The training, held March 27, centered on increasing understanding of autism spectrum conditions throughout the criminal justice system, stated a Hays County news release. Attendees included representatives from the Hays County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, Hays County Sheriff’s Office, Buda Police Department, Kyle Police Department and Hays County Juvenile Probation Department.

Anne Jackson, Bell County assistant county attorney, led the training and spoke about how raising a child on the autism spectrum raised her awareness of neurodiversity issues relevant to her work as a prosecutor. Her experiences allowed her to make more informed decisions in cases where victims, witnesses and defendants on the autism spectrum were frequently misunderstood by first responders, lawyers, probation officers and the courts.

“It is incumbent upon lawyers in the system, whether we be defense, prosecutors or judges, to know what to do when we hear or read the word ‘autism’ in our work. We are the gatekeepers — the people with the power to affect people’s liberty and lives,” said Jackson.

Participants also heard from Jackson’s son, Tres, who talked openly about his life on the autism spectrum and coordinated directly with participants on strategies for engaging with those on the autism spectrum at various criminal justice touchpoints.

“Autism doesn’t care about your skin color, religion or sexuality. We try to be like everyone else, but there are going to be days when we struggle,” Tres said. “When we call for help, I want us to be seen as someone in need ... and not any of these other things.”

“We are proud to be the first prosecutor’s office in the state to host this training for our criminal justice partners,” stated Landon Campbell, division chief in the Hays County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. “We hope to use this training as a springboard to increase awareness of mental health and intellectual disability issues in our local criminal justice system and beyond.”

The nonprofit, located in San Marcos, has been aiding the Hays County community for decades. According to a previous article by the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch, the center is not a shelter; it is instead a resource for those who are struggling or unhoused, providing hygiene kits, laundry and shower services, a meal and more.

Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe, who brought forward the item, noted that it has been made clear to her that Southside’s Housing Stability Program needs to continue.

She stated that she has worked with staff to identify funding for the project through the Tobacco Settlement Fund, as well as an additional $25,000 from The America Rescue Plan Act.

“I believe this program will help support individuals and families in maintaining safe and stable housing during difficult times. It also provides assistance and connects people with resources, helping prevent homelessness, which creates a healthier and more stable community. So, I’m asking the court for their consideration and allowing this funding to move forward,” said Ingalsbe.

Beginning discussion by sharing his concerns that are “more logistical than they are from a personal or moral standpoint,” was commissioner Walt Smith.

He stressed that there is a process for these social funds, which Southside is aware of and has participated in for years.

Smith’s concern stems from the fact that the nonprofit did not plan for the program during budget season. If the program is running as consistently as the court has heard, he said, then there should have been at least some anticipation that the budget allotted to it last fall would not have been enough.

“While I see the need or I see the purpose behind it, I have a really hard time whenever there’s a number of those social service programs that have been asking for that additional funding for the last eight years that have never gotten an increase and … they manage [their budget] to the extent they can,” said Smith. “I’m not saying that I won’t support this today, but … we have multiple dozens, if not hundreds [of organizations] that are dealing with [financial difficulty] and it did not automatically become the court's problem to meet their budget shortfall.”

Ingalsbe said that she understood, but that it is not uncommon and that the court has come to support other agencies in between budget seasons before.

If approved, Smith stated that he would like to have access to the data, which depicts how the program has been used by the community.

Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra praised Smith for asking the difficult questions and raising these concerns, sharing that he agrees that receiving data on why this funding is needed — whether there was a large influx in patrons needing the program — is important.

Commissioner Michelle Cohen stated that the county hasn’t come up with a way to accurately measure the benefit that the county is receiving in return for their donations. Despite this, she did note how useful Southside is and that the county is “guilty” of using its facility for warming and cooling centers, so she feels as though the county should take some responsibility.

As far as ability to recognize impact, county administrator Kandice Bouetté said that staff has worked to revise the evaluation for what is required for organizations that accept donations for fiscal year 2026-27. The court is requiring organizations to show their actual impact quarterly, such as the amount of people they’ve been able to service, the activities that have occurred and if there are any additional gaps that they see. Although this is a plan for the upcoming fiscal year, it is currently being implemented. There was a public meeting available via webinar at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 1, and an in-person session from 2-3 p.m. at the elections center the same day.

“If it takes y’all a while to get up that donor base and be able to provide these galas and those types of things [that’s fine, but] I just want to see some suitability,” said commissioner Morgan Hammer. “There’s no doubt in my mind that Southside [does] do great work … [but] what is that plan? Do you have funding coming in from various sources?”

Hammer noted, after confirming with staff, that there is funding currently available for Southside, yet is unable to be released, due to lack of documentation from the nonprofit. So, it’s difficult “to give extra funds whenever there are funds available that y’all can take, but we’re just waiting on y’all. That’s where I’m having some difficulty.” However, Ingalsbe stated that this was a recent request, which is why the documents have not been submitted.

“We are not asking Hays County to come in and fund this program all by itself. We do not believe that you guys need to do that. As we’ve mentioned, we have a $250,000 challenge from the McCoy Foundation that has asked us to go out and get matching,” said Southside board president Todd Salmi, adding that the nonprofit will be meeting with another funding prospect and host a fundraising fair later that week.

He stated that several years ago, the organization wouldn’t have been as confident in sharing it numbers, but staff has worked to put together a series of detailed data on funding and looks forward to sharing it with the commissioners.

As far as what they can currently share, Salmi stated that 25% of its clients come from Kyle and Buda, but the organization has not been able to aid them.

According to Becerra, Southside typically receives $25,000 from the county, but with the additional funding, the total will amount to $175,000 — $25,000 initially, $25,000 waiting for release, $25,000 from ARPA and $100,000 from the Tobacco Settlement Fund — for this year.

“Just from a policy standpoint, a rising tide raises all ships and at the end of the day, we’ve got a lot of ships out there that have run aground just because of the need out there in our county for years and we haven’t been able to help them. I feel like we’re rebuilding your ship right now because it’s about to wreck. We can’t maintain it [perpetually]," concluded Smith, emphasizing that this is a one-time funding.

Hammer ended the discussion by noting that she would like to see where the money is going.

The item passed unanimously. To listen to the discussion, visit bit.ly/4uX6CBX.

According to Hays County Parks Director Karl Flocke, the projects began after nearly 70% of voters approved a $75 million park bond in 2020. It was clear that the voters wanted more opportunities to enjoy nature in the county, said Flocke. So, a citizen-led advisory Parks Board and the Parks and Open Space Advisory Council worked together to take suggestions, rank them and determine which projects to move forward on.

Since then, the $75 million has been leveraged into approximately $300 million, due to various state and federal grants, said Hays County Precinct 3 Commissioner Morgan Hammer.

Flocke explained that there are several projects that were conducted by Hays County in Precinct 3, which encompasses Wimberley and Woodcreek into San Marcos, that he and Hammer wanted to highlight.

First, there were four conservation easements that have been completed: Presa Grande, Owl Bluff Easement, Starnes Ranch and John Knox Ranch.

Another project that has been completed is Limestone Link Trail. The 100-acre trail system wraps around the west side of San Marcos, the director said, and will eventually be part of a broader connection from the Texas Capitol in Austin to the Alamo in San Antonio. It features the Ringtail Ridge Natural Area and the river recharge area. Although the other connections are yet to be constructed, Flocke stated that the San Marcos portion is currently available for the public to hike and enjoy.

The “flagship” of the projects —and soon, Hays County — is Sentinel Peak Preserve, said the director. The property was transferred to the county by the Nature Conservatory and features 533-acres of parkland and hiking trails, with one mile of Blanco River access.

“Back in 2011, the county initially initiated a Parks Master Plan and repeatedly, really across the county, [the thing] that was listed as the number one priority by people was access to the tremendous creeks and river systems that, ultimately, are one of the main reasons why people want to live here in Hays County,” said Flocke. “There aren’t a lot of great places to get to [the water] and for the public to enjoy. So, this is fulfilling a long recognized need.”

Located in the southwestern portion of the county, past what’s locally called Devil’s Backbone, the land is currently undergoing improvements, which includes a hillside campus that will house offices for the Hays County Parks Department, a visitor center and an event space. Additionally, there will be designated river access points that can be reserved. There will be 50 slots in the morning and 50 slots in the afternoon, said Flocke, to both ensure that visitors are not crowded and to prevent the river from being “loved to death.”

The dammed up river, which Hammer confirmed has been inspected and is secure, will reach a depth of approximately 9-feet deep, perfect for swimming, said Flocke.

The county not only aims to bring back swimming locations to the west side, but to also protect the environment. Flocke explained that the area, particularly in the cedar and oak trees, is a breeding ground for the Hays County native Golden-cheeked Warbler. To offset the potential impacts of community access, staff will be closing down the trails to the public in the spring and summer — breeding season — and instead offering guided tours. This will give residents a chance to hike, without disturbing the birds.

“With the devastation that we’ve been experiencing recently for Jacob’s Well being closed as long as it has, this does offer that opportunity of hope within our Parks department in the county,” said Hammer. “We prioritized getting individuals out and about and to really show the magnificent Hill Country and the west side of the county … We’re all very informed, on the west side, of what’s beneath our feet. Even though we don’t know the full extent, we are aware that we have to conserve and try to sustain and protect our natural surroundings.”

Completion of Sentinel Peak is aimed for spring 2027, Flocke said.

“Hays County is in a now or never moment with land conservation and providing recreation access … We have grown so much within the last decade that we are transitioning away from a largely rural county to a much more suburban or urban county. With that, there are two simultaneous things that are happening,” the director stated. “One is there is a much greater need for providing recreational access, whether that is sports fields, playgrounds or natural areas that you can hike at, swim at, etc. We eat all those things as the population grows at the same time. We start to lose the natural benefits of rural land. We start to lose the ability to infiltrate water, to have beautiful scenery, to have wildlife habitat … With this Park bond, we’re able to meet those dual objectives of preserving, conserving the landscape and providing the necessary resources for a growing population.”

The department also hopes to focus on conservation with Karst Canyon Prserve, located on the west side of Wimberley, which will hold a ribbon cutting March 27.

The park is 175 acres and, again, offers hiking and recreational activities for the community. Flocke emphasized the park's importance, as it houses karst features — including sinkholes and caves — that funnel down into the aquifer.

According to a Hays County news release, the property is near Jacob’s Well Natural Area and was previously slated for a high-density development of more than 1,000 residential lots, but the Watershed Association purchased the property in 2019, halting the plans. Hays County then bought the land in 2025 and secured a conservation easement through The Nature Conservancy.

Phase 2 is in progress and will add two miles to the completed Phase 1, which has two miles of trail, connecting to the North 40 Trail in Wimberley.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 27. Those attending will park at Parking Lot A at Jacob’s Well Natural Area at 1699 Mt. Sharp Road, Wimberley.

