AUGUST 19, 2020 NEW MUSEUM
CITE & RELEASE
WWII museum, mini-golf course in the works
Forum discusses policy to alleviate jails with low-level offenders
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HaysNewsDispatch.com
Vol. 40 • No. 45
Serving Hays County, TX
Former band director charged with sexual offenses BY ANITA MILLER
A former band director at Dahlstrom Middle School arrested for possession of child pornography and invasive video recording told investigators he was “embarassed” about images found on his computer and cell phone, saying it was a “huge drunken
mistake.” However, according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest, 30-year-old Tyler Townsend also told investigators he used a special video app on his cell phone to record images up the skirts of young girls in the band hall and elsewhere. Townsend remained
in Hays County Jail on Friday charged with 10 counts of each offense. TOWNSEND Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Beth Smith, who drew up the 20 warrants, said that posses-
sion of child pornography is a third degree felony and invasive visual recording is a state jail felony. Townsend is being held on bonds totaling $150,000. According to the affidavit submitted by Kyle Police Detective Perry Field, Townsend came to the attention of authorities through a
Deadline passes, November candidate slates set
CANDIDATES SET 8
image, identified as Tyler Townsend. On July 27, a search warrant was executed at Townsend’s home on Dragon Ridge Road in Buda. At that time, Townsend reportedly said he “used to drink excessively and spend a lot of time on the
FORMER BAND DIRECTOR, 5
Kinder Morgan agrees to reroute part of pipeline BY ANITA MILLER
the Blanco River. That fouled nearby Kinder Morgan’s water wells and led to decision to reroute its the lawsuit filed by the Permian Highway Pipe- Trinity Edwards Springs line (PHP) away from Protection Association the Blanco River was (TESPA) and the Wima first step in the right berley Valley Watershed direction, according to Association (WVWA) an organization that has alleging the 36,000 sued the energy giant gallons of drilling mud over alleged violations of introduced to the Trinity the Clean Water Act. Aquifer violated the fedA new route for eral Clean Water Act. approximately two Two Blanco River miles of the natural gas crossings were along the transmission line is now original route, which being negotiated. also crosses the PederKinder Morgan CEO nales River and dozens Steve Kean announced of creeks and streams. the decision in an opinThe source of the ion piece published in concern regarding the the Houston Chronicle pipeline has always this week. been the route, which The company halttakes it through the part ed construction of the of Hays County richest pipeline near Chimney with karst formations Rock Road in Blanco — caves, sinkholes, fracCounty after a March 28 tures and other features breach of a karst feature that allow rainwater to as a contractor was attempting to bore under
STAFF REPORT Four people including incumbent Travis Mitchell are in the running for mayor of Kyle. Mitchell, who is seeking his second three-year term, faces challengers Linda Tenorio, who formerly served on the Kyle City Council, Peter Parcher, who led a recall effort directed at Mitchell in 2019, and David Abdelmaseih. Two seats on the Kyle City Council are also up for grabs, as are as two positions on the Buda City Council, two positions on the Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees, and the office of Precinct 3 Constable. In addition to filling elected positions, Hays County voters will be asked to approve a $75 to $80 million bond to fund parks and open spaces. The city of Kyle will also call a bond election to fund a new police station. The Hays CISD, however, voted on Monday not to hold a bond election that was initially proposed at a price tag of more than $217 million. The deadline for candidates to file was 5 p.m. Monday. Aug. 23 is the deadline to file a write-in candidacy.
CyberTip line associated with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Attached to the report was an image of nude prepubescent girls. Google had alerted NCMEC of the image and the name, mobile phone number and email address of the person who uploaded the
KINDER MORGAN , 5
PHOTO BY ANITA MILLER A destructive fire in March put Helen’s Casa Alde down but not out. Earlier this month, the restaurant, manned by the founder’s granddaughter Remy Fallon, began serving up specialties from a food truck.
Back in business BY ANITA MILLER
Life changed for all of us in March, when mid-month, the first case of COVID-19 sickened a Hays County resident. But for many in the northern part of the county, something else happened around the same time that affects how they go about their daily routine — Helen’s Casa Alde in Buda caught fire. No one knows exactly what happened in the fire March 15 and Remy Fallon, granddaughter of founder Helen Alcala, says the restaurant will not be able to reopen in its original location on Main Street. But those needing their signature Tex-Mex fix are in luck. Fallon is
After a “soft opening” for family and friends, the red-and-white food truck tucked in at — Main Street opened for the public Aug. 10. week.
once again serving up all the restaurant’s specialties, but out of a food truck. After a “soft opening” for family and friends, the red-and-white food truck tucked in at North Main Street just north of the railroad tracks opened for the public Aug. 10. For now, they are open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days a week. When it gets a little cooler, Fallon says those hours will likely be extended to 3. Alcala, the restaurant’s founder, started it in July of 1980, when she was
GREEN SPACE
County calls for parks bond election for November 3.
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almost 57 years old after a career of being a “lunch lady” in school cafeterias. Fallon, who is also a member of the Buda City Council, has been working there since she was 16. “We were sad to leave downtown Buda but we won’t go far, for sure,” she said. “For now, we’re going to stick with the food truck until we can find another location that better fits our needs.” She said that judging from the success of their soft opening, the
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County urged not to ‘defund police’ BY ANITA MILLER Law enforcement advocates — many of them the wives of officers — were out in force at the Commissioner Court meeting Tuesday urging the elected official not to “defund police,” some taking aim at the proposed FY 2021 budget. “It’s time to stand up and take a stand,” said one, who claimed her husband, a deputy with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, drove a patrol vehicle with no lights or siren and 160,000 miles on it and wears an “outdated” bullet proof vest. “We are silent no more. We are here to tell you to stand up and fund law enforcement,” she said. Another complained that they might have to move if law enforcement “needs are not met.” More than one warned against Hays County becoming “another Austin,” and urged the
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“No one is proposing to defund law enforcement. The budget didn’t do this and the proposed budget doesn’t. The efforts you guys are being told about are maybe slightly skewed.” –Ruben Becerra, Hays County Judge
court to “back the blue.” Last week, the Austin City Council voted to move millions from the police department budget to other areas. County Judge Ruben
POLICE ADVOCATES, 12