JULY 1, 2020 NEW COACH
FESTIVITIES!
Hays High School gets a new tennis coach.
Fireworks are still on, and social distancing is in.
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News-Dispatch © Barton Publications, Inc.
75¢
Vol. 126 • No. 11
HaysNewsDispatch.com
Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX
COVID rates rising in Hays
Kinder Morgan responds to latest lawsuit
BY SAHAR CHMAIS
BY ANITA MILLER Energy giant Kinder Morgan called a federal lawsuit filed by two Hays County groups last week “unfounded and without merit.” The lawsuit accuses the company of violating the Safe Drinking Water Act during construction of its Permian Highway Pipeline (PHP), a 430-mile natural gas pipeline that is carving its way through the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Litigants allege that carcinogens were among the substances introduced into a karst feature fractured on March 28 as a contractor was attempting the first of two planned bores under the Blanco River. The accident resulted in 36,000 gallons of drilling mud containing AMC Gel going into the aquifer and surrounding wells, including that owned by Teri Albright and her husband, both of whom are physicians. Tests on the well water also revealed the presence of arsenic, representatives of the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association (WVWA) and Trinity Edward Springs Protection Association (TESPA) said at a press conference announcing the lawsuit. However, Kinder Morgan said those substances, including light and heavy metals, “naturally exist in the very earth that this groundwater is flowing through, and they are naturally present there at levels that are orders of magnitude higher than the concentrations present in the drilling mud used at the Blanco River site,” the company said in a statement. The company also maintains that AMC Gel, “commonly referred to as
KINDER MORGAN, 14
PHOTOS BY MOSES LEOS III
A graduation like no other With students dealing with COVID-19 pandemic, Black Lives Matter marches and the possibility of Hays High mascot being changed, graduation went ahead last week for all three high schools. Above, a Hays High student respectfully kneels during the National Anthem, and Lehman High students enjoy a glorious sunset after fears of rain delaying their graduation. See more photos of HCISD graduation, page 2.
COVID ON THE RISE, 14
COVID testing may require public/private partnership BY ANITA MILLER
COVID-19 testing for the general public administered by the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the National Guard has been a huge success in Hays County but will soon be phased out. That had commissioners and County Judge Ruben Becerra floating a lot of ideas during their meeting June 30 about how to fill the expected gap in the capacity to test for the coronavirus just as thousands of Texas State
University return to town for summer school — which will only worsen the county’s standing as an acknowledged national hot spot for the extremely contagious virus. The TDEM testing was conducted for 10 days at the Hays CISD Performing Arts Center and was open to all who showed up, with neither residency or symptoms required. On Monday, June 29, 697 people were tested, bringing the total as of that date to 4,580, Chief of Staff and Emergency Management Coordi-
PHOTO BY ANITA MILLER
The line outside the Hays CISD’s Performing Arts Center (PAC) on Saturday as people lined up for free COVID-19 testing was two hours long.
nator Alex Villalobos told the court. A second round of testing at San
Marcos High School
PARTNERSHIP, 6
Becerra amends rule on outdoor gatherings Amid the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra modified his Order #4 that went into effect June 22. That order, among other provisions, requires people to wear masks or face coverings in public places and is in place until July 20. The amended order will now also prohibit outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people in the unincorporated
Gatherings, in the unincorporated areas of Hays County, unless otherwise authorized by the Executive Order(s) of Governor Greg Abbott, of 100 people or more are prohibited and shall not be authorized by the Hays County Judge. areas of Hays County, unless otherwise permitted by Gov. Greg Abbott. The amendment “is one additional way we can help slow the spread of the virus,” Becerra said. “Large
VOLUNTEERS
Hays County food bank is seeking healthy volunteers.
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Halfway through June, Hays County recorded an average of 36 daily cases of COVID-19, and two weeks later, the daily average jumped to 150. Several culprits contributed to this shift, putting the county at a higher rate than its more densely populated neighbor, Travis County. After phase three of reopening on June 12, daily cases climbed exponentially. State Rep. for House District 45, Erin Zwiener and Dr. Manish Naik, an Internal Medicine Physician and Pandemic Specialist at Austin Regional Clinic, shared why
gatherings provide an opportunity for COVID-19, which is highly contagious, to be rapidly transmitted to many others within a short timeframe.” Becerra added that
limiting trips/travel/outings, washing hands frequently and staying at least six feet apart from others remain the best ways to slow the spread.
COVID RULES, 9
The News-Dispatch Barton Publications, Inc. The News-Dispatch (USPS 011-401) 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
Kyle closing City Hall in wake of COVID spike The city of Kyle has decided to make changes to operations and programming due to the increase in COVID-19 both statewide and countywide effective as of Friday, June 26. Kyle City Hall will be closed to the public with most services still available via phone at 512262-1010 and online at cityofkyle.com. • All public meetings will hold public comment virtually. Sign up for public comment by 12 p.m. on the day of the meeting via the online form (cityofkyle.com/council/ citizen-comment-sign) to participate virtually. • Payments, applications, permits, service requests and more will be available online at the cityofkyle.com and by mail. • The Kyle Public Library will be available for curbside service and has two computers in the foyer for emergency use by residents. Reserve items online by email at circulation@cityofkyle.com and by phone at 512-268-7411 or text at 512-675-2442. • The Kyle Pool and all summer camps will be closed until further notice. • Movies on the Square and Market Days have been canceled until further notice.