simpson; nephews: Danny Hays, Richard Simpson and Phillip Simpson. Family members who preceded him in death are his wife of 61 years, Shirley (Mather) Hays; mother, Winnie (Rhea) Hays; father, Lee Hays; brother, D. W. Hays, his wife Nellie and son Wendell; sister-in-law, Ruby (Mather) Childers and her husband Cecil “Spike” Childers; son-in-law (Becky’s husband), Walter Eugene “Gene” Myers and grandson,

Travis Myers. Family and friends are welcome to join us on Saturday, November 20th, to celebrate his life at a come and go, viewing and reception, between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at Ramsey Funeral Home located at 5600 Williams Drive in Georgetown, Texas.

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Liberty Hill PD Stuff a Cruiser

The Liberty Hill Police Department will be collecting non-perishable food items for Operation Liberty Hill holiday food boxes. Residents looking to donate food can drop off at the following times and locations: - Nov. 15 in front of LHPD from 1-4 p.m. - Nov. 16 at the Liberty Hill Dollar General Store, 3-7 p.m. - Nov. 19 at the Liberty Hill Dollar General store, 1 -4 p.m. - Nov. 20 at Indian Mound Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Liberty Hill Blue Santa Toy Drive

The Liberty Hill Police De-

partment is collecting Christmas presents for their annual Blue Santa Toy Drive. Clothing and toys can be dropped off at any of the 24 bins located at local businesses. They are looking for toys for all age groups, but are hoping to see an increase in donations for gifts speciﬁc for ages 12-18. This could include art supplies, nail polish, curling irons, bath and body soaps or lotions, or any kind of sporting goods like balls, gloves or ﬁshing equipment. Operation Liberty Hill will serve as the pickup location for Blue Santa. Donations will be placed in a separate store and eligible families will be able to pick out presents for their loved ones. The last day to donate to Blue Santa is Dec.

For more information, contact the Liberty Hill Police Department at (512) 515-5409, or Operation Liberty Hill at (512) 778-5077 or (512) 778-4175.

Lighting of the Square on Nov. 26

GEORGETOWN -- The annual Lighting of the Square event will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 26 on the east steps of the historic Williamson County Courthouse, 710 S. Main Street in Georgetown. Event-goers can also visit the Williamson Museum and take photos with Santa. For more information, visitGeorgetown. com.

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Thursday, November 18, 2021

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 3

Cross Tracks raises funds for chapel restoration during Pioneer Day By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer Little girls in bonnets and little boys in coon skin caps could be seen running around in the grass in front of the chapel at Cross Tracks Church Sunday afternoon, while all around them the church’s campus had been transformed into what life in the late 1800s might have looked like. This transformation was done for Pioneer Day, an event the United Methodist Community planned to celebrate the chapel turning 151 years old. Pam Turner, church member and coordinator for the event, said the event was also held to raise funds for the continued restoration of the chapel, which has been undergoing renovations since early 2020. Cross Tracks Church was founded in 1854 in Liberty Hill, and its chapel was built in 1870. The event, which consisted

LHISD

of a silent auction of dozens of items from gift baskets and paintings to home décor and gift cards, raised $3,600 to continue the chapel’s restoration, which will include the removal of its drop-down ceiling to reveal the original tin ceiling, as well as the restoration of the pews and the ﬂoor throughout the building. “We think the event was wonderful,” Turner said. “The community came out and the comments were great. A couple of my favorite comments were: ‘We have lived in Liberty Hill for many years and never walked inside this amazing historic chapel—the windows are spectacular,” and “Can you have another event after the chapel is restored? We want to see it when the dropped ceiling is removed.’” Attendees also got a ﬁrst look at many authentic artifacts from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Brandon Sossamon, owner of Walburg Wagon & Cattle, brought his John Deere chuckwagon, full of authentic, period tools, for visitors to see up close, while Phil and Jean Houck, volunteers from The Williamson Museum, showcased everything from toys to popular medicines used during that time. Children got to see what it was like to go to school in the late 1800s, where they wrote on slates with chalk, practiced penmanship with quills and ink, and had to listen to the RACHEL MADISON PHOTOS teacher’s strict 1800s-esque Phil and Jean Houck, volunteers for the Williamson Museum, show several artifacts from the rules. Local Historian Gary Spivey late 1800s, including toys, medicine and tools. gave attendees rides around bobbin lace weaving, and hand “If you think about it, unless Turner said because the event downtown in his red 1937 quilting. we have family members that was a success, Cross Tracks Chevy, telling them about Liberty Hill resident Barbara carry it on, [these skills] are Church will consider having what the town might have Gorder has been hand quilting going to die,” she said. “That’s another event in the future. looked like in the late 1800s. and restoring antique quilts why it’s so important to try to “I do think we will host anAlso on Sunday, crafters much of her life. She said keep it going somehow, some- other Pioneer Day and it might came to show off skills that events like Pioneer Day are way, like at events like this or be fun to do when the chapel were popular in the pioneer important for younger gener- even through clubs people can restoration project is comera, like hand spinning yarn, ations to keep the crafts alive. join.” plete,” she said.

Continued from Page 1

in the LHISD budget adopted by trustees in July. The stipends align with the district’s strategic plan to recruit and retain a high quality staff. “We’re a high performing district because we have great teachers, and we want to keep them,” Snell told The Independent on Tuesday. “This was a strategic way to be able to give them a stipend because we can’t always afford the raises we want to give.” Snell said this year’s stipends are twice as much as last year’s stipends, and he didn’t rule out the possibility for more payments this school year. “We have some growth, too, and we’re looking at a possibility of extra funds,” Snell said at Monday’s meeting. “So there might be a slight possibility that we can get another stipend later towards the end of the year, but no promises on that.” Also Monday, the Board celebrated the district receiving

a rating of “A” for superior achievement from the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST). The rating system ensures that Texas public schools are held accountable for the quality of their financial management practices. The district’s Chief Financial Officer, Rosanna Guerrero, presented the Board with the report. LHISD received a score of 92 out of 100, earning an “A” for the fifth year in a row. This year the ratings were based on 20 indicators, up from 15 last year. The indicators judge the district in areas of financial audit, related opinions, cash and investments, financial ratios fund balance, debt management, administrative costs and staffing levels. “The scoring has become more difficult,” Guerrero said. “To achieve an “A” again, I’m very proud to represent how we handle our financial resources as a district.”

The district lost points for minor infractions where the state used different calculations or formulas than the district. “One of our goals is be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, be fiscally responsible with everything we do,” Snell said Tuesday. “I think that report is a reflection that we’re meeting that goal.” At Monday’s meeting the Board also approved a request by the City of Liberty Hill to expand the City’s easement on Champion Drive for Lift Station 4 and granted an easement for a gravity line from the Lift Station to State Highway 29. The Lift Station, which sits between Noble Elementary and Liberty Hill Middle School, moves wastewater at a rate of 600 gallons per minute. The City needs more capacity due to the growth in the last few years. The new lift station will operate at a peak of 2,600 gallons per minute. The City is expected to final-

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Liberty Hill Lodge 432 members presented the Liberty Hill ISD principals with United States and Texas flags Monday that have flown at the U.S. and Texas capitols. Lodge 432 obtained the flags from Scottish Rite in Austin, which collected the flags and made them available for Central Texas public schools. ize their plans next month and velopment Foundation, houses is expected to move some of will present those plans to the some of the sculptures from the sculptures off the district School Board when complet- the Liberty Hill International property. ed. Sculpture Park. The land is under contract The district plans to put up with agreed upon terms and is Following an Executive Session, the Board authorized a fence to further secure the expected to close quickly. Snell to close on a 4.4 acre elementary school property tract of land adjacent to Noble and will redo the walking trail Elementary. The land, which is in that portion of Lions Founowned by the Liberty Hill De- dation Park. The Foundation

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Council approves variance for downtown restaurant and boutique

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer The City Council met last week as the Board of Adjustments to discuss a variance request for a proposed restaurant and boutique at 200 CR 279 downtown. The request came from owners Daniel Hernandez and David Contreras to adjust the setback requirements for the property. Normally, according to the City’s design standards, minimum front yard setbacks are 25 feet, minimum rear yard setbacks are 15 feet, and minimum side yard setbacks are 7 feet. Planning Director John Byrum said this property has two front yard setbacks, one rear yard setback and one side yard setback. Hernandez and Contreras asked for a variance because due to parking requirements, which is 25 spaces, and the two front yard setback requirements, the resulting buildable area would be less than a quarter of the property. The entire lot’s size is less than a half-acre. Byrum said the owners requested the front yard setback off CR 279 to be 15 feet and the front yard setback off Aynsworth Street be 10 feet.

