SAN MARCOS – A laboratory-confirmed positive human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected in Hays County, which is the first one reported for the 2024 season, according to the Hays County Health Department (HCHD). The patient is a resident of the 78610 ZIP code and was diagnosed with West Nile Fever. Due to privacy and confidentiality reasons, HCHD does not disclose any additional information about the patient. While 80% of people will not experience symptoms of an infection, only 20% of people may experience some symptoms, according to a Hays County news release. Symptoms of West Nile Virus infection can include fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, a skin rash on the torso of the body and swollen lymph nodes. While the risk for severe symptoms is low, individuals ages 50 and older and those with compromised immune systems may be at an increased risk for stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, vision loss, paralysis and, in extremely rare cases, death. Anyone experiencing these symptoms is encouraged to seek medical attention. Supportive care — treatment to improve quality of life and comfortableness — is typically provided to diagnosed patients. Patients can expect to exhibit symptoms for 3-6 days, but may experience fatigue and weakness for weeks or even months. Treatment for the virus is not effective due to the resistant nature of the virus to antibiotics and other medications. WNV is a disease that is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes can become infected when they feed on the blood of infected birds. The infected mosquitoes can then transmit WNV to humans and animals. Severe WNV infections can cause neurologic complications such as encephalitis and/or meningitis. Hays County Epidemiologist Ian Harris said, “West Nile Virus is not contagious and that humans are ‘dead-end host,’ humans are not capable of transmitting the virus to other individuals.” DSHS confirmed a second positive mosquito pool in the unincorporated area of the 78666 ZIP code on July 23, 2024, the release continued. The first reported positive mosquito pool for WNV in Hays County was on July 19, 2024. There were no positive West Nile Virus mosquito pools during the 2023 season. In the state of Texas, the Department of State Health Services reported 913 positive mosquito pools during the 2023 season for West Nile Virus. As of July 20, 2024, DSHS has reported 1327 positive mosquito pools for West Nile Virus. The key to preventing West Nile Virus is to minimize the number of mosquitoes in areas where people live, work and play. Public health officials strongly encourage everyone to remain vigilant about protecting themselves from mosquito bites and preventing mosquito breeding on their properties. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as one teaspoon of standing water. By draining all sources of standing water in and around your property, the number of places mosquitoes can lay their eggs and breed reduces. HCHD reminds resident to remember the 3 D’s: DEET, Dress and Drain.

Cody Mitchell, center, poses for a photo with Hays County Commissioners Debbie Ingalsbe, left, Michelle Cohen, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra, Mitchell’s wife, Hays County Constable, Precinct 2 Deputy Robert Eller and commissioner Lon Shell after being sworn in as a regular full-time Deputy Constable in the Hays County Constable, Precinct 2 Office. Mitchell was formally with the Kyle Police Department for eight years and holds many certifications, including Crisis Intervention Suicide Prevention, Advanced Police Officer License, TCOLE Basic Instructor, ASP baton instructor, Less Lethal ICP Instructor, Mobile Field Force Instructor and drug abuse recognition. During his time at the Kyle Police Department, Mitchell was recognized as officer of the year in 2022, was a Field Training Officer, SWAT member and first line supervisor. His official start date with the constable's office was July 15.

Earlier this month, Dripping Springs City Council proclaimed July as Parks and Recreation Month, thus recognizing those who are dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recognition. “We encourage the citizens of Dripping Springs to get outside today and visit one of our amazing parks that these individuals have worked so hard on for you to enjoy! Thank you, City of Dripping Springs Parks & Community Services Department,” the city said.

Ten-month-old Apollo joins a staff member to meet a potential family. PHOTO BY ASHLEY KONTNIER Pictured, 5-month-old Chardonnay rolls over for a belly rub. PHOTO BY ASHLEY KONTNIER Adoptable pups Tito, left, and Soju, relish in the attention from a couple of attendees. PHOTO BY ASHLEY KONTNIER Soju, front, and Tito greet attendees with tongues out and tails wagging. PHOTO BY ASHLEY KONTNIER

