MAY 6, 2020 CLEAT SUIT
ER-PHOBIC
Law enforcement group fights for compensation for virus victims, families.
ER director says don’t sit at home and have a heart attack.
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News-Dispatch © Barton Publications, Inc.
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Vol. 126 • No. 5
HaysNewsDispatch.com
Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX
Kyle to locally customize gov’s COVID-19 order “... we can’t mandate masks throughout the community, but we have wiggle room enough to require employees have theirs on at the customer point of sale.”
BY ANITA MILLER
Abbott. Mitchell ordered that “We’re all in the same employees of some retail storm, but not in the establishments wear same ship.” masks, and will continThose were the words ue to require that staff of Kyle Mayor Travis at daycare centers wear Mitchell, who went online them. He held back on Wednesday to offer an up- opening playgrounds and date on how the city will pools, but said data gathadhere to but customize ered in the next couple the executive order issued of weeks could lead to a April 27 by Gov. Gregg loosening of restrictions.
to sanitize hand upon entry. Hand sanitizer stations at those businesses will continue. His new orders, effective May 1, run through May 18. His mask requirement would apply to big box stores and would mandate employees wear one if they are interacting with customers at the point of
–Travis Mitchell, Kyle Mayor
Most of the emergency protocols at gas stations
will continue, he said, except for the requirement
Access to virus testing illustrates divisions on court
BY ANITA MILLER
Wimberley and Dripping Springs to ensure residents in those areas have the opportunity to be tested.” According to Hays County Local Health Department Epidemiologist Eric Schneider, pre-registrations begins May 9 and individuals will go through a health screening.
Hays County Commissioner on Friday agreed to allocate $500,000 from the general fund to use as grants to micro-businesses who aren’t likely to recover from a six-week closure forced by the COVID-19 pandemic. They could not come to terms, however, on what businesses would be eligible, what the money could be used for and how the grants would be administered. The agenda item for the special meeting was to declare an emergency for small business retention. It’s not the first such effort in the county — the Buda Economic Development Corporation launched the “Still Budaful” stimulus program weeks ago to assist small businesses negatively affected by the coronavirus. As a first draft, commissioners were given a document prepared by the Greater San Marcos Partnership (GSMP) that would make eligible businesses with 10 or fewer full-time equivalent employees who make at least $12 per hour. That threshold drew concerns from County Judge Ruben Becerra and Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe. “There are businesses that employ people that don’t make over $12 an hour and they need the help too,” Ingalsbe said. Becerra said he could find such a business walking one block from the courthouse in any direction. “I am not comfortable telling them unless everyone is making more than $12 an hour, you don’t qualify.” Ingalsbe also took issue with the number of employees. “I came in here thinking it’s wonderful we’re going to provide assistance to those businesses that have less than 10
COVID-19 TESTING, 3
BUSINESS GRANTS, 2
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Paulina Hernandez shows off a batch of pops in the shop her family has owned for generations.
Third generation pop shop pushes through pandemic BY CAMELIA JUAREZ
When Paulina Hernandez was a young child, her father’s pop shop “La Playa” (The Beach) was rich with the smell of freshly peeled limes and the sounds of chatter between her dad and customers. Those same smells and sounds
live in Paulina’s own pop shop, La Ola (The Wave) Pop, here in Kyle. Owning a pop shop or paleteria is a deep rooted family business. Paulina is a third generation pop shop owner along with her brother and 12 cousins. “My dad would always say, ‘It’s a humble
line of work,’” she said. “We grew up seeing the friendly interactions, people smiling as they leave and it’s all we know.” A business that has survived through generations was tested at the beginning of this year when Paulina and her husband Julian decid-
ed to change locations from downtown Kyle to the west side of Kyle. The Hernandez family opened their new location just as the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. and social distancing was enforced. Fortunately, the city
PUSHING THROUGH, 5
Hays County hosting two free COVID-19 testing sites on May 10 Through a partnership with the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, along with the Texas Army National Guard, two free COVID-19 testing locations will be available in Hays County on May 10. One location will be in Wimberley, the other in Dripping Springs. Testing at both sites will take place that day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
and an appointment is required. Based on the protocols for this program, specific site locations will be shared with those who register, go through a health screening and receive an appointment. Individuals will need to be screened in advance and can only be tested if they receive an appointment.
LETTERS OF INTENT
Hays’ Casey Reagan and Gabby Bosquez sign to play with Missouri State and Arizona State, respectively.
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INDEX
COURT DIVIDED, 11
KYLE’S COVID-19 ORDER, 5
County agrees to fund small business retention grants
BY ANITA MILLER Hays County has been following CDC guidelines on who gets tested for COVID-19 – basically, health care providers, people in high risk groups with symptoms and first responders. As of Tuesday, May 5, results of 1961 tests had been reported to the County Health Department and of that, 183 were positive and 1,761negative. After weeks of uncertainty about the availability of tests for those populations, the county now has an excess, according to County Judge Ruben Becerra, who referred to tests “on the shelf.” But opening up access to people not in a high risk group who have shown no symptoms took heat at an emergency meeting of the Commissioners Court on May 1 when Becerra suggested offering testing to local small businesses spooked about reopening. As is becoming a weekly occurrence, Becerra and Pct. 4 Commissioner Walt Smith went head to head over the issue, with Becerra saying employees might be more willing
sale. “Masks are a little bit annoying, but they’re proven to have a significant impact on slowing contagion … we want to do everything we can to slow the spread without impacting the business community … we can’t mandate masks through-
On May 9, 24 hours prior to the test sites opening, the county will provide the website and call number for registration. “We are pleased to bring free COVID-19 testing to our residents,” Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra said. “We have been working diligently to expand testing overall in the county. We chose these sites in
COVID-19 Count……… 2 Community………… 4-7 Obituaries…………… 6-7 Police Blotter…………… 8
School News………… Service Directory…… Public Notices……… Classifieds……………
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