NOVEMBER 25, 2020 HOMICIDE
FUNDS NEEDED
Man arrested for shooting and killing his father in Buda.
Donations being requested to light up Mercer Street during the holidays.
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News-Dispatch © Barton Publications, Inc.
75¢
HaysNewsDispatch.com
Vol. 41 • No. 8
Serving Hays County, TX
Buda looks to boost local business with Small Business Saturday
Christmas in Kyle goes virtual BY MEGAN WEHRING KYLE – At this time of year, residents begin to see twinkling lights hanging from homes and trees, hear the joyful carols in the neighborhood and begin planning their meals for large family gatherings. Holiday festivities may look different this year, but Kyle Parks and Recreation wants to keep some of that tradition alive by hosting a full schedule of virtual events to keep the spirit alive. “The light display at downtown City Square Park not only includes
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Buda’s trail of lights begins first weekend of December BY SAHAR CHMAIS This year’s holiday celebrations will not resemble what Buda residents have experienced pre-COVID-19, but the virus has not deterred the people from continuing the warm celebrations. In order to maintain the details that complete the joyous season, Buda organized a new method for its annual Trail of Lights. Buda’s 12th Annual Trail of Lights event strays away from the virtual experience. Still, to ensure safety, Buda decided to turn it into a drive-thru trail. In previous years, people would walk around looking at the plethora of lights under the dark sky, holding their warm concessions of hot cocoa and food. This year, there will be no conces-
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SUBMITTED REPORT
PHOTO BY KATIE BURRELL Tammy Gray sits behind the counter at Buda Drugstore & Pharmacy. “I have strong opinions on mass retailers getting involved in healthcare, she said. “Those are two different types of business; healthcare versus retail. Having a license and inventory doesn’t fulfill the need to give individual care and availability of pharmacists for patients to ask questions.” Gray has owned and operated the business since 2006.
Local pharmacies expected to prevail despite Amazon intrusion BY SAHAR CHMAIS
Amazon has taken over many business services, from technology to groceries; but they have added on a new business venture – Amazon Pharmacy. Amazon’s convenient service has been an expanding crutch during the COVID-19 pandemic, where the company’s profits grew in the billions while small businesses have been shutting down left and right. When Amazon announced its pharmacy feature, big box pharmacies like CVS instantly saw a drop in their stocks. If large corporate names have felt the negative financial effects of Jeff Bezos’
“There are plenty of reasons to take them (opioids), but plenty of reasons they can be taking them wrong. That’s something a relationship provides; we can have that conversation of ‘you’re taking too many pills and you need to talk to your doctor.’”
“I have strong opinions on mass retailers getting involved in healthcare,” said pharmacist and owner of the Buda Drug Store, Tammy Gray. “Those are two different types of business; healthcare versus retail. Having a license and inventory doesn’t fulfill the need to give individual care and availability of phar–Jim Martin, pharmacist and owner of macists for patients to Martin’s Wellness Dripping Springs Pharmacy ask questions.” newest brain-child, and not just a dispenThe role of the pharwhat should happen to sary. Local pharmamacist is much larger local pharmacies? cies have also had to than counting the pills, There are some withstand the takeover bottling them and givthings that local of the larger pharmacies ing them out. In many pharmacies believe over the years and drug cases, Gray said, a pharAmazon cannot do for discount cards. But macist knows his or her local patients the way the bigger pharmacies patients, and know that a local pharmacist can, might have a larger more than one doctor because at the end of threat on their hands may be prescribing the day, a pharmacist is than the local pharmaa healthcare specialist cies. LOCAL RX VS ONLINE, 5
Ringin in the season Salvation Army needs volunteers BY MEGAN WEHRING
KYLE — While the holidays are quickly approaching, the Salvation Army is looking for volunteers for the Red Kettle Campaign in the Hays County area. Red kettle donations directly impact the local community; every ring is a glimpse of hope for those in need. The Salvation Army is a 501(c)(3) organization which operates 7,546 centers nation-wide from food distribution, disaster relief, rehab centers and children’s programs. Annually, the Salvation Army serves more than 25 million people to provide meals, nights of shelter for the homeless and Christmas gifts for children.
Anthony Torres, representative for the Salvation Army, said the organization is in dire need of volunteers for bell ringers at the Walmart in the city of Kyle. “We haven’t done a good job at staffing the local Walmart with bell ringers so we can collect money from your community,” Torres told the Kyle City Council at
BLACK FRIDAY?
Many shoppers taking their annual buying tradition online.
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the Tuesday, Nov. 17 meeting. “I hope all of you can reach out to your family members, coworkers and constituents to sign up for bell ringing.” Torres also explained the center in San Marcos serves the surrounding areas including the city of Kyle. “We may not have a presence locally in your town,” Torres said, “but we serve your
community from San Marcos. The amount of money we collect from the cities of Kyle, Buda and San Marcos help thousands of people in your county.” Former council member Tracy Scheel said she is hoping to see more of the city government and staff volunteer this year. “I was at the blessing of the bells this morning for the Salvation Army and that was a wonderful and enlightening program,” Scheel told the city council on Tuesday. “I did want to challenge the council, city staff and residents to help volunteer.” Anyone interested in volunteering as a bell ringer can register online; Digital donations are also accepted this holiday season.
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
BUDA – Small Business Saturday has been a long-standing tradition in Buda, kicking-off the holiday shopping season for gift-givers. Each year, the community shows its support for local businesses, neighbors and friends by shopping with Buda businesses and attending festive events complete with hot cocoa, Santa and lights. While the big events will not be taking place this year, residents still have plenty of opportunity to support local business on November 28-30 with Small Business Saturday, Artists Sunday, Cyber Monday and throughout the holiday season. To show support for local businesses and artists, the city of Buda proclaimed Saturday, Nov. 28 as Small Business Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 29 as Artists Sunday. The proclamations recognized the local businesses and artists that contribute positively to the Buda community and economy. Money spent within the local community is more likely to stay within the community and generate additional economic activity among other businesses in Buda.
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Room2Hope supports those facing violent offenders STAFF REPORT SAN MARCOS – Sitting in a small room with institutional furniture that has seen better days, individuals wait until they are called to be witnesses in a trial for a violent offender. Sometimes they don’t know the person. Sometimes they are related or married to them. Depending on the situation, those victims – including children as young as four – may spend hours in those rooms waiting to face the person who hurt them, hurt other people, or hurt those they love. At the Hays County
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