DRIPPING SPRINGS — At its July 16 meeting, Dripping Springs City Council discussed the future of a local mountain biking club's use of Dripping Springs Ranch Park. This comes on the heels of damage found at the park following a Trail Maintenance Day that took place earlier this year on April 23. The gathering was hosted by the Dripping Springs Mountain Biking Team (DSMBT), however, the city and DSRP staff were unaware of the scheduled event. The next day, on April 24, Parks & Community Services Director Andrew Binz noticed displaced dirt, boulders and trees in the ravine located behind the Ranch House, according to agenda documents from a previous meeting on May 7. Upon further investigation by DSRP Manager Emily Nelson and DSRP Assistant Manager Lily Sellers, it was determined that the mountain biking team created an unsanctioned trail in the ravine, resulting in a large amount of tree trimming along with entire trees being cut down, agenda documents continued. There was a dramatic drop off that would be very dangerous for mountain bikers, equestrians and hikers. Even more extensive trail destruction was found, such as improperly cut limbs and enhancements of unsanctioned trails. They also discovered that the trail work had continued down the environmentally sensitive ravine, which resulted in a lot of trees being cut down that provided structure for the ravine’s rock edge. Nelson contacted Lindsey Thomas, one of the DSMBT coaches, immediately to make sure a cease and desist on all trail work occurred. Thomas stated that the team had been working in that area, but she had asked them three times to stop, according to agenda documents. The mountain biking team came out to remedy the ravine unsanctioned trail to the best of its ability, but some of the damage could not be fixed. City staff and the DSMBT Board met on April 30 to discuss how the damage happened to the trail system without adult intervention. According to Nelson, the team showed interest in correcting the improper trail maintenance that had taken place. Prior to the club’s use agreement and settlement agreement being brought up again before council last week, the DSRP Board of Directors had the Dripping Springs Mountain Biking Agreement on the agenda at it's June 12 meeting. As presented at the July 16 meeting, the following is the communication timeline between Nelson and Thomas. • 5/28: Email from Nelson requesting a meeting. • 5/29: Email from Thomas saying she would speak with the DSMBT Board. • 6/17: Email from Thomas requesting a meeting to be the week of Aug. 5 because the board is traveling and has summer plans. • 6/19: Email from Thomas pushing to the week of Aug. 12. • 6/20: Email from Nelson to Thomas discussing the delicate timing and the possibility of delaying the season due to pushing out so far, as well as requesting the insurance policy. Nelson suggested that the entire board didn’t need to be in attendance. • 6/21: Email from Thomas saying, 'That is fine," and that they are more comfortable waiting for the full board. • 6/21: Email from Nelson still requesting insurance. • 6/22: Email from Thomas stating they don’t name the city of Dripping Springs on their policy. • 6/24: Email from Nelson requesting a copy of their insurance anyway. “I don’t have an update to the agreement yet because we have not met with [the DSMBT], so we do not have agreement in place yet or a new agreement — none of those items have taken place,” Nelson explained to the council. “Any agreement that we are able to compose once we’ve met with them for the first initial meeting would have to go to the [Dripping Springs] Ranch Park Board and then city council. They are expecting their season, I believe, to start in October. So, the timing would be very tight.” Mayor Bill Foulds said that he believes that the council as a whole is in support of the mountain biking team, but the situation needs to be resolved. “I think we need to forward a letter to the [Dripping Springs ISD] superintendent to make sure she is aware of the situation because if it’s not resolved in time,” Foulds said, “I feel like this council — and again, I am not trying to speak for everybody — is going to say, ‘Let’s put a hold on it until we do resolve it.’ We are not taking a vote, but I think that is a general consensus.” Council member Travis Crow said the team members should be taking responsibility for their actions in order to continue using the park. “I think we have bent over backwards trying to help the mountain biking club by saying this many hours and community service we need in the summer to help the cost of what they did. And for them to not respond or push this back, they were up here in force with 30 or 40 of them when they realized they messed up,” Crow said. “But not to take that kind of responsibility to help us out when we needed it during the summer … It's just very frustrating to me. I have a real problem with them getting on that park until they make up financially, [community service] hours or whatever they need to do.” Council member Taline Manassian asked if the team typically uses the park during the months of August and September. Nelson responded that they do have practices and recruiting sessions prior to the season officially starting in October. Also, Manassian questioned whether council is deciding that there will be no official use of the park until there is an agreement made. “It’s my understanding that we are still under an agreement with them. It’s getting the settlement agreement done. So, there’s two agreements,” Binz responded. “There’s a use of the park and there’s a settlement.” Foulds clarified that the Dripping Springs Mountain Biking Team is currently in breach of the agreement — and city staff agreed. City Attorney Laura Mueller said that the city has the option to terminate the agreement, as there is no expiration date. She also explained that the city could tell the team that as long as it’s in breach of the agreement, the bikers could not use the park at all or the trail for mountain biking until they do the agreement and hours. “It’s so important that they say that their season is going to start in October, but if they are not going to meet with us until August, they are not going to have very long to do those hours,” Mueller said. Manassian questioned if the team members, who are students, would be able to work off the hours during the school year, even after the season has started. She also asked if there would be enough time to negotiate an agreement during the period of mid-August to Oct. 1. “They’ve had time. They’ve had months. And for their board not to meet until August when we try to bend over backwards, I take that as an insult. We are all busy in the summer [and] we still come up here … and they don’t have time to meet and do something? I find that personally insulting,” Crow responded. “If they didn’t meet their timeframe, that is their problem. They’ve had three months to do this and it wasn’t important to them to do it.” Foulds said that right now, there is nothing that states that the mountain biking team has accepted responsibility and will remedy the problem. While there was extensive discussion, there was no action taken on the item. The council brought the item into executive session, however, did not make any vote following that period when the meeting was opened again to the public. To listen to the full discussion, visit bit.ly/4d37YSx . The News-Dispatch reached out to the Dripping Springs Mountain Biking Team for a comment, but no response was given as of press time.

On Friday, July 19, numerous Kyle residents joined Kyle City Council members Michael Tobias, right, and Miguel Zuniga for “Conversations with Council.” This town hall-style event, held at the Kyle Public Library, was an opportunity for community members to share questions, comments and suggestions for the city with the council members directly. To watch the full video, visit bit.ly/3xYrhgv .