PARK

City staff notified 14 surrounding property owners regarding this request prior to the meeting and public hearing but did not receive any responses. However, during the hearing, several neighbors spoke. Michele Wetzel, who has lived next door to the property for 55 years, said the neighborhood in that area is already congested with a one-way street on Aynsworth and traffic that backs up on CR 279 multiple times a day. She also added that she was not in favor of the restaurant having a bar right next door to her home, or the potential noise that the business could cause. “This property is less than 100 feet from my bedroom,” she said. “I believe this development would affect the welfare, health, peace and safety of our neighborhood area residents.” Troy Lensing, who lives across the street from the property, said he had no objection to Council granting a variance. “We’ve been zoned downtown commercial for four or five years now,” he said. “It always sucks being there when it’s the first step toward development, but somebody’s got to be first. I guess that’s what they’re trying to do. With-

Continued from Page 1

a road to get to the [existing] playground.” Snell said the terms have been agreed upon already, and the school board voted Nov. 15 to allow him to close on the sale within the next 30 days. “This will be a much quicker sale because we’re not build-

ing on the land per se,” he said. “We’ve got all the surveys done, and we’re really just putting a playground in that area.” Snell added that because the area is currently open to the public, the district will also install a fence for increased safety for students. The district

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out the variance, that’s going to make it more difﬁcult for them. I’m in favor of it. I’m in favor of moving forward with developing our downtown business district.” Hernandez said when they develop the property, he and Contreras plan to provide a family-friendly environment. “It’s hard to be the ﬁrst developers when people have lived in those houses for so long, but we need the variance request because without it, that would allow us to only develop less than 25 percent of that entire property,” he said. “We are wanting to bring that building to the front of the property like the rest of the City’s downtown buildings are, as a way to expand the downtown district to CR 279.” Contreras added that he and Hernandez are not coming in to try to create any kind of hazards. “We are going to be very respectful to our environment,” he said. “It is going to be a restaurant, and it may sell beer and wine, but it’s not a honky tonk type environment whatsoever. It’s a family-focused center for the city, to help to improve what the vision of Liberty Hill is working toward

also agreed to redo the walking trail so it will be on the park side of the fence, Snell said. “We’ll also help move the playground that is there, because our new property line goes right through the middle of it, and so we’ll move it

A graphic rendering of the proposed restaurant and boutique to be located at 200 CR 279. (Courtesy Graphic) for the future.” The Council approved the variance request 4-1, with Council member Kathy Canady opposed. The variance allows the buildable area to increase from approximately 23.5 percent to 31.8 percent. Following the BOA meeting, the Council met at the Stubbleﬁeld building for a workshop in executive session to consult

with legal counsel “regarding statutory requirements under state law and local ordinances for City Council members and City staff, including but not limited to, discussion of the role of city council and its relationship with City staff, conducting meetings, enacting ordinances, approving resolutions, entering into lawful contracts with consultants, ap-

pointing boards and commissions, processing land use and development applications, and prioritizing legal projects for the ofﬁce of the city attorney.” The executive session lasted approximately two hours, and no action was taken following the session.

over,” he said. “The park can still continue to function like it always has, and we will have secure fencing behind our school.” The Foundation still owns the rest of the park -- about 15 acres -- but because of the location of the 4.4 acres sold,

some of the sculptures in the park now need to be moved so they remain on park property, Hanley said. Five of the sculptures, four of which are situated along the walking trail, and one that is in front of the Liberty Hill Public Library, will be relocated near the John’s Knot sculpture in the park. Hanley said ﬁve new concrete pads and connecting walkways are being constructed now, and the sculptures will be moved in the coming weeks. He added that by doing this, the sculpture park will be more consolidated, making it easier for visitors to see each piece of art. The 4.4 acres were sold to the school district for $2 per square foot or $383,328, Hanley said, even though the value of the land is $4 per square

foot. “We sold it to the district for $2 a square foot because they are helping us move our playground and redoing the walking trail,” he said. “They are enhancing what we have and it’s meeting our goals, too.” The funds gained from the sale of the land will be used for park improvements, Hanley said, including updates to the park’s pavilion, sculpture restoration, and possibly a new road and parking area for better access to the sculpture park. “We only make money through donations, so this gives us a really nice nest egg,” Hanley said. “We’re also going to start looking for grant writers to help us get some grants so we can do even more.”

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, November 18, 2021 Page 5

Rematch with Champion in the cards

Liberty Hill won last year’s second-round game

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Plenty of familiar faces will be across the line of scrimmage on Friday night at Farris Stadium in San Antonio when Liberty Hill takes on Boerne Champion in a rematch of last year’s second-round clash between the Panthers and Chargers, in which the Purple-and-Gold prevailed by a 41-0 score. Both teams enter the contest with identical 9-2 records on the season after a campaign that saw Champion finish second in the District 15 standings behind undefeated Alamo Heights. They are led on offense by 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior quarterback Karson Kaiser and senior running back Alex Rodriguez, who form a pass-run threat to Liberty Hill’s offense, said Panthers head coach Kent Walker. “They have a good quarterback, a good running back and three good wide receivers,” he said. “They have a good scheme offensively and are well-balanced, so we’ll have our hands full.”

and 24 scores on the season. Defensively for Liberty Hill, senior linebackers Andon Thomas and Reid Bynum each had 12 tackles against Bastrop, while senior Devin Riley added eight and had a pair of sacks on the evening. Champion features a spread offense and although the Panthers’ run defense has been solid all season, the secondary has been prone to the long pass – although they responded in kind when tested by Bastrop. Still, Kaiser and the weapons he has at his disposal in pulling the trigger of the Chargers’ offense gives Walker cause for concern, he said. “It scares me they’re good,” said Walker. “But, if we can get pressure on the quarterback and make him get rid of the ball quickly, it’ll be a big part of the game. There’s no doubt we’ll have our work cut out for us.” However, despite the threat Champion poses, Walker said he’s confident in his defense ALEX RUBIO PHOTO stepping up once again like it Noah Long (#21) rushed for 209 yards and four touchdowns in Liberty Hill’s 57-7 playoff win over Bastrop and has 1,446 yards did against Bastrop in an even and 24 scores on the season. bigger challenge against the The Chargers are coming off “After beating them last year, late touchdown to defeat MerLiberty Hill rushed for an as- Chargers. a stirring 36-29 win over Mer- they’ve been waiting a year cedes, the Panthers had no tounding 520 yards on 58 car“Our kids played their best cedes in the opening round for this,” he said. “So, it’s go- such problems in putting Bas- ries by eight different ballcar- defensively in that game,” he and are primed and ready for ing to be a tough test – they’re trop out to pasture Nov. 12 in a riers, led by sophomore Noah said. “It was about as well as another shot at the Purple-and- a fundamentally-sound team 57-7 home win that was about Long, who cranked out a sea- we’ve played all year, but this Gold after being ousted by and their kids play hard on de- as comprehensive on both son-high 209 yards on 21 at- week, we’ll need to play better them from last year’s postsea- fense.” sides of the ball as one will see tempts with four touchdowns than we have all season again.” son, said Walker. While Champion needed a in a playoff game. and is now up to 1,446 yards

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Madison Walker (#4) left her days as a shooting guard behind to run the Lady Panthers’ offense from the point and has flourished ever since.

