Brittany Kelley
No. 5 - New swim facility offers lessons, competitive team
By Brittany Kelley - May 21, 2025
KYLE — Nitro Swimming was initially an opportunity for co-owner Mike Koleber to teach the aquatic sport, but now, it has expanded to several facilities, including its newest location in Kyle.
According to Tracy Koleber, co-owner, Nitro Swimming first began in 2006 and the couple opened the first brick and mortar location in 2007 in Cedar Park. Its Bee Cave location opened four years later in 2011 and, in 2019, Mike and Tracy started searching for a new site.
“We were talking between Hutto and Kyle and they both kind of bubbled up at the same time and both of these cities [told us that they] would like to have Nitro Swimming. So, we met with the leaders in each city and, ultimately, felt like Kyle was a better fit for us,” Tracy said.
The Kyle location, at 3425 FM 1626, officially welcomed community members Jan. 6 and hosted a ribbon cutting with the Kyle Area Chamber of Commerce May 16.
Nitro Swimming hosts swimming lessons for community members of all ages, ranging from infants to older adults: “Teaching adults to swim is off the charts gratifying. Fifty-four percent of adults cannot swim. They cannot swim. I just had … [an] 80-year-old and I’m teaching her how to swim. On Saturday — I got a video of her — and just to see her gratification and joy [is great]. Is it too late to ever learn? No,” Mike emphasized.
Since opening this location, Mike and Tracy have made it a point to be good community members. For example, Mike stated that several Boy Scout Troops have been in to earn certifications, free of charge.
Tracy also explained that the two have been in conversation with the Hays CISD athletic director and assistant athletic director to bring the Hays, Lehman and Johnson high school swim teams to the facility to train.
Although they hope to provide this opportunity for students, Nitro Swimming has one of the largest United States of America competitive teams in the nation, she said.
In the future, Tracy revealed that they hope to build swim schools in the area.
“[We appreciate] the love and the outpouring support from the community itself [and] the families that we’ve encountered so far in our facility,” concluded Mike.
For more information, visit www.nitroswim.com.
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No. 4 - Father, stepmother speak against Judge Karl Hays' family court
By Brittany Kelley - June 18, 2025
Several families have reached out to the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch in regards to what they believe are concerning experiences in Judge Karl Hays’ family law court. The following is part three of a four part series discussing assertions against Judge Hays and the alleged failure to consider the best interest of the child(ren) involved in cases in his courtroom.
SAN MARCOS — For more than five years, Greg and Kaylei S. have been in a custody battle for their son. The couple stated that the case has been neglected by Hays County Family Law Court Judge Karl Hays.
The 5-year-old boy should be playing in the yard, mastering reading and perfecting his superhero powers, yet his stepmother and father claim that instead, Judge Hays has court-ordered the child to be shuttled two hours away to a mother who doesn’t want to spend time with him.
Judge Hays was appointed in May 2019 by unanimous approval of several district judges, as Texas Family Code Section 201.001 (d) states that “if an associate judge serves more than one court, the associate judge’s appointment must be made with the unanimous approval of all the judges under whom the associate judge serves.”
Greg and Megan S., his then partner and the child’s biological mother, split in October 2020, which led to a temporary custody agreement, said Greg, where the two agreed to have the child visit him on his days off, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Court documents read that Greg was later given visitation from 6 to 9 p.m. the first, third and fifth Saturdays of each month. In a message entered into evidence, the father stated that he “said yes to 6 o’clock and 9 o’clock because I thought I still had Tuesday and Wednesday with my son … I think, as his father, I deserve more than six hours a month with my son.”
Greg noted that after this, Megan’s parents began to get involved. This was around the same time, explained the couple, that they were forced to move out of Hays County, due to ongoing threats toward their family.
An incident report from the Kyle Police Department, prior to the family’s relocation, stated that Kaylei called 911 March 16, 2021, to report that Megan was at their apartment door yelling. The stepmother “was afraid of what they might do,” since she claimed Megan and her father were making threats toward them. Because of this incident, Greg and Kaylei moved to Temple to provide separation between their family and Megan.
Kaylei and Greg also stated that Megan relinquished her parental rights to their son, giving the rights to her parents instead, though the couple was unaware until they received a call from police in June 2021.
An affidavit for voluntary relinquishment of parental rights executed April 9, 2021, reveals that Megan “freely and voluntarily give and relinquish to [the child’s maternal grandmother] and [the child’s maternal grandfather] all my parental rights and duties.”
