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OCTOBER 21, 2015
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Texas Lawman Wants To Be New Williamson Sheriff Lt. Mike Cowie has lived and served
in law enforcement in and around Williamson County since 1981, but has been wanting to be sheriff since he was about four years old. He began a distinguished career in law enforcement in 1976, while still in high school. He spent most of his career as a member of the Narcotics Service with DPS, where he was responsible for or involved in dozens of trafficking investigations and resolutions, not just in Williamson County, but across Texas and the nation. He rose in the ranks with DPS to Lieutenant; even accorded U.S. Marshall status on some assignments, and retired out of the Temple office in 2007. He was also afforded U.S. Marshall status on occasion. A full 18 days later, he returned to law enforcement to work for current Sheriff James Wilson as a detective in property crimes. He was quickly promoted to Sergeant in narcotics and again to Lieutenant at CID in 2013. He works there currently,
managing three sergeants and 20 detectives who oversee crime scenes, evidence and victim assistance. Among his many accomplishments is the arrest of 32 individuals in the first methamphetamine trafficking case in the Western District of Texas. The “cookers” were making 35-50 pounds of product at a time in water heaters, which they transported to Williamson and Hays Counties. He is also proud of a successful kidnap case in 2007 after a chase across Central Texas. Using gumshoe expertise, his team recovered the victim and captured the
suspects and the ringleaders looking to ransom the man to pay off drug debts. Cowie is aware of the irony that he spent a great deal of his 35-year career making every effort to be inconspicuous and thus most effective at his job, but now is reaching out to the quarter-million registered voters in Williamson County. “To say that isn’t hard would be a lie, but I have the experience and background in law enforcement required to be Sheriff. This is the first office I’ve run for and it wasn’t a decision I made lightly, but it is the job See Cowie, page 5
Multi-Agency Solutions for GT Development & Conservation
L
ast week Georgetown hosted a rare celebration that was as much about elevating rare amphibians as it was about the rare governmental cooperation that made it possible for the former to continue living safely in our city limits.
Mayor Ross was very pleased with the outcome; “It’s a wonderful way that Georgetown goes about solving problems. We worked with the county, state and federal government. We’ve shown we can work with the government at all levels See Salamander, page 2
#4 CANDIDATE FOR COUNTY COURT #2 p. 5
ADVOCATE “YES” ON BOND p. C7
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Why It’s a Top Shelf Vote
Jim Briggs and Mayor Dale Ross received a plaque from Dr. Benjamin Tuggle of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for the City’s conservation efforts for the salamander.
CHISHOLM CHARITY p. 4
On August 17, the Georgetown ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to call a bond election totaling $160.6 million. According to a recent article in TIME magazine, Georgetown is the second fastest growing city in the United States. Georgetown ISD has the largest number of future home sites than any surrounding school district. According to recent demographic reports, GISD can expect an increase of approximately 3,500 students in the next ten years. Right now, many schools do not have the capacity to grow or accommodate that future growth. As well, the bond will facilitate modern, effective physical security at several schools, new buses, and reduce the need for detached buildings, which also increase the possibility of incident or accident. Early voting has already begun and continues through October 30.
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ELECTION DAY NOV 3 Bond 2015 Special Election ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 3. VOTERS REGISTERED IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY MAY VOTE AT ANY VOTE CENTER ON ELECTION DAY.
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Another Great Day to be in Georgetown SALAMANDER, FROM PAGE 1
County Conservation Fund (WCCF), the City of Georgetown, all the way up to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service worked together—sometimes well, sometimes not—to create a model of communications and problem solving that everyone present agreed will be recognized and mirrored potentially all over the Commissioners Lisa Birkman, Cynthia Long, Dr. Benjamin Tuggle and nation. Dr. Tuggle Commissioner Valerie Covey. joked a bit presenting plaques to and I think this is the new ance between protection for Commissioner Valerie Covmodel going forward. It’s Sally and the continuing ey and Mayor Dale Ross; a trifecta of historic events growth and development of “We usually don’t provide for the city. We have green Georgetown. recognition for people energy (story page 3), we The tiny spotted swimcomplying with a law. But have our own EMS, and mer drew quite a crowd to when you have a unique now the 4(d) rule that puts the Swinbank Springs in partnership, that kind of everyone on the same page Booty’s Park that included started from a mushroom with development and Congressman John Carter, cloud but culminates in an conservation.” Regional Director of the event like this, you need to U.S. Fish and acknowledge that model Wildlife Service, and celebrate it. All the Dr. Benjamin people involved are truly Tuggle; Senator leaders and they deserve Cornyn’s staff, this type of recognition.” Mayor Dale Ross, Commissioner Covey three commisexplained, “It took us a few sioners, Parks years to get here and we and Recreation, are a diverse group from all City Manager over and I treasure that; this and staff, a dozen is what we do well. We colscientists, conlaborate and problem solve servation experts; and get things done.” She and a half-dozen also gave credit to Comreporters. missioner Lisa Birkman Sally has been who worked on environin and out of the mental issues as a member news since the of the WCCF 2004-2012 Cambrian Environmental biologist Ashley county’s 2008 and deserves credit for Regional Habitat Wall with a salamander who was kind making it what it is today. Plan included her enough to make an appearance. Covey continued, “This is as a potentially a celebration between local October 14 was the endangered species. Since and federal government Williamson County then, and as Georgetown working together. Now, for Conservation Foundation continues to grow and anything listed as federally celebration for the enacthouses continue to be built, threatened, we know what ment of the 4-D rule for Sally has been the center we’re going to do, how the Georgetown Salamanof a contentious debate bewe’ll do it, what it will der; affectionately called cause, simply, people can’t take, and how people will “Sally.” The “4(d) Rule” is live where she lives. be affected... Our developone of many tools within To resolve the issue, ment community will know the Endangered Species Williamson County leadthe game rules and they can Act for protecting species ership, members of the decide how to proceed on listed as “threatened” and local and regional scientific their own. That was key to provides the best-bet balcommunity, the Williamson our victory.”
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OCTOBER 21, 2015 THE ADVOCATE
Freelance Correspondents Ann Marie Ludlow Deborah Marquis Russell Rinn Conner Joyce
Address of Record: 181 Town Center Blvd. Suite 500 Jarrell, Texas 76537 512-746-4545 info@GeorgetownAdvocate.com First Class Mail Subscriptions: $37.00 / 26 issues Georgetown Advocate P.O. Box 213 Jarrell, TX 76537
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Why all the fuss about a salamander?
The Georgetown salamander is indigenous to our city—and no where else. Cambrian Environmental biologist Ashley Wall, M.S., who studies, counts, photographs and looks out for them, says, “This is not a dynamic species that people get excited about, but the salamander matters because it is key to understanding the quality of the water in Georgetown. They live underwater and unlike the rest of the amphibian world, they do not undergo metamorphosis and lose their gills. They breathe from external gills for their entire life span, which is about 5-7 years.” The population is fairly consistent, but once a species is listed as endangered, the state and municipalities are obliged to protect them. “Williamson County is great for conservation. The county provides so much land and concern for invertebrates. Our springs are protected and now there will be buffer zones around them. Many of the parks we have are only here for conservation. Williamson has successfully merged recreation with preserving our ecosystems while still allowing growth.”
