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Dripping Springs Century News
Home values drop throughout Hays County
Preliminary property appraisals show that residential values have dropped across almost the entirety of Hays County over the last year, but the drop in average property values has been offset by substantial new residential and commercial construction. The new construction caused a significant increase in the overall market value of all property across the county. “The driving forces of property value are both economic and population growth,” Hays Central Appraisal District Chief Appraiser Laura Raven said. “As the population rises so does the demand for services, development, and employment opportunities. New improvements added to the roll contributed most to the total...
Protecting children during April and beyond
Editor’s Note: April is both Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Awareness month. The following article is the second article of a five-week series focusing on raising awareness about sexual assault and child abuse. Locally, HCWC served 616 community members that experienced sexual assault or abuse and 899 children that suffered abuse and their protective caregivers. Roxanne’s House, the Children’s Advocacy Center of the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center, works collaboratively with community partners by employing the multidisciplinary team (MDT) model to address child abuse allegations effectively. This approach, endorsed by the National Institutes of Health and the US Department of Justice, fosters collaboration...
Experts talk water, or lack thereof, in aquifers
Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two part series on the Groundwater Symposium that occurred at Texas State University on April 2 bringing together the area's groundwater conservation district leaders. With the current drought and the level of eco-anxiety amongst the public at an all time high, groundwater, particularly the protection of local aquifers, is a hot topic of conversation. Texas State University’s Office of Sustainability and Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, along with the Barton Springs/ Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, hosted a Groundwater Symposium on April 2 at the LBJ Student Center to discuss hydrogeology, management and...
Demolition Day set for Home in a Month project
Dripping Springs Hometown Missions, in collaboration with members of the Dripping Springs community, is gearing up for what they’re referring to as “Demolition Day” for Nora Salazar, her daughter Victoria and her two grandchildren. Scheduled for Saturday, April 13, at 8 a.m., this event marks the beginning of the transformative 'Home in a Month' project for the Salazars. Before the work starts, attendees will gather for a blessing of the start of the project at approximately 7:45 am. The 'Home in a Month' initiative, organized by the nonprofit organization Dripping Springs Hometown Missions, embodies the spirit of community and compassion, aiming to...
Over 250 families served at food distribution for people and pets
, , , , The Central Texas Food Bank and Hays County Pet Resource Center hosted their first drive-up food distribution for people and pets on Saturday, March 23, at McCormick Middle School in Buda. The event was open to anyone in Hays County and served over 250 families. Of the 250 families, an estimated 98% were in need of pet food. Wet and dry food for cats and dogs was provided for families, as well as resource guide flyers that included information for medical assistance, behavior support and other low-cost pet services. The Hays County Pet Resource Center estimates that it...
DSISD to allow transfers for 2024-2025 school year
According to the school district, Dripping Springs ISD is experiencing a high concentration of growth on three campuses: Dripping Springs Elementary, Walnut Springs Elementary and Sycamore Springs Middle School. Because of this rapid growth, these campuses have exceeded their functional capacity. With capacity available at other schools, the district is allowing a limited number of transfers out of these three campuses for the 2024—2025 school year. The application period is now open and will run until June 1 . For the 2024-25 school year, parents may request a transfer of their student(s) out of: • Dripping Springs Elementary Walnut Springs Elementary Sycamore Springs Middle...
Rare total solar eclipse darkens skies across Dripping Springs
, , Locals and visitors across the Dripping Springs area came together this week for a rare viewing experience: a total solar eclipse. The natural phenomenon, which ocheld off just enough for viewers to long curred at 1:34 p.m. on casts predicting thun-April 8, cast the city derstorms, the clouds into darkness for a total of two minutes and 58 seconds as the sun enjoy totality — and blocked out the moon, for two city employees Despite weather fore- to get engaged.
Commissioners recognize historic Alba Ranch in Dripping Springs
The Hays County Commissioners Court adopted a proclamation recognizing the historical significance of the Alba Ranch in Dripping Springs, while the Texas Historical Commission recognized the Alba Ranch with an official Texas Historical Marker. The historical marker honors the Alba Ranch as an important and educational part of local Dripping Springs history. Over four generations, the Alba family settled nearly 1,000 acres in Hays County since Mexican-born Victoriano Alba first moved to Dripping Springs in 1903 with his eight children. According to the proclamation, additional historical contributions by the Alba family included the first recorded birth at the Hays County Courthouse...
C. C. Carlton Industries donates $100,000, new kennel building to Service Dogs, Inc.
Craig Carlton is used to thinking big. His company C.C. Carlton Industries has worked for over 30 years on Texas’ biggest construction projects including the Tesla factory in Austin, the Space X facility in Bastrop and housing developments throughout Central Texas. Carlton’s passion for giving back is as big as his professional accomplishments. Friday, March 29, Craig Carlton presented local nonprofit Service Dogs, Inc. with a check for $100,000. He also plans to break ground on a new kennel building in June. “When I visited here in January, I fell in love with the place,” says Carlton. “Dogs have helped me through...
