Issuu

MULCH • GRAVEL • TOPSOIL SAND • COMPOST • ROCK • TURF GREEN WASTE DUMPSTERS CURBSIDE PICKUP AVAILABLE RECYCLING MOTHER NATURE SINCE 1975

2021

Volume 34, Issue 36

www.LHIndependent.com

News@LHIndependent.com

July 29, 2021 | 50 Cents

RACHEL MADISON PHOTO

John Byrum, director of planning for the City of Liberty Hill, looks forward to his new role in fostering the growth across the city.

New Planner aims to make department well-rounded

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer John Byrum has been a part of the City of Liberty Hill’s planning department for just three months, but already he has established some big goals for himself and the department. Byrum grew up in Harlingen, and as a teen he didn’t

know exactly what he wanted to do, but he watched his dad serve the city as a police ofﬁcer and always thought working for a city would be a good career. After earning a degree in geography from The University of Oklahoma in 2015, he was researching

See BYRUM, Page 3

Snakes Alive!

SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO

Michael Foux of Austin Reptile Shows displays a boa constrictor during a presentation at the Liberty Hill Public Library as part of the library’s Summer Reading Program. The show, sponsored by The Liberty Hill Independent, featured a variety of reptiles, including snakes, lizards and tortoises during one of two hour-long shows Wednesday.

Commercial development remains constant New mixed-use development to bring fast-food restaurants, retail center and more

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer Commercial development projects are carrying on across Liberty Hill, with several reaching completion and others just getting started, like the Stonewall Crossing project that broke ground earlier this month. Stonewall Crossing is located on the corner of State Hwy 29 and Stonewall Parkway, at the entrance of the Stonewall Ranch subdivision. Rockspring acquired 16 acres of land there for a mixed-use development in 2019. “We immediately recognized the potential Liberty Hill had to offer when researching the area a few years back, given its explosive growth and underserved retail services. For us, it was a no-brainer,” said Michael Ross, president of Rockspring. “We utilized every aspect of Rockspring’s services to get our vision off the ground, and our hard work is now paying

off with nationally-recognized businesses quickly populating the property.” Ross said Rockspring is targeting fast-casual restaurants to diversify Liberty Hill’s dining scene. Rockspring is currently under contract with at least four national quick service restaurants—two of which will be on the east side of Stonewall Parkway and two will be on the west side, adjacent to Circle K and Auto Zone. A car service chain has also signed on to build behind Auto Zone. “Additionally, we broke ground mid-July on an 11,000-square-foot retail center to serve the local community and support the exponential population growth Liberty Hill has already been experiencing over the past decade,” Ross said. No businesses for the retail center have been announced A graphic rendering of the proposed Stonewall Crossing project on SH 29 in Liberty Hill shows a retail center and multiple locations for fast-casual restaurants. Developer Rockspring is clearing 16 acres at the location now for the mixed-use development. See DEVELOPMENT, Page 5 (Courtesy Graphic)

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Nearly 200 young, aspiring Liberty Hill football players participated in the Panthers’ annual football camp and over the course of the three-day event were schooled in fundamentals of the game such as blocking, tackling and the like.

But, there’s one thing Liberty Hill head coach Kent Walker wants them to take away from the experience more than anything else. “I want them to have fun,” he said. “Because it’s fun for me whenever I have a football out.” The camp was held for sixth through ninth-graders at Panther Stadium where some from the latter group may be contributing as early as this season, said Walker. “We have 80-plus freshmen signed up already this year,” he

Football camp focuses on fun, while stressing the fundamentals

said. “We don’t cut kids and we have the ability to ﬁnd games for them – that’s ﬁne with me – the more the merrier.” According to Walker, the camp provides an opportunity for the incoming freshmen to experience some of what it’s going to be like when they begin the everyday grind of being a high school football player for the Purple-and-Gold. “This gives them a head start on our two-a-days,” said Walker. “We also run some basic SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO

See FOOTBALL, Page 6 Participants at the annual Panthers football camp line up for the 40-yard dash.

Page 2

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

James Roger Click

James Roger Click, 77, entered into rest on July 17, 2021. Jim was born on July 20, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA. Jim was a US Army Veteran, serving his country for 9 years in Korea and Vietnam. In his younger years, he enjoyed Square Dancing with his wife and friends. He was a DIY’er and relished his mancave that contained every tool invented. He liked attending his local community church, and was an avid 49’er fan. Jim is survived by his wife, Mary Lynn Click; his sister, Noreen Olguin; his children, Lori Williams (Robert), Allison Alley, Bill Huttel and Kar-

en Click; his grandkids: Tawnya Witcher (Jason), Brittany Walls (Tammie), Trina Garcia, Ashley Williams, Christopher Williams (Analyn) and AJ Click; his great grandkids: Mariah, Shelby, Aiden, Madelyn, Kody, Kyle and Heather and his nieces, nephews and many dear friends. Jim is preceded in death by his father George Grant Click, his mother Kathleen Eileen (Duncan) Mullen and his brother Bill Click. A visitation will be held on Monday, August 2, 2021 beginning at noon at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel in Georgetown, with the funeral service

OBITUARIES

beginning at 1 PM. The burial will take place at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen at 3 pm.

Thursday, July 29, 2021

Patrick Lee Parsons

Patrick Lee Parsons, 78, of Liberty Hill, Texas, passed peacefully on Sunday, July 18, 2021. Patrick was born December 29, 1942 in Deary, Idaho to Patrick Joseph Parsons and Anna L. Parsons. He also lived in Moscow, Idaho, Portland, Oregon, and Liberty Hill, Texas. He spent his working days as a police ofﬁcer in Moscow, Idaho and as an Assistant Director of Security at Portland State University. He was a wonderful man who enjoyed gardening, classic cars, and traveling to new casinos and resorts. He also

enjoyed being a member of the Lions Club. He is survived by his spouse, Jennifer Parsons; his children, Anthony Parsons, Jennifer Plait, and Jeff Wright; seven grandchildren, Joseph Mileson, Michael Parsons, Skylar Parsons, Jacob Wright, Ryan Wright, Kanin Hollibaugh and Mary Kate Wright. Patrick is preceded in death by his parents, Patrick and Anna Parsons and his son, Jo Shelter of your choice. R. Parsons. There will be a graveside service in Deary, Idaho pending date and time. Memorial contributions may be made to a local Animal

Williamson County CRC hosting summer fan drive

The Community Resource Center (CRC) is the hub for people who need a fan to keep cool as summer heat settles

in and for people who want to make donations to support Family Eldercare’s Summer Fan Drive.

To qualify for a free fan, ap- live with children, be age 55 plicants must live in a low-in- or older, or receive disability come household and meet one beneﬁts. of these additional conditions: “Getting a free fan is critical for our neighbors who do not have, or cannot afford, air conCaring for Liberty Hill Families Since 1982 ditioning,” said Donna Klaeger, Executive Director of the Community Resource Centers of Texas, Inc. “We’re pleased

Caring for Liberty Hill Families Since 1982

to be involved again this year and glad the program has come up with a contact-free way to take applications and deliver fans to our neighbors in need.” The program runs through Aug. 31. To complete an application, or for more information, contact the CRC at (512) 548-5091.

Family Owned and Operated

Committed to total care, from our family to yours. • Advanced Funeral Planning & Services • Compassionate, Licensed Staﬀ Available 24 hours • Modern Facilities, Including a Community Room For Receptions • Services For All Religions, Faiths, Cultures and Lifestyles

Donations of both funds and fans are also being accepted. Both can be dropped off at the CRC during business hours. The CRC is located at 155 Hillcrest Lane, Ste. B in Liberty Hill. The CRC serves all residents of Williamson County. The Site Coordinator is available by phone Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to answer questions and provide referrals to service providers. Community Resource Centers of Texas, Inc., is a non-proﬁt subsidiary of the Texas Housing Foundation. The centers operate with the help of generous donors invested in community welfare, corporate sponsors, and grants. For more information, visit crctx.org.

We’re Here When You Need Us!

512-778-5577

Advanced Funeral Planning and Services 1700 E Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park 512-259-1610 | www.beckchapels.com

Pictured from left to right: Wendy Pearce (Operations Manager), Carm Bryan (Asst. Operations Manager), Gilbert Moreno (Branch Executive)

Stop by and visit our team! Gilbert, Wendy, and Carm are always excited to see and assist our customers 721 Hwy 183 Liberty Hill, TX 78641 512-778-5757 www.firsttexasbank.bank

le y t S r e h t n a P in

The Liberty Hill Independent YOUR AWARD-WINNING HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987

~~ A Publication of Texas Independent News Corp. ~~

(512) 778-5577

Send Email: news@lhindependent.com www.LHIndependent.com www.LibertyHillLiving.com PO Box 1235 | 921 Loop 332 Liberty Hill, TX 78642

The Liberty Hill Independent is published every Thursday at 921 Loop 332, Liberty Hill, TX 78642. Periodical Postage Paid at Liberty Hill, Texas. Publication #018932 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Liberty Hill Independent, PO Box 1235, Liberty Hill, TX 78642 Shelly Wilkison - Publisher/Managing Editor Stacy Coale - Media Specialist Scott Akanewich - Sports Editor Rachel Madison - Staff Writer

DEADLINE Noon Monday prior to Thursday publication

SUBSCRIPTIONS

$29 per year in Texas outside of Williamson County, and $32 per year outside Texas.