According to an affidavit in support of application for temporary restraining order against Megan and Greg filed by the child’s maternal grandmother Oct. 5, 2021, Megan’s mother noted that her daughter began making concerning decisions, such as having “sex with strange men she had met online and “abus[ing] drugs,” with “her behavior becom[ing] increasingly erratic. Because of [Megan’s] stated desire to not be involved in [the child’s] life, we sought legal help to address our concerns.”
The couple eventually maintained a three-day visitation schedule, said Kaylei, in 2022, with the boy staying with them the first, third and fifth weekends, from Friday through Sunday.
Later, Megan executed a revocation of affidavit for voluntary relinquishment of parental rights Aug. 8, 2022, which was filed Aug. 17, 2022, citing the following: “The day I signed the document I was off my medication and for a short time, my life was off the rails and I was acting out in a self-destructive way. At that time my parents were doing whatever necessary to protect my son and they manipulated me to sign the document under duress as I felt that I had no choice at the time.”
According to the mediated settlement agreement, supervised visitations were enforced through Dec. 31, 2023, with Megan receiving unsupervised visitations beginning Jan. 1, 2024.
Because of this agreement, with Megan allegedly not being present, the maternal grandparents take care of the boy, though Greg claims that they are “getting to the age, where they’re not able to take care of him,” as for nap times and bedtime, the boy tells his father that he’s forced to use a pacifier and wear diapers.
This was entered into court records in a 2024 application for temporary restraining order, where the father stated that despite the boy being potty-trained, he is still required to wear diapers.
According to comments made by the child’s doctor, the young boy has perioral dermatitis subacute, which is most likely from persistent pacifier usage, and “will likely [require him] to report this situation to authorities.”
Greg and Kaylei stated that they have not had the opportunity to voice this concern in court, as Judge Hays keeps approving various hearings against them, but does not give them the chance to speak.
Additionally, Greg claimed that Megan does not and has not properly taken care of the child. Court documents show that Greg stated since the boy was born, Megan would often leave him in a soaked diaper throughout the day. More recently, in November 2023, Megan had the child for a full week, said the court document, and returned him with a fever and a cough that “sounded like bronchitis.” The father stated that he was never notified that he was sick nor was he taken to the doctor.
Greg stressed that he and Kaylei have attempted to get these concerns heard in Judge Hays’ court, with no avail: “It’s nearly impossible to get in there. I don’t think, for five years, no one’s heard any evidence on our side. We’ll get to a point where we’re going to do that, but then, the grandparents, they’ll file all this other stuff to drain my money, so I can’t get my voice to be heard and then, the courts don’t care.”
The couple has also filed temporary restraining orders against the mother after threats of harm toward them, which were denied.
“This is why people get killed. Realistically, this is why kids end up hurt because you try, you try [and] you try and nobody wants to take it seriously until it’s too late,” Kaylei said. “Every other Thursday, we tell [our son] that he has to go [to visit]. I’m not exaggerating when I say he won’t eat, he won’t drink, he has diarrhea. He talks about his stomach hurting, his head hurting. He talks to us about how he’s using his words, so he doesn’t understand why he has to go, that he doesn’t want to do,” his stepmother explained.
The 5-year-old was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, said Greg and Kaylei.
“[I just want] to change the order, so it benefits [my son],” stressed Greg. “Because right now, no one’s thinking about what it is doing to [him].”
Neither Judge Hays, nor the court administrator, responded to requests for comment.
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No. 3 - Kyle PD confirms: human remains found
Staff Report - Aug. 30, 2025
KYLE — At approximately 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29, the Kyle Police Department was notified that a landscaping crew had discovered what appeared to be a human skull in the 5800 block of Kyle Parkway.
Officers, detectives, forensic investigators and the department’s drone team, with assistance from Texas Search and Rescue, conducted a thorough search of the area, according to a press release.
Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 Beth Smith responded to the scene and certified the death.
In a later update, KPD said that after a thorough search of the area, human remains were located. Forensic analysis of the human remains confirmed there were no signs of trauma or foul play.
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No. 2 - Kyle elects new mayor, council members, Hays CISD tax increase fails
By Brittany Kelley - Nov. 5, 2025
HAYS COUNTY — Voters headed to the polls for early voting, Oct. 20-31, and on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, to make their voices heard for several propositions and council candidates. According to the Hays County website, 37,031, or 19.52%, out of 189,688 registered voters cast a ballot.