KYLE — On Thursday, July 18, 35th Congressional District Representative Greg Casar awarded the city of Kyle just under $1 million in approved funding to expand the reclaimed water system. The reclaimed water system began in February 2023 after congressman Lloyd Doggett secured $2 million in federal appropriates for the city to begin drafting a Reclaimed Water Master Plan. According to Mayor Travis Mitchell, reclaimed water is when water is taken out of the wastewater treatment plant and brought back into the city for irrigation and other uses. Later, in September of the same year, council members approved a plan that identified potential landscape irrigation customers, an evaluation of the existing city reclaimed water supply from the wastewater treatment plant, a layout of proposed pipeline routes and a hydraulic evaluation of the potential distribution system and more. “The population boom presents all of these challenges about where we’re going to get our water from. Where are we going to fit everybody?  How are we going to make sure it’s an inclusive community? … In this case, we’re bringing nearly a million-dollar check for the incredible water work that you’re doing here in Kyle, Texas, because reclaimed water systems are the path of the future,” said Casar. “This $1 million investment can hopefully be leveraged into many millions more and shows the confidence of the federal government in what you all are doing here … It’s such an incredible reminder of the people here that are so committed to our community.” An evaluation of an expansion to the Plum Creek Golf Course was approved in April 2024, after the master plan stated that this area of the city was in the most demand for water. Now, the $959,752 award is to expand the system once more from the Plum Creek Golf Course to Heroes Memorial Park. According to a news release, the funding was made possible through the Community Project Funding process for the fiscal year 2024 spending bills. Kyle applied for the grant through Casar’s office in 2023, was approved in the first round of the appropriations government funding packages that passed the U.S House on March 6, 2024, and was signed by President Joe Biden on March 9. “In Hays County, the elephant in the room is always growth and how do we make sure that infrastructure is keeping up with that growth,” said District 45 House Representative Erin Zweiner. The growth of infrastructure continues as assistant director of water utilities Tim Sanford shared at the July 16 council meeting that the city is beginning to look at a five-, 10- and 50-year demand projections through an updated Water Master Plan in the first quarter of 2025. These glimpses will allow the city to evaluate water sources to make recommendations for improvements that are needed, for a capital improvement project implementation budget and a revised Drought Contingency & Water Conservation Plan. Sanford explained that the city is in a positive position to fulfill its demand for water over the next four years using the city’s base supply, the arrival of the Alliance Regional Water Authority pipeline and its partnership with the city of San Marcos. According to Kyle City Manager Bryan Langley, more information regarding the city’s water usage will be provided in a detailed presentation on Aug. 6.

BUDA — A project dubbed "Forward Motion" received the green light from the Buda City Council in June and then the Hays County Commissioners Court on July 16 in the form of tax breaks and other financial incentives. Futronic USA Inc., a leading manufacturer of motor vehicle transmission and powertrain parts and a supplier to Tesla, is setting its sights on the city of Buda for its first-ever U.S. location. The South Korean-based company is eyeing the acquisition of the former Fat Quarter building, spanning 66,250 square feet and situated on the west (southbound) side of IH-35, off Business Park Drive. The building acquisition is estimated at $11 million, with a capital investment of $17 million, which will include building improvements, fixtures and equipment. The company estimates it will create at least 200 jobs, with an average wage of $52,000 per year. The news has Buda Economic Development Corporation CEO Jennifer Storm excited. "Buda is about 20 miles from Tesla's manufacturing facility, Giga Texas, making us perfectly positioned for Tesla suppliers like Futronic,” Storm said. "At full build-out, Futronic is planned to employ 350 high-paying positions in our community, which would make Buda's largest employer,” Buda EDC Assistant Director Shannon Mumley said. “This is huge! Buda has a skilled workforce, with a school district that provides robust CTE programming, so this is a real asset for not only our economy, but for families and future generations." The EDC Incentive Task Force recommended, and council approved, providing $600,000 to encourage job creation. Commissioners approved an undisclosed amount via a Chapter 381 Incentive Agreement, which, according to the Texas Comptroller's Office, allows counties to negotiate directly with developers and businesses to provide incentives encouraging developers to build in their jurisdictions. Futronic wants to begin finishing out the space by the third quarter of 2024 and begin production a year later, in 2025. Futronic started in 1993 in automotive electronics. Since then, it has been supplying various types of motors, actuators and controllers to global automotive companies and continues to develop new products through creative and innovative technology and continuous growth.

KYLE — On July 16, Kyle City Council heard discussions on the future of the Sportsplex and the prospect of a local favorite, Hays Co. Bar-B-Que, coming to town. Sportsplex After years of discussion, council members were presented with conceptual designs for the long-awaited Sportsplex. Mark Maldonado, senior principal with Stantec Consulting Services, explained that the site is 90 acres, located along FM 1626, north of the Brick and Mortar District, and will aim to create a “unique destination that embodies the proud and vibrant spirit of our community.” The site concept includes four basketball courts, 17 bleachers, 30 shade pavilions, five youth turf fields, 11 pickleball courts, ten full-sized turf fields, four playgrounds, two miles of trails, five volleyball courts, five shuffleboard courts, a 750-space parking garage, a plaza and an approximately 100,000 square-foot indoor recreational facility. The indoor portion of the facility will have multipurpose courts, an indoor track, catering kitchen and open workout areas. According to Ryan Sheridan of Huden Partners, it takes approximately five years to stabilize an event schedule, so the facility is typically losing money “in terms of bottom-line performance,” until operations become more efficient: “The goal of these facilities, ultimately, is to break even and to be that tool for the community. These things across the country are not money printing machines.” The event schedule will be driven by tournaments, which will generate an estimate of 47,500 room nights on an annual basis, according to agenda documents, and local and hourly usage. This, combined with out-of-town spending, leads to a projection of more than $786 million over the course of 30 years. When discussing the finance, city of Kyle Assistant City Manager Jesse Elizondo stated that staff and consultants have used a phasing approach, beginning with phase one that would have a cost estimate of around $65 million, which would include site preparation, the indoor recreation center, an outdoor area and many of the exterior improvements and amenities. This money comes from general obligation bonds and has a tax rate impact of approximately $0.0503 per $100 of valuation. The estimated total cost, prior to finalizing details and changes,  is $185,615,701.20. Although excited about the designs, Mayor Travis Mitchell brought forth concerns of the heat that comes with using turf. According to Mitchell, it is about 10 degrees hotter than grass. Because of this, he suggested an indoor air conditioned area, an outdoor shaded turf, such as a pavilion, and using an irrigation system with reclaimed water for an outdoor field, similar to what the Plum Creek Golf Course does. “To have something like this centralized would be important for all the kids in the area, all the region. But for the adults and everybody else, I know that it’s going to be a really big investment. I think the draw, if we do this right and we program it right, [is] that it can pay for itself and that’s the important thing,” said council member Robert Rizo. The next step is to begin the master planning process, which will address concerns and changes that council has, as well as a community outreach component, where feedback will be received to know what the priorities are for residents. In order for the financing for phase one to be presented to residents, council must vote to add a bond proposition to the November ballot no later than Monday, Aug. 19.

