The grant has been running for years, though the last time the library received it was in the '90s, said Arlyn LaBelle, youth librarian. This year, BPL is one of 70 recipients chosen for $2,500, after applying for the grant in April, for the first time in five years.

“It takes a good understanding of our collection to see what we need. So, for this whole year, in particular, I’ve been redoubling [our] Spanish language collection development in general and doing a lot of work with that. That took a lot of studying of our Spanish language section and I used all of that research to target exactly what we were missing in our collection and what gaps we could fill [in the application],” LaBelle recalled.

The write-up included specifics about what the library needed, the argument for it and a list of books it would purchase, if granted the money.

LaBelle stated that it was an easy decision to choose to expand the Spanish section, as it currently fails to represent the city’s population and was last updated in 2018.

“Around 14% of our residents speak Spanish in their homes and right now, our collection does not reflect that. I think that about 3% of our total collection was Spanish language materials, so that is obviously not ideal,” they said. “This is trying to get that to better reflect our community. We’re especially lacking in new adult stuff and some [young adult (YA)] stuff. Our teen collection for Spanish language was small and some of our adult stuff was a bit older, so it was basically due for a nice, big refreshing. We’re really grateful that we’ll be able to do that.”

The hope is to expand the junior graphic novel and chapter book section, while creating a YA nonfiction and adult fiction section, since those are practically nonexistent, said LaBelle. Of the 3% of Spanish language books, 42% are picture books, so the team is hoping to focus on the older readers. All titles will be available by the fall.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Texas Book Festival and to their partner, the Texas Library Association, for giving us this opportunity to bolster this section. It definitely deserves the little bit of attention that it’s going to be able to get with this grant and it means a lot, especially [because] budgets are tight and every little bit helps. This is a big bit, so it’s wonderful to be able to dedicate the time and love to this section and to grow it, so that it better reflects and serves our community,” LaBelle concluded.

For more information on BPL, visit www.budalibrary.org.

In the afternoon, Buda Amphitheater & City Park opened for the main event, which included vendors, inflatables for the kids and live music by Elle Townley and headliner Shinyribs. Pictured, Jackson poses for a photo with the e

Combined with a $2.62 million local match, the project carries a total budget of $13.1 million, with funding anticipated to become available in 2029. CAMPO is the federally designated metropolitan planning organization for the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown region, responsible for coordinating transportation planning and distributing federal transportation dollars across a six-county area through a competitive project selection process. The East Main Street expansion was selected in CAMPO's 2028-2031 Call for Projects.

East Main Street — Buda's primary commercial corridor east of the interstate — currently carries two-way  traffic on a single lane in each direction with a center turn lane, a configuration that has generated persistent congestion as the city has grown. 

The project will reconstruct and expand East Main Street as a four-lane corridor, with a raised center median and dedicated left-turn lanes from IH-35 to Firecracker Drive, according to a city news release. A 10-foot shared-use path on both sides of the road will accommodate pedestrians and cyclists along the length of the corridor. 

“Securing this competitive funding from CAMPO is a significant achievement for Buda,” said Mayor Lee Urbanovsky. “This award reflects years of planning and helps us move a critical east-side mobility project closer to construction.” 

East Main Street also serves as the primary access route for the Sunfield master-planned community, which has more than 5,800 planned residential lots east of Firecracker Drive. The expanded road will also improve access to IH-35 and SH 45 for commuters, area businesses and school buses, the release continued. Additionally, the Sunfield developer will expand East Main Street from Firecracker Drive to the east. 

The project also includes upgraded stormwater infrastructure and on-site water quality treatment. All improvements will be built within the existing right-of-way. 

The city took a phased approach while pursuing full funding. In November 2024, the city awarded a contract for an interim solution — adding a dedicated right-turn lane from westbound Main Street onto the northbound IH-35 frontage road — which was completed in April 2025. The full reconstruction will complete the build-out the city has planned since 2023.

More information about East Main Street and other 2021 bond projects is available at www.budabonds.com.

Prior to the vote, Chief Financial Officer Deborah Ottmers presented the item at the June 22 meeting, first beginning by noting the demographics of the district. Currently, there are 25,400 students enrolled in 28 campuses, with more than 3,000 employees across 221 miles.

The three budgets required to be adopted by the board, which will reflect the $12.2 million cuts, as previously reported by the Hays Free Press, are:

• General fund:

- Revenue: $281,575,000

- Expenditures: $275,423,724

• School nutrition fund:

- Revenue: $$13,727,900

- Expenditures: $13,727,000

• Debt service fund:

- Revenue: $112,100,000

- Expenditures: $112,100,000

These total to $407,402,900 in revenue and $401,253,724 in expenditures.

“Even though the [general fund] budget has changed — revenues increased, expenditures increased — the anticipation is still that we’re going to keep that $25 million fund balance. When actuals happen, after we go through the audit, it’s going to change some because those are real numbers that are going to be hitting all the accounts, but it looks like it's on track to be very close to keeping that fund balance, which is ultra important,” said Ottmers.

This balance — which will rise to $37,387,051, due to the $12.2 million in cuts — she continued, is recommended to sit at 90 days worth of operating expenses, but is instead only at 33 days. The full 90-day amount would be estimated at $68 million, Ottmers said.

She also noted that at the end of the year, approximately 10 days will be added, potentially more, getting the district to its goal of reaching the 90-day balance in three to five years.

Regarding the funding amount provided by the state, the CFO stated that, if the district was able to be funded based on student enrollment of 25,400, it would receive more money: “The revenue and the expenditures per enrolled [student are] about $60 per student per day and so, when a student doesn’t come to school, we don’t get the $60, but we [still] spend the $60. So, for a financial standpoint, that's important. That’s why we would prefer to be paid on enrollment, not on attendance.”

The proposed 2026-27 tax rate is the same as 2025-26 at $1.1546 per $100 valuation, consisting of $0.6669 for maintenance and operations and $0.4877 in interest and sinking.

