A Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for construction of Hays County’s jail renovation and public safety building was accepted after issues with the project being over budget in 2017.  The Hays County Commissioners Court Jan. 30 approved a new GMP of $103,726,403, along with a $2.4 million contingency f...

Keeping residents and officials prepared in the event of future natural disasters was the premise behind Hays County Commissioners’ approval of an update to its Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). The plan, which was approved by a 4-0 vote Jan. 16, will also help the county obtain federal grants in the ev...

Traffic woes at the FM 1626 and RM 967 intersection was the impetus for Buda City Council to submit a proposal for two planning studies. The council approved the applications to the Capital Area Metro Planning Organization (CAMPO) at its Feb. 6 meeting for funding for the studies. Buda City Engineer...

An Austin man was killed Feb. 4 in a single-vehicle rollover wreck that occurred along Ranch to Market road (RM) 12 near Dripping Springs. Gregory Ryan Mallory, 36, of Austin, was identified by authorities as the victim in the wreck. According to a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson, the...

The students at Camino Real Elementary last month raised $3,685.88 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which is a new school record. The first place winning class is Mrs. De Hernandez’s kindergarten class (pictured), who raised a $533.85. The winners will receive a trip to the Olive Garden for lu...

A new fire station that aims to service the far eastern reaches of Hays County is on the horizon. By a unanimous 7-0 vote, the Hays CISD board of trustees approved a long-term lease agreement with the Hays/Caldwell Emergency Services District (ESD) No. 1 (Chisholm Trail Fire Rescue) for land on whic...

Traumatic injuries stemming from car crashes, falls or other serious events can now be handled at Seton Medical Center Hays. On Jan. 31, Ascension announced Seton Hays in Kyle received a designation from the Texas Department of State Health Services as an Advanced Level III adult trauma facility. Se...

Growing regulation from municipalities, along with oversaturation in the market, may be the reason there is a decline in food trucks in the Central Texas area. However, some local leaders believe there still may be a market for food trucks in the Buda and Kyle area, despite the slower pace of develo...

It’s not uncommon for Javier and Joanna Gonzalez to wake up at the crack of dawn to perform routine checks on their livestock. As the owners of Blue Earth Farm, situated on 10-plus acres near Buda, Javier’s and Joanna’s morning routine goes a long way toward preparing for the selling season. In toda...

A local woman was arrested Jan. 31 after authorities discovered an "elaborate marijuana grow operation" during an early morning drug bust at a Dripping Springs residence. Tori Halenza, 21, of Dripping Springs was charged with possession of marijuana, a state jail felony, and manufacture/delivery of ...