Choose your location
Dripping Springs Century News
Work begins to stabilize historic I.V. Davis home on Old Fitzhugh Rd
, At their meeting July 11, commissioners of the Dripping Springs historic commission reviewed and approved a ‘stabilization’ permit for repairs to begin on I.V. Davis historic home located at 100 Fitzhugh Rd. Contactors are already working to stabilize the structure and repair rotted material in and outside the house. The applicant requesting approval for the work is Pamela Bosco who plans to repurpose the house for a commercial business, according to the application. The house is estimated to have been built sometime in the midto- late 1920s with later mid-century additions and minor alterations. The current condition of the home is poor...
Hays County Master Gardeners to offer Fall training class
As the climate shifts worldwide and more people move into the Hill Country, locals and newcomers alike have taken an interest in plants. Whether the goal is to grow a more bountiful vegetable garden or to become a better steward of water resources, the Hays County Master Gardeners offer a comprehensive training course to teach local growers how to better maintain their land and gardens within the greater scope of the Hill Country. “In this day and age — especially with the extra heat, and the lack of water, and the fact that so many people move here — we really need...
Festival exit leaves Pound House Farmstead to seek new funds to operate historic museum
, The Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival is moving from the town in its name to the city of Uhland in east Hays county and rebranding itself as the Uhland Fall Fest. The festival held its last event at the Pound House Farmstead grounds in October 2023, after a three-year run. The festival was well attended, drawing 70,000 visitors over six weekends. But the festival quickly outgrew the capacity of the park and drew complaints from some residents of heavy traffic and increasing safety concerns for fire and emergency medical services. City officials told the Century News that the festival was popular, especially with...
Adopted street cat from local shelter becomes inspiration for a children's book series
, , Who would think that a cat adoption of an old black cat from the local PAWS animal shelter would inspire his adoptive fur mama to write a series of children’s books. That is exactly what happened when Dripping Springs resident and new farmer Christine Glenn adopted two cats from the PAWS animal shelter in Hays county. The eight-or-so year old feral cat named Clyde and his partner Bonnie were rehomed to the “Glenn Acres” farmstead owned by David and Christine Glenn in Dripping Springs. Clyde took to life on the farm and settled in fairly quickly. Bonnie wandered and left the...
School district names Kellie Raymond, Amber Daige to campus principal posts
, , , Kellie Raymond has been named the new principal at Dripping Springs Elementary school and Amber Daige to the post of principal at Cypress Spring Elementary school in time for the new school year which begins August 13. “Creating opportunities for our leaders to grow is an important part of leading a vibrant organization like DSISD. Raymond and Daige are accomplished and innovative leaders steeped in the rich traditions of the Dripping Springs community. I know they will bring just as much vision, expertise, and success to their new roles as their previous positions in the district and I...
County Plans New Road Bond
Hays County is looking to improve roads, and they will need voter support to do it. Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra announced that there will be a road bond on the November election ballot at the regularly scheduled Hays County Commissioners Court meeting Tuesday. Hays County Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe said that a lot of the proposed projects are east to west connections, which are very important for “safety, mobility and connectivity.” She added that there should be a balance between the impacts on residents and the benefits of the projects. “There is a lot of need out in our county....
Hays County’s innovative pre-trial diversion program graduates first class
Program offers some low-level offenders chance to avoid of a criminal record while reducing court dockets Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins announced today that the first group of people admitted into the new Pre-Trial Diversion Program for criminal cases have successfully completed the program. This program was launched in January 2024 and is designed to allow certain offenders to avoid the stigma and burden of a criminal record for low-level, non-violent offenses. Seven people have just “graduated” from the program, and another seventy are currently working their way through the program. If they successfully complete it, they will have the...