The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Advocate, administration, staff or contributing writers. The views expressed in all letters to the editor and signed opinion articles are those of their authors. All letters to the editor must include a name, address and phone number for verification. Anonymous and unverified letters to the editor will not be printed. The Advocate reserves the right to edit letters for length and journalistic style, and has a recommended length of 300 words.
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OCTOBER 21, 2015 THE ADVOCATE
Georgetown
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BUSINESS
Chamber Welcomes Culture Stick
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated the opening of Culture Stick consulting with a ribbon cutting ceremony, and this month founder and CEO Sean Allen kicked off another new business called Superb Netweaving Group. Culture Stick partners with organizations wishing to improve communications, customer service, leadership, and sales and marketing. “What gets measured gets done. Otherwise, people don’t care,” Allen says. “The ‘stick’ is many things. It’s the ruler by which we measure things. It’s the jump drive on which I give my clients their training information, and it’s the way we create a positive corporate culture
that people will want to maintain so it sticks.” Allen was a member of the culture committee at Southwest Airlines for many years, responsible for driving the culture of the company and reducing employee turnover. “We worked on all company issues and people liked our formula so much they wanted to be like us, so I went to a consulting firm to get some experience with adult learning techniques, as well as coaching and mentoring. I always hated the fact that people spent a fortune on training and came away with a big notebook that ended up on a shelf.” Culture Stick works with big companies like Lockheed Martin and
Apple, but also with small and micro-businesses with as few as three employees. “What I’ve learned is that I can create relevant change in a company with as many as 2000 employees, but any bigger than that we focus on just one department. What we do is unique and I don’t ask for high dollars. We eliminate costs with technology.” Culture Stick has been in business ten years with offices in Houston and Austin, but Georgetown is home for Allen. “I was a military brat; my father was in the Air Force, and I grew up around heavy hitters like Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf. I was always fascinated by missions and visions, and learned a lot about tactics and strategy.
So now I go into other companies and help them raise the bar.” Superb Netweaving’s mission is to demonstrate better networking tools to small and medium businesses that want to improve performance, make more profit, and train and develop better leaders. “Networking is a supportive system of sharing information among individuals with a common interest. Netweaving is entwining business relationships to generate referrals, qualify leads and make personal connections that facilitate sales. We do this through knowledge bursts, word of mouth marketing skills and focusing on developing each other’s referrals.” Visit CultureStick.org or Facebook.com/superbnetweaving
Honoring Georgetown’s Bravest
Wind Turbines Powering G’town Wind turbines are providing for Georgetown’s energy needs three months ahead of schedule. The Spinning Spur 3 wind farm near Amarillo, which was projected to start producing electricity in January, became operational September 28. The wind plant is now providing energy to meet most of Georgetown’s daily power needs, positioning Georgetown on the path to a 100 percent renewable energy goal. The Spinning Spur 3 wind farm owned by EDF Renewable Energy produces 194 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to power 58,200 homes annually. Georgetown’s 20-year contract is for 144 megawatts. The 18,000 acre Spinning Spur 3 plant has 97 wind turbines, each of which produces 2 megawatts of power, or enough to power 600 homes annually. Electricity generated at the Spinning Spur 3 wind farm is sent to Georgetown via transmission lines. The grid will ensure a
constant power supply to Georgetown if the turbines are not online, but on most days, Georgetown’s energy needs will be supplied by the wind plant. When a solar plant comes online at the end of 2016, Georgetown will have enough power under contract to serve the entire demand for the utility. In March, the City of Georgetown announced that the municipal electric utility will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy by 2017. The utility will be powered by the EDF Renewable Energy wind plant and a SunEdison solar farm that will be constructed near Fort Stockton next year.
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Firefighters Justin Schwertner, Clint Gray, Daniel Bilbrey, Cody Stout and Keith Hayman with LongHorn Steakhouse Managers Carlos Rosa and Jefferson Carter. As part of its continued commitment to the local community, the Georgetown LongHorn Steakhouse restaurant showed their gratitude to first responders by delivering lunch to the Georgetown Fire Department. Firefighters on-duty enjoyed a special lunch as a small gesture to say “thank you” for their ongoing dedication to the community.
Ready to tell Sun City what’s on YOUR mind?
The editors of the Advocate are looking for a savvy, smart (and likely sarcastic writer) for our newest publication, the City Insider. Here at the Advocate, we have Advo-catie, but she’s Gen-X, so you are likely more mature than she. If you are a fan of observational humor or your friends love to hear you tell a good story, we would love to have you share your thoughts, opinions and unique point of view. The Insider is published monthly, so if you think you can write and
entertain consistently, 300-500 words at a time, we want to hear from you. Contact Cathy Payne at 512-746-4545 and be ready to send us a few of your best writing samples. We are looking for topics and issues that are of interest to our Sun City readers... perhaps you have an amusing idea about how much more trouble Lucy Ricardo would have gotten into if she had the Internet. Or maybe, since Sun City looooves to vote for things, you have some anecdotes about those candidates knocking on your door all the time. Or possibly you have an opinion about President Trump. Seriously—don’t we all?
