OCTOBER 7, 2020 WHO’S WHO
TIGER WIN
Check out who’s running locally for what and why in the November election.
Tiger volleyball earns district win over Boerne Champion
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HaysNewsDispatch.com
Vol. 41 • No. 2
Serving Hays County, TX
LWV, LULAC sue Abbott over ruling on ballot drop-off location
Dripping Springs ISD candidates discuss growth, COVID-19, funding
STAFF REPORT The League of Women Voters (LWV) and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), along with two individual voters, have joined the ranks of those filing lawsuits against Gov. Greg Abbott following his proclamation earlier this week limiting the number of places that absentee ballots can be
BY CHASE ROGERS The Hays County League of Women Voters chapter held a virtual forum for candidates vying for a position on the Dripping Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees Oct. 1, discussing school district’s growth, COVID-19 mitigation and school funding. Their terms originally slated to end May 2020 before Gov. Greg Abbott’s order to delay elections to November, board members Ron Jones and Barbara Stroud are running for re-election to the board. Newcomers Lori Broughton, a retired public school educator, and Stephanie Holtzendorf, a systems analyst with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, are running for a seat on the board. Discussing the COVID pandemic’s impact on the district and ideas on how to further mitigate issues, all of the candidates remarked on the importance of supporting teachers and district staff, Jones stated that additional money from the state would go a long way. “For starters, additional funds would help,” Jones said while discussing potential budget shortfalls and recent infrastructure enhancements. “But I can't stress enough — all the candidates have talked about it — about how incredible our administrators and teachers are. I've always considered those people superheroes because they are really working, some work 1215-hour days or weekends.” Asked about DSISD’s proficiency in preparing students to succeed in college, all candidates praised the schools and discussed the need for
DSISD CANDIDATES, 13
BALLOT LAWSUIT, 10
Long-awaited opening COURTESY PHOTO
The long-awaited connector from Kyle’s downtown to IH-35 and to Kyle’s Marketplace is now fully open after several years of construction.
EMS building coming to Wimberley BY MEGAN WEHRING
WIMBERLEY — Community donations can go a long way. Wimberley Emergency Medical Services (EMS) learned this lesson after a new 8,000 square-foot facility is expected to be completed by Oct.15. Wimberley EMS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies heavily on public support to continue providing essential services. It is an independent service dispatched by the Hays County Sheriff’s Department and works with the Wimberley Volunteer Fire Department and South Hays Fire Department Ken Strange, director of Wimberley EMS since 2004, said the new facility comes all because of the generous support of the community. “The citizens of Wimberley have
COURTESY PHOTO
Wimberley Emergency Medical Services (EMS) will have a new 8,000 square-foot facility beginning this month. The facility located at 220 Twilight Trail is expected to open October 15.
stepped up to the plate and donated money to us and helped us with donation drives,” Strange said. “We have two groups that are really working hard
COMING UP
with us and we were able to raise around the $300,000 mark just for the building.” Wimberley is growing and the EMS staff wants to meet those
KYLE
WIMBERLEY
Daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hays CISD PAC, 979 Kohlers Crossing, Kyle
Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wimberley Community Center, 14068 RR 12, Wimberley
Friday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Triangle, 151 Mercer St., Dripping Springs
BUSINESS GROWTH
Lowe’s to open distribution center in Kyle.
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NEW EMS BUILDING, 13
Free COVID test are available at the following locations
DRIPPING SPRINGS
Indigenouse People’s Day October 12
new needs. Since 1995, the first-responders have been housed in a metal building that has lacked adequate space.
SAN MARCOS
Daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ramon Lucio Park, 601 S. CM Allen Parkway, San Marcos
BUDA
(Starting Friday, Oct. 9) Monday through Wednesday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Onion Creek Senior Center, 420 Barton Crossing, Buda
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
Austin man gets 30 years for murder of Kyle woman STAFF REPORT The man responsible for the 2019 death of Kyle resident Yuridia Amaya Espinoza-Nava plead guilty to her murder this week and was sentenced to 33 years NAVA in prison — exactly the number of years Espinoza-Nava had been alive when he killed her with a knife and buried her body in the woods outside Elgin. Tomas Sanchez-Solorzano, a Bastrop resident, had faced up to 99 years behind bars. The sentence was the result of a plea deal accepted by Bastrop County District Judge Chris Duggan, the Austin American Statesman is reporting. Espinoza-Nava was reported missing by her family on Feb. 23, 2019 after not returning home from work the day prior. Her car was found at a South Austin convenience store about a week later. Sanchez-Solorzano came to police attention during a traffic stop on March 25, and reportedly admitted the crime once he was questioned. After his admission, he led police to a grave site “marked with a crude cross,” the newspaper said, quoting investigators. On the day he entered his plea and was sentenced, Sanchez-Solorzano heard from the victim’s sister, who addressed him in Spanish while giving her witness impact statement from the stand.