Lady Panthers’ guard embraces running the point

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor One thing Madison Walker is definitely not afraid to do is shoot a basketball. Indeed, Liberty Hill’s senior point guard is liable to hoist up a shot from anywhere at anytime in the hopes of finding the bottom of the net. However, when she does so these days, it’s simply a flashback to her earlier form as a shooting guard, a position she played all the way up until she reached the high school campus as a Lady Panthers freshman three years ago. Then, it all began to change for Walker, as her superior ball-movement skills made her the logical choice to become the point guard for Liberty Hill head coach Chris Lange, who wanted to maximize her skill set at the prep level. “Madison has always handled the ball very well,” said Lange. “For any point guard, ultimately the goal is to move the ball from point A to point B as quickly as possible.” Walker pointed out the stark contrast between the two guard spots despite the fact they’re right next to each other on the court. “As a point guard, you always need to make sure you’re in a position to get assists,” she said. “As a shooting guard, you’re more of a priority

when plays are set up.” Part of Walker’s role this season is to properly mentor freshman point guard Gabby Mundy, who is her heir apparent and a young player with abilities beyond her years, she said. “Gabby has a high skill level and can shoot the ball well,” said Walker. “She just has strong overall play and a high basketball IQ for someone her age and it’s my job to show her the kind of basketball we want to play.” Lange agreed, but tempered the enthusiasm a bit. “At this point for Gabby, it’s a case of watch-and-learn,” he said. “She and Madison have a good relationship.” Walker played on the freshman team during her rookie season in Purple-and-Gold, then progressed directly to the varsity squad as a sophomore and quickly realized the difference in degree of difficulty as far as running an offense against more rugged competition. “My freshman year, it was different because it was so easy to shoot and pass,” she said. “But, on varsity, I couldn’t be selfish with the ball all the time and had to work harder.” Which is exactly what she has done in the time since – although it certainly wasn’t an overnight process, she said.

“I think it took about a year to get used to point guard,” said Walker. “But, then my sophomore year, I felt like I ran the offense better.” Once she got accustomed to pulling the strings as opposed to pulling the trigger, Walker said she began to embrace the role of provider. “I like having the ball and looking for what’s going on and what’s open,” she said. “But, I think 75 percent of basketball is improvisation and 25 percent is set plays.” When the situation on the court gets frantic, Walker said part of her job description is to right the Lady Panthers’ ship before it drifts too far off course. “It’s hard sometimes,” she said. “But, I just try to slow it down a bit and make sure everybody’s on the same page when their brains are going a million miles an hour.” All that being said, though, Lange never wants to douse Walker’s desire to fire away when the basket is in target range. “We still always want Madison to take her shots,” he said. “There isn’t a shot she doesn’t like.” No problem, said Walker. “When I get the ball, my first thought is still shot first,” she said. “But, now I have to see if someone else has a better one.”

Devin Riley (#7) celebrates with teammate Reid Bynum (#62) after a big play by the Panthers’ defense during Liberty Hill’s 57-7 home playoff win over Bastrop.

Best of both worlds

Linebacker relishes dual-role responsibilities

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor As an outside linebacker in Liberty Hill’s 3-4 defense, Devin Riley has responsibilities that can be wide-ranging, from rushing the quarterback to playing the run to dropping back into pass coverage. Playing the position certainly isn’t one-dimensional, said Liberty Hill head coach Kent Walker. “In our defense, an outside linebacker needs to be able to play the run and the pass and come off the edge,” he said. “It’s really more like a hybrid linebacker/safety position.” Riley’s versatility paid off in spades during the Panthers’ 57-7 playoff victory over Bastrop, a contest in which he recorded a pair of sacks in helping unsettle the Bears’ offense all night long. However, Riley and his defensive mates got off to a bit of a rough start, as Bastrop drove 75 yards for a touchdown on the game’s opening possession, then moved the ball on its second series before eventually being forced to punt. After that, though, the Bears had the ball 10 more times for the balance of the game and failed to register even a single first down – including seven three-and-outs and three occasions when they turned the ball over on downs. According to Riley, it was simply a matter of the defense finally having a live look at the opposition and then adjusting

accordingly. “I think those first couple of drives we could see how they wanted to play,” said Riley. “After that, we were able to shut them down because we understood what kind of offense they were going to run.” Riley added the Bears’ offensive line wasn’t proficient enough to keep the Panthers sufficiently at bay. “Their linemen weren’t able to hold their blocks long enough,” he said. Music to the ears of defenders – especially ones whose primary job is to light up opposing ballcarriers and signal-callers, as Riley did on his ventures into the Bastrop backfield, but that kind of play is always expected of him, said Walker. “Riley is just a hard-nosed football player,” he said. “He seems to always be in position to make plays and has a nose for the ball – I wish we had 11 guys like that.” Physicality is perfectly fine for the 5-foot-7, 160-pound senior, as it’s his preferred method of operation, he said. “I like to play physical,” said Riley. Opponents will sometimes underestimate the size of the fight in the dog, which always works in his favor, he said. “Some players will see me and not expect me to hit them, so it’s a good surprise for me,” said Riley. “It’s a mindset you need to have – to use your size to your advantage. For some

of the bigger linemen, it’s difficult for them to get down to my level to block me.” Against Bastrop, disrupting the rhythm of the Bears’ passing game and the effect it would have on the entire offense was a priority, he said. “We needed to be able to get pressure on the quarterback and get into his head,” said Riley. “Also, if you can get a big hit on a running back, he might remember and make a different cut next time, which has an effect on other plays and what their coaches do – the little things like that can make a huge difference.” Riley had some big shoes to fill on the Panthers’ defense, as older brother Trey was a defensive lineman on the Liberty Hill team that advanced all the way to the state championship game in 2018 – although he could really only measure up in a figurative manner, he said. “My brother is 6-foot-1, 190 pounds,” said Riley. “So, I was hoping I was going to grow some more.” No matter, Riley has still managed to create plenty of chaos this season – his first as a starter – in racking up 57 tackles, which is good for sixth on the team, but there’s nothing quite like dropping an opposing quarterback well behind he line-of scrimmage, he said. “Oh, yeah,” said Riley. “I’d much rather get a sack than an interception.”