In addition to the parks, there are also municipality-led projects ongoing, the commissioner shared, such as the Blue Hole Nature Center. The center is a “bold, new initiative” to create a state-of-the-art environmental education and community hub, according to the Wimberley Parks and Recreation Department. She shared that the county has recently awarded the project $250,000 to continue moving forward.

There is also a goal to make Wimberley walkable, stemming from Woodcreek through Wimberley, which the park bonds have also contributed to, she said.

This opportunity to aid cities has been “great,” said the commissioner, as some communities, such as Wimberley, do not have a sales tax, which can limit their ability to fund projects.

“The county is very limited in the authority that we have to sway development from our areas. If they meet our criteria, we kind of have our hands tied and we have to approve administratively based on the Texas Constitution and statute. But that Parks bond has allowed us to conserve a lot of land that has karst features in it, to recharge our aquifer and to help with our habitat. So, it’s been a great bond and it’s done a lot of good within my precinct for Wimberley, for the Wimberley Valley and then, also just the west Hays in general,” concluded Hammer.

For more information on the Parks bond, visit www.haysparksbond.com. To stay up to date with the Hays County Parks Department, visit bit.ly/3NMapBl.

The Innovation Corridor Defense Accelerator (ICDA) has been established in San Marcos to help high-potential defense and dual-use startups rapidly validate their technologies and connect with the complex defense ecosystem needed for successful industry adoption.

The accelerator was developed following an outbound marketing trip conducted by the Hays Caldwell Economic Development Partnership team, which identified a partnership opportunity with Starburst Aerospace to anchor a defense-focused innovation hub in the region between Austin and San Antonio.

Powered by Starburst’s global innovation network, the program connects founders with industry partners, advisors, mentors, investors and defense customers who can help accelerate technology readiness and market entry.

The program is designed for startups developing next-generation defense and dual-use technologies, ranging from prototype-stage ventures to early-growth companies seeking to validate proof-of-concept technologies in real-world defense environments. The accelerator is focused on technologies across multiple defense-related sectors, including space systems, aviation, advanced materials, manufacturing, maintenance and repair operations, unmanned systems, communications, cybersecurity and next-generation computing, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and quantum technologies.

Unlike traditional startup programs, the ICDA offers a tailored approach that includes guidance from industry experts, support refining commercial strategies and assistance navigating the highly regulated defense marketplace.

Participating startups will also have the opportunity to collaborate directly with defense corporations to co-develop, pilot and validate technologies using feedback from real customers in the defense sector.

In addition, companies will gain access to regional testing facilities, research institutions and a global network of venture capital firms, corporations and ecosystem leaders. The program will culminate with a Demo Day, where participating startups present their solutions to investors and industry decision-makers.

“Innovation in aerospace and defense is accelerating, requiring faster iteration cycles across design, testing and manufacturing,” said Lukas Oberhofer, United States managing director for Starburst. “The Austin-San Antonio corridor is emerging as a critical hub for aerospace and defense innovation, driven by a unique concentration of military assets, research institutions and a rapidly growing base of venture-backed startups … The ICDA is built to increase collaboration between these capabilities, accelerating commercial momentum for startups and attracting new capital into the region. This strengthens our ability to create high-quality jobs locally and reinforces the Innovation Corridor’s role in the aerospace, defense and space economy.”

For more information about the ICDA – Project Starburst, contact the Hays Caldwell Economic Development Partnership.

On Nov. 24, 2025, a jury found Jaime Espericueta guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child. The evidence at trial showed that Jaime Espericueta sexually abused two different children over several years.

Espericueta elected to have his punishment determined by the judge instead of a jury.

After the jury found Espericueta guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child, the punishment hearing occurred Feb. 23, 2026. At this hearing, a third victim testified that Espericueta had also abused her when she was a child. State prosecutors presented additional evidence of the traumatic effects of sexual abuse.

After hearing the evidence, Judge Alicia Key of the 483rd District Court of Hays County sentenced Espericueta to 75 years in prison. Under the law applicable to the case, the defendant is not eligible for parole.

This case was prosecuted by assistant criminal district attorneys Elizabeth Schmidt and Miranda Ebersole.

“This was a case where the defendant spent years hiding his crimes of sexual abuse, often hiding behind his own family members for protection. The bravery of the survivors in this case to speak out about the abuse and stand up to the defendant in court was inspiring. This case is a warning to other abusers that even though years go by, we will still hold them accountable for the abuse they inflict on children,” said Ebersole.

The 199.49-acre site for the proposed center was first presented to San Marcos City Council at its Aug. 19, 2025, meeting. According to council member Matthew Mendoza, the site was initially approved for a single-family development in 2022, but the project didn’t come to fruition.

Three years later, the landowners changed course with the proposal of a data center. To move forward, approximately 64 acres of land must be annexed into the city limits. Additionally, the entire property would need to be rezoned from conservation/cluster to commercial/employment low via a preferred scenario amendment (PSA).

Although council voted 5-2 to approve the item in August 2025, the motion ultimately failed, since the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial of the PSA in March 2025. This meant that a super majority, 6-1, was required to pass the PSA.

Commissioner Jim Garber emphasized at the P&Z meeting that he had rarely seen such a community response to a project: “This is one of the biggest turnouts I’ve ever seen … We beg citizens to come out and get involved; we want your input. So, when we get it, I want to listen.”

The data center then resubmitted the PSA in October.

Despite its earlier decision the year prior, the commission opted to recommend approval Jan. 13, 2026.

Since its inception, community members have spoken against the data center, many citing environmental concerns.

The day before the Feb. 17, council meeting, where the PSA would be brought forward yet again, following commission recommendation, citizens gathered with the newly-established Data Center Action Coalition for a press conference relating to the data center on the proposed site.

“A man who fancies himself the owner of this land wants to pave over 70% over 200 acres to raise multiple buildings to over four to five stories that would house computer servers and to inject those buildings with sacred water using proprietary cocktails of chemicals that he’ll probably sign [nondisclosure agreements] to never reveal to the city of San Marcos and then, it’ll be on the city to remove those chemicals, so we can then drink that water because we are running out,” said Si Frede of the coalition. “It is incumbent upon all of us to insist that people in power do the right thing and also to organize and do what needs to be done to defend this place because we owe our lives to this place.”

The next day, hundreds of citizens lined the street outside of San Marcos City Hall in preparation to speak against the item, amounting to more than four hours of public comment that echoed similar environmental concerns to those who spoke nearly a year ago.

“Last year, San Marcos City Utilities provided you all with projections of our water usage versus our natural resources. They highlighted the potential for our region to essentially run out of water by 2047 without calculating the four proposed data centers within San Marcos city limits,” said resident Jessica Bunting.

Those pushing data centers, she continued, claim that they will “only use” 75,000 per day, equivalent to the usage of 915 San Marcos residents in one day.

“One person’s water consumption over two and a half years is the same as one day of data center water usage,” said Bunting. “We do not have the natural resources to accommodate these developments. If these centers move forward, we are setting ourselves and future generations up for failure.”

Resident Aaron Brown discussed the long-term implications of a data center, stating that it is the “new and shiny thing” of this time period, where everyone, including San Marcos, rushes to be part of it, without considering the environment.

He stated that there is talk about the job opportunity for three to five years during the construction, but that after, only limited positions will remain.

“Where do we stand on this data center 10, 15 years down the road,” prompted Brown. “We are seeing this snapshot and it is up to you and the council to look at the bigger picture … We’re eroding that green space; we are eroding our conservation in this area.”

Immediately following public comment, council member Lorenzo Gonzalez moved to table the PSA, as there are still unknowns regarding other data centers in the area. He stated that the decisions of those sites affect how the council should vote. Additionally, there are unanswered questions that should be resolved, said Gonzalez.

Mayor Jane Hughson was against postponing the item after so long. If anything, she suggested voting for the first reading and then, receiving the requested information at the second reading, since two are required.

“I truly feel that a postponement on insufficient grounds that have been presented, which are wholly insufficient … feels like we are torturing these people” said council member Amanda Rodriguez.

Considering community member questions, council member Alyssa Garza asked why an agenda packet with more detailed information wasn’t uploaded to the city’s website prior to the day of the vote. Staff stated that they uploaded the document as soon as it was available.

Hughson shared her own concerns about the water from the power generation, stating that she is unsure of what the answer is. This was also a worry for Mendoza, as well as Senate Bill 6, which relates to the planning for, interconnection and operation of certain electrical loads and generation of power by water supply or sewer.

Still considering the postponement was Gonzalez, who amended his motion to move the discussion to March 31. The motion failed 3-4, with council members Rodriguez, Josh Paselk, Garza and Mendoza dissenting.

“I’m still not convinced that we have the information that we need to have a genuine conversation about the implications of data centers,” said Garza. “I have not received sufficient information from various powers that be to make it so that I was comfortable voting, ‘Yes.’”

At nearly 2:30 a.m., Garza motioned to deny the PSA, with Rodriguez providing a second. The item passed 5-2, with Gonzales and Mendoza dissenting, as the room erupted into applause and cheers from residents.

Despite the denial, a city staff member noted that another application can be filed by the owners in six months.

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

On Jan. 15, a Hays County jury found Vela guilty of one count of sexual assault of a child. The evidence showed that the defendant met his minor victim over Instagram, admitted he knew she was underage and convinced her to meet him with the promise of free marijuana, stated a Hays County news release.

Once they met and he provided her with the marijuana, he then “did what he wanted” to the victim, the release continued. The evidence showed that he repeatedly displayed a firearm during the course of the assault, including holding it against the victim’s back. Afterward, he admitted the offense over Instagram messages with the victim and he attempted to set up another meeting with her for the same purpose. He later deleted the entire message conversation and factory reset his phone before he was arrested.

After the jury returned a guilty verdict, the case proceeded to the punishment phase before the same jury. Evidence was introduced that Vela was a career criminal, having been convicted of three counts of burglary of a motor vehicle and having been sent to prison twice, once for evading arrest with a motor vehicle and once for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, according to the release. Evidence also showed that he was dealing marijuana around the time of the sexual assault case.

The evidence in the punishment phase showed that a couple of months after the primary offense, the defendant repeatedly sold fentanyl pills to numerous individuals, most of them high school students in Hays County, including to a 15-year-old high school sophomore. After buying seven fentanyl pills from the defendant at a discounted price, that young person died Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, from fentanyl toxicity, only to be found by her mother the next morning when she went to wake her daughter up for school.

Vela was tied to her death and the other drug sales by his Instagram messages, his CashApp transactions and by FLOCK camera images. Once he was aware of her overdose, the defendant deleted his messages with her, as well as his entire Instagram account that he used to sell fentanyl.

The defendant was subsequently arrested when he went to report to his parole officer in November 2023, as he was on parole for his firearm conviction at the time. After hearing all this testimony, the jury sentenced the defendant to 75 years in prison with no fine.

