December 2025 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

BIZ BRIEFS:

What’s New?

Latest business news and what’s coming soon to Liberty Hill

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Wish Kitchen + Bar LHTX

1004 Main St., Liberty Hill

Wish Kitchen + Bar is now open in downtown Liberty Hill. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday and offers a wide variety of dishes, including tacos, sandwiches and more. The restaurant has also collaborated with local bakery Never Trust a Skinny Cook for its homemade desserts.

Denny's

10280 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

According to filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, a new Denny’s restaurant is planned as part of a larger commercial project along State Highway 29. The restaurant will occupy one of two lease spaces attached to a new convenience store development called Q-Mart, adjacent to Margaritas. Work is expected to begin in March 2026, with completion anticipated by February 2027.

SERVICES

Exclusive Massage & Spa

2021 Kauffman Loop, Liberty Hill

Exclusive Massage & Spa is now open in East Liberty Hill/West Georgetown. The spa offers a variety of different massage therapies and other wellness services.

10107 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

• TG Welding

15730 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

• Volleyworld

4701 FM 3405, Georgetown

• KB Impressions LLC

Online, Liberty Hill

ON THE MOVE

Blinded By The Light

14125 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

Home decor and window coverings store Blinded By The Light celebrated five years in business in November with a variety of holiday sales and a celebration for customers.

Kristen Early, Shin Gan Dojo

141 Jonathan Drive, Liberty Hill

Live Brightly

2921 RR 1869 (inside Radiant Salon & Spa)

A new tooth whitening studio has opened inside Radiant Salon. Customers are treated with a plant-based whitening product for visibly whiter teeth after a short process. The business also offers tooth gems.

OTHER

NOTABLE

PROJECTS

• Sigma Dental Studio 1892 Hwy. 183, Liberty Hill

• DPS Law Enforcement Academy & Training Center 451 CR 240, Florence

• DPS Williamson County Canine Training Facility 820 CR 240, Florence

• Anytime Fitness

2021 Kauffman Loop, Liberty Hill

• Suds Car Wash 10705 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

• Belleza Reyna Liberty Hill

• Twenty Seven Studio Cantera Way, Georgetown

• Stor Liberty Hill

Kristen Early recently joined the Shin Gan Dojo team as a new part-time assistant instructor for the kids classes. Early has been training with Shin Gan Dojo in the young adult program for over a year. She brings three years of experience as an assistant coach in shooting sports through her 4-H club, where she's honed her skills working with kids. She's also a full-time computer science major at Concordia University.

Mandy Lynne, Pure Remedy

Massage Therapy

100 Church St., Liberty Hill

Pure Remedy is thrilled to welcome Mandy Lynne, a licensed esthetician with 11 years of experience in the spa industry, to Pure Remedy. She has worked everywhere from large corporate spas in California

to family-owned businesses in the Austin area. Lynne has worked hard to bring Eminence Skin Care to Pure Remedy. Eminence’s values directly align with her goals: to provide results driven skincare while also giving back to the community. Lynne looks forward to joining the Pure Remedy team and serving the Liberty Hill community.

Studio on Main

1201 Main St., Liberty Hill

LH Learning Hub recently rebranded to Studio on Main, and expanded its services to offer birthday parties, craft nights, kids events, workshops and more.

The Vinew Shoppe

209 CR 214, Liberty Hill

The Vinew Shoppe, located in District 29, celebrated its first anniversary in November. The boutique offers a unique mix of vintage and new items for customers.

The Daily Blend

13740 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

The Daily Blend closed its doors permanently in November after two years in business. Owners cited economic hardship and insufficient sales as the reasons behind the closure.

Connection Adventures Bertram

Connection Adventures, a business that focused on bringing couples together through unique date night events, has closed after two years in business.

The Wellness Zone

2901 Caballo Ranch Blvd., Leander

The Wellness Zone, previously

located in Liberty Hill, has relocated to a new office in Leander.

Decadent Saint Winery

3547 Hwy. 29, Bertram

Decadent Saint Winery will be closing its doors permanently in January. Owner Michael Hasler said the passing of his wife a year ago played a major role in the decision, but also added that he may rebrand and reopen his winery sometime in the future.

Sara Eve, WORC Fitness Studio

217 CR 214, Liberty Hill

Sara Eve recently joined the team at WORC Fitness Studio in Liberty Hill as a trainer. Eve is passionate about fitness and helping women to build confidence and see results.

Freetail Roofing, voted Best Roofing Company in Best of Liberty Hill, is partnering up with Operation Liberty Hill through the end of 2025. Freetail Roofing will donate 5 percent of revenue for work done when someone mentions this ad!

Julie Pearson

BY RACHEL MADISON OWNER/PUBLISHER

LHI MONTHLY: Can you share a little about your background and what led you to pursue a career in library services?

PEARSON: I am originally from Illinois, about an hour and a half northwest of Chicago. My family and I have lived in Texas for almost nine years, spending most of that time in Midland before relocating to Liberty Hill. Librarianship is my second career, as I spent most of my adult life working in social services, primarily with youth. My friends often teased me that I missed my calling as a librarian because of how much I read and how often I recommended books to them. I have always loved libraries and reading, but I never imagined I would return to school to earn my master of library science degree. While working for a grant-funded program that was coming to an end, my supervisor encouraged me to apply for an open assistant director position at the library. The role focused heavily on programming, one of my favorite aspects of community work. I was fortunate to be selected for the position, and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to pursue my degree in library science.

LHI MONTHLY: What attracted you to the Liberty Hill area and this particular library?

PEARSON: I had been searching for a new position for several months before I was encouraged to apply for the director position in Liberty Hill. At the time, I did not know much about the area, other than it would allow my family to be surrounded by trees and greenery again. West Texas does not offer much in the way of nature, and we knew

we wanted to settle somewhere east. Before applying, I took the time to research the community. I loved that Liberty Hill was growing but still maintained its small town charm and close-knit feel. The library really reflected that community spirit. I was impressed that such a small facility was serving so many patrons and offering such a vibrant range of programs. I followed the library’s social media for several months and was struck by how much the community values and supports its library. That kind of engagement and enthusiasm was exactly what I was looking for. I was also encouraged by the strong support from the library board, which I believe is essential for long-term success. I am very excited for the opportunity to help build a new library for Liberty Hill. I know the community has been waiting a long time for this project to become a reality, and I feel very fortunate to be part of bringing that vision to life. It is a unique and rewarding position for a library director to be in, and I am honored to have the chance to see it through.

LHI MONTHLY: What is your vision for the future of the library?

PEARSON: The future of libraries depends on our ability to adapt and meet the changing needs of the people we serve. Libraries are truly unique; they are one of the few places where anyone can walk in and access resources, programs and services at no cost. My hope is that libraries never lose that essential value of openness and inclusivity. My vision for the future of the Liberty Hill Public Library is still taking shape as I spend more time getting to know the community and its needs. I want the library to

continue to grow as a welcoming, innovative space where everyone feels represented and supported. As Liberty Hill grows, I see the library playing a vital role in connecting people, fostering learning and celebrating the shared spirit of this community.

LHI MONTHLY: How do you see the library’s role evolving as the community continues to grow?

PEARSON: As Liberty Hill continues to grow, I see the library playing an increasingly vital role in connecting people, fostering learning and celebrating the shared spirit of the community. While embracing progress and expansion, I also want to help preserve the small town feeling that makes Liberty Hill so special. The library can be a place where new residents and longtime community members come together, ensuring that sense of connection remains strong even as we grow.

LHI MONTHLY: What are your top priorities in your first year as director?

PEARSON: I have a few key priorities in mind as I navigate my first year as director. One of the most important is building and strengthening relationships within the community, not only with our regular patrons but also with those who have not yet discovered what the library has to offer, as well as with local organizations and partners. Another major focus will be updating and developing our personnel manual, policies and procedures. These foundational tools have not been revised in quite some time, and ensuring they are

current will help prepare our staff to meet the opportunities and challenges of moving into a larger space. A bigger library does not just mean more books; it also means more programming, outreach, technology and patrons. Having that strong foundation in place will be essential as we continue to grow. Finally, I want to continue offering the exceptional programming that the Liberty Hill community has come to expect from us, not only for children but also for teens and adults.

LHI MONTHLY: What are you most excited about with the new library building, and how do you see the new space enhancing what the library can offer the community?

