The sentence was the maximum punishment available under the law, according to a news release. Yanez had previously entered a “guilty” plea to the crime at a May 6 hearing and had agreed to let the court determine his punishment. Yanez will not be eligible for parole until he has served at least 30 years in prison.

Evidence presented in the punishment hearing showed that Yanez called 911 and told the operator he had just shot his wife Feb. 7, 2025. Yanez and Valadez were not legally married, but they had been romantically involved for several months leading up to the shooting. San Marcos Police Department officers traced the call to an apartment unit on River Road, where they found a woman with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Investigators found no sign of a struggle and the evidence supported the conclusion that she may have been asleep when she was killed.

Surveillance video from a 7-Eleven near the crime scene — taken approximately 20 minutes before the 911 call — showed Yanez arriving in the victim’s truck, buying four beers and driving toward the River Road apartment. The beers were found at the crime scene: two were opened and all four were still cold to the touch. Yanez’s wallet was also found on the victim’s nightstand. After the 911 call, Yanez disposed of the murder weapon, which was never recovered, and fled to Houston, where he maintained a residence and a separate family. Harris County authorities apprehended Yanez in the vicinity of his Houston residence after a brief manhunt.

Forensic testing confirmed the victim’s blood was on clothing and jewelry collected from Yanez. Testing also found gunshot residue. When officers recovered Yanez’s cellphone, they discovered its SIM card had been physically removed before the phone was collected by police, which investigators said indicated an attempt to inhibit efforts to track Yanez as he fled. Despite extensive forensic examination of digital evidence in the case, investigators were never able to determine a motive for the murder.

Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Jon English and Abigail Whitaker prosecuted the case.

“This sentence recognizes the truth of what happened in that apartment: a life was taken, a family was destroyed and a community was disrupted. Justice required a sentence equal to the gravity of that crime,” English said. “Judge Pool’s sentence delivered that justice for the community and the victim’s loved ones and the exceptional work of the San Marcos Police Department made this outcome possible.”

“The family showed extraordinary courage throughout this case and through the sentencing hearing,” Whitaker said. “Their strength ensured the court saw not only the facts of the murder, but also the true cost to the victim’s family and the community as a whole.”

Multiple officers from SMPD worked the case, with the investigation led by Detective Logan Murphy and Detective Chris Marroquin.

The State’s trial team included members of the district attorney’s Family Justice Unit and members of the 428th District Court prosecution team: Prosecutors English and Whitaker; victim assistance coordinator Annalise Brewer-Hall; digital media evidence legal Assistants Kendall Evans and Mercedes Pena; legal assistant Avery Slocum; HCCDAO investigator Sgt. Erica Saenz and HCCDAO investigator Sgt. David Cabrera.

Offices with the BPD Patrol Division were dispatched to the 219-mile marker of southbound IH-35 just before 11:30 p.m. May 13. An initial investigation indicated an unknown accident occurred with the motorcycle causing the driver to be on the roadway, at which point he was struck by at least two vehicles. 

Upon their arrival at the scene, officers observed the motorcycle driver to have severe injuries. Hays County Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace Sandra Bryant 
arrived on scene and pronounced the driver deceased.

The driver has been identified as 23-year-old William Robert Lujan of Kyle and next of kin has been notified. 

Those with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Martinez at 512-523-1048.

During the early morning of March 27, a young man and woman broke into the Rise-N-Stop gas station, located at 101 Jack C. Hays Trail in Buda. Several items were taken from behind the counter before the two left the location. The young man later returned to steal more items, according to a news release.  

On April 17, a young man and woman broke into the Garlic Creek Country Market gas station, located at 970 RM 967 in Buda. A bag of chips was taken from inside the store before the two left the location. It is currently believed that this man and woman are the same individuals who burglarized the Rise-N-Stop gas station previously. 

The same male, continued the release, broke into the Rise-N-Stop gas station, located at 101 Jack C. Hays Trail in Buda, again April 29. Some food and drink items were taken from the store before the male left the location. 

In Texas, the offense of burglary of a building is a third-degree felony, which is punishable by two to ten years in prison and/or up to $10,000 in fines for each offense.  

BPD is asking the public to view the video footage on its social media — Buda Police Department on Facebook and Buda Police Dept. on Instagram) and contact them with any helpful information as to the identity of the two individuals involved in these crimes. The individuals have been named “Jack and Jill” for case identification purposes.  

Detective Valdez can be called at 737-233-6020 or tips can remain anonymous through the Hays County Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-324-TIPS(8477). 

This is preliminary information and subject to change.  

“You've got two women who are running the city. You've got a woman publisher of one of the local newspapers. You have a woman running the Dripping Springs school district,” she emphasized. “You have a woman who is overseeing the chamber of commerce. You have two women who … along with the Lions Club, oversee one of the city's most beloved events: Christmas on Mercer.”

Sullivan, who serves as the city’s People & Communications director, is also the face behind her company, The Happiness Element, which helps organizations and individuals find the joy in their life again. She also started a women’s retreat eight years ago, hosting them in Texas — with the first at Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs — New Mexico, Massachusetts and Florida.

Through hosting the retreats, Sullivan found that she wanted to do something more and uplift the women who give the community their all, thus creating the not-so-typical WOW Awards.

“I wanted to make this more fun, whimsical [and about] what women are,” she said. “I wanted to make them different, that still celebrated the women, but did it in a fun and uplifting and inspirational way because that's what the women are doing.”

Currently, according to The Happiness Element website, the awards are categorized as:

•   “The Pillar of Power Award” — for a woman whose leadership has created a lasting impact after she leaves the room and has lifted others as she rises

•   “The Watch Her Soar Award” — celebrates an emerging leader who is just getting started, but is already making waves and lighting the way forward

•   “The Ripple Effect Award” — recognizes a woman whose actions make a meaningful difference in the lives of others; she strengthens the heart of community through service, passion and purpose.

•   “The Hometown Heroine Award” — embodies the spirit, warmth and soul of Dripping Springs and is considered to be the heartbeat of the community

•   “The Fearless Founder Award” — forges her own path with courage and conviction, challenges the status quo, opens doors for others and shows what is possible

•   “The She Brings Us Together Award” — brings people together and builds meaningful relationships

•   “The Boss Lady Energy Award” — honors a woman business owner who leads with vision, resilience and heart

•   “The Adorable Badass Award” — boldly shows up as her authentic self and unapologetically powerful, is the perfect blend of heart and hustle, dances to live amid challenges and advocates for women with kindness, grace and joy.

Sullivan concluded that she also wanted to give back to the city of Dripping Springs, where she has lived and poured into for nearly 20 years.

“I just adore this community and I love the women that I have met. They are so amazing — from women with health issues that are still inspiring people, to the women who are working full-time jobs yet raising kids,” she said. “I wanted to do something to give back to Dripping Springs because it has given so much to me.”

Nominations for the WOW Awards will open at the end of May or early June, with finalized categories and requirements also expected by that time. The awards will be judged by an independent panel of women from outside of Dripping Springs and from the six nominees, three finalists and one winner will be selected in each category.

The awards will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, at Canyonwood Ridge, located at 250 S. Canyonwood Drive, Dripping Springs, with lunch, a keynote speaker, artists showcase, marketplace and more in store.

Keep up-to-date on when the nominations are available and find more information at www.happinesselement.com/wow.

The process to review the rates — which have not been adjusted since 2022 — started in fiscal year 2025, when the city contracted with HDR to conduct a utility rate study. Then, in March, HDR presented the rate model and assumptions used to calculate the proposed rates to council, who asked the rates continue to be developed and reviewed, specifically on the fund balance, general fund and other revenue contributions.

In the most recent presentation to council May 7, deputy city administrator Shawn Cox shared the following six scenarios — all of which have different assumptions based on fund balance, general fund contribution, wastewater base fees and wastewater usage fees.

