DECEMBER 23, 2020 CHRISTMAS!
STUNNER
See kids’ letters to Santa and a special Christmas poem.
Hays stuns Johnson to reach regional semifinals.
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HaysNewsDispatch.com
Vol. 41 • No. 12
THE HAYS ... ?
Serving Hays County, TX
Students to vote on new mascot in January BY MEGAN WEHRING
HAYS CISD — After the selection process was on hold for a few months, the new mascot for Hays High School will be selected by
students when they return to school in January, following the winter break. Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright said the new mascot selection is slated for on or before Feb. 1, 2021,
to plan for all potential spending costs. “The students will be making that decision between Jan. 4 and Feb. 1,” Wright said. “We can order new band uniforms, ath-
letic uniforms and replace logos at the school.” The ‘Rebel’ is out as the mascot of Hays High School due to controversial connotations. The process to find a new one was
tractions for the Hays High School football playoffs. The estimated cost for the new mascot and rebranding of Hays High School is $800,000, according to Wright.
Kyle police investigates teen homicide
COVID longhaulers
STAFF REPORT
‘It’s not in your mind’ BY SAHAR CHMAIS It started off as a mild COVID-19 infection – night sweats but no fever, joint aches, pressure on the sinuses and a loss of smell. Kris Allison, a 44-year-old pole vaulting coach who has taught local athletes from Hays, Dripping Springs and Wimberley ISDs and throughout the nation, thought that after 10 days of unpleasant symptoms he had defeated the virus. He got back 85% to 90% of his health, but after a month, his health began to decline. Allison got infected in July and five months later, he is still feeling long-haul symptoms of COVID-19. “As weeks and months rolled over, I felt bad,” Allison explained his symptoms, “body aches all over, random pain in my joints and my knuckles. Then I did some research and learned about long haulers. Then saw the term brain fog and thought ‘wow, there’s the name.’ When I would
originally delayed to focus on opening in-person school back in September. Wright also explained the district also wanted to hold off on replacing the mascot to prevent any dis-
PHOTO BY CYNDY SLOVAK-BARTON
Kris Allison shows a vaulter a problem on her takeoff at the Carl Lewis Invitational Track Meet at the University of Houston. Allison has taught vaulters from throughout Hays County – and throughout the nation.
“As weeks and months rolled over, I felt bad, body aches all over, random pain in my joints and my knuckles. Then I did some research and learned about long haulers. Then saw the term brain fog and thought ‘wow, there’s the name.’ When I would start a task I could not get organized, felt like I was chasing my tail.”
universities have been studying long haulers and creating groups for them, but that is not an accessible option for everyone. There is some difficulty in understanding these side effects of the virus, but Dr. Jack Bissett, an infectious disease specialist at Ascension Seton, spoke about what he knows and what people should be aware of. –Kris Allison, pole vaulting coach who contracted COVID-19 First of all, Bissett wants people to understart a task I could not get finish anything, left him stand the limitations organized, felt like I was feeling confused, tired of what we know about chasing my tail.” and with little motivation. COVID-19, let alone the Allison has Attention It is unknown how long-hauler phenomeDeficit Disorder (ADD) many people become non. People crave quick which he has been treatlong haulers, or what answers in this fast-paced ing, but having brain fog factors yield these society, but the virus is made him feel far worse. symptoms. Some peofairly new with much to He said it made him inef- ple, like Allison, are be uncovered, Bissett ficient and unproductive; generally healthy with said. he could only squeeze out no morbidity issues and Keeping this in mind, a few hours of work in his still get long-haul sympBissett then divulged day. Brain fog made it dif- toms. So far, the factors ficult for Allison to start or are mysterious. Some LONG HAULERS, 7
DSISD bond projects near completion STAFF REPORT Remaining projects from the 2018 bond program for the Dripping Springs Independent School district are moving ahead. The latest of the projects includes the expansion/ renovation of the Transportation Center, construction of new Walnut Springs Elementary, renovations to Dripping Springs Middle School, construction of new elementary school on Darden Hill Road, and conversion of the old WSE campus to an Administra-
The latest of the projects includes the expansion/renovation of the Transportation Center, construction of new Walnut Springs Elementary, renovations to Dripping Springs Middle School, construction of new elementary school on Darden Hill Road, and conversion of the old WSE campus to an Administration Building. tion Building. The Transportation Center project, which included expansion of shop and
BOOK BOX
15-year-old dyslexic author creates book box.
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renovations to office and meeting space, is approxi-
DSISD BOND, 6
Trevino’s family members, but pulled a gun A 15-year-old boy during the transaction. is being held for the Trevino was reportedly shooting death of a shot when he tried to 19-year-old graduate of intervene. The susHays High School. pect was taken to the Kyle police found the Hays County Juvenile body of Christopher Tre- Detention Center and vino inside a residence faces charges including on Dusky Thrush Drive murder, aggravated around 1:50 a.m. Satur- assault with a deadly day when responding to weapon, tampering a call of shots fired. with evidence, deadly The suspect had fled conduct, unlawful carry but was later located at of a weapon and iIllegal an apartment complex. discharge of a firearm. Police said the Hays CISD spokessuspect had gone to man Tim Savoy said the the residence to buy marijuana from one of KYLE HOMICIDE, 6
Buda creating incentives for conservation BY SAHAR CHMAIS Buda wants to give its residents incentives to conserve water, and the council took a look at options at its last meeting. Blake Neffendorf, Buda’s water resource coordinator, presented council at its last meeting with a breakdown of the city’s water supply, costs and potential incentive programs. Water from the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer is the cheapest supply the city can secure because it does not take a lot of infrastructure to deliver and it does not require a lot of treatment. The city pays the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District 17 cents per 1,000 gallons. However, with the city’s growing population, the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer water supply is no longer enough. Other viable water sources are through Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (GBRA), Alliance Regional Water Authority (ARWA) which
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“As you use less water, think of it as using Edwards Aquifer water first,” Nefferndorf told the council, “and as you’re using more it’s those additional sources that we have to bring in to provide you with that additional water.” – Blake Neffendorf, Buda’s water resource coordinator
purchases its water from Carrizo Springs in eastern Caldwell County. ARWA and the Carrizo water supplies are not
WATER CONSERVATION, 2