Judge Steel of the 274th District Court presided over the trial and accepted the jury’s verdicts.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Daniel Sakaida and Cassidy Story. The ADAs were assisted in this case by Victim Assistance Coordinator Sandra Groters, legal assistants Avery Slocum and Cristina Kearbey and District Attorney’s Office Sgt. Investigators Robert Torres and Matthew Grantham.

This case in chief was investigated by the San Marcos Police Department’s detective Caitlyn Bennett, detective Crystal Benavides, officer Franco Stewart, detective Kevin Blackwood and crime analyst Patrica Hom.

The fentanyl case was investigated by the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, deputy Christopher Adams, deputy Andres Vega, deputy Adam Krueger, detective Nelson Wray, detective Chase Fuller, deputy Paul Mooney, deputy Ian Alcorn, deputy Joshua Larson, deputy Brian Burgdorf, custodian Kristi White and evidence technician Johnna Martone.

“The defendant preyed on vulnerable minors in Hays County in the worst ways possible,” Sakaida said. “He saw minors as easy, manipulable clients for his drug sales and as targets for his sexual desires. The jury recognized the damage he inflicted on our community, and they made the right decision to put him away effectively for the rest of his life. Nothing can truly fix the pain left in the defendant’s wake, but this verdict is justice for his victims.”

This initiative aims to take current competency cases and provide services to minimize the time they are on hold, while bringing resources to those in need.

Competency is whether or not a criminal defendant can participate in their own defense by understanding the charges against them, creating strategies, working with their attorney and more, said Landon Campbell, chief of the Misdemeanor and Specialty Courts Division at the Hays County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. It is when this competency is questioned by a member within the courtroom that the judge will order an evaluation that finds the defendant competent or incompetent. If labeled incompetent, there will be an additional classification that states whether they are “likely to restore” — in an inpatient or outpatient facility — or “unlikely to restore.” The latter would require finding outside placement for the defendant, while the likely to restore status would pivot a defendant to Hays County Judge Elaine Brown’s Assisted Outpatient Treatment program or to the now-established Jail-Based Competency Restoration Program, which is considered an inpatient option.

According to Campbell, these restoration programs are relatively new in the criminal justice world, with nearby Comal County beginning its only a few years ago. The idea for Hays County’s began after the state hospital waitlist reached 400 days during COVID-19.

The chief noted that these wait times were preventing incompetent defendants from getting the help that they needed. So, the DA’s Office began working with Hill Country MHDD to create the initiative, which aims to lower these wait times significantly.

Statutorily, Campbell stated, Hill Country MHDD has to run the project, as it's required that embedded competency programs in jails must be provided through the local mental health authority, but this doesn’t lessen the impact that the organization has had on the project.

“If they don’t have the right programs or they don’t have the right willingness to allocate resources, then it can bind the county. There’s other counties across the state, where their local mental health authority either doesn’t have the resources or doesn’t have the bandwidth to be working with their individual counties on it. So, partnering with Hill Country [MHDD] — even though they’re the only actor in town to be able to do it — they still have been a great partner in working on it with the resources they have,” he emphasized.

The resources, he continued, manifest in a miniature state hospital within the jail. A combination of mental health curriculum, along with information regarding their case — including who the judge is and who their defense attorney is — medication use — whether through convincing an individual to try it or by a court order — group activities and educational materials are used to bring defendants up to the level of competence in order to be in a courtroom, the chief said.

In addition to Hill Country MHDD, several other members of the county have been crucial to the plan’s development. For example, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office has had to plan for security concerns, since there is a risk when non-law enforcement personnel enter a secured space, like a jail, the county and district judges had to agree to utilize the initiative moving forward and the jail’s medical services provider, Wellpath, staff has sat through numerous meetings to ensure that all agencies are on the same page, explained Campbell.

Defendants are able to be referred to the competency restoration program by the mental health attorney, who joined the office in summer of 2025 and keeps a pulse on potential competency concern cases, he said.

After reaching the required level of competency, Campbell emphasized that the defendant now has the “buffet of options” that would typically be available: “It’s not something where the second that they regain competency, we stick them on a jury trial docket to get a conviction. A lot of the modernization and reforms that we’ve been able to have recently, like our Mental Health Court [and] our pretrial services, requires a participant to enter into it voluntarily. They can’t enter into any of those resources voluntarily until they’re competent to do so,” stressed Campbell.

For example, he said that some of the community members that will benefit the most from this project are those that have mental health crises and are unhoused.

“[They] will regularly only pick up Class B and Class A misdemeanors. So, you may have people who are also unhoused, they have severe mental health issues and they just continually pick up criminal trespass cases because they go to locations they’re not supposed to,” said the chief. “Because [of the charge], they can only stay in the jail statutorily for 180 days to 365 days because those are the max terms for the individual offenses themselves. Well, if you’ve got a waitlist to get into the state hospital that’s 300 days [and] these people are not competent, they’re in a Catch-22.”

With the new initiative aiming to take a maximum of 90 days, including the approximate month-long process to be evaluated and placed into the program, these people will actually receive the help they need to break the cycle, rather than timing out of the justice system and continuing.

Campbell stated that, previously, prosecutors were attempting to engineer solutions to either work with law enforcement to dismiss the charge or hope that a hospital would do an emergency detention.

“If we can break that [cycle] with this competency restoration, get them into services — either through our Assisted Outpatient Treatment [program] or our Mental Health Court — I truly do not see any justice value in pursuing that criminal trespass. If they’ve been able to break the cycle, have a life where they’re able to reenter society and be a functioning member of society again and not in that circle of crisis, then I’m more than happy to let that case go,” he said.

Not only were these wait times negatively affecting the defendants, but also, in cases of assault, the victims were confused as to why the charge was never making it to court, Campbell said. Now, these cases can move forward to a trial, which he stated is beneficial both to the victim and the defendant, as they are able to begin their defense within months, rather than years.

He also shared that providing a solution to competency cases will allow the DA’s Office to move on to its next project, whatever it may be, by giving bandwidth to defendants, defense attorneys, prosecutors and more.

Ultimately, Campbell stated that the Jail-Based Competency Restoration Program is an integral step in the right direction.

“It’s important to be able to come up with our own solutions because we’re dealing with statewide systems that all too often are letting us down and not providing the right solutions,” he stressed. “We are actually moving forward and being able to provide care that used to take 300 days to a year and we’re able to provide that care right here in our community, right now … It’s a key part of breaking the cycle for a huge number of our neighbors and anytime that we can do that, if I can get one person to be able to live a fulfilling life that didn’t have that chance before, that’s worth it for me,” he stressed.

The Jail-Based Competency Restoration Program will officially launch within the next two months. To learn more information on competency restoration programs, visit bit.ly/3ZaQ5vw.

Opening night, Thursday, Feb. 5, consists of a film shot in the San Marcos area. This year, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, “LEADBELLY” kicks off the festival, with a biopic of blues icon Huddie Ledbetter, whose prowess for soulful, original music famously won him his freedom from chain gang imprisonment, stated a news release. The film was shot in the mid-1970s around San Marcos, Fentress and Uhland.

Friday, Feb. 6, programming includes: international narratives hailing from France, Canada, India, Italy and Africa; domestic short films; a documentary bloc; an LGBTQ-themed bloc; and the Texas Monthly-produced true-crime documentary, “A NIGHT IN WEST TEXAS.” This film chronicles a false murder charge faced by a gay Apache man, following the killing of a local priest in the 1980s. As Hays County contemplates adoption of a Conviction Integrity Unit, national expert Patricia Cummings — who led the same office for Philadelphia — will provide a question-and-answer segment after the film about systemic efforts to fix false criminal convictions.

Saturday, Feb. 7, kicks off with “STEAL THIS STORY PLEASE,” a new documentary on Democracy Now, the independent news program that plays weekly on KZSM, San Marcos' community radio.

A special screening of EDDINGTON that afternoon will dovetail with a forum on the threat of data centers, hosted by regional advocates and that evening filmmaker Mabel Valdiviezo will accompany her documentary, “PRODIGAL DAUGHTER,” which follows her fleeing from Peru to the U.S. as a punk-rock video artist during the Fujimori dictatorship.

Sunday, Feb. 8, is dedicated to new Texas cinema, boasting 48 films recently produced in the Lone Star State, with nearly every bloc featuring question-and-answer opportunities with directors afterward.

The festival takes place both at Price Center and the film school at Texas State University, largely composed of diverse medleys of short films, including the Best of the Fest bloc with Lost River organizers' favorites from 2026 submissions at 12:30 p.m. and the Scary Texas bloc, featuring a host of horror flicks, at 2:30 p.m. The fest culminates with a 7:15 p.m. screening of “THE INQUISITOR,” the new biography of trailblazing stateswoman Barbara Jordan.

Although Lost River prides itself as one of the most affordable film festivals in the state, Hays Free Press readers are nonetheless able to enjoy a 20% discount on badge and ticket purchases by using the code "HaysFreePress" at www.TheLostRiverFilmFest.org.

According to agenda documents, the proposed writing consists of an agreement between the government agencies to construct an animal shelter, with construction led by Kyle. All three municipalities will fund the “first-class animal shelter,” with the county supporting the majority of the fiscal costs at 64.5%, 2.8% from Buda and Kyle taking on the remaining 32.7%, stated agenda documents.

Prior to item consideration, Prevent A Litter (PALS) president Lauren Foye spoke in favor of the agreement.

“As we begin the new year, it is also the last year the county has a contract with the [San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter (SMRAS)]. Time is running out and this is a concrete plan for almost all the county. It is a step in the right direction. As being part of the design and planning of the new animal Kyle facility, I can say it’s not only going to be beautifully designed, but done with thought and consideration for the animal health and security for those that will be staying there,” said Foye.

She added that there will be program areas and room for expansion.

Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe began the discussion by noting that, previously, at its Dec. 15 meeting, the dais chose to delay the vote in order to allow the new council member and mayor of Kyle to participate in the action, since they would not be sworn in until Dec. 23.

Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra noted that Kyle City Council would not be discussing the item at its Jan. 6 meeting and suggested waiting to move forward with approval, since the city is taking the lead.

Because the agreement has been negotiated over several months, commissioner Walt Smith urged moving forward, rather delaying, as there is an October 2026 timeline that needs to be met: “We are at the point, now, where two weeks in design is a big gap, especially if we want something by the end of the year.”

Also comfortable with moving forward was commissioner Morgan Hammer, but she requested that Kyle deliver its portion of the money prior to county funding.

“We have worked for a really long time and we know that the service is needed. Hopefully, we can come together and work on this,” concluded Ingalsbe.

The ILA passed 4-1, with Becerra dissenting.