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OCTOBER 21, 2015 THE ADVOCATE
CHISHOLM TRAIL CHARITY: Fast Pitch at First Methodist
Round Rock’s New ‘Tuscany’ Restaurant Has Georgetown Ties Texas is good at
The Chisholm Trail
Communities Foundation (CTCF) awarded over $40,000 in grants October 15th to 14 Williamson County non-profits at the annual Fast-Pitch ceremony. The CTCF was founded in 1996 with the mission to help donors achieve philanthropic goals. Charities and non-profits around the county were invited to submit applications for grant awards and finalists were chosen to give a 90-second pitch to a panel of judges who represent the investments of the group. Similar to, but much more friendly than Shark
Tank, representatives gave short speeches with props, beneficiaries and members of their organizations to explain their mission and the need. After the 90-second “pitch” the judges were allowed 90 additional seconds to ask questions. CTCF Director Mike Weir says the event has grown every year. “This is way bigger than we’ve had before. We raise money by abusing our potential donors (wink) and beg and plead, then we reach into our own pockets for the balance.” Weir says that on top of the published awards, attendees come to the event ready to donate even more. “People can’t resist a quick proposal. And many people walk in the door and just tell me to add $100 or more to every participant.” Because of the generos-
ity of the attendees, every one of the 13 finalists received $1400 just for being there. Finalists were assigned categories, and the Georgetown Fire Department Pipes and Drums, as the only entry, were the winners in the Arts & Culture Category. Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Davis says they raise money year round for their mission to honor fallen brothers and sisters whether fire, EMS or police responders. They received $3000 for equipment and travel expenses. The Locker represented with the biggest presentation, which won them the People’s Choice award worth $3000. They also won the second annual Cammy Garey Award and another $3000 to help kids navigate life milestones or simply to have clean clothes for school. The 2nd place award, worth $5000, went to Assistance League of Georgetown Area. Jarrell Elementary School Counselor Laura Buckley explained their mission to provide clothes and other necessities for children in need. “We are the ‘ladies in the red aprons’ and there is nothing more satisfying than giving a child a gift card to be able to buy their own school clothes.” The 1st Place award went to Ninevah Ministries, which provides counseling, mentoring and guidance to youths in the justice sys-
tem. Director Lorie Goggin gave a tearful talk about the young people with her on stage and the fact that they had overcome gangs, drugs and all manner of life disadvantages to be who they are today; college students, working moms, and kids looking at gang life in the rear view mirror. All of them credit Miss Lorie for the help she provided, and she was clearly attached to and grateful for the job she is able to do. Other finalists were Drive a Senior Williamson County, presented by 94 year old Lera Lumbley, who became an instant crowd darling. Drive a Senior helps homebound people get to the doctor, the grocery store or anywhere. Also presenting were Goodwill Central Texas, Opportunities of Williams & Burnet Counties, The Caring Place, Drops of Grace, Inc.; R.O.C.K., STARRY, Operation Liberty Hill and Literacy Council of Williamson County. The evening was summarized by CTCF Board Chair Nelson Avery, who was a little choked up himself when he talked about the generosity of Georgetown and Williamson County residents and how an event like this could even be possible year after year.
and famous for many things. But there is nothing like New York style pizza and now you can get it in two places. Frankie Nikshiqi, owner of Frankie’s in Georgetown, recently opened “Tuscany” at 1702 N Mays St. in Round Rock. Business has been growing every day. Frank and his family have been in the restaurant business for 25 years and he cut his teeth in the culinary industry in none other than New York City; some of the best street cred for Italian cooking. The simplicity of the restaurant belies the full-bodied flavor of the food. But, to really know how good it is, just order anything on the enormous menu. Frank uses premium meats and cheeses, grates everything himself, and makes the food from scratch every day, down to the bread, sausage, meatballs, and sauces. His tomato-based dressing will impress even the staunchest don’t-like-veg-
gies people to scarf up the salad. The pizza slices are so big you have to fold them like a real East Coaster to get a good bite. Everyone working at Tuscany is family; Frank’s wife and in-laws make the customers feel like family too. Originally from Albania, the Nikshiqis are crazy about America and chose Williamson County because it is a great place for his kids to grow up and go to school. Tuscany is open Sunday-Thursdsay 11am-9pm and Friday & Saturday 11am-10pm. Tuscany has over a dozen lunch specials every weekday, many secret recipes and flavors that bring to mind gondolas and wiseguys.
Pictured: Members of The Locker share how the group has helped each of them. • Jeff Davis of Georgetown Pipe & Drums • Former Juvenile Justice Academy students with counselor Miss Lorie • 94-years old, Lera Lumbley talks about the benefits of having a ride.
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GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
OCTOBER 21, 2015 THE ADVOCATE
PAGE 5
Hallford Running for County Court #2 Brandy Byrd Hallford
would like to be the next Judge for Williamson County Court at Law #2. She made her announcement at the Republican Executive Committee meeting in Granger, which was particularly meaningful to her. “The city has special family history and meaning to me. It was my grandmother, Rose Byrd’s (maiden name Spacek) home town. The home her parents built on Rio Grande in 1921 is now an historical marker. My great grandfather, AA Spacek was the Mayor of Granger and President of Granger National Bank. I was thrilled to make the announcement in Granger in front of the Williamson County Republican Party’s leaders.”
Hallford has committed a significant portion of her career defending and helping victims of crime as a highly respected prosecutor. “Our community, families, and children need a proven advocate as their judge. I have the experience, leadership, and strength to make the hard decisions to administer justice fairly, Hallford said. With 19 years of extensive experience in criminal, family, civil and probate law, Hallford brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the people of Williamson County. She previously served as Criminal Division Chief, at the Williamson County Attorney’s Office where she worked closely with law enforcement, and super-
Round Rock Attorney Brandy Byrd Hallford vised attorneys and staff. In 2004, she served as the First Open Government Prosecutor for Attorney General Greg Abbott.
Hallford’s private law practice focuses on representing abused and neglected children in CPS cases, criminal defense, juvenile
defense, family law and probate law, “I understand the hardships children face when abused, and I know the decisions that must be made to maintain their safety,” Hallford said. Hallford represents Veterans whose criminal charges are connected to their military service and has witnessed the challenges they face when they return home. “I have watched and supported the court’s growth with the addition of the DWI/Drug Court and the new Veterans Treatment Court. I believe these programs provide for productive alternative sentencing and treatment programs and need a judge that will make certain they are fully supported and properly implemented. At this point in my life, it is
important for me to put to work my diverse law career to benefit this court and the people of Williamson County,” Hallford said. Hallford graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1992, obtaining a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and completed a Juris Doctor at St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio. Hallford has lived and worked in Williamson County for 18 years. Her husband, Jerry Hallford an Air Force Veteran has served as a Round Rock Police Officer for over 20 years, and they are the parents of four children, three sons and a daughter. Voters can see more information at BrandyForJudge.com.
Chief Deputy Larry Gaddes Announces for Williamson County Tax Assessor-Collector
Larry Gaddes and wife Heather
SHERIFF, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
I’ve always wanted.” Cowie’s wife of 35 years, Sue, says, “He is nothing but honest, and full of integrity. You won’t get any rhetoric with him; it’s just straight talk, which is why people have always respected his work and the way he serves the community.”
I PROVED MYSELF TO SHERIFF WILSON AND WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE MYSELF TO THE CITIZENS OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY. ~MIKE COWIE Cowie says he wants to continue what Sheriff Wilson has built. “He is very well respected all over Texas. In my years as a narcotics officer, we were respected throughout the nation and were often
called upon to help with investigations that linked back to Williamson County. I think my experience and the depth of my law enforcement career gives me the ability to build on Wilson’s tenure.” Sheriff Wilson has already endorsed Mr. Cowie as a candidate, as has former Sheriff Ed Richards. “This is a serious job that requires a serious person,” he says. “There are two sides to the job; answering calls about everything from snakes to homicide, and managing a jail with an average of 600 inmates per day. It is a constant flow of caretaking and process.” Cowie is also taking the future of Williamson County into consideration and how a new Sheriff should be looking at change. “There are 100 people moving to Williamson County every day and
the Sheriff’s office needs to stay in front of that growth. Playing catch up with law enforcement is never pretty, and I want to keep our people on the street in front of the growth with every resource we can provide.” With regard to his management style, he says, “There are two types of leaders. One who tells you to go do something and one who says, ‘Let’s go do that.’ I am the latter. I just want to get the job done for a successful end.” Cowie is known for his attention to detail and he misses nothing. “When you write a search warrant, it’s not for today; it’s for the appellate court.” To that end, he produces flawless warrants and he is frequently asked to review them for other agencies to ensure compliance and successful prosecutions. In all, Cowie is proud of his history as a lawman and is prepared now to bring his expertise to politics. “It’s in his family,” Sue says. “His mother worked for DPS, and he was inspired to his career by his great uncle who was a Deputy in Travis County and a great granduncle who was Sheriff of Comanche County.” Cowie will be reaching out to constituents and voters at events and fundraisers to be announced. Watch the Advocate for updates.