KYLE
Kyle’s ballot hosted 17 propositions and three district races, along with a mayoral race, following the city’s longest-serving mayor, Travis Mitchell, submitting his resignation in July.
The candidates were as follows:
• Mayor: Andrea Villescaz, Yvonne Flores-Cale, Donny Wills and Robert Rizo
• District 1: Bear Heiser, Kyle J. LeVell, Ellen Ermis and Courtney Goza
• District 2: Melisa Medina and Paul Hill
• District 3: Claudia Zapata and Miguel Zuniga
The Kyle City Council District 2 seat was won by Claudia Zapata, who received 62.48%, or 3,246 of votes, while Melisa Medina took the District 3 seat with 58.22% or 1,059 votes.
The mayoral race went into a runoff election, held Dec. 13, between Flores-Cale, who garnered 1,746 votes or 32.04% and Rizo, with 2,303 votes or 44.26%. Ultimately, Flores-Cale was voted into the position with 50.83%, or 1,226, of votes, surpassing Rizo’s 49.17%, or 1,186, of votes.
Flores-Cale’s campaign noted that she is a “resident advocate” and hopes to focus on water and water resources, reviving downtown and restoring relationships between city officials and the community.
“I am beyond excited and honored to have the opportunity to serve as the people’s mayor of Kyle! This victory belongs to the people of our city - their voices, votes, and passion made it happen, and for that, I offer a heartfelt thank you,” said Flores-Cale.
On Nov. 4, Heiser had 39.54%, or 2,061, of votes, while Goza had 26.94%, or 1,404, of votes, leading to a runoff, as well.
The District 1 seat was won by Goza, after receiving 50.80%, or 1,201, of votes. Incumbent Heiser garnered 49.20%, or 1,163, of votes.
Goza’s campaign focused on transparency and improving infrastructure in Kyle. One of her plans upon sitting on the dais is to create a website that will allow residents to view departmental spending, with the ability to flag concerning items.
BUDA
City of Buda voters also headed to the election polls Dec. 13 to determine the Single Member District C seat between Jeffrey Morales and Kimberly Goodman on the city council, which was previously held by Terry Cummings.
The Dec. 13 runoff yielded Goodman the win, with 50.79%, or 225, of votes. Morales received 49.21%, or 218, of votes.
The newly-elected council member hopes to protect Buda’s small-town feel and: prioritize local, small businesses; manage growth to minimize impact on water, traffic and schools; create more mental health awareness and resources; continue Buda’s fiscal policy; and more.
“I am so incredibly excited and honored to win this City Council District C position,” said Goodman. “I look forward to being the voice of my district and working hard for the people of District C. Thank you to everyone that came out to vote!”
Voters also denied the Hays CISD Proposition A, with 9,679 votes or 61.09%, which would have raised the tax rate $0.12, for a total of $1.2746 per $100 valuation. According to the district, the tax rate increase would have brought an estimated additional $26 million in operational revenue.
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No. 1 - Mother blames Hays County family court for failing her daughters
By Brittany Kelley - June 25, 2025
Several families have reached out to the Hays Free Press/ News-Dispatch in regards to what they believe are concerning experiences in Judge Karl Hays’ family law court. The following is the finale of a four part series discussing assertions against Judge Hays and the alleged failure to consider the best interest of the child(ren) involved in cases in his courtroom.
This story includes discussion of allegations of child sexual abuse. Please proceed with caution.
SAN MARCOS — Kourtney P. thought she had won: She and her two young daughters escaped what she described as an abusive household, but she quickly discovered that the horrors continued. She claimed that her children detailed several instances of alleged sexual abuse at the hands of their father, which made no difference, said Kourtney, in Hays County Judge Karl Hays’ family law court.
It was early June 2020 when she and her two daughters, both below the age of five at the time, fled Glen G. with nothing more than the clothes on their backs, claiming that they were headed to dance class. Once in a safe location, she was able to file for divorce June 23, 2020, in Judge Hays’ court, where she was granted a temporary protective order three days later.
Hays was appointed in May 2019 by unanimous approval of several district judges, as Texas Family Code Section 201.001 (d) states that “if an associate judge serves more than one court, the associate judge’s appointment must be made with the unanimous approval of all the judges under whom the associate judge serves.”
Because Kourtney left without her possessions, she later went back with her father to retrieve her dog from the couple’s shared house in Wimberley. While out of the house, the children’s grandmother was watching the girls when she observed concerning behavior that was sexual in nature, prompting her to call their mother.