ADVERTISING

DISPLAY RATES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Liberty Hill Independent welcomes letters to the editor, but requests that letters be limited to 300 words or less and address issues rather than personalities. Unsigned letters or those deemed unacceptable by the publisher will not be published. Children under the age of 17 must have signed parental permission. Phone numbers and addresses must be included for verification purposes. Opinions expressed in the articles, letters and columns do not reflect the views of The Liberty Hill Independent or its owners.

The entire contents of each issue of The Liberty Hill Independent, including editorial and advertising copy, is protected under the Federal Copyright Act. Reproduction of any portion of any issue will not be permitted without the express written permission of The Liberty Hill Independent.

$25 per year in Williamson County,

YOUR LIBERTY HILL HEADQUARTERS FOR PANTHER GEAR!

TwoBrandIt.com • 10-6 Mon-Fri • 10-3 Sat

2021

Follow The Independent on Social Media!

Facebook.com/LibertyHillIndependent

@LHIndependent

Thursday, July 29, 2021

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 3

Liberty Hill 2021 grads awarded more than $62,000 in scholarships

Chris and Casey Pezold of Liberty Hill recently made a monthly pledge to the Williamson County Community Resource Center’s Benevolence Fund. From left, are Donna Klaeger, Executive Director of CRC; Casey and Chris Pezold; Robbie Shader, Site Coordinator for Liberty Hill CRC; and Dawn Capra, Site Director for all CRC locations. (Courtesy Photo)

CRC to begin new transportation voucher program in Liberty Hill

Williamson County Community Resource Center (CRC) is introducing a new program to aid those with mobility needs. The Transportation Voucher Program will be used to provide free rides to people with disabilities, veterans, older adults ages 55 and older, and those of any age who lack mobility due to mental or ﬁnancial difﬁculties. These rides are available for medical trips, education, employment reasons, religious and social visits, and more. The Community Resource Center’s Transportation Voucher Program will allow

riders to choose their drivers so there is already a safe and secure connection to the rider. Drivers can be friends, relatives, or a neighbor. The program will reimburse mileage expenses drivers incur while transporting a rider. After each completed trip, riders will provide drivers with a signed voucher. Drivers will then present these vouchers to the Liberty Hill CRC for reimbursement. All drivers will be eligible to receive mileage reimbursements for each completed trip. Vouchers do not have monetary value. The Transportation Voucher

Program is scheduled to roll out August 1. If you would like more information or are interested in becoming a rider, please email williamson@crctx.org. Community Resource Centers of Texas, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) nonproﬁt organization with four locations in Texas: Burnet, Blanco, Llano, and Williamson counties. Its mission is to serve communities by connecting people to resources that meet needs and change futures. For more information, visit www.crctx.org.

The City of Liberty Hill on Wednesday issued Stage 2 Water Restrictions for City water customers. Due to an equipment malfunction at the Leander plant where the City’s water is treated, local tanks need time to replenish, ofﬁcials say. Under the restrictions issued Wednesday: - Outside watering using irrigation systems, automatic sprinklers, and hose-end sprinklers is prohibited. Customers can use manually held hoses, a bucket or watering can of 5 gallons or less, or a drip irri-

gation system to water landscaped areas during approved days and hours. Prohibited watering hours: 10am and 8pm. Approved watering days are Mondays for street addresses ending in even numbers, and Thursdays for street addresses ending in odd numbers. - Other non-essential water use including washing vehicles, washing hard-surface areas, ﬂushing gutters, adding water to pools, and using fountains other that to support aquatic life is prohibited. - Wetzel Park will be closed during the restriction period.

If you are not sure if you are a City of Liberty Hill water customer, please verify with the Utility Billing Coordinator at (512) 548-5501. Bulk water is available at the Liberty Hill Wastewater Treatment Plant for construction sites and bulk meters that are affected. Restrictions will be enforced to allow water preservation, and there is a $2000 ﬁne per day. Updates will be posted on social media and libertyhilltx. gov.

City of Liberty Hill issues Stage 2 water restrictions

As the alumni of Liberty Hill High School’s Class of 2021 head off to college, plenty of help has been awarded to Panthers in the form of scholarships. Cade Riley Memorial Scholarship $2,500 – AJ Garza, Tannis Brewer. $1,500 – Kadin Knight, Kylie Goodrow. $1,000 – Blake Simpson, Ayanna Donwerth. Lions Club Scholarship $1,000 – Blake Simpson, Jessica Holliday, Garrett Rosson. Liberty Hill Education Foundation Scholarship $2,500 – Jayenna Barker, Riley Frank, AJ Garza, Felicity Gentry, Ashton Jordan, Cassidy Sudekum. Walker Tough Memorial Scholarship

BYRUM

Continued from Page 1

what kinds of jobs he could do with a geography degree and discovered municipal planning. That’s where his love for public service came in. “Once I discovered what city planning was, it seemed interesting to pursue, so I got an unpaid internship with Little Elm, a city near Dallas,” he said. “It was an unpaid internship, so I really had nothing to lose, but I learned so much. I got a taste of how to handle growth and development, and it was so cool helping people start from the very beginning where they’d come in and talk about their idea to making it happen. I enjoyed walking them through that process.” After his internship, Byrum moved to Tuscaloosa, Ala., where he continued to build off the skills he’d learned during his time in Little Elm. He worked there until 2017, and then made his way back to Little Elm, this time for a paid position. “I really liked the people there, and the joke was that I needed to come back to pick up a paycheck,” he said. “I worked there for about a year, and then I got married and moved to work for the City of Hutto.” Just shy of his two-year mark in Hutto, Byrum was laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic. He spent a short

(512) 746-2000

Mon-Fri 9am-7pm Saturday 9am-1pm 512-548-6838 | 13740 W. Hwy 29, #4 | Liberty Hill, TX 78642 Libertyhillpharmacy@gmail.com | LibertyHillPharmacy.com

301 County Road 307 PO Box 416 Jarrell, Texas 76537

As the city grows, he plans to grow the department by bringing on key positions that will help his department stay on top of the growth. “Once we get the plans more in place, we will be able to better position certain developments and parts of the city,” he said. “For example, residents don’t want industrial right outside their front yards basically, so if we can change the plans and better position industrial elsewhere on Highway 29, that’s what I want to do.” Byrum said he also wants to evolve the planning and development services department into a full-service development ofﬁce, including planning, building, engineering and GIS. “I want us to be a true development services department,” he said. “We are a young department, and we’ll be going through growth and changes within, but I am excited about the future of this department. We are getting to a good place which will then translate to the city’s overall development. I’m excited to be here and I love the Liberty Hill community.” Outside of work, Byrum enjoys spending time with his wife, three-month-old daughter and their dogs. He’s also a big fan of sports, playing tennis and going to the beach.

Discount Packages Available. For rates, 512.778.5577

Residential * Commercial * Roll off

NOW OFFERING CURBSIDE PICKUP!

amount of time working for the City of Killeen, and then was hired on as the director of planning for the City of Liberty Hill in May. “I was ready to take this next step [and become a director],” he said. “We moved to Liberty Hill at the same time I started the job, so my personal goals center around helping Liberty Hill reach its potential.” When it comes to reaching that potential, Byrum said his first goal is to get the planning department up and running the way he feels a department should be. “We are getting there and we’re really close,” he said. “We need to update our Unified Development Code, because it’s a little outdated with all the growth that’s coming, so I want to get that where it should be with the growth coming in. The same goes for our comprehensive plan, too. We are about to put out an RFQ for a firm to work with us on developing that new comprehensive plan. The last plan was done in 2014, so it’s totally dated with all growth and changes going on now.” Byrum added that Liberty Hill has a lot of possibilities and opportunities ahead of it because of the growth, and he’s excited to be a part of it. There are currently three employees, including Byrum, in the planning department.