Page 6

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Long leads Panthers to playoff win

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Noah Long took a handoff in the third quarter of Liberty Hill’s 57-7 home playoff victory over Bastrop on Friday, made a cut and found himself sprinting down the right sideline toward the north end zone of Panther Stadium for an 81yard touchdown in the Purpleand-Gold’s victory over the visiting Bears. Nothing surprised Long about the play – except for some unexpected company he had downﬁeld on his way to the promised land. “Our center Jackson (Harrison) was out in front and got the safety with a block,” said Long, who rushed for 209 yards on 21 carries with four touchdowns. “I had a smile on my face while I was running.” Long also praised guard Julius Osborne for helping spring him loose on the run, but saved his biggest compliment for his teammates across the line of scrimmage. “When your defense plays amazing like ours did tonight, it really gets our energy rolling,” he said. However, it was Bastrop who got its energy going early, embarking on a 10-play, 75play drive to open the game, resulting in the ﬁrst points of the contest on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Bears quarterback Seth Mouser to

Julius Baynard and a 7-0 lead. But, the drive was helped by a pair of Panthers penalties – a personal foul and a pass interference call that put the ball on the doorstep. Once the home side got its act together, there would be no more points for the Bears on this night. Liberty Hill failed to score on its ﬁrst possession of the game, but only took four plays the second time they got the ball to tie the score. Grady Flinn picked up 22 and 5 yards, respectively, on backto-back runs before Long nearly scored before being forced out-of-bounds, but a face mask call on Bastrop set up Long’s four-yard run on the following play and once Ethan Minix added the extra point, parity was restored to the proceedings. Joe Pitchford got his chance to contribute to the cause on the Panthers’ next series after the Liberty Hill defense forced a negative-yardage three-andout, by picking up 12, 9 and 9 yards on three straight carries before it was Long who scored from 19 yards out with what ended up being the winning points in putting the Panthers up by a 13-7 score. Once Long had completed his hat trick of touchdowns and increased the lead to 20-7 with a two-yard run the next time the home team had the ball, the Panthers’ defense contin-

priority for downtown revitalization, according to the assessment, particularly at the intersection of RM 1869 and Loop 332, where TXDOT’s latest trafﬁc count shows that more than 6,000 cars pass through the four-way stop daily. In summer 2022, TXDOT will install a trafﬁc light there. “The estimated time frame for completion is 90 days after the project starts,” Hale said. “There has also been a desire for more sidewalks downtown, and the City is looking into that as well.” Phase 3 of the Community Development Block Grant will

bring additional sidewalks. The City received $488,000, which will be used to construct sidewalks from Liberty Hill Elementary to Hillcrest Lane. “We are hoping to have the agreements brought forth to Council by the end of the month and the construction process will begin early next year,” Hale said. Another aspect of pedestrian safety is tactical urbanism, according to the assessment, which is the addition of aesthetics to downtown, like lighting and trash receptacles, Hale said. “The City of Bastrop did

DOWNTOWN

ued to turn the screw against the Bears, including a sack by senior Devin Riley – the first of his two in the contest – resulting in a loss of seven yards on a 3rd-and-9 play. Liberty Hill head coach Kent Walker had kind words for the efforts of Riley throughout the game. “Devin made a few plays tonight,” said Walker. “He did everything he was asked.” Flinn scored the first of his three touchdowns on the evening with a 12-yard run, which was followed by an Andon Thomas run for a 2-point conversion and the Panthers led 28-7 at the half. Long’s 81-yard scoring jaunt put the first points of the second half on the board and after that, the Panthers’ defense continued to shut down the Bears at every opportunity. In fact, following Bastrop’s opening two drives of the game, they were forced into seven three-and-outs and Liberty Hill senior Grady Flinn (#43) scored three touchdowns three turnovers-on-downs on Bastrop in the opening round of the playoffs. its final 10 possessions of the side cruised to an easy victory. them.” game. Liberty Hill rushed for 520 Walker said the 57 unanEverything the Bears’ offense couldn’t do, the Panthers had yards in the game, which was swered points his squad a credit to what the Panthers’ scored after the early Bastrop no problem with. Flinn’s second two touchdown offensive line was able to ac- score was a result of his players’ ability to make necessary runs of two and six yards, re- complish, said Long. spectively, were sandwiched “We just stuck to our game changes on the fly. “Our kids had to battle some around a 13-yard rumble by plan and our linemen did an fullback Logan Dyer, which amazing job,” he said. “You adversity early on, which is cast the die as far as the result could tell by the third quarter, something they haven’t had to was concerned, as the home Bastrop was tired and we had do for awhile,” he said. “But

Continued from Page 1

GAMES FOR NOV. 18 1. Liberty Hill at Boerne Champion 2. Rouse at Floresville 3. Georgetown at Fort Bend Hightower

a Main Street rehabilitation project in 2013,” she said. “They were able to do it in small chunks and it made a big difference and created more of a destination for the city.” A hike and bike path was another short-term recommendation, which Hale said will be realized within the next 60 days when the City’s shared use path is completed. “The shared-use path connects the downtown parking lot to Highway 29, and it will be ﬁnished as soon as we get in the rest of the supplies to ﬁnish the project,” she said. “The City is also looking into

expanding the shared use path west from downtown to Highway 29 on that end. The City is looking into potential funding for that. The question is, ‘How can we acquire funds for additional sidewalks and shared use paths?’ That’s something we will continue to discuss in this committee.” Hale added that once Williamson County’s River Ranch Park is completed, another shared use path is planned to go from the park to Liberty Hill city limits on CR 279, connecting the park to downtown. Hale said the county intends to have that project

completed by 2025. When it comes to building community support for downtown efforts, it was recommended to use the beautiﬁcation committee’s website to share information, survey residents and invite people to get involved. It was also suggested that the City upload the assessment for locals to provide feedback. Local partnerships between businesses and City entities and youth engagement were also mentioned in this section of the assessment. The assessment also found that business owners downtown are savvy and engaged,

PANTHER R

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

in the Panthers’ 57-7 win over

they responded very well and made the right adjustments.” Liberty Hill (9-2) will next face Boerne Champion (92) on Friday in a rematch of last season’s second round meeting between the teams in which the Panthers prevailed 41-0.

but they still need support from the community if they are to thrive. The assessment suggested City ofﬁcials visit with business owners to gain insight on the challenges they face and opportunities they have. In addition, the assessment suggested conducting an annual survey of business owners and using a retail gap analysis to determine what types of businesses would do well in the downtown area based on residents’ spending patterns. Downtown signage was

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Lady Panthers let one slip away

Page 7

Liberty Hill loses to Ellison in overtime, 57-50

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor With the clock under two minutes to play of Liberty Hill’s home game against Ellison on Tuesday night, the Lady Panthers were nursing a 46-42 lead over the Eagles. However, after some sloppy play to close regulation on behalf of the hosts, the visitors forced overtime and prevailed by a score of 57-50 following a 15-4 run spanning the fourth quarter and the extra period to put away the Purple-and-Gold. Madison Walker led the Lady Panthers with 22 points, while Emma Hubbard added 12, but it wasn’t enough to hold off a comeback by the gritty visitors from Killeen. The contest began in haphazard fashion as both sides failed to produce a basket until over two minutes in after Hubbard hit a free throw for a 1-0 lead at the outset and Ellison led by only 7-4 after one quarter. The Lady Panthers woke from their early-game malaise, though, with a 10-0 run to begin the second quarter. Gabby Mundy provided a spark off the bench, as the freshman point guard hit a bucket, followed by back-to-

back 3-pointers from Walker and Alexa Solis and a bucket by Hubbard in taking a 14-7 lead. In fact, Hubbard’s basket was the first of three straight Liberty Hill hoops by the 5-foot-10 senior center during a spirited sequence that also saw her block a shot and commit a hard foul on the defensive end. Walker then hit a basket, followed by another three and the Lady Panthers led at halftime, 23-15. Walker remained on a roll at the start of the second half in hitting consecutive scores, the first of which was a three and the second was off an assist from sister Regan Walker to give Liberty Hill a 28-17 advantage. But, soon after, the Eagles began to slowly chip away at the deficit and closed to within a point at 34-33 as the third quarter ended. Killeen hit the opening basket of the fourth quarter for a 3534 lead, but Hubbard responded with a pair of free throws and a bucket of her own, which were the first points of an 8-0 Lady Panthers run that included a three by Kenzy Wise and Liberty Hill was up by 44-39.