Hays County welcomes new fire marshal
The Hays County Commissioners Court welcomed Steve Seddig as the county’s new fire marshal at its meeting on March 26, marking his first day in his new role. Seddig comes to Hays County with more than 28 years of service in the city of Wylie Fire Rescue. He has served as fire marshal and division chief and was a commissioned Texas peace officer for 22 years. A graduate of the Executive Fire Officer program, Seddig has a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Administration from the University of North Texas, an Associate of Applied Science in Law Enforcement Technology from Rio Salado...
DSHS Speech & Debate heads to Nationals, earns honors
, Seven Dripping Springs High School speech and debate students have qualified for the National Speech and Debate Association Tournament after competing at the Heart of Texas District Tournament on March 22-23 at Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville. In World Schools Debate, Jackson Berthelsen, Colton De Los Santos, Will Mc-Adams, and Alexander Seshan were selected to represent the district at the national tournament. Liam Ianiro and Zoey Parks qualified in Big Questions Debate and Alicia Hernandez was a qualifier in Program Oral Interpretation. Dripping Springs High School speech and debate coach Davy Holmes was honored with the Heart of Texas NSDA District...
County ranked 16th fastest growing in the nation
The population in Hays County is exploding. For several years now, the county has been in the top ten fastest growing counties in the nation. For the 2022 to 2023 data, it was bumped to the 16th fastest growing in the nation, but that’s not due to any slowdown in the quickly growing population. According to the Texas State Demographer Lloyd Potter, this just means that there are other counties in the U.S. that are growing even faster than Hays. “If you look from year to year there’s a slight fluctuation in its dynamics, in particular domestic migration, but it kind...
County Updates
Bo Michael Dresner, a former precinct chair and sergeant-atarms with the Hays County Republican Party, was sentenced on 65 counts of continuous sexual abuse of multiple children and possession of child pornography with intent to promote. Judge Gary Steel of the 274th District Court sentenced Dresner to four consecutive, or stacked, sentences of 75 years each on four counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child, and then added stacked sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years on the remaining 61 counts of possession of child pornography with intent to promote. The stacked sentences amount to 410 years in prison. The...
Patriots’ Hall announces McKean as executive director
Patriots’ Hall of Dripping Springs, a 10-acre campus providing services and resources to Central Texas veterans and their families, has announced the hiring of retired Lieutenant General Scott McKean as the organization’s executive director. The Patriots’ Hall board of directors conducted an extensive search and said they selected McKean because of his vast leadership experience, extraordinary commitment to service and passion for assisting Central Texas Veterans. McKean assumed leadership on March 15. “Scott McKean is an extraordinary person, soldier and leader,” explained board president Kathryn Chandler. “We are honored for Scott to lead our organization into the future as we complete construction...
Hays County designated 'storm ready' by NWS
Hays County has proactively taken steps to prepare, respond, recover and mitigate future weather-related disasters. The National Weather Service, under its WeatherReady Nation Program, has acknowledged these improvements and efforts to protect the citizens of Hays County. This month, the Hays County Commissioners Court recognized Hays County as a StormReady community. The Hays County Office of Emergency Services accepted the designation, publicly demonstrating a commitment to strengthen the local public safety program.
Jacob's Well to be reforested with new technology
The last few years have been challenging for Texas trees, with the Austin area's hottest summer on record, extended periods of drought and back-toback years of winter ice storms. TreeFolks, Central Texas’ urban forestry nonprofit, plants on average nearly 100,000 trees and saplings each year and is working with Jacob’sWell Natural Area to pilot a new system aimed to more than triple survival rates among newly planted trees. This spring, Tree-Folks planted 2.2 acres with almost 2,000 native and adapted tree species at Jacob’s Well. The varieties of trees include shade trees and fruiting and flowering species, including Pecan, Texas Mountain Laurel,...
League of Women Voters to host DSISD candidate forum
The League of Women Voters of Hays County will hold an in person candidate forum for the Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees. The event will take place on April 10 at 7 p.m. at Sententia Vera Cultural Hub, 4002 E. U.S. 290 in Dripping Springs. No registration is required. The forum will be recorded and posted on the Hays County League website under Events, Forums, Webinar Programs (lwvhaysco. com/forums/webinarsprograms). During the forum, candidates will be asked questions prepared by the League of Women Voters. Afterward, they will be available to meet and mingle with the forum attendees to answer additional questions. “As...
City presented DAR award for dark skies
The Sarah Pound Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented the city of Dripping Springs with the organization’s Conservation Award for the promotion of the Dark Sky Initiative. This award commends the city for outstanding achievement for environmental awareness. The Daughters of the American Revolution is a non-political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history and securing America's future through better education for children. The DAR annually devotes thousands of hours in service to the community of Dripping Springs. “The Sarah Pound Chapter recommended to our national office that the organization's Conservation...
Dripping Springs continues to prepare for April 8 eclipse
The Dripping Springs City Council has officially approved a disaster declaration for the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8 . The declaration, passed at the regular City Council meeting on March 19, comes as part of comprehensive preparations to ensure the safety and well-being of residents and visitors during the celestial event. The ec lip se itself, expected to cast Dripping Springs into darkness for approximately three minutes, promises to be a once-in-alifetime experience. While the city does not anticipate any significant issues, enacting a disaster declaration in advance of the event activates the city’s Emergency Management team and authorizes more...
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