$500 – Blake Simpson, Blake Wilson. Higginbotham’s Scholarship of Excellence $1,000 – Haley Polsner. Liberty Hill 4H Scholarship $500 – Jack Hamrick. Liberty Hill Rodeo Coach Jeff Walker Memorial Scholarship $1,000 – Vocational – Karsyn Hamrick, Zach Aiken. Military – Chris Alegria, Eric Applegate. College – Ashton Jordan, Tannis Brewer. Liberty Hill Garden Club $1,000 – Kylie Goodrow, Hira Umer. Williamson County Republican Women’s Scholarship $1,000 – Cassidy Sudekum. Mario Bye Memorial Scholarship $1,500 – Matthew McIlhaney.

Promote your business weekly!

Clawson Disposal, inC. Request Refills Online

$3,000 – Konnor Bye, Ayanna Donwerth, Keegan Klaus-Ryan. Liberty Hill Football Boosters Scholarship $2,000 – Jonah Pace, Trey Seward, Preston Shephard, Blake Simpson. Mojo’s Coffee Scholarship $750 – Hannah Bianco, Kloe Foster. Frank and Lynn Watson Memorial Scholarship $500 – Kylie Goodrow West Aeronautical Scholarship $500 – Jack Hamrick Belles Scholarship $400 – Rylee Frank, Anissa Garza, Caitlyn Mutchler, Kali Witt. $300 – Dominique Berzin. Levi Jones Memorial Scholarship

Jarrell (512) 746-2000 Leander (512) 259-1709 FAX (512) 746-5807

DOMESTIC • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL R.V. Fuel | Bottle Filling | Gas Piping in Home Propane Tanks | Grills & Replacement Parts | Gas Logs

ACTION PROPANE, INC. We Provide Keepfull Routing Service

512-259-1196

Murray Hoggarth • Wanda Hoggarth 2601 S. Hwy 183 | Leander, TX 78641

Your Official Texas Sticker Shop

An Overall Inspection is your Best Protection! KEN COFER Professional Real Estate Inspector Certified Infrared Thermographer Insured & Bonded - TREC #20262

Overall Inspection Services, LLC

www.overallinspectionservices.com

Locally Owned & Operated • GO PANTHERS GO!

512-548-6773

123 Holmes Rd, #3, Liberty Hill (behind Wag-A-Bag)

Tues-Fri 8:00-5:00 / Sat 7:30-3:30

License #6P054793

You provide a service. We provide a voice. Make sure your customers can ﬁnd you when they need you.

Call 512-778-5577

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

keep it local

YOUR LOCAL RESOURCE FOR LIBERTY HILL AREA BUSINESSES

WANT TO SEE YOUR AD HERE?

CUSTOM PERSONALIZED PRODUCTS

www.SquirrelSquared.BIZ

512-695-4260

P.O. Box 953, Bertram TX • TECL#32830

Page 4

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, July 29, 2021

Multi-dimensional musician stays true Hayden Haddock to perform charity concert Friday at Shooting Star Ranch

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Staff Writer Hayden Haddock is a young man who has all of his bases covered. In addition to being one of Texas’ most up-and-coming country music artists, the 22year old is also currently a senior at Texas A&M University, majoring in construction science. So, how does he ﬁnd time to attend classes in College Station, while playing 100 concerts per year? “Sometimes, it seems like an awful lot,” said Haddock, who hails from the Plano area. “But, I have a lot of support from my family as long as I keep pursuing my degree.” Haddock will be headlining the Dancing Under The Stars charity concert event at Shooting Star Ranch on Aug. 6, along with JT Stubbs and the South 35 Band. As the only musician in his family, Haddock can trace his origins in music to inspiration gained during a visit to AT&T Stadium for a Christmas concert by Kenny Chesney – only it wasn’t the headline act that

captured his 14-year-old imagination. “I saw Eric Church and there was just something about him,” said Haddock. “Something that made me go home and want to take guitar lessons.” Only to take guitar lessons, one needs a guitar – something Haddock said his father wasn’t all-in about – at least initially, he said. “My dad said he would only rent one for me because he thought in a week I’d lose interest and move on to the next thing,” said Haddock. “But, after a while I convinced him to buy me a used Yamaha guitar.” However, Haddock’s musical ascendancy certainly wasn’t an overnight process – or even close, he said. “My family always wanted me to play for them, but I never did,” said Haddock. “Singing wasn’t even an option back then.” Five years went by and Haddock ﬁnally reached the point where he was comfortable and conﬁdent enough to perform in front of an audience – albeit a very small one.

“My freshman year at A&M, I was dating a young lady who got me to sing a song for her,” he said. “It was the ﬁrst time I had ever performed in front of anyone. I still didn’t feel like I was good enough.” Well, Haddock was good enough and to say the rest is history would be an understatement. In the relatively short time since, Haddock has been on a meteoric rise up the Texas country music scene, with a traditional, authentic style that has made him one the most promising artists in the Lone Star State. Already, he’s landed a pair of top-10 singles on the Texas charts and last year released his second album, “Red Dirt Texas,” whose title track and video has received two million online streams and over one million YouTube views, respectively. Red dirt is a subgenre of country music that originated in and around Stillwater, Oklahoma – so named due to the color of the soil in that region of the Sooner State – and features a sound that can be described

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Staff Writer Twenty-ﬁve years ago, JT Stubbs was a young musician with a passion for performing who the sky was the limit for as far as where his talents would take him. Until it all went horribly wrong. “I had a really bad experience,” said Stubbs. “I had a manager who took a lot of money that didn’t belong to him. So, I just walked away.” Stubbs is scheduled to play with his South 35 Band at the Dancing Under The Stars charity concert series at Shooting Star Ranch on Aug. 6 after recently resuscitating his music career – a happening he attributes to his wife and manager, Shane Nicole Kerr, he said. “She told me God put me on Earth to do this,” said Stubbs, a Killeen native who now

calls Georgetown home. “She wasn’t going to let me keep wasting a God-given talent and has continued to be the driving force and inspiration behind what I do – she kept believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.” As a result, Stubbs now finds himself back where he belongs – on stage – featuring setlists that consist of red dirt with a rock influence driven by his influences as a young musician. “The first song I even played on a guitar was ‘Wanted Dead or Alive,’” he said, of the Bon Jovi smash hit from the mid80s. “I also listened to bands like Metallica, Bob Seger, Motley Crue and Stone Temple Pilots. But, I’ve also always been a huge fan of Garth Brooks and Merle Haggard.” Stubbs’ single, “Cost of Freedom,” can be found on Ama-

zon and was inspired by the same kind of patriotism that has seen him support the Texas Fallen Project, a nonproﬁt organization that works to keep alive the memories of service members who have lost their lives while serving America. In fact, when Stubbs and his band was playing a show in Florence and performed the song, he was truly humbled by something that happened right after, he said. “A lady came up to me and told me her son had been in the Navy in Iraq,” said Stubbs. “When he came back home, he had PTSD and ended up killing himself.” Stubbs added he believes there aren’t as many Americans these days who are as fervent about the Stars and Stripes as he is. “I still think America is the greatest country on Earth,” he

Hayden Haddock is headlining the “Dancing Under The Stars” concert series event at Shooting Star Ranch on Aug. 6. (Courtesy Photo) as “country with an attitude,” closing the gap between rock and country in a way that is unique as far as its gritty, grassroots, downhome style is concerned. “I think it’s more the traditional side of country music,” said Haddock. “It’s deﬁnitely not the same as what comes out of Nashville.” Haddock cites early inﬂuences such as Clint Black, Tracy Lawrence and George Strait in

Stubbs blending red dirt and southern rock

said. “But, I know there are so many who don’t.” But, Stubbs is deﬁnitely ready to put his money where his mouth is by donating half of the proceeds from “Cost of Freedom” to Fans of America, a charitable organization that provides care for needy veterans. “I want to make sure as many veterans as possible have a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs,” he said. Stubbs said the inspiration for the song came upon him early on a Veterans Day morning. “It was 5 a.m. and I was sitting in the kitchen,” he said. “I was thinking about my grandparents who were both veterans and all of it came to mind.” Stubbs’ grandparents owned and operated a body shop in Killeen, where he worked for some of the time in between his musical pursuits, but is

helping him develop his style. “Growing up in the ‘90s, that was what was always on the radio when I drove around with my dad or brother,” he said. “For me, that was what ‘90s country was all about.” However, the divide between Music City and Midland doesn’t necessarily need to be a line that can’t be crossed, said Haddock. “I look at someone like Cody Johnson, for example,” he

said. “He went and signed with Warner in Nashville.” So, while Haddock continues pursuit of both his musical and academic aspirations, he always remembers where he came from – even if the route he’s taken is a bit unorthodox. “I guess my story is a little different from most people,” he said. “Most people choose one or the other – college or music.”