DSISD students earn top-five finish at national History Day competition in Maryland
, Dripping Springs ISD students Grant Gillum and Nora Gillum each claimed top-five finishes at the National History Day Contest held June 9-13 at the University of Maryland. Nora Gullum, a seventh grader at Dripping Springs Middle School, placed fourth in the Junior Individual Website category with her site, “Poisoned Pills: How the 1982 Tylenol Scare Was a Turning Point in Consumer Safety.” Gullum competed against middle school students from across the country as well as Korea, Singapore and the U.S. territories. Her work included archival research at the National Archives, information requests to federal agencies, and a personal interview with...
World Schools debaters finish fifth in national competition
The Dripping Springs High School World Schools Debate team of Jackson Berthelsen, Colton De Los Santos, Liam Ianiro, Will McAdams, and Alexander Seshan tied for fifth at the National Speech & Debate Tournament held last month in Des Moines, Iowa. Competing under the name Heart of Texas Gold, the students advanced to round 11 of 13 to record the highest nationals finish in school history in a main event. A total of 198 teams competed, representing all 50 states and seven countries. The students qualified for nationals after competing at the Heart of Texas District Tournament in March. World Schools Debate is a three-on-three format. Teams are assigned one of two sides in each round - either the government team proposing the motion or the opposition team advocating the rejection of the motion. Debaters present their position on a topic, refute their opponents and respond to questions throughout the course of the debate.
Hays County awards contract to Austin Pets Alive! to support pet owners in the local community
The Hays County Commissioners Court has awarded a contract to Austin Pets Alive!, a leading animal welfare organization, to continue their groundbreaking work at the Hays County Pet Resource Center. The collaboration between Hays County and Austin Pets Alive! has already made significant strides in fostering, adoptions, and providing essential resources to Hays County pets and their owners,” according to Alex Villalobos, chief of staff to County Judge Ruben Becera. “Austin Pets Alive! has been a Hays County partner for over 15 years, I look forward to continuing to lead the nation in support of the human animal bond and pet retention,...
Local writer, long-time Dripping Springs high school coach awarded Sportswriter of the Year by Texas Girls Coaches Association
Carl Waits, our very own sportswriter for the Century News, was awarded Sportswriter of the Year by the Texas Girls Coaches Association at their summer convention. Waits, a long-time area resident, has covered local sports for 45 years, including 34 years for the Dripping Springs Century News. Waits taught in the Dripping Springs school district for three decades before retiring in 1996. Waits said he never set out to be a sportswriter, but as teacher and coach in the Dripping Springs school district he felt it was important to celebrate and recognize the hard work student athletes just wasn’t interested in covering our...
Two new EMS stations set to open to meet increase in medical emergency needs in Northern Hays County
Rambo Masonic Lodge to commemorate building cornerstones in public ceremony July 17 Construction of two new EMS stations 74 and 75 is nearly complete and both are expected to be operational later this month to serve the emergency medical calls or residents in the northern areas of the county. North Hays County EMS is the emergency medical services provider for the northern portion of Hays County, including Dripping Springs, Driftwood and Henly, with a service area covering some 244 square miles. The two new locations will improve response times, helping to preserve human life, allowing Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics to provide...
New local study provides base for addressing mental health in area youth
A 2021 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that assessed mental health and suicidal behaviors from 2011 to 2021 in high school students across the United States indicated that 13% of high school girls had attempted suicide and 30% had seriously considered it. That jumped to more than 20% for LGBTQIA+ teens, and 45% of queer youth had seriously considered suicide. These numbers are alarming, and the CDC recommends the implementation of programs that support positive youth development to decrease suicidality and other mental health issues in youth. With the increase in mental health crises being experienced...
Sheriff releases video of deadly shooting of Joshua Wright
The Hays County Sheriff’s Office released the body camera footage of Joshua Wright being shot and killed in the Ascension Seton Hays emergency room by now former Hays County Corrections Officer Isaiah Garcia. The incident occurred on December 12, 2022. “In light of the recent dismissal and conclusion of the criminal proceedings, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the body worn camera recording of the incident,” a statement from the Sheriff’s Office said. The video shows Garcia standing outside of a restroom at the hospital. As Wright exits the restroom, it appears to show him push Garcia when he attempted to put...
