DECEMBER 29, 2021 GIFT OF HEAT
TEXAS HISTORY
Local HVAC company gives deserving resident free heating services.
Stephen F. Austin’s right-hand man caused him some headaches.
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With COVID-19 numbers as high as they were at the end of last year, Megan Cardwell and her husband decided to spend the New Year holiday in the safety of their home. When Cardwell started having contractions, there was no
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time to rush to the hospital. “Within about like an hour and 15 minutes was when I was like this is real labor and we are pushing,” Cardwell said. “It happened really fast. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get in the car to the hospital so I hopped in my tub.” “My husband, thank God, was smart enough and aware enough to call the paramedics,” Cardwell told the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch. “They talked him through everything he needed to do until the paramedics got here.” The Cardwells’ child is considered a rainbow baby. When a family previously loses a child due to miscarriage or stillbirth, another baby may be born soon thereafter. This is known as a ‘rainbow baby,’ coming from the idea that a rainbow breaks the clouds of a storm.
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When 14-year-old Gaby Castro was introduced to aerial dance and acrobatics at the age of 12, the competitive dancing world as she knew it was about to change. She decided to be an aerialist instead just when “The Greatest Showman” was released in theaters. Gaby’s daily schedule as an aerialist includes breakfast, morning homeschool, handstands and other classes. She said one of her favorite parts is embracing new challenges along the way.
A look back at 2021
It took six years, but the Kyle Police arrested 47-yearold Larry Simon of Louisiana on two capital murder charges without bond on Feb. 2 of 2021, for a 2015 double homicide at a home in the 800 block of Sledge Street. He was charged with killing James Wright, 45, and Tina Combs, 44. Simon was a known associate of Wright and was identified as a person of interest early in the investigation.
The soaring hawk is making its first appearance as the official mascot of Hays High School. Hays High School unveiled its new Hawks logo and branding package on March 24. Students finalized the Hawks as the new mascot in January of 2020.
The Lehman Lobos boys and girls powerlifting teams this past year proved lightning can strike the same place twice. On March 27, Lehman Lobo boys powerlifters Brayden Bromonsky and Jacob Vasquez both secured first place in their respective weight classes at the Texas High School Powerlifting Association (THSPA) Boys 5A/6A state meet in Abilene. As a result of their exemplary finishes, the Lobo boys powerlifting team captured the 2021 5A/6A THSPA State team title, finishing two points ahead of Odessa High.
Left, Roxanne Castillo sent in a picture of a snowman she and her daughter made. Above is a photo submitted by Wynne Galpin.
It was a fight to protect water where no aquifer district had jurisiction, but in the end House Bill 3405, passed in 2015, meant that a permit allowing pumpage of more than 289 million gallons of water had to be granted. A lawsuit filed by Trinity Edwards Spring Protection Association (TESPA) in early 2020 combatting the permit ended with slight oversight of the permit through 2027. In 2019, the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD) granted a well water permit to Needmore LLC. to withdraw 289,080,000 gallons of
water annually, then got sued over the decision. Needmore, a 5,000 acre-ranch just outside of Wimberley, is allowed to withdraw this maximum amount of water for agricultural irrigation and wildlife use. In 2015, when House Bill 3405 passed, it gave BSEACD jurisdiction over previously unregulated portions of the Trinity Aquifer in Hays County, including Needmore’s land. HB 3405 entitled existing well owners to use maximum production of their well. The BSEACD did not favor the requirement, but were legally bound to comply, according to a press release from BSEACD.
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posted June 15, 2021
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There were few dry eyes in the house at the Moe and Gene Johnson High School softball field April 6 as the Lehman Lobos and Johnson Jaguars softball teams rallied together in support of a Hays CISD employee who is battling cancer. At the conclusion of the April 6 district game, both teams joined together for a quick photo to show support for Johnson High Athletic Trainer Amber Jones, who earlier this year was diagnosed with breast cancer and is combatting the disease. Along with the show of support, members of the Lehman High softball team prior to the contest offered a signed softball to Jones that had numerous words of encouragement and well wishes for her fight. Meanwhile, the Jaguar softball team also had Jones’ initials (AJ) and a pink ribbon, symbolizing the fight against breast cancer, drawn behind home plate.