JT Stubbs and the South 35 Band is scheduled to play at the Dancing Under The Stars charity concert at Shooting Star Ranch on Aug. 6. (Photo Courtesy Michael Wright/Seven Pillars Photography) now back on stage and in his element. “I just like to get up there, put

a smile on peoples’ faces and be real world,” he said. “God put me here to do this.”

PRESENTS:

Dancing Under the Stars Charity Concerts FIRST FRIDAYS

AUGUST 6TH

Hayden Haddock, JT Stubbs & South 35 Band

OCTOBER 1ST The Michael Ingalls Band

6PM - 10PM

SEPTEMBER 3RD Billie Jo

BENEFITING

Community Pathways Organization & L4 Cares

• Live Music • Food Trucks • Drinks • Activities for Kids • Door Prizes • TICKETS Available at:

L4CARES.ORG

Adult tickets $10 online/ $15 at the gate CHILDREN $5

Bring your small cooler with your favorite adult drinks ($10 fee). TEXAS PRO SOUND PRODUCTIONS

DAN STEPHENS, DGS MUSIC PROMOTIONS

For additional information or sponsorship opportunities contact Kendra at 737-444-7002

Thursday, July 29, 2021

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

DEVELOPMENT

SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO

Brandi Pennington is Liberty Hill High School’s new assistant principal after moving over from the junior high.

Relationships critical for new AP Former teacher revels in new role

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Staff Writer Brandi Pennington spent a decade on the front lines of education as a teacher before moving into administration. However, the new assistant principal at Liberty Hill High School has always continued to live and work by the same tenets she adhered to in the classroom upon her move to the front ofﬁce. “I realized I could still have the same kind of relationships with students as I did before,” said Pennington, who served as assistant principal at Liberty Hill Junior High School for the past two years at her most recent post. “I can also provide feedback in talking to parents and teachers.” Pennington, a Round Rock High School and San Angelo State University alum, began her career in Taylor, where she taught math and science at the fourth-grade level for six years, followed by a four-year stint at the middle school before one day being presented with an interesting proposition. “I had an assistant principal there who talked me into being one myself,” she said. “At ﬁrst, I thought she had lost her mind.” But, Pennington pursued the admin avenue, spending two years as the assistant principal at Taylor Intermediate School

before moving to Liberty Hill and leaving Ducks behind for Panthers. Despite the fact Pennington is already acclimated to Liberty Hill, she’s anticipating the difference between dealing with middle-school-aged students and those of the high-school variety. “I think at the younger age, they’re still trying to ﬁgure out the social aspect – for many of them, school isn’t the No. 1 priority,” said Pennington. “But, with high-school kids, the academics become more important.” Pennington believes there’s a misconception of exactly what an assistant principal does. “I think most people think all we do is deal with discipline problems,” she said. “But, we also deal with kids who fall behind academically. Sometimes students just fall behind and it’s like they’re on a treadmill and don’t know what to do next, so I’m here to help them.” According to Pennington, the student population she deals with now is different from the one she had in her previous career stop. “I think the kids here in Liberty Hill are more respectful than they were in Taylor,” said Pennington. “There’s deﬁnitely more parent support here.” Pennington is sure she’s the right person at the right time in

her new role. “History speaks for itself,” she said. “When I started at the junior high, there were things I didn’t know, but I’m a hard worker and a team player.” Pennington will oversee freshmen and juniors in sharing the workload with fellow assistant principals Anthony Escobar and Brent Neal and plans to offer something that was missing during her own secondary education, she said. “I don’t really feel like I had a leader back then,” said Pennington. “Which is why I think it’s so important for me to be visible to the students and be there to provide a support system.” But, all that being said, Pennington remains a teacher at heart. “I was having a ‘how was your day’ talk with my husband last year and told him I was sitting at a table in the cafeteria helping a kid with math homework,” she said. “He said ‘that’s not your job, anymore’ and I said ‘yes, it still is.’” Over a decade after her career began, Pennington still misses her time in the classroom, but derives pleasure in her new position all the same. “I never pictured myself as an administrator,” she said. “But, I didn’t realize I could still have the same kind of connections in a different way.”

yet. Austin Regional Clinic (ARC) opened its 6,400-square-foot Liberty Hill location in June. The clinic is staffed by family medicine physician Dr. Krupaben Patel, who provides care to both children and adults. Pediatrics will be added in early fall. This clinic is ARC’s 31st location in Central Texas. It has 18 exam rooms, sameday appointments, nursing services through the night, as well as flu shots and wellcheck exams. An onsite lab and radiology are also available the clinic. “ARC Liberty Hill is meeting the increasing demand for medical services located close to home and work,” said Angela Crain, clinic manager for ARC Liberty Hill. “We’ve looked forward to being in Liberty Hill and are excited to now offer residents in and around the community access to quality primary care in their neighborhood.” Vista at 29, about a mile west of Ronald Reagan Boulevard on the south side of SH 29, is nearing completion on its first two buildings. The tenants will include a mix of medical, restaurants, a UPS store, a liquor store, professional office users, and a coffee shop. In addition, the new Tex-Mix location will be at the Vista at 29 business park and will be the company’s primary sales and dispatch office. When Vista at 29 is complete, it will include six different buildings and several pad sites. “Vista at 29 is going to be a transformative center,” said Matt Powell, economic development director for the City of Liberty Hill. “It’s going to be half retail and half offices. It’s in the city limits and will provide a new eastern hub for employment and retail. We have an active EDC project with a prospective tenant in there, that I’m feeling very positive about. In addition, Tex-Mix will be opening up there.” Powell added that the sales tax Tex-Mix will generate for the City is “extremely substantial” once their location opens toward the end of 2021. “In terms of what it’ll gen-

Page 5

Continued from Page 1

erate [in sales tax], I’ve had colleagues tell me this is a once in a career type of deal,” he said. “We were competing against other cities, and without the incentive package, they would have not selected Liberty Hill. Financially for the City, this will create a tremendous amount of revenue.” Anderson Price, of Hawkins Family Partners, said half of the new strip center behind Liberty Meadows Plaza at 12705 SH 29 West, has been leased to PT Solutions, a physical therapy company. The other half of the building is still available for lease. Price added that Happy Wok, currently at 13750 SH 29 West, is working on the finish out of its new location at the Water Tower Plaza, where Texas Taco Kitchen and The UPS Store are located. Once Happy Wok relocates, an Asian-style seafood restaurant will be opening in its former location, Price said. Cricket Wireless recently opened a storefront in the same strip center as Happy Wok and Subway, where Texas Pawn & Jewelry used to be located before it moved to its own standalone building. Another new business, V.I.P. Nails & Spa, is opening in the Water Tower Plaza, between Grand Donuts and Blinded by the Light. Farm to Fork, which was originally set to open in early July, is still waiting for its final inspection from the Williamson County Health Department. Panther Plaza, on the corner of CR 200 and SH 29, still has just one tenant, Security State Bank and Trust, which opened in June. Behind A-line Auto Parts, at 12700 W. SH 29, a new strip center is being constructed by Star Developers, LLC. There will be six units, each coming in at approximately 1,900 square feet. The property is slated for a mixed use of retail and office. At Heritage Ridge, located along eastbound SH 29 in front of Liberty Hill Middle School, construction on the exterior of Starbucks is complete and interior work has begun. Starbucks will be the primary client at that de-

BUSINESS Chamber welcomes Security State Bank & Trust

The Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Security State Bank & Trust with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The ribbon was cut by Branch President Tim Craig and Branch Operations Officer April Revere (to his right). Left of Craig is Senior Vice President Daniel Kemp. Bank officials were joined by local staff and employees of the bank’s home office in Fredericksburg, as well as members of the Chamber. The bank is located at 15050 W. State Hwy 29 in Liberty Hill. (Courtesy Photo)

Live in Historic Downtown Liberty Hill Walk to restaurants, salons, corner grocery and more! Just minutes to highly acclaimed Liberty Hill Schools.