Trustee Raul Vela Jr. asked whether homestead exemptions affect the district when it comes to receiving these taxes, since they lower the amount of taxable property. “Yes and no,” responded Ottmers, explaining that the general fund nearly makes up the differences, but it could slightly affect the debt service fund.

“One of our largest challenges that we’ve been having the last several years [is] one of the changes in the law was refunds that are made to taxpayers and when those are made. So, they used to make them only at certain times of the year and those would be the times when cash flow was up, but, now, it’s whenever they have to make that refund. The tax office doesn’t have enough cash, [so] we actually send them money to make those refunds. That’s a time where our cash flow is lowest,” she shared.

Prior to the vote, trustee Byron Severance stated, "I know this is not the budget we'd like to do, but I think it's the one we have to do, based on our circumstances. I think we're all just committed to making it work to keep our focus on the true education of kids."

Severance motioned to adopt the general, debt service and school nutrition funds at the June 29 meeting, with trustee Esperanza Orosco seconding. The item passed 7-0.

The Hays CISD Board of Trustees will meet next Monday, July 27.

In the Best Social Media Post (Population Under 25k) category, the city of Buda was named TAMIO award winner for its timely Taylor Swift-themed post, following the announcement of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement. The post, uploaded just 31 minutes after the announcement, leveraged a rapidly trending global cultural moment to increase engagement with the city of Buda’s social media channels and reinforced the organization’s approachable, community-focused brand voice, stated a city news release.

In the Marketing Public Service Announcement (Population Under 75k) category, the city was named TAMIO award winner for its marketing specialist recruitment video. Rather than relying on a traditional job posting, the project aimed to promote the opportunity through engaging storytelling that highlighted creativity, collaboration and real community impact. While the production drew from a familiar short‑form content format, the release continued, it translated the trend into a purposeful municipal hiring campaign, designed to attract creative professionals and expand awareness of career opportunities in local government.

“These awards reflect the creativity, responsiveness and dedication our team brings to every project. Whether we're connecting with residents through a timely social media post or developing innovative ways to attract talented professionals to local government, our goal is always to communicate in a way that is authentic, engaging and meaningful,” said city manager Micah Grau. “It is an honor to be recognized by our peers across Texas and I am incredibly proud of the work our team continues to do on behalf of the city of Buda.”

At its Tuesday, June 16 meeting, council was presented with a historical look at the bond process by Capital Improvements Program (CIP) manager Austin Messerli.

Beginning with the city’s 2020 Transportation and Mobility Master Plan (TMMP), Messerli explained that, at this time, the three biggest projects in Proposition A — Old Black Colony Road reconstruction, Austin Street reconstruction and West Goforth Road reconstruction — were “just lines on a map,” with limited detail.

High-level planning cost estimates were also included in the TMMP at the following amounts:

• Old Black Colony Road reconstruction: $6.1 million

• Austin Street reconstruction: $2.4 million

• West Goforth Road reconstruction: $5.9 million

These estimates would be low, compared to later bond projections and, ultimately, actual construction costs: “We didn’t necessarily know all the details about what these projects may be when they grow up,” Messerli said.

After the bond was approved, the city moved into preliminary design, which included public outreach.

“There’s two ways that you can really take approaches with projects. Both have their positives and negatives. You can just say, ‘Hey, these are the projects; they are voted on and approved by citizens. This is what we are going to do,’” the CIP manager explained. “I am proud to say Buda takes a little bit of a different approach. We like to listen, adopt and incorporate from what our public says, what our bond committee says, as well as what this city council says.”

The negative to this approach, he continued, is that it takes time to incorporate feedback.

The additional time taken, along with the number of major construction projects happening in Central Texas, has also resulted in a substantial increase in construction costs since 2021.

Given all of these factors, the current status of each project, along with funding amounts and projections, is as follows:

West Goforth Road

Total funding available: $20,755,326

Status: 60% design

Total projected costs: $26,176,326, of which $20,702,278 is construction costs

Austin Street

Total funding available: $6,713,206

Status: 60% design

Total projected costs: $8,588,389, of which $6,908,563 is construction costs

Old Black Colony Road

Total funding available: $23,833,868

Status: 60% design, nearing 90%

Total projected costs: $26,887,804, of which $22,694,852 is construction costs (includes signal at 1626)

“Overall, in Proposition A, the really, really bad news is you are short $7 million,” said Angellia Points, senior project/program manager for WSB Engineering. “But I’m going to share two things of good news: one, we have a plan and that’s what we are presenting to you tonight because we want to get all of these projects done. The second good news I bring you is that many of these bond projects that are already in green, they are coming in at or under the funding that you do have.”

Of the 16 projects in the bond, she continued, 11 of them have met the funding or have excess funds to move around.

“To our recommendation, knowing that we have three big transportation projects [and] we can’t construct all of them. So, we can sit and say, ‘Well, we’ll just wait for more money to fall out of the sky’ or we’ve worked together to come up with a recommendation that really maximizes the amount of money we have to construct some of these projects,” said Messerli.

The recommendation by staff was to finish the design, obtain rights-of-way and easements and construct all of Old Black Colony Road and Austin Street.

However, for West Goforth Road, the recommendation was to finalize design, obtain rights-of-way and easements and reconstruct a portion — from South Loop 4/Main Street to approximately Bonita Vista Drive — which consists of approximately 44% of the entire road and overlaps with drainage improvements with Project Area 1B. Remaining funds would be reallocated to Old Black Colony Road and Austin Street to fully fund those projects based on current projected costs.

Following discussion, council member Matt Smith motioned to approve staff’s recommendation as presented, which was seconded by Monica Davidson. The motion passed 6-0. LaVonia Horne-Williams was not in attendance.

To listen to the full discussion, visit bit.ly/4oGNIMS.

As previously reported by the Hays Free Press, the city of Buda invested in a comprehensive inspection of all of the playground equipment at city-owned parks in 2025. During a budget presentation the same year, council was informed of the issues at city park, which included exposed concrete, loose, missing and corroded hardware, rotting wood fixtures, unstable structures and more.

At the time, the Parks and Recreation department removed the more acutely hazardous equipment and tightened fixtures as staff was able to.