The judge took to social media later that day to explain his vote, stating that the new Kyle City Council, which swore in four new members throughout the election season, deserved time to review and, if needed, shape the agreement to reflect their leadership.

“This brief pause [would] create no meaningful delay. It simply allows the City of Kyle to place its fingerprint on an agreement it will lead. Any change, even a single sentence, would require the ILA to return for reconsideration anyway,” said Becerra. “Finally, the current ILA does not provide coverage for the west side of Hays County. As a countywide representative, it is my responsibility to ensure that the steps we take serve every resident. As written, this agreement does not yet meet that standard.”

The commissioners will meet next Tuesday, Jan. 20.

GSMYC strives to strengthen families through its services available to Hays County residents, with an objective to reduce child maltreatment, truancy and juvenile delinquency, while also increasing families’ protective factors and resilience to crisis. One of the ways it does this is through the Teen Life Soundtrack Podcast, created in the summer of 2025.

“The youth are the ones who make up the team and they do most of the conversation. I am just a facilitator to kind of keep them on track. When we first got this together, we came up with different topics that they would like to talk about and then, my part of facilitating is kind of adding those questions in there and they'll have a conversation and they might come up with their own questions along the way or even just have that casual conversation,” explained Lizzy Orman, lead family support specialist and facilitator of the podcast.

When Orman got the team together initially, they were all strangers because they don’t go to the same school. She noted that in the first episode, listeners may hear some timidness, but as time has progressed, the teens have laughed and become more comfortable in conversation.

They come up with the different episodes, Orman explained, at their planning meetings and have gone over various topics, including counseling, reaching out for help in general, mental health, building healthy relationships, family dynamics and substance use and recovery.

“It is just life experience and kind of what they have experienced at school, within family or anything they’ve gone through,” she said. “We typically do a check-in and just to see how everybody's doing. They'll give a quick life update on what's been happening and then, we will usually get into the topics and somebody will introduce the topic and then, ask an initial question.”

The why behind the podcast was found as Orman is the GSMYC representative on the youth coalition of Core Four and she saw in a community needs assessment that a lot of students in middle through high school lack a sense of belonging. She hopes that the public, especially adults, can gain a better understanding of the youth by listening to the podcast.

“People want to fit in somewhere. There's a lot of kids who participate in academic, extracurriculars [and] sports. But what about everyone else? With my time here, I have noticed that these kids have a lot to say, especially when they're reaching out for help,” she said. “You see them grow and so, with that growth, it's because of the lived experience, they have a lot to say and I'm like, ‘Hey, that sounds really good. Your peer would probably prefer hearing that from you than from me or their parent or a teacher or any other adult.’ I thought that this would be a great opportunity to give youth a sense of belonging, but also share their voice on their lived experiences.”

There are currently four students who are involved in the podcast and they are looking to keep the team they have right now, but there is a possibility of having guest speakers, Orman shared.

The podcast can be found on Apple at bit.ly/4qDxGTZ and Spotify at bit.ly/4qzWnQT.

Garfias is described as being 5’3 tall, 120 pounds with brown shoulder length curly hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and light blue jeans.

Garfias was last observed on Morningwood Drive near Hilliard Road in San Marcos. She and her older sister voluntarily entered a SUV occupied by three unidentified males. The older sister is classified as an adult and made the decision to leave on her own, according to HCSO.

Those who have information regarding this incident, identity of persons, whereabouts, etc. are asked to contact Detective Linsey at 512-393-7362 or Antoine.Linsey@hayscountytx.gov. They can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously by calling 1-800-324-8477 from anywhere in the U.S. or submit information online to Tip Line at P3tips.com.

According to MHC administrator Kaimi Mattila, the grant will enable MHC attorneys to assist eligible program graduates with the expungement of their criminal records. The funding will cover the cost of specialized expungement training to ensure attorneys are well-prepared to provide this service, as well as fair compensation for their time.

“This grant allows our graduates to move forward with their lives after completing the program, without their criminal background creating barriers to housing and employment,” said Mattila. “It’s a significant step forward, as the court previously lacked the resources to train and compensate attorneys for expungement services, even though many graduates qualify.”

The Hays County MHC, overseen by Judge Elaine Brown in County Court at Law #3, focuses on early identification of individuals with mental health, substance use and/or intellectual or developmental challenges. By connecting participants with evidence-based treatment options, the program aims to reduce criminal justice involvement and support long-term recovery. MHC fosters collaboration among the courts, treatment providers and community resources to reduce recidivism and promote stability, according to a news release.

Currently, the program serves 35 participants and boasts a 93% success rate. Since its inception, MHC has graduated 36 individuals, including ten who were honored during the most recent commencement ceremony Dec. 8. The program offers a wide range of services tailored to participants’ needs, including sober living arrangements, transitional and group housing, transportation assistance, benefits navigation, peer support, substance use treatment, family support and specialized therapies.

Program duration is typically one year for individuals with misdemeanor charges and 18 months for those with felony charges, with a possible three-month extension at the judge’s discretion. Throughout their time in the program, participants engage in individualized treatment plans, attend regular court hearings and work closely with providers to achieve their recovery goals.

Since 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $30 million in grants to law-related initiatives. Funded by members of the State Bar of Texas, it is the largest charitably funded bar foundation in the nation, the release stated.

With this new funding, MHC can now offer graduates a fresh start — helping them move forward without being defined by their past.

“When a criminal record is expunged or sealed, it’s removed from public view,” Mattila explained. “This reduces the long-term consequences of past charges, opening doors to better job opportunities, stable housing, educational access and professional licensure. It also helps reduce the social stigma associated with having a record — even for low-level or resolved cases. These improvements in stability and opportunity ultimately contribute to safer communities.”

Judge Brown added, “We are better able to assist some of our graduates with this grant and are very appreciative of this opportunity.”

For more information regarding the Hays County Mental Health Court, visit www.hayscountytx.gov/mental-health-court.

According to Matthew Gonzales, Hays County Health Department director, the purpose of the update is to reflect on the year’s work of the division since its conception in April, as well as the work the county had been completing prior.

The timeline, he continued, is as follows:

June 2022: The county was presented with information from Team Shelter USA on the animal shelter and Animal Services Feasibility Study.

September 2024: The city of San Marcos informed partners that the partnership for its shelter will come to an end in September 2026.

April 2025: The Animal Welfare Services Division was created to be responsible for animal sheltering and animal services.

September 2025: Hays County signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the city of Kyle for animal services.

“We started the division in April and we were able to get the first employee in June and start operations,” said Gonzales. “We held 17 different events focused on the community services that really helped with the safety net of individuals and their households and pets. So, adoption events, low-cost service clinics, microchip clinics [and] trap, neuter and return (TNR).”

Furthermore, the division began creating community partnerships, such as Prevent A Litter (PALS). Within this partnership, they have started a pilot TNR program in the Saddlebrook community, where there are approximately 150 cats living on the premises. There have been 16 cats spayed, 11 neutered and 27 vaccinated.

Gonzales also shared that there have been 1,663 pounds of dry dog food and 1,465 pounds of wet dog food distributed in the past four months to community members, with the greatest need falling within the older adults and Spanish-speaking demographics in the greater Kyle area.

Other programs pending implementation include procuring scanners and partner sites for community-led owner returns, foster programs and adoption events.

“Austin Pets Alive! was previously doing this work, so what we’re having to do is learn how to scale down what was being done to right-size it for the current division and continue to make it a scalable approach moving forward,” said the director.

Touching on the animal shelter partnership with the city of Kyle, Gonzales stated that the facility and operations programming would be provided by the city, with the next step being construction, following the signing of the interlocal agreement, which has been delayed by both the county and Kyle City Council until their respective meetings Jan. 6.

Sharri Boyett, the county judge’s advisor for animal welfare, shared that although there has been praise for the facility partnership with Kyle, she has concerns.

“I would like to see more conversations about what those dollars will mean as we are talking about the east side with Kyle. I would like to see more than the percentages [of the animal intake],” she stressed. “I would like to ask where are the award-winning programs, the experts from the consulting firm … I [also] haven’t seen a commitment for no-kill programming from the presentation from Kyle."

She also recommended creating a coalition for the organizations that represent the animal welfare groups, the need to see the total cost and plan from Kyle and creating a liaison, perhaps from the Hays County Sheriff’s Office.

Additionally, the Kyle shelter does not encompass the west side of the county, he said, as the partnership only includes Kyle, Buda and Hays County; therefore, animals from Wimberley and Dripping Springs will not be housed there. To combat this, Gonzales revealed that the county is currently looking at a satellite location in Dripping springs.

“The rationale for that is that the intake volume from the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter reflects that a larger share of animals from the west side originate within the greater area [of Dripping Springs]. We think that is associated with the population growth that is occurring in that area,” he said.

The director stated that limitations include finding property that is for sale, affordable and improved, but that the county is under a due-diligence period for property that is viable for the development of a shelter.

“I’m a real advocate for this satellite location on the west side. We have the availability and the space to have a satellite campus and the one thing I mentioned the other day, when we had our debate and discussion regarding the MOU, my real question is how are we going to ensure a facility that is maintained by the county with the exact same standards, programming, those sorts of things,” asked commissioner Walt Smith.

In response, Gonzales stated that there will be a lot of partnership meetings, especially at the programming and operational level to ensure consistency. He also said that the facility wouldn’t be county managed, but rather county contracted, similar to Kyle. So, they can look at the contract with the Kyle facility and mirror these standards.

Smith added that, in addition to these locations, he would like to see planning being done for the far east of the county, since it is rapidly growing.

Commissioner Morgan Hammer urged that Wimberley would also be a possible spot in the future, since PALS is now located closer to the city.

“We need to get ready and I feel that we are laying the foundation. We are planting the seeds. We are going to be building out our departments and providing more services to the entire county. It is going to take everyone working together to be able to do that, the municipalities, maybe even neighboring counties; we’re all in this together,” emphasized commissioner Michelle Cohen.

Next steps for the division include developing a road map for the delivery of services for the next three to five years, a west side animal services facility, continued partnership for the Kyle animal facility and implementation of programs.

The Hays County Commissioners Court will meet next Jan. 6.

The event will take place in the Grand Ballroom at Texas State University, offering attendees a forward-looking discussion on the trends shaping the region’s economic future. HCEDP President and CEO Mike Kamerlander will open the program and welcome guests before introducing the luncheon’s keynote speaker, Mark A. Wynne, vice president and associate director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

Wynne, who has been with the Dallas Fed since 1989, advises the bank’s president on national and international economic conditions, leads the bank’s international economics group and has conducted extensive research on fiscal policy, business cycles, inflation and global economic shocks. His work has appeared in top peer-reviewed journals and he co-edited “The Federal Reserve’s Role in the Global Economy: A Historical Perspective.” Wynne also teaches economics at institutions, including University College Dublin, the University of Rochester, Southern Methodist University and The University of Texas at Dallas.