New 2BR 1BA apartments | Porches + balconies | Privacy + gorgeous scenery Washer/dryer hookups | Green space for kids + pets to play

304 Stubblefield Lane | StubblefieldPark.com

CALL TODAY 512-453-6566

Military & First Responders Discount • Locally Owned + Managed

velopment, which is expected to offer seven to eight lots for food service and retail. “The developers are actively marketing that site,” Powell said. “There are no other recruits I know of at the moment, but well-known anchors like Starbucks create excitement. I assume the next thing won’t be too far behind.” Jardin Plaza, located next door to Mexican restaurant Jardin Corona at 15395 W. SH 29, is nearing completion and will consist of six units ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 square feet each. Golf Cart King will be relocating its facility from Austin to Liberty Hill and will be located just north of the QuikTrip convenience store at SH 29 and CR 214. Powell said the company is currently going through its site plan process and plans to break ground in August. The facility is set to open in 2022. “Golf Cart King will be opening with 23 jobs, and I suspect it’ll offer more jobs soon after,” Powell said. “It’s a facility and company that Liberty Hill can be proud of.” Construction on HEB continues at the intersection of SH 29 and Ronald Reagan Boulevard at the new Bar W Marketplace. The 102,000-square-foot store is expected to open in fall 2021. At The Shops at San Gabriel Ridge, capacity is at 100 percent with many of the new businesses now open or set to open soon. The new businesses in that center include RDA Salon Centric, Acclaimed Title, PT Solutions and Liberty Mail Center. Construction on a new O’Reilly Auto Parts store, located at the northeast corner of Independence Drive and W. SH 29, began in March and is set to be completed within the next couple of months. The size of the store will be approximately 7,400 square feet and it will have 35 parking spaces. Powell said the commercial development sector of Liberty Hill will remain active as he, the EDC Board and city ofﬁcials work to bring more businesses to town. One project he’s working on is bringing a grocery store to the city. “We are working with three different grocery developers, but none of them have made concrete decisions on where they are going,” he said. “Bringing some sort of grocery presence is a top priority, and we continue to make regular outreach.” Powell also said a family entertainment project is in the early stages for Liberty Hill, and he is hopeful that will come to fruition. “I don’t want to raise any expectations before it’s necessary,” he said. “But people are keenly aware that in our ETJ we have in the neighborhood of 40,000 people with competitive educations and incomes. Retailers are looking for that. We don’t dictate market forces, but what we can do is actively recruit businesses that will raise the quality of life and create primary jobs for Liberty Hill.” Powell added that the EDC plans to commission a couple of major studies in the next ﬁscal year that will assist the City in making good long-term business decisions for the community.

SPORTS

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, July 29, 2021 Page 6

Emphasis on intangibles at volleyball camp Lady Panthers coach looks for effort, attitude, grit

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor If there’s one thing Liberty Hill head volleyball coach Gretchen Peterson wants to see out of the young players attending the Lady Panthers’ annual camp, it’s certain intangible character traits. “I want them to have the right attitude, give good effort and show some grit,” said Peterson. “Those are all things that take zero talent, meaning you don’t have to be the best athlete.” Okay, so that’s three things, but one gets the point. Fourth-graders through incoming freshmen form the ranks of the three-day event that places an emphasis on fundamentals in order to lay a proper foundation on which to build for the future, which is definitely bright as Liberty Hill continues to grow, said Peterson. “The talent pool keeps getting bigger and better every year,” she said. “People here get their kids involved in youth sports because it’s part of the culture in Liberty Hill.” Peterson is entering her 18th season as Lady Panthers head coach, but while some things have changed, others remain the same. “We always want our players to show competitiveness, hustle and be athletic,” she said. “Also, we model our camp to reflect what we want our middle school program to be like.” While younger players are put through the paces in the auxiliary gym, the older girls go through drills in the main gym, but both sets of campers are exposed to the same aspects of the game. “You can never pass enough and movement on the court is always very important,” said Peterson. “Over the years, we’ve been lucky to have really good hitters.” However, even the youngest campers are introduced

Liberty Hill freshman Avery Frank competed at the Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon, finishing 25th in a field of 34 elite runners from across the country. (Courtesy Photo)

Freshman competes at national track meet

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When Avery Frank strode onto the track inside Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon, she had been told what to expect of the historic venue, but she certainly wasn’t prepared for the immediate impact the atmosphere would have on her. “It was an absolutely huge stadium,” said Frank, who will be a Liberty Hill freshman this upcoming school year. “The magnitude didn’t really hit me until I walked into it and realized there aren’t many people who get to compete there.” Frank is a middle-distance runner who competes in the 800, 1600 and 3200 meters at the high school level, but while running for her club, Leander Spartans, competes in the 1500, 3000 meters and mile due to the difference in distances at the international level. She had qualified for the girls’ middle school mile at the Outdoor Nationals of the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation and found herself in a field with the 34 fastest runners in her age group in the entire country. Not bad for someone who has only been training and running competitively for two years and an experience that was one to be greatly appreciated and cherished, said Frank. “Going to Hayward Field was a really big thing,” she said. “I think it was a real accomplishment to be able to compete so far out of state.” Frank also competes in cross country and plays soccer, but it’s on the track where she’s truly found the most sporting solace. “Track is just a place where I can go and work as much as I can to get better,” she said. “For me, it’s a good escape place, but running isn’t easy.” However, Frank has already picked up some sage advice along the way from Leander Spartans middle distance coach Angela Pie, she said. “She always says there are two kinds of people in the world,” said Frank. “People who know they can and peo-

Football

ple who think they can’t – and they’re both right.” In addition to invaluable knowledge, Frank has also acquired a nickname. “My dad started calling me ‘Boo,’ as in boo-boo because I would get hurt a lot when I played soccer,” she said. “Soon, everyone started calling me that and it’s stuck ever since.” Of course, to go along with her moniker, Frank needed a signature look when she hits the track, so she came up with a hairstyle known as “Boo Buns,” which resembles a mohawk made up of small buns lined up in a row and although she said she’s not superstitious, there’s apparently an uptick in her performance when she sports it, she said. “It seems to work best for me,” said Frank. After qualifying for nationals with a time of 5:10.1 at a meet in San Antonio, Frank found herself on the bubble, meaning she could’ve been bumped from the competition if someone else – in the entire country – posted a better time in the run-up to the race. As a result, she knew she needed to lower her effort in order to provide some breathing space in the standings and did exactly that by running a 5:03, which was a new personal best, at the Hill Country Championships a couple weeks later, booking her passage to the Pacific Northwest in the process. Frank has already won 21 events since she began competing less than two years ago, but has paid a price in pursuing excellence, she said. “Running as much as I have to in order to train properly and achieve my goals, I can’t be as much of a kid,” said Frank. “For example, when all my friends are going off to play miniature golf or something and I can’t go, it’s been pretty hard to accept.” However, once she realizes what’s truly at stake and the opportunities that lie before her, the path she’s on becomes more clear, she said.

See FRANK, Page 7

are already well-versed in the ways of Panthers football. “Our middle school coaches do a fantastic job of getting our young players ready,” he said. “Also, when they’re here helping with our camp, they have a chance to get to know everyone.” Walker added he and his coaching staff also use the camp as a method to gauge the incoming freshmen – and from more than just a skill perspective – something that begins long beforehand. “We get to spend a lot of time around these kids during the summer with PAC (Panther

to more advanced aspects of the game. “For example, we don’t let even our fourth-graders serve underhand – it’s all overhead,” she said. “We want to build those kinds of things into their skills now.” In addition to Peterson and her assistants, the district’s lower-level coaches are also instructors at the camp, which only adds to the grassroots feel of the proceedings, said Peterson. “All of our middle school coaches are great at supplementing the fundamentals,” she said. With all of the campers set to be coached by one of the instructors at whatever school they happen to attend, both parties have the opportunity to get to know one another.

“I think it’s important to get to know your coaches,” said Peterson. “Walking up to someone and shaking their hand shouldn’t be something which is hard to do so players can communicate and advocate for themselves instead of having their parents e-mail or call us and they also need to know it’s mutual.” Peterson said there’s a certain order in which the camp is run over the course of the three days in order to build up to playing actual matches. “The first day we work on a lot of passing, then on the second day we do setting drills,” she said. “By the third day, we want to be able to hit and then play some games.” Awards are given out at the end of each day, which is something Peterson believes is

important in rewarding campers for displaying the kind of skills she’s looking for in her players, she said. “Kids like someone to acknowledge their effort,” said Peterson. “We’re blessed to have kids here who work hard and aren’t afraid to push themselves.” Once the camp has ended, Peterson hopes a lasting impression will be made on all the attendees – something that will only bode well for the future of the Lady Panthers’ program. “We want our players to be excited and confident about getting better and for them to be intrigued and motivated enough to go home and play in their backyards or whatever,” she said. “Camp should be a fun experience and not something they dread going to.”

orize his material so as to not fluff his lines on stage. A pitcher staring in at the catcher for the right sign must know the signs so he doesn’t throw a fastball instead of a curve like a musician must play the right note to not be out of tune with his or her bandmates. Really, the list of comparisons goes on and on. However, the heart of the matter is what’s inside the athlete or performer. Is he or she content to just be average and get the job done or is there another gear hidden somewhere when activated carries that person to another level of performance? A track athlete or cross country runner hitting a wall? Similar to a singer who reaches a certain point in the range and can’t seem to progress another octave or two. If it’s true runners can always push themselves beyond what they think their capabilities are, then certainly singers can hit higher or lower notes than they thought possible. See how it all ties together? Here’s something else to consider. Doesn’t sports provide us with some of the most dramatic moments we ever experience from a spectator’s standpoint?