Ultimately, $850,000 was earmarked in the fiscal year 2026 budget for replacement costs.

During the June 16 presentation, Parks director Tony Host explained that the playground project is important because city park serves as a central gathering space for the community and is utilized heavily not only during community events and festivals, but also daily by local families and visitors.

“The existing infrastructure has aged and no longer fully reflects modern playground standards or community expectations,” he continued.

Additional limitations at the playground include limited shade, accessibility challenges, limited inclusive play opportunities and surfacing concerns, thus leading staff to name the primary goals for the project as safety, accessibility, inclusivity, durability and community identity.

With these goals in mind, Host brought forth three options, at various price points, for council consideration.

Option 1: $825,9000

• Pour-in-place (PIP) surfacing throughout the entire playground area, including the pyramid climber area.

• An age 2-5 playground with integrated shade structure.

• An age 5-12 playground.

• An all-age geo slide.

• An all-accessible, inclusive, all-age playground.

• An all-age we-go-round (accessible merry-go-round).

• Block wall and drainage additions on the hillside of the splash-pad area to mitigate run-off onto the splashpad surface.

• Three shade structures: over the 5-12 playground, at the splash pad entrance and over the accessible playground.

Option 2: $860,500

This option removes the 5-12 age playground and replaces it with a zip line and swing set. Everything else from Option 1 is still included.

Option 3: $873,298

This is the same as Option 1, with the addition of a stand-alone zip line.

Completing the project, while remaining mindful of the budget, was a top concern for council members Monica Davidson, Evan Ture and Greg Bowles, with all having a preference for Option 1.

Bowles, Davidson and council member Kimberly Goodman expressed interest in the possibility of a stand-alone swing set, rather than the zipline listed in Option 3.

Ture further explained that the stand-alone zipline in Option 3 was a strong contender for him, which council member Matt Smith echoed, but they recognized that it may need to be added at a later time.

Council voted 6-0 to approve Option 1. LaVonia Horne-Williams was not in attendance.

According to Host, construction is expected to begin as soon as the splash pad closes after Labor Day and will take eight weeks to complete.

The shop has classic flavors, such as cookies and cream and vanilla, as well as original seasonal creations: bluebonnet — blueberry lavender —  Sunset on Main and more. The shop is located at 112 N. Main St., Suite A, in Buda.

His love for educating people dates back to when he was a first grade student and, because his teacher knew that he was already an avid reader, was asked to help his classmates learn how to read. Wright shared that it was through that joy that he discovered from a young age that he knew he wanted to have a career in education.

Wright started his career as a student teacher in 1988 and then, became a full-time teacher in the classroom and coach in 1989, serving across several school districts in Texas, including Terrell, Channelview, West Hardin, Hardin, Marshall and Lufkin ISDs.

After learning what he could as an instructor, he entered into the following advanced leadership positions: assistant elementary school principal for Lufkin ISD in 1996; principal of an elementary school in Huntington ISD in 1997; principal of Huntington High School for the 2000-2001 school year; assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at Huntington ISD in 2001-2004; named the superintendent for Woodville ISD in 2004; superintendent for Huntington ISD in 2006-2014; and superintendent for Fredericksburg ISD in 2014-2017.

The Hays CISD Board of Trustees hired him in December 2017 to serve as superintendent, thus beginning Wright’s leadership of the district Jan. 1, 2018. Since then, he has watched the district continue to evolve. At the time, there were approximately 19,000 students, Wright said, but now, the district has more than 25,000 students in the fast-growing area.

“Just watching the dynamic growth and trying to keep pace with that growth, so that all students have a nice place to learn has been crucial. Thanks to our community and our taxpayers, we've been able to pass several bonds in order to provide facilities that allow our students to have great spaces in which to learn and then, in fine arts and athletics [to] showcase their talents,” he shared.

Hays CISD is unique in that it serves multiple cities, including Buda, Kyle, San Marcos, Niederwald, Hays, Driftwood, Uhland and parts of Austin, Wright continued. Taking all of the different communities and listening to the various needs they have to give the students the best educational experience has been challenging, but rewarding at the same time, he said.

“I see public education as being the vehicle that can raise all boats and if a student is educated, then it provides opportunities for them,” the superintendent said. “It opens the doors and I think we are able to provide those opportunities, so they can be successful in whatever field that they want to move into later on in life.”

Over the years, there have been several accolades and accomplishments throughout Wright’s tenure.

Knowing that “if you can read, you can do anything,” Wright implemented a reading program during the beginning of his stint at Hays CISD. This emphasized the importance of teaching students how to read on grade level using phonics as a base, as, when he first started, reading scores in the district were in a deficit, but they now exceed state and regional averages.

He also shared that he is proud of the increased number of students taking advanced placement, dual credit and OnRamps courses, as well as the Career and Technology Education Department being able to partner with local business owners to help secure their future employees.

However, his favorite time of the month is meeting with the Student Advisory Panel and having the direct interaction with the students, as he is able to hear from those that are impacted the most from decisions made by the district.

“[It’s] made up of high school kids from all four of our high schools. We bring them in and we run policy decisions and building decisions because we always want to know how it impacts the end user, which always is our kids,” Wright said. “Anything that's curriculum in nature or that deals with the school district, we always want the student voice and so, monthly, I get to have student input and so, that's that's my biggest takeaway and it's probably one of the groups that I will miss the most is having the direct interaction with our students.”

After a nearly 40-year career in public education, Wright has decided that it’s time for him to step away to be able to spend more time with his wife and family, including his young grandchildren.

“I've been doing this work for almost four decades now and so, I just feel like it's time for me to make a change and enjoy my family. I love this job, but it is also all-consuming in volume with 25,000 students and over 3,500 employees. It never stops. It's like I'm on duty 365 [days a year], 24/7,” he said. “I'm ready to do something different. I love our team; I love our kids. I'm not walking away because of any dissatisfaction. I just want to do something different with my life and actually be there for my family moving forward.”

Wright will be retiring in February of next year. According to him, the best time for a superintendent to step down is in the middle of the school year because the budget is already set and “all of the manuals” are provided, leaving his replacement with the opportunity to have two to three months to learn about the district before most of the crucial decisions are made.