Larry Gaddes has announced his candidacy for William County Tax Assessor-Collector. He has served as the Chief Deputy at the tax office for over five years. Gaddes will be seeking election to the position currently held by Tax Assessor-Collector, Deborah M. Hunt. Mrs. Hunt recently announced that she will not be seeking re-election in the upcoming March primary and has released a letter of endorsement for Mr. Gaddes. Gaddes says, “I absolutely love what I do.” Leading a team of over 55 professional, courteous staff, working with legislators to reform and improve tax code; serving as a model office for our largest partner TxDMV, being a leader and innovator in implementing technology to improve service and efficiency, and bringing the most efficient, courteous service to the citizens of Williamson County.” He adds, “I want to serve the taxpayers of Williamson County and I look forward to continuing to build on a model of providing customer service professionalism and technology to the citizens of Williamson County.” Gaddes has earned the prooperty tax profession’s highest certification becoming a Certified Tax Administrator (CTA)
in 2014, a certification that is held by only 19 other county tax office professionals throughout Texas. Mr. Gaddes is a member of the International Association of Assessing Officers, Tax Assessor Collectors Association of Texas, and has served as chapter president and is a member of the Texas Assoociation of Assessing Officers. He has also been recognized by various local officials including County Commissioners and the County Auditor for his professional contributions to Williamson County. In addition to his experience in the tax profession, Gaddes served 20 years in leadership roles at HEBs throughout central Texas, including his last role in 2008 as Unit Director of the HEB on Gattis School Road. IN that capacity, he managed all operatons in the store, 300 employees and over $50,000,000 a year in sales. Gaddes has lived in central Texas his entire life. He was born and raised in La Grange, earned his Bachelor of Businessd Administration with a Major in Management from Texas State in San Marcos. He and his wife of 12 years, Heather, are raising their two sons, Parker and Peyton in Round Rock.
LAURA BARKER GAINS ENDORSEMENT FOR COURT #2 Candidate for County Court at Law #2, Laura Barker received an endorsement from the Leander Professional Firefighters Association. The letter from the association reads; “We encourage all members, friends, family and supporters of the Leander Professional Firefighters Association to vote for ms. Barker.” Barker says, “I’m excited to announce the Leander Professional Firefighters Association’s endorsement! Being married to a first
responder and receiving a public endorsement from our men and women in uniform means so much
to me. I thank them all for protecting us and keeping us safe.”
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SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
OCTOBER 21, 2015 THE ADVOCATE
Rep Farney Presents Armed Services Scholarship S
tate Representative Marsha Farney (R-Georgetown) awarded Abigail Gregory, a Rockdale resident, the Texas Armed Services Scholarship (TASSP) for the 2015-2016 college academic year. Ms. Gregory recently began her first semester at Texas A&M University and plans to join the Corps of Cadets. She will be following in the footsteps of six generations of her family by joining the United States Military after graduation and serving as a pilot in the Air Force. “Abigail is a remarkable young lady with proven leadership capabilities in the classroom, athletics, and in the community. She will be a great addition to Texas A&M and will make all Texans and Americans proud by her service in the armed forces,” said Farney. Upon receiving the award Gregory said, “I want to thank Representative Farney for nominating me for the Armed Services Scholarship. It is an honor to receive this award and I look forward to attending college and serving my state and my country.” Abigail will be one of the 185 students statewide who received a TASSP this year toward undergraduate education at any
Texas university with an active ROTC program and enter into an agreement requiring a four year service commitment. The presentation was fitting as Gregory was also nominated by the Governor and she chose to submit under Dr. Farney’s recommendation.
Spirit Traditions Start at Sonic
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tudents at Georgetown and East View high schools were given a unique opportunity October 12 to show their own spirit in a little bit of friendly rivalry courtesy of our local Sonic restaurants. In honor of the big game last weekend, GHS vs. EVHS, General Managers Justin and John Rogers held separate school themed events at the Sonics on Williams Drive and Austin Avenue. Their plan was to give students at both schools a venue to show their colors and post their activities on social media to see which school could show the most spirit. Both restaurants collected donations for “The Locker” for their wish list, and most everyone who participated brought supplies and bottled water for the cause. Austin Avenue’s store was decked out in red by Justin Rogers and his assis-
East View students Courtney (11th) and Miranda (9th) and members of The Locker representing at the Austin Ave Sonic tant Dynum. “We want to be involved in everything, not just sports or schools, but everything in the community. Sonic wants reach out to everyone, even if it’s just donating cups for an event. With the high schools, the opportunities
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for support are unlimited. Of course there will always be a little bit of competition between the schools, but being able to do it in a positive way and in a safe environment, we hope we have begun a great tradition of joint sportsmanship and school spirit.” There were giveaways, drink specials and a variety of ways for people to “bring their A-game” to the night! Sonic has been in Georgetown since 1974, and the desire to engage seems to run in the family. All six kids in the Morgan family work for Sonic franchises so they are very familiar with friendly competition. Using resources from popular restaurants and incorporating Facebook and Instagram plays into many teen favorites all at once. Justin Morgan says, “We worked on building the event with members of booster clubs from both schools. We wanted to create something people would talk about and will get better every year.” Brother John at the Williams Dr. store agrees; “We want to partner with all of Georgetown, create new traditions, and we will eventually have a trophy that can pass back and forth to the winner of the annual event.”
Sonic Manager John Rogers with Georgetown students Jesse (10th), Samantha (12th) and Jed (11th) at the Williams Drive restaurant.
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OCTOBER 21, 2015 ď‚Ť THE ADVOCATE
Our BiG Golf Benefit was a success! THANK YOU to all our wonderful sponsors, donors, friends, families and volunteers. We celebrated raising $242,759 which directly offsets our operating expenses. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! We are so close to our goal of $250,000 we are accepting donations through the end of the year to make that dream a reality. Our Citizens are thriving because of you!
Donate at BrookwoodinGeorgetown.org
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OCTOBER 21, 2015 THE ADVOCATE
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WILLIAMSON MUSEUM CATTLEMAN’S BALL p. C3 SECTION C • PAGE 1
OCTOBER 21, 2015 THE ADVOCATE
Georgetown HS : The Tradition Continues King Spencer Rabb and Queen Abby Hayes
^ Football managers Luisa (11), Sarah (9) and Trinity (10) love the bonding experience of helping the team and feeling a part of all the excitement.