Emma Hubbard (#25) scored 12 points and added seven rebounds in Liberty Hill’s 57-50 home loss to Ellison. At that point, though, it seemed as if the home team was out of gas, while the visitors were just hitting fifth gear in going on the run that would see them snatch victory from the Lady Panthers’ grasp. After Wise hit a pair of free

throws to put the hosts up, 4642, a turnover allowed Ellison to pull within 46-44 before tying the game at the buzzer and forcing overtime. Liberty Hill’s only points of the extra session were two pairs of free throws by Madi-

son Walker and Wise, as Ellison outscored them by an 11-2 margin. Liberty Hill (1-2) will next host Round Rock on Nov. 22 at 11:30 a.m., followed by a road game against Belton on Nov. 23.

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Bowie, 23, Liberty Hill 22 On Nov. 9, the Lady Panthers made the trip to south Austin and suffered a 23-22 loss to Bowie, as Madison Walker led Liberty Hill with 10 points.

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

Senior perseveres to play hoops

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor All Jayden Parrish ever wanted to do was play basketball. So, when he got to high school as a freshman and it was time to try out for the team he had always envisioned playing for, he soon found out he could indeed be a member of the Panthers – but not in the way he had hoped. Problem was Parrish wasn’t exactly in proper playing shape and therefore didn’t stand much of a chance to realize his dreams. As a result, Liberty Hill head coach Barry Boren made Parrish a team manager, which would mean he would have a seat on the Panthers’ bench, but wouldn’t be in uniform like he had always imagined. However, while many would’ve resigned themselves to that fate and made the best of it, that wasn’t a viable option for Parrish – he wasn’t going to simply give up on his ambitions of playing for the Purple-and-Gold so easily. So, he went to work on doing something about it. Over the summer before his

sophomore year, he began a dedicated workout regimen with a personal trainer, which saw the pounds begin to melt away from his frame until he was approaching the point where he could start to realistically envision finally being able to play that season. Alas, while it was certainly progress in the right direction, it still wasn’t enough and Parrish had to once again be satisfied with his role from the previous year. Still, he wouldn’t be denied, so it was back to the gym again. At long last, fast-forward another year and after having dropped 50 pounds from his original weight, Parrish was ready to suit up for his junior season – albeit on the Panthers’ junior varsity squad, where he began to get acclimated to life on the court rather than on the sidelines. Then, before his senior season was about to begin, Boren gave Parrish the news he had long lived to hear – he would indeed be on the varsity roster for his final season of high school basketball.

BOYS GOLF BRIEFS

Parrish said it was almost too much to take in at the time. “It was just a really good feeling because I worked so hard to get there,” he said. “I was really proud of myself because I had improved myself as a player and a person.” Boren said Parrish has done everything that has been asked of him since making the squad. “Jayden is always the first one here in the morning and the last one to leave at the end of the day,” he said. “He’s always the first one to say to his teammates ‘Hey, guys, we need to do this or that – let’s go.’” Of course, making the varsity team is one thing – doing what’s required to be a productive contributor is another matter altogether and one that Parrish found he was a bit behind the curve compared to his more experienced teammates, he said. “I didn’t play from eighth to 10th grade, so I didn’t have as much game experience as other players,” said Parrish. “So, sometimes during the game, I’d get really nervous and not know what to do.” So, until he could get up to

Liberty Hill’s boys’ golf team traveled to nearby Delaware Springs Golf Course in Burnet on Nov. 15 for the Bastrop High School Scramble. The format featured 24 two-player teams from 17 schools in which both golfers hit a tee shot on each hole, then play the ball in the most favorable position for the rest of the hole. Liberty Hill posted a 77, while Leander won with a 58.

Panthers golfers included Bryson Rosser, Jaxon Hicks, Cade Stratton and Carson Cearley. Liberty Hill also played in a tournament at Cimarron Hills on Nov. 8 and finished tied for 11th in a field of 17 teams with a combined score of 406, behind winners Westwood, who posted a 335, which was good for a 12-stroke victory over runner-up Hutto (347). Individually, Dhanush Kondapalli was the high-

est-finishing Liberty Hill golfer with an 85 in 13th place overall, while Danie Moon of Temple won the event with a score of 71. Other Panthers included Conner Sanders (98), Joseph Sherman (109), Stratton (114) and Cearley (125). Liberty Hill completed its fall season and will next play on Feb. 22 at the Hutto tournament.

Liberty Hill competed at the Class 5A & Under Texas Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association Invite at the Burnet YMCA in a field of 17 teams on Nov. 12. Overall, the Panthers finished fourth in the combined standings, with the girls in third and the boys in seventh. Sophomore Cooper Hardy was the only Liberty Hill swimmer to win an event, with a victory in the boys’ 200-yard freestyle in a time of 1:54.48 and also finished second in the 500-yard freestyle in 5:13.83 (school record).

Another sophomore, Priyan Senthill was sixth in the 200yard individual medley in 2:35.02. For the girls, junior Victoria Phegley finished third in the 50-yard freestyle (26.60, school record) and fourth in the 500-yard freestyle (5:45.54, school record). A pair of freshmen each scored a pair of top-six results in Zaria Avestruz (third, 100yard freestyle, 59.76, sixth, 100-yard backstroke, 1:05.96) and Addison Gonzales (third, 200-yard freestyle, 2:16.00, sixth, 100-yard freestyle,

1:01.47). Senior Brooke Becker and junior Grace Pringle tied for fourth in the girls’ 100-yard breaststroke in 1:21.76. Madelyn Edwards finished sixth in the 200-yard freestyle in 2:29.15. The girls’ 200-yard medley realy team of Avestruz, Becker, Phegley and Edwards was second in 2:03.88, while Avestruz, Becker, Pringle and Phegley finished third in the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:53.95 (school record).

SWIMMING BRIEFS

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speed, Parrish knew he had to somehow make up for what was lacking in his game in other ways. “I think my effort and never giving up on a play has been my strength,” he said. “Always diving for loose balls and stuff like that.” On the eve of his first-ever varsity game, Parrish was already picturing what that moment was going to be like when he finally stepped onto a basketball court as a Panther of the highest order. “I know it’s going to be a really good feeling,” he said. “I need to enjoy it because it’s my last year of high school basketball.” As far as any advice he would give to other young players who might find themselves in a similar predicament to what he faced, Parrish had sage words to offer. “I would tell them to set small goals, then when you achieve it, set another and keep going,” he said. “Never give up and SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO don’t make excuses – if you want to do it, then go out and Senior Jayden Parrish has worked much harder than most to finally realize his dream of playing for the Panthers’ varsity basget it.” ketball team.