Scenario 1

•   Fund balance: 30 days (8.3%)

•   General fund contribution: $1,470,000

•   Wastewater base fee: $82.31 residential and commercial

•   Wastewater usage fee per 1,000 gallons: $7.09 residential; $7.90 commercial

Scenario 2

•   Fund balance: 30 days (8.3%)

•   General fund contribution: $1,225,000 (25% of sales tax)

•   Wastewater base fee: $75.09 residential; $76.53 commercial

•   Wastewater usage fee per 1,000 gallons: $7.09 residential; $8.10 commercial

Scenario 2.1

•   Fund balance: 30 days (8.3%)

•   General fund contribution: $1,225,000

•   Wastewater base fee: $59.20 residential; $90.11 commercial

•   Wastewater usage fee per 1,000 gallons: $8.30 residential; $8.51 commercial

Scenario 3

•   Fund balance: 30 days (8.3%)

•   General fund contribution: $980,000 (20% sales tax)

•   Wastewater base fee: $96.75 residential; $99.64 commercial

•   Wastewater usage fee per 1,000 gallons: $6.89 — residential;  $8.10 commercial

Scenario 4

•   Fund balance: 30 days (8.3%)

•   General fund contribution: $2,500,000 (FY 2026 = $1,520,000 more)

•   Wastewater base fee: $86.64 residential and commercial

•   Wastewater usage fee per 1,000 gallons: $7.09 residential; $8.10 commercial

Scenario 5

•   Fund balance: 30 days (8.3%)

•   General fund contribution: $2,000,000 (FY 2026 = $1,020,000 more)

•   Wastewater base fee: $86.64 residential; $94.44 commercial

•   Wastewater usage fee per 1,000 gallons: $7.09 residential; $8.10 commercial

On the commercial side, the wastewater usage is calculated through living unit equivalents (LUE). So, whatever the LUE number is what the city multiplies the base fee by, Cox explained.

“It is considered a multiplier because … you get an additional average for every LUE. So, if one LUE is equivalent to 6,450 gallons of wastewater, two LUEs would be double that,” he said. “You pay a base fee based on the number of LUEs that you've been provided.”

Currently, the rate for commercial users for three LUEs is $165.01, but proposed scenarios show that number could go up by nearly $300.

Council member Geoffrey Tahuahua shared his concern for the “sticker shock” that the rate increases are going to bring for both residents and businesses, knowing that the last adjustment was in 2022 — city staff also noted that another proposal was brought forward to council in 2020, but was ultimately not implemented, due to COVID-19.

“I recognize that, obviously, we have debt; we have to cover that debt service. It just seems that we sort of shot ourselves in the foot by not doing. We should have probably done the one in 2020 and we probably should have had incremental ones year over year,” he said. “Right now, let's say we do [scenario] 2.1 ... let's assume that we have a downtown business that has three LUEs; they're potentially looking at almost tripling their water bill just right out of the gate, using the same amount of water and, on a resident, you are doubling it.”

Later in the meeting, echoing others across the dais, council member Travis Crow said that they should not take a vote on the proposed rates until they fully understand everything.

“The more we do understand and can justify it when we are out there [in public], the better I feel about it,” Crow said. “We're going to have to do it as a city and make our decisions. That's why we're up here: to make the hard decisions that we don't want to make. But we have to justify it to the citizens why we did it and explain it to them and if we can't understand it, how can we explain it to a citizen out there?”

Mayor Bill Foulds also noted that in reviewing the scenarios, a new factor also needs to be entered in: delinquent bills.

“We have a subset of citizens that there is no way they could handle some of these proposals and especially when we get into [20]27 and 20[28]. Commercial businesses, what I'm hearing from downtown, we've got to make things as affordable as we can and we're going to lose more businesses if we try to do too much too early,” Foulds said. “That's what concerns me is protecting the people who don't show up and, quite honestly, the vast majority of our wastewater users are new home construction and are more double-income earners who will see their salaries change. A lot of those lower-income people, they're not going to see their salaries go up anywhere near at this rate and we've got to protect those people.”

There was not a vote on the proposed rates, but the item will be brought back at the next city council meeting, held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 19.

To listen to the full discussion and presentation, visit the city’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/@cityofdrippingsprings9597.

The first permit is for a food service trailer, located in the parking lot of Blanco Brew, at 14200 Ranch Road 12, Wimberley, for a term of one year. Previously, the food truck was operated as Saucy Bros, but will now be Hays Co Burgers Y Mas.

“Their permit expired a few weeks ago and they want to get a new truck in there,” explained Nathan Glaiser, director of development services.

The truck is permitted by the Hays County Health Department and is compliant with the city’s temporary structure regulations, which includes parking and access to restrooms. The owner of the Blanco Brew property is also aware of the change, Glaiser said.

This also follows a presentation given at the April 16 meeting regarding new legislative changes — House Bill 2844 and Chapter 437B being added to the Health and Safety Code — that would impact the regulation of these types of establishments and vendors. Knowing that the city’s current section on temporary structures in its code of ordinances would not be consistent with state law, when it goes into effect July 1, council member Chris Sheffield asked if this permit would be one of the first with the new policy.

“No, this is still operating under our current permitting structure, where it’s a one-off temporary structure permit and it comes to you all for approval,” Glaiser responded. “In the future, they would not need a permit for this; they would just need to register following the regulations I showed you all last month. They would just need to register with the city and we would check and make sure that they have their food permit from the state.”

The permit was unanimously approved by council.

Next, council unanimously approved another one-year temporary structure permit  for a mobile food truck at 14306 Ranch Road 12, Wimberley, which is in the parking lot of the Wash Day Laundry - Wimberley laundromat. Currently, Kelly’s Hill Country BBQ and Rositas food trucks are operating at the site; however, this would occupy the space that is currently utilized by Rosita’s, as they will move further down the parking lot.

“They have restroom access at the laundromat. They share hours there. They are open quite a bit and they have over 100 parking spaces there, so they have more than enough room for parking,” Glaiser said.

Council member Rebecca Minnick asked if the city is still looking at doing some zoning changes in order for food trucks to not be in various different places, but rather in a more concentrated area.

Referencing back to the new legislation, Glaiser said that staff will propose to council in June a conditional use permit for food courts. So, for a property that has more than one food truck would come through the process “where it goes through [the] Planning & Zoning [Commission] and then, you all have the site plan and approve it as part of the zoning code,” he explained.

Also during the meeting, council authorized the submission of an application to the TWDB under the Water Supply and Infrastructure Grant Program.

The request would be for up to $10 million in 100% grant funding to support land acquisition for alternative well sites, as well as related planning activities, to improve long-term water supply reliability. According to the city, the project is also based on prior engineering studies identifying a viable alternative water source — as the Trinity Aquifer is currently under severe stress — and will address ongoing drought vulnerability and infrastructure limitations.

“It’s to help conserve property around here to where it wouldn’t be developed and help conserve water and those types of things,” explained city administrator Tim Patek.

The Wimberley Watershed Association, Hill Country Conservancy, Nature Conservancy and other groups “are doing everything — they are applying for the grants, they are writing the grants,” Minnick noted.

The properties that will be pursued are unknown at this time, but the first step is needing a city partner for applying for the grant, Minnick said.

Council unanimously approved the authorization for the city to apply for the grant.

To view the full meetings and agendas, visit www.wimberleytx.portal.civicclerk.com.

More information on the bond projects can be found at www.wimberleyisd.net/bond2025.

Vendors from banks to housing facilities, such as Buda Oaks Assisted Living and Memory Care, were present. 

King’s inspiration struck after his friend ran across Texas to raise money for veterans. But after two ruptured Achilles tendons, this wasn’t a viable option.

“I was going to ride my bike across Texas and then, I thought to myself, ‘Well, my friend just ran across Texas, so it’s kind of a weak move to bike across,’” he recalled and biking 2,000 miles from Mexico to Canada “would be pretty badass.” So, theRide was born.

The goal is to raise $1 million to hand out to those in need throughout the trip.

“I have this belief that America was built on small communities and the hardworking people inside them — owning businesses, owning a small plumbing company, owning a small auto body shop — and those small communities are now overlooked because what’s happened is flyovers have been built. People are just 'too busy' and they go to the big, mainstream stuff,” explained King. “So, I just felt this calling for this desire to see people in these overlooked communities across the country and meet them where they’re at.”