Roadwork to begin on Rob Shelton Blvd
The city of Dripping Springs will begin repairing and resealing the roadway on Rod Shelton Blvd up to the intersection at Highway 290 starting July 9. According to City Engineer Chad Gilpen, the project is expected to take about a month to complete. Gilpen believes the project will be finished by August 9, just ahead of the start of school on August 13 for Dripping Springs ISD. “We are confident that the project can be completed before school starts,” Gilpen said. He added that weather contingencies are built into the schedule and that crews will be working during the day with some work planned for nighttime hours. Gilpen said the impact to Highway 290 would be minimal, but drivers could see heavier traffic on RR 12 as traffic flow on Rob Shelton may be restricted at times. “Some key activities will be scheduled for nighttime to minimize disruption to traffic,” he said. Asphalt Inc. LLC, doing business as Lone Star Paving Company, won the contract for the work with a bid of $423,165. The city council approved the bid at its meeting on June 18.
Trustees approve $100 million budget for new school year
The Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the 2024-25 fiscal year budget at its meeting on June 24. The $100.4 million operating budget, less recapture, allocates 84% of its budget inr payroll for nearly 1,100 district employees. The remaining 16% of the budget will be used for classroom supplies, utilities, professional development, transportation, safety, and travel. 2024-2025 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS The budget includes a 1% pay increase for staff and increased health insurance premiums. It also reduces the district’s personnel by 23 full-time equivalent positions, saving $967,500. The district will increase the student- to-teacher ratio in Pre-K of 20 to 1; and second...
Local Hill Country leaders discuss options for innovative water management practices
With a growing population, increasing demand on water resources, and recurring drought conditions, community leaders from across the Hill Country are thinking hard about how to manage growth while protecting our water supply. That was the focus of the conversation of a recent gathering of the Hill Country Leadership Institute, a program of the Hill Country Alliance. “The issue that we’re addressing isn’t one that’s in the future – we’re in it now,” stated Mason City Commissioner Robert Rayburn, at the June 20 meeting of the Hill Country Leadership Institute in Wimberley. The Institute meeting brought together more than two dozen Hill...
Public invited to see historical exhibits honoring local public education
The Dripping Springs ISD will hold an open house and community coffee for the public on Wednesday, July 10, at 10 a.m. at the Center for Learning & Leadership, located at 300 Sportsplex Drive. Community members will have the opportunity to tour the building, view numerous historical items on display, and visit with district leaders over coffee. The renovated Center for Learning & Leadership, which opened in June 2023, houses the district’s administrative offices and Child Development Center, previously located at 510 W. Mercer Street. Over the last two years, the school district communications staff has worked on several projects to commemorate and...
Education Foundation increases commitment to innovation and mental wellness at DSISD
The Dripping Springs Education foundation presented a check for $417, 541.99 to Dripping Springs ISD. The foundation raises money each year to fund innovation at the local district. Tedi Wells, president-elect of the foundation, said one of the key initiatives is to fund mental health services to district students and staff. Because of the funding the foundation provides, the district can staff three fulltime licensed mental health professionals across all campuses to help stu- dents in need of counseling or intervention. In 2023, the program added funding for a full-time licensed mental health counselor for all DSISD staff. “It’s important...
City officially opens new development services building
, City officials and ambassadors from the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce held a ribboncutting ceremony for the city of Dripping Springs new Development Services Building on June 28. The new building will house the city’s development services staff and provide meeting space for citizens and business owners who need guidance and approval for residential and commercial building projects. The 3,000-squarefoot building, located at 661 West Highway 290, formerly housed a satellite office for the Pedernales Electric Cooperative. City staff from the planning and building departments relocated to the new building in early May. The new space will allow staff to better serve...
Dripping Springs Century News
223+
Posts
174K+
Views
Dripping Springs Century News
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.