< Freshman football players do double duty as flag runners. L-R: Will, Derek, Clay, Jack, and Parker. v Choir members make their entrance at the parade on Wednesday.
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^ 2014 Queen Abby Garcia is now a freshman at UMHB studying biology and music. A lifetime band member, this was the first game she ever attended as a fan. • Student Council VP Sarah waits to present flowers to the new queen. She is a senior applying to Texas A&M.
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Georgetown performance athletes catching some air at the parade!
Senior Varsity cheerleaders Cameryn, Abby, Alyssa, and Alex in a basket toss • Georgette Rieley (10th) executes an enviable split-leap; Anna (11th) kneeling • JV Cheerleader Kamryn brings in the team with Olympic flair.
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Community & Arts
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15th Kiwanis Holiday Home Tour Tickets are on sale for the December 4-6 event— there are seven beautifully decorated homes. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Friday, Dec 4, 4–7pm; Saturday, Dec 5, 10am–5pm; Sunday, Dec 6, 11am–5pm. Tickets entitle guests to visit as often as they like, and will be available before and after the October 21 Sun City NRO meeting (9:30 at Cowan Creek). Everything Kiwanis does benefits the children of Williamson County.
St. David’s Breast Cancer Balloon Release
Also participating are physicians and staff from St. David’s Georgetown Hospital and the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas. Meet on the Lawn of St. David’s Georgetown Hospital 2000 Scenic Drive in Georgetown.
Gathering’s Garage Sale
Gathering’s off the Square will hold their Fall Semi-Annual Garage Sale will be October 23-24, with a preview from 3-7:00 on Thursday Oct 22. Customers will be able to enjoy complimentary lemonade and dessert. The line for the sale will start in front of the store at the designated starting line. The first 31 customers will receive a special gift from Gatherings. On October 23-24, the store will be open during normal business hours 10:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Pints for Polio Oct 24 Breast cancer survivors, friends and family members of breast cancer patients, will release white and pink balloons to honor women who have lost their battle with breast cancer and to celebrate the lives of those who have survived. Proceeds from the purchase of each balloon ($1) will benefit the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas. Balloons and strings are 100 percent biodegradable. In addition, a breast cancer survivor will share her story and speak about the significance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A brief reception with light refreshments will follow immediately after the speaking program and balloon release. The event takes place Friday Oct. 23 at 11 a.m.
The Rotary Club of Georgetown is sponsoring an event at Mel’s Bowling Alley at 7:00pm. Join Mel’s, Rotarians and concerned citizens to help eradicate polio once and for all. It’s Rotary’s signature cause and they need your help to raise funds to help finish the fight.
Car Seat Safety and Booster Event October 28
Williamson County Emergency Medical Services in conjunction with Kids in Cars, a KOHL’s Cares program, will be participating in a car safety seat and booster event for area resi-
dents by appointment only. The event is Wednesday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Jarrell Fire Station 2, 155 East County Road 313, in Jarrell. Call at 512 943-1264 for an appointment.
Brushy Creek Trail Open House Oct 29
The public is invited to an Open House on October 29, 2015, to present proposed plans and gather public input on Williamson County’s Brushy Creek Regional Trail Phase V. The Open House will be held at the Fern Bluff Municipal Utility District Community Center, 7320 Wyoming Springs Drive, Round Rock, Texas, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Open House will be an informal, come and go event with no formal presentation. Project maps, exhibits and handouts will be available for review and comment.
Strike it Big to Help Youth Fair and Veterans
Sponsor a Veteran or Youth Fair participant and their family of four for $100 at Mel’s Lanes on Saturday, November 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. and everybody wins! Texas A & M AgriLife Extension is sponsoring the event in cooperation with Williamson County Veterans Services to help raise funds for both organizations. For more information, contact Chelsea Stevens at castevens@ tamu.edu or 512-943-3300.
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Arts and Culture Grant Proposals
PETS OF THE WEEK JOEY
6-year-old Joey may have been passed from shelter to home most of his life, but it has not broken his spirit. He loves people and has a gentle demeanor. He even gives you a shy smile when you talk pretty to him! This medium dog would be perfect for a family who wants a companion. He will always greet you when you come home and cheer you when you get blue. He is known as a Smiling Red-Tailed Aussicollie and you can only find him here in Georgetown; well-mannered, housetrained, good leash skills. He is great with other dogs and loves walks. Courtesy Georgetown Animal Shelter, Pets. Georgetown.org
The Georgetown Arts and Culture Board invites grant proposals for art, music, theatre, and cultural heritage events or projects to take place in Georgetown between December 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016. The total budget for grants is $20,000. Recent grants have averaged $2,000 apiece. Nonprofit organizations, schools, and informal arts and culture organizations are eligible to apply. Special consideration will be given for events or projects that meet one or more of these criteria: • Are free and open to the public • Include outreach to populations that are traditionally underrepresented • Have a cultural tourism or economic impact (e.g., events that may attract people who also attend other arts & culture venues or events, stay overnight, shop, or dine in Georgetown) Deadline 5 pm Tuesday, November 10. Organizations will be notified by email about funding decisions by November 30. Submit grant proposals by email to Lawren.Weiss@ georgetown.org.
e m o H
OCTOBER 21, 2015 THE ADVOCATE
MRS. BLUE Mrs. Blue is a Russian Blue/mis. She is 5 years old and has been spayed but she still has all her claws. She is available for adoption right away. She has been at the shelter since mid-summer and is ready for her forever home. The Williamson County Shelter usually charges $75 for adoptions but they have frequent specials in hopes of finding good homes no matter what. Courtesy Williamson County Animal Shelter, Pets.Wilco.org WCRAS is joining the Best Friends’ month-long adoption special, “Fall in Love”. Adoption fees have fallen to only $5 to adopt a dog 40 pounds and over; $25 to adopt cats, dogs, and kittens; $75 to adopt a puppy. Come by the shelter and fall in love today!
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2015 Cattleman’s Ball
OCTOBER 21, 2015 THE ADVOCATE
PAGE C3
The Williamson Museum hosted one of Georgetown’s premiere events Oct. 17 at the San Gabriel Community Center; the 4th Annual Cattleman’s Ball. Museum Director Mickie Ross put on a spectacular evening to raise money for museum events and exhibits, as well as to celebrate Honoree Nancy Rabb for her legacy of caring and community involvement in Georgetown and across Williamson County. Nancy and her husband founded Wag-A-Bag in 1964, but she has also built a reputation of service for STARRY, Habitat for Humanity, YMCA, United Way, Scouting, and many more. She was surrounded by, and glowing about, her children and grandchildren throughout the evening. The capacity crowd dismissed work, politics, and even sports rivalries to enjoy music by Justice Live, grilled steaks, TapSnaps, raffles, and impressive silent and live auctions. Among the top prizes were a personal tour donated by America’s biggest cattle order buyer, Jim Schwertner; a guitar autographed by John Michael Montgomery, artwork, jewelry, and special “to-do” things like a romantic dinner for two catered at the Historic Courthouse.