After pitching his idea and creating a team, the Gobundance CEO began training a mere five-and-a-half months ago for this, having never been biking before. The training was grueling, he said, as he quickly learned that headwind — wind flowing against the rider — could be detrimental; it felt as if the bike was going backwards, King described.

Still, he persevered, going from small stretches to the eventual 150-mile day, which is what he will be enduring each of the 13-day trip.

The day he completed his ride from Dripping Springs to San Angelo was one that he wouldn’t forget, as he was able to help a struggling family.

This was the family of Cash, who, at the age of 1, fell in a pool and almost drowned to death, shared King. The parents had been fighting the hospital and insurance for a new bed to ensure the boy didn’t get bed sores. King didn’t know this family; he stumbled upon them on his ride in San Angelo, heard their story and bought them a new hospital bed.

“I said, ‘Here’s a new hospital bed. You don’t have to worry about this. Your son has so many challenges ahead of him at 2 years old. Why should bed sores be a problem? Don’t worry about this. Oh and by the way, don’t worry about your mortgage for six months and oh, here’s $1,000 for groceries,’” King said.

During his training, he also gave a woman he met at a laundromat $1,500 to help with outstanding bills and donated sports equipment to the Burke Center for Youth.

“[What] I’ve found from [training] is that my body doesn’t feel great, but what I keep telling people is, ‘My legs are sore, but my heart is full.’ When I hear what these people are up against … I realize that I have made this choice and so, my body hurting is irrelevant because these people hurt every day. Most of them never chose what they’ve been dealt,” emphasized King.

The 2,000-mile ride begins May 27, with King in Brownsville, dipping his back tire into Mexico to start his journey. From there, he will stop in more than 10 small towns that many have glossed over, such as: Ben Bolt, Texas; Chickasha, Okla.; Tecumseh, Neb.; Salix, Iowa; and more, ending in Canada June 13.

In these towns, his coworkers, friends and family will be flying in to join him on his journey for miles at a time to support him. Each day, he will spend nine to 10 hours biking 150 miles, with the rest of the day spent in the cities. They will also be staying at Airbnbs and hotels, eating at local restaurants and more to support the small cities, alongside speaking to community members to discover who may be in need of a donation.

As of May 12, King has raised more than $479,000. Donations will be accepted until June 7.

In preparation for the ride, King has also chosen to begin without any expectations, as “sometimes we miss some of the greatest moments in our life because we had expectations that it would look different or feel different.” This means that even if the trip is difficult and he can only bike 20 miles a day, extending the trip by weeks, then that’s what will happen because he made a promise.

The father also hopes that his three children see him embarking on this challenging task and find inspiration.

King shared, “If they watch their dad, who wasn’t a cyclist become a cyclist, who’s never raised anywhere near $1 million for anything in his life raise $1 million, then they will be like, ‘He never had permission to do that and he did it anyway. So, what am I capable of?”

He will be riding through Dripping Springs at approximately 10 a.m. Friday, May 29, at 195 Roger Hanks Parkway, so that his children and their friends — and others — can participate for a small portion.

“My hope is that people follow along the journey and go: If that knucklehead who wasn’t a cyclist did that, what can I do? How can I show up for the community? How can I go to Starbucks a little differently today and rather than just grabbing my coffee and running, how can I find the man sitting by himself with a veteran hat on and say, ‘Tell me your story,’” said King. “We brush over a lot of conversations because we’re all ‘too busy,’ but in reality, I think if we truly knew what people were up against and what people were facing, we would make much more of an effort to find time and make time for them. My hope is that this inspires people to make time for those they come across on a daily basis.”

King and his team will be hosting a send-off party from 8:30-10:30 a.m. May 26 at his ranch, located at 2705 Gatlin Creek Road, Austin, where community members can provide their support and enjoy breakfast and a performance from the Eddie Ray Band.

For more information, to donate or follow King’s journey on YouTube — where videos will be uploaded daily — visit www.gobundance.com/theride.

Snakes participate in brumation, which is the “reptilian form of the mammalian hibernation,” said Ormand. “The difference between brumation and hibernation is that snakes can go into brumation and come out of brumation as often as the weather allows it … Even during the dead of winter, if it’s warm enough outside, snakes can be active.”

He added that for the past eight years, he’s caught a rattlesnake within a week of the Christmas holiday. Because of this, he emphasized that it’s important for community members to educate themselves, whether through classes offered by Snakes of Hays County — where Ormand will bring several live snakes to view and study — or learning proper tactics to stay safe.

For example, he noted that snake identification is difficult, unless professionally educated, as there are several physical characteristics to distinguish them. Despite this, the easy tricks many learn as children are not always the answer. This includes the common rhyme, “Red and yellow, kill a fellow. Red and black, friend to Jack.”

“Texas coral snakes are known to have aberrant patterns, specifically here in Central Texas. So, there are coral snakes that will not always follow that rhyme,” he stated. “If you’re using a nursery rhyme to determine whether a snake is venomous or not, then you need to not be messing with the snake.”

Some of the venomous snakes in Texas include the coral snakes Ormand mentioned — which are rarely seen, due to residing underground — western diamondback rattlesnakes, cottonmouths or water moccasins and copperheads.

Cottonmouths are less common in Hays County than residents realize, he said. Ormand described getting calls from individuals that believe that their ponds are infested with them, but this breed of snake prefers slow moving water. So, they are more likely to be found in streams and rivers, such as the San Marcos River, Blanco River and Onion Creek.

The same goes for copperheads, Ormand said, explaining that heading in any direction away from Hays County will yield more of them than they would within county lines, unlike the western diamondback rattlesnake, which can be commonly found.

Snakes are defensive reptiles, spending their time hiding from predators and are always on the move to look for sustenance. So, keeping lawns mowed low, free of debris and the bases of flower beds clean, leaves little desire for snakes to hide there. Ormand noted that, “If you can’t see them, then they will feel safe there.”

With this knowledge, some may ask how they can enjoy the spring weather and participate in activities, such as hikes or playing fetch with their dog, while being safe.

“It’s very important for everyone to get out and enjoy nature and the best thing to do is just be aware of your surroundings. One good piece of advice is: if you see a log, don’t step over the log and put your foot where you can’t see, same thing goes with a rock or a boulder,” remarked Ormand. “It’s best to either step on the log and then, take a step off of it or go completely around the log.”

Furthermore, he stated that conducting a search around the area to ensure that there’s no snakes before tossing a ball for a pet is also smart to protect them. Pet owners can also sign their dog up for a snake safety course co-conducted by Ormand and his team. The canines learn the scents of live snakes, including the aforementioned venomous ones in the county, alongside a negative association. This would then discourage their interactions in the wild.

In the case that someone stumbles across a snake or steps on one, he stressed to “calmly, but quickly move away.” These slow movements would hopefully discourage any reaction from the reptile. He specified that a snake is never going to attack someone unprovoked, unless they feel threatened; this is how the majority of venomous  bites occur.

“Snakes are just trying to survive like the rest of the wildlife we have in the area. They do not desire to envenomate anybody. Every time they use venom, it takes resources from their body to reproduce that venom,” expounded the expert. “A snake using its venom for anything other than acquisition of food is a good way for that snake to not advance physically. Ultimately, a snake’s job is to eat, drink, mate and not die. They want to do anything they can to get bigger, to have a better chance of mating.”

Snakes engaged in a tactic called male combat, Ormand continued, where they wrap around each other to pin the other down in the presence of a female. The bigger snake almost always wins and they can’t get larger by constantly envenomating, as it would make it less likely to mate.

The method of leaving a snake alone is not always an option if it’s on residential property, as people may not want it in their yard with children and pets. In this instance, Ormand suggested lightly running water over the reptile.

He noted that, “Snakes can associate negative interactions with a location. So, if you were to spray a snake a few times, the chances are that it’s going to know, ‘Hey, I probably shouldn’t go back there because every time I do, I get harassed.’”

Although an individual may be educated and practicing safety tactics, a bite could still potentially occur. If biten, it’s important to seek medical attention, he stressed.

To learn about snake education classes and dog safety training or to reach out for snake removal, community members can call Snakes of Hays County at 512-296-7474.

“I feel 100% of every occupant of Hays County should know about snakes. It’s something that does not take a lot of energy or time to learn about and once you’re able to identify them, that knowledge will stick with you for the rest of your life,” concluded Ormand.