The Kyle Fire Department huddles together to do a team hand-stack prior to the beginning of the game on July 19 at Hays High School. The game served as an opportunity for community members to donate school supplies, as both departments are participating in the annual school supply drive taking place in August. The team won 22-12 over the police officers. PHOTOS BY BRITTANY KELLEY KPD Corporal Owens eyes the softball as it approaches him during the KFD vs. KPD softball game on July 19. PHOTOS BY BRITTANY KELLEY KPD officer Bare catches the ball as KFD firefighter Russel Bisbey crosses first base on the Hays High School baseball field. PHOTOS BY BRITTANY KELLEY Christian Treminio, son of KFD firefighter Cornelio Treminio, aids the team by taking bats off of the field. PHOTOS BY BRITTANY KELLEY

BUDA — After meeting up with developers, local business owners, investors and community members over the course of several months to discuss the growing Hays County area, Tim Dowling with Beyond the Move Realty found a need for a more family-friendly retail and restaurant space in the city of Buda. And the groundwork and planning for the project have already begun. Located at 1575 FM 967, the 18-acre commercial retail development will create an estimated 50,000 square feet of retail and office space, as well as 5,000 square feet of outdoor areas designated for pickleball, sand volleyball courts and a playground. The project will activate the west side of Buda with restaurants and professional offices, while also creating a public park that will connect walking trails in neighborhoods. Dowling is partnering with Richard Veregee and Josh Bumb, who both live and have developed and operated businesses in the area, including Moontower Saloon in South Austin, Main Street Pizzeria and Beer Garden in Buda and Nate's at Buda Mill and Grain. They are also teaming up David Morin, Frank Navarro and Ryan Othman of MNO Partners. The ultimate goal for the project is to create a gathering spot where everyone, young and old, can come together. “We decided, ‘Hey, why don’t we develop something that is what the community needs,’ which is some retail type things, small medical offices like a dentist or a doctor's office. And then, at the same time, traditional retail could be an ice cream shop, a morning breakfast place [or] a coffee shop and then along with the restaurant that the community needs,” Dowling said. “The one thing Buda doesn’t have really is a family-friendly type place where the family can be comfortable and the kids can go run around like crazy.” The idea for the project also sparked from Dowling’s meetings with the Hays County Commercial Real Estate Group, which brings together like-minded investors, developers, community members and others who want to take an active or passive role in growth of the area. The group is for those interested in sharing and learning about growth opportunities in Hays County, with a focus on commercial real estate development. “I created a local meetup about two years ago in Buda, and it was focused on one thing, and that was to talk about commercial development. My goal was to get the city involved, so the city could come say, ‘This is what we want.’ I don’t know how it all played out, but it was perfect. Timing was perfect. Everything was perfect,” Dowling explained. “We really kind of were able to build a relationship and dig into what were the goals [and] where were the holes? This is actually one of those projects that's going to be filling a hole that they are really focused on.” Incentives for the project have already been approved by the Buda Economic Development Corporation, but that agreement still has to go before the city council. However, the project was discussed solely in executive session at the July 16 Buda City Council meeting; no action was taken once council went back into open session. Details of the incentive agreement are below. • 50% property tax rebate for five years from the city or up to $400,000 total ($80,000 annually) • 50% retail sales tax rebate over 10 years from both the city and EDC of up to $1 million (or $100,000 annually) • $1.1 million fee credit for the park to be completed and made publicly available The total cost of the project is estimated at $27 million; there will be no costs going to the city, Dowling said. It is estimated that the property tax projection will be $100,000 annually after completion and the sales tax projects will be $275,000 annually. And the current timeline is for developers to break ground in April 2025 for phase one. “We're in what they call the rural overlay for Buda and so everything we're doing is within the bounds of it. So, we don't actually require any approvals. The only thing we have to get approval for is what we're working through is this incentive plan because we are going to be donating that land for parkland, so we are trying to find a way that benefits everybody involved,” Dowling said. “But, in regards to actual physical approval, it’s just the traditional permit process. We're already in phase one. We finished first round comments [and] we're about to submit for second round comments. We're hoping to push dirt by the beginning of this next year and have some shell spaces possibly by the middle of next year to start being able to have tenants come in and do what their finish outs are required.” Dowling and his team are working with Resolut RE to find tenants to fill the spaces. The Hays County Commercial Real Estate Opportunities Group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. at the Buda Welcome Center. More information can be found at www.meetup.com/hays-county-commercial-real-estate-meetup-group . Buda City Council meets next at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