PEARSON: I am most excited about having space. I cannot wait to see what kinds of programs and ideas our staff will develop when physical limitations are no longer an issue. I would love for the new library to include at least one conference room and several study rooms that the community can use. I often see people meeting in coffee shops or at picnic tables, and it would be wonderful to offer them a welcoming space right here at the library. Having more room will allow us to build upon the excellent programming our staff already provides. We will not only be able to expand the types of programs we offer but also accommodate many more patrons. The new library will truly be a place where the community can come together to learn, create and connect.

LHI MONTHLY: What’s one book that’s made a lasting impact on you—and why?

PEARSON: My absolute favorite book throughout my life has been “The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton. I was inspired by the fact that she was so young when she wrote it, and I have always loved a good underdog story. To me, “The Outsiders” is about a group of kids from the wrong side of town just trying to get ahead. Its about family that you are born with and family that you choose. The story doesn’t have a happy ending, but that was okay with me because it felt real. Even as a kid, I liked being surprised by an ending. I can still remember finishing the book and thinking the outcome was going to be different. No spoilers for those who haven’t read it yet –but we do have it at the library!

Behind Liberty Hill’s boom

Liberty Hill EDC leaders work to shape what comes next

BY JACE BRAZIEL STAFF WRITER

If there were a way to capture the essence of Liberty Hill over the past decade and distill it down to a single word, that word would be “growth.”

The responsibility of managing the growing population and new developments lies with various committees, boards and councils. However, the burden of laying out a coherent plan for the city’s burgeoning business landscape falls to the Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation, also known as the EDC.

Founded in 2002, the EDC is a Type B corporation – more on that designation later – that exists solely to aid the city’s economic development. Practically, this means that it seeks to attract new businesses to the area while also supporting local businesses.

“The EDC is tasked with bringing intentional business growth,” said Christian Kurtz, director of economic growth for the EDC. “‘Live, work, play’ is a term used to describe the balance in what we do.

We are looking for businesses that provide opportunities for all of those. We need jobs where people who live in Liberty Hill don’t leave the city to do business or shop.”

capital investments – in exchange for direct funding or beneficial expenditures from the EDC.

The types of projects that an EDC is allowed to take on depend on its designation.

“We are a Type B EDC, which gives us some flexibility in what we can work on within the law,” Kurtz said. “Our guidelines allow us to work with property owners to help with infrastructure if the jobs and capital investments meet the thresholds.”

Recently, the corporation has leveraged that flexibility in order to help attract new businesses and undertake projects related to the ongoing downtown revitalization effort.

“The EDC has assisted in some key projects that brought in or helped [bring in] Golf Cart King, Costco and Michelle’s Patisserie,” said Kurtz. “The EDC bought two properties downtown to assist in transforming downtown into a destination and the heart of the city.”

Liberty Hill enjoys natural growth due to its proximity to the ever-growing Austin, in addition to sitting at the opportune junction of two major roadways – U.S. Highway 183 and State Highway 29.

But when that organic growth stalls, leaves certain sectors behind, or comes at a detriment to local businesses, it’s the EDC’s job to step in.

There are a number of ways to incentivize businesses to move to and remain in Liberty Hill. Using a portion of the city’s sales tax, the EDC is able to enter into agreements with business entities. These agreements typically involve the business agreeing to meet certain performance metrics –economic impact, job creation and/or

Another project the EDC is currently involved in – dubbed Project Redo – is the renovation and repurposing of the former VFW building behind Veterans Memorial Park. This project is a collaborative effort, incorporating input from the Liberty Hill City Council and several other local boards and committees.

As of now, Kurtz shared during a recent meeting with the Downtown Revitalization Committee, the idea is to showcase the potential of the building to businesses or non-profits who may eventually take it over themselves.

“Everything in here is a treaty on what is the best use [for the building],” said Kurtz in his presentation to the Downtown Revitalization Committee in October. “What we’ve decided to do is phase the project. We’re going to prove the use of different kinds of ideas that will drive more people downtown.”

Bringing in businesses is only one piece of the puzzle, though. Business retention

is something the EDC has to constantly consider, according to EDC Board President Amy Gandy. She explained that a new position, the economic development project manager, held by Yvonne Castillo, was created for exactly this purpose.

“We have to have nine irons in the fire at any time,” she said. “Yvonne’s position was created solely for the retention and expansion of local businesses. We try to put her out there as much as we can.”

Castillo added that business retention and business recruitment are not entirely separate.

“When you ask about the balance between recruiting new businesses and supporting existing ones, our existing business community truly serves as the backbone of what makes us who we are in Liberty Hill,” she said. “When we are attracting new businesses, we are sharing the stories of our community and the businesses that are a part of it.”

The goal of the EDC, as Castillo sees it, is to make sure local businesses are being heard and they are receiving guidance when they seek to expand.

“Our goal remains the same,” she said. “To be a resource to all [businesses], whether it’s connecting them to the right person or sharing opportunities with them.”

Despite the city’s strengths, businesses in Liberty Hill are faced with a number of unique challenges. The most prominent of these challenges, as Gandy and Kurtz agree,

is infrastructure.

“We’re a city that grew really, really quickly,” said Kurtz. “We grew faster than was anticipated, so in many ways our infrastructure is a large issue for us. The city and businesses will need to work together in partnership to address these issues.”

“Water issues have been somewhat of a problem, and we’ve held back on quite a bit of marketing,” added Gandy. “We had planned more [marketing] last year, but we didn’t have the water, so we didn’t market ourselves out into the world.”

Despite the city’s growing pains, Kurtz is optimistic about the future of Liberty Hill’s business landscape.

“Liberty Hill is a blank slate when it comes to defining business sectors,” he said. “The exciting part of this is Liberty Hill gets to choose what our target markets will be, but with a keen eye on our strengths and weaknesses. The EDC is in the process of preparing a new three-year strategic plan. So far, I expect to see advanced manufacturing, corporate headquarters, defense/cybersecurity, bio/life sciences and professional services on the list, [and] also – capitalizing on Williamson County’s new designation as a spaceport – aerospace.”

The EDC Board of Directors holds regular public meetings on the third Wednesday of every month at 5 p.m. in the Liberty Hill Municipal Court building.

More information about the Liberty Hill EDC can be found at libertyhilledc.com.

It’s in the bag

Local designer combines fashion with function

BY RACHEL MADISON OWNER/PUBLISHER

What started as a small Etsy shop selling baby booties has grown into a handbag company now shipping worldwide — all built by Liberty Hill resident Laura Woellner, who began designing her bags while pregnant with her oldest daughter in 2012. At the time, she was working as a banker for Chase.

“I had the first bag designed and up for sale in July 2013,” she said.

The early years were marked by constant redesigning, customer feedback and what she describes as “a lot of trial and error.”

“The year between when it started and now, there were all these iterations and a lot of failure – just breaking even,” she said. “We didn’t really start to grow until COVID.”

After the birth of her second daughter, the 2020 pandemic unexpectedly created momentum.

“Everyone was stuck in the house and people started booking Airbnbs and needed road trip bags,” she said. “I got into more advertising and realized that was working. I had never done advertising before – it had always been word of mouth.”

Sales have grown year over year since then, leading the company to its current space in Georgetown, where it moved earlier this year

Woellner’s very first bag was a simple canvas rectangle with side pockets, but at the time, she was frustrated with big-box diaper bag options.

“They were super-expensive and full of patterns or just boring,” she said. “I didn’t like any of them.”

That led to her early patterned and colorful designs, including a mint chevron style. Over time, she refined her aesthetic.

“In 2019 we introduced the solid vegan leather,” she said. “Up until then it was mostly canvas bags.”

There was a period when White Elm sold on Amazon, but Woellner eventually pulled the brand off the platform.

“I had to go on my own and learn how to do it without the help of Amazon,” she said. “With the nicer bags and better marketing, we were able to find our way.”

As fashion trends shifted, so did her approach.

“Every year fashion changes and you have to keep up with it,” she said. “Back when I first started, people would buy even if you had a horrible photo of a bag. Now you have to set your brand apart – perfect photog-

raphy, style and quality.”

The brand now regularly introduces refined vegan leather designs and unique seasonal materials.

“The one we launched [this fall] is a vegan suede and wool blend,” Woellner said. “It’s a sensory collection. We love our vegan leathers, but sometimes it’s fun to go for something more unique.”

Through it all, Woellner has remained committed to her core philosophy.

“The heart of White Elm is fashion and function,” she said.

All larger bags include luggage sleeves to put it on a rolling suitcase, device sleeves for iPads and laptops, exterior water-bottle pockets, organized interiors, key hooks, and multiple ways to carry.