Another week, another blowout

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When we arrived at Panther Stadium last Friday evening, we really thought visitors Bastrop would have a little something in store for the home team – and they did. For at least a few minutes, anyway. However, after Bears took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards for the first points of the game, it was like a collective light went on for the Panthers and from that point on in the proceedings, it was lights out for Bastrop. Coming out and putting seven points on the scoreboard straight away will work wonders for a visiting team in hostile territory, so the Bears must’ve been feeling pretty good about themselves and rightfully so. Fifty-seven unanswered points later, though and it was an altogether different story for Bastrop and their fans, who by the way, filled the visiting side of the stadium for the first time this season, so fair play to the Bears supporters who made the 125-mile round trip. Speaking of support, the Liberty Hill Football Boosters were finally able to roll out “The Walker Express”

again for the first time since the fourth game of the season against LBJ due to District 14 regulations that prohibit noisemakers (unless it’s one’s own mouth, apparently) and it was good to hear the hydraulically-powered shrill pierce the air at Panther Stadium once again after each score by the home side. Eight times is a lot of air to blow, but in the spirit of the man it’s named after, it absolutely got the job done in fine fashion. Back to the game, though. As a neutral (yeah, right) observer, we wanted to see a competitive game along the lines of the Panthers’ 21-14 home victory over Marble Falls earlier this season, but to no avail following the glimmer of hope to begin the game. You know, with all their rules, it’s a good thing the UIL doesn’t have one on the books prohibiting blowouts or the Panthers would never be allowed to finish a game, what with their propensity for putting up points aplenty. This week, it’s on to San Antonio for a rematch of last season’s second-round clash between the Panthers and Boerne Champion – although it wasn’t much of one, resulting in a 41-0 Liberty Hill victory. Champion is one of our favorite teams for two reasons. No. 1, we have a place in our heart for any team known as

the Chargers, as we grew up watching Southern California’s version of the Bolts and No. 2, we know the town’s name is pronounced “Burnee,” but we can’t help but to have some fun. So, as far as we’re concerned, it’s pronounced “Born” and it’s a good thing the school is named for a winner because after all, “Born Champion” sounds a lot better than “Born Loser.” These are the kinds of things one comes up with while witnessing 63-0 games. Hopefully, there will be at least a little bit of drama this week. Should the Panthers advance past the Chargers, a potential third-round matchup with Rouse is looming and that is – like the cool kids say these days – when it will get real. If last season’s 56-42 barnburner was any indication, the rematch with the Raiders should be an absolute cracker, as well. Chargers one week, Raiders the next. Are there any teams in Texas called the Broncos or Chiefs to compete the AFC West quartet of monikers? More 63-0 thoughts. Perhaps we won’t have time for our mind to wander in such ways this week. But, that’s probably wishful thinking.

Page 8

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Gaining confidence over time Senior center stronger physically, mentally

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Walker Weems was upset. Liberty Hill’s 6-foot-5, 190-pound senior center had just been called for an illegal screen at one end of the court during the Panthers’ recent home scrimmage against Dripping Springs and was out for vengeance after disagreeing with the call. He was looking to take it out on somebody – anybody. So, the next time down on the offensive end of the floor, Weems took the ball and drove the lane with such ferocity and authority, he soared up and practically right through a hapless defender who tried in vain to get in his way before he layed the ball up and in for an and-one. Only problem was Weems failed to beat gravity as easily as he had his man and came crashing back to the court awkwardly, banging his head on the hardwood in the process. Following a short time down and some medical attention from a trainer, he was back on his feet – although a bit wobbly – on his way to the sidelines where he remained for the balance of the contest and was later diagnosed with a back bruise. The significance of this entire episode is it illustrates the difference between the Weems of now and yesterday’s version from the past two years in that previously Weems probably wouldn’t have reacted to the situation of a perceived wrong with such fierceness – either that or wouldn’t have been able to channel his anger and frustration in a positive manner as fuel for his fire. However, Weems 2.0 is an upgrade over the previous model – which was still pretty good – but is now better after having been through the varsity basketball wars for the past two seasons in producing a player whose mettle has been forged in the crucible of competition. Exactly what is the reason for Weems’ transformation from perimeter player to post presence? “I think my athleticism is a lot better now and my confidence is much higher,” said Weems. “I’m one of the leaders of our team now.” Those two factors – increased physical skills and the mental makeup to get the most out of them – is what truly separates the previous version and the new-and-improved model. According to Liberty Hill head coach Barry Boren, Weems has finally morphed into what he had envisioned for so long. “Walker is now the player I always wanted him to be,” said Boren. “He’s gotten physically stronger and added muscle weight. What that translates to is more assertiveness.” Weems worked with a personal trainer in addition to his team regimen and the combination has paid off like a slot machine hitting a jackpot, said Boren. “We pointed Walker in the right direction,” he said. “You can just see how much more confident he is by his body language and the way he carries himself – shoulders back, head

up – he definitely has an aura.” Weems tips the scales these days at 190 pounds, but said he still has some room on his frame for more. “I think college coaches look at someone who is 200-plus pounds and athletic and it’s a scary thing.” After going through a season of Class 5A competition for the first time, Weems knew he had to toughen up a bit to battle the big boys he now faces during the district schedule. “The guys I play against now are more aggressive, taller and better-coached,” said Weems. “As a team, we know what we’re going to be facing, we’ve seen how they play and how big they are.” Boren has never been one afraid to motivate Weems through various methods, including a good tongue-lashing, if it’s in order, but even that now can be taken in stride and used in a constructive way, said Weems. “I’ve been able to get to know Coach (Boren) better now,” he said. “I know how he talks and acts and what he wants out of me. Before, I would react badly and play nervous, but now I can get right back in there and focus.” Indeed, communication has improved by a country mile from the not-to-distant past, said Boren. “Even last year, I could barely get a word out of Walker,” he said. “Now, we can have conversations.” Despite Weems’ increased post presence, he still remains a perimeter threat, which makes his all-around game that much more challenging for opponents to neutralize, with the ability to hit a dagger from distance or dazzle with a dunk. Pick your poison. With the new leaner, meaner version of Weems now playing at a gym near you, one never knows what he will do next to wow the crowd, but when it

another major point of the assessment, which suggested the City ask TXDOT or private land owners for permission to install signage that directs drivers to downtown. The assessment also suggested that downtown buildings be revitalized. The assessment suggested City officials talk with downtown property owners who own vacant buildings to discuss incentives for property improvements or the possibility of pop-up business events. It also suggested the City host an event to market available properties to local real estate agents and developers. A focus on the arts was also suggested, by using tactical urbanism to connect the International Sculpture Park to downtown through signage and road design. Lastly, online presence for the downtown district should be improved, according to the assessment. Improved websites for the International Sculpture Park, Liberty Hill Chamber

of Commerce and Experience LHTX were suggested, as well as creating relationships with local media, updating Liberty Hill’s Wikipedia page, and encouraging business owners to update their listings on Google. “This assessment is just a starting point,” Hale said. “Our downtown has untapped potential. The assessment can be the bridge to bring everything together from the business side to the tourism side.” Once the short-term goals are reached, Hale said the City can shift its focus to TDA’s mid-range recommendations, which include more events, community development, continued online presence, small business support and entrepreneurial development. The long-term recommendations include increasing the City’s ownership of downtown property, installing wayfinding signage, gaining control of RM 1869 from TXDOT, and improving overall connectivity throughout downtown.

KRISTEN MERIWETHER PHOTO

Callie Juergens lights a candle during the prisoner of war and missing in action ceremony, part of the Veterans Day ceremony at Liberty Hill Middle School on Nov. 11.

Retired Army Ranger shares leadership lessons on Veterans Day

ALEX RUBIO FILE PHOTO

Liberty Hill senior Walker Weems (#34) is playing with a newfound passion, grit and physicality this season.

City Continued from Page 6

comes down to a choice between long-range missile or up-close-and-personal hammer job, the choice for him is clear, he said. “Definitely, I’d rather dunk,” said Weems. “It excites everybody for us on the court and on the bench and gives us a lot of adrenaline over the other team.”

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer Thunderous applause greeted area veterans as they entered the Liberty Hill Middle School gym last Thursday for the annual Veterans Day ceremony. The Symphonic Band kicked off the ceremony with a rousing rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” and the Varsity Treble Choir followed with a beautiful rendition of “Let Freedom Ring.” Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Casey Thomas, a U.S. Military Academy West Point graduate, gave the keynote speech. Thomas’ son is a senior at Liberty Hill High School and will follow in his father’s footsteps when he attends West Point in the fall.