Following Wynne’s keynote, a panel of regional leaders will provide local perspectives on workforce, innovation and economic growth.

The panel includes: Dr. Haiyong Liu, professor and chair of the Department of Finance and Economics at Texas State University; Maureen Gannon, co-founder and chief revenue officer of X-Bow Systems Inc.; and Scott Dozier, general manager of the San Marcos Premium Outlets.

Liu, a nationally recognized expert in labor economics, health economics and applied microeconomics, is expected to outline the workforce trends he believes will define 2025 and beyond. Liu, who previously spent nearly 20 years at East Carolina University and has earned multiple awards for research and teaching, will anchor the event’s first segment, addressing workforce participation, demographic shifts and the region’s evolving labor pipeline.

The discussion will then shift to emerging industries with Gannon, a veteran aerospace executive who has helped raise more than $100 million in start-up capital for X-Bow Systems and co-founded Firefly Space and Galactic Unite. Gannon will speak on supply-chain resilience, private-sector investment and the specialized talent needed to support rapid growth in the aerospace and defense sectors.

Dozier, who oversees one of the region’s largest retail and tourism destinations, will round out the panel with insights on branding, consumer behavior and market forces influencing local economic activity. A 13-year leader within Simon Property Group and former operations director at Atlanta’s Lenox Square, Dozier will discuss retail trends, tourism impacts and the importance of strong regional identity in a competitive marketplace.

The luncheon will conclude with a fast-paced lightning round, allowing all three panelists to offer brief perspectives on emerging economic trends, innovations expected to reshape their industries and strategic investments they believe would strengthen the region’s long-term economic outlook.

Kamerlander said the event aims to give business and community leaders actionable insight as they prepare for the year ahead.

“Understanding our workforce, supporting innovation and telling a strong regional story are all essential to building economic resilience,” he noted. “This discussion will help ensure our region makes informed decisions as we look to 2026 and beyond.”

The Economic Outlook Luncheon is one of HCEDP’s premier annual events, designed to support data-driven planning and strengthen collaboration across Hays and Caldwell counties.

To purchase a ticket, visit bit.ly/4p74Gmn.

“This McCarty Lane H-E-B has been a vision we’ve been working on for some time now,” said Cathy Harm, senior vice president for H-E-B Central Texas. “We are so proud to be here with you today to share this meaningful investment in the great city of San Marcos.”

The new store — H-E-B’s third location in San Marcos — will feature the latest in the company’s modern design, complete with an expansive product assortment, curbside and home delivery services, a multi-lane drive-thru pharmacy, full-service bakery and tortilla area, beer and wine department and a dedicated “Healthy Living” section.

Harm said customers can expect freshly made tortillas, chef-inspired meal options through H-E-B Meal Simple, handmade sushi and even an on-site H-E-B Fresh Bites convenience store, featuring fuel, a car wash and the city’s first H-E-B True Texas Barbecue restaurant.

“This store alone will create over 600 new job opportunities, contributing to the growth and prosperity of this beautiful, thriving city,” Harm said. “We’ve had the privilege of serving San Marcos for more than 70 years and every one of those years has been an honor.”

H-E-B Public Affairs representative Heidi Anderson emceed the event, thanking the many elected officials, first responders and community partners in attendance: “Our commitment to helping Texans runs deep,” Anderson said. “For 120 years, we’ve had the privilege of serving Texas communities and that tradition of giving back continues here in San Marcos.”

In that spirit, H-E-B marked the groundbreaking with donations totaling $20,000 to local organizations:

• Hays County Food Bank — $5,000

• The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment — $5,000

• San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance — $5,000

• San Marcos Education Foundation — $5,000 San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson praised H-E-B’s long-standing relationship with the community.

“The San Marcos community is so happy to see another H-E-B coming,” Hughson said. “When they say, ‘No store does more,’ they mean it. From supporting local food banks to stepping up during natural disasters, H-E-B has always been there for us.”

The groundbreaking ceremony, complete with a hot-air balloon backdrop and plenty of smiles, celebrated more than a new grocery store — it underscored H-E-B’s commitment to the people of San Marcos.

The McCarty Lane store is expected to open late next year, continuing the legacy of Florence Butt, who founded the company in 1905 with just $60 and a simple idea: to serve her neighbors with kindness and care.

“From Florence’s humble beginnings in Kerrville to this new chapter in San Marcos,” Harm said, “our mission remains the same: to serve Texans with dedication, exceptional service and the warmest of H-E-B smiles.”

Missing 2-year-old

The Hays County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its search for a missing child, 2-year-old Sherlock Vasile Jones. He is described as a white male with fair skin, brown eyes and blonde hair; he is approximately three-feet tall and 39 pounds.

According to HCSO, Sherlock is believed to be with his non-custodial mother, Jewel Ashley Jones, a white female with green eyes, brown hair, who is approximately 5’8 and 120 pounds. She was last seen in August in Buda and has an active warrant out of Hays County for interference child custody, a felony.

The current whereabouts of Sherlock are unknown, however, he is believed to be in the Marble Falls area or outside of Texas, HCSO said.

As of Monday, Nov. 3, the lead investigator has taken several steps in the investigation, HCSO Public Information Officer Bryant Cuadros said, but Sherlock is still missing and the department has not yet determined his or the non-custodial parent’s location.

KPD investigates auto-pedestrian collision

The Kyle Police Department is investigating an auto-pedestrian collision that occurred off Dacy Lane last week.

At approximately 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30, Kyle police responded to reports of an auto-pedestrian collision in the 3300 block of Dacy Lane, at a crosswalk in front of Chapa Middle School. According to an email sent out by Hays CISD to Chapa, Science Hall Elementary and Lehman High school families, the accident involved a 10th grade Lehman High School student who was walking his fourth grade sister to Science Hall Elementary.

The children were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

“Though serious, upsetting and frightening, both students are receiving treatment and we are grateful they did not suffer life-threatening injuries,” the district’s email read. “Please keep our students in your thoughts and prayers as they recover.”

As of Monday, Nov. 3, the incident remains under investigation and there are no further updates. However, KPD urges drivers to stay alert, obey speed limits and follow all traffic laws to help keep pedestrians safe.

Shelter in place

According to HCSO, a call for service in reference to a disturbance was placed at approximately 12:20 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, in the 600 block of Bayberry Circle in Buda. The call turned into a criminal barricade, which activated Hays County SWAT. The suspect surrendered and SWAT was cancelled at approximately 2:20 p.m.

Razor blade in candy

On Oct. 31, a parent reported a razor blade found in their child’s Reese’s Take 5 chocolate treat that was received while trick-or-treating. The wrapper appeared to be sealed and unopened, according to the Kyle Police Department. As of Nov. 4, the investigation is ongoing.

HCSO makes arrest, investigates Wimberley incident

HCSO  arrested Sibrain Hernandez, 18, of Paige, and charged him with possession of controlled substance, evading arrest with a vehicle, theft of property, theft of firearm, two counts of burglary of vehicle and duty on striking highway fixture related to an incident that occurred in Wimberley on Oct. 29.

At approximately 5 a.m. that day, HCSO deputies responded to the Woodcreek North subdivision for reports of a motor vehicle theft that just occurred and developed suspects. Persons matching the description were observed on foot in the area of the Wimberley Square at approximately 8:50 a.m.

At the time, HCSO had a suspect in its custody — later identified as Hernandez — but another one, who may have been armed, was outstanding. This suspect was described to be a Hispanic male in a light-colored hoodie; however, it was later determined that the suspect that was detained earlier, Hernandez, was the same one in the light-colored hoodie who changed out while being sought by deputies and there were no outstanding suspects in the area.

HCSO also called for a shelter in place for a one-mile radius from the Wimberley Square earlier that morning, but it was lifted at approximately 10 a.m.

The incident remains under investigation and additional charges may follow as new evidence is discovered and additional suspects are identified, according to HCSO.

Saturday, Nov. 1

At 1:11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, SMPD officers responded to numerous calls of a shooting at Old Ranch Road 12 and Hughson Drive. Officers arrived on scene and canvassed the area.

Upon their arrival, officers learned that an unknown suspect, or suspects, fired a gun from a vehicle and into a wooded area, explained Standridge. While searching the area, two victims reported a bullet had gone through their apartment, the chief said, but “the victims did not feel like they, specifically, were targeted, so the motive behind this shooting is unknown.”

Officers seized seven bullet casings as evidence and this case is assigned to a detective, Standridge said.

Later Saturday night, an overnight officer was assigned to the downtown San Marcos Square in anticipation of large crowds in the bar district. Three others were also assigned there, but had not yet arrived.

At approximately 10:04 p.m., the officer was on the south side of the downtown courthouse investigating a reported robbery that had just occurred. While speaking to the victim, the officer heard multiple shots fired from the opposite side of the courthouse, on the Hopkins Street side, the chief said. He immediately ran to the area, while others were running away from one of the bars on Hopkins Street.

“The officer encountered a male victim who had been shot outside of this bar. As other officers arrived, they were told a second victim was inside of this same bar after having been shot outside,” Standridge said. “Within a few minutes, officers learned of yet another victim who was also shot, but he had fled to the opposite side of the courthouse.”

The first officer began CPR on one of the victims. The victim, identified as Ronnie Hernandez Jr., was eventually transported by EMS to CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital and he was pronounced deceased at the hospital, Standridge said.

“We extend our sincere condolences to the Hernandez family. I cannot imagine their grief and I want them to know that we have worked nonstop to identify the shooter who has caused this homicide,” the chief said.

The second victim, who was found inside the bar, had been shot twice — in the stomach and shoulder. He was considered critical and he was taken by EMS to Ascension Seton Hays Hospital in Kyle and is expected to recover, the chief said.

The third victim was also shot twice, in the forearm and the waist. He was also taken to Seton Hays and is expected to recover.

According to the update given during the Nov. 3 press conference, Standridge said that SMPD has seized the vehicle that the two suspects were using. The suspects were described as two Black males who got into an Audi A3 vehicle that was parked near Kissing Alley.

“Video from the downtown fire station captured the getaway vehicle, which then led to extensive searches using license plate readers. The correct car was identified and located by police and is currently in our custody,” Standridge said.

“As more officers arrived on scene to provide medical aid and to secure the large crime scene, the bar district continued to operate,” Standridge said. “This caused significant issues as intoxicated patrons were coming into the clearly marked police area and fights were being reported at the various bars.”

By this time, officers and deputies from the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, Texas State University Police Department, Kyle Police Department and Buda Police Department were in the area assisting.

Simultaneously, calls from the rest of San Marcos had continued to come in and, at one point, there were 37 calls waiting, including some priority one calls, which required two officers being dispatched within two minutes.

“We simply did not have enough officers to effectively manage the large crime scene, continue bar operations and calls for service,” Standridge said.