Looking ahead to the future of Hays CISD — as Wright vowed he will remain the number one fan and biggest cheerleader — he wants to continue to see the student enrollment and facilities grow, as well as whoever takes over his position to leave it better than they found it.

“I'm just eternally grateful for the original board that gave me the opportunity to work here and I've been blessed to have great trustees to work with … My executive cabinet is by far the best in the state; we've had a great continuity and everything that has been accomplished has been a team effort. I'm so proud of our outstanding teachers and our outstanding students,” Wright concluded. “Hays CISD is a destination district [and] I just want to thank them for all their support throughout all these years.”
 

BPCAAA has been active for eight years and provides a bridge between the agency and local community. The organization — entirely made up of volunteers — does this by supporting the endeavors of the Buda Police Department, offering a community touch through raising money for school supplies, educating different organizations about the agency and more.

“We present the officers with things that are of value to them, like last year, we gave them all Guardian Angel devices that are a safety device for them to wear on their vests and it basically has the same kind of LED lighting that their cars have, so they're more visible at night when they're doing a traffic stop,” the association president explained. “Those devices are lifesaving and we had raised enough funds and had enough community touch to provide one for all 29 of them.”

A large component of the association’s mission is education, especially through the 12-week Citizens Police Academy that was established to provide the public with the opportunity to learn more about the BPD and develop a working knowledge of its day-to-day functions and operations.

Wilson noted that they have also assisted BPD in hosting recent community classes about active shooters, as well as one called Stop the Bleed — for which they also partnered with the fire department — that focuses on trauma care in the field.

The valued relationship between law enforcement and the community also extends to other parts of Hays County, with the Kyle Law Enforcement Association (KLEA), which has been in effect for more than 10 years under its current name.

“Our main focus is centered on cultivating relationships between our officers and the community that we serve. Our main goal is to pretty much nurture a positive relationship and make sure that the community knows who we are and we feel that the familiarity with us tends to put the public at ease,” said Mark Spencer, KLEA president.

KLEA hosts several events throughout the year, including the Blue Santa program, which helps provide Christmas presents and food boxes for children and families — an effort BCPAAA also participates in— and Shotgun for Charity Golf Tournament.

Spencer added that KLEA also acts as an advocate when it comes to fair wages and benefits, as well as works with various organizations to ensure the safety of officers when they are off-duty to protect their families and themselves in a time where many have been doxxed, which is when private, personal information is revealed.

“Healthy officers [and] fulfilled officers are the ones that provide the highest level of service to the public,” Spencer said.

Officers often spend their time on duty working and it can be difficult to have meaningful connections with the community, but KLEA has been working for the last several years to change that, especially with the youth, Spencer said.

“We believe it's very important for us to get in the community, have our positive interactions, be positive role models [and] a positive adult figure in the community,” he explained. “We believe it sets our youth up for success and from time to time, we can help out families that are in need and make sure they have more of a personal connection with their police department because more often than not, we interact with the public on the worst possible day. So, this is kind of an opportunity for us to interact with them in a more positive manner, rather than when they're in the middle of a crisis.”

Being able to bridge the relationship between law enforcement and the community is important because a lot of times, there is some misunderstanding on what the badge represents, Wilson added.

“Buda is a pretty nice little tight-knit community, so we don't have a lot of dissension, but on the national level, there is. I believe this is a great tool to help the police department community police to engage people,” she said, adding that her neighborhood has had a recent issue of kids riding electric bikes in drainage areas, raising safety concerns, but she stepped forward to encourage them to contact BPD for help.

Currently, BPCAAA is actively seeking new membership to increase from its current 12 in order to continue “protecting our protectors,” Wilson said. In addition, she said that the association would also like to see some other goals come to fruition: a kids camp and explorer program; continuing education scholarships for officers; and expanding the school supply drive to a higher level in Buda.

As for KLEA, Spencer shared that one of the goals for this year is to be more available to the community as an open resource, so they have begun the process of contacting more of the local homeowners associations.

The Buda Citizens Police Academy will start March 29, 2027, and run through June 18, 2027, on Thursday nights from 6:30-9 p.m.  Class is limited to 20 students, so those interested should submit their application when open enrollment begins Wednesday, Jan. 6, at www.budatx.gov/839/Citizens-Police-Academy-2027.

Additionally, there is a 10-week Citizens Police Academy in Kyle, which is separate from KLEA, but does help the association with its events. Information can be found at bit.ly/4xBvXmo.

To learn more about the various associations, and find out how to support their causes, visit www.budapolicefoundation.org and www.kylelea.org.

Prior to the discussion of what has been requested for FY 2027, Human Resources director Matthew Wright gave council an overview of the history within his department.

From FY 21 to FY 26, full-time staff positions increased 21%, from 127 to 153. This growth primarily centered around the following:

• Public Works: Added eight full-time equivalent positions (FTE)

• Public Safety: Added three FTE

• Development Services: Added approximately nine FTE

• Parks: Added 4.75 FTE

Internal services, including Finance, Library, Information Technology, City Clerk and HR, have not seen any substantial increases.

In addition to the increase in positions, there have been pay increases. According to Wright, at one point, the city offered a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) equal to the annual inflation rate — which was sitting at 3.8% at the end of April — plus 1%.

Although this has not been the case recently, there have still been adjustments each year.

In FY 2024, the police department was allotted a pay plan increase, including 13% for officers, 14% for detectives and 12% for sergeants. A mid-year pay adjustment was also applied in FY 2026, which saw a 7% increase for officers and detectives and a 3.5% increase for sergeants.

These changes, along with a city pay adjustment and COLA in FY 2025, have still not allowed the city to keep up with inflation over the last five years.

Despite this, Wright noted that retention, which is key for the city, has increased exponentially. In May 2024, the two-year average turnover rate was 26%. Currently, that rate is down to approximately 14%.

Wright continued by sharing a study done by his department that highlighted utilization levels for departments.