Was Liberty Hill’s football season last year not a Shakespearean drama of the highest order, what with all the triumph and tragedy associated with Coach Walker’s passing followed by the Purple-andGold’s inspirational march through the playoffs in its late coach’s honor and memory? Of course it was. Isn’t a quarterback or a starting pitcher a leading man or a lead singer? Athletes and artists have a lot more in common than the average person might think. Isn’t a textbook backdoor pass on the basketball court just as pretty as a painted picture or a wondergoal curled into the upper corner of the net on a soccer field not a Picasso in its own right? As a society, we’ve always tended to put our sports heroes on pedestals and rightfully so, as many of them accomplish feats us mere mortals can only dream of. But, the kid who recites the line, plays or sings the note or paints the canvas can be just as much of a rock star as the one who scores a touchdown, hits a home run or sinks a buzzer-beater. Pretty cool what can happen when you get out of your comfort zone.

creating a family-like atmosphere in and around the program, he said. “One of the reasons we don’t cut anyone is because you never want to give up on a kid because in some cases, he may need the program more than it needs him,” said Walker. “Then, sometimes you’ll see a kid like that who goes on to be a good player for us.” However, as far as the camp is concerned, Walker simply wants those who attend to thoroughly enjoy themselves and perhaps even come to enjoy the game as much as he does, he said.

“We just want them to have a lot of fun and enjoy the game of football,” said Walker. “Just the other day, I was saying to our coaches, ‘Doesn’t it feel good to just be out here?’” At the end of the day, though, Walker wants to see the players also putting in the kind of effort he will expect from them once they reach high school. “The more you hustle, the more you get out of it,” he said.

Sports, art, music -- formula for success similar

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor One thing we’ve realized over the summer as we’ve opened up our journalistic horizons in doing stories for our various publications here at The Independent is just how many similarities there are between our normal area of expertise – sports – and our not-so-area of expertise – the arts. The same things that go into a successful game plan for the Panthers on a Friday night under the lights determine whether or not a stage production will come off as choreographed. Dedication. Passion. Desire. Effort. Determination. An expertly-executed draw play resulting in a big gain on the gridiron or a superbly-spoken line from a script. Doesn’t matter. The only way each can be properly pulled off is to have put in the hours of painstaking preparation required for it to come to fruition. As the late, great Jeff Walker used to scream at his beloved players near the end of a tough drill, “It’s okay to get

Continued from Page 1

plays from our Slot-T – they already know the offense, but we just run it faster here.” As of now, there is still only slated to be one freshman squad, but that could certainly change if there are enough players to fill more than one roster, he said. “Even if we don’t have a specific ‘B’ freshman team this year, we’ll still probably be able to play some ‘B’ games,” said Walker. “Then, I would say moving forward, we’ll have a ‘B’ team.” Walker credited the sub-level coaches for making sure incoming high school players

SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO

Players who attend the Lady Panthers’ annual volleyball camp are expected to show intangible character traits along with physical skill.

Athletic Conditioning) and all,” he said. “Intangibles are easily seen and I think they know that.” During the camp, players are put through numerous drills to test speed, strength and agility – among other attributes – a process that provides the campers with instant analysis of what they’re doing right or wrong. “Our coaches are always encouraging and giving constant feedback to the kids,” said Walker. “It’s definitely good for them when they can see improvement and are learning to get better – it means a lot to

out of your comfort zone!” Well, we certainly got out of our comfort zone in meeting with and getting to know individuals who deal not in Xs and Os, time-outs and training camps, but musical notes, dance steps and paintings in a world where playbills replace playbooks as the literature of choice. We must admit when we’re fully immersed in our role as Mayor of Pantherville, we tend to solely focus on athletic endeavors and not much else. The marching band? Please – they’re just the halftime show – can we please get back to the game? But, of course, there’s so much more. Not all of us are blessed to be ballers, after all, meaning our talents and abilities lie in other areas such as in – oh, I don’t know – writing! Besides you can still write about sports long after you can’t play them anymore, so there’s one positive of being more grammatically-inclined than ground-ball-gobbling (although we did play a mean first base way back when). But, back to the parallels between athletics and activities. Just like a football player studies a playbook, an actor must just as diligently mem-

them.” Some of the varsity team’s players contributed their time as guest instructors at the camp, which tends to leave some participants a bit starstruck, said Walker. “We had a kid walk up and say ‘Hey, you’re Aaron Brewer – man, that’s so cool!’” he said, of the Panthers’ senior defender who was on hand for the event. “A lot of these kids look up to these guys.” Which is exactly the kind of culture Walker wants to maintain in his first full season as head coach and into the future – one that is all-inclusive in

Thursday, July 29, 2021

FRANK

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Continued from Page 6

“I just remind myself I have a commitment to my team,” said Frank. “Which helps give me a reason.” Part of the educational curve for Frank is to develop her instincts as a runner, which can be invaluable and even provide the margin between victory and defeat. “I’m still learning how to race as far as being able to read my body,” she said. “But, also things like knowing the wind, the track and knowing your competition.” All of those factors lend

themselves to not only getting out in front of the pack, but having the ability to remain in the lead, said Frank. “Being in ﬁrst place is great,” she said. “But, being there and staying there are two different things. For me, it’s about challenging myself and knowing it’s okay to be uncomfortable and having to keep running even when I’m hurting.” According to mother Crystal Frank, her daughter has always had a burning desire to succeed. “Avery has always had a ﬁre

in her belly,” said Crystal. “Also, she’s always loved to run, even as a toddler running around.” Crystal credits Avery’s club track training with enabling her to reach the next level of performance. “I feel like it’s made a huge difference,” she said. “The mindset is huge because the coaches challenge the kids and that’s when the elite ones begin to stand out.” After breaking from the starting line at Hayward Field, Frank soon found herself

leading the race for the first two-and-a-half laps, but after exerting so much energy in doing so, was eventually reeled back in and had to settle for a fourth-place finish in a time of 5:27.3 – another new personal best. Once the three heats of the event had been run, the results were combined to form the final standings, with Frank finishing in 25th place. When Frank had initially arrived in Eugene for the event, the U.S. Olympic Trials had just been held at Hayward

FOR SALE

necessary labor, material, and equipment to provide construction services for the City of Liberty Hill starting on or about October 1, 2021 and ending on or about May 27, 2022 and subsequent renewal periods in strict accordance with the terms, conditions, and provisions of this solicitation. Bidders should inspect the project location as shown on the map located in Exhibit “A” prior to submitting bids in order to be fully aware of the scope of the services required. Bidders should use Scope of Work as defined and per Bid Document Plans and Specifications to determine the sealed bid price. Failure to do so will not relieve the successful bidder from performing in accordance with the strict intent and meaning of the specifications at the awarded bid price. There will be no additional cost to the City. Bid packages are available at www.Civcastusa.com, Project ID “Liberty Hill City ParkSwim Center, Lift Station & Force Main”. A set of bid documents and construction plans will also be available for viewing at City Hall at the address indicated above, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All questions and requests for additional information shall be submitted through www.civcastusa.com. Each bid must be accompanied by cash or a certified cashier’s check, drawn on a bank or trust company authorized to do business in the State of Texas, payable to the City of Liberty Hill in an amount at least equal to five percent (5%) of the total amount of the bid, as a guarantee that a contract will be entered into. In lieu of cash or a certified check, the Bidder may submit a bid bond in the

form prescribed in the Instructions to Bidders. Contract awards for the trail improvements project area will be made to the lowest, responsive, responsible bidder. The lowest and best value bids are those, which result in the lowest cost to the City of Liberty Hill for the complete park construction to be performed by a qualiﬁed bidder. The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any and all irregularities. Evaluation criteria are below. PRE-SUBMITTAL CONFERENCE: A pre-submittal conference will be held on-site at 251 County Road 200, Liberty Hill, Texas on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. local time. REQUIRED BID FORMS: A complete and responsive bid shall include: Bid Form (00300) – signed/dated, Statement of Bidders Experience (00400), Bid Bond (00410) and Conﬂict of Interest Form (HTTPS://WWW.ETHICS. STATE.TX.US/FORMS/CIQ. PDF) (8/5)