BUDA — On Tuesday, July 16, residents from the city of Hays and nearby neighborhoods gathered in a meeting room at the Comfort Suites in Buda to oppose a proposed wastewater treatment permit for MileStone Community Builders’ planned Hays Commons subdivision. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) hosted the public meeting as an opportunity for residents to voice concerns about the potential permit and its effects on Barton Springs and the nearby wells. The proposed subdivision is planned at FM 1626 and Carpenter Lane in Menchaca and straddles the Hays and Travis county lines. Portions of the land were formerly in the city of Hays extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), but the developer has since requested, and been granted, an ETJ release, which gives jurisdiction to the counties. On July 27, 2023, TCEQ received a Texas Land Application Permit (TLAP) application from MileStone, which has been deemed “administratively complete” by TCEQ staff. The proposed permit would allow the developer to disperse treated effluent — domestic wastewater that has been treated and cleaned by a wastewater treatment plant — on 290 acres of land that are situated in the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone at a rate of up to 150,000 gallons per day at full capacity. The first half of the meeting was designated as a question and answer period, where attendees were able to ask questions of the TCEQ staff and/or representatives of the development. To begin, Brian Zabcik, advocacy director for the Save Barton Springs Association, asked about data regarding the efficacy of TLAPs over the recharge zone. Michael Parr, from the Environmental Law Division of TCEQ, stated that any records TCEQ would have would be complaint-driven or violation-driven. “Currently, the wastewater discharges are prohibited over the recharge zone and subsurface irrigation systems are prohibited over the recharge zone,” said Parr. “So, the reason TLAPs are allowed is because there is a lesser chance of infiltration to the Edwards [Aquifer]. So, if TLAPs were a horrible idea over the recharge zone, we would have known that by now.” Parr continued by explaining that the data on TLAP compliance is available to TCEQ, but it has not been analyzed at this time. In response, Zabcik concluded, “We feel that it’s very risky to put a TLAP over the recharge zone, unless [TCEQ] can actually quantify what the performance record is of existing TLAPs … We also, too, know that [TLAP permits] turn into de facto discharge permits because treated wastewater continues to be applied onto oversaturated fields at times.” Kathryn Nichols, a resident of the neighborhood adjacent to the proposed treatment plant, questioned what the public access uses are in the application area, to which Hannah Zellner, from TCEQ’s Water Quality Division, responded that the area is "non-public access." Lauren Crone, senior project manager for LJA Engineers, who was there on behalf of the developer, elaborated, stating, “Generally, there’s required signage that just says, ‘Non-human contact area’ or something like that. Fencing, from my recollection, is not required, but most of the time, developers elect to do so.” Earlier, a TCEQ representative said that only the TCEQ Water Quality Division had reviewed the permit, but not the Edwards Aquifer-specific division of the commission. When asked why the other division hadn’t been involved, Parr said that attendees should “rest assured” because not only is the Water Quality Division geologist reviewing the permit, the Edwards Aquifer Division will have a separate technical review, which will confirm that the permit abides by Edwards Aquifer rules, as well. Teresa Lemman, whose home is near the “spray zone,” asked about the air quality requirements. “Obviously, I’m concerned about the water, but I’m really concerned about the air. It’s going to be a mist. It’s micro particles,” she said. “[According to] everything I’ve read, it will be floating directly onto our front and backyard … So, what’s the solution going to be for us? We spend most of our time outside. We have young children. We garden. And you guys are telling me that you’re going to have this micro effluent floating over our home. Is that going to be addressed?” “What I can tell you, short answer-wise, is that wastewater treatment plants do not create a source of air emissions that would be required under the Clean Air Act,” replied Parr. “Their irrigation heads are similar to what’s in your yard,” said Crone, “So, they’re not those big broadcasting sprayers, so there is far less of the particles in the air. But, we do have buffers from the property that you’re speaking of.” Following a couple more questions, the question and answer portion of the meeting ended and the formal comment period began. The purpose of this comment period was for concerns and comments from the public to be added to the official TCEQ record. After the comment period closes on Thursday, July 25, the comments will be addressed via a response to comments published by TCEQ. Twelve attendees spoke during the formal comment period, including Buda resident David Patterson, who urged TCEQ to deny the TLAP. “I count on TCEQ to protect my well and my water. Why would we do an experiment? There are no TLAPs on this sensitive area of the recharge zone … [The permit] does not serve the majority of the people, the constituents that elect our representatives. It hurts the majority of the constituents. We don't know if it's going to be safe to drink our water, our well water. We have no recourse. It's a civil matter; if there's a problem with the TLAP field, nobody comes to our rescue,” said Patterson. “I'm sorry it's so hostile, but this is our land. These are our homes. Developers will come, they'll leave [and] they'll leave us with all the problems. And everybody goes, ‘Oh, that's so sad,’ but TCEQ has the chance to stand up for the common folk and that's what I'm asking. Please deny this permit.” Resident Bill Oliver chose to provide his comment via song, singing his original song “On the banks of Little Bear Creek.” (See video of his performance at bit.ly/3xT3yOJ.) The meeting concluded after the formal period, although anyone can provide comments directly to TCEQ by visiting bit.ly/3ScZ9x1 and entering permit number WQ0016373001 by 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 25.