“We want women to invest in a piece as a statement that reflects style and personality and for any stage of life — travel, working in corporate, being a mom,” she said.

For Woellner, the right bag can genuinely improve a woman’s day.

“I really believe your handbag sets the tone for your day,” she said. “If you’re carrying a cheap bag with no organization, your day is not going to go so well. If your bag is a black hole – just two pieces of fabric sewn together, no lining, no pockets – you’re just digging for things. If you put on your bag and it feels good – soft, structured and organized – it instantly lifts the mood and sets the tone for your day. That is what a White Elm bag brings you.”

Her design ideas often come from moments in her own life.

“Customers will write in and say what they want, but 80 percent of what I create is from personal experience,” Woellner said. “ For example, we went on a road trip and I had an Amazon toiletry case. It wouldn’t fit everything. I needed a place for everything and and I needed a long strap to carry it walking from the parking garage to the hotel.”

That’s when her bag, the Darcy Weekender, was born. Woellner’s naming system for her

bags has its own evolution. She started using astrological names in 2017. She later shifted to stars and planetary themes before eventually choosing elegant-sounding women’s names.

Even the name of her company, White Elm, came out of a moment of frustration.

“I was frustrated because when it came to business names, I didn’t like anything,” she said. “One day I looked outside and I saw my little elm tree outside my window in my yard, and that’s when I decided to call it White Elm.”

Laura Woellner, pictured above with her husband and children, is the founder and owner of White Elm. She began her company to provide an alternative to handbags already on the market.

COURTESY

PHOTOS / JESSICA PENNY

Woellner begins every bag design with a simple pencil sketch.

“I will do a rough 2D sketch, make notes with arrows pointing to what I want it to be,” she said. “Front, back, bottom, sides, inside — every angle of it.”

She compiles the details alongside reference images before sending them to her manufacturer. Then comes sampling – paper samples, first-round samples and several more rounds if needed.

“Right away when I open the package, I know exactly what I’m going to say and change,” she said. “Eventually we get it right from second to fourth sample round.”

Production runs range between 50 and 1,000 pieces depending on the style, with lower quantities for new designs.

Woellner’s journey to Liberty Hill began in

Columbus, Ohio, where she grew up. Her mother moved to Texas and after Woellner graduated high school, she eventually followed. She lived in South Austin first, followed by Round Rock, and then moved to Liberty Hill in 2022. She and her husband, John, have two daughters.

White Elm now operates from its Georgetown workspace, at 113 Cantera Way, where the showroom is open for immediate pickup Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bags are also available for purchase online.

“We mainly sell online and we sell worldwide,” Woellner said. “One thing I’m proud of is we’re Texas-based and we ship from Texas. We’re not a foreign company shipping overseas — we ship right from Texas.”

To learn more about White Elm, visit shopwhiteelm.com or find the business on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

Giving Tree, Silver Bells programs bring holiday joy to children, seniors

BY RACHEL MADISON OWNER/PUBLISHER

Two beloved Liberty Hill traditions have returned this holiday season to help spread warmth, generosity and connection throughout the community – the Liberty Hill Giving Tree and the Liberty Hill Silver Bells programs.

Liberty Hill Giving Tree

The Liberty Hill Giving Tree, coordinated by Liberty Hill resident Jamie Etzkorn, will once again brighten the holidays for hundreds of local children. The program provides Christmas gifts for Liberty Hill Independent School District families who might otherwise struggle to make the season special.

“The Giving Tree is the same as last year, just with a new name,” Etzkorn said. “We have ornaments available at the Liberty Hill Public Library and The Grove Church will host a booth on Sunday mornings where people can select an ornament.”

Each ornament represents a child –identified by a family number and letter – so sponsors who wish to adopt siblings can select ornaments with the same family number. Donors are asked to spend $125 per child, including $75 in toys or wish list items

and a $50 gift card for clothing.

“All gifts should be unwrapped and placed in a small laundry basket or reusable tote bag,” Etzkorn said. “They’ll be collected at Glad Tidings Church near Liberty Hill High School on Dec. 12 from 1 to 6 p.m., and families will pick up their items the following day.”

Last year, the Giving Tree program served 203 families, providing gifts for 569 children — all of whom live within LHISD boundaries or attend district schools. Etzkorn expects similar or even higher numbers this year.

“With the economy where it is, we know finances are tight,” she said. “But this community always steps up to make sure every child feels the joy of Christmas.”

For more information or to volunteer, email libertyhillgivingtree@gmail.com.

Liberty Hill Silver Bells

The Liberty Hill Silver Bells program, coordinated by Jenni Cooke, focuses on residents aged 60 and older who may not have family or support nearby. Now in its third year, the program connects local seniors with caring sponsors who help make their holidays brighter.

“Seniors can apply online through Operation Liberty Hill’s website under the ‘Programs and Services’ tab, or by email-

ing LHSilverBells@gmail.com,” Etzkorn said. “Sponsors can email the same address to be matched with a ‘Silver Bell.’”

Participants can choose how they want to connect — some prefer to meet their sponsor, while others opt for a no-contact delivery through Operation Liberty Hill volunteers.

“Last year, most decided they wanted to meet their sponsor,” Etzkorn said. “Many of those relationships are still going strong today.”

Silver Bells recipients fill out a wish list of needs and wants, and sponsors are encouraged to spend around $125 per person, or $250 per couple.

Etzkorn noted that the program is flexible.

“Don’t let the amount scare you off,” she said. “You can team up with neighbors, coworkers or church groups to sponsor together. The goal is community connection, not financial burden.”

Last year, 20 local seniors participated, and organizers hope to reach even more this holiday season.

“These programs are about Liberty Hill neighbors helping neighbors,” Etzkorn said. “Whether you need a little help this Christmas or want to lend a hand, there’s a place for everyone to get involved.”

L4 Cares hosts Hero Camp for chronically ill children

BY RACHEL MADISON OWNER/PUBLISHER

L4 Cares celebrated what organizers called the “best Hero Camp ever” in November at Kalahari in Round Rock, bringing joy, connection and swimming adventures to children whose lives are often shaped by medical routines.

The two-day camp, now in its third year, offers kids managing chronic illnesses the chance to step away from hospitals and clinics and simply be kids.

“Hero Camp is a place where kids who are usually in hospitals and clinics get to step away from that medical world and just be kids,” said Kendra Cofer, founder of L4 Cares. “Our volunteers lead outdoor activities, challenges and shared experiences that build confidence and connection. It’s fresh air, real friendships and a chance for them to feel like the hero of their own story.”

Hero Camp is designed for children who

spend more time than most visiting specialists, attending treatments or managing daily health needs. Giving them a break from that routine, Cofer said, is at the heart of the mission.

“For many of these kids, life revolves around appointments, treatments and routines,” she said. “Hero Camp gives them a break. A place where they don’t have to explain their medical journey — because the kids around them simply understand. Last year, we had a camper who was so excited to be here… he didn’t sleep the night before. That’s what this camp means to them.”

As the program grows, so does the vision behind it. What began as a small, volunteer-driven effort has evolved into a longterm dream of creating a permanent retreat built specifically for medically complex kids.

“This is our third Hero Camp, and every year the impact grows,” Cofer said. “Our ultimate vision is to build a permanent, 25-acre Hero Camp — a year-round space

designed specifically for these kids. A place where they can gather, grow and build community outside of hospitals and clinics.”

L4 Cares announced it plans to launch a capital campaign in 2026 to make that vision a reality. The updated plan includes a 25-acre Hero Camp designed to serve children throughout Central Texas.

“This isn’t just about land — it’s about creating a home where kids can experience hope, connection, and possibility,” Cofer said.

L4 Cares is also inviting the community to join the effort.

“We’re looking for partners: donors, volunteers and community supporters,” Cofer said. “Every contribution — time, resources, funding — moves us closer to giving these kids a permanent place to belong.”

For more information about Hero Camp or to get involved, visit L4Cares.com.

“At Hero Camp, we give kids space to breathe, to belong and to build a community that understands them,” Cofer said.

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143 Peaceful Valley Rd, Liberty Hill, TX 78642 | Call Us: 512-291-1751 www.specialtymillworksbyj.com / info@specialtymillworksbyj.com

Holiday Gift Guide Shop Local

Read our round up to learn more about the biggest news stories affecting our community

BY JACE BRAZIEL STAFF WRITER

LHISD receives superior achievement FIRST rating for 2024-2025 school year

For the eighth consecutive year, the Liberty Hill Independent School District has achieved an ‘A’ rating in the Texas Education Agency’s Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas, also known as FIRST. FIRST is a lagging indicator, meaning that, in this case, the TEA used financial data from the 2023-2024 school year to score the district for the 2024-2025 school year.