EN that the City of Liberty Hill has been asked to review and approve the following application(s), to wit: A request for a Zone Map Amendment from the Downtown Commercial/Retail (C2) zoning classification to a Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning classification on the following property: AW0254 – Glasscock, J. Sur., Acres 27.192, Williamson County, Texas; generally located along the south side of RM 1869, between CR 282 and Barton Drive, and identified as Assessor’s Parcel Numbers R-392551, R-022214, R-022215, R-352448. In accordance with Section 211.006, Texas Local Government Code, a public hearing on this application will be conducted by the Planning and Zoning Commission at the Liberty Hill Municipal Courthouse, 2801 Ranch Road 1869, Liberty Hill, Texas on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 6:30 PM. Upon receiving a recommendation from the Commission, the City Council will conduct its own public hearing and take final action on this matter on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at 6:30 PM at the Liberty Hill Municipal Courthouse, 2801 Ranch Road 1869, Liberty Hill, Texas. For more information, you may either visit the Development Services Department at 100 Forrest Street, call (512) 778-5449, or send an email to planning@libertyhilltx.gov. By order of the Development Services Administrative Assistant on July 23, 2021. (7/29)

FERTILIZED WEED SPRAYED 4X5 ROLLS. Truckload only, 34 bales. Coastal $74, Sudan Haygrazer $69. Liberty Hill area. Duane (512) 924-1348. (7/29p)

EMPLOYMENT IS THERE A PHOTOGRAPHER IN YOU? We’re 1st Photo, your trusted school, sports and senior photographer in Liberty Hill. Looking for energetic, community-oriented photographers. Some photography experience a plus, but will train and equip you to succeed. Part-time positions from $17 to $25 per hour. Send email explaining your interest and skills. Jeffrey@1stphototexas.com (7/29p)

SERVICES SEWING MACHINE REPAIR AND SERVICING IN LIBERTY HILL Will pick-up and drop off to local customers. Contact Mike Gerrety: Gerrety Craftworks and Sewing Machine Repair and Servicing. Cell: 678-8527061. E-mail: mgerrety4@ gmail.com. (7/29p) COMPUTER TUTOR At your place, at your pace, I can help you with your computer, iPhone, iPad, or tablet. Helpful tips and tricks. Reasonable rates. Call Karen, 432553-2468. (9/30p)

PUBLIC NOTICES

MISSING PROPERTY If you believe the police department may have a found item that belongs to you, you can call the Property Division directly at 512-548-5530 or email at ekrause@libertyhilltx.gov. When contacting the Property Division, describe the item(s) you are looking for, in detail, and we will let you know if we have it. If we do, we will make arrangements to get it back to you. (7/29)

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIV-

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Liberty Hill has been asked to review and approve the following applica-

REQUEST FOR BIDS & INSTRUCTIONS FOR BIDDERS CITY OF LIBERTY HILL, TEXAS LIBERTY HILL CITY PARK - SWIM CENTER, LIFT STATION & FORCE MAIN Notice is hereby given that the City of Liberty Hill is soliciting Sealed Bids for a swim center and utility improvements on City Property at 251 CR 200, Liberty Hill, Texas. Sealed Bids, one (1) original, (5) copies, and one (1) electronic copy (in PDF format) on CD or ﬂash drive shall be delivered to the City of Liberty Hill, City Secretary, 926 Loop 332, Liberty Hill, TX 78642, at or before: 2 P.M. local time on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, at which time bids will be publicly opened and read. Bids received after the opening date and time will not be considered. Contractor shall provide all

Page 7 Field, as all the signage around the campus was changed to reﬂect the current event – a happening that gave her pause and a peek into her future and what the years ahead might hold. “It’s been a life goal for me to be in the Olympics,” she said. Frank said she derived motivation knowing she had support back home. “It was great to know I had family and friends back in Liberty Hill all cheering me on,” she said. “It was very helpful knowing they were watching me race.”

But, there’s one source of inspiration that ranks atop the list for Frank – friend Emma Guyette, who passed away at age 13 after a battle with Williams syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by growth delays before and after birth that affect many parts of the body – and one she will take with her whenever she steps up to the starting line. “She always had a smile on her face and would come up to me and give me a hug,” said Frank. “I know she’s still looking down on me.”

CLASSIFIED ADS $15/week for Minimum 30 Words Additional Words $0.20 Deadline: Noon Mondays

NEWS@LHINDEPENDENT.COM tion(s), to wit: A request for a Zone Map Amendment from the General Commercial (C3) zoning classification to the Multi-family Residential (MF2) zoning classification on the following property: AW0521 S9158 – Proposed Multi-family Residential – rezoning from C3 General Commercial/Retail for proposed 2.70 acres with frontage on SH 29. The proposed lot being part of a replat of the 10.00 acres tract of the Robinson, J. B. Survey and Bean Industrial Park, Lot 1 1.34 Acres along the north side of SH 29, between Holmes Road and CR 260, and identified as Assessor’s Parcel Numbers R-432452, R-432454, and R-478897. In accordance with Section 211.006, Texas Local Government Code, a public hearing on this application will be conducted by the Planning and Zoning Commission at the Liberty Hill Municipal Courthouse, 2801 Ranch Road 1869, Liberty Hill, Texas on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 6:30 PM. Upon receiving a recommendation from the Commission, the City Council will conduct its own public hearing and take final action on this matter on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at 6:30 PM at the Liberty Hill Municipal Courthouse, 2801 Ranch Road 1869, Liberty Hill, Texas. For more information, you may either visit the Development Services Department at

(512) 778-5577

100 Forrest Street, call (512) 778-5449, or send an email to planning@libertyhilltx.gov. By order of the Development Services Administrative Assistant on July 23, 2021. (7/29) LEGAL NOTICE Walden Wrecker Service, 939 N. 183, Liberty Hill, Texas 78642, 512-574-3367, 0651983vsf, www.tdlr.texas. gov 2003 Dodge Caravan, white $374.90, 2006 Homemade Trailer $374.90, 2003 Chevrolet C7500 Blue, $374.90 Storage fees accrue daily. (8/12)

LEGAL NOTICE APPLICATION HAS BEEN MADE WITH THE TEXAS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE COMMISSION FOR A WINERY PERMIT BY TEXAS EXITS WINE, LLC D/B/A TEXAS EXITS, TO BE LOCATED AT 101 CR 257, LIBERTY HILL, WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TEXAS. THE MANAGING MEMBERS OF THE LLC ARE SHERRILL ERWIN AND SHARI LEE.

Liberty Hill & Surrounding Communities

LIFE | BUSINESS | HOME | AUTOS

HOMEOWNERS WHO BUNDLE THEIR HOME & AUTO INSURANCE COULD SAVE AN AVERAGE OF

444

Call us today for a quote!

G N I P P O H S E E TAX FR ST 6-8 AUGU Tuesday-Friday T Tu esday a -Friday ay aay 10-6 & Sat Sat 10-3 15280 Hi h y 29, Liberty Lib si l h TX Highway Hill | simplyhomeTX.com

McCoy Agency Honest, Local & Trusted David & Christa McCoy Wendy Neill

12780 W Hwy 29, Liberty Hill • 512 900-4422 www.farmersagent.com/cmccoy

STAY COOL! Call ACA Appliance for AC Repair Service you can Trust.

Free service call with repair

325 E State Hwy 29 | Bertram Located between PEC and the Train Depot

512-219-0900

Page 8

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

HOMES AROUND THE HILL 2 Homes/Guest House - 4.95 acres Liberty Hill - 76 acres Liberty Hill - 17 acres Hidden Creek Estates Hornsby, J - 4.6 acres Palmera Ridge Spring Meadows - 2 Homes Coming Soon! Kempner Ranch - 40 acres Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Durham Park Little Gabriel River Ranch Florence Cloudwood Ranch Lot - Briggs Cantarra Meadows/Pﬂugerville Stonewall Ranch Hillcrest Purser Estates Anderson Mill West Buttercup Townhomes Near Downtown Liberty Hill Stonewall Ranch Indian Oak Estates Somerset Ranch Llano Jenks Branch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Saratoga Springs Florence Summerlynn - Leander Larkspur Palmera Ridge - Leander San Gabriel River - 3/4 acres Flores Iron Oak - 2 acres

Homes for Sale 4BR/4BA 3BR/2B - Bardo & Shop 3 Homes & Barn 3BR/2BA - Game Room - 1+ acre 4BR/2BA 3BR/2BA 5BR/3.5BA 6BR/5BA Acreage/Property for Sale TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 70, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 72, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 73, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 76, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 77, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 78, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 81, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 82, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 92, Block 1 Phase III TBD Red Yucca Ct Lot 84, Block 1 Phase III TBD Red Yucca Ct Lot 88, Block 1 Phase III TBD Red Yucca Ct Lot 90, Block 1 Phase III 550 Shin Oak Lane Wet weather creek 420 Iva Bell Lane Barn Tract 4B N Hwy 195 No restrictions, Ag exempt Lot 12 Cloudwood Ranch Rd Lots of trees Under Contract / Pending

1601 CR 256 4060 CR 201 17600 W State Hwy 29 141 Taylor Creek Way 1840 CR 226 2200 Bonavista Way 440 CR 277 820 Panther Creek