Turner hopes to encourage imaginative play, which includes several “stores” for children to get creative and play pretend. The cafe is “where wonder, play and coffee meet,” according to its website.

The business has a dedicated toddler area near the cafe, while children from 18 months to 8 years old can enjoy the other playscapes.

With the recent adoption of the Our Buda Our Future Comprehensive Plan in 2024, which set broad policies and possibilities for growth, the city is looking to update its UDC — a set of laws, procedures, design standards and zoning ordinances that a city creates for builders to follow — with specific strategies. The city noted in a social media post that the UDC “guides how land is developed throughout the city and helps shape the community’s long-term growth.”

Kendig Keast Collaborative was awarded the contract at council’s Feb. 17 meeting earlier this year, followed by an ad hoc committee member appointment at the April 7 meeting.

The collaboration, according to the city, “will focus on aligning Buda’s development standards with the community’s expectations for future growth, while also creating a more business-friendly, predictable development process for property owners, residents and the development community.”

Alignment with these plans is the company’s primary goal, but Kendig Keast project manager Ashley Woolsey mentioned additional objectives, including modernization, efficiency, flexibility and sustainability.

After Woolsey explained the project goals, deputy project manager Steve Sizemore conducted a live, digital poll on the UDC with the meeting attendees to gauge desires for development, where the first few questions focused on housing.

“As the greater Austin area’s housing prices continue to increase, we want to see what is the best fit to address the needs of residents, such as families, teachers, public safety officials and young professionals,” Sizemore stated.

The deputy project manager then asked participants to rate a series of residences based on how appropriate they were for Buda. Votes were split between approval and disapproval for most housing types, including a side-by-side duplex, single family home, townhome and fourplex. Most voters found the example of an eclectic cottage appropriate for Buda, while residential apartments had the least approval.

The poll proceeded to assess commercial building types. Again, votes were divided for mixed-use mutli-story buildings, a shopping center and a drive-thru. Few found a mixed-use single story building — similar to those lining Main Street — inappropriate, whereas the depiction of a high-rise was found overwhelmingly inappropriate by many.

Participants were then asked to rate 10 development factors, such as environmental health and affordability, from -5 to 5, based on importance and urgency. Water supply and downtown protection rose to the top; supporting industrial growth and expansion found its way to the bottom of the scale.

Following Sizemore’s poll, council reflected on retaining Buda’s charm, what is working well and how the UDC could be improved.

Regarding Buda’s small-town feel, Mayor Lee Urbanovsky noted walkability as an important factor and one that scored high on the scale. He added that “location matters significantly” when building anything in the city and felt Buda had done a good job zoning development cohesively.

Continuing this notion, council member Evan Ture mentioned that preserving water and the downtown area would “score high on any survey,” measuring importance among residents.

Along with Ture, council member Monica Davidson emphasized predictability when shaping a code to make it easier to follow: “As we revise the historic preservation guidelines and streamline that and that coincides with the UDC … there's a lot of back and forth.”

Concerned that the law would change during the UDC update process, Urbanovsky brought up oversight from the state legislature. He expressed, “Every time they meet in Austin, they seem to take more of our decisions away from us… there’s a lot of ordinances that we have that supersede what the state allows.”

The mayor noted that, in the past, the legislature has tried to prevent cities from enforcing rules that are stricter than state law. Woolsey confirmed that a legal team would be reviewing the documents to ensure legality.

Urbanovsky also mentioned the issue of affordability on the national level, which impacts how Buda shapes its development.

“The easy, quick answer a lot of people want to go to is density. I want to caution the group: density is not always the answer. Creativity is the answer,” he said.

According to the presentation, the ad hoc committee — composed of Buda citizens — will meet as needed to discuss UDC drafts and give direction to Kendig Keast. Public hearings will also be held for the community to provide input.

As the UDC project unfolds over the next 18 months, Kendig Keast will review committee feedback and make changes as necessary to create a Public Review Draft. Then, the Planning and Zoning Committee will evaluate the draft. Ultimately, city council will vote on the final product.

The management team from Kendig Keast wound down their presentation and thanked the city for its collaboration. No vote was taken as the session was designed for input, not action.

Buda City Council will meet next Tuesday, May 19.

This item follows the execution of a memorandum of understanding between the city and Hays County in August 2025, which combined forces for animal services, a Kyle Vista Park buildout and a Hays County building.

The project, also dubbed the Eastside Campus, consists of a 40-year ground lease for a 13.220-acre tract, located off of Dacy Lane, with set renewals. Additionally, the building would adhere to both Kyle and Hays County architectural standards.

Total payment for the property and an opportunity cost premium equates to $3,750,000, which would go toward the Kyle Vista Park buildout. The county payment would also be reinvested back into the site, including amenities, roads, landscaping, trails and more.

Hays County Administrator Kandice Boutte shared that the county has approved $100 million toward this project, which will not affect the tax rate, and would require no cost or responsibilities from the city of Kyle.

After background from Rosie Truelove, executive director of strategic development, Nick Thanos, of Kitchell, shared a presentation with council.

Kitchell was hired by Hays County more than a year ago to manage the project. Within this year, the company has conducted a Needs Assessment and negotiations with the city, as well as developed a conceptual design, allowing for the creation of a project budget, said Thanos. Now, they are wrapping up the schematic design and are in the process of procuring services for a construction manager at risk and commission agent.

The design team consists of Miles Vandewalle and Steven Knowles from HDR.

“We had the pleasure of working with the commissioners and also with staff and leadership from Hays County to really figure out what this building could be, especially if it’s going to be put in the city of Kyle as an extension of all the services that they have,” said Knowles.

There will be approximately 175 employees at the facility across 26 departments, including Human Resources, County Services, Auditor, County Clerk, Juvenile Probation, Elections and more.

The timber frame building will be built using local materials, such as stone and wood elements, and includes a “living room” concept for its visitors.

“The idea of this two-story living room space [is] so, as you’re sitting there waiting for taxes or maybe taking care of some other needs that you have within Hays County, it really becomes a place to sit and relax,” explained Knowles.

Because of the other amenities and facilities planned to be in the area, he emphasized that they made sure to include a nice front lawn that has walking paths and could be used for events.

The amount of glass was a largely discussed topic amongst council, beginning with council member Courtney Goza asking, “How are we doing to manage the reflective qualities, protect it from extreme hailstorms that we might have, [etc]?”

Knowles stated that the timber frame building makes the glass feel bigger than it actually is, but that, additionally, it is higher performance, meaning that it shades those inside and has minimal glare.

Having worked in a facility with large amounts of glass before, council member Michael Tobias stated that the effect on temperature is something to be noted, as it gets extremely hot and cold.

“If we are going to be very conscious about cost savings and energy savings, it’s something to really consider when we’re designing these buildings. Yes, it is beautiful, but we are in Central Texas, so something to look at,” said Tobias, adding that he would like to see rooms for meetings and open houses.

Goza also emphasized the use of native plants and rainwater retention, which he shared was initially brought up by the commissioners, as well.

Sharing these concerns was council member Lauralee Harris, who asked for bird safe glass, as well as for more information about water conservation to be presented at a later date.

“This is an excellent opportunity to actually do a One Water building. They are more and more popular [and] they are wonderful for the environment,” said Harris. “There’s really no reason not to do them anymore.”

According to the Watershed Association, One Water is “an integrated planning and implementation approach to managing finite water resources for long-term resilience and reliability, meeting both community and ecosystem needs.” A local example is Blue Hole Primary School in Wimberley.

“I’m seeing the vision [and] I like what I’m hearing,” said council member Marc McKinney. “I’m tremendously excited to be able to offer these services in particular, [with] easier access to my eastside residents and there’s so many benefits that are going to come from this, once it’s all said and done.”

Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale was “torn with this whole project,” not only because it was allegedly donated for parkland — which she would like feedback from residents on this change — but also because it is directly near Chapa Middle School.

She was concerned about the lack of a traffic study, as there was a child previously hit, due to the amount of cars traveling in this area. Staff stated that they have requested an existing traffic analysis, but will conduct another, if needed.