WIMBERLEY – Several mosquito trap samples collected in the 78676 zip code tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to confirmation given to the Hays County Health Department (HCHD) from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) on July 18. The positive samples were collected from two sites in and around the city of Wimberley on July 11. These are the first reported West Nile Virus-positive IDs of the 2024 season in Hays County; there were no positive West Nile virus mosquito pools during the 2023 season. In the state of Texas, DSHS reported 913 positive mosquito pools during the 2023 season for West Nile Virus. So far this year, DSHS has reported 1051 positive mosquito pools for the virus. “Rainfall within the Central Texas area leads to an increase in standing water, which provides ideal breeding grounds for mosquitos,” said Eric Van Gaasbeek, chief environmental health specialist at Hays County Development Services (HCDS). "We encourage everyone to take proactive steps to prevent mosquito bites by reducing areas of standing water around their homes and properties.” Eighty-percent of people will not experience symptoms of an infection, while 20% of people may experience some, according to a Hays County news release. Symptoms of West Nile Virus infection can include fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, a skin rash on the torso of the body and swollen lymph nodes. While the risk for severe symptoms is low, individuals ages 50 and older and those with compromised immune systems may be at an increased risk for stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, vision loss, paralysis and, in extremely rare cases, death. Anyone experiencing these symptoms is encouraged to seek medical attention. Supportive care — treatment to improve quality of life and comfortableness — is typically provided to diagnosed patients. Patients can expect to exhibit symptoms for 3-6 days, but may experience fatigue and weakness for weeks or even months. Treatment for the virus is not effective, due to the resistant nature of the virus to antibiotics and other medications. The key to preventing West Nile Virus is to minimize the number of mosquitoes in areas where people live, work and play. Health officials strongly encourage everyone to remain vigilant about protecting themselves from mosquito bites and preventing mosquito breeding on their properties. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as one teaspoon of standing water. Draining all sources of standing water in and around a property can reduce the number of places mosquitoes can lay their eggs and breed. “While we continue to monitor the situation, please try to avoid mosquito bites by following the three Ds: DEET, Dress and Drain,” said Ian Harris, HCHD epidemiologist. • DEET: Whenever outside, use insect repellents with the active ingredient DEET or other EPA-registered repellents and always follow label instructions. • DRESS: Wear long, loose and light-colored clothing outside. • DRAIN: Drain or treat all standing water in and around your home or workplace where mosquitoes could lay eggs. HCDS is providing mosquito surveillance within the county to monitor and track mosquito-borne illnesses. Some mosquitoes can transfer potentially deadly diseases — known as arboviral diseases — to humans. HCDS is collecting mosquitoes to determine which areas are harboring disease-carrying mosquitoes. HCDS will set up collection traps across the county on a rotating basis to capture samples of several species of mosquitoes that will be sent to the Department of State Health Services in Austin for identification and determination of the type(s) of illness the mosquitoes could be spreading. Monitoring species, mosquito density and geographic breeding sites will provide critical early predictive data to HCDS to help monitor, prevent and combat mosquito populations and mosquito-borne illnesses. HCDS uses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gravid-trapping method to collect mosquitoes. This trap is designed to attract female mosquitoes which are ready to lay eggs. The trap uses a fan to draw in mosquitoes that approach the liquid in the bottom of the bucket and keeps them in a collection bag until the trap is collected. HCDS also uses the BG-Sentinel trap. This trap targets other mosquito species that are vectors of other arboviruses. Collection is typically carried out from May until November throughout Texas. HCDS and the HCHD will continue to conduct mosquito pool traps and health surveillance to promote the health and safety of residents. For more information regarding mosquito abatement, contact Hays County Development Services at 512-393 2150. Residents can view Mosquito Tracking Locations via the Hays County Development Services GIS Dashboard at bit.ly/3Lvlulv . For more information on the disease, visit www.txwestnile.org .

WIMBERLEY — Ruger Riojas pitched for the Wimberley Texans varsity team in 2021-2022, had a 1.28 ERA and won five games in his senior year, helping the Texans win two bi-district championships. Then, he spent the last two years (2023-2024) pitching for the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, but decided to enter the National Collegiate Athletics Associations (NCAA) transfer portal. The student athlete lets their current school know of their desire to transfer and their name is placed in an online database. Once an athlete's name is entered in the database, coaches and staff from other schools are permitted to make contact with the athlete to inquire about their interest in visiting the campus and accepting a scholarship or spot on their roster. The University of Texas at Austin has departed the Big XII for the Southeastern Conference (SEC), which has a load of baseball talent. The Longhorns recently hired former Texas Aggie baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle to coach the team and a number of transfers will be playing ball at UFCU Disch-Falk Field for the 2025 season. Riojas will be one of those transfers wearing a Longhorn uniform playing for The University of Texas. While at UTSA, Riojas appeared in 46 games pitching for the Roadrunners, held a 3.59 ERA and posted a 15-3 record. He had two starts and seven saves, pitched 115.1 innings, gave up 114 hits, had 132 strikeouts and walked 29 batters. After leaving UTSA, the right-handed pitching junior will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Kellie Raymond Amber Daige

WIMBERLEY — The Wimberley ISD family is invited to a meet-and-greet with new Danforth Junior High School Principal Joseph Holzmann from 5-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23. The gathering will take place in the DJH library (200 Texan Blvd.) Attendees will be able to access the building at the doors closest to the library. The event will have an informal, come-and-go format, giving WISD stakeholders the opportunity to meet and speak with the new principal. Holzmann has replaced Christi Moeller as DJH principal; Moeller has started her new role as WISD’s director of safety and school initiatives.

