OCTOBER 5, 2022 KYLE CHAMBER HOSTS CANDIDATE FORUM
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Hays Free Press
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HaysFreePress.com
Vol. 128 • No. 30
Serving Hays County, TX
Former Hays County teacher indicted on indecency with a child charges BY MEGAN WEHRING
March 1, and charged him with ‘Indecency with a Child’ – this stemmed HAYS COUNTY – A from a long investigation former Hays CISD teacher by law enforcement. Hays was indicted on charges related to the alleged sexual CISD was first alerted to the investigation by Kyle abuse of students. Andrew Palmore, 50, was PD on Feb. 1. Palmore was immediately placed on indicted by a Hays County leave, and his access to grand jury on Wednesday, Hays CISD campuses and Sept. 14, for one count of continuous sexual abuse of students was removed on that date. a child and two counts of At a special meeting on indecency with a child. March 8, the HCISD Board Officers from the Kyle Police Department arrested of Trustees approved the termination of Palmore’s Palmore on Tuesday, term contract “for good
cause as reviewed in closed session” and directed Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright to provide notice to the employee. Palmore was a substitute teacher for Hays CISD during the spring semester of 2012. He substituted at Blanco Vista and Science Hall elementary schools, as well as Simon Middle School during that time. He was hired full-time by Hays CISD in August 2014 at Blanco Vista Elementary, where he has worked as a second, fourth, and fifth-
Andrew Palmore grade teacher.
Hawks overcome Timberwolves
PHOTO BY VICTORIA CARREON
Makayla White (8) and Georgia Lincoln (23) team up to block a Timberwolf spike. The Hays Hawks traveled to Cedar Park High School on Friday, Sept. 30, where they won in three sets (25-20, 25-23 and 25-21.) The Hawks’ next home game will be Friday, Oct. 14 against cross town rival, Lehman High School. The start time is 6:30 p.m.
Hays County addresses letter opposing SH 45 project BY MEGAN WEHRING
HAYS COUNTY – The Hays County Commissioners Court discussed a letter sent by the Travis County Commissioners Court opposing the completion of the State Highway 45 expansion project. On Aug. 30, the Hays County Commissioners Court approved a $2.5 million engineering and design contract with a 4-1 vote to complete the missing section of SH 45 between I-35 and FM 1626, connecting I-35 to South Mopac – Judge Ruben Becerra was the dissenting vote. Travis County sent the letter on Sept. 13 in order to “make clear our opposition to this action by Hays County.” The Hays County Commissioners Court addressed concerns explained in the letter during the Sept. 27 meeting – no action was taken. Some of the concerns that Travis County has regarding the SH 45 project include increased traffic and impacts on the environment. “Making the connection from I-35 to FM 1626 would effectively make Mopac an I-35 bypass, dramatically increasing vehicular and truck traffic,” the letter stated. “The traffic impacts of this decision by Hays County would have a profound and detrimental effect almost entirely on Austin and Travis County.” According to Travis County, the connection will also increase traffic over environmentally sensitive lands including Balcones Canyonlands Preserve lands, the city of Austin Water Quality Protection lands, karst features, Edwards Aquifer, endangered species habitat and conservation easements.
The letter also stated that the project is not included in TxDOT’s updated 10-year funding plan (2023 Unified Transportation Plan), the Travis County transportation plan and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) 2045 Regional Transportation Plan. However, Hays County Commissioner Walt Smith said otherwise. “If you look at the CAMPO [2045] Plan, which is the plan that we work under as regional partners, that roadway is included,” Smith said. “Not only is it included there but the reason why it is not included in the 10-year plan is because [it] doesn’t call for funding in the next 10 years. We don’t call for funding in the next 10 years. If you look at the long-range plans of our regional partners, there is no one within CAMPO who has more votes as a county than Travis County.” In response to the environmental concerns that the roadway would go over water conservation land, Smith said he believed that “every bit of this individual leg” would be over what is currently private property. “It contains none of those set-aside conservation easements nor any set-aside water quality improvement property that the city of Austin or Travis County has.” Smith added that there is a need for this project in the community. “These projects take decades,” Smith said. “My constituents in the Buda and Kyle area are very adamant in support of this project, simply because they understand the need for it because they see it
See PROJECT, page 7
Comal ISD completes investigation into alleged racial slurs BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN HAYS — Comal ISD completed its investigation on Sept. 9 into the allegations that Canyon High School (CHS) students were heard yelling hateful and racial slurs at the Hays High School volleyball players during a varsity game on Sept. 2. The Hays Free Press received a press release on Sept. 28. According to the press release, Comal ISD conducted a “thorough investigation” that consisted of reviewing video of the entire game
and gathering statements from any individual who may have known what transpired, including: • The School Resource Officer on duty • 22 students who were in the student section that evening • Three parents who were sitting close to the student section
JAGS DEFEATED BY TIGERS – PAGE 11
• A line judge on that side of the court • The administrator on duty • The CHS cheer coach • Hays High School coaches • Students in the locker room hallway after the game The Hays High School volleyball team traveled to
Canyon High School for a volleyball game on Sept. 2, where Canyon students were heard yelling hateful and racial slurs at the Hays players during the varsity game, according to a news release from Hays High School following the event. Comal ISD also asked Hays CISD to assist them in gathering statements from the volleyball team. According to the press release, Hays CISD provided statements from two of the seven Hays volleyball players who were on the bench in front of the CHS student section, which can be viewed in an online
The Hays Free Press Barton Publications, Inc. The Hays Free Press (USPS 361-430) published weekly by Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. Periodicals postage paid at Buda, TX 78610 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. ISSN#1087-9323
recording of the game during the 45:45 mark. “As you can see, the chant that was alleged to have been made six times cannot be verified as being seen in the video,” CHS Acting Superintendent Mandy Epley said. “In addition, other than the two statements from the Hays players, none of the other individuals who provided statements reported hearing anyone make the statement, ‘make a play (n-word).’” The press release also acknowledged the criticism of the actions of the SRO that
See COMAL, page 6