Furthermore, the mayor expressed concern of the individuals on probation at this facility, when some cannot come within 100 feet of a school.

Harris noted that some of those individuals on probation are low income and it is difficult for them to make it to their court sessions in San Marcos, so perhaps they could simply ensure that the high risk cases are not assigned to the Eastside Campus.

“We really wanted to give an update to the council on our concept, so we could get that feedback. So, we welcome that discussion, that dialogue with you all, as well as other citizens,” concluded Boutte.

Adding to this was Precinct 2 Commissioner Michelle Cohen, who emphasized that “this building is going to bring all these essential services to an area that historically [has] been underserved and undervalued. So, I just want you to all understand that this is a huge thing for this community and we definitely want to take your feedback.”

To listen to the discussion, visit bit.ly/4u3eKjA. Kyle City Council will next meet at 7 p.m. May 19.

Hays County Emergency Services districts No. 2 and No. 8 were named the Community Partnership of the Year. "Without their collaboration, [the H-E-B] project simply would not have come to fruition," said Monica Davidson, executive director of the chamber of commerce. 

Boots is survived by his daughter, Mary Nelson and her husband Barry, his beloved grandson Beau Nelson, his stepson David Cummings and his wife Julie, and their children & grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his father, Jodi Montague, mother, Florence Jones Montague, ex-wife, Reba Howard Montague, wife, Doris Cummings Montague, and stepdaughter, Rhonda Jean Henderson. 

Boots worked for the City of Kyle for 30 years and retired as Director of Public Works, eventually having a room dedicated to him in the City’s Public Works building. There were countless times during those 30 years when Boots and his crew would be working in freezing temperatures to ensure that everyone had running water or digging ditches in the 100-degree sun to fix a broken water line. 

Boots also spent many years serving with the Kyle Volunteer Fire Department and several years working for the Hays County Sheriff’s Office. His strong work ethic and dedication to public service resulted in many long nights and equally long days, but he lived and loved to serve his community. Once Boots retired from the City of Kyle, he began a new chapter in life working for Blue Green as their construction coordinator. Most of their Texas hill country subdivisions were overseen by him. 

On the rare occasion when he was not working, he could be found at the deer lease or enjoying any opportunity to be outdoors. He spent many summers boating and fishing around Canyon Lake and wandering up the Guadalupe River or exploring the bays around Rockport. So many of our wonderful memories with Boots were made outdoors; hunting, boating, fishing, camping, barbequing, etc.  

Boots was a devoted husband, a wonderful father/stepfather, grandfather, and a great friend to everyone that knew him. 

Boots will be remembered for his quick wit, sense of humor, and loyalty to family and friends. He will be greatly missed, and we will forever cherish his memory. We love you! 

There will be a memorial service at the Price Center, located at 222 W. San Antonio Street in San Marcos, on Sunday, June 7th from 2-4pm. All are welcome to come celebrate the life of this wonderful man.  

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Serve Outdoors-Texas Hill Country Chapter (txhcserveoutdoors.org), an organization that helps to provide unforgettable hunting and fishing adventures for disabled individuals, veterans, wounded warriors, youth, and seniors. 

Unfortunately, I don’t have one of those.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I have a handful of really great friends, a few of whom I’ve known since fifth grade when I moved to the city from which I ultimately graduated high school. But today, I’m writing about someone different.

I met my best friend the day I moved into my first apartment with my husband. I was 20 years old, moving to a city I had never heard of before — Kyle — and she waved at us off the balcony of her apartment, which she had recently moved into.

I can’t remember if I caught her name that day or when we talked again. After all, she would have been 28 at the time, was single, lived alone and worked a full-time job. On the surface, we had little in common, but I was still intrigued by her.

As we got settled into our apartment, we formally met all of the neighbors, including Margaret -— the one who waved at me that first day. She lived in apartment D and had a dog. After my husband and I brought our dog to live with us, we would often find ourselves taking them out around the same time.

This ultimately led to walks around the neighborhood, during which we would chat about anything and everything.

I knew the friendship was growing when I received a frantic call from Margaret because there was a roach in her dishwasher — which she only used for drying dishes that she had handwashed — and she needed someone to come get it out.

What really solidified it was when, after I moved out, she picked up a sick, abandoned dog and called me to hold it, while we rushed it to the emergency veterinarian. Although I firmly believed she died in my lap during that car ride, Cambry recovered and has lived a wonderful life with Margaret.

It’s not always been rainbows and sunshine, though. We have lived through many life events together — relationship struggles, health scares, mental health trouble, marriage, loss of pets, loss of loved ones, babies and, most surprisingly, when Margaret and her family moved to Connecticut.

Recently, my son and I went to visit Margaret, who welcomed her second baby a couple of months ago.

As we drove around Connecticut, three children filling the car with laughter and, in a few cases, tears, it dawned on me that this is what people search a lifetime for.

So, in honor of our 14 years of friendship, I wanted to share an incomplete list of the things that I have learned from this best friend of mine:

•  It’s okay to admit you are wrong — There have been times that each of us have not been a great friend to the other, due to life circumstances. Saying you messed up and genuinely apologizing goes a long way.

•  If they wanted to, they would — If someone truly cares about you, they will show you. They will make an effort and be there when it’s important.

•  Distance changes friendship, but it doesn’t have to ruin it — Finding new ways to connect can actually be a fun experiment.

•  It’s not just the big things — Anyone can be there for the big events, look for those that recognize the small things, too.

•  You don’t have to see eye-to-eye on everything — Friendships thrive when you remain respectful, even when you don’t agree.

•  It’s okay to change course — Watching Margaret and her family pack up and move to Connecticut was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I have seen her family thrive there in ways they never would have here.

• It’s never too late to chase your dreams — Moving, expanding your family, changing jobs and so much more, it’s never too late to try.

So, here’s to all of the people out there that don’t have that lifelong best friend. Here’s to the ones still searching for their person. Let this be a reminder that there are people out there that will support, love and challenge you. There are people who will sit with you not only in the good times, but also in the bad.

Once you find them, let them be a friend and be a good friend back.

And if you find that you are no longer valued in any friendship, don’t be afraid to start again.

Kontnier is the publisher of the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch. She can be reached at publisher@bartonpublicationsinc.com.

Felix Robert Jones was born in 1875 in the Central Texas county of Coryell.  One of nine children, he grew up to be the only bloodthirsty psychopath in the family.

Jones was, however, related to “Deacon Jim” Miller, the notorious shotgun assassin. While they came into occasional contact, there is no evidence that Miller, 13 years older than his distant cousin, taught Jones the tricks of his deadly trade.

In 1909 34 year old Felix Jones was from all appearances a stable and law-abiding family man with his wife of 15 years and two young daughters.  They lived in the small community of Merkel outside of Abilene, where Jones made ends meet by cutting hair.

If he dabbled in crime, it must have been petty in nature because the barber had not come to the attention of the local authorities.  All that changed after Jim Miller’s murder-for-hire career came to an abrupt end at the hands of a lynch mob in Ada, Oklahoma.

T.J. Coggin, who for years had been Miller’s “business manager,” suddenly needed a replacement.  He asked Jones, a Merkel neighbor, if he might be interested, and the barber jumped at the chance to earn some extra money.

The target of their first joint venture was Alf Cogdell.  The diabolical duo lured their unsuspecting victim to an office building in downtown Abilene, where after a few drinks Jones shot the helpless man seven times with a Colt .45.

Jones calmly walked out of the building and straight to the sheriff’s office.  He confessed to the murder and with a straight face insisted it was done in self-defense.

Several witnesses came forward to place Jones at the scene of the crime.  But he did not even spend the night in jail thanks to Coggin, who wasted no time in posting his bail.  The co-conspirator then arranged for a letter signed by 26 citizens of Merkel praising the triggerman as a peaceful pillar of the community that appeared the next day in the Abilene Daily Reporter.

In spite of Coggin’s best efforts, Jones was soon indicted for murder and stood trial in April 1910 in Alpine.  The jury deliberated a grand total of 24 hours before finding the defendant not guilty.