This study took the total amount of hours each employee is supposed to work in a year — 1960 — and compared it to the actual number worked per department for FY 2025. According to Wright, utilization between 80-90% would be “healthy.” The utilization levels for the top five departments are as follows:

• Community Relations and Destination Services (CRADS)/Communications: 103.97%

• Parks & Recreation: 100.97%

• Police: 95.53%

• Human Resources: 95.06%

• City Manager: 94.99%

This suggests that several departments are operating with limited operational redundancy and sustained workload pressure, according to the presentation.

“This is the mantra of public service: do more with less. But unfortunately, when you do more with less, this approach has long-term sustainability limits and we're hearing it,” said Wright. “You guys always see the best up here; you're always going to see the best of our employees every time, but I don't see them at their best when they're in my office because life has hit them in the face and they're having to work 80 hours a week.”

In addition to the current pressures, Wright outlined upcoming projects that will inevitably require more work, including Buda Championship Park, which will require year-round operations, tournament and event support and expanded maintenance demand, and Garison Park, which comes with increased park acreage, seven-day operational expectations and expanded programming and maintenance requirements.

Also on the horizon are multiple housing developments, which will increase calls for public safety services and public works/parks service.

To this end, city departments have requested 27 positions for FY 2027, which council will vote on as a part of the proposed budget later this summer. This includes two in Finance, two in Library, one in City Clerk, one in CRADS, seven in Parks (Buda Championship Park), one in Facilities, seven police, one in Flood Prevention, four in Public Works and one in Wastewater.

The city is also in the process of negotiating a step increase for the police department.

To close his presentation, Wright posed the following questions for council consideration throughout the budget process:

• What level of service does council expect as the city grows?

• Should staffing remain reactive or become proactive?

• How should the organization balance internal and external growth with operational sustainability?

• What investments today reduce organizational strain tomorrow?

• How does the city maintain exceptional municipal services while remaining financially responsible?

Moving forward, the budget schedule for council consists of the following:

July 23 — Second budget workshop

Aug. 7 — Proposed budget and Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan posted on city website

Aug. 13 — City manager’s budget presentation to city council

Sept. 1 — Public hearing on budget

Sept. 15 — Public hearing on tax rate

FY 2027 will begin Oct. 1.

Before “and Soda Fountain” was added to its name, it was simply a pharmacy, which was started by Tammy Gray in 2006. She previously owned Western Trails Pharmacy and Lamar Plaza Drugstore in Austin, but after seeing a need in Buda and Kyle, she chose to sell her other business and open Buda Drug Store.

“There was no other pharmacy in Buda. There was no other pharmacy in Kyle. There was no Walgreens, no Walmart, no CVS — nothing, just H-E-B 20 years ago,” she recalled. “So, I decided that I wanted to open a pharmacy in the town where I live.”

While explaining her reasoning of selling, Gray noted that she is the type of small business owner that wants to focus on one business and actually work inside it — as she’s a pharmacist herself — rather than having a goal of owning multiple storefronts.

The store operated as a pharmacy for two years before the location next door was available for lease — and Gray knew exactly what she wanted to do with it.

“When I owned the Lamar Plaza Drugstore, part of its history when it opened in the 1950s was it had a soda fountain,” she shared. “Soda fountains probably started going away in the 1970s because they don’t generate a lot of revenue for the square footage required, but I’ve always been fascinated with the soda fountain and pharmacy together and the history there from the '20s and '30s. So, that was always my dream.”

Gray stated that back in the day, there was a push for soda fountains, due to the belief that carbonated water had health benefits, which is why they were initially installed in pharmacies.

The soda fountain area of the shop — accessible through its own door at the front of the building or through the drug store — features a diner-like atmosphere, where customers can order a multitude of goodies, said Gray, such as vanilla sodas, milkshakes, soups, sandwiches, coffee, ice cream and more.

The business is also a family affair, as Gray’s daughters — Hayley Gray and Mallory Barnett — work at the store, as well, as a pharmacist and chef and manager for the Soda Fountain, respectively.

As for celebrating 20 years, Gray said that it’s an achievement as her colleagues thought she was “crazy coming out here when there was already another pharmacy here: H-E-B, [but] my mentality was such that there’s a lot of people moving out here, obviously, and we have endured a lot of big-box pharmacies moving out here and we’re still continuing to grow.”

The store is available not only for residents to pick up regular prescriptions, but service long-term care facilities, veterinarians and more. They are also available 24 hours a day for hospice patients.

“The main thing is that we provide exceptional personal service. The product itself if you get it here, you [can] get it at H-E-B, so the only thing that we can offer that’s different is the experience,” the pharmacist emphasized. “We get to know our customers very well. We can call their name when they walk in the door. Most people don’t get that at another super busy big-box pharmacy.”

She shared that the community has been immensely supportive over the years and because of that, Buda Drug Store and Soda Fountain is excited to offer a week of specials, culminating with a party on Saturday, June 27:

• Monday, June 22: Free drip coffee

• Tuesday, June 23: 20% off milkshakes and a ribbon cutting at 9 a.m. with the Greater Buda Chamber of Commerce

• Wednesday, June 24: Free scoop of ice cream with a meal purchase

• Thursday, June 25: Free tea or lemonade with a meal purchase

• Friday, June 26: 20% off banana splits and sundaes

The party on Saturday will be from 4-6 p.m. and feature free ice cream, birthday cake and giveaways.

Buda Drug Store and Soda Fountain is located at 203 Railroad St. #2-B. For more information, visit www.budadrugstore.com.

DI — a global community — inspires students to work together in teams to solve open-ended STEAM challenges designed to teach the “creative process,” which is a step-by-step process that helps the students better understand problems and ask better questions, come up with solutions, learn from failure and celebrate their achievements, according to its website. The ultimate goal is to help them feel empowered and prepare them for success in their future.

Locally, the DI program at Pfluger was started five years ago by Dr. Micaela Vargas — a professor in the Department of Biology at Texas State University with her own degrees in cell and molecular biology — and specials teacher Patricia Segura. Though the two are team managers, the program itself is led by the students.