DRIPPING SPRINGS — The Samaritan Center has enhanced the mental health services it provides to individuals and families in the city of Dripping Springs. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency has been serving children, adults and families in Central Texas — with offices in Austin, Georgetown, San Marcos, Dripping Springs and Wimberley — since 1974. Using a holistic approach, the team at the Samaritan Center believes there is a close relationship between the mind, body, spirit and community and that attention to all of these is essential in improving mental health. For optimum health, treatment includes counseling, integrative medicine, care management and peer support, as well as spiritual enrichment, based on an individual’s needs and beliefs. While the Samaritan Center has been serving communities from its main office in Austin for 50 years, the Dripping Springs location did not open until 2022. This came on the heels of several residents emphasizing that there is a need for accessible healthcare, especially for children, in the area, according to director of development Anne Mullen. “Our goal is to do accessible, high quality mental health services, but that means affordable to us. So, we have a sliding scale based on your income and we also take insurance, which is really a great thing as I’ve been in situations where I didn't have insurance and couldn't afford healthcare and I would have absolutely loved to know about the Samaritan Center then,” Mullen explained. “I think we want to provide those services and tailor to the needs of the individuals in Dripping Springs. With increasing mental health challenges, especially among the youth, we've been told in Dripping Springs that having a dedicated resource like the Samaritan Center can ensure families access essential support.” Clinical Director Teresa Shigemasa said that it has become more challenging for Dripping Springs residents to travel to areas that have more accessible healthcare, so she is grateful that they were able to open a Samaritan Center location for those families. “Dripping is such a growing community. I mean, it is huge. It keeps growing and the access to travel to other places besides Dripping is becoming more difficult as the south central area tends to keep growing,” she said. “It's a very large community and they need something that's accessible close by.” There are several services offered through the Samaritan Center, including but not limited to: Hope for Heroes that supports healing and restores hope for veterans, military individuals, first responders and their spouses and children; individual therapy; couples and family counseling; various types of therapy for children (sandtray, play, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, etc); telehealth; and integrative medicine. The Samaritan Center also recently received a $1,000 grant from The Lynch Awareness Fund of the Dripping Springs Community Foundation. This funding has been instrumental in broadening the scope of counseling treatment options and enhancing the quality of mental health care for local residents, according to Mullen. The grant has facilitated the purchase of various therapeutic supplies to support play-based interventions — these tools are considered to be vital for helping children and adolescents express themselves and heal from trauma through play. “It [allowed] us to purchase some new therapeutic supplies, like play therapy, figurines, art supplies, children's books and games essential for play-based interventions. It funded the acquisition of TouchPoint Essentials, a wellness device,” Mullen said. With this support, Samaritan Center’s Dripping Springs-based therapist, Jan Venable, M.Ed., LPC-S, is participating in a professional development workshop titled, "IFS Immersion: Integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) Across Clinical Applications." IFS is a powerful, evidence-based psychotherapy that helps individuals identify the roots of conflict within the context of their family systems, leading to greater well-being, according to the Samaritan Center. Integrating IFS into her practice will help Venable to provide more comprehensive care to children and adults in the community. “[It] enhances the quality of care we give, which is really what we're always trying to do, just to provide the best care we can,” Mullen added. “That helps us continue to offer mental health services in this community.” Along with advocating for mental health awareness overall, Mullen shared some goals that she has for the Samaritan Center — and specifically for the Dripping Springs location — as she looks toward the future. “Expanding our range of therapeutic modalities to address the community's needs, so basically, making sure we are meeting the needs because everything changes so quickly … Then, also strengthening our partnership with local organizations, like Patriots’ Hall, to enhance our presence in the area; I'm the fundraising girl, so that's my big goal. But then [also to] increase accessibility through in-person and teletherapy options, so ensuring families can receive the mental health support they need,” she explained. “There’s a Dripping Springs committee forming out of the Samaritan Center, but really this year, [we are looking] to raise some capital, raise some money, so that we can expand our office in the area and the therapists that we have. That's very new, fresh in its early stages, but it's really exciting because we have some Dripping Springs go-getters on our committee, I think, that have been a pleasure to work with so far.” Knowing that sometimes it can be difficult to take that initial step and ask for help, both Mullen and Shigemasa agreed that the outpatient counseling at the Samaritan Center can be a good option for people who don’t know where to start. “Samaritan is considered an outpatient clinic. We're not a hospital. We're not a crisis center. Crises can come up and we have a protocol and procedure for dealing with those, but basically, pretty much just being human and dealing with life, there's stumbling blocks to that. And when we might want to go to a relative or a mom or a dad or someone really close to us, they're very emotionally invested, so they may come across with giving more advice than they are guidance. I like the difference in those words to just kind of get you to kind of figure some things out on your own,” Shigemasa said. “All of us have situational things that happen, right? There's times we have lost a loved one and we're grieving horribly or we've lost a job or it may not even be anything that significant. It could be just, I want to be able to communicate better with my husband, my wife [or] whatever, dealing with all kinds of things. But when you go to a really skilled therapist who has a lot of empathy, we like to hold a compassionate, safe space for people to explore and also to collaborate.” To learn more about the Samaritan Center, visit www.samaritan-center.org or call 512-451-7337. The Dripping Springs office is located at 28465 RR 12; the Wimberley office is at 700 West Summit Drive. For the Crisis Hotline, call 988.