Three years later in July 1913, Jones committed his most heinous crime.  Learning that Florence Brown, a stenographer with a Dallas real estate company was in possession of deeds he had forged, he waited until the young woman was alone in her office before crushing her skull with a hammer and slitting her throat.  He casually washed the blood off his hands in a sink and made good his escape.

An acquaintance of Jones, who turned state’s evidence, was prepared to testify that the killer told him he was going to Dallas to retrieve incriminating deeds.  His statement led to Jones’ indictment for the Brown slaying and a trial date.  But the star witness’ mysterious disappearance left the Dallas DA with no choice but to drop all charges.

The summer of 1913 was a busy time for Jones.  That August, less than a month after the Dallas bloodbath, he carried out a contract in his hometown of Gatesville.  He surprised Frank Battle after-hours in his bakery and finished him off with four bullets from a .41-caliber revolver.

Well aware of Jones’ growing reputation as a hired killer, the Coryell County sheriff followed his trail to Fort Worth.  The lawman’s timing was perfect enabling him to put the cuffs on his prime suspect moments before he boarded a train for parts unknown.

The day the grand jury indicted Jones, Frank Battle’s father-in-law was found in his front yard clutching an empty vial of strychnine.  His suicide note made no mention of the fact he was Jones’ paymaster, but it was common knowledge he hated his son-in-law because he was a Catholic and, even worse, an Italian.

The jury in the February 1914 trial broke a six-to-six deadlock with a decisive vote of not guilty.  But Jones’ luck finally ran out in an El Paso courtroom four years later.

The cocky killer was confident he would get away with the 1917 murder of Thomas Lyons, but the jury was not taken in by his defense attorney.  This time the verdict was a resounding “guilty” accompanied by a sentence of 25 years.

Seven years into his incarceration in the state penitentiary at Huntsville, Jones suddenly found himself a free man.  He was the unexpected recipient of one of the 3,200 pardons Mirian Ferguson granted during her first term as governor.  “Ma” usually gave a reason for her acts of clemency, but in Jones’ case she offered no plausible explanation.

Did Felix Jones turn over a new leaf after doing his time behind bars?  Hard as that may be to believe in light of his history, the fact remains that he was never again accused of a serious crime much less a homicide.

After Felix Jones’ death in 1951, his great-grandnephew, who had heard all the stories,  pressed a family elder for an answer to a troublesome question, “Was Uncle Felix really that mean?”  The old man replied, “He would have killed his mother for a dime.”

Read the whole story of Bonnie and Clyde and other Thirties outlaws in “Texas Depression Era Desperadoes.” Order your autographed copy today by mailing a check for $24.00 to Bartee Haile, P.O. Box 130011, Spring, TX 77393.

Canyon entered the matchup with a 19-10 season record, while the Lady Tigers came in at 32-6-1.

Dripping Springs wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, plating two runs in the opening inning. Canyon answered quickly with a run of its own in the bottom half of the first to set the tone for a competitive playoff battle.

The game remained tight throughout the early innings and after four innings of play the Lady Tigers held a narrow 5-4 advantage. Dripping Springs created some separation in the sixth inning with two key insurance runs that helped secure momentum late in the contest.

The Lady Tigers were led by strong pitching performances from Sadie Bradford, while Tatum Green came in to provide relief and help close out the victory. Defensively, Dripping Springs was sharp throughout the night, holding Canyon scoreless over the final three innings.

At the plate, the Lady Tigers collected 11 hits and committed one error, while Canyon finished with four hits and one error. Two clutch home runs proved to be a major difference in the 7-4 Regional Semifinal victory.

“Canyon is always a tough team,” said head coach Wade Womack. “{Canyon's] coach [Kevin] Randle and I have been coaching against each other for 23 years and it’s always a battle. Fortunately, we came out on top tonight.”

Womack also credited the Lady Tigers’ timely hitting, including the two home runs that helped power Dripping Springs to the win.

With the victory, the Lady Tigers advanced to the UIL Region IV Championship and will travel to Calallen High School Thursday, May 14, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m., to take on Pharr San Juan Alamo Memorial High School, who enters the Regional Final with a 19-14 overall record.

The series opened Thursday, May 7, night at Northeast ISD Field No. 2 in San Antonio, where the Tigers and Broncos battled through an intense pitcher’s duel that stretched into 11 innings. Strong pitching and outstanding defensive play highlighted the contest, but the Broncos managed to escape with a narrow 1-0 victory.

Facing elimination, the Tigers responded in impressive fashion Friday, May 8, night in front of a large home crowd at Dripping Springs High School. The Tigers bounced back with a commanding 7-2 win to even the series and force a decisive game three. Dripping Springs collected seven hits while playing with intensity from the opening pitch.

The winner-take-all finale shifted to Seguin High School Saturday, May 9, and the Tigers wasted little time taking control. Dripping Springs exploded for five runs in the second inning and never looked back. The Tigers added five more runs later in the game to secure a dominant 10-0 victory and clinch the series.

Following the win, head coach Chris Payne praised his team’s determination and resilience throughout the series, including that of Tigers’ pitcher Nixon Padilla.

“It was going to take grit and a burning desire to be successful, whether we were up or down,” Payne said. “Nixon Padilla pitched a great game behind solid defense. It was a complete team effort and really nothing to complain about.”

Dripping Springs now advances to the UIL 6A Division II Region IV Semifinals, where the Tigers will face the La Joya High School Coyotes, who enter the series with an overall record of 30-6 and a district mark of 7-3.

The games will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 14, and Friday, May 15, at Calallen High School; if needed, a third game will be played Saturday, May 16.

Wimberley will head to Karnes City to take on Ingleside High School for Regional Finals. Game one will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, followed by game two at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 16. If needed, game three will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 18.

Born on December 13,1938 in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico to parents Jose De La Luz and Juana Torres. Loving husband to Paula Torres for 67 years, Father of 7 children, Grandfather to 15 grandchildren and Great-Grandfather to 10 great-grandchildren.

He is beloved by his wife, Paula Torres; his children, Henry Torrez and his wife, Christina; Simon Torres and his wife, Dorothy; Martin Torres and his wife, Isabel; Benita Martinez and her husband, ✝ Guadalupe Jr.; Estefana Garcia and her husband, Raymond; Francisco Torres and his Wife, Gloria; and Irma Torres with her partner; Fred. His brothers Sabino Torres and his wife, Janie; David Torres and his wife, Karen; and his sister Maria Molina.

His memory also lives on with his grandchildren, Justin Torrez and his Wife, Courtnie; Ashley Torrez; Samantha Rudd and her Husband, Robert; Alexandria Torres; Michelle Sanchez and her Husband, Jimmy Jaramillo; Martin Anthony Torres; Lupe Martinez III; Daniel Martinez; Elizabeth Garcia and her fiancé, Johnny Sanchez; Raymond Garcia III; Sabrina Lopez and her Partner, Aaron Peterson; Kimberly Torres and her Husband, Rene Reyes; Jacob Torres and his Wife, Samantha; Jozavier Torres; Livi Torres and his 10 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents Luz and Juana, his brothers Juan, Mario and Santos Torres and his great grandson, Cesar Francisco Lopez.

Guadalupe spent many years of his life working in dairy farming to a manager of coat hanger factory, trophy making and finally retiring as a Hays CISD bus driver all while pursuing his own Laundromat business, Mr. T’s Washateria.

He was a devout Catholic at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, and helped raise money making hamburgers with his family during their annual fiesta celebration, where 3 daughters and 3 grand-daughters ran and won Fiesta Queen. 

He enjoyed watching old westerns, Texas Rangers baseball, and Fishing and Hunting with his sons. He played softball for many years, eventually managing his own local teams, The Kyle Mustangs and The Kyle Bluejays. During family special occasions you could always find him on the dance floor or singing along to his favorite songs. 

A evening visitation for Guadalupe Torres will being held at Los Angeles Funeral Home in San Marcos, Texas on Monday, May 18, 2026 with a Recitation of Holy Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m.. A morning visitation will be held at Los Angeles Funeral Home in San Marcos, Texas on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 followed by Mass at St. Anthony Marie de Claret Catholic Church in Kyle, Texas at 10 a.m.. Interment will follow at Santa Maria de Iris in Maxwell, Texas.