Clockwise from top left: Williamson County Commissioner Ron Morrison introduces Nancy Rabb • Rabb grandson and recently crowned GHS Homecoming King Spencer, Commissioner Lisa Birkman, Mayor Dale Ross • Candidate for 395th Court Terence Davis, County Treasurer Jerri Jones, Former County Treasurer Vivian Wood • Williamson County Attorney Dee Hobbs and wife Stephanie, Linda McDaniel, Constable Robert Chody and wife, Beverly; Mayor Dale Ross • Georgetown City Councilwoman Anna Eby, Texas 3rd Court of Appeals Judge Cindy Bourland, Georgetown Chiropractor Dr. Scot Knight. • Georgetown City Councilman Ty Gipson and wife Crystal, City Manager David Morgan • Museum supporters Christina and John Gold
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PAGE C4
OCTOBER 21, 2015 THE ADVOCATE
Bernillary ‘16 I have to give credit to my friend Tina for inspiring me this week. And also for at least 30 percent of the punch lines in this particular column. Since I’m being honest, I didn’t even watch the Democratic debate, live. But after a few chats with friends and all the feedback from everything from Fox to The Daily Show, I just couldn’t pass up the chance to share my moderator comments. Aside from the fact that whenever I hear Bernie
Sanders speak, I see Alan Arkin in my mind, and when I see him, it’s Larry David. Just wish he was as funny as either of them. I can’t imagine a President of the free world whose voice makes him sound like the Barney Fife of New Jersey. Way to go on that free college tuition thing though. And what a great idea he had about taxing speculators on Wall Street to pay for it. Really thinking outside the box there Bern. No other Democrat has ever thought to pay everyone’s bills by taxing the rich. I bet when you were little you had a stuffed zebra you named Stripey. The biggest threat to our national security is ... wait for it... global warming? Really Bern? So, if
I said you had to choose whether I put your family in a closet with a bucket of coal or ISIS, you would pick the angry guys with the big swords? I have to tell you, I’ve never heard a polar bear say, “Death to America!”
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You’re not off the hook, Hillary. When asked which enemies you are the most proud to have made, you said, “Republicans.” Sooo, despite having worked around communists, and against terrorists and despots, you enjoy making enemies of your own countrymen? You’re even more cuddly now. I can think of a few other females in modern history who were proud to be hated; Leona Helmsley, Rosanne Barr, Casey Anthony. Role models all. At least Rosanne doesn’t send the Secret Service to your house when you make fun of her wardrobe. What is that; Tunics R Us? And that sense of feminist timing is amazing. Get all ‘mean girls’ on people who comment on your makeup or hairdo, but when asked how your presidency would differ from Obama, you jump right in with, “Because I’m a woman.” Well now I’m totally on board. Policy schmolicy, yeehaw folks—there’s a uterus in the Oval Office. The point is, we aren’t giving you a hard time
because you’re not Grace Kelly. We just want a president who says, “Look, I made an effort today.” It’s simply a sad fact that it takes a man 1/10th the time to look his best. Even I do a quick swish of mascara before taking the kids to school, and I know for a fact I won’t be on television. Your message mightn’t be, “I woke up too late for my job AS PRESIDENT to put on makeup.” So you think you are a Progressive who gets things done? First Lady Hillary was infamously inconsiderate to staff, so I think the guards on Marine 1 would probably prefer to salute Flo and talk about car insurance instead. Kudos to Bernie and Hillary both for ganging up on the email issue to sweep
the idea of integrity and ethics under the rug. How much would I have appreciated it if, when asked by my parents, “Do you want to tell me just who you think you are—staying out late and wrecked the car?” I could have just said “No” and moved on to the next topic? Eh, maybe she’s got something there. When Kim Jong Un says, “Madam President, you will remove your forces from the Pacific hemisphere,” she will just say, “No; what’s for lunch?” Well, no one will ever accuse me of being politic. And CNN will never hire me, so if I say I prefer the adorably gaffe-prone Joe Biden to the people actually running for president, I’m sure I’m not alone. I’ll take the guy who took the train from DC to Delaware every day to be with his family, but amusingly says the wrong thing every now and then, to the anti-business socialist progressive grumpy old man pant-suit conglomerate we have now. At least I would be happily content knowing I still get to vote for a Republican for President, but I won’t be ticked off watching the winning half of Bernillary every day for the next 13 months.
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OCTOBER 21, 2015 THE ADVOCATE
10 QUESTIONS: River Rock Bible Church
Lead Pastor Charlie Turner
What do you feel is the spiritual “temperature” of Georgetown? I’m not sure how to quantify that. I think it is great that many are already connected with one of the great Bible teaching churches in Georgetown. I also think there is a lot of opportunity for believers to build relationships and reach the lost and those not connected to a church. With so many new people moving here daily, it’s also a great opportunity for more new churches to be planted. In John 17, Jesus prayed for believers to be unified. One of the things I love about Georgetown is the way churches are coming together to spread the gospel and see lives changed in our community. What surprised you the most about your job when you became pastor? I don’t know that there has been anything surprising about the actual job, but it does surprise me that some people think they have to act differently around me because I’m a pastor. If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you be doing the day after? I would do whatever was on my calendar for that day. I wouldn’t do anything different than what I usually do. Ecclesiastes says that finding satisfaction in your work is a gift from God. I love my family and what I do, so every day is like winning the lottery. However, if I were to win a large sum of money, the first thing I would do is tithe. Next, I would pay off my student loans and house, and set some aside to help with our kids’ college. With whatever is left, I would figure out how it could best be used to spread the gospel and serve others. What, in your opinion, is the best consideration/ method to choose a church? The most important thing is to find a church that is teaching and preaching the Bible; there are a number of great Bible teaching churches here in Georgetown. Once you’ve found a Bible based church, one of the best ways to know if it’s the right church for you is to get involved; join a small group and serve somewhere in one of the
Raising Josephs in a Samson World by William Wright
ministries. Most people looking for a church ask, “What can this church offer me?” I think a better question is, “What gifts have I been given that I can use to serve in and with the church?” America... are we in the best or the worst times? Yes. We are blessed to live in a country with tremendous freedom, in a time of great technological advances that allow us to communicate with ease. In spite of this, we also live in a time of growing loneliness and isolation. Someone may have 500 friends online, yet they don’t know the name of their neighbor and their neighbor doesn’t know them. The second half of the Great Commandment is “to love your neighbor as yourself.” My family and I are making a great effort to get to know our neighbors and to love them unconditionally. It’s not always easy to fit it into our schedule, but it has been worth it. What do you do for fun or to relax? My wife and I have four kids, four-yearold triplets and a one-yearold; so, anything I can do with them is always fun. Some of our favorite things to do together are spending time with our neighbors, camping, and they love dancing while I play guitar. I also love to hunt and grill.