Thomas, who gradated second in his class at the academy and went on to become an Army Ranger, focused his speech on leadership, overcoming adversity and humility. He reminded the middle school students that leadership isn’t just a job title, but about caring for others and putting them first. “You got to care about your folks, and sometimes you’ve got to be humble. And you sure as heck have to be genuine. It’s not about you,” Thomas said. “I want you to know it is okay in the modern world to be kind to other people.” He told a story of a time when he exhibited poor leadership by having a one-way conversation with a middle manager under his charge.

As expected, the conversation went poorly and Thomas found himself unable to sleep that night. The next day he brought the subordinate back in and apologized. The two found common ground, located the root of the problem and worked towards a solution. Thomas wrapped up his speech by thanking everyone for taking the time to thank those that served, including those who made the ultimate sacrifice. “On this day, we take just a minute to say thank you to warriors,” Thomas said. “Veterans don’t like to talk about the stories. We just don’t. But we’re grateful to the youngsters in our Liberty Hill.”

GIRLS GOLF BRIEFS Liberty Hill’s girls finished off their fall schedule by playing in the Hutto High School Scramble at Delaware Springs Golf Course in Burnet on Tuesday. Brooklyn Huckaby, Morgan Poulain and Emma Walz played for Liberty Hill, who posted a score of 73 in the 22team field. Leander won the event with a 58. (LEFT) Lady Panthers golfers Brooklyn Huckaby, Morgan Poulain and Emma Walz posted a score of 73 at the Hutto Scramble at Delaware Springs Course in Burnet on Tuesday. (Courtesy Photo)

EMPLOYMENT HIRING TIRE TECHNICIAN Experience preferred, but will train right candidate. Davis Tire & Automotive, 14855 W. State Hwy 29, Liberty Hill. Contact JD at (512) 778-6810. (11/25p)

SERVICES COMPUTER TUTOR At your place, at your pace, I can help you with your computer, iPhone, iPad, or tablet. Helpful tips and tricks. Reasonable rates. Call Karen, 432553-2468. (12/23p)

PUBLIC NOTICES MISSING PROPERTY If you believe the police department may have a found item that belongs to you, you can call the Property Division directly at 512-548-5530 or email at ekrause@libertyhilltx.gov. When contacting the Property Division, describe the item(s) you are looking for, in detail, and we will let you know if we have it. If we do, we will make arrangements to get it back to you. (11/25) MANDATORY LANGUAGE FOR A MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL VIOLATION MCL, AVERAGE/COMBINED RADIUM (-226 & -228) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has notified the City of Liberty Hill public water system that the drinking water

being supplied to customers had exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for combined radium (-226 & -228). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has established the MCL for combined radium (-226 & -228) to be 5 pico curies per liter (pCi/L) based on the running annual average (RAA), and has determined that it is a health concern at levels above the MCL. Analysis of drinking water in your community for combined radium (-226 & -228) indicates a compliance value in QuarterThree 2021 of 6 pCi/L. This is not an emergency. However, some people who drink water containing radium 226 and/or 228 in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer. You do not need to use an alternative water supply. However, if you have health concerns, you may want to talk to your doctor to get more information about how this may affect you. We are taking the following actions to address this issue: The City of Liberty Hill and current contractor for alternate project has previously relocated the piping from the entry point 08 (Well 7) to an alternate facility within the distribution system entry point 05 (Well 4) in which the water is to be blended with the cities current alternate source of water (City of Leander) as well as the existing well at that facility. Please share this information with all people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (i.e., people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distrib-

CLASSIFIED ADS $15/week for Minimum 30 Words Additional Words $0.20 Deadline: Noon Mondays

NEWS@LHINDEPENDENT.COM uting copies by hand or mail. If you have questions regarding this matter, you may contact Trey Evans-Water Superintendent at 512-778-5449 ext. 280. Posted /Delivered on 11/18/2021. (11/18)

LEGAL NOTICES JODIE HERNANDEZ/ VICTOR MONTES Court hearing 12/09/2021 9:00am Case # JG10337 Maricopa County, AZ (12/2p) LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Liberty Hill has been asked to review and approve the following application(s), to wit: A request for a Zone Map Amendment from the General Commercial/Retail (C3) zoning classification to the Light Industrial / Warehousing (I1) zoning classification on the following property: 10.0263 ACRES - BEING PART OF THE R. WEST, SURVEY, ABSTRACT NO. 643, LIBERTY HILL, WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TEXAS, A PART OF LAND CONVEYED TO 15390 HWY 29 LLC, VIA DOCUMENT NO. 2020008373 OF THE DEED RECORDS OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TEXAS AND IDENTIFIED AS ASSESSOR’S PARCEL R375277.

(512) 778-5577

THE PROPERTY IS ADDRESSED AS 15390 HIGHWAY 29, LIBERTY HILL, TX 78642. In accordance with Section 211.006, Texas Local Government Code, a public hearing on this application will be conducted by the Planning and Zoning Commission at the Liberty Hill Municipal Courthouse, 2801 Ranch Rd 1869, Liberty Hill, TX 78642 on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at 6:30 PM. Upon receiving a recommendation from the Commission, the City Council will conduct its own public hearing and take final action on this matter on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 6:00 PM at the Liberty Hill Municipal Courthouse, 2801 Ranch Rd 1869, Liberty Hill, TX 78642. For more information, you may either visit the Development Services Department at 100 Forrest Street, call (512) 778-5449, or send an email to planning@libertyhilltx.gov. By order of the Director of Planning on November 15, 2021. (11/18) WALDEN WRECKER SERVICE, 939 N 183, Liberty Hill, Texas 78642, 512574-3367, 0651983vsf, www. tdlr.texas.gov Maroon 2015 Dodge Ram 1500 VIN# 1C6RR7GM6FS605773 $461.50 fees accrue daily. (11/18)

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Substitute Continued from Page 1

their free time to plan, or call parents or grade, mentally that can be taxing,” Boren said. At the elementary level, where the students stay with one teacher for most of the day, classrooms that are not able to be covered have to be split up. This creates larger classrooms for the teachers who are covering. “It’s a rough situation. It puts a lot of stress on the teachers, especially knowing that if you have to be out, you’re putting a burden on your fellow teachers,” said Melissa Revere, a fourth grade teacher at Noble Elementary. “We don’t want to do that to them, so it’s been kind of tough.” The district sent out a survey to the sub pool last month trying to find out why so few were actually getting into the classrooms. The responses varied with some saying they only wanted to substitute at their child’s school and others saying they worked in other districts as well and couldn’t commit to daily work at LHISD. “The great thing about being a substitute is you can pick and choose what campuses you want to serve and what kind of classes you want to see,” Superintendent Steven Snell told The Independent. “The downside to that is we need them everywhere. So when everybody’s picking and choosing, we have classes that are unfilled.” Snell, along with employees at the administration’s central office, fill in as subs when needed. But it’s a short-term fix that will require better solutions—particularly as the district grows. Total enrollment for the district is 6,860 students -- up 1,300 students from last year. The district is expected to grow to 12,000 students by 2025 and 30,000 by the end of the decade. That means the district will require more teachers and plenty more subs. LHISD has competitive pay for substitutes when compared to nearby Georgetown and Leander ISDs. Snell

noted that other districts that threw money at the problem didn’t see a huge increase in people applying for sub positions. Snell said the district is currently courting college students to come student-teach in the district while they finish up their degree. The hope is to show prospective teachers the perks of the district and hire quality candidates as soon as they graduate. But the fruit from that labor will take years to bear. Both teachers who spoke to The Independent expressed concerns for the long-term ramifications of having to continue to cover classes without enough substitutes. “I really think it does add to people deciding to go and find other jobs,” Revere said. “I’ve seen it over the last several years now, people just kind of drop off and stop teaching altogether.” Both teachers and Snell were hopeful that with so many new families moving to the district, it will provide a pool of new people who can help out. “The reality is we need anyone who’s in the community who’s willing to be a substitute—even if it’s one day, a week or two days a week—to please sign up,” Snell said. “There’s an opportunity for you to work every single day.”