After the punishment phase of trial, the jury returned a verdict of two life sentences in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the two continuous sexual abuse counts and the maximum punishment available for indecency with a child by sexual contact — 20 years imprisonment. There is no possibility of parole for the convictions of continuous sexual abuse of a child. District Judge Joe Pool ordered that the two life sentences run consecutively, stating, “We don’t accept this in Hays County.” 

The investigation of Shope began in August of 2023 when two children outcried that Shope had sexually abused them from their kindergarten to their pre-teen years. They further testified to his efforts to keep them silent. After the trial, the jury expressed their unanimous belief in the girls and sympathy for their well-being during their testimony, stated a news release. 

This case was investigated by the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, with lead detective Corporal Chase Crow and was prosecuted by Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Cassidy Story and Abigail Whitaker, assisted by Annalise Baker, Zoie Sanders, Kendall Evans and Sergeant Investigator David Cabrera. 

“Our duty is to seek justice and this jury and judge delivered exactly that,” Story said. “I am so proud of our team’s continued vigilance in protecting the children of this county and of the children who bravely faced the perpetrator in court. Although no verdict will ever heal the lifelong trauma this man has caused, I sincerely hope that both children gain strength and confidence from the jury’s very clear words” ‘We believe you.’”

The disciplinary action follows its April 8-9 meeting, where the commission conducted a review of allegations against Becerra, who appeared to testify. According to the SCJC website, public sanctions are issued “when sufficient evidence supports a finding of judicial misconduct.” 

After discussion, it was concluded that Becerra had violated two standards of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct:

• Canon 2B: “A judge shall not allow any relationship to influence judicial conduct or judgement. A judge shall not lend the prestige of judicial office to advance the private interests of the judge or others, nor shall a judge convey or permit others to convey the impression that they are in a special position to influence the judge. A judge shall not testify voluntarily as a character witness.”
• Canon 4A(1): “A judge shall conduct all of the judge’s extrajudicial activities, so that they do not: cast reasonable doubt on the judge’s capacity to act impartially as a judge.”

According to documents obtained by the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch, Becerra violated these terms by advertising several personal endeavors on his social media account. For example, the judge posted an advertisement July 27, 2024, about Gil’s Broiler & The Manske Roll Bakery, which is owned by he and his wife’s organization, Becerra Corp. The post stated that, “This is a special post for me — my son is the baker … Whenever possible, I encourage you to support local, however that looks.” 

Gil’s has been advertised 12 times out of more than 30 advertisements for local businesses Becerra has posted across his social media. Despite acknowledging familial ties through Becerra Corp. in a written statement, he did not disclose that his son was employed at the restaurant. 

This statement also claimed that, “No advertisement was ever made. I always support buying local,” an idea which was furthered by Becerra in his testimony, where he shared that the endorsement of local businesses was with the intent to support the local community as part of his administrative functions. 

“He then denied his endorsement of various businesses and people across his social media pages, as well as den[ied] … the prestige of his office to advance the private interests of himself or others,” read the Public Admonition. 

The latter statement comes from both the advertisement of Gil’s and Classic Rides on El Camino Real, a monthly car show organized by Becerra. The show, which has historically taken place on the grounds of the Hays County Historic Courthouse, has been operating since 2024 and is owned by his son. 

This event was advertised 46 times, according to documents, across his social media. 

Classic Rides allowed residents and car enthusiasts to feature classic cars and host vendor booths for $20 on the last Sunday of each month. There were also sponsorships available, ranging from $250 to $1,000. These were accompanied by plaques boasting, “Judge Becerra presents …,” though Becerra later clarified that he never sponsored the awards himself, but only presented them. 

The funds, according to SCJC, were allocated to Derek Ortiz of Dapper Cave Barbershop, another business publicly supported by Becerra. 

Furthermore, in February 2025, nonprofit Empower Hays was created, listing the directors as Becerra, his wife and son. The organization then requested to use the courthouse grounds for the car show days after its inception, with Becerra’s son listed as the event holder. 

In response to the car show, he noted that he helped organize it, but denied use of his courthouse staff in any facilitation. Becerra did share, however, that he did sign one of the courthouse use agreements, but that it was “in compliance with [the] courthouse grounds use agreement.” 

The judge also stated that Ortiz did in fact receive funds, though only to pay for the expense of the show. 

He added that the car show is no longer running and he has stopped any posts regarding local businesses to his social media.

“Becerra denied Becerra Corp. and Empower Hays having any current or past involvement in any of the private businesses referenced … [nor that] his financial and business dealings regarding Becerra Corp. and/or Empower Hays reflected adversely on his impartiality or interfered with the proper performance of his judicial duties,” stated SCJC. 

Despite this assertion from Becerra, SCJC found that the Hays County judge should receive the lowest severity of public sanction — public admonition — as well as obtain additional education as a result of:

• Lending the prestige of his office to advance the private interests of himself and others by advertising local businesses on his social media pages
• Casting reasonable doubt on his capacity to act impartially as a judge when he endorsed various local businesses on his social media pages, invocation of Canons 2B and 4A(1) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct

Becerra must obtain two hours of instruction with a mention in the area of social media and the judiciary. This is in addition to his required annual judicial education for fiscal year 2026, read the order. He must complete the hours within 60 days from the date of written notification of the assignment of a mentor. 

In response to the complaint, the judge took to social media to address constituents from his personal account: “I have always believed in supporting our local businesses and community organizations and my intent was never to advertise or provide special treatment to any individual business. The posts and events referenced were meant to highlight places and activities, where I personally spend my time and to encourage community engagement across Hays County. What is being claimed is that because I preside over license suspension hearings as a judge, I can somehow be biased because of posts I have made regarding community events and local places. That conclusion seems unrealistic to me and does not reflect how I approach my judicial responsibilities.”

“I respectfully disagree with the Commission’s findings and did not believe my actions constituted advertising. I take the responsibilities of public service seriously and I remain committed to serving the residents of Hays County with integrity, fairness and transparency. At this time, I plan to appeal these findings and will continue cooperating fully through the process,” said Becerra. 

“This was not an easy decision to make, nor did I make it lightly. Serving as CEO has been the most meaningful and rewarding role of my career and I am incredibly proud of what we’ve built together as a team. PEC is strong and I have full confidence that our board and leadership team will move forward with the vision, integrity and commitment that define PEC,” said Parsley.

Parsley joined PEC as its first female CEO in December 2017. Her more than eight-year tenure stands as one of the most consequential in the cooperative’s 87-year history, defined by extraordinary growth, operational resilience and national recognition, stated a PEC news release. She guided the cooperative through a period of remarkable transformation across every dimension of the membership, service territory and organization.

Under her leadership, PEC states it accomplished the following:

Grew from approximately 299,000 to more than 440,000 meters, cementing its standing as the nation’s largest electric distribution and transmission cooperative — serving more than one million Central Texans across a territory the size of the state of New Jersey.

Navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and February 2021’s Winter Storm Uri, maintaining operations under unprecedented conditions and implementing a rigorous after-action review to strengthen the cooperative’s long-term resilience. Subsequent extreme weather events — record heat in 2022 and 2023 and severe cold snaps — tested the improved system and PEC held firm each time.

Established its own transmission control center in 2024 — the first time in the cooperative’s history — giving PEC real-time operational visibility and direct dispatching access within Electric Reliability Council of Texas and strengthening reliability for members across the service territory.

Consistently held an AA- credit rating during her tenure, which is notable in the utility industry, particularly given COVID-19 and Winter Storm Uri.

Earned Top Workplace recognition multiple times during her tenure, including national awards for Cultural Excellence Among Women-Led Businesses and the Top Workplaces USA Today award in 2025.

Deployed advanced LiDAR and drone technology for transmission and distribution line inspections, completing reviews 23 times faster than manual methods across its 8,100-square-mile service territory.

Parsley championed the cooperative’s community investment programs, directing grants and capital credits back to the members and communities PEC serves.

“Julie has been a defining force for PEC and for the Central Texas communities we serve,” said PEC board president Emily Pataki. “She took on this role as a first in every sense of the word and led with the same excellence that has characterized her entire career. Her dedication to the membership has always been at the center of every decision she made. The team she has built and the foundation she leaves behind give us every reason for confidence in our path forward.”