I especially love grilling something I hunted. The last new thing you learned about God? He often reminds me of old lessons in new ways. Most recently He used our four-year-old triplets to remind me of the boldness with which believers ought to be sharing the gospel. One night my son stopped a grown man and asked; “Do you know that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead?” The next night our other son asked a neighbor the same question. A few weeks later, we were leaving a store and our daughter asked to go back in so she could tell the girl behind the counter about Jesus. It really is that simple. How do you typically share your faith / message? Because the gospel has impacted my life so personally, I approach every conversation about the gospel in a personal way. I was six when I first understood that I am a sinner, we are all sinners (Romans 3:23). I also understood that sin separates us from God (Romans 6:23). Because I am a sinner there is nothing I could do to earn God’s forgiveness, but God loves you and me so much that He decided to come to us and provide a way for our sin to be forgiven (Romans
5:8). He did this through His Son, Jesus, who died on the cross for my sin and your sin and on the third day was raised from the dead, proving He had conquered sin and death. What has impacted me most is that God offers forgiveness of sin as a free gift; simply by trusting in Jesus’ death for our sins we are forgiven and saved to eternal life (Ephesians 2:8-9). What is a funny story about working in your church? A few weeks ago, I was closing our service when a phone rang. I usually put my phone on silent and leave it in the sound booth before I preach, so I knew it couldn’t be mine. When I heard the phone ring a second time I also felt my pocket vibrate. Sure enough, it was my phone. So if you come to River Rock and your phone rings during service there is no need to be embarrassed. If you had to have another job other than pastor, what would you do? No matter what, I would continue to share the gospel and teach the Bible. It is also important to me to live in a way that positively impacts the community in which I live. These are things I could do in any profession. I have always had great respect for first responders and those in the military, probably something in that line of work.
A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. Proverbs 10:1 Covenant Community Schools espouse a pervasively biblical worldview, leaning on the Proverbs, Bible stories, and the character traits of Jesus Christ. Our country desperately needs godly leaders like Joseph (Genesis 37-50), but the world encourages our boys to become strong and good-looking like Samson (Judges 13-16). It is time for parents and teachers to take charge raising some Josephs. Please deliver the following letter to the boy of your choice: Dear Boys, Your choices determine your destiny. Actions have consequences. You belong to God. It does not matter what others do, you are responsible to God for your choices. You will have hard times. You must endure
injustice. Expect it! If you want to be a success, make your boss look good. Realize that success and suffering are both part of God’s plan for you. He has made it so that you will grow through adversity. The outcome will depend upon how you respond to that adversity. Choosing to do right does not mean you will immediately be vindicated. If you are true to God, He will eventually bless you. Know that patience is a virtue! Understand that while you wait, God is working. You will reap rewards for waiting on God. Do not become bitter! Rather, make the best of every situation. Remember, God is the author of change. You must decide to do what God wants you to do. Every choice you make for God’s plan helps you grow and change for good. Pursue new ideas. Stretch your comfort zone. Finally, do not brag on yourself. Brag on God. Be a giver, not a taker. Remember, all things work together for good. So, verbalize your dependence on God. Covenant Community Schools serves children and students age 2 through 12th grade on three campuses in the Austin/ Round Rock/Georgetown areas: Kingdom Heights Christian School in Round Rock, Century Christian Academy in Pflugerville, and Covenant Christian Academy in Georgetown. For more info, visit CovenantCommunitySchools.org.
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MARKETPLACE
PAGE C6
OCTOBER 21, 2015 THE ADVOCATE
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CONTENT MARKETING
Oh, the Places Your Child Can Go! As more and more
families with school-age children come to Williamson County, so do alternatives for development and care. While GISD and JISD continue to entice people to purchase homes here, there are some other programs readers might find useful but haven’t heard about.
Head Start
Everyone has likely heard of the Head Start Program. Begun during President Johnson’s administration to provide education opportunities for children in poverty, it is now in its 50th year. Head Start was originally conceived as a catch-up summer school program that would teach low-income children in a few weeks what they needed to know to start elementary school. Today, Head Start is one of the longest-running programs attempting to address the effects of systemic poverty in the United States by helping children age 0-5 with nutrition, education and parent involvement. More than
25 million children have participated. Head Start is not day care. But if you’re a working parent and your child has enrichment needs, this is a great way to get both. It is a complex program that provides early education to children who qualify based on income. It is staffed by certified teachers and teacher assistants, food is prepared by safety-certified chefs and includes life skills and maternity classes for parents. In Williamson County, Head Start is offered in 16 schools in Williamson and Burnet Counties. Contact Charlene Burgess at 512-763-1400.
Funtime Playcare
When your Georgetown babysitter calls two hours before a required work function to cancel watching the kids, your response might just be, “oh well.” Within 20 minutes, the youngsters are happily bundled up in the car and taken to Funtime Playcare where they are entertained, fed, and busy. As more and more time-harried families or single parents work jobs
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with odd hours, crave adult-time or face a lack of available quality and/or reliable babysitters, a new option seems to be gaining in popularity across the country. Funtime Playcare allows adults to have date nights, run errands, have care for last minute changes that may arise, also their service allows you to attend personal functions and business events. They provide services for children 4 months to 12 years who will likely consider it a “kids night out”. Funtime has a well-qualified and trained staff to provide personal attention, guidance and nurturing to each child. Owner Brenda Wilson was in property management for 15 years before she opened Funtime because she wanted to run a business but still be with her kids. “This job is a perfect marriage of the two; customer service and kids.” There are similar places in round Rock and Cedar Park, but this is the first of its kind in Georgetown. It provides added convenience and certified care. Staff have educational activities as well as arts, reading or movies and children can bring their own food or staff will order out for something fun.
Jane Bradshaw • 214-287-2701 I will come to your home and care for your small pets in their own envionment
F AMILY O WNED & O PERATED
5600 Williams Dr. • Georgetown, TX 512-869-7775 • RamseyFuneral.com Funtime is open until 10pm on weekdays and until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. They are also open Sundays starting at 10:30am. Open since Spring, their client base has grown steadily and they are open for tours any time. Jenny, one of the caretakers, says, “We love our job here and kids we get to play with. Plus, if you work here, you get to bring your own kids with you!” Contact Brenda at 512688-5002.