DRIPPING SPRINGS — The long-awaited Dorian Zev Kweller Memorial Skatepark is officially opening later this month at Founders Memorial Park in Dripping Springs. On Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, Dripping Springs City Council unanimously decided to name the skate park at Founders Memorial Park as the Dorian Zev Memorial Skatepark. This came after city hall was filled with supporters of the planned skate park, but especially for Dorian Zev Kweller to be the namesake. A beloved member of the community, Dorian was a junior at Dripping Springs High School who died in a car accident in February 2023. He attended the weekly Thursday night skate at Dripping Springs Ranch Park, participated in the fundraising efforts for the skate park, released music to the public under his middle name, “ZEV,” and was a member of the Dripping Springs High School Tiger Band. Stephanie Meyer of the Dripping Springs Skatepark Committee was one of many who showed up in support that Tuesday evening. As Dorian was involved in different aspects throughout the Dripping Springs community, Meyer described him as a kid who had an inclusive mindset to connect those from all walks of life. She advocated for the skate park to named after Dorian not because he died, but “it should be named after him because of how he lived.” “Dorian embodied kindness, friendliness, inclusivity, creativity, thoughtfulness and an unmatched enthusiasm for not only his life, but the lives of the people around him,” Meyer said at the meeting. “He was a gifted skater and spent hours helping other kids learn and master tricks and gain a love of skating. Dorian impacted this community in far-reaching ways through his love of music and the incredibly genuine way he touched people’s lives. He was a friend to all. A true artist and poet. A fearless and gifted skater. As his family and many others say, to know Dorian was to love him.” Dripping Springs City Council first approved the skate park proposal in 2017 and entered into a license agreement in 2019, allowing for construction at Founders Memorial Park. Later, in June 2022, the council approved an extension of the license agreement, requiring that all construction funding for the skate park be completed within two years. But the idea of the skate park started in March 2014, when supporters presented the idea to the Dripping Springs Parks & Community Services Department. The skate park was made possible through fundraising, as well as the approval by the city of Dripping Springs to authorize the skate park be constructed at Founders Memorial Park and the approval of $624,250 in Hays County park bond funds given to the Dripping Springs Community Foundation to use in the construction. The skate park was one of the recommended projects to be funded by the Hays County park bond that passed in 2020. The 10,000-square foot, plaza-style skate park is designed to provide a facility for young people to pursue an athletic activity that they love, as well as provide a safe place for young people to develop active lifestyles. And now, the skate park is coming to fruition with the grand opening on Saturday, July 27, at Founders Memorial Park. “I can't believe that 'the DZK' is finally ready to rock! This has been such a long process and I know that skaters from all over central Texas will love having this new spot to skate. I've been blown away by the community of Dripping Springs ever since my family moved here in 2015. Dennis Baldwin was actually one of the first people I met in town. He's been a shining light ever since day one. He had the vision for this skate park and making Dripping Springs a fun, safe place for young people,” said Ben Kweller, Dorian’s dad. “Losing Dorian in 2023 was unimaginable. We think about him every day and miss him desperately. Though he won't be here to physically ride these ramps with his friends, his name lives on through this park and that's a tremendous honor." The official ribbon cutting will be at 9:30 a.m. and competitions and contests open to all ages, with prizes, will be from 10 a.m. to noon. Then, at noon, the skate park will officially be open for all ages to enjoy; it will be open daily from dawn to dusk. For questions on the skatepark, contact Drip SB (formerly DS Skatepark, Inc) at dripskatepark@gmail.com.

PHOTOS BY URSULA ROGERS PHOTOS BY URSULA ROGERS PHOTOS BY URSULA ROGERS PHOTOS BY URSULA ROGERS

With July being Social Wellness Month, it’s a perfect time to assess your social circle, learn how to strengthen it and commit to meeting new people. As a child who attended school, participated in after-school activities and enjoyed different hobbies, it was often easier to make a new friend. But as we age, making friends can get harder. Our lives pull us in different directions, and if we aren’t intentional with our time, even the friends we have can drift away. According to the American Psychological Association, a network of friends can reduce the likelihood of feeling sad, being lonely or experiencing low self-esteem. While there are no recommendations on how wide one’s social circle should be, it’s important to evaluate whether the friends you have are fulfilling your needs for support and connection. As you reflect on your current circle, ask yourself: • Do I feel supported? • Are they helping me grow? • Do they challenge me in a positive way? If you answered “yes” to these questions, chances are you already have the start of a great social circle. If you answered “no” to some of these questions, maybe it is time to expand. Volunteering can offer a quick way to meet likeminded people who have similar interests. One volunteer program available through Texas Health and Human Services Commission is the Foster Grandparent Program. The Foster Grandparent Program provides an opportunity for people aged 55 and older who meet program income guidelines to serve children with special needs or who are in circumstances that limit their academic, social or emotional development. Volunteers share their time and talents as role models, mentors and friends to the children they serve. Foster grandparents build one-on-one relationships with each child, providing trust and unconditional support. Volunteers receive a monthly, tax-free stipend and can serve from 15 to 40 hours a week. Throughout the program, volunteers also attend monthly in-service sessions and participate in community events. Visit the https://bit.ly/3W5oOJ1 for more information.