Ratings for school districts and charter schools across the state were made public following a TEA press release on Nov. 13. Of the 1,018 districts that were scored, 866 of them, including LHISD, received an ‘Asuperior achievement’ rating– around 85 percent.

Chief Financial Officer Rosanna Guerrero spoke to the LHISD school board about the rating during their regular meeting on Nov. 17. During her presentation, she explained that the TEA grades districts on 21 different metrics, with some metrics utilizing a pass/fail system, and others a grading scale.

Of the 21 metrics, three in particular were areas in which LHISD stood out.

Indicator number seven, which grades the district on the amount of cash and investments in the general fund in relation to the cost of operating expenditures, was the first metric in which the district received a less-than-perfect score.

Trustee Brandon Canady questioned Guerrero on whether, with the tax rate election having passed in early November, she expects to see an increase in the general fund balance, and, by extension, an increase in the score of this metric next year.

“We should be able to show some surplus for this year, which will help for ‘25-’26,” Guerrero said. “But the TEA FIRST rating does lag, so I will say ‘24-’25 will be tight, but, again, we’re going to shoot for that ‘A’ rating.”

Indicator 12 was another standout metric for the district. This indicator measures the ratio of future debt requirements to the district’s assessed property value. The formula given by the TEA is not entirely friendly to fast-growth districts, Guerrero said.

“This is going to be a challenge for us as a fast-growth district,” she said. “Our property values are growing each and every year, but that ratio of outstanding future debt compared to our property values will be assessed every year.”

In fact, according to the TEA, only 14 of the 866 rated districts scored a four on this metric, and only 27 of the rated districts scored below a six.

Trustee Chris Neighbors asked Guerrero whether the anticipated increase in commercial developments and their associated large property values within the district will ease that burden in the future.

“Yes, commercial and any additional property will help with that assessment,” Guerrero said. “I will say again, this is looking back at ‘23-’24. We did have double-digit growth in that year. It’s really a balance of outstanding debt to the increasing property values.”

The final metric that Guerrero called attention to was indicator 13, which measures the district’s administrative cost ratio. For this, the district received a perfect score.

“Liberty Hill ISD’s administrative cost ratio is 7 percent,” she said. “The acceptable cost ratio for the state, set by TEA, is 10 percent. [The district is] well below the state average.”

Information about FIRST ratings for LHISD, as well as the other scored districts and charters, is available on the TEA’s website here: tealprod.tea.state.tx.us/First/ forms/Main.aspx.

LHISD school board charts course following passage of Prop A

With the passage of Prop A at the beginning of the month and a board meeting the week before the district closed its doors for Thanksgiving break, November was an eventful time for the Liberty Hill Indepen-

Katie Amsler, director of community engagement and communications for the City of Liberty Hill, recently received the Susan H. Campbell Award for Professional Excellence.

COURTESY PHOTO

dent School District.

The LHISD school board met on Nov. 17 with a packed agenda of public hearings, reports and considerations.

Members of the community, TJ Garza and Greg Wempe both gave public comments to the board regarding the division they’ve noticed in the community surrounding Proposition A, and their plans to lower the temperature in public discourse.

“You’ve got two groups that care deeply about the district because we have an incredible community,” Garza told the board. “We have to be able to meet in a neutral site so that both sides can be heard without having to personalize things or being derogatory.”

Wempe gave his own comments to the board following Garza, in which he told the board about their plans to bring community members together to discuss divisive issues in hopes of mending the growing rift.

“As TJ said, we’re going to look for a neutral site,” said Wempe. “We’re going to be inviting folks who have demonstrated not just a passion for one side or another, but a reasonableness to be open. Our community needs to just be heard.”

Chief Financial Officer Rosanna Guerrero also presented a 2025-2026 budget update, which incorporated the new funds that the district will receive as a result of the passage of Prop A.

“Tonight is the first round of recommendations to the board where we will be allocating this $10.7 million,” she said. “First, we will be discussing a recommendation for a stipend and a 1 percent compensation increase for staff.”

The timeline for the district’s fulfillment of its Prop A commitments in the following months, according to Guerrero’s presentation, is as follows:

November:

• Recommend retention stipend and 1 percent compensation increase for staff

• Continue to fully fund and staff safe-

ty and security measures, including SROs for future campuses

December:

• Recommend initial staff for Lariat Trails Elementary, Legacy Ranch Middle and Legacy Ranch High schools

• Begin restoration of campus and department budgets

Some of the district’s plans for the funds require more in-depth planning and data collection, such as restoration of student programs and the possible addition of new positions for the spring and fall semesters. Beginning in January, the district will also undergo a full external audit of its pay scales, possibly recommending salary adjustments following its completion in June to remain competitive with surrounding districts.

Later in the meeting, the board approved the proposed retention stipends and the proposed 1 percent compensation increase. Teachers and staff who have been with the district for less than one year received a $500 stipend, while those with one to five years of service and more than five years of service received $1,000 and $1,500, respectively.

The 1 percent increase in compensation will begin showing up in staff paychecks in February 2026.

Following a lengthy executive session, the board also moved to authorize the purchase of an approximately 6-acre parcel of land at the junction of County Road 207 and County Road 212– about 5 miles north of the U.S. Highway 183A and State Highway 29 intersection. The district has slated the purchase for September 2026.

The board’s final action, not including the finalization of staff resignations and hirings, was to post the opening of the superintendent position publicly using in-house resources, as opposed to hiring a superintendent search consultant. This marks a step toward the conclusion of the board’s formal superintendent selection

process, which has been ongoing since the previous superintendent, Steve Snell, was appointed to serve as Williamson County Judge.

Travis Motal will continue to serve as interim superintendent until the selection process is completed in January.

City moves forward with new projects, welcomes new city manager

For the City of Liberty Hill, November brought a host of new projects by the city’s various boards and commi ees, including the issuance of site development permits, interlocal agreements with Williamson County, and the retrofi ing of new light fixtures for Liberty Hill City Park.

Additionally, the city welcomed the newly-hired city manager, Thomas Hunter, who began his role on Nov. 17.

On Nov. 13, the Parks and Recreation Board of Directors held its regular monthly meeting, during which newly appointed board member Jason Rask was officially sworn in. An update given by Richard Fibish, the director of parks, recreation, and facilities maintenance, included plans

to use a dedication of $10,000 from the City Council for use in the retrofi ing of lights in Liberty Hill City Park.

This plan would not include the installation of new light poles. Rather, 21 lighting inserts would be exchanged within the existing poles. These new LED retrofits would emit a so , yellow glow and would be compliant with the city’s dark skies ordinance.

Installation of the new retrofits is slated forthe beginning of December.

Liberty Hill City Council held a single meeting during November, during which Katie Amsler, director of communications and community engagement, was lauded by the city for being awarded the 2025 Susan H. Campbell Award for Professional Excellence, the highest individual honor given by the Texas Downtown Association.

Following this, the diagnostic report of the rewrite of the Unified Development Code, also known as the UDC, was considered by council. Council member Diane Williams read a statement that was made in conjunction with Mayor Crystal Mancilla regarding the nature of this agenda item.

“Texas local code requires public hearings before making a final decision on specific code, so again, this is not the final input,” Williams said. “In addition to the

required public hearings at the Planning and Zoning Commission and council [meetings], there will be public input meetings. The first of these is Dec. 11.”

Despite this caveat, debate on the ma er still began. Specifically, Trip Horlock, an associate at Pohl Jensen real estate group, took the podium to caution the council against moving forward with the proposed UDC rewrite dra .

“As someone who has been actively involved in development here, I think it would be unwise to move forward with this UDC dra without more input from the development community,” Horlock said.

Council members Elisabeth Brown and Tim Hennessy echoed this sentiment.

“I’m sure a lot of us have go en emails and phone calls from a lot of developers that were not included and were not invited [to the rewrite meetings],” said Brown. “There’s at least personal concern to me as to why they were not included.”

Regardless, all members of the council who were present at the meeting voted in favor of accepting the UDC rewrite diagnostic report, passing the measure with a vote of five to zero.

City council also approved a site development permit for a 7-Eleven and Suds car wash, with a vote of five to one. Council

LET F REEDOM RA IN !

members Hennessy and Wade Ashley voiced their concerns about the density of gas stations and convenience stores in the city. Ashley was more vocal about his opposition to the proposal.

“With this 7-Eleven, that would put five [gas stations] within a mile of each other. We also have a car wash, and we’re also tight on water,” Ashley said. “For me, personally, I don’t see the benefit to this particular use of that land because of the density of convenience stores and car washes that are already in proximity to it.”

One of the final actions the council took before convening to executive session was approving two interlocal agreements between the city and Williamson County. The first agreement will reimburse the city for costs associated with moving waterlines, which was done to aid Williamson County’s improvements to the intersection of the Liberty Hill Bypass and Bagdad Road.

The second interlocal agreement involves Williamson County paying for utility relocations that will be needed for Bagdad North– more commonly known as the CR 279/Bagdad Road Project.

Both of these agreements mark one of the final actions taken by Interim City Manager Ken Nickel before he ceded the role to the newly-hired Hunter.

Getting it right

Local brewery breathes new life into identity, mission

BY BRAD MARTIN STAFF WRITER

The tried and true coming of age story, whether in a book or on the silver screen, is a format that Hollywood knows will reel those box office patrons into those theater seats every single time.

Just as everyone loves to root for the underdog, there’s nothing like watching an ugly duckling become a beautiful swan.

From that lonely, introverted and awkward teenager to an outspoken and noticeably different character altogether, the crowd smiles ear to ear as they watch them come into their own.

A very similar story has taken place at 931 Main Street over the past few years and Slot T Beer Company has emerged as a noticeably different pin on the map.

Formerly Hell or High Water Brewing and briefly operating under the name Float the River Brewing, an outsider may see nothing more than an identity crisis or a revolving door of building tenants, but the truth is so much more complex than meets the eye.

Harrison Holmes, part owner and head of brewing operations at Slot T, was able to clear the air of the rumors and misconceptions.

What spawned from a trademark battle with a California-based brewery quickly grew into the realization their hands

were tied and they would have to change their name in order to avoid a legal battle that would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

With time being of the essence, the quick but temporary decision was made – Hell or High Water would become Float the River.

“So, we changed it to that, knowing fully well that it wasn’t going to be the final name we were going to go with,” said Holmes.

“There was a time crunch and we had to change it quickly so we would avoid the lawsuit and, boy, did we get a lot of blowback from that.”

As any community tends to do, small or otherwise, the rumors immediately started flying.

From speculation of the company being bought out by foreign investors to countless other inaccurate assumptions being made, the community wasn’t thrilled about the abrupt change that seemed to come with very little explanation.

But the move was a calculated one, regardless of how messy it felt on either side of the table. Though it took some time, the search for a new name began immediately after the initial change and there was one prevailing mission at hand this time: get it right and protect it at all costs.

“For a couple of years, we were trying to find a name that we could trademark and that also was something we could tie to the

community as well,” said Holmes. He then reached back a bit further in time to explain how their new – and forever – name came to be.

“When we started Hell or High Water, we fell in love with Liberty Hill,” he said. “We quickly realized two things. One, the community is really close-knit and two, they really love their football team, which we do, too. So, we stumbled across the name ‘Slot T’ and thought, ‘there’s no way that’s trademarked.’ Liberty Hill revolutionized the Slot-T offense, so, for us, Slot T was the way to get tied into the community that we love.”

Those that know anything about Texas high school football know the Liberty Hill Panthers have long been on the map and their relentless approach to the Slot-T offense has been the key to a pair of state championship trophies and numerous district titles.

The ‘run it down their throats’ mentality takes a tremendous level of grit and determination to execute on the field, season after season and this mindset deeply resonated within Holmes as he and the other owning partners weighed the importance of the potential new name.

“We felt like it spoke a lot about who we are,” he said. “Going through trademark issues for two years and trying to keep the doors open and the people happy – that

takes a lot of toughness and grit to get through it, so it felt like the name just stuck for us.”

So, with the long-awaited and incredibly welcome feeling they’d finally found their name – their identity – they put pen to paper and Slot T Beer Company rose from the ashes of many tumultuous years.

To Holmes and many others within the organization, it was much more than a new name – it was an entirely new beginning and a chance to make amends with the community that he holds so closely.

“There in the early days, there were a lot of things that we dropped the ball on,” he said. “So being able to right that ship –being a brand-new company starting from square one and doing things the right way – I think the community has responded to that and have seen all the changes that we’ve made – and they’ve come back to give us another shot. We’re really excited to be able to get another shot at it and do it much better than we ever did before.”

This is only the beginning for Slot T, but if their future unfolds as they envision it, one thing is certain – Liberty Hill has a local brewery that will be around for the long haul.

Just as the Panthers football team keeps those trophies coming, Holmes and crew will keep those taps flowing – and Slot T will long remain the master key.

On the edge of Texas

Education meets wonder along Corpus Christi’s shoreline

BY BRAD MARTIN STAFF WRITER

For almost two decades now, my family and I have traveled to Port Aransas to spend some well-received downtime along the gulf’s welcoming shoreline.

With the chaotic and tourist-filled summer season well behind it, it never disappoints, and the only thing that can usually pull us away from its warm hug of a grasp is a trip to the island grocery store or a local souvenir shop. With no time to waste, our business in town gets taken care of and we’re back in the salty air and calming waves before we know it.

But this year was different. With a couple of extra days on our hands thanks to our schedules affording us an entire week away, we decided to plan a day trip to nearby Corpus Christi.

Corpus Christi has always been nothing more than a pass-through for my family and me as we make the four-and-a-half-hourlong drive from Liberty Hill to Port Aransas. As the barren and seemingly endless stretch of Interstate 37 South finally gives way to civilization, the city has always been a welcome beacon as we all sit up in our seats and breathe a sigh of relief that paradise awaits just beyond its horizon. Other than that and a quick stop at a local H-E-B, that’s about the extent of our time spent there. But our recent excursion into some of its parts unknown offered a deep dive into its rich history as well as a glimpse of its reemergence as a destination for those near and far looking for some seaside adventures of their own.

Our day started out at the condo in Port Aransas, where we enjoyed a hearty breakfast that would fuel us for the morning’s activities and then, it was off to the races

we went. Our first stop on the route was just under 40 minutes away: the famous and storied USS Lexington Museum. As we crossed Corpus Christi’s newly constructed harbor bridge, which was an amazing sight in itself to behold, the aircraft carrier, first commissioned in 1943, could be seen in the harbor below, patiently waiting for our eager eyes and ears. Pro tip -- if you plan on visiting the area anytime in the near future, you’re going to want to turn your patience dial up to 11, because Corpus Christi’s reinvention of itself includes an endless list of road closures and detours. Just remember -- you’re on island time.

After serving this great country during World War II, where she participated in nearly every major operation in the Pacific Theater and then spent her remaining active years stateside, the USS Lexington has now become one of only five nationwide museums of its kind, offering an impressively detailed and very well delivered history of not only the service of her and her crews, but of the United States military in general, encompassing former conflicts, highlighting many notable figures and offering an up close look of the entire vessel, including past and present aerial warcraft on full display.

As we toured the bridge, flight deck, engine rooms and other quarters below deck, I became increasingly overwhelmed by two very distinct feelings.

One -- I was in absolute awe of the ship’s construction and ingenuity. Every single piece of her served a very specific purpose.

To think of the war effort during World War II, where the entire country united to build what would become the world’s most elite military force in an unfathomable amount of time, left me with goosebumps at almost every turn. And two -- I couldn’t stop thinking

of the men and women who took part in the ship’s tremendous story as they put everything on the table to defend Lady Liberty. The handrails got me the most.

To think of the countless hands that gripped those rails, in peacetime or war, made me feel as if I was able to shake each and every one of their hands, thanking them for their service and, for some, their lives. If I could, I’d sit with that vessel for hours on end, just to feel that feeling again and again.

Our next stop was the Texas State Aquarium.

I’ll be the first to admit that there was a slight feeling of guilt as we toured a truly amazing facility full of all the very species that we’d just dined upon. I’m fairly certain one of the shrimp gave me an unapproving look as we gazed upon his habitat. But the guilt soon gave way to a jaw-dropping display of aquatic and seaside life.

From the monstrous, almost too immense to believe aquariums that held some of mother nature’s finest specimens such as sharks, eels and sea tortoises to the grand displays of exotic birds and reptiles, I was blown away with how much effort had been put into this one-of-a-kind facility.

There were sharks and stingrays that you could pet (no thank you), and they even had an otter exhibit. Ah, yes, the loveable, adorable otter. If you’ve never seen one up close and in its most curious and playful form, it’s worth the trip alone to see these little creatures that I now dream of having as a pet.

The aquarium tickets are a bit on the pricier side, but it goes to a great cause as their core mission is the rescue, rehabilitation and reintroduction of injured wildlife

to their natural habitats. They’ve also done a great job in maintaining awareness of certain environmental issues such as pollution and even excessive water consumption. In light of the rapidly falling sun, we opted to spend only an hour or two there, but a family could easily make an entire morning or afternoon of the visit as there are multiple interactive attractions as well as several indoor and outdoor eateries and refreshment kiosks. Its exterior grounds line the shores of the Corpus Christi Bay, ensuring that the beachside vibes remain front and center in your seafaring escape.

We greatly enjoyed our day in Corpus, but after a round trip through road construction straight from a fever dream and the congested roads through town, we couldn’t get back to our island paradise any sooner. I think we might have set a record for how fast a family can walk through the front door of their condo and right out the back. The sand between our toes never knew what hit it. These little excursions within our family vacations could quite possibly become a tradition. I continue to be in awe of just how many gems of a destination lie just around the corner from just about anywhere in the world one might be. Heck, think of the local hidden treasures in this town alone. You never know what enriching discovery you’ll find unless you, well, find it.

Life’s too short to stay on the beaten paths and in your comfort zone. It may be easier said than done, but every spontaneous adventure will always be worth every butterfly in the stomach and every bitten nail. Trust me, you’ll find a brand new smile every single time.

Finding the right balance

Panthers senior tennis player finds solace on court

BY ABBY JENKINS PHOTOGRAPHY INTERN

Senior Brendan Stafford has spent three years learning how to return serves and grow into a leader, though he’ll tell you the best part of Liberty Hill tennis isn’t the stats, it’s the family he found behind the baseline.

Stafford first picked up the racket at just four years old, but like many young athletes, he took a pause before rediscovering the passion in middle school under Liberty Hill head coach Sherry Rhoden.

“It has been such a blessing to build the tennis programs at SRMS, LHMS and LHHS during the past six years,” Rhoden said in her role as a key leader of all three teams. “The best part of being the head coach is creating a program of lifelong tennis players, building relationships with so many diverse families and sharing my love for the sport.”

With a soaring 96.5 GPA, Stafford balances both his court command and academic achievements.

“I balance academics and sports by doing my school work first,” said Stafford. “Then I play tennis a er I’m finished with all of my work.”

But all of the practice and matches can take its toll – something Rhoden combats in her practices.

“My training requirements are based more on mental than physical,” Rhoden said. “ I coach from the foundation of positivity. My

first ask each day of practice is for my players to show up with a smile and an open heart and mind for learning the next step in their development as a tennis player. This sport is challenging. Due to the nature of the sport, players many times are on their own during their matches – they have to be able to flush the last point quickly and reset on their next point within 15 to 45 seconds. I train my players to focus on two positives from their matches and one learning point – which we call their frustration point. I have to make sure my players can self-correct quickly. I want them to function from a positive and grateful mindset so they can perform their best.”

Stafford also sees the challenges.

“My mental obstacles in tennis are playing against different types of players every match and needing to find out how to play against them,” he said.

Rhoden balances this in the moment with a positive a itude.

“I ask them what is working so they think about the positives first,” Rhoden said. “Then I ask them what is most frustrating to them, and we make a plan of a ack.  I try to keep it very simple and assign a tone that I know works best for their receptiveness.”

Even with the wrap of the program’s 2025 fall season, Stafford is already looking forward.

“My goal in tennis is to make it to state this year,” he said.

Exceeding expectations

Legacy Ranch sophomore qualified for state championships

BY PHOEBE JOHNSON-QUAIFE EDITORIAL INTERN

Nobody expected Legacy Ranch cross country to send any runners to the state championships in its second season of existence.

However, the athletes and coaches exceeded expectations, as Wranglers sophomore Sean Arriaga competed at the state meet at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock in November.

Despite the odds, Arriaga qualified, which was the culmination of an entire season of determination as well as overcoming adversity along the way.

Arriaga didn’t merely achieve the attainment of qualifying for the state meet. He cultivated newfound proficiency through self-discovery.

Enthralled, Arriaga began wondering about the feeling of going faster.

Early in the season, the star runner was hit with an alarming challenge.

Arriaga acquired an injury over the summer causing immense discomfort.

“I had to overcome it by changing the style of how I run and completely altering my form,” he said. “Whether it was picking up my knees higher, dragging my foot faster, or putting that foot right under me as I go.”

Arriaga credited his recovery from his injury to tools such as physical therapy and his newfound awareness and returned to his high-intensity practices relatively soon.

In preparation for regionals, Arriaga practiced with his team, led by Legacy Ranch head coach Chloe Coffee.

Following his advancement to the state meet, he began to train individually and his training regimen leading up to the state meet included intense workouts throughout the week, accompanied by running immediately after school.

But, Arriaga wasn’t working alone, as Wranglers teammates Ethan Lashley and Abhijay Prasad both graciously trained with Arriaga leading up to the meet.

Arriaga praised his teammates for the support they provided.

“My team helped me push boundaries – especially Ethan and Abhijay,” he said. “After regionals the season ended, but I had to do solo training with Coach Coffee. Abhijay came to every practice

after his season to train with me. I felt like that was just an honorable thing for him to do. Even though Ethan only showed up for the last two practices, that support literally meant everything to me.”

Arriaga described the state meet as chaotic.

“You can just hear like hundreds of people yelling and ringing bells. You can hear coaches from other teams yell at their runners,” he said. “It was really hard to concentrate, I couldn’t figure out where I was with all the yelling. It was pretty scary to me and I think it hindered my performance, but I found a way to push through it.”

Arriaga was able to get real-world experience that will help him forever, he said.

“I want to carry it into the future to really push hard at the very end no matter what,” said Arriaga.

“You always have a little more than you think, so push forward,” he added. “Remember when you want to finish don’t give it 100 percent, go until 150 percent because you probably still have it in you.”

Ironically, Arriaga started cross country as a way to get fit for soccer season in middle school and as a result was surprised by his success on the trails.

“For me to go all the way to state was a huge shocker,” he said. “I never thought I could do it. It’s a huge accomplishment for me. I want to make it to the state meet every year now. I think with this new experience, it will help me be more prepared for when I go again.”

Competing in the Class 4A race, Arriaga finished 88th in the field of 152 runners in a time of 17:14.00.

Arriaga’s plans for the off-season consist of working on his running form and building endurance and speed.

He also plans on breaking down mental barriers and going full capacity.

To all younger runners aspiring to run at the state level, Arriaga already has sound advice.

“There could be people running faster than you at the same age, but in the end, you’re only running against yourself,” he said. “At the same time, if you work twice as hard, or work hard at all, you’ll eventually catch up to those people. Focus on self-growth and what you truly feel like you can accomplish.”

Purple-and-Gold pounds Hu o in home opener

Liberty Hill defeated the Hippos, 81-51

BY ABBY JENKINS

PHOTOGRAPHY INTERN

Last season, the Lady Panthers came heartbreakingly close to the ultimate prize, finishing as state runner-up to Monterey 6435 a er a year defined by grit, chemistry and relentless drive.

“I think taking over this team is a challenge I’m ready for,” said new Liberty Hill head coach Robert Gray. “The last three years as a coach, I’ve had some success, but I feel really excited to be in a place like Liberty Hill where there’s a big girls’ basketball tradition and I feel comfortable here.”

Now, a new chapter begins. With a fresh face leading the program, fellow state-runner-up Gray – who coached San Saba to the Class 2A Division I state semifinals last season -- the team isn’t just aiming to repeat last year’s success -- they’re aiming to surpass it. But, this season has already started with a

nail-biting defeat for the girls.

The Lady Panthers fell one point short in the season opener -- a 54-53 loss to Cedar Ridge and Gray wanted to avoid it happening again.

“I think a lot of people have to realize that this is a different team from last year, with a different coach and a different style of play,” Gray said. “We started over the summer, but it takes a while to gel and feel that chemistry on the court and even tonight I saw some things we need to work on and some things coming together. It takes time, but we’re headed in the right direction.”

Indeed, the Lady Panthers prevented another loss, beating Hu o, 81-51, in their breakout first home game.

In fact, the Lady Panthers led the Hippos by almost double the points the entire game, before the Hippos gave their last push during the final half.

The first quarter started with a triple

threat. Senior Renee Stemmons was immediately hungry at the offensive end, scoring the first thee points for the home team and junior KJ Erps was on the down-low downpour, with two rebounds in the first five minutes.

“We felt very confident going into our first home game with Coach Gray because of our connection and all the talent on our team,” Erps said. “I think Coach Gray also pushes us to be the best we can in practice and we’re starting to feel at home with him.”

the third quarter, with a huge elbow three and three assists.

“I think our key to winning wasn’t just one thing,” said Robbins. “It was blocking out, having energy, making shots, keeping the pace and not le ing things get out of our control. I’m really proud of how far we’ve already come and I’m so excited to see where this season takes us.”

Although the Hippos would push through the fourth quarter, it wouldn’t be enough to stop the Lady Panther powerhouse and they would win 81-51, something Gray credits to their shooting.

But even with a near 20-point lead, Liberty Hill would not let up. Junior Lexi Glenn would launch two threes, and sophomore Nadia Camarena would provide two assists to her teammates, ending the half 47-21.

Gray would try and keep his team motivated and they would switch to the second string to build on the advantage.

Senior Reagan Robbins would dominate

“The shooting was much be er tonight than last week and I feel like the kids were more comfortable offensively,” he said. “Defensively, we worked on a few things halfcourt wise. I feel like we gave up too much, but we contained them and their scoring a empts.”

A glance at the Wranglers’ fall season on field, court

Panthers again bounced by Brenham from playoffs, 27-24

Liberty Hill eliminated in second round for second straight season

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

With its playoff lives on the line, Liberty Hill’s offense lined up on a 4th-and-5 play from its own 26-yard-line with under a minute to play in its second-round Class 5A Division II state playoff game against Brenham and everyone at Hutto Memorial Stadium knew what was coming next.

Except it didn’t.

Instead of handing off and putting their fate in the hands of their famed Slot-T ground game, the Panthers chose to go to the air in the most unlikely of situations and when senior quarterback Judah Fried’s pass fell incomplete, the die was cast and the season was done in a 27-24 loss – marking the second straight campaign that has come to an end at the hands of the Cubs.

According to Liberty Hill head coach David Seaborn, though, the fact a running play was expected was exactly the reason to not run one and had a viable alternative ready.

“It’s a play we practice that’s set up for our tight end to be able to get to the sticks and get a first down,” said Seaborn. “But, they had some defenders in the area and we dropped it – that’s football.”

After the Panthers’ defense had forced Brenham to punt on the opening series of the game, Liberty Hill’s offense went to work with a trademark drive that lasted 13 plays and covered 84 yards, culminating with senior Bryce Muchaw rumbling in from 12 yards out and a 7-0 advantage with the only points of the opening quarter.

However, the Cubs would respond with a drive that would span the opening pair of periods when signal-caller Xyran Upshaw found wide receiver Cartelle Brown across the middle for a 30-yard catch-and-run touchdown, followed by a successful twopoint conversion that provided Brenham with an 8-7 lead only 13 seconds into the second quarter.

On the Panthers’ ensuing offensive series, Liberty Hill moved the ball from its own 30-yard-line to the other, only to be stopped by the Cubs’ defense on a 4thand-2 play, but when the Panthers’ defense returned the favor with a three-and-out, fortune struck in the form of a botched punt attempt that gave Liberty Hill’s offense the ball at the Brenham 25.

Four consecutive carries by Preston Benefield later – including gains of 15 and

11 yards on consecutive plays – the senior bulled his way in from the 1-yard-line to give the Panthers a 14-13 lead after a two-point conversion run failed.

Alas, with 4:12 left until halftime, the advantage was the last Liberty Hill would enjoy on its evening and ultimately its season.

Brenham struck with back-to-back scores less than three minutes apart to close the half, as first, CJ Glover scampered in from five yards out, then Brown hauled in a second touchdown pass from Upshaw, this one a 38-yarder to make it 21-13 at the break.

As is their tradition, Liberty Hill had deferred after winning the coin flip and got the ball to begin the second half, then promptly launched another lengthy drive –just as it had in the first half – this one also lasting 13 plays, covering 76 yards, only this time had to settle for a 20-yard field goal by Luke Barto after three attempts from inside the 10-yard-line had been stopped and the scoreboard still held a 21-16 Cubs lead after three periods.

Brenham then took a page from the Panthers’ quick-strike ground game when it started on its own 25 and moved the ball 75 yards on only four plays, highlighted by a 76yard sprint by Upshaw after being flushed out of the pocket, only to be caught and brought down at the Liberty Hill 2-yard-line and when Glover scored on the next play, the lead was increased the lead to 27-16 with 11 minutes left in regulation.

After starting on their own 15-yard-line, the Panthers were unable to move the chains and Barto dropped back into punt formation on fourth down. But, after calling a time out, it was Jack Pitchford who took Barto’s place before the ball was snapped to the up man on the play, who attempted a pass that was intercepted by a Cubs defender.

As a result of the botched fake, Brenham set up shop at the Panthers’ 17-yard-line and two plays later had a chance to essentially kill off the game when once again fortune struck, this time in the form of a fumble that was alertly scooped up by linebacker Orrin Cole and returned 95 yards for a touchdown – a 14-point swing that seemingly provided the Panthers with the momentum they would need to finish off a comeback – now only trailing 27-24 with 7:41 still remaining.

Seaborn said at this point in the proceedings, he believed his team was on the way

back.

“At that moment in the game, I was like ‘Okay, here we go,’” he said. “But, we fell a little bit short.”

Indeed, the Cubs had been rattled by the sudden turn of events, evident on Brenham’s next offensive play, when another loose ball was free before quickly being recovered and once Alister Vallejo sacked Upshaw for a seven-yard loss on 3rd-and-13, the Cubs were forced to punt once again.

At that point, the sides traded three-andouts, giving the Panthers one last chance from their own 9-yard-line with 2:58 left.

But, as it had all night, the Brenham defense stuffed Liberty Hill’s run game in allowing the Panthers to only move the ball 17 yards on six plays, before the fateful decision to go to the air on fourth down ended with a pass to Ethan McMillan falling to the ground incomplete and with it, Liberty Hill’s season.

For the second year in a row, Brenham had succeeded in doing what so many other of the Panthers’ opponents have failed to over the years – slow the Slot-T down just enough to win – and for the second season in a row, narrowly edge Liberty Hill for a three-point victory following last year’s 3027 win at the same point of the postseason.

In fact, after having only allowed 289 rushing yards to Liberty Hill in last year’s contest, the Cubs limited the Panthers to only 277 yards this time around, their lowest amount since gaining just 243 in a 45-10 season-opening loss to Steele – the only other occasion all season in which Liberty Hill was held to under 300 yards on the ground.

For a team that had averaged 477.4 rushing yards on the season, it was a precipitous drop the Purple-and-Gold couldn’t overcome in rushing for only 101 yards the entire second half on this night.

Dylan Belinga led the Panthers with 92 yards on 18 carries, while Benefield added 74 yards on 19 attempts on a night when Liberty Hill was held without a 100-yard rusher for only the second time all season –the other being a 63-6 win over Crockett in which starters were rested and 11 different Panthers players carried the ball.

Seaborn said having faced the same opponent two years in a row allowed Brenham knowledge most teams don’t have against his squad.

“When you play the same team two years in a row, it gives you the advantage of being able to know some things,” he said. “They were able to put their defense in a place to be successful and did well tonight.”

Liberty Hill finished the season with an overall record of 9-3 to go with a 7-0 district mark that resulted in a league championship after rebounding from a start that saw it lose its opening two games – which was what Seaborn emphasized to his players despite disappointment in the aftermath.

“One thing I told them after the game was I know it’s unfortunate and it stings, but we’ve had way more blessings to count at this moment,” he said. “Even though this hurts, we started the season 0-2 and went on a nine-game winning streak – just the positives outweigh he negatives – we created so many memories this season and that’s what I told the kids to focus on.”

Lady Panthers’ playoff run ends with defeat to Cedar Park

Liberty Hill eliminated by Timberwolves second straight season

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

Once again this season, Liberty Hill advanced to the Class 5A state playoffs regional finals just as it had last year.

Unfortunately, for the Purple-and-Gold, though, an all-too-familiar opponent was waiting in Cedar Park and just as they had been by their district rivals last season, the Lady Panthers were defeated by the Timberwolves at Delco Activity Center in Austin by a 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-17) score.

According to Liberty Hill head coach Marie Bruce, her team struggled to generate pressure, yet still showed resilience.