13500 Kearns Dr 145 Granite Path 120 Crestview Dr 312 Barrington 1705 Spiderlily 401 Buttercup Creek Blvd 3103 CR 1869 500 Fieldstone 875 Indian Oaks 1105 Somerset Meadow 504 E Green St 120 Bryson Bend TBD Lobeila Bloom Bend TBD Lobeila Bloom Bend TBD Lobeila Bloom Bend TBD Lobeila Bloom Bend TBD Yellow Senna Pl 402 Spring Grove Tract 3A N Hwy 195 104 Falcon Lane 105 Blue Sage 2201 Bonavista Way 121 River Rd 550 Stadium Dr 232 Oak Hill

Cloudwood Ranch Lot - Briggs Ranch at Cypress Creek Boulderwood Park Bertram Sundance Ranch - Liberty Hill Rio Ancho - 1 acre Eagles Ridge - Round Rock The Park at Blackhawk - Pﬂugerville East Lake Forest - Round Rock Georgetown Cole Drive Estates Liberty Hill Burnet Liberty Hill - 2.2 acres Liberty Hill Purser Estate Downtown Liberty Hill Liberty Hill - No restrictions - Ag exempt Liberty Hill 10.1 acres - Ag exempt San Gabriel River Ranch San Gabriel River Ranch Liberty Hill Rosemont - Liberty Hill Florence Country Living Estates - 5 acres

Lot 22 Cloudwood Ranch Rd 2003 Autumn Fire 108 Boulderwood Dr 367 Mesquite 101 Shetland Ct 108 Green Branch Ct 3623 Hawk Ridge 20809 Catwalk Ct 1264 Pine Forest Circle 2611 Sunrise Valley 601 Cole Dr 2210 CR 282 709 Rhomberg 140 Shin Oak Lane 2190 CR 282 214 Barrington 107 Forrest St 257 CR 278 301 CR 278 330 Remuda 107 Lariat 2170 CR 282 112 Charli Circle Tract 3A N Hwy 195 1220 CR 282

4BR/2BA, Game Room 3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA 2BR/2.5BA Commercial, Mixed Use 5BR/3BA 3BR/2BA 4BR/3.5BA 3BR/2BA 4BR/3BA Lot 23, Block 4 Phase III Lot 24, Block 4 Phase III Lot 25, Block 4 Phase III Lot 26, Block 4 Phase III Lot 69, Block 4 Phase III 3BR/2BA No restrictions, Ag exempt 4BR/2.5BA - 2 car garage 3BR/2.5BA 3BR/2BA - 2 car garage 3BR/2BA Cleared & level 4BR/4BA Sold!

Lots of oaks, backs to creek 3BR/2.5BA 3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA 4BR/4BA 5BR/5.5BA - Main house+casita 4BR/2.5BA 4BR/3BA 4BR/3.5BA - Pool 3BR/2BA 2 car garage 4BR/4.5BA Build to suit home site 3BR/1BA 3BR/2BA + pool Build to suit home site 3BR/2B 3BR/2BA + 1BR/1BA Can adjoin to 301 CR 278 4BR/2.5BA Lot 177 - Heavily treed 4BR/2BA Build to suit home site 5BR/3BA No restrictions, Ag exempt 4BR/2BA

$ 995,000 $2,250,000 $1,600,000 $ 999,999 $ 379,000 $ 510,000 $ 429,250 $ 990,000

3112 sq ft 1624 sq ft 1800 sq ft 2943 sq ft 2432 sq ft 2100 sq ft 2950 sq ft 4483 sq ft

Cheryl Stephens Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Shane T. White Amy Gandy Shane T. White Cheryl Stephens

$ 203,000 $ 219,000 $ 210,000 $ 418,000 $ 237,000 $ 217,000 $ 201,000 $ 201,000 $ 207,000 $ 201,000 $ 248,000 $ 204,000 $ 175,000 $1,500,000 $ 564,300 $ 255,000

2.03 acres 2.19 acres 2.10 acres 4.18 acres 2.37 acres 2.17 acres 2.01 acres 2.01 acres 2.07 acres 2.01 acres 2.48 acres 2.04 acres 2 acres 20 acres 20.9 acres 7.74 acres

Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Amy Gandy Amy Gandy Dax Oglesby Cheryl Stephens

$ 420,000

2507 sq ft 1577 sq ft 1568 sq ft 1364 sq ft 1521 sq ft 1280 sq ft 968 sq ft 2806 sq ft 1856 sq ft 2739 sq ft 1671 sq ft 2554 sq ft 2 acres 2 acres 2 acres 2 acres 2 acres 1704 sq ft 11.3 acres 2044 sq ft 2455 sq ft 1855 sq ft 1440 sq ft 1.337 acre Side-Pad 2800 sq ft

Cheryl Stephens

4.25 acres 2308 sq t 1330 sq ft 1624 sq ft 3034 sq ft 4473 sq ft 2741 sq ft 2921 sq ft 3819 sq ft 1566 sq ft 3611 sq ft 2.883 acres 900 sq ft 1611 sq ft 2.883 acres 1683 sq ft 1654 sq ft 10.1 acres 2800 sq ft 1.98 acres 2307 sq ft 2.883 acres 2673 sq ft 11.3 acres 2305 sq ft

Cheryl Stephens

$ 325,000 $ 235,000 $ 355,000 $ 420,000 $ 275,000 $ 350,000 $ 465,000 $ 380,000 $ 800,000 $ 200,000 $ 350,000 $ 200,000 $ 200,000 $ 200,000 $ 200,000 $ 200,000 $ 225,000 $ 338,168 $ 350,000 $ 410,000 $ 430,000 $ 230,000 $ 750,000 $ 765,000 $ 197,500 $ 494,900 $ 299,000 $ 200,000 $ 925,000

$1,200,000 $ 399,000 $ 599,000 $ 800,000 $ 380,000

$1,100,000 $ 245,000 $ 252,000 $ 430,000 $ 245,000 $ $ $ $ $

325,000 525,000 500,000 650,000 45,000

$ 398,000 $ 245,000 $ 550,000 $ 338,168 $ 515,000

Shane T. White Shane T. White Shane T. White

Thursday, July 29, 2021

SUBSCRIBE 512.778.5577

SABRINA JORDAN REALTOR®

512.680.0375 cell sabrinajordan.kwrealty.com RESIDENTIAL, LAND, FARM & RANCH HOMETOWN ROOTS - HOMETOWN VALUES

SELLING L LIBERTY HIL FOR 40 YEARS!

BUYING OR SELLING A HOME?

Shane T. White Shane T. White Dax Oglesby

Kristen Childers/Tammy Wise Shane T. White Shane T. White

Sabrina Jordan Shane T. White Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise Tammy Wise

Shane T. White Dax Oglesby Dax Oglesby

Kristen Childers Amy Gandy

Cheryl Stephens Shane T. White Dax Oglesby

RE/MAX Town & Country 13561 W. Hwy 29, Liberty Hill shanetwhite@remax.net www.ShaneTWhiteTeam.com

512.515.5263

Kristen Childers Kristen Childers Shane T. White Amy Gandy Amy Gandy Amy Gandy Amy Gandy Amy Gandy Amy Gandy

Shane T. White Sabrina Jordan Sabrina Jordan Dax Oglesby Sabrina Jordan

Shane T. White Adrienne Hughes Dax Oglesby Dax Oglesby Shane T. White Shane T. White Sabrina Jordan

Adrienne Hughes Dax Oglesby Amy Gandy

LIBERTY HILL’S REAL ESTATE GUIDE Feature your property listings weekly! (512) 778-5577

From Waco to New Braunfels, Llano to LaGrange and everywhere in between.

Real Life. Real People. Real Estate.

Is NOW the time to sell your home? Call us ... We know the answer! Kristen Childers REALTOR®

Tammy Wise REALTOR®

(512) 501 501-0777 AustinAndHillCountryRealEstate.com

900 Quest Parkway Cedar Park, TX 78613

Amy Gandy, Broker/Owner | MCNE, CLHMS 512-589-9005 | amy@agandyandco.com www.agandyandco.com

“Our family of seasoned professional agents is what makes us unique. We’re here to help you, whether it’s selling your property or assisting in finding and purchasing the home of your dreams.”

Residential • Farm and Ranch Minerals • Land and Leasing

Dax Oglesby

REALTOR®, RPL daxoglesbysgrhomes@gmail.com

(512) 635-7529

Adrienne Hughes

Cheryl Stephens

512-810-0185

512-417-0026

Broker/Owner

Realtor ®, GRI, MRP

3106 Ranch Road 1869 | Liberty Hill, TX 78642 | www.Hughes-and-Company.com

3103 Ranch Road 1869 Liberty Hill