The board of directors has initiated a structured CEO selection process to identify a leader who will build on Parsley’s legacy and guide PEC into its next phase of growth, starting with a focused group of candidates with deep knowledge of the business and its strategy. As the process progresses in the coming weeks, the board will assess the current slate of candidates and determine the appropriate next steps to ensure the best possible outcome for PEC and its membership.

In the coming weeks Parsley will work with the board and leadership team to ensure a smooth and stable transition to the new leadership.

Hill Country raised, Gillis entered the assisted living facility realm after spending six years caring for her husband’s grandmother. The director stated that, at the time, there weren’t any assisted living facility centers in Dripping Springs, so they moved his grandmother into a skilled nursing facility.

According to Texas Health and Human Services, a nursing facility “is a special facility or part of a hospital that provides medically necessary professional services from nurses, physical and occupational therapist, speech pathologists and audiologist,” while assisted living facilities “provide individualized health and personal care assistance in a homelike setting, with an emphasis on personal dignity, autonomy, independence and privacy.”

So, in 2015, Gillis purchased 10 acres in Dripping Springs to open up Lavender Springs in 2017.

Lavender Springs is a Type B — where residents need assistance in an emergency — assisted living facility, said manager Elizabeth Simpson, which has 24/7 staff members and focuses on more than medication management.

“We provide medication management, incontinence care, shower assistance, three meals a day — with snacks in between — activities [and] workout plans. We help with providing doctors visits in the facility, so we work closely with an Austin geriatric specialist who comes in once a week and we meet with them about the residents on their lists,” explained Simpson.

Simpson continued to emphasize that assisted living centers allow residents to receive the care that may not be available in bigger communities. They’re able to have specialized and individualized plans to help them live comfortably.

Additionally, Gillis shared that families benefit alongside the residents.

“The kids get to be the kids again and somebody else does all the care. So, just as an example, my dad — because he’s still opting to stay at home — I feel like I’m the caregiver. I’m having to go over there and do his meds, set things up for him. I don’t go over there and just visit or have a meal with him because I have to do a lot for him,” shared Gillis. “[So, the facility] is really nice for the children. Those are probably the people that are most grateful when they move their parents in with us.”

The families can visit for barbecues, to get their nails done, take their parents out for coffee and more, added Simpson.

Being in the assisted living facility industry, both Simpson and Gillis had heard of Symphony of Wimberley before the news of its shutdown was revealed. As previously reported by the News-Dispatch, the Wimberly facility lost its license in November 2025, following concerns of resident wellbeing and safety.

Gillis noted that because Lavender Springs doesn’t provide memory care, residents used to be referred to Symphony of Wimberley, prior to the aforementioned concerns. Then, they began receiving residents that wanted to transfer from the facility to Lavender Springs.

After the closure, Gillis began looking at the Wimberley property right away, since she initially had plans to build another Dripping Springs facility, but halted plans, due to price increases. Although the plans for expansion in its home city are still on the horizon, the director knew that she wanted to purchase the former home of Symphony of Wimberley.

“We knew the demand for great care was definitely there. There’s a huge demand and we’ve had several families from the Wimberley area come all the way to Dripping Springs for that care, so we wanted to make sure that the next location could also still serve Hays County and the Hill Country,” said Gillis.

With an opening date of early June, the facility will now be known as Wildflower Springs and will soon be managed by Simpson, who will move to the new location. It will also still provide memory care services.

There will initially be six beds available, due to state regulations, said Simpson, but eventually all 16 will open up.

“[We were] heartbroken about the previous owners, but we really want to earn our respect and just be a productive member of their community and provide an excellent service for their loved ones. That’s important for us,” Gillis said.

Simpson added that Gillis is both the director and operator, “with a good, long-standing reputation,” which is rare in this industry.

Community members interested in learning more can attend an open house from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, at Wildflower Springs, 501 FM 3237, Wimberley.

Gonzalez brings more than 20 years of experience in Texas public schools, having served as a teacher, athletic coordinator, assistant principal and principal, including a decade in campus administration.

Most recently, he served as principal of Marble Falls Middle School, where he led the development and implementation of efficient campus systems to strengthen instructional effectiveness and campus culture, support positive student behavior and outcomes and improve daily operations, stated a DSISD news release. Gonzalez also drove academic growth through the implementation of Tier I initiatives and designed and implemented a schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports framework.

Prior to his role in Marble Falls ISD, Gonzalez served as an assistant principal in New Braunfels ISD and Seguin ISD. He began his career in Hays CISD as a teacher and coach, later serving as an athletic coordinator and assistant principal.

“We are excited to welcome Mr. Gonzalez to DSISD,” said DSISD Superintendent Dr. Holly Morris-Kuentz. “Selecting the right leader for Dripping Springs Middle School was our highest priority and Mr. Gonzalez embodies what great middle school leadership looks like. He brings a deep commitment to students and staff, paired with operational and community-building skills. We are confident he will build on the strong foundation and heritage already established at DSMS and take it to new heights.”

He holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science from Texas State University and a master’s degree in educational administration from Lamar University.

Gonzalez will begin his new role in June.

Senate Bill 546 was passed during the 89th Texas Legislature as a way to strengthen safety standards for student transportation, amending the Texas Transportation Code to add a subsection that establishes a mandate for three-point seat belts on school buses.

The bill requires that every school bus operated or contracted by a school district must be equipped with three-point seat belts for every passenger and the driver.

Prior to now, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) started addressing safety on school buses. While it did not mandate or recommend seat belts at the time, the NHTSA looked at rollover protection, body joining strength, seating — making it softer with higher backs — and compartmentalizing, which was found to be effective for a long time for front- or rear-end collisions, explained DSISD chief operations officer Scott Berry.

Some states began to require lap belts on buses and then, in the 1990s and 2000s, there was a lot of research conducted for manufacturers to test three-point seat belts. Senate Bill 693 was passed in Texas in 2017, requiring any bus that was a 2018 model or later to have a three-point seat belt — with some exemptions.

“They did allow some ways to get out of that and one of the ones that a lot of districts use was to bypass that based on the budget,” Berry said. “In other words, it was just too expensive to do it. Our district chose not to do that, which is great. They prioritized safety on that.”

There was also not a mandate to retrofit any of the buses that were 2018 or older.

This has now led to the last legislative session, which passed SB 546 and became effective Sept. 1, 2025, with an expected full compliance by Sept. 1, 2029. While there were some exemptions for school districts in the 2017 legislation, almost all of them have been removed for SB 546, Berry presented.

“I think the only one left is that if it voids the warranty of the bus, you don’t have to do that, but that’s very rare,” he said.

As a component of the bill, there is a reporting requirement due May 29 — which DSISD has already submitted — that tracks compliance and any financial challenges, as well as needing to present to the school board.

Looking at DSISD’s fleet inventory of 91 buses, which includes buses from 2012 through new ones in 2027, all of them are equipped with three-point seatbelts, according to Berry.

“This was really good foresight to put this in our bond. It allowed us to be able to pay for that … As far as the retrofit goes, there were 37 total buses that were retrofitted. We're complete with that project now and it cost [$1,238,886.56]; I believe it came out to a little over $30,000 per school bus to do that,” he said. “And then, as we replaced buses, and even as we've grown both replacement and our growth buses, we were purchasing three-point seat belts.”

Berry continued that between the 2023 and 2025 bonds, the district purchased 15 new school buses for a grand total of $4,405,885.56. The cost of a bus with three-point seat belts versus not is approximately $7,000 to $10,000 per bus.

“This is just the wow factor to me, that we are so ahead of the deadline. [We] didn't have to do it immediately, [but] safety was a top priority. I just hear great things about the transportation department,” shared trustee Kim Cousins. “We've got another couple of years left to go and y'all are just doing an amazing job and this just didn't happen overnight. I know it took a lot of work and I just want to personally thank you for that; we couldn't function the way we do without everything y'all do.”

The DSISD Board of Trustees meets next for its agenda review meeting at 2 p.m. Monday, May 11.