“I asked [my daughter] where she learned to do that … and then, she said she learned it from her dad, that her dad does that to her. So, that’s essentially what started everything,” alleged Kourtney.
The mother then called Child Protective Services (CPS) and began the process of pressing charges against Glen. Following several forensic interviews with the girls, an arrest warrant for Glen was filed July 24, 2020, for aggravated sexual assault of a child.
The charge was only for the older child, explained Kourtney, as it was difficult to confirm the facts of the other, since she was so young.
Throughout the trial, Kourtney shared numerous instances that she claims were against the best interest of her children.
For example, according to an order on condition of bond filed July 24, 2020, in the criminal court, Glen was required to avoid any communication with his eldest daughter and remain at least 300 feet away from her residence, though court notes on the custody case state that less than a month later on Aug. 17, 2020, Glen was granted supervised possession for two- 4-hour periods each week, along with joint managing conservatorship.
Regarding the joint managing conservatorship, Texas Family Code Sec. 153.004 (b) states that “The court may not appoint joint managing conservators if credible evidence is presented of a history or pattern of past or present child neglect, or physical or sexual abuse by one parent directed against the other parent, a spouse, or a child.” Although, there may not be documented history of alleged physical and sexual abuse against the children, Glen does have a recorded history of supposed physical abuse against the mother. According to a first amended application for protective order, request for temporary ex parte protective order, and notice of hearing, in 2018, Glen shoved Kourtney into a fireplace in New Orleans, Louisiana. Records show that on March 24, 2018, he was arrested and charged with domestic abuse battery.
During supervised visitations, Glen would bargain for his children’s affection, claimed Kourtney, rewarding them with candy after giving a kiss or laying down and snuggling. She also stated that her eldest daughter revealed that Glen threatened to kill her mother and grandmother during one of these visitations.
She stated that each visitation occurred at a facility, which provided notes and summaries of what occurred, including the inappropriate activities she mentioned prior. The mother alleged that she was told that these notes were then reported to Judge Hays, which never resulted in any action taken.
These supervised visitations continued, said Kourtney, despite a discovery made by her lawyer in October 2023 that the amended bond conditions by another criminal associate judge were never filed: “As discussed last week the January 2021 order was never filed and as we sit here today it’s still not on file. With that being said the current supervised access is in violation of the current filed bond order,” read an email sent to the guardian ad litem and other case-related staff by her attorney.
“There’re all these holes where things just slip through in this county and it’s ridiculous. I don’t know if [Judge Hays] even knew that the bond conditions weren’t filed,” said Kourtney. “You finally leave an abuser and then, you get stuck in this family law case, where you have no voice and you’re literally trapped still and it’s suffocating.”
Kourtney stated that in November 2024, the judgement was finalized orally. Glen received joint managing conservatorship and “exclusive 153.132 rights after meaningful conversation,” read the court notes.
Just three months after the newly imposed custody agreement, Kourtney’s youngest daughter made an outcry about Glen: “I get a call from school and [my youngest] has outcried [sexual assault] in full, tons of detail and [the school] basically said they’ve opened up a CPS investigation in a criminal case and they’re refusing to release the child to [the father] … All of this because Karl Hays allowed this to happen. My children have been sexually abused again.”
Since the start of the custody case, Kourtney noted that her eldest has been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and depression and that both children have suffered endless trauma, with one trusting men too much and the other not trusting them enough. Additionally, she claims that her youngest has developed a nervous tick after she began living with her father. The experiences not only have embarrassed the girls, claimed the mother, but prevented them from living normal childhoods.
Kourtney stated that she firmly believes that her family’s situation and her daughters’ suffering is a direct result of Judge Hays.
“He makes it a personal vendetta to not believe the people that are claiming abuse and he chooses to manipulate the law and eliminate evidence to make it fit his narrative, so you can’t apply it to the actual case. It’s heartbreaking that someone in power would do this,” concluded Kourtney.
Neither Judge Hays, nor the court administrator, responded to requests for comment.
Editor’s Note: Following the publication of the first story in this series, “Attorney shares experience with family law judge Karl Hays,” the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch has been inundated with other people coming forward to share their own stories and experiences regarding Judge Hays’ court. Due to the taxing nature of a series of this magnitude and our small staff, we have decided not to continue the series at this time. We sincerely appreciate everyone who has been willing to share their stories and encourage anyone who believes they have been wronged to file their concerns with the appropriate court.
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