Sunday, Nov. 2

At 1:18 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, Standridge communicated to the on-scene fire marshal and SMPD officers that he wanted all bars on the Square closed: “It should be noted that this dovetailed with time falling back, so, arguably, some would say that the bars were closed approximately two hours before their normal closing time. We are very thankful for their cooperation regarding this matter, as everyone seemed genuinely concerned of the events unfolding.”

Shortly after making the decision to close the bars, another shooting call was received at 1:23 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2. This time, it was at the 1600 block of Post Road at The Outpost apartment complex.

“We are forever thankful to the Hays County Sheriff’s [Office] as they made the scene first and summoned their crime scene team,” Standridge noted. “Also assisting was our regional Texas Ranger, who has always been a great resource for all law enforcement entities in Hays County. Eventually, San Marcos Police would arrive on scene and ultimately take lead on this investigation.”

A large fight occurred at the apartment’s pool and it was recorded, Standridge said. Detectives have a large suspicion on the shooter’s identity.

Multiple bullet casings were seized as evidence. A second suspect pistol-whipped another person, so SMPD is actively working to identify and arrest both individuals.

There was one known victim who was taken to CHRISTUS Santa-Rosa by friends; however, blood trails at the scene suggested that there may have been two victims.

Finally, at 1:51 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, more shots were fired downtown at the intersection of LBJ Drive and Hutchinson Street, which was only one block away from the ongoing homicide investigation, Standridge said during the press conference.

Officers were still on-scene investigating the first shooting. While still in the area, the officers heard the gunshots and observed the suspect fleeing the scene. They chased, tased and arrested the suspect, identified as Eliezer Johnson Hernandez. The firearm was eventually found behind one of the nearby businesses.

Along with sharing his appreciation for the law enforcement partners who assisted, Standridge stated his gratitude to the downtown businesses for their help and cooperation, as well as their “possession of good cameras,” because they were able to capture the downtown shooting from several different angles. It captured the shooting that left two people shot twice and one person shot either five or seven times, the chief stated.

The chief cautioned and stressed to the community that the shooter — involved in the first shooting in the downtown Square — is armed and dangerous.

“Video shows him shooting at the group of victims and once several fell to the ground, he then closed distance on at least two of them and shot them several more times while they lie on the ground,” he said.

SMPD does not know the motive or if there are any affiliations between the two groups of people, however, Standridge said, “What we do know is there was a group of five males walking in front of the bar on Hopkins Street and the before-mentioned Black males — there were two of them — something is said — we don’t know what because the video just captures video and not audio — whereupon one of the Black males goes to his friend and it looks like, based upon video evidence, retrieves a firearm from the other friend. He then goes back and reapproaches the five that were still in front of the bar and he begins shooting at all five, striking three of the five.”

Standridge reassured the community that SMPD takes these matters very seriously and additional officers — which would be a minimum of four, along with however many the university’s police department can provide — will be assigned downtown Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. They will be in addition to the officers providing primary police services on the streets of San Marcos.

“Our pledge is that this will continue going forward throughout this fiscal year. With that said, we all know, from experience, that when school is not in session that attendance in the bar district drops, so we will evaluate those on an as-needed basis,” the chief said. “But I want to reassure, because I am sure I have a lot of concerned parents all across the United States who are watching this unfold, that we will have officers assigned to the downtown bar district on nights that we anticipate large crowds.”

To listen to the full press conference, visit bit.ly/4olzrnN. Those who have information on the homicide that occurred in downtown San Marcos are urged to contact SMPD at 512-753-2108 or at www.sanmarcostx.gov/3881/Police.

“Many of the issues cited include slopes of parking lots that exceed the maximum requirements, and changes in foundation levels that cause barriers to voters with disabilities,” said Hays County Elections Administrator Jennifer Doinoff. “Additionally, pathways to the voting location from the public right-of-way had compliance issues that couldn’t be overcome before early voting started.”

The changes to the list of voting locations are as follows:

•   Sunfield Station has been relocated to Holiday Inn Express

•   Dripping Springs Learning Center has been relocated to Patriot’s Hall Wellness Center

•   Driftwood Community Center was closed

“It’s important to comply with ADA standards to ensure that voters with disabilities have every opportunity to vote in-person independently, like all other voters,” Doinoff said. “Hays County Elections is dedicated to finding locations that are fully and equally accessible for all voters.  Our team will work with the affected locations to make permanent remedies, so that we can use them for future elections.”

Early voting runs through Oct. 31. For more information, visit www.hayscountytx.gov/elections.

This initiative, entirely organized by the deputies, honors breast cancer survivors, supports those currently battling the disease and remembers those who have lost their fight. Deputies personally purchased their pink accessories, with all proceeds benefiting breast cancer research.

"Our team impresses us every day, both on and off duty," said Sheriff Anthony Hipolito. "Their compassion and initiative to come together for such an important cause is something we’re incredibly proud of."

As part of their outreach and continued support of breast cancer, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting a softball game, known as Battle of the Badges, featuring HCSO against Wimberley Fire Rescue from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Wimberley ISD Softball Complex. Tickets will be sold at the door, and all proceeds will benefit the Wimberley Youth Sports Association and the American Cancer Society.

The Hays County Sheriff’s Office encourages community members to join in raising awareness and showing support for those affected by breast cancer.

Dunn immediately dispatched emergency personnel and calmly guided the caller through CPR instructions, until EMS arrived on scene at 2:39 a.m.

According to a Hays County Sheriff’s Office news release, the husband went into cardiac arrest at 35 years old and spent 17 days in the hospital. Due to Dunn’s guidance, the rapid response of first responders and the excellent work by the hospital staff, the patient survived, stated the news release.

On Thursday, Oct. 9, Ascension Seton Hays Hospital honored Dunn, as well as San Marcos/Hays County EMS, Kyle Fire Department and Ascension Seton Medical and Cardiology team, for their efforts during a Life-Saving Reunion, presenting Dunn and the first responders with a Life-Saving Award.

The Kyle family was included in the reunion and requested the opportunity to meet Dunn in person to express their gratitude, describing the dispatcher as “so calm and helpful,” during such a traumatic moment.

“The Hays County Sheriff’s Office is incredibly proud of our dedicated dispatchers,” said Sheriff Anthony Hipolito. “They undergo months of intensive training and handle life-and-death calls every day. Their work may happen behind the scenes, but they are the true lifeline of our community. We are always recognizing their good work and want the public to see the faces behind the voices who help keep Hays County safe.”

All of Hays County dispatchers are trained in International Academies of Emergency Dispatch training and get re-certified every two years.

SAN MARCOS — Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins announced Friday, Oct. 17, that 53-year-old Andrew Palmore, formerly of Kyle, was found guilty of continuous sexual abuse of children by a Hays County jury and sentenced Oct. 16 by that same jury to life in prison, the maximum punishment allowed by law for the offense of continuous sexual abuse of children. There is no possibility of parole.

In February 2022, the Kyle Police Department began investigating Palmore, a former teacher at Blanco Vista Elementary School, after an outcry of child sexual abuse. The minor child who outcried was not a student at Blanco Vista Elementary. Throughout the course of the investigation, Det. Pedro Carrasco Jr. uncovered evidence of a previous investigation regarding another child by the San Marcos Police Department and interviewed the defendant. He admitted to sexually abusing three children. Palmore also revealed that one of the victims was part of the San Marcos Police Department investigation. The investigation led to the discovery of additional elementary-aged children who claimed that Palmore sexually abused them, including former students of the defendant at Casey Elementary School in Austin, during the 2000s.

During the trial, the jury heard testimony from six different children whom Palmore abused, as well as testimony from two adult women who were victims of the defendant during his time at Casey Elementary. It was apparent from the testimony of the witnesses that Palmore used his position as a teacher to gain access to an untold number of children and to garner the trust of the community and the parents, said Higgins. It is impossible to know the true extent of Palmore’s sexual abuse, which spanned more than two decades, he added.

"This case highlights the importance of collaboration between law enforcement, prosecutors, and the community in ensuring justice is served," said KPD Chief Jeff Barnett. "Our department remains committed to protecting children, preventing abuse and holding offenders fully accountable to the fullest extent of the law."

Assistant District Attorneys Daniella Garcia and Elizabeth Schmidt prosecuted this case.

“Children are the most vulnerable members of our society, and today, the children of Hays County have been made safer by ensuring a dangerous sexual predator will never have access to another child again. Bringing this predator to justice was truly a team and community effort,” Schmidt said. “We’d like to thank Det. Carrasco for his hard work, thoroughly investigating this case that led to the discovery of victims that spanned the defendant’s 20-year career as a teacher, the brave survivors who stood up to their offender, the victim assistant coordinator who demonstrated extraordinary powers in managing to keep everything on track and all of the witnesses who testified in the trial. We also appreciate the time and attention of the jurors who rendered justice. We hope the victims find some measure of reassurance knowing that they are safer, and they have the community’s support.”

Founded in 2009 by Christopher Hansen, SMART was initially established because San Marcos CISD did not offer an orchestra course, leading the former artistic director to create a string education program at the high school. That mission was accomplished after two years.

Hansen ultimately left the artistic director role in 2019, when he became a professor at a university in Washington. It was then that Jeremy Sustaita, executive director, had to work with his team to keep SMART going, redevelop the organization and revamp it into a bigger community orchestra open to players of all ages.

“We are a nonprofit community orchestra. We are open to players of all ages, all professions. We have professional musicians. We have people who picked up their instruments again; I think in one case, we had somebody who picked it up after 30 years,” explained David Cole, artistic director and conductor. “At least while I've been around, the youngest player we've ever had was 13 and the oldest player retired after the spring of 2024 [and] she was 86. We do encompass the entire community and we are always welcome to auditions, like almost every community orchestra in the world. We're always looking for more string players and so, we tend to have regular auditions, usually at the beginning of each season, but that shouldn't impede people from getting in touch with us and asking to audition later on in the year.”

“We've done a lot of things in terms of development to make it the premier orchestra in San Marcos. So, we're a community group, but we put on very high production concerts for the community and our goal is to try to keep them free,” Sustaita said.

Designed to be an outlet for individuals interested in studying and performing music, SMART provides a fast-paced, structured and organized opportunity for its members to perform and learn in a full symphony orchestra rehearsal setting. There are nearly 60 members in the orchestra currently — who travel from different parts of Hays County and further to play — and they try to make sure every voice and instrument is covered.

Additionally, it is rooted in the Hays County community by offering a free concert series with at least four performances per session at the San Marcos High School Performing Arts Center, as well as a recital series at the San Marcos Public Library.

As part of its orchestral initiative, SMART is hosting “Once Upon an Orchestra - Adventures in Storytelling,” where each child under the age of 16 will receive a concert library card at the first show that they attend and those who attend at least three events, out of nine total, will receive a young music adventurer award in May 2026.

