DECEMBER 14, 2022 WIMBERLEY ADVANCES TO STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TIGERS LOSE HOME OPENER TO BOWIE BULLDOGS PAGE 6
PAGE 5
News-Dispatch © Barton Publications, Inc.
75¢
HaysNewsDispatch.com
Vol. 43 • No. 12
Serving Hays County, TX
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Bakery says goodbye to beloved space
Inmate dies in officer-involved shooting
BY NATALIE FRELS
KYLE — An officerinvolved shooting occurred on Monday afternoon at Ascension Seton Hays Hospital, according to a press release issued by the Hays County Sheriff ’s Office. The incident occurred as a Hays County corrections officer was guarding the door of a pretrial detainee, later identified as 36-yearold Joshua Leon Wright. Allegedly, in an attempt
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
to escape, Wright assaulted the officer and ran on foot, the release stated. The officer then discharged his firearm and shot the inmate. Though life-saving measures were initiated by hospital staff, Wright succumbed to his injuries. Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Sgt. Deon Cockrell told the Hays Free Press that use of force may have been justified in regards to a
See SHOOTING, page 4
Dripping Springs breaks district Toys for Tots record
While Skull and Cakebones is closing its Dripping Springs location, co-owners Yauss Berenji and Sascha Biesi love all of their customers. Below right, Biesi holds a cookie as part of its contribution to the Depressed Cake Shop campaign. The platform is designed to raise awareness and promote honest conversations about mental health.
BY MEGAN WEHRING DRIPPING SPRINGS – For years, Yauss Berenji and Sascha Biesi have welcomed customers to their bakery as if they were opening their home to them. But due to rent inflation and the lack of a labor force, the co-owners of Skull and Cakebones made the difficult decision to close the Dripping Springs location. “Our landlord was trying to increase our rent
heavily and that’s just not sustainable for us. The second issue is the lack of a labor force in this area,” Berenji said. “We are residents of Dripping Springs and we love it out here. When we moved out here seven years ago, we knew that it was going to be a little bit tougher than being in Austin to get labor out here. But progressively, it’s gotten harder and then the pandemic exacerbated that.” In 2013, Skull and
PHOTO BY ASHLEY KONTNIER
Dripping Springs ISD wrapped up its annual Toys for Tots drive on Dec. 8. Across all campuses, approximately 25 boxes of toys were donated. In addition to the DSHS Military Club sponsors Lauren Milner (front row, right) and Rene Rodriguez (not pictured,) Caliterra representative Ingrid Rushford (far right) was an integral part of the donation drive by bringing awareness and donations through a community holiday party in November.
See BAKERY, page 2
DSHS volleyball recognized for victory Dripping Springs City Council celebrates with proclamation
BY MEGAN WEHRING DRIPPING SPRINGS – The Dripping Springs High School volleyball team did not receive praise just from its fans in the bleachers. On Dec. 6, the Dripping Springs City Council celebrated the team with a proclamation for winning the Class 6A UIL State Championship. The DSHS volleyball team jumped to 6A this year – from 2013 to 2022, they competed in the state tournament six times and won the championship in 2015 and now in 2022. The team advanced to the state tournament with a 43 – 13 record, a tie for the third-most wins in school history. In regionals and semifinals, they defeated Lake Travis in a 3 – 2 five-set victory and the Woodlands in a 3 – 1 set, and ultimately won the championship in a 3 – 0 set against Katy Tompkins.
BUSINESSES EARN BE A STAR AWARDS – PAGE 2
The Dripping Springs High School Volleyball Team.
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
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO