February 2026 Liberty Hill Independent Monthly

BIZ BRIEFS:

What’s New?

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

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Red Dragon Bao

1908 Main St., Liberty Hill

A new food truck has opened at Michelle's Patisserie on Main Street. The truck serves soup dumplings, noodles and chow mein. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Farmhouse Fizz

Mobile, Liberty Hill

Farmhouse Fizz is a mobile dirty soda bar run out of a renovated horse trailer, serving classic dirty sodas, custom flavors, hydration drinks and dirty energy drinks. The soda bar is available for events, parties, school functions, fundraisers or pop-ups.

OTHER

NOTABLE PROJECTS

• Texas Exits Winery

247 E Vaughan St., Bertram

RETAIL

T.J. Maxx

353 U.S. Hwy. 183, Liberty Hill

A new T.J. Maxx store is planned for Liberty Hill, with construction set to begin this spring at what will soon be called the Liberty Hill Crossing Shopping Center, where Target is also currently under construction. According to project filings, the $1 million development will involve new construction for a 25,304-square-foot

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS

• Little Porch Play

Mobile, Liberty Hill

• PREP School of Morningstar

2063 Kauffman Loop, Georgetown

• La Vita E Bella Montessori Liberty Hill

• Bluebonnet Mahj Co.

Online, Liberty Hill

• Liberty Hill Tattoo Co.

13651 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

• Sunnyside Scholars

14370 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

• Ally Medical Emergency Room

10280 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

• Guardian Paws Animal Hospital

2025 Kauffman Loop, Georgetown

space at 353 U.S. Hwy. 183. The project is scheduled to begin in March with completion expected by August.

Ace Square

State Highway 29 & Ronald Reagan Boulevard, Liberty Hill

A new Walmart-anchored retail development known as Ace Square is planned for the northwest corner of State Highway 29 and Ronald Reagan Boulevard. The project is expected to deliver in the fourth quarter of 2026. Ace Square will consist of two retail buildings, each offering 1,200 to 13,000 square feet of leasable space. Other businesses proposed for Ace Square include Longhorn Steakhouse, Olive Garden, Bubba’s 33, PetSmart and Ross.

SERVICES

TG Welding

State Highway 29, Liberty Hill

TG Welding is a new fabrication and welding repair shop offering fence and other mobile work.

It has been serving central Texas for six years and has now opened a new location in Liberty Hill.

Smalls Main Street Barber Shop

923 Main St., Liberty Hill (inside Red Apple Smoke Shop)

A new barber shop, owned by T.W. Smalls, has opened in downtown Liberty Hill inside Red Apple Smoke Shop.

hearts and deep gratitude,” noting the shop has been more than a retail space, serving as a place of connection, encouragement and community.

Beauty Revival Barn

2921 RR 1869, Liberty Hill (inside Radiant Salon & Spa)

TX Botox, Boots & Beauty recently rebranded to Beauty Revival Barn. Owned by Cici Wheeler, the rebrand also brings new regenerative aesthetics options to customers.

Parker's Corner Market

1017 Main St., Liberty Hill

Inked Beauty Plug

13997 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill (inside Liberty Hill Beauty Bar)

Inked Beauty Plug is celebrating two years in business this month.

Tess Mosley, Liberty Hill School of Music

3608 RR 1869, Liberty Hill

The newest instructor at Liberty Hill School of Music is Tess Mosley, who teaches voice, piano, ukulele and preschool music.

Michelle's Patisserie

1908 Main St., Liberty Hill

• Hearth and Home Co. Online, Liberty Hill

ON THE MOVE

Corey Griffin, Amplify Real Estate Team

Liberty Hill

Corey Griffin is a mortgage loan originator with the Amplify Real Estate Team and a Liberty Hill resident. Griffin works with local homebuyers and investors, offering guidance through the financing process with an emphasis on clear communication and local market knowledge.

Urban Defense Academy

141 Jonathan Dr., Liberty Hill

Urban Defense Academy is thrilled to celebrate five years of empowering the Liberty Hill community with expert armed self defense firearms training.

Shin Gan Dojo

141 Jonathan Dr., Liberty Hill

Shin Gan Dojo proudly marks five years of teaching authentic Japanese martial arts to kids (6 years and up), teens and adults in Liberty Hill.

Pep & Punch

2023 Main St., Liberty Hill

After six years in the community, Pep & Punch has announced it would be closing its doors Jan. 31. In an email message shared with customers, owner Renee O'Dell said the decision comes “with full

In January, the Liberty Hill City Council approved the purchase of 1017 Main St. — also known as the building that formerly housed Parker's Corner Market. The City has yet to give an official statement about their plans for the building.

Lucid

107 W. Vaughan St., Bertram Tattoo shop Lucid has relocated from Liberty Hill to Bertram. The shop is now at 107 W. Vaughan St.

Kitfox's Fun Center

350 CR 277, Liberty Hill

Kitfoxy's Putt Putt and Pew Pew rebranded to Kitfox's Fun Center in January. This rebrand allows the business to expand its offerings beyond just mini golf and laser tag.

Building Little Brains

Online, Liberty Hill

Building Little Brains announced in early January it would be discontinuing its online monthly subscription boxes.

Furniture Market

2082 Hwy. 183, Leander

Furniture Market is closing its locations in Leander and Austin. The store is currently selling off its remaining inventory. A closing date has not been announced.

Minuteman Rentals

12630 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

Minuteman Rentals' Liberty Hill location celebrated five years in business in January.

Michelle's Patisserie is celebrating its second anniversary in Liberty Hill this month.

Angela Ronzoni's Pizzeria

9073 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

Angela Ronzoni's Pizzeria closed permanently at the end of January.

Felted Crown Hat Co.

2921 RR 1869, Liberty Hill (inside Radiant Salon & Spa)

Felted Crown Hat Co. is under new ownership. The business was recently purchased by Myrna McGoldrick and will continue to operate out of Radiant Salon & Spa.

Fleur Rebelle Boutique

2001 Main St., Liberty Hill (inside The Luxe)

Fleur Rebelle Boutique, owned locally by Lindsay Warr, is celebrating nine years in business in early March.

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

our community

BY JACE BRAZIEL STAFF WRITER

Liberty Hill City Council changes staff roster in January

The City of Liberty Hill rang in the new year by welcoming new staff members, saying goodbye to others, and laying the groundwork for future projects both downtown and around town.

A special session of the city council was held Jan. 8, during which the resignation of the previous city attorney was accepted, and a new city attorney, Laura Mueller of Baker Robertson and O’Brien, was hired. The city secretary, Elaine Simpson, resigned the following day on Jan. 9.

While the city is still searching for someone to fill the position, Executive Assistant Rebecca Harness was named interim city secretary until a permanent replacement is found.

Three other new members of city staff were introduced in January as well. Kelly Wenzel filled the position of procurement administrator, rejoining city staff after leaving to serve in the public works department for the City of Leander in 2023.

Both Robyn Higa and Abby Morrison, the newly hired director of planning and development and executive director of management services, respectively, join staff following careers in the City of Pflugerville’s public works department.

Council also filled the final vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Board, appointing Christie Miller. Miller is a recent transplant, also from Pflugerville.

Also approved during the special session Jan. 8 was the city’s purchase of 1017 Main St., the previous home of Parker’s Corner Market. City officials have not shared what the plans for the building are, and no actions concerning the building have since been approved.

A replat proposal was brought before council during the Jan. 28 meeting. The current lot, sitting at the northeast corner of Stonewall Parkway, would be changed to accommodate two plots, one for a Waf-

fle House and the other for a Take 5 Oil Change.

“I would make a note that there are no applications for a Waffle House, although we have met with them,” said Higa. “There is a site plan that’s pretty close to clearing for the Take 5.”

While a representative of Take 5 Oil Change came to present to council or answer any questions, Waffle House sent no such representative. In addition, Waffle House has not submitted an official application for a site plan, leading to hesitation in accepting the proposal.

Ultimately, council denied the replat following discussion surrounding the holding of utilities without site plans, or at least the notion of incoming site plans.

“I would hate to set a precedent of approving things that just go with the land, when they could just sit on the land for 10 years, holding part of our physical capacity,” said Council member Diane Williams.

Replacement of membranes in the South Fork Wastewater Treatment Plant was also approved, which is expected to increase the city’s wastewater capacity. Public Works Director Jacob Parsons explained why the new filters are necessary.

“They have a 10-year warranty, they reduce space, and allow us to gate capacity,” he said. “The energy costs are also reduced. The filters we have, they’re rapidly deteriorating.”

Parsons assured council that replacing the filters now, before the city reaches full wastewater capacity, would mean that there would be no pausing of service.

LHISD Board of Trustees has busy start to new year

In January, the Liberty Hill Independent School District Board of Trustees fielded comments from the public regarding proposed school boundary changes, received a presentation from from the LHISD Education Foundation, and took action on the purchase of library books.

The district’s process of amending school boundaries has been ongoing for several months, with an advisory committee comprised of parents and staff formed in Oc-

tober. A presentation by Interim Superintendent Travis Motal during the December board meeting detailed a majority of the coming changes; elementary school boundaries, however, remained hotly contested.

Two attendance boundary town hall meetings were held in mid-January, with the goal of soliciting feedback from members of the community. Members of the community also gave feedback in the form of public comments during the board meeting.

“To ease [Tierra Rosa Elementary]’s over-capacity, please consider rezoning other areas that require buses and are adjacent to areas zoned elsewhere,” said one parent.

“One of the biggest reasons this rezoning concerns us is safety and accessibility,” said another parent, also in reference to the TRE rezoning. “Our home is within walking distance of Tierra Rosa Elementary. Our children have a short, paved and direct sidewalk route to campus. Rezoning us away from Tierra Rosa would eliminate those safe walking zones.”

The board is expected to finalize and accept any boundary changes during their regular February meeting.

Mike Bowles, president of the LHISD Education Foundation, gave a year-inreview presentation to the board, briefly outlining the foundation’s mission, as well as updating the public on the foundation’s activities.

The Education Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2019. The foundation’s goal, as stated by Bowles, is “to provide funds for things that the district does not normally budget for, or does not have the budget for.”

In 2025, the foundation supported a myriad of programs. Notably, the foundation was able to extend $45,000 in scholarships to seniors at Liberty Hill High School, as well as award grants to teachers across the district to the tune of $127,000.

“The amount we awarded, the number of grants, the number of applications we received this year was a record,” said Bowles.

The total amount that the foundation awarded to the district in 2025 reached just over $219,000.

Bond sales stemming from the 2023 Bond Program are expected to occur in February, with the district receiving funds from that sale in March. This would mark the fourth round of sales from the 2023 Bond Program, and the funds would be allocated toward capital expenditures related to the construction of Saddleback Elementary School.

Chief Financial Officer Rosanna Guerrero spoke on the bond sale progress during

the board’s meeting.

“We have been working hard on getting the approvals through TEA, as well as completing our credit rating application,” said Guerrero. “Breaking ground on Elementary #9 falls right into place with receiving the funds in the March time frame.”

The board also approved a book and service purchase from Mackin. This service includes the curation, barcoding and delivery of books to the Legacy Ranch High School library. The initial stocking of books into the library would also be included. The purchase was approved, with spending not to exceed $281,510.18.

Elections to fill Places 1 and 2 for threeyear terms, as well as Place 4 for a one-year term, have been called, with the current occupants of those seats nearing the end of their terms. Currently, Place 1 is held by Chris Neighbors, Place 2 by Kendall Carter, and Place 4 by Jamie Etzkorn. Elections will be held May 2.

UIL releases realignment for 2026-27 school year

On Feb. 2, the UIL released its realignment for the 2026-27 school year.

Panthers and Wranglers football will now compete in Class 5A Division II District 13 with Boerne, New Braunfels, Long Creek, Alamo Heights and Veterans Memorial. All other Panthers and Wranglers sports will compete in Class 5A District 16 with Belton, Killeen, Ellison, Shoemaker, Waco and Waco University.

Primary election to be held March 3

On March 3, a primary election will be held for Williamson County offices to determine which candidates will appear on the general election ballot on Nov. 3. For those in Liberty Hill, you will have the following offices to vote on: Federal Level:

• US Senator

• US House Texas District 31 State Level:

• Governor

• Lieutenant Governer

• Attorney General

• Commissioner of Agriculture

• Comptroller

• Land Commissioner

• Railroad Commissioner

• Texas Senate District 5

• Texas House District 52

• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Places 3, 4, and 9

Liberty Hill ISD calendar changes add days to current school year

BY JACE BRAZIEL STAFF WRITER

In late January, the Liberty Hill Independent School District made two announcements regarding school operations. The first was to inform students, parents and staff that school would be cancelled Jan. 26 and 27, and the second was to announce that students would have to a end school on Jan. 30 and Feb. 6 to make up for the missed operational minutes.

Jan. 30 and Feb. 6 were not originally listed on the 2025-26 academic calendar as a bad-weather make-up days, prompting questions from parents and teachers about why a ending school those days would be necessary.

The answer revolves around operational time – a term defined in the Student A endence Accounting Handbook to mean “the time between the first instructional bell and the last instructional bell (bell to bell).”

In order to receive full state funding, districts are required to provide 75,600 minutes of operation. Certain waivers can reduce this number as long as certain criteria are met. A pertinent example: the

staff development waiver.

This waiver allows a district to substitute up to 2,100 operational minutes for staff development, lowering the required threshold of operational minutes down to 73,500.

LHISD has utilized this waiver for several years with no issues. However, the 2025-2026 edition of the Student A endence Accounting Handbook, released in September 2025, included a new caveat to the waiver, found in section 3.8.1.4 of the document:

“Effective with the 2025-2026 school year, districts and open-enrollment charter schools that are four-day-school-week LEAs [Local Education Agency] are not eligible to receive a staff development waiver.”

The district submi ed the staff development waiver to the TEA in December, and, following a slight back-and-forth with TEA regarding the nature of LHISD’s calendar, it was denied on Jan. 9, 2026.

A memo from the district to TEA was sent on Jan. 7, 2026, a empting to explain why the district was not operating under a four-day calendar.

When asked about why the TEA denied

the waiver request, a member of the TEA’s State Waiver Unit told The Independent: “This is a four-day calendar. Simply put, there are more four-day weeks than fiveday ones.”

Even without the two cancelled school days on Jan. 26 and 27, students would need to a end an additional four days because of the need to add back operational minutes to make up for the waiver’s denial.

An FAQ from the district explains that, while the denial was received on Jan. 9, an internal decision about changes to the calendar was not made until Jan. 20. The public was not made aware of the changes until shortly a er the school cancellation notice was given on Jan. 25.

Students would already have to attend school on the previously-assigned bad-weather make-up days of May 8 and May 15, as well as the designated staff development days of March 6 and March 27, due to the calendar changes. However, with the cancellation of two school days due to inclement weather, making up every lost minute would be crucial to maintaining state funding.

As such, the operational time lost due to

the cancellations were made up Jan. 30 and Feb. 6.

Adding days to the calendar with such li le notice has le some parents and teachers upset.

“We’ve now lost our prep time due to students in our classrooms on Fridays,” commented one teacher. “It all feels very messy right now.”

“I can already feel the morale dropping with this news,” said another member of staff. “Everything we’ve adjusted to and prepared for has now been changed.”

Superintendent Travis Motal issued an apology to families and staff in the district.

“I apologize that we have had to make changes to the calendar,” he said. “I understand our communication could have been be er timed and our planning prior to this type of announcement needs to be improved. I accept this challenge moving forward.”

A calendar advisory commi ee, made up of parents and staff, was announced, with the intention of reviewing calendar options and assisting in the creation of a calendar for the coming school year. This commi ee will have its first meeting on Feb. 11.

At Specialty Millworks our focus is superb craftsmanship, distinctive design, and the nest quality materials to enhance your home or work environment. We specialize in all kinds of architectural millwork including but not limited to:

143 Peaceful Valley Rd, Liberty Hill, TX 78642 | Call Us: 512-291-1751 www.specialtymillworksbyj.com / info@specialtymillworksbyj.com Custom Millwork, Fine Cabinetry, Furnishings & Finish Trim

Solid Handcrafted Doors • Solid Wood Tops • Spiral Staircases Fine Cabinetry • Custom Millwork & Trim Packages

“We had a wonderful experience with Specialty Millworks! Very responsive, great work product, and pleasant work crew. We used a lot of contractors through our house build and wish they had all been as wonderful as Specialty. I will be contacting J again in the future for any additional projects! 5 Stars! ” – Mallory Taylor

COMPILED BY LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT STAFF

Devin & Kristen Floyd

LHHS Class of 2002/03 • Married 19 years

“Our relationship has always been a true partnership. From building a life together after getting married to eventually raising our children back in the hometown we love.”

Ruben & Kelsie Colon-Peña

LHHS Class of 2010/11 • Married 12 years

“It started during football games. He would do this little head tilt when he saw me in the stands, and I would do it back. We still do it to each other today.”

Trey & Jayeana Seward

LHHS Class of 2013 • Married 5 months

“We were best friends in sixth grade and were sweet on each other in junior high and then very much in high school.”

Colton & Bella Cunningham

LHHS Class of 2015/16 • Married 3 years

“Our unofficial first date (running errands to fill the LHHS concession stand) is by far a favorite memory for both of us.”

Marshall & Erin Zurovec

LHHS Class of 2007 • Married 13 years

“We are very grounded as a couple and a family, and our faith is very important to us.”

Mason & Montana Shipley

LHHS Class of 2020 • Married 2 years

“We used to sit in our cars together and chat before going to football and cheer practice.”

Kyle & Skye Crane

LHHS Class of 2006 • Married 15 years

“We were very good friends all four years of high school. Because we were pretty good friends already, we decided to try this thing out.”

Josh & Hannah Lapuzynski

LHHS Class of 2019 • Married 3 years

“We were in the same kindergarten class, but we didn’t really talk until our junior year. A mutual friend set us up at Powder Puff.”

Brandon & Leslie Leath

LHHS Class of 1998 • Married 25 years

“We remember waiting to meet each other at our lockers after class and hanging out at the creek every weekend.”

Zack & Joyce Milam

LHHS Class of 1999 • Married 23 years

“The friendship we’ve built with each other — it’s always been easy, natural and full of laughter.”

Jessie & Kersten Cousins

LHHS Class of 2013 • Married 10 years

“We realized it was more than a teenage romance when we continued choosing each other through every season in life, even after high school.”

Brandon & Jessica Canady

LHHS Class of 2009/10 • Married 12 years

“No matter how Liberty Hill changes, it is a town we love because it built us.”

AJ & Montgomery Garza

LHHS Class of 2021/22 • Married 1 year

“God has shaped us and our marriage in such a beautiful way. From being kids learning how to love to becoming each other’s life partners, we have had grace every step of the way.”

Jeremy & Chessa Rizzotto

LHHS Class of 2013 • Married 8 years

“Allegedly,

Jake & Sara Lapuszynski

LHHS Class of 2017 • Married 2 months

going

“We’ve made it a priority to keep dating, grow together and embrace new opportunities even as Liberty Hill grows and changes around us.”

By the Books ATX builds confidence through community connections

BY RACHEL MADISON OWNER/PUBLISHER

When Candice Williams talks about numbers, she’s really talking about people.

Williams, owner and CFO of By the Books ATX, brings a deeply personal, relationship-driven approach to accounting and bookkeeping – one shaped by curiosity, experience and a genuine commitment to the Liberty Hill community she now calls home.

Her path into accounting began unexpectedly during her sophomore year at Texas State University, sparked by national headlines surrounding the Enron scandal. As investigations unfolded and sweeping reforms like the Sarbanes-Oxley Act reshaped the profession, Williams found herself captivated by questions of accountability and transparency. With a father who worked as an oil and gas accountant, the field felt both intellectually compelling and familiar. One audit class later, she knew she had found her calling.

Williams spent nearly a decade in public accounting, building a strong foundation in audit, internal controls and financial reporting. Her career later expanded into industry and consulting work across multiple sectors – experience that continues to inform how she serves clients today. Rather than focusing solely on compliance, she emphasizes long-term financial health, sustainability and informed decision-making.

By The Books was officially incorporated in 2019, though its roots go back to 2014, when Williams began taking on clients while on maternity leave with her oldest daughter. As COVID and private equity trends reshaped the accounting world, she recognized a growing desire to build something of her own—an independent firm centered on relationships rather than transactions.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

• Texas Supreme Court Places 1,2, 7, and 8

• Texas Fifteenth District Court of Appeals Places 1,2, and 3

Local Level:

• County Clerk

• District Clerk

• County Judge

• County Treasurer

• County Commissioners Court Precinct 2

• 277th District Court

• 368th District Court

• 480th District Court

That vision became reality in 2022, when her family relocated to Liberty Hill and Williams transitioned to full-time self-employment.

Choosing Liberty Hill was no accident. Passing through town on visits to family, Williams was drawn to the Friday night lights, local boutiques and unmistakable small-town feel. Today, she says the move was one of the best decisions her family has made.

“Our clients aren’t just businesses,” she said. “They’re neighbors, parents, nonprofit leaders and community builders.”

That philosophy extends to how By The Books operates. The firm now supports approximately 50 clients with the help of five bookkeepers, allowing for steady growth while maintaining high standards and personalized service. Williams focuses on monthly financial closings, advisory support, forecasting, cash-flow planning and internal controls – helping business owners understand not just where their money has been, but where it’s going.

Unlike traditional tax practices, By The Books does not prepare tax returns, meaning there’s no single “busy season.” Instead, Williams’ work stays consistent year-round, with December through February bringing increased demand due to year-end reporting, 1099 filings and compliance deadlines.

Outside the office, Williams is deeply involved in the community. She volunteers at her children’s schools, supports local events and frequently serves in treasury roles for youth leagues, PTOs, nonprofits and school board candidates. Through By The Books, she sponsors local youth leagues, Liberty Hill Independent School District schools and athletic programs, as well as the Liberty Hill Education Foundation – efforts she says are among her proudest accomplishments.

Williams especially enjoys working with

• County Court at Law No.1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4

• County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2

While it is important to be informed about every office you cast a vote for, we will focus our attention on the more local offices.

Twelve out of 13 of these offices have only one Democratic and one Republican nominee – or just one nominee total – in the running. As such, those nominees are unopposed in this primary and will become their party’s respective candidate for the general election in November.

One office – Williamson County Precinct 2 Commissioner – is hotly contested. This

women-owned businesses and nonprofits, organizations she believes are often doing critical work without access to high-level financial guidance. She’s known for stepping into complex or “messy” situations, helping clients clean up their books, implement better systems and gain clarity and peace of mind.

At the heart of her work are professionalism, transparency and communication. Williams understands that financial decisions can feel overwhelming, and her goal is always to reduce stress – not add to it – by meeting clients where they are and helping them move forward one step at a time.

One misconception she’s quick to dispel is that accountants only focus on taxes.

“Accounting and bookkeeping are really about understanding your business,” she said. “It’s about using financial data to make better decisions, not just checking a box once a year.”

Looking ahead, Williams is excited to continue growing By The Books in a thoughtful, sustainable way, while maintaining the

is largely because the current Williamson County Precinct 2 Commissioner, Cynthia Long, has chosen not to run for reelection.

The candidates for Precinct 2 Commissioner are Rupal Chaudhari, Jeff Mayes and David McDonald.

Chaudhari has served as a Governor-appointed board member of the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System since 2023, and is an attorney and business owner in Williamson County.

Mayes has filled the role of teacher, business owner and volunteer throughout his time in the community.

McDonald is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and a retired police sergeant. He also

high-touch, CFO-level support clients have come to expect. For her, success isn’t just measured in balanced books, but in stronger businesses, confident owners and a healthier local community.

For more information, visit By the Books ATX at bythebooksatx.com or call (512) 9713964.

This is a paid advertising feature for By The Books ATX.

served as a Leander City Council member from 2022 until his resignation in August 2025.

All three nominees are running in the Republican primary.

Voting day for the primary is March 3, with early voting running from Feb. 17 to Feb. 27. Due to changes made by the Williamson County Republican Party, all Election Day voters are required to cast their ballot at their voter-precinct-specific location, as opposed to any county voting location, as has been the case in the past.

This change will not affect early voting, as the change takes effect March 3. These voting locations have not yet been released.

Full steam ahead

River Sentry Flood Warning systems hit production line as concept takes hold in Central Texas

BY BRAD MARTIN STAFF WRITER

Though much has happened throughout Liberty Hill and its surrounding communities over the past seven months, the weight of July 2025’s tragic flooding events still bears heavily on the hearts and minds of so many.

In an instant, time seemed to stand completely still as Central Texas came to grip with the horror that was unfolding before its very eyes. As time has a tendency to do, it has, for some, taken those painful events and turned them into distant memories. But for many others, especially those who lost precious loved ones, it likely seems as if only days have passed rather than months. However, one thing that cannot be forgotten is how this and other communities showed up in response. For days, weeks, even months, people from far and wide put their lives on hold in order to help in every way possible – a welcome reminder of the human condition at its core. But the response didn’t stop there. In addition to the recovery and cleanup efforts, there were those who felt these events hit too close to home, and it became their mission to look deep into finding tangible means and methods to make sure nothing like this ever happened again.

The results of those tests were unanimous: The product works exactly as intended – to get people up and moving away from rising flood waters, and to communicate with the other systems located downstream, creating a true and accurate early warning system for rising flood waters.

Fast forward to present day, Cunningham now finds himself surrounded by a team of individuals from a diverse array of professional backgrounds who are helping take these systems from concept to the production line. The orders are stacking up, but one would be hard pressed to find anyone on the team celebrating. To them, the work has only just begun, and the mission – to prevent the loss of life – is front and center in every thought and conversation. As they scale their operations, the subject of funding has presented a somewhat unique challenge as it relates to just how quickly they can ramp things up.

“We’re bootstrapping this,” said Eoin Guiry, who is working alongside Cunningham on the project. “We are doing this as a passion project. We want to help, and our objective is that there will be zero flood deaths as a result of our product coming to market. We can scale this as fast as we want – we can manufacture as many of these as we want, but we’re using our personal finances to fund all of this. So, if the state or a private entity, or a fund or even some good citizen out there wants to help us, we just need funding.”

ment money. That way, we can pursue the public good instead of a financial benefit for some venture capitalist.”

Thanks to some recent local and national media attention, River Sentry is gaining recognition, especially in Kerr County, where many lives were lost to the floods. But as Guiry brought to light, only covering the north and south forks of the Guadalupe and then calling it a day would do a great disservice to the River Sentry mission. To him and the others on the team, they’re merely at the starting point.

macy,” said Cunningham. “Where you start being viewed as a viable solution and not some wacky startup guys bolting stuff together in their garage. Every company goes through this; Apple started in a garage, and Dell started in a dorm room. We’re climbing up that hill and, slowly, the doors are starting to open. We’ve got a little bit of time to keep proving ourselves. I think that once people start to see these things in action, things will rapidly accelerate.”

One such individual is Liberty Hill resident Ian Cunningham, founder of River Sentry Flood Warning. With nothing more than sheer determination and a knack for solving complex problems, he went to work on July 5, 2025, and hasn’t stopped since. As if his hands were instruments of the universe, the product developed rather quickly, but Cunningham wouldn’t rest until a series of rigorous testing took place.

“We already have investors that have approached me, and want to buy into this,” added Cunningham. “We’ve said no. This is not a financially driven project, so as soon as you take that money on board, they (the investors) now have a financial interest in what you’re doing. We want to just be in the business of helping develop the tech, and we want to be more purpose-driven rather than financially driven. This would be much better if funded with foundation or state research and develop-

“Kerr County is where the last 100-year flood event happened,” he said. “There are 15 major rivers in Texas, and one of them has a 100-year flood event roughly every seven years. Kerr County is where the last one was and that’s where ground zero is now, so that’s where we’re putting the towers up due to the most public support. But there’s a 14-out-of-15 chance that it will not be Kerr County next time. So, within the next seven years, there’s going to be another disaster just like that on one of the other rivers – that is nearly guaranteed. So, if we want to be able to achieve our mission of having zero flood deaths in this state, then we’ll need to scale this thing fast and start covering the other rivers as well. We need people to come on board and help us do that.”

In addition to the recognition brought forth by the media, there is another crucial barrier that River Sentry is finding less and less restrictive, but they won’t stop until the runway is cleared.

“We’re fighting this uphill battle to legiti-

In the coming months, River Sentry will release a Bluetooth app that will enable users to see where these systems are along with many other features including real-time alerts as they are activated within each unit. As these networks come online and continue to expand, the system will perform as no other system ever has, and there will be a renewed faith in the safety and security of riverside residents and visitors alike, and the truly realized potential of zero flood deaths. Most importantly to the team, they will be accurate – if a unit is activated, there are rising flood waters, and action needs to be taken immediately.

“The thing that I keep coming back to is we will not have false alarms,” said Joe Swann, another member of the development team. “With so many other warning systems, people just get bombarded with all these different notifications, and they tune them out – they don’t have trust in the system. We’re looking at it from a different way. We’re not trying to replace anything; we’re just filling that gap.”

For more information on River Sentry, visit riversentry.com.

Papa Chilo’s Healing Hands

Legacy of faith, family, healing takes root in Liberty Hill

BY LESHELLE VALLEJO STAFF WRITER

What began generations ago in a small town in Michoacán, Mexico, has found new life—and deeper purpose—in Liberty Hill.

Papa Chilo’s Healing Hands is a family-run herbal remedies business led by Liberty Hill resident Mariella Mesa and her mother, Catalina, operating from their home and grounded in a legacy passed down from Mariella’s grandfather, Cecilio, affectionately known as “Papa Chilo.”

“My grandfather was the local herbalist in his town,” Mesa said. “People would come to him for everything – from injuries to stomach aches – because access to doctors and medicine was limited. He saw a need and wanted to help.”

Though Papa Chilo never learned to read, his dedication to healing was unwavering. Mesa said her grandmother would read herbalism books aloud, while her grandfather memorized recipes with remarkable precision. Over time, he became widely known not only for his remedies, but for his faith – welcoming people into his home for healing and sharing the Gospel alongside herbal care.

“That combination of faith and healing is really the heart of what we do,” Mesa said. “It’s our mission to bring herbal remedies to Liberty Hill – and wherever God takes us – while sharing our story and bringing Christ back into businesses, too.”

Mesa and her family’s connection to Liberty Hill began in April 2021, shortly after she graduated college and began her first corporate job. What started as a simple visit turned into a calling.

“Liberty Hill didn’t have much here at the time, but I felt so much peace,” she said. “I’m a country girl at heart and this just felt like home.”

At just 21 years old, Mesa purchased a modest home built in 1984 – an opportunity she describes as divinely orchestrated. That home became a turning point not only for her – but for her family.

Mesa shared much of her childhood was marked by domestic violence and instability. Her dream of homeownership was rooted in a desire to provide safety and healing for her mother and siblings.

“When my grandfather passed away around that same time, it was incredibly hard,” she said. “But sitting on the couch with my mom one day, talking about him,

it just clicked. I said, ‘Mom, you love this. I love this. Why don’t we bring this legacy here?’”

That moment became the spark that led to Papa Chilo’s Healing Hands.

“Liberty Hill truly saved us,” Mesa said. “It redeemed my mom’s story. It gave us community.”

Though the idea began in late 2023, Mesa and her mother spent nearly a year carefully documenting recipes, refining formulations, and ensuring consistency – honoring a legacy that had long lived in memory rather than on paper.

“My mom memorizes everything,” Mesa said. “She’s a cook, so it was always ‘season to your heart.’ But for this, we had to get it right.”

They officially launched in July 2024, debuting two core products at their first farmers market: Arnica Healing Salve and Rosemary Hair Oil.

Their Arnica Healing Salve remains their most popular product today – a direct continuation of Papa Chilo’s original remedy.

“We call it our all-in-one first aid kit,” Mesa said. “Before over-the-counter medicine, there were plants. Arnica has been used for pain and inflammation across cultures for generations.”

Additional products now include Sangre de Grado tincture – made from a South American tree and still using Papa Chilo’s original supply – calming herbal teas, lip balms and magnesium bath blends.

“Every product is prayed over,” Mesa said. “We’re just vessels, stewarding what God has entrusted to us.”

Papa Chilo’s Healing Hands can be found regularly at Liberty Hill farmers markets, including The Market LHTX, where Mesa credits organizer Nancy Wilk for believing in their mission early on. Their products are also available locally at The Vinew Shoppe and Mercado Libertad in Liberty Hill as well as online, with orders shipped to multiple states.

Beyond business, Mesa is deeply involved in the community. She is one of six founders of the Salt & Light Women’s Network, a local women’s organization focused on connection, encouragement and purpose-driven work.

The business also partners with Yesterday’s Gone, a local nonprofit supporting women and families escaping domestic violence.

Above, Mariella and Catalina Mesa own and operate Papa Chilo’s Healing Hands, a family-run herbal remedies business. At right, Papa Chilo’s Healing Hands has its origins in Michoacan, Mexico, where the Mesa family originally hails from.

COURTESY PHOTO

“That partnership means everything to us,” Mesa said. “As a child, I remember wishing we had somewhere safe to go. Being able to support women in that place— it aligns perfectly with our mission.”

At the center of Papa Chilo’s Healing Hands is a guiding scripture: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10

“That verse is our identity,” Mesa said. “This isn’t just a business—it’s a ministry. It’s our legacy, our offering, and our act of worship.”

For those considering starting their own business, Mesa offered simple but heartfelt advice.

“Just start,” she said. “You’ll never feel perfectly ready. The logo will change, the packaging will change—but the purpose won’t. God already gave you the gift. We’re just called to steward it.”

Papa Chilo’s Healing Hands products can be found locally at Liberty Hill farmer’s markets, The Vinew Shoppe, Mercado Libertad or online at papachiloshealinghands.com.

Lady Panthers defeat Glenn at last

Reagan Robbins scored a game-high 14 points in win

BY ABBY JENKINS PHOTOGRAPHY INTERN

Since the 2019-20 season, the Lady Panthers have been in an endless ba le with their district rivals, the Glenn Grizzlies, with a seemingly endless losing streak since 2022.

That is, until finally defeating their nemesis by a 60-46 score on Jan. 6.

According to Liberty Hill head coach Bri any Barton, the victory was representative of what her team is all about.

“I mean, going 4-0 in district is amazing in itself,” said Barton. “But this was really a testament to what this team is and everyone pu ing their effort into it and working together as a team. We own everything we run.”

A er retaining a one-point lead throughout the first quarter, the Lady Panthers would increase the defensive pressure, building a 30-18 advantage at hal ime.

Even a er a nerve-wracking 16 points were scored by Glenn in the third quarter, Liberty Hill matched it with 17 and added another 13 in the final period to secure the victory.

Kallahan Erps – who had another breakout game, with nine points scored in the first quarter alone and 11 overall – said her head was all in for this game.

“I think our whole team adjusted really fast and just got on a roll,” she said. “I wanted us to have a good start to the game

and set the mood for the rest of the quarters. It feels really good to be locked in and under an agreement. Coach Barton just understands us as a team.”

Senior Reagan Robbins scored a gamehigh 14 points and said the long-awaited win over the Grizzlies is just rewards for their efforts.

“It feels good to get a win that has as much weight as Glenn does – they’re a really well-developed team,” she said. “We were creating offense from our defense and we were just a whole unit with so many components. We create shots for one another.”

Not just offense was powerful, though, as keeping the defensive pressure on the Lady Grizzlies and the Lee sisters was the key to the game, according to Barton.

“Our defense was key,” said Barton. “We worked really hard to contain Libby [Lee], because she is a heck of a player. She still got shots off, but we tried our best to contain the shots she did take and I’d say we came out victorious on that front.”

The Lady Panthers moved their record to 4-0 in the district.

Going into the rest of the season, Barton said she’s se ling into her new head coach position.

“I think we’re se ling in really well and the girls are responding really well to it,” she said. “You’re ge ing to see the part of it where we get going and work together as a team. We’re pushing a team effort in practice and being a well-rounded team.”

Wranglers point guard leads with grit, determination

Sophomore provides hoops squad with prototype for program

BY PHOEBE JOHNSON-QUAIFE EDITORIAL INTERN

Brock Peterson, a sophomore at Legacy Ranch High School, possesses several honorable characteristics, but perhaps his grit is what the Wranglers sophomore is most known for.

Many know Peterson as an exceptional student and a trustworthy friend, although behind his humble demeanor, he’s essential to the varsity basketball team.

Peterson – who plays point guard, a position that requires a great deal of agility, adept dribbling and passing and elite ball knowledge – admits to being challenged by his size as a guard.

“I overcome this by becoming more fundamental, strong and athletic,” said Peterson, who describes his responsibilities on the court as a “pass first-point guard” allowing his teammates to excel in their

positions.

Peterson began playing basketball when he was in second grade, crediting his choice of playing point guard to his uncle and his love for Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry growing up.

Despite this, though, Peterson’s biggest influence isn’t Curry or his uncle, he said.

“My biggest influence has been my mom for sure,” he said. “She has helped me through so much on and off the court, as well as my dad, who has made me become a be er leader over these past two years.”

Coach – and mom – Gretchen Peterson is most certainly Brock’s biggest supporter, but Peterson definitely has more than one coach who cheers for him.

Wranglers basketball head coach Rylan Gerber describes Peterson in remarkable terms.

“Brock represents everything our program is about,” he said. “He holds himself and his teammates to high standards and leads daily through his words and actions. Brock is a team-first guy who is always willing to do whatever it takes to help us win. His work ethic and passion for the game

are evident in the way he plays. Brock is not only a special player, but an even be er person and has a bright future ahead of him.”

Additionally, Peterson regards Gerber as another strong influence and commends him for helping him grow in such a short period of time.

Peterson’s position of authority amongst the team has positively impacted the squad’s environment.

“I build chemistry with my teammates through everything daily,” he said. “But, going to middle school with most of my teammates has helped a lot in building chemistry. As a player, it helps me when I facilitate plays because I need my teammates to trust me.”

When asking the team about Peterson, teammate Declan Garvey had nothing but praise.

“Brock is a great leader who inspires people to have confidence in themselves,” he said.

As a leader, it’s Peterson’s job to reflect on what has happened and what’s to come.

“We’ve grown so much as a team this year and it’s exciting to see our progress, espe-

cially since we still have two more years together,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how much we can accomplish. For my goals and the team’s goals, I believe making it to the playoffs and going as far as possible is essential. A er high school, I would love to play at the next level, but if that doesn’t work out, I want to become a teacher or coach.”

Peterson is humble and dedicated to his team, himself and his responsibilities. He not only excels on the court, but he also demonstrates strong performance in school.

Although it can be challenging, he works hard to balance sports and academics by completing his schoolwork during class and study hall, allowing him time for training.

Peterson’s determination and resilience empower him to aim high ,and he works hard to achieve his goals rather than simply hoping for success, while always giving credit to a higher power.

“I wouldn’t be in this position today without my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” he said. “So, all the glory goes to Him.”

Panthers stay with Glenn for three quarters, eventually fall, 67-58

Liberty Hill was defeated by 30 points in first matchup

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH OWNER/PUBLISHER

When Liberty Hill met Glenn for the first time this season, the result was an 8454 road loss to the Grizzlies, an occasion that marked its second-largest margin of defeat of the current campaign.

This time around on their home court, the Panthers fought the visitors over the course of all four quarters – a marked turnaround from the initial contest – but unfortunately still suffered a 67-58 loss.

Jacob McLeod led Liberty Hill with 23 points on the evening, but ultimately it wasn’t quite enough against a resilient Glenn side that entered the night atop the district standings.

Despite the disappointment, Panthers head coach Blake Boren pointed out the reason for the stark contrast between the pair of meetings between the teams.

“I think we were kind of comfortable going into the first Glenn game,” he said. “We relaxed and they hit us in the mouth –it kind of woke us up and made us change some things we needed to systematically and mentally.”

Trailing 6-5 early in the opening quarter, sophomore center Johnny Garza scored six straight Liberty Hill points to complete an 8-0 Panthers run that began with a Drake Carsno bucket and the home side surged

ahead, 11-6. Once McLeod hit the first of his five 3-pointers of the night, the Purpleand-Gold held a 14-10 advantage at the end of one period.

But, McLeod was only ge ing warmed up from distance, as the junior guard drained another pair of darts from beyond the arc to open the second stanza – scoring nine consecutive Panthers points in the process.

However, the Grizzlies maintained momentum and managed to lead, 31-30, at hal ime.

Perhaps Liberty Hill’s best chance to secure victory was in the third quarter, when freshman center Brayden Bell converted a 3-point play a er being fouled on the way to the basket, followed by yet another McLeod three to end the period. When senior Cole Borden drove strong to the hoop and was fouled to open the fourth and also converted, the game was tied at 50-50.

But, with nearly an entire quarter le , Glenn slowly pulled away and led by as many as 12 points before McLeod’s final 3-pointer of the night cut the final deficit to single-digits.

According to Boren, the more-respectable scoreline this time around was a result of his team’s determination.

“We tried to keep it close by doing some different things,” said Boren. “But, I still don’t believe a team isn’t beatable or necessarily be er than us –they just were tonight.”

to show they’re good players.”

Boren said the Panthers can only focus on the present – despite the fact the finish line and ultimately the postseason – is beginning to loom in the distance.

“Honestly, we focus on one game at a time,” he said. “We’re not looking down the road – of course, we want to make the playoffs, that’s obviously the goal. But, we can only control what we can.”

Borden added nine points, while Carsno and Garza each scored eight and Glenn’s Dallas Hernandez led the Grizzlies with 14 points.

Boren credited his pair of seniors for helping guide their younger teammates through a rugged stretch.

“I still believe we have a really good team,” he said. “We have two seniors that do a really good job of leading us in Drake and Cole – they’ve been very patient and are now ge ing the chance

Win over Lago Vista gives Wranglers hope down stretch

Legacy Ranch continues to build positive momentum

BY ABBY JENKINS PHOTOGRAPHY INTERN

Despite the fact the Wranglers have been clawing their way through the season, with a 5-13 record entering district play, the Columbia-and-Navy have hit their stride recently beginning the league schedule with a 4-2 mark, good for third place in standings.

Legacy Ranch basketball head coach Rylan Gerber has hope for how the rest of the season will play out.

“We’re a young team and it’s our first year in varsity play,” said Gerber. “We’ve taken some licks this year and we’ve seen some competition we didn’t see last year. We just want to get better every day and get better at the fundamentals and that’s something that just really helped us this season. We’re just making the game not too complicated – they’re just doing their jobs and executing at a high level.”

The latest example of the program’s continued improvement was the Wranglers’

49-37 home district win over Lago Vista.

Declan Garvey and Cohyn Pickell scored early on for the home side and Rex Stroup aded a pair of free throws.

Stroup said the Wranglers were using the contest as a measuring stick for the playoffs.

“This was to see who would likely be in the playoffs, so we came in here and we were ready to compete and win,” he said. “This was going to be a tough game because this team beat a team we lost to, so we were just ready to give it our all.”

Following a tie score after one period, a 3-pointer by Brayden Matias would provide the Wranglers with a 19-15 lead at halftime. According to Gerber, the perseverance of his team would be critical to closing out the Vikings.

“They ran some really good runs offensively, and these guys came out defensively and just played together,” said Gerber. “Every guy who came into the game executed their role and it was a great effort start to

finish. Our thought of the week was tough decisions, responding to adversity instead of emotions. When adversity hit and they went on their runs, our guys settled back in and trusted their teammates and preparation – that just let us come out with a win.” When the Wranglers emerged from the locker room, they added to their lead and Stroup would blow the scoreboard up, with nine points in the fourth quarter, to help finish off the visitors.

“I think we’ve played together so long we just fight for each other and have each other’s backs,” said Stroup. “This season has just been perseverance. We’ve doubted ourselves, saying we’re just a sophomore team and they’re gonna beat us, but we just have to push through and remember our time will come, like today and our senior year, we’ll win a lot of games. We just remember to keep fighting.”

Stroup said if the Wranglers continue to trend in a positive direction, they’ll be a force in the postseason.

“It was a big game for us. We were tied for third going into this game, so we knew this had some big playoff implications and we were just trying to protect home court during district play because that’s one of our keys,” he said. “We’re going to start right back over and just keep climbing and put ourselves in a good position and make some moves. After that, we just get better every day and if a playoff opportunity arises, then I think we’ll be ready for it.”

Wellness biz rebrands with expanded vision for people-first health care

BY RACHEL MADISON OWNER/PUBLISHER

When Tyler and Cara Parsons opened their Central Texas medical wellness clinic in September 2023, they weren’t trying to follow a trend. They were responding to something they both felt deeply was missing in modern health care: time, transparency and genuine care for the person sitting across the table.

That belief is at the heart of Vital Society, formerly known as TrueTest – a locally owned clinic focused on hormone optimization, preventative health, medical weight loss and wellness services for both men and women.

Between them, the Parsons bring decades of experience in the health and wellness world. Cara comes from a medical aesthetics and wellness background, while Tyler’s career grew out of the fitness and supplement industry. Together, those perspectives shaped a shared philosophy centered on education, long-term health and personal connection.

One of the defining moments that sparked the idea for their own practice came from Tyler’s experience as a patient at another clinic.

“When you’re paying a lot for medical care, you expect to feel supported,” Cara said. “But there was often a lack of follow-up, connection and continued care. We saw those gaps clearly and said, ‘If we ever do this ourselves, we’ll do it differently.’”

When the couple initially launched TrueTest, it grew quickly – faster than the original model could support. That growth ultimately led to a rebrand, not as a reset, but as an

evolution.

“The name TrueTest was very male-dominant,” Cara said. “But women are one of the most underserved populations when it comes to hormones and overall wellness. We wanted a name that reflected who we truly serve and the type of care we provide.”

The new name, Vital Society, represents a shift toward a broader, more inclusive vision of health — one focused not on treating illness, but on cultivating vitality.

“It’s not sick care,” Cara said. “It’s a calling to live a life of vitality – physically, mentally and emotionally. We want people to feel like they’re part of something they’re proud of.”

Today, Vital Society offers hormone optimization for both men and women, medical weight loss including GLP-1 therapies, IV infusions, vitamin enhancement shots, peptides and soon, cosmetic injectables. Unlike many clinics in the rapidly expanding wellness industry, the Parsons emphasize what they call a concierge-level model of care.

Patients receive unlimited clinic visits, transparent pricing with no hidden fees, and what the Parsons say are some of the most affordable lab services in Central Texas. Provider appointments are included, not billed separately — a distinction they say sets them apart.

“There are places that advertise cheap medication,” Tyler said. “But once you add up all the fees, it’s not. We believe in upfront pricing and real access to providers.”

One of the clinic’s newest initiatives is a precision health assessment designed to help

patients take a proactive approach to their health. The assessment evaluates more than 120 biomarkers — more than double the clinic’s previous panels — and includes indepth interpretation and one-on-one provider collaboration.

“A lot of people get lab results back and don’t know what they mean,” Tyler said. “Some markers are early indicators of future disease. We don’t just hand people numbers — we walk through them together.”

With nearly 1,000 patients currently served at their Leander location, the Parsons plan to open two additional clinics within a 30-mile radius in Central Texas in the near future.

Beyond business growth, giving back remains a cornerstone of Vital Society’s mission. In their first year, the clinic donated 10 percent of profits and continues to support families anonymously through groceries, gifts and financial assistance. Community members can nominate families in need, and holiday giving — especially for children — has become a major focus.

Both Tyler and Cara say the work is deeply personal, shaped by their own health journeys and the impact hormone optimization has had on their marriage and family life.

“When people feel better, their confidence improves, their relationships improve, their quality of life improves,” Tyler said. “That’s what we’re here for.”

More information about Vital Society can be found at myvitalsociety.com.

This is a paid advertising feature for Vital Society.

Recent weather prompts memory of keeping warm in one-room schoolhouses

BY JAMES WEAR COLUMNIST

The recent bout of extreme cold triggered memories of my childhood, when our family relied upon a wood-burning stove to keep us warm during the winter months. We’d make trips to the pasture and load up fallen oak trees to haul back to the house, where my brother would cut them into pieces just long enough to fit into the stove. Before heading to bed, we’d “bank” the ashes and adjust the flue to slow the flow of air, and if done correctly, there would be a nice bed of coals the following morning to start a fire for the new day.

Florence Elementary had central heat and air, but the old high school relied upon propane-fueled stoves in the front corner of classrooms, and yes, that did keep us warm. Nowadays, Liberty Hill students, as well as their counterparts across the nation,

seldom have to worry about having a warm classroom during the winter months. That wasn’t the case 100 years ago, when oneroom schoolhouses were scattered about the area and the primary heat source was often nothing more than a pot-belly stove.

And I suppose we’ve reached the time when students don’t fear a whipping administered by a teacher for misbehaving in class — hang onto that thought.

From what I’ve read, it fell to teachers to get the fire going early in the morning before students arrived, but the responsibility of feeding it throughout the day depended on students, particularly boys, who were sent out to fetch firewood.

Among those one-room schoolhouses was the Seymour School, located just south of where CR 236 intersects U.S. 183. The original building was a single room, but in the early 1920s a new three-room structure was erected. Even then, staying warm depended

on a wood-burning stove — a fact that some students took advantage of, according to the late Harold Asher, a well-known teacher and later historian in the area.

Asher, writing about his days as a student at Seymour, noted, “The boys could make the old wood stoves smoke; however, sometimes they would smoke anyway. Many days they would have to turn out school. The smoke would become so dense visibility became zero. This lasted until the trustees put an extension on the chimney.”

Asher was not alone in recalling smoke problems caused by mischievous students. Lou Anne Parsons Smoot, in her book Memories of a Lifetime, recounts an incident while Rubye Parsons was teaching at Seymour following a series of classroom “smoke-outs.”

“Trustees put an extension on the chimney but eventually decided to install a new stove during the time Rubye was teacher. The large stove, located in the middle of the room,

‘sported’ a metal jacket around it, aiding heat dispersion and protecting younger children. A vent needed to be installed behind the stove, but although the hole had been cut in the wall, the installation was not completed.

“One of Rubye’s students, Weldon, misbehaved so badly that she called him to the front for a whipping. As she turned her back to pick up the switch, Weldon quickly climbed through the vent hole. Turning around, Rubye saw him running across the field toward his home.

“The next day Weldon returned to school — with a pillow stuffed in his pants. Rubye ignored him. This continued for several days until Weldon finally stopped using the pillow, and on that day, he received his whipping.”

I don’t know for a fact, but I’m willing to bet the vent installation was completed soon after — and I wouldn’t be surprised if Weldon turned out to be a model student in the days that followed.

EVENTS CALENDAR

February 7

SIP, SPRITZ & SHINE: A VALENTINE EXPERIENCE

The Blue Door Gi Store & Boutique 14365 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 11 a.m.-3 p.m. thebluedoorgi store.com

February 9

WILLIAMSON COUNTY

MASTER GARDENER

Texas Native Plant Primer 100 Wilco Way, Georgetown 6:45-8 p.m. txmg.org/williamson

February 10

MUSIC BINGO

Liberty Tavern 3000 RR 1869, Liberty Hill

7 p.m. libertytavern.co

February 12

GALENTINE’S EVENT

Pure Remedy Massage Therapy

100 Church St., Liberty Hill

4-7:30 p.m. pureremedy-massage.com

Pure Remedy is hosting a Galentine’s event for the ladies of Liberty Hill who love meaningful connection, supportive community, and a li le fun. Enjoy a complimentary bar, a delicious charcuterie table, giveaways and pampering. Enjoy genuine connections, supporting and celebrating local businesses, sharing ideas, laughs and good conversation.

GALENTINE’S SOIREE

Radiant Salon & Spa 2921 RR 1869, Liberty Hill 4:30-7:30 p.m. radiantsalonlh.com

February 13

JAMES RIDGE

Liberty Hill Beer Market

13851 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

6-9:30 p.m. beermarket512.com

VALENTINE’S DAY NERF NIGHT OUT

Shin Gan Dojo

141 Jonathan Dr., Ste. 400, Liberty Hill

5-8:30 p.m., $40 facebook.com/ events/897158672711020

KID’S NIGHT OUT

Studio on Main 1201 Main St.,Liberty Hill 5-8 p.m., $55 studioonmainlh.com

February 14

GALENTINE’S DAY EVENT

Liberty Hill Beauty Bar 13851 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill

10 a.m.-2 p.m.

libertyhillbeautybar.com

Liberty Hill Beauty Bar is hosting a Galentine’s Event celebrating selfcare and friendship. Guests can enjoy Botox for $9 per unit, hair tinsel and braids, a full coffee bar with la es, matcha and Valentine’s-themed drinks, plus desserts and a festive photo wall. Walk-in spray tans will also be available for $14.

February 18

WEDNESDAY NIGHT TRIVIA

Liberty Hill Beer Market 13851 Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill 7-9 p.m. beermarket512.com

February 21

SWEETS AND COOKIES CLASS

Baked By Joy Leigh 1201 Main St., Liberty Hill (Studio on Main) 12-2 p.m., $55 bakedbyjoyleigh.com

Globe Theatre

132 W. Vaughan St., Bertram 8-10 p.m., $30-$48 globetheatretx.com