“The string education in this part of Texas is not as developed. We want it to get bigger and more popular. We're having a lot of trouble finding string musicians and so, we want to just start getting them more involved at the local level. We decided to do the library card this year,” Sustaita explained. “At the end of the season, depending on how many of them they came to, they'll get a bookmark. We're looking at gift cards to Half Price Books, little things like that that we're going to just kind of reward them with, as long as they come to all of our performances, or as many as they can, and that encourages the whole community to kind of get out involved.”

SMART will be hosting the following performances:

Once Upon an Orchestra at 5 p.m. at San Marcos High School

Oct. 19: “A Night at the Opera” — music by Puccini, Verdi, Mozart, Wagner and more

Dec. 14: “Merry and Bright” — music from “The Polar Express,” “The Nutcracker” and more holiday favorites

Feb. 15: “If Music Be the Food of Love” — inspired by four of Shakespeare’s immortal dramas, including “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Othello,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Henry V”

May 16: “To Boldly Go — A Symphonic Sci-Fi/Fantasy Experience” — music from “Star Trek,” “Harry Potter,” “Video Games Live” and “Star Wars.” (There will also be a May 17 performance of this at the Wimberley Valley Winery)

SMART Session — Once Upon a Recital Series at 1 p.m. at the San Marcos Public Library

Oct. 25: “Howl-O-Ween Harmonies” — spooky compositions and Halloween-themed favorites

Dec. 20: “Harmony in the Holidays” — classical and modern holiday tunes

March 14: “Children’s Concert” — geared toward young listeners with music from video games, movie scores and a narrated piece from “Peter and the Wolf”

May 9: “6th Annual Composer’s Recital” — showcases the talent of local composers by celebrating the musical community with fresh and innovative compositions

Sustaita and Cole explained that they are looking at possibly holding performances elsewhere in Hays County; however, due to a grant that they rely on from the San Marcos Arts Commission, about 90% of them need to be done in San Marcos.

When SMART won best classical artist at the inaugural San Marcos Music Awards in 2024, they were told that they were the best kept secret in San Marcos, Sustaita said. However, that struck a chord in him that there are not a lot of people who know about the group, leading him to look at how to get more involved in the community.

The concert series and involving local students is ultimately geared to make the community aware of “what an amazing thing orchestra is,” the executive director continued.

Cole echoed the same point, sharing that, with the multiple activies in which students can participate in school — whether that be band, orchestra, choir, sports or other extracurriculars — there can be multiple competing voices and music can get lost. He said that he believes what they are doing is giving the voice of music in public schools and as part of the community.

“All of the stats show that, for example, for students accepted to medical and law school, their most common undergraduate major is not pre-law or pre-med anymore, it's music. I've had students who've gone to interviews for medical school, and one of them came back to me and said, ‘It was kind of surprising. One of the questions they asked me is if I played musical instruments,’” he said. “From the age of the people that we have in our orchestra, it's not just something that if you're a football player [or] a basketball player, after a certain age, you might not be able to play much anymore and, in music, you play for a lifetime.”

To learn more about SMART and keep up-to-date on performances, visit www.smartorchestra.org.

The bill offers “a more in depth look into law enforcement’s criteria and basis for an emergency detention, or warrantless apprehension, for someone suffering from a mental health crisis,” explained Zaqzouq.

The first amendment within the bill occurs in Section 573.001 (a), which gives the peace officer a right to take an individual into custody without a warrant if certain qualifications are met. Specifically, (a) 1 has been amended to add clarifying language that the individual must have a mental illness and either present a substantial risk of serious harm to oneself or others, have severe emotional distress or deterioration in their mental condition or present an inability to recognize symptoms or appreciate the risks and benefits of treatment. The following language was also added to (a) 2: “The person is likely without immediate detention to suffer serious risk of harm or to inflict serious harm on another person.”

The mental health officer explained that changes that other agencies may have to implement were already in effect for HCSO, such as identifying juvenile patients from adults, to ensure that their parents are notified of the emergency detention and are not reporting their child missing.

One of the more substantial changes is in Section 573.002 (d), which includes additional demographic information and a new questionnaire that, upon determining that a situation requires emergency detention, an officer is required to ask the individual. Some of the questions officers are required to ask include whether: the individual has previously been in psychiatric hospital treatment, attempted suicide, is currently taking psychiatric medication, sleeping difficulty, has a reported mental health diagnosis and more.

“It is our job to gauge the severity of the mental health crisis at that moment. It is not to put people in the hospital that do not need to be in the hospital. Our job is to provide resources to those that just need it, to provide support for individuals that need it and lend an ear. For those that are more severe, we are gauging out the situation brought by a criteria of what we call the emergency detention order,” said the officer. “That is when we are intervening and deciding that someone will be placed on an emergency detention order. So, it’s a detention and having to facilitate getting them to proper care, whether it be the emergency room, where they will then be forwarded to a mental health facility or if we are going to take them straight to a mental health facility.”

For community members questioning the need for the information, Zaqzouq stated that it is really for the betterment of the individual. Not only does it provide a guideline for officers that may be in the field, but are not trained as part of the mental health units, it also gives necessary information to hospitals to treat the patient properly.

“[For example], sleep is a big one for decompensation. If you have been in a manic state and you have not been sleeping for two, three, four days … We know that since you are not sleeping, your hallucinations are probably based on that manic and psychotic state that you’re in. So, it gives us a better understanding of what they’re suffering from.    Because if you tell me, ‘They’re hallucinating’ and ‘They’re speaking to the walls’ and ‘They’re talking to themselves,’ an average person may think they’re schizophrenic, when, in reality, they haven’t slept for four days, they’re not really eating and they stopped taking their medication, so they’ve entered into a psychotic state,” explained the officer.

Some may view the application as a violation of privacy, but Zaqzouq clarified that it does not go against the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as it is pertinent information for an officer to have to ensure that a patient receives the care they need. He also emphasized that the questionnaire is only prompted after it is determined that someone will need to be taken into emergency detention.

Despite the questionnaire now being required, Zaqzouq explained that the officers had previously been asking similar questions anyway, as it was helpful to know a patient's history to give them better care.

He also noted that the questionnaire does not affect whether or not an individual receives help. This means that if the resident is unable to provide answers or refuses to, it is simply noted that HCSO was unable to receive an answer for the questions.

“Not every mental health call for service will resort to hospitalization; we want to destigmatize the idea of getting thrown into a psych ward because that’s not a thing … Our goal as a mental health unit is to inform and educate the public about mental health and to take proactive measures to prevent a mental health crisis. We are available to those that need help before entering a crisis,” emphasized Zaqzouq. “We [want to] continue just trying to stay one step ahead, however we can.”

To read SB 1164, visit capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01164F.htm.

AFib is the most common type of heart arrhythmia, with approximately 12.1 million people in the U.S. diagnosed with the condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The condition is characterized by an irregular and often rapid heart rate, occurring when the upper chambers of the heart, known as the atria, do not beat in sync with the lower chambers, stated a CHRISTUS news release.

“This irregular rhythm can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other complications,” said Dustin Meyer, director of cardiac electrophysiology for CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos. “It is crucial to recognize the signs of AFib for early detection and intervention.”

Meyer said while AFib can affect anyone, certain risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing the condition, such as aging, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

He said it is important for individuals with any risk factors to be vigilant and proactive in monitoring their heart health.

“Knowing the signs and symptoms is equally important because, despite risk factors, anyone can develop AFib,” he said.

Some symptoms patients can experience are:

• Heart palpitations

• Shortness of breath

• Fatigue

• Dizziness

• Drop in blood pressure

• Sweating or chest discomfort

“Some patients may not experience any symptoms,” Meyer said. “This is why getting a yearly heart check with your primary care physician is so important.”

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos has a state-of-the-art electrophysiology (EP) lab, marking a significant advancement in cardiac care for the community, the release continued. The new EP lab – made possible by a $1 million donation made by Gloria Ingram and family – focuses on diagnosing and treating complex heart conditions, like AFib, by examining and mapping the heart’s electrical system.

Treatment options for AFib can include medication, lifestyle changes or medical procedures like an ablation.

“An ablation is a minimally invasive procedure targeting and eliminating the abnormal heart tissue responsible for the irregular rhythm,” Meyer said. “By restoring the heart’s normal electrical signals, ablation can effectively treat AFib and reduce the risks of long-term complications.”

He said education is key in preventing and managing heart conditions.

To learn more about AFib, visit bit.ly/3VrH9jA.

Bobbie Garza-Hernandez, Pīlam for community engagement, explained that a powwow is essentially a gathering of Indigenous people to share their culture, whether that be with each other or with residents outside of the community.

“It’s about singing and dancing and celebrating our blessings, the blessings that we receive from Mother Earth,” she said.

The name Sacred Springs comes from the San Marcos Springs, which is the place where the Coahuiltecan creation story begins, she explained. Additionally, the area’s springs, according to the Edwards Aquifer’s website, is one of the oldest continually inhabited sites in North America.

This is why the event takes place on the same grounds where Indigenous history began.

Garza-Hernandez shared that the first powwow actually occurred in 1995 and was hosted by Lucky Tomlin, as a one-time celebration, but when the Indigenous Cultures Institute (ICI) was founded, the founders approached Tomlin and asked if the powwow could become an annual event.

According to the organization, the ICI was founded in 2006 in an effort to "preserve the cultures of the Native Americans indigenous to Texas and northern Mexico, while maintaining our covenant with sacred sites.”

Now, it is hosting its 15th celebration, filled with arts, food and education, with the goal to preserve the culture of Native Americans.

“All tribes are invited to a powwow; everyone is invited to a powwow. It’s music, it’s dance, it’s food, it’s art [and[ it’s sharing of other cultural activities,” said Garza-Hernandez.

There are also opportunities to learn the Coahuiltecan language and a workshop on tracking the earth’s orbit with the Aztec calendar.

Specifically, Garza-Hernandez stated that the Sacred Springs Powwow also hosts two drum groups — from the north and the south — as well as a dance competition, with more than 100 participating groups and various styles.

“It’s truly a unique experience,” emphasized Garza-Hernandez. “It’s connecting with the earth and with nature and also celebrating the natural way of living.”

The Sacred Springs Powwow will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5 at the Meadows Center, located at 201 San Marcos Springs Drive.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.sspowwow.com.

The council first began in 2019 after prominent members of the Indigenous and Tejano community were denied membership to the Hays County Historical Commission, said founding member Anita Azenet Collins: “We were furious and so, we went to the judge and we said, ‘This isn’t right. There’s no representation.’ And he said, ‘You know what? Let’s just create our own.’”

“The goal is to show that our history of Hays County is diverse. It isn’t just the Anglos that came in and settled the area, that we’ve been here for between 11-14,000 years, that we deserve to have our history told, as well,” said Collins.