Pfluger’s most recent team for the 2025-26 school year, named Flying Colors, consisted of seven students in the fourth and fifth grade. In order to be on the team, they were required to write a small paragraph on why they were interested in DI, as well as participate in tryouts, where they were paired with another student to see how well they could collaborate together to complete a building task or performance task.

“This year's team is very special because last year, we had three teams and when you have close to 20 kids that you have to manage, you got to make sure that they're following the rules and making sure they're on track,” Vargas said. “It is very, very hard on us. Last year was very challenging and so, we decided this year that we're only going to focus on one team. We had tryouts and we made sure that the team that we were going to build worked well together … and be able to read each other. This is one reason why this team is so special because four of the seven team members, this was their first year doing this program.”

The team has had recent success, securing second place at Capital Region Finals in February, sixth place at Lone Star Finals in April and then, making a name for itself as third-place winners out of 62 global teams at the Global Finals in May.

For the competitions, the DI teams first have to develop solutions to one of the six categories, of which, Pfluger chose technical, to showcase their months-long work in the team challenge. Utilizing the resources that she has as a professor at Texas State University, Vargas was able to have the campus’ chapter of IEEE — an international organization of electrical engineers — mentor the young team, which included her son as the primary tech, during their journey of developing a game show for the challenge.

“I would bring the kids on campus and have them work on campus on their engineering project and develop out their game show,” Vargas explained. “This wonderful collaboration has lasted [with the help of the IEEE] student group mentoring our kids and teaching them the basic techniques of electrical engineering and building out their challenge.”

The second component is an instant challenge, where teams have to think on their feet by solving an unknown, rapid-fire puzzle or engineering task on the spot.

“They'll do a building challenge where they'll lay out some general [STEAM] materials, like pipe cleaners, paper towel rolls, mailing labels, paper and index cards, and they will be asked to create something within five minutes and they're looking to see how quickly they can execute the challenge,” Segura said.

Although they placed well, the road to physically get to the Global Finals in Kansas City, Missouri, was not easy as the team managers, along with parents, had to do the legwork, due to struggles with securing funding with the school district — despite Pfluger being the first Title 1 elementary school in Hays CISD to reach this level.

“I believe in this program so much. We are advocates of this program. It’s not as big of a push in the district as it used to be when it first got started and, I think, after COVID, it kind of just dwindled down and now, we are losing a lot of funds in our school district,” explained Segura, who was involved in DI even before her time at Pfluger.

She added that DI is important because it lays down the foundation of early STEAM skills for students, as well as helps them navigate a passion for these, as they continue throughout middle and high school levels.

“I’ve seen them literally grow, have confidence in themselves, have a voice and be leaders within their team. I've had parents come up to me and basically tell us, ‘This is what you did for those kids,’” Vargas said, holding back tears. “This is so important and I really do believe in this program.”

Going into the next school year, the team will look a little different, as some of them are now moving on to the middle school level and won’t be competing with each other. However, Vargas and Segura are still looking to a bright future in advocating for the vitality of the DI program at Pfluger.

“These scientists and engineers are bringing the future and this is why I need these kids to challenge themselves because they are the future,” Vargas concluded.

To learn more about the global DI program, visit www.destinationimagination.org.

Currently, the city’s ordinance labels all swine — including potbellied or miniature pigs — as livestock, making it unlawful to keep them as pets, explained presenter and Buda Police Department Chief Bo Kidd.

Based on a request from council to consider an amendment, Kidd and an animal control officer prepared a list of pros and cons, as well as a draft ordinance and permit.

The pros, according to agenda documents, include:

1. Highly intelligent — Pot-bellied pigs are as smart as dogs. They can learn commands, tricks and even use a litter box.

2. Strong bonding — They form deep attachments to their owners and can be very affectionate and social.

3. Relatively clean animals — Despite stereotypes, pigs are naturally clean and prefer designated bathroom areas.

4. Long lifespan — They can live 12–20 years, meaning a long-term companion.

5. Unique personality — Each pig has a distinct personality — playful, curious and sometimes surprisingly goofy.

Cons include:

1. They get bigger than expected — “Mini pigs” are often misleading — most pot-bellied pigs reach 100–200-plus pounds.

2. Destructive behavior — They root (dig with their snout), which can damage floors, yards and furniture if not managed.

3. Specialized veterinary care — Not all vets treat pigs, so an exotic or farm animal vet may be needed.

4. Diet management is critical — They gain weight easily and require a controlled, balanced diet — overfeeding can lead to serious health issues.

5. Strong-willed and stubborn — Training takes consistency. They can be manipulative and push boundaries if not properly trained.

6. Social needs — Pigs need a lot of attention and mental stimulation — bored pigs can become destructive or depressed.

7. Not ideal for all living situations — Apartments or small homes usually aren’t suitable, especially without outdoor space.

“I think, from the animal control department, [we] don’t really have an opinion one way or the other as far as keeping of potbellied pigs, but it was recommended that if council does consider amending the ordinance to permit them, that perhaps [it considers] requiring a permit,” Kidd explained.

With that, he continued, there could be an inspection and more oversight to make sure that “if we are going to keep pigs, that they are kept in a manner that is desirable for the city.”

During the public testimony, resident Eric Wallis spoke in support of the item.

“I am here tonight because we would like the city to reconsider how potbellied pigs are classified under our current ordinance, specifically to recognize them for what they truly are, they are household pets. Right now, potbellied pigs are grouped under the same category as livestock, but that classification doesn’t reflect how they are actually raised, cared for or integrated into families today. Potbellied pigs are not being kept in barns or used for agriculture. They are living inside homes, sleeping on couches and being cared for just like any other animal companion. They are highly intelligent, emotionally aware animals that bond closely with their owners. They can be house trained, walked on a leash and follow routines. They receive regular vet care, have controlled diets and live in structured, supervised environments. In every meaningful way, they function as pets,” he explained. “This is an opportunity for the city to bring clarity and fairness to the ordinance, to recognize that not all animals within a specific, broad category are the same and to acknowledge that potbellied pigs, when kept as they are today, belong in the same conversation as other household pets, not livestock.”