Primrose
Primrose is an option for all-day educational child care and now offers curriculum-based Pre-K and Kindergarten based on the demand for quality private education. Primrose of Georgetown is owned and operated by father and daughter Joe Palma and Tina Foltz. Foltz says, “We have low class ratios and a faster learning pace that is determined by the children. In public school you have to
• Serving Jarrell & surrounding areas • Call for rates & services offered
Classified Advertising POSITIONS AVAILABLE
POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Community Bank of Jarrell now Truck and Dump/Belly Dump has a new opening for a Drivers Wanted Part Time Teller. Experience Class A/CDL Required preferred. Email resume to Call Steve 512-746-5800 mwillingham@cbojtx.com or apply Experienced Scale House in person, call Melody Willingham Monday Thru Saturday. Operator 512-746-5135 Jarrell area. Bi-lingual skills a Experienced Office Assistant/ plus; Call Steve 512-746-5800 Scale House Operator. Jarrell CL&L Trucks area. Call Steve 254-760-6957. Hiring CDL Truck Drivers. Home Heavy Duty Truck/ every 36 hours. We offer Health Equipment Mechanic Insurance, 401K & Paid Vacation. Minimum 2 Years Experience Bi-annual raises with potential of Call Steve 512-746-5800 45¢ per running mile. Must be a least 25 years old, with a min. of Welders/Fabricators Wanted 2 years experience. Full Time Florence Area Call Mike (254) 527-3342. Call Steve 512-746-580
accommodate every learning curve. In our school, as soon as the children grasp a concept, the teacher can move on.” Primrose also provides Spanish and music enrichment every day, and they have a partnership with a local gym to provide gymnastics, dance and sports. The school is part of a national franchise that offers care for infants through eight years old. All of their teachers are certified and train continuously; the children are fed
two meals and two snacks prepared by dietitians, and they also use an online platform to maintain communication with parents throughout the day. Foltz says, “We use the same curriculum as the public schools but we get more done and kids enjoy the consistency of beforeand after-school care with the same teachers, and field trips are included in the tuition. Contact Tina at 512-466-6383.
The Last Word PAGE C7
OCTOBER 21, 2015 THE ADVOCATE
OP-ED
EDITORIAL CORNER
What Was/Is/Will Be the CTSUD? The Chisholm Trail
Vote “FOR” GISD School Bond by Mike Payne
Experientia docet translated from Latin means, “experience teaches.” When reviewing the upcoming GISD Bond Election, this declaratory statement seems spot-on. We recognize that sometimes bond elections are difficult to support for various reasons. However in this case, the Georgetown ISD Bond election makes as compelling a case for approval as any we’ve ever been associated with. An examination of recent
past experiences, and plans for the future, reveal a well-managed district rapidly advancing in a continuously improving and positive direction. Many cities, like people, sometimes become hermetic. They are sealed off, and don’t have the vision and foresight required to accompany our onward march through the 21st century. It is our pleasure to report that no such situation exists in Georgetown, where a dedicated group of individuals have come together in selfless engagement to ensure unparalleled educational opportunities for every Georgetown school student in grades K-12. It is also incumbent upon us all, in a city that is rated in the Top Ten in almost every
category including quality of life, that we maintain an educational environment which is inviting to the very best companies, as well as families throughout the United States that are considering Georgetown as their home. It is the opinion of the Editorial Board of Fidelis Publishing Group, LLC, parent company of The Advocate, that this request is significantly important in providing those opportunities. It is never wrong to invest in those projects that make a positive and measurable impact on our children. This one unquestionably does. Therefore, we strongly support a “FOR” vote on this November ballot issue.
Special Utility District was authorized by State legislation in 1990 to serve as a water source for the then largely rural residents of western Williamson, eastern Burnett and southern Bell Counties. Its area covered about 377 square miles. By 2010 however, a large majority of its accounts were in suburban residential areas. In 2011, its customers were placed under stage 4 water restrictions, and the Greater Water Committee (representing 5 major residential areas) was formed to identify problems. An independent feasibility study in 2012 concluded that CTSUD faced higher water rates, continued water restriction, untested fire hydrants, increasing infrastructure costs as well as lack of available water for future development. Public hearings were held in mid-2013, and the Board concluded that a merger with Georgetown Utility Services (GUS) would best resolve the problems. Board elections in 2012, 13, and 14 were handily won by candidates favoring the merger, indicating that a strong majority of CTSUD customers
also favored the merger. A merger contract between CTSUD and GUS Boards was signed in October 2013, in which all assets and liabilities were transferred to GUS, the latter assuming operation of the CTSUD system (now termed the GUS Western Division). This contract was deemed legal by the State TCEQ and PUC. These two entities exert strict control over community water issues. To date, monthly water rates have decreased 10-25 percent, all fire hydrants have been tested, water restrictions have been improved, future infrastructure costs have been avoided and water is now available for future development in the fastest growing city and county in the U.S.A. It remains for the Certificate of Convenience/Need (CCN) to be transferred from CTSUD to GUS- expected to be completed by January, 2016. Finally, the CTSUD Board must be allowed to dissolve itself through legislative action. House Bill 4172, introduced by Rep. Marsha Farney (and backed by Sen. Charles Schwertner) would have done this, but was blocked from being voted
upon by action of a single House member. As a result, the customers of the GUS Western Div. (including the House member’s constituents) will continue to pay a monthly transition surcharge of almost ONE MILLION dollars over the next two years. This fee will be dropped when the CTSUD Board is allowed to dissolve. This November, the CTSUD Board election has four candidates for two seats. Of these, Delton Robinson and Mike Sweeney are presently members of the Board, and have spearheaded the merger process. The other two candidates are against the merger. It is vital that the 7-member Board remain solidly in favor of the merger until its ultimate completion. We urge those interested in water at reasonable rates, and an efficiently run system with resources far into the future to vote for candidates that will best bring this to fruition. Respectfully, Wm. L. McGavran III President, Greater Water Committee
LETTER TO EDITOR
There are several reasons that we are voting in support of the GISD school bond proposal. Certainly, Capacity and Equity are vitally important but the Safety Issue is what hit us the hardest. After touring several of the schools, including five elementary campuses, (Frost, Village, Pickett, Ford, and Cooper) and also Benold Middle School, it was apparent that new, secured entries at these schools are urgently needed In TODAY’S WORLD, in which we experience such unfortunate violence. As a community, we must make these improvements and provide the greatest
security and safety that we can for our children. This should be of highest priority and is an integral element of the bond package. As a participant in the 35 member Citizen’s Advisory Committee, five months were spent in reviewing the details and facts for the 12 bond projects. On July 14th, the Committee voted unanimously to recommend to the Trustees to call a Nov 3rd bond election. From the Committee’s review, all 12 projects within the bond package, are absolutely “Need Based.” As we all know, needs do not go away and they can become
much more expensive to solve in the future. Let’s solve these needs now. This bond election is about more than just “bricks and mortar” and bond interest rates, it an opportunity for our community to once again make a statement that our youth and their education are of highest priority. Let’s keep moving our community “ Education Cornerstone “ forward. It is a common thread that has been weaving its way through our incredible City for generations. It is a priority and an attitude that states and defines, “ who we are as a community “. Please join us, in helping keep our children safe, secure and providing the finest education possible in preparing them for success in this complicated world. ( Early voting starts Oct 19th. Election Day Is Nov. 3rd ). Thank you. Bob & Paula Brent, Georgetown
PAGE C8
OCTOBER 21, 2015 THE ADVOCATE
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