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 9

County delays landowner meetings for I-2 Project

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer On Nov. 11, landowners in the projected Corridor I-2 Project area received emails from the Corridor I-2 Study Team saying the study is being reassessed. Meetings with property owners have been paused until the week of Dec. 20. “Commissioner (Cynthia) Long has received a lot of feedback from the community and has heard the concerns voiced about the study and several of the county roads in the area. She wants to be responsive and ensure a process that improves information sharing and input gathering,” the email stated. “She has asked the technical team to reassess the study constraints, gather more data and do additional analyses on alternatives before conducting more individual property owner meetings.” The email came a little more than a week after nearly 75 residents packed Main Street Social on Nov. 3 to discuss the local impacts of the Corridor I2 Project. Williamson County is currently conducting a Planning and Right-of-Way Preservation Study for a new 7.3-mile expressway that would run east/west between U.S. Highway 183 and the Burnet County line, and a 4.1-mile north/ south connector between the

new expressway and State Highway 29. Williamson County mailed 63 letters in mid-October to property owners who would be directly impacted by the project and had sit-down meetings with some of the landowners. As new information came to light, Long decided additional research was needed before continuing the meetings. “The project team has heard about new development and development patterns in the area, as well as, about safety concerns regarding several county roads in the area,” Commissioner Long said in an email on Monday. “I asked the project team to do some additional research in both of these areas before proceeding further into the study.” The county is currently collecting feedback from property owners and conducting field studies. Project engineers will use that feedback to refine the footprint of the project. Once the footprint is set the county will pursue funding when the need arises to build the road. The road will be built, “as growth occurs in order to maintain a high level of safety, mobility, and quality of life for Williamson County residents,” according to a fact sheet on the project from the County. If the project made it to construction, phase one would have one lane in each direction

and a center turning lane. It could be expanded to four, six, or eight lanes over several decades, depending on demand, according to the County. Landowners have been very vocal expressing the negative impacts they feel the project will bring to their land, parts of which would have to be sold to the County if funding is eventually provided for construction. The group is not only vocal, but organized. Following the well-attended Nov. 3 meeting at Main Street Social, an online newsletter called “The Holdout” began circulating on the topic. A Facebook group entitled “Liberty Hill Bypass,” which has just under 1,200 followers, began posting updates, relevant news articles and calls to action.

The Independent received the following statement from the Greater Liberty Hill Landowners Group with their reaction to reassessment of the study: “Williamson County placed the I-2 study on hold and this much needed pause offers the County the opportunity to reevaluate their approach and the effect on the community, environment, historical impact, and more. The County has not demonstrated why the proposed roads are necessary. “We’re ready to find a sensible and agreeable solution benefiting both the County and property owners and residents of the greater Liberty Hill area. We trust that the County will do the right thing and appreciate they are taking the time to listen and look at alternatives.”

Liberty Hill & Surrounding Communities

Page 10

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

HOMES AROUND THE HILL Homes for Sale 3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA 4BR/4BA Acreage / Lots / Property for Sale TBD Lobella Bloom Bend Lot 24, Block 1 Phase III 1611 CR 255 AW0478 Northcross, J. Sur 1619 CR 255 AW0478 Northcross, J. Sur 1633 CR 255 AW0478 Northcross, J. Sur TBD Lobella Bloom Bend Lot 91, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 71, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 74, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 75, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 79, Block 1 Phase III TBD Red Yucca Ct Lot 85, Block 1 Phase III TBD Red Yucca Ct Lot 87, Block 1 Phase III TBD Red Yucca Ct Lot 89, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 72, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 73, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 76, Block 1 Phase III TBD Red Yucca Ct Lot 88, Block 1 Phase III Commercial Property for Sale 100 Bevers No restrictions, water available 110 Bevers No restrictions, water available 118 Bevers No restrictions, water available 126 Bevers No restrictions, water available 129 Bevers No restrictions, water available 145 Bevers No restrictions, water available Under Contract / Pending

Durham Park Kempner Ranch - 40 acres 2 Homes/Guest House - 4.95 acres

800 Double File Trace 820 Panther Creek 1601 CR 256

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550 Hopewell Rd TBD Red Yucca Ct 4060 CR 201 Lot 12 Cloudwood Ranch Rd TBD Yellow Senna Pl 20701 Harrison Cv 1840 CR 226 TBD Yellow Senna Pl TBD Yellow Senna Pl TBD Yellow Senna Pl TBD Red Yucca Ct 550 Stadium Dr

Mesa Vista Ranch Marble Falls Florence Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Home + In-Law House, No HOA - 10 acres Grayson, Leander Sunset Oaks - 3 acres Hidden Meadows - 2 acres Bertram - 10 acres Watson Place, Bertram - 5 acres Liberty Hill - 17 acres Luciano Cabasos Durham Park Florence Buttercup Townhomes Hillcrest Cantarra Meadows/Pﬂugerville Llano Iron Oak - 2 acres Summerlynn - Leander Near Downtown Liberty Hill University Park - Georgetown San Gabriel River - 3/4 acres Cloudwood Ranch Lot - Briggs Liberty Hill - 2.2 acres

TBD Red Yucca Ct 337 Granite Row Tract 3A N Hwy 195 TBD Yellow Senna Pl TBD Yellow Senna Pl TBD Yellow Senna Pl 2150 CR 282 144 Syrah Court 631 CR 269 1103 CR 204 CR 321 240 Floyds Run 17600 W State Hwy 29 1540 W Hwy 29 500 CR 288 Tract 4B N Hwy 195 401 Buttercup Creek Blvd 120 Crestview Dr 13500 Kearns Dr 504 E Green St 232 Oak Hill 104 Falcon Lane 3103 CR 1869 2006 E 18th St 121 River Rd Lot 22 Cloudwood Ranch Rd 140 Shin Oak Lane

3BR/2BA Lot 83, Block 1 Phase III 3BR/2B - Barndominium & Shop Lots of trees Lot 80, Block 1 Phase III Electricity & water available 4BR/2BA Lot 92, Block 1 Phase III Lot 81, Block 1 Phase III Lot 82, Block 1 Phase III Lot 90, Block 1 Phase III Cleared & level Sold! Lot 84, Block 1 Phase III 3BR/2BA No restrictions, Ag exempt Lot 77, Block 1 Phase III Lot 78, Block 1 Phase III Lot 70, Block 1 Phase III 2BR/3BA + 3BR/1BA - Pool 3BR/2.5BA 3BR/3BA 3BR/2BA River front & trees 4BR/3BA 3 Homes & Barn 2BR/1BA Trees, electric, water No restrictions, Ag exempt 2BR/2.5BA 3BR/2BA 4BR/2BA - Game Room 3BR/2BA 4BR/4BA 4BR/2.5BA - 2 car garage Commercial, Mixed Use 3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA Lots of oaks, backs to creek 3BR/2BA + pool

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LIBERTY HILL’S REAL ESTATE GUIDE Feature your property listings weekly! (512) 778-5577

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Love thy neighbor.