Beginning the conversation on the dais was council member Lavonia Horne-Williams, who advocated for a policy that regulates things, such as: limiting the number of pigs a person can own, requiring a permit, requiring sterilization and microchipping, limiting outdoor housing of the animal or how much time they are outside.

“I would not necessarily be opposed to the amendment, as long as we have a policy in place — because there are other Texas cities that have a policy in place,” Horne-Williamns said. “So, before we would make an adjustment, I would ask that we come up with a policy that’s going to be comparable, so that we are not chasing the pig later. We want to make sure that, if we allow this, we have put boundaries around it already.”

A policy may be beneficial for residents who may live within a homeowners association (HOA) that restricts the keeping of potbellied pigs, Horne-Williams continued.

“If the city has a policy, then maybe that’s something that the HOA would be able to consider. So, rather than them having a hard line of saying, ‘No, we’re not going to allow it,’ the city has come up with a feasible policy that sounds reasonable and maybe it’s something that even the HOAs could get on board with," she said.

While generally on board with the amendment, council member Greg Bowles suggested that he would like to revisit the amendment in one year to identify and remedy any potential issues with the permitting process.

“I have not been generally on board with this, simply because of the sliding scale that can happen and also because of resources,” began council member Monica Davidson. “[My bigger concern would be] if we go off of what’s been presented today, that we revisit it pretty quickly to see what this does because that is now a resource of us keeping track of all this. And, while our honest and transparent neighbor that brought this forward may have a wonderful pet, someone else may not be raising theirs that way.”

Despite these reservations and the potential for a “slippery slope,” Davidson said she is open to trying “as long as it doesn’t take a lot of effort.”

“Because I’d much rather focus on keeping our community safe and have our police officers doing that, than chasing pigs,” she concluded.

Following further questions about potential outdoor access and permit fees, Mayor Lee Urbanovsky made a motion to approve the ordinance, along with a $100 permit fee, which was seconded.

However, prior to the vote, Horne-Williams requested an amendment to require that potbellied pigs be kept strictly indoors, which Urbanovsky did not agree with.

“So, I have reservations on that one, just because that moves it beyond what we do with dogs currently; we can have dogs outside now,” the mayor said.

“I understand that dogs can be outside now, but dogs are typical household pets and so, people aren’t going to have a potential complaint about the smell or the fact that it’s rooting,” retorted Horne-Williams. “I think, because this is new for us, it’s fine to create some boundaries.”

Ultimately, the mayor rescinded his original motion and made a motion to table the item, pending staff bringing back language from ordinances from other cities on best practices.

The motion to table was approved 5-0. Council members Evan Ture and Matt Smith were not in attendance.

Buda City Council will meet next at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 16.

Just before approximately 8 a.m., the driver was headed toward a set of railroad tracks just past San Antonio near the entrance of City Park on Main Street and they fell asleep while behind the wheel, stated Buda Police Department Community Affairs Officer Matt Schima. The driver then hit a sign on the side of the road, which pushed the vehicle onto the railroad tracks where it came to a stop, Schima continued. 

The driver, who was the only occupant, was able to get out of the vehicle prior to impact from the train. According to BPD, the driver was transported to a local hospital and is in stable condition.

After ensuring that the individuals were safe and attended to with first aid, Schima shared that BPD contacted Union Pacific to see if they could stop the trains. In this case, they did make an emergency stop as soon as they could, but the impact had already occurred.

During the time of officers being on scene of the accident, beginning at 8 a.m., all railroad crossings on Main Street were blocked and drivers were asked to seek alternate routes. However, they were reopened as of 10:15 a.m.

Officially becoming an International Dark Sky Community would allow Buda to regulate outdoor lighting within city limits. After hearing a presentation from Development Services assistant director Will Parish and debating the matter amongst themselves, council voted 5-2 to continue the certification process, with council members Monica Davidson and LaVonia Horne-Williams dissenting.

Currently, there are only seven communities with International Dark Sky certification in Texas. Buda’s own process has come with bumps in the road, including restricted regulatory authority from the legislature, which prevents the city from enforcing outdoor lighting, and the city’s proximity to a major metropolitan area, which increases light pollution.

Buda applied for Dark Sky certification previously in 2021, but didn’t meet the required qualifications. Certification requires all lighting to meet brightness standards and city owned lighting to be brought into conformance within five years, as well as Dark Sky awareness events and sky quality measurements.

At the meeting, council was provided with a checklist of Dark Sky requirements. Parish stated, “You’ll see that the majority of items on that list have a ‘Y’ for ‘comply,’ so there’s very few items that we have not completed.”

The city has since worked to amend the unified development code to ensure light fixtures are shielded and cut-off, set maximum pole heights for parking lot lighting and enforce maximum lumens, or total brightness, per acre. Seeking Dark Sky certification is also incorporated in Buda’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan and is included in the cost for light replacement in its annual budget. However, the city’s application has never been approved.

At a joint meeting with the Sustainability Committee earlier this year, council agreed to press pause on seeking Dark Sky certification, due to ongoing challenges. Council members also expressed concern that restrictions could negatively affect local businesses that wish to keep their signs illuminated at night.

In response, city staff discussed alternative pathways with Dark Sky International that could balance dark sky goals with commercial interests and feasibility based on location.

“Our discussions have led us to the point where Dark Sky International has actually proposed a pilot program with the city of Buda for a new Dark Sky International certification for cities” who are affected by light pollution from densely populated areas, said Parish.

According to city staff, the amended certification process would reduce annual reporting requirements, grant businesses to keep signs illuminated outside business hours and allow private lighting fixtures that are already in place to be replaced gradually as they deteriorate, rather than requiring compliance by a fixed deadline.

“It will be a certification from Dark Sky International; it’ll just be a different level of certification,” Parish explained.

Without certification, Buda cannot enforce lighting standards that are stricter than the international ordinance code per state law.

Some council members found the reduced requirements sufficient to seek certification again and be able to regulate outdoor lighting, while others felt the process remained unrealistic.

