NOVEMBER 11, 2020 MARKET DAYS
OPEN HOUSES
Wimberley Market Days is back with strong sense of commmunity pride.
Public input sought on Hillside Terrace, US 290 improvements.
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HaysNewsDispatch.com
Vol. 41 • No. 7
Serving Hays County, TX
Kyle mayor race heads into runoff STAFF REPORT
PHOTO BY DAVID WHITE Above, Aaron Owens, shows off his first crop of hemp grown on his farmland in Dripping Springs. Below, one of his crew members, Paul Milman, helps in the trimming process before storing the product in bins.
CBD is A-OK
MAYORAL RUNOFF, 13
Dripping Springs produces first hemp crop since new law BY DAVID WHITE 2020 is going to be a year of firsts, including Texas’ first certified hemp crops. According to Illisa Nolan, executive director of the recently formed Texas Hemp Coalition, 5,500 acres have been set aside for hemp production in Texas just this year as a result of House Bill 1325 that allowed for the legal production of hemp in the state. For those wondering
what exactly hemp is, it is a low potency, non-psychoactive form of cannabis (marijuana) that has many industrial uses. The oils have medicinal and homeopathic uses, the stalks can be used to make textiles and building products, the seeds can be used for livestock feed and the list goes on. Just south of Dripping Springs on RR 12, Aaron Owens, owner of Tejas
FIRST HEMP CROP, 2
KPD looking for shooting suspect STAFF REPORT
Upon arrival, officers located a 20-year-old On Monday, Nov. 9 at male with apparent 7:37 p.m., Kyle police were gunshot wounds. He was dispatched to a call about transported to a nearby shots fired at the Oaks of hospital with serious Kyle, 200 Philomena Dr. injuries.
Witnesses said the shooter was a black male wearing a white tank top shirt, driving a 2015 or newer model dark colored — possibly charcoal color— Dodge Challenger.
Police said the incident appears have been a drug transaction. Anyone with information is asked to call 512268-3232 and ask to speak to a detective.
Local reps prefile bills in Lege BY SAHAR CHMAIS The 87th Legislative Session might be more challenging than years prior due to the financial setbacks of COVID-19, but State Senator Judith Zaffirini and Texas House Representative for District 45 Erin Zwiener are taking quick actions and pre-filed bills as early as possible. There are still a lot more bills to file according to Zwiener, but so far, she has pre-filed 10 bills and Zaffirini pre-filed 34.
KYLE – During last night’s meeting, the Kyle City Council set the runoff election date for the mayoral race for Tuesday, Dec. 8, to coordinate with other local runoff elections. Kyle election results were canvassed on Tuesday and outgoing council members were acknowledged, and new council members will be sworn in during the Nov. 17 meeting. The city council held a General Election on Nov. 3 for the purpose of electing three members to the Kyle City Council, each for three-year terms, specifically Mayor, City Council Place 2 and City Council Place 4.
“Because of the pandemic, my staff and I are working harder than ever,” Zaffirini said. “COVID-19 has exacerbated inequities that must be rectified. I pre-filed this legislation because I understand the urgency with which we must address these issues.” Among Zaffirini’s main focus are bills on the economic and health effects of COVID-19. Affordable healthcare has always been on Zaffirini’s agenda, but she believes it has become a more urgent issue during
SPORTS
Sports updates for area high schools.
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the pandemic. She filed Senate Joint Resolution 11 to extend Medicaid services to persons at or below 138% of the federal poverty level and Senate Bill 39, to prevent children from losing Medicaid due to paperwork issues. Zwiener said she looks forward to getting behind expansion of Medicaid, once again emphasizing the need during the pandemic. Senate Bill 32 also stems
HOUSE BILLS, 2
KYLE MAYOR:
• Travis Mitchell 5,795 or 37.59% • Linda Tenorio 5,831 or 37.82% • David Abdel 2,411 or 15.64% • Peter Parcher 1,379 or 8.95% The Mayoral runoff election will be between incumbent Travis Mitchell and challenger Linda Tenorio.
KYLE DISTRICT 2:
• Teresa “Tracy” Scheel 1,794 or 39.02% • Yvonne Flores-Cale 2,804 or 60.98%
KYLE DISTRICT 4:
• Ashlee Bradshaw 3,179 or 60.94% • Tim McHutchion 2,038 or 39.06%
Wimberley area man arrested for arson of vehicles STAFF REPORT
HAYS COUNTY – An investigation by the Hays County Fire Marshal and Hays County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) led to the arrest of 32-year-old Kirill O. Belchenko of the unincorporated area of Hays County between Wimberley and San Marcos, on three counts of Felony 2 Arson. He was arrested Sept. 21, and booked into the Hays County Jail. Fire Marshal Nathan Mendenhall said the arson occurred in the 3400 block of RR 32 on
or around Sept.21 when Belchenko set fire to three vehicles belonging to his uncle. In his statement, Belchenko said he burned a blue classic truck, a yellow collectible car and a van. He then told his mother where to find the vehicles in the woods and said he also placed a pipe bomb on the property. Additionally, Belchenko told fire and law enforcement investigators that he set fire to a utility pole on the property. “We were able to
ARSON ARSON, 13
Buda city council approves CARES funding for HCISD STAFF REPORT
will come from federal funds allocated to the BUDA – The Buda City city of Buda through the Council has adopted a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, resolution authorizing and Economic Security the city to provide the Act (CARES Act). Hays Consolidated Inde“I am very pleased pendent School District that the city of Buda (Hays CISD) with up is able to partner with to $50,000 in federal Hays CISD to ensure the funding for coronavirus safety of our children, related expenses. teachers and workers in As part of an interthe school district,” City local agreement with Hays CISD, the $50,000 CARES TO HCISD, 13
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