While the council was forming, the Historical Commission was running a museum of the county’s history in the Historic County Courthouse that told a specific story, explained Collins. During this time, she stated that many community members of color would walk in and immediately leave because there was no representation of themselves.

It was after observing this — and the fact that the museum failed to reopen after COVID-19 shut it down — that founding member Gina Alba-Rogers approached the county and asked to create an exhibit of the council’s own.

According to Collins, it took approximately two years of research and consulting with professors at Texas State University and the Indigenous Cultures Institute for the museum to open, which occured in May 2025.

“It’s a museum like you haven’t seen in Hays County because this is telling the history of the Indigenous people and of the Mexican Americans who were in this county forever,” she said. “Many people who are not from San Marcos don’t know that this is the longest continuously inhabited area.”

So, the exhibit begins with the creation story of the Native Americans, followed by artifacts that were discovered to be up to 9,500 years old. Then, a history is told on the walls from the 1600s to the midcentury. The center of the room houses panels featuring families of Hays County that have been present for 100 years or more, such as the Tobias and Veracruz families.

Additionally, there is a wall that features the Coahuiltecan language.

“[Community members] don’t realize that the Coahuiltecan still have their native language and they still are teaching it to their young people that’s here,” Collins shared. “So, we chose to put up some of the words in their language and the translations. Then, if they scan the QR code, they can listen to her saying the words. It brings awareness that the Indigenous people didn’t just die or run away when the Anglos came; we were always here.”

The community response since the museum's opening has been overwhelmingly positive, Collins said:

“They see themselves. I have people say, ‘I saw my name in there.’ And never before have they been able to say that. The names didn’t relate to them; they weren’t represented.”

The museum has also received visitors from around the world, including Amsterdam and South America, to learn more about the history.

In the future, the council hopes to rotate the center panels to tell more stories of families that have been in the community for decades.

As far as contributing other aspects to the county, Collins stated that they are always working on adding historical markers to the county, though they are currently collaborating with the National Park Service on interpretive panels to continue telling the history in Hays County.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday and is located in the Hays County Historic Courthouse at 111 E. San Antonio St., San Marcos, in Suite 104.

To support the council or find more information on the exhibit, visit www.citc.us.

The first proclamation was to recognize September as Emergency Preparedness Awareness Month and was sponsored by Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra. The item acknowledged the lives lost in emergency situations, such as fires, floods, freezes, tornadoes and more, while also emphasizing the importance of residents having plans in place should these circumstances arise. These include communication strategies, emergency rendezvous locations, preparedness kits and taking into account the needs of family members.

Becerra also sponsored the proclamation recognizing Sept. 17-23 as Consitution Week and September as Suicide Prevention and Action Month.

“Research shows suicide is preventable through increased awareness, accessible mental health services, open dialogue and community support, whereas the Hays County Commissioners Court supports collaborative efforts to prevent suicide through education, outreach and promoting mental wellness … [and] promoting a culture of care and compassion throughout Hays County,” read the Suicide Prevention and Action Month proclamation.

Commissioner Morgan Hammer shared a personal story of her experience with suicide and loved ones, stating that the help her family member got through their difficult times was crucial.

Finally, commissioner Michelle Cohen recognized September as National Hunger Action Month, choosing to congratulate the Hays County Food Bank on the grand opening of its new location in San Marcos.

Additionally, Matthew Gonzales, Hays County Health Department director, shared that the county has begun partnering with the Central Texas Food Bank and the Hays County Food Bank through the Behavioral Health Program.

“We wanted to touch all aspects of a person’s environment that contributes to the overall well-being of individuals and try to dive deeper into food security, as it goes into a large role of an individual's physical and mental health,” said Gonzales. “As we talk about Hunger Awareness Month, I want to emphasize and encourage the court to think about these long-term strategies [to aid our community] and I invite you to have these dialogues and conversations with our behavior health coordinator … so we can try to solve this through all means.”

Tax rate public hearing

Although no public comment was given during the public hearing, budget officer Vickie Dorsett discussed the history of the tax rate in the county.

“Obviously one of the key components for the tax rate change is our voter approved bond programs. We have had various bond packages since 2001 and when the voters approve the bonds, those aren’t always issued at one time; they’re issued in tranches,” explained Dorsett.

These bonds are reflected in the growing need for services, she continued, as the county has experienced a 210% population increase since 2000. Despite this, the tax rate is actually lower than it was in 2000, when it was at $0.4539, as the court is proposing a $0.3999 tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year.

“It is less than a $0.05 tax increase [from last year] and when you consider: our federal cuts; for our grant revenue being down, which is almost a penny on the tax rate; the additional services that we’re providing, which is one and a quarter penny; and the debt and the vertical infrastructure at two and three quarters cent — if we didn’t have those items built into the budget, we would probably be lower than this,” Dorsett said.

Cohen weighed in on the tax increase, stating that it is simply part of the growth the county is experiencing and although it is difficult, it is needed.

The commissioners will meet next Sept. 16.

Prior to the item discussion, resident Shannon Fitzpatrick took to public comment to voice her concern on the automated license plate reading system.

“This is a company that sells information it collects to over 700 different entities. Those entities can share with whomever they please, [with] no warrants [and] no legitimate protections, just thousands of eyes on your every move and more,” said Fitzpatrick. “Some say that the new Flock cameras are relatively inexpensive at around $30,000. Why is that? What Flock is doing is installing cameras on the cheap and then, they can sell that data to anyone who has the money.”

She continued by stating that if there is an emergency that requires camera footage, then law enforcement should subpoena Ring camera footage or other local cameras, rather than taking residents’ “rights away, so outside entities can monitor and make money on our every move.”

Other comments echoed this sentiment, stating that Flock is part of mass surveillance.

Additionally, there were advocates for Flock, such as felony prosecutor Allison Buess, who shared that she is concerned by the misinformation that has been spread regarding the camera system.

“[These cameras are] not an invasive search and this is not personal information. License plate readers are just that; they read license plates,” Buess began. “Everybody has been asking about why we can’t provide numbers for the cases that have been solved by Flock cameras and the answer to that is simple: Flock doesn’t solve crimes. Detectives and police work that relies in part on information provided by Flock is what solves crime … [It’s] not entirely based on Flock, but it is an important tool that provides that first step for law enforcement.”

Several emailed statements supported Buess’ statements, as residents voiced that the tool helps law enforcement act quickly and efficiently. Buess also noted that it not only aids in crime cases by identifying potential suspects, but it also verifies alibis, gives the ability to place schools on lockdown when a vehicle with an individual who has made threats is in the area and more.

This agenda item was initially tabled at the Aug. 12 meeting, as commissioners Michelle Cohen and Debbie Ingalsbe were hosting a forum Aug. 18 with Hays County Sheriff Anthony Hipolito to address concerns community members held.

According to Ingalsbe, the meeting “got heated,” but it was still beneficial to hear the commentary.

The commissioner also shared that at a separate meeting, the sheriff was willing to initiate a forum that would require any officer that utilized the Flock system to provide a reason why and potentially a case number, as well as ask Flock representatives if any of their staff members would also have to provide a reason.

Despite this, Ingalsbe stated that “it wasn’t enough” and she would like to see if there would be any additional safeguards to put in place.

“[People] have muddled the waters in saying that support[ing] law enforcement, support[ing] public safety equals support of these cameras and I consider that a false framing,” said Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra. “The problem I keep hearing is about federal militarization and overreach. It’s not about the guys in this courtroom. It’s not about our sheriff … So, the comment you just made about the sheriff offering a log, if you will — I’m just going to paraphrase it down — doesn’t solve the real ache of the militarization that is actually, literally, not figuratively, taking place in our nation.”

Commissioner Morgan Hammer questioned the timing of these concerns, as when the request for additional cameras was initially presented in February, there was a lack of contention, citing that perhaps the reason is because of Senate Bill 8, which provides agreements between sheriffs and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“Sheriff Hipolito hasn’t done anything to make us distrust him, not once. He’s in support of this [and] I’ve said this from the start: I support our sheriff. So, what is it going to take for us to come to a consensus on these cameras,” stressed Hammer.

“A few people asked, ‘Why wasn’t a member from Flock invited to the forum?’ We weren't sure what exactly the community wanted at this forum, but I think that it could be very beneficial, judge, to have another meeting with Flock representatives in this setting, to allow them to come in and answer more specific questions because I don’t believe that all the questions that were asked were answered,” Ingalsbe explained.

Both she and Cohen stated that they would like more time to discuss because they were not comfortable supporting the cameras, but were also not in favor of cancelling all contracts with Flock, either.

Supporting additional time was commissioner Walt Smith, though, he did suggest that despite the courtroom being full and numerous emailed public comments, that there is a lack of community engagement, as “We’ve heard from some of the same people four and five times.”

He also stated that the idea that license plate readers are “Big Brother” is a red herring: “Where do we draw that line with sharing? … We’ve never drawn that line in the past when it comes to protecting public safety and honoring all sectors of our law enforcement community and having them work as a team … This is a tool that they have in their tool box that helps provide [justice]. I cannot support removing that from them.”

Becerra opted to table the item once more for further discussion at a later meeting. Because of this, Smith’s item of purchasing additional cameras for the Hays County Sheriff’s Office was also tabled.

The Hays County Commissioners Court will meet next at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2.

The evidence showed that on Sept. 6, 2023, 46-year-old Aliaksandr Bushtser was filling his vehicle with gas at a Valero station in Buda when the defendant drove into the gas station and shot Bushtser three times in the back in "an act of unprovoked, senseless violence," stated a Hays County news release. The Hays County Sheriff’s Office obtained surveillance video from the gas station, which showed the truck the defendant was driving when he shot and killed the victim. Due to the quality of the surveillance video, detectives could not make out a license plate for the vehicle, but they were able to ultimately identify the vehicle, owned by Galvan-Ochoa, by utilizing FLOCK camera images, the release continued.

The identity of the killer was further confirmed by a local resident, who saw the driver of the truck during a separate altercation minutes after the murder and called 911 to provide the license plate number of the truck. Galvan-Ochoa later tried to evade police before his capture.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Elizabeth Schmidt and Christopher Griffith. 

Following the verdict, ADA Schmidt said, “Bringing this killer to justice was truly a team effort. We’d like to thank the Hays County Sheriff’s investigators, officers from the Kyle Police Department who assisted in apprehending the defendant, officers from the Buda Police Department who responded to the scene of the murder, the victim assistance coordinators who went above and beyond, the legal assistants who helped with voluminous discovery in this case, the DA investigators who tracked down many witnesses and all of the witnesses who testified in the trial. We also appreciate the time and attention of the jurors who reached a tremendous verdict. We offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Aliaksandr Bushtser and hope some measure of peace is found in bringing his killer to justice.”