Beginning the conversation, council member Monica Davidson stated, “I’m confused because in our last meeting that we had with our Sustainability Commission we said to stop where we were. Not only did we not stop, we have a new proposal from Dark Sky.”

Davidson continued, “We have to be amenable in some way to our [IH-35] corridor, so that we are inviting commerce and industry. We are trying so hard to be this thing when we are not a rural city.”

Council member Evan Ture mentioned, “We weren’t in agreement with every line item [before], but it was also one of the only ways we could continue to regulate light. My goal is to address those really rough scenarios” with heavy light pollution.

Council member Matt Smith noted, “I was also in the camp of enough is enough, but it seems like [Dark Sky] has compromised pretty well here, so why not do the pilot?”

Mayor Lee Urbanovsky agreed with Smith, adding, “My big thing was the businesses and keeping the signs lit up after hours,” he stated, but felt the reduced requirements were sufficient to proceed with the pilot and put forth the motion to do so.

Buda City Council will meet next Tuesday, June 2.

Just after 5:00 a.m, Sunday, May 17, officers with the Buda Police Department Patrol Division were dispatched to a business on Main Street for a burglary alarm with a glass break sensor as the point of activation, said a news release. When officers arrived, they observed several bullet casings and damage to the business’ glass windows and interior and exterior walls. BPD detectives used physical evidence, as well as Flock Safety camera data, to tie the Austin and Buda shooting incidents together. The business was not occupied at the time and there are no reports of injuries.

At this time, the offense being investigated is deadly conduct, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000. Other charges may be added in the future.

Anyone with new information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact detective Raul Valdez at rvaldez@budatx.gov or send an anonymous tip through the Hays County Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-324-TIPS(8477).

This information is preliminary and subject to change as the investigation is ongoing.

The Greater Buda Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of Buda’s newest restaurant, Astra, Monday, May 18. Owned by Mattison Bills, the restaurant and bar soft launched in February, but is now open seven days a week. The business is located at 404 N. Main Street and features an all-day menu of locally sourced, 100% scratch-made cuisine.

Officers 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. 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 are 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.

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.

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. 

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 resource fair will feature a variety of local organizations with information tables set up in the lobby, giving attendees the opportunity to connect directly with service providers, ask questions and explore available programs and support services. Members of the city’s Commission on Aging will also be in attendance and available to speak with community members about aging-related needs and priorities.

In addition to the information tables, attendees will have the opportunity to attend two rounds of educational sessions held from 11 a.m. to noon and noon to 1 p.m. Participants may choose from three rotating topics:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and aging: An introduction to how AI is impacting healthcare, daily living tools and support systems for older adults.

• Hays Central Appraisal District (CAD) property taxes: An overview of property tax processes, exemptions and resources available to property owners.

• Streaming 101: A beginner-friendly guide to streaming services, including how to set up and use popular entertainment platforms.

“These sessions are designed to be practical, accessible and directly responsive to the questions we hear from our older adult community,” said Commission on Aging liaison and Human Resources director Matthew Wright. “Whether someone is looking to better understand technology, navigate property taxes or simply connect with local resources, there will be something valuable for everyone.”

The Older Adults Resource Fair reflects the city’s ongoing commitment to enhancing quality of life for residents of all ages by connecting them with tools, services and education that support independence and well-being, stated a news release. The event is free and open to the public. No registration is required.

For more information, visit www.budatx.gov or contact Wright at mwright@budatx.gov.

The camp — Hays Robotics Camp — was created by Chris Glynn, who has been teaching engineering and robotics at Barton Middle School for 11 years, and Grant Dohmen, a 13-year-old student with a passion for business and creating, along with five years of engineering experience. They both knew that they wanted to share their love for the field and teach these skills in an engaging environment.

“[Dohmen’s] on the robotics team that we have here on campus and so, we have an after school program. We started talking about it and Grant brought the idea to me: ‘Hey, I would like to offer a camp for young kids. We can get them interested in robotics,’” Glynn said, adding that it’s a partnership between the two, as Dohmen has worked to do all of the marketing, developed the curriculum, brought in the equipment and more.

Campers can expect to build base frame, 10-inch by 12-inch robots, adding sensors, structures and motors to go through a series of tasks. There will be a building component, but Glynn shared that they will also introduce the students into the “coding world,” where they can create the instruction for the robot to complete the tasks.

The leaders are looking forward to being able to offer the camp that will benefit the students who may not be interested in participating in other extracurricular activities, like sports, as well as showing them that there are alternative future career options.

“I want kids to realize these are jobs that can actually benefit them in the future with the skills that we're giving these kids. As the world becomes more automized, the robotics thing is spreading out more and more. I just want to get kids interested and I want to get them motivated into these jobs that are going to be available to them when they get older,” Glynn said. “I hope we're hitting the mark for some of these kids because not everybody can be a football player or basketball. It's something that we're offering and hopefully they can engage in over the summer. We can teach them a little bit of logic, they might get involved with some coding down the road and just kind of show them what's out there.”

“We'd love for them to fall in love with robotics, but really, we just want to introduce this to as many people as possible, so people interested can learn about this not necessarily new, innovative field,” Dohmen said.

Beyond the teaching component, having an entrepreneurial spirit at a young age, Dohmen shared that he is also excited to be learning to operate “something more than a lemonade stand” that he can put on his college applications and prepare him for the future.

“I wanted to sort of put my skills to the test and help the community. I'm just excited to be doing this because I want to get better at all the marketing skills and all that type of stuff,” the student said.

There are three sessions available for the summer camp, with all being for a half-day. For the first week, June 1-5, there will be morning and afternoon groups available from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-3:30 p.m. However, currently, for the second week, from June 29-July 3, there will only be morning sessions, with the possibility of adding an afternoon group if there are increased enrollment numbers.

Nineteen students have fully registered, as of Monday, May 4, with a total of 42 students that can be accommodated — any incoming fifth and sixth grade student within Hays CISD is welcome to register.

The cost for the camp is $150 per session, with proceeds going to funding the robotics program and clubs at Barton Middle School.

For more information about the camp, visit www.sites.google.com/view/kyleroboticscamp/home.