“They’re a great serving team, but our passing broke down today,” said Bruce, who has guided the Lady Panthers to at least the regional finals in each of her four seasons on the sidelines, including two appearances at the state tournament. “We had a hard time being offensive, but our girls stuck with the game plan, tried the best they could and no matter what, I’m proud of them and the season we had.”

Cedar Park quickly jumped out to an early

advantage in the first set by winning seven of the first eight points of the match and had as much as a 17-9 lead before closing it out.

After senior Falon Stroup had collected three kills and a block in the opening set, sophomore Hannah Griffin hammered a pair of winners home to give the Lady Panthers a 3-1 lead in the second stanza, but after trading points through the midway point, the Timberwolves once again took control in leading 20-13 before Liberty Hill went on a late 5-0 run to close within 24-19 on a Macee Walters ace.

However, it wasn’t enough, as Cedar Park finished off the set to put the Lady Panthers on the brink of elimination.

With their playoff lives at stake, Liberty Hill stormed off to a strong start to the third set, as Walters collected a kill, then served another ace on the next point before Griffin and Stroup added three kills between them. Walters then blocked a shot, followed by Griffin getting a kill and block on consecutive points in powering the Lady Panthers to an 11-6 lead.

Alas, a 7-0 Timberwolves run saw them regain the lead and after Griffin picked up

another pair of kills to level the set at 13-13, Cedar Park would once again take back a lead it wouldn’t relinquish in extending its season while ending Liberty Hill’s campaign.

Griffin led the Lady Panthers with 11 kills, while Stroup added seven. Addison Betzen had 22 assists on the match with Charisa Tuley getting eight digs with Walters contributing a pair each of aces and blocks. Liberty Hill finished the season with an

overall record of 37-11, including a 12-2 district mark for a second-place result.

Despite defeat, Bruce reassured her squad it had accomplished much this season and she would back them no matter what.

“I just told them how proud I am of them and what an incredible season we had in making it this far,” she said. “I told them how proud I am to be their coach and I would choose them every day.”

Myers spread love throughout Liberty Hill

BY JAMES WEAR COLUMNIST

Of all the folks I met during my years in Liberty Hill, perhaps no one impressed me more than Gloria Myers and her husband Jim. Gloria operated a tiny flower shop downtown next door to the cafe and from there she, in her own special and unique way, touched many lives. She reminded me of humorist Will Rogers, who once remarked, “I never met a person I didn’t like.” Gloria reached out to folks in their time of need –indeed, one would be hard pressed to find a community endeavor that Gloria didn’t support.

Gloria backed her support with her purse. For many years, one could find her staying up day and night in the days leading up to Homecoming as she and friends made mums. The money she brought in on sales was donated back to the school to fund scholarships for band students. There’s no telling how many thousands of dollars she raised.

Working alongside her on those long days and nights were Barbara Forbes, Cindy Kilian and Janie Rollins –who, along with Gloria’s daughter Dawn (Mickey) Knox, ensured that by game time every mum was complete and delivered.

Her shop was cluttered, but that image was misleading as she was incredibly organized and ahead of the game in most situations. Back in 1989, she put together an event that she dubbed the first annual Liberty Hill Reawakening, which was essentially the community’s first spring festival. The Independent threw its support behind her concept and published a 20-page tabloid that served both as a newcomer’s guide and a festival program.

Gloria believed such an event could promote Liberty Hill and introduce many of the talented artists that resided in the area. A year later, after the chamber was organized,

she continued her efforts and for many years served as the driving force behind the Liberty Hill festival.

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Her strongest asset was her diplomatic skills. Often, when such events and other fundraisers are underway, there are personality clashes similar to the ones we’ve witnessed in city government over the years. Gloria had the ability to bring the opposing personalities together to work for the common goal. That’s not to say she was afraid to butt heads,

as she and I did at least once a year as the festival unfolded. She referred to our confrontations as our “annual screaming match” (although neither of us ever screamed) but by the end of the day, we were hugging each other once again.

I recall once, as the festival wound down, going up to the high school where the arts and crafts fair had been held, and Gloria, mop in hand, scrubbing away at the floors and making sure all was back in order before locking the door. The other chamber directors had long since left and were attending a post-festival party, but Gloria, the workaholic that she was, knew there were things still to be done before she could call it a day.

Gloria, who worked for Southwestern Bell for many years before tiring of the corporate world, was much more than a community event organizer. She was also a listening post for both young and old, and many kids, having personal problems and needing a

fresh beginning, got that boost from Gloria and Jim.

Jim, unlike Gloria, was rather quiet and although he didn’t hesitate to provide support when she needed it, preferred to putter around his yard after a long day at work. He and Gloria lived across the street from Paula and me and we’d often watch as he walked about their home’s exterior, cold beer in hand, surveying what would be his next home improvement project.

Often that would involve trimming tree limbs and Jim had a rather unique approach to bringing down an unwanted limb. Foregoing the use of a ladder and chainsaw, he’d throw a rope and cinch a knot around the limb, tie the other end of the rope to the bumper on his van and then hop in his van and floor the accelerator. More often than not, the limb would come crashing down and owing to a bit of luck and perhaps a silent prayer on his part, no one was ever hurt.

Jim, after becoming a member of the fire board, became the leading collector of items for the fire department’s annual auction and was also the key figure in securing insurance for volunteers, something the firefighters had never had before.

Sadly, after 39 years of marriage and three children, Jim was struck with cancer and after a valiant fight, passed away. I don’t think Gloria ever got over the loss and while she put on a brave front, it was obvious that life had dealt her a difficult blow. She continued to run the flower shop and helped Troy Joseph launch the community information center, but her own declining health often left her hospitalized. She eventually sold both her home and the business and moved in with her oldest daughter who cared for her until her death in the fall of 2011.

Gloria was never one to preach, but those who knew her personally knew she was a devout Christian and a post she made on Facebook only a few months before her passing underscored that belief.

In a post dated April 23, 2011, Gloria wrote, “Jesus loved us so much and do we deserve it? Can you just imagine your beloved Child going through the indignities, pain and death for an often uncaring family that we can be. I miss so much Pasca at the Russian Orthodox Church. There you see the true meaning of the day. There is the sadness and dark of Jesus’s death then the resurrection with the beautiful light and brightness with the repeated chant over and over, yes, He is risen – Christ is risen !’ Always said with such glory. Thank you, Jesus!”

EVENTS CALENDAR

December 6

LIBERTY HILL CHRISTMAS STROLL

Liberty Hill Boutiques

Across Liberty Hill

10 a.m.-6 p.m. facebook.com/LHStroll

SATURDAY NIGHT KARAOKE

Liberty Hill Beer Market

13851 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

7-10 p.m.

facebook.com/even

ts/1290861412816876/12908614428 16873/

December 12

TRENT CADE

Jellystone Park Autin North 25101 Ronald Reagan Blvd.

7 p.m. facebook.com/jellystoneaustinnorth

CHRISTIAN FAMILY BARN DANCE Williamson County Cowboy Church

8111 RR 1869, Liberty Hill

6:30-10 p.m. facebook.com/even

ts/561696806836684/561696813503 350/

December 13

JINGLE BELL 5K/1K FUN RUN

Santa Rita Middle School

90 E. Santa Rita Blvd.

8 a.m., $25-35 libertyhilljinglebell5k.itsyourrace. com/event.aspx

LIBERTY HILL CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

Downtown Liberty Hill Main Street

10 a.m.-3 p.m. experiencelhtx.com

SUGAR COOKIE DECORATING CLASS Baked by Joy Leigh

1201 Main St. (Studio on Main)

12-2 p.m., $50 bakedbyjoyleigh.com

LIBERTY HILL CHRISTMAS PARADE

Downtown Liberty Hill Main Street 6 p.m. experiencelhtx.com

LEE ROY PARNELL’S TEXAS FLAVORED CHRISTMAS Globe Theatre

132 W. Vaughan St., Bertram 8-10 p.m., $36-$348 globetheatretx.com

December 17

WEDNESDAY NIGHT TRIVIA

Liberty Hill Beer Market 13851 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

7-9 p.m. facebook.com/even ts/1393333915176201/139333391850 9534/

December 19

A WESTERN SWING CHRISTMAS

FEATURING THE TEXAS TRIO

Globe Theatre

132 W. Vaughan St., Bertram 8-10 p.m., $30-$233

globetheatretx.com

December 20

TEA WITH SANTA Michelle’s Patisserie 1908 Main St. 1 p.m., $75 michellespatisserie.com

December 27

THE DECADES BAND Fire Oak Distillery 4600 CR 207 1-7 p.m. fireoakdistillery.com