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Kelly tells GOP he can’t act on Walther before votes are counted; court hires outside lawyers
Commissioners’ Court then voted 4-1 to hire outside counsel. Pct. 2 Commissioner Rich Paces cast the lone no vote.
The Lead’s stories
As early voting gets underway in Texas, the race for U.S. Senate looks unlike anything else on the ballot.
Every one of those leads falls within its poll’s margin of error. But the consistency is notable in a state where Democrats haven’t won a statewide race since 1994.
Kerr County early voting opens 42% ahead of 2022 pace
That’s 750 more than the 1,772 who voted in person on the first day of early voting in the 2022 midterm, an increase of 42%.
Paces mailer touts ‘no donor list,’ but a nonprofit that doesn’t disclose donors paid for it
The mailer, a copy of which was obtained by The Lead, carries the disclosure “Paid Pol. Ad. LIA Network.” LIA Network, which also goes by We the People – Liberty in Action, is a Kerrville-based nonprofit. As a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization rather than a political action committee, it does not have to tell voters who its donors are.
Your guide to the Kerr County ballot: Early voting starts Monday
Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election begins Monday, Oct. 19. The League of Women Voters of the Hill Country Texas has published its Kerr County Voter Guide, with candidates’ own answers on the district and local races.
County calls special meeting to hire outside lawyers over Paces’ threatened challenge to Walther
Commissioners’ Court will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, to consider hiring the Austin law firm Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP.
Kerrville Rotary serves up pies to fight polio Oct. 22
“We’re just trying to raise money and awareness that it’s not gone,” event chair Kristy Vandenberg said on Friday’s episode of The Lead Live.
Wind advisory issued for Friday as strong cold front moves in
The front is expected to arrive a little earlier than first forecast, sometime after midnight. Winds will shift to the north at 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph. There’s a 50% chance of showers after 1 a.m., but rain amounts in Kerr County should be light, less than a tenth of an inch.
Texas political notebook: Talarico back on the trail, Paxton’s Dubai problem and a Senate race that keeps tightening
Republican nominee Ken Paxton’s campaign demanded “proof of life,” launched a tip line for Talarico sightings and promoted missing-person posters.
Missed an emergency alert call? Kerr County’s new system will let you call back and hear it
The county still uses CodeRed for emergency notifications, but Leitha said CodeRed will be phased out in February, and the county is using the time until then to transition to Everbridge.
GOP threatens to sue to block Walther from taking Pct. 2 seat
Walther said party Chairwoman Helen Herd called him Saturday and offered not to sue if he publicly dropped out and removed his campaign signs. He refused.
5 things we learned from the nearly 12-hour Camp Mystic bankruptcy hearing
The judge ruled on when the wrongful-death lawsuits can resume and took the fight over who will control the case under advisement.
League of Women Voters program to focus on working elections
The League of Women Voters of Hill Country Texas will hear about what it takes to work an election at its meeting Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Riverside Nature Center.
Flood loan deadline nears for nonprofits; 0% loans still available for local businesses
Kerr County nonprofits damaged in this summer’s flooding have until Nov. 2 to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans, while a separate program is offering 0% loans to small businesses in Kerr County and Comfort.
Two River Trail segments reopen Friday as flood recovery continues
The city called the reopening another step in its ongoing recovery from the July 16 flood. It credited volunteers who helped assess damage, clear debris, address hazards and restore access where conditions allow.
The Lead’s Special Report
The monster in the canyon: What the storm actually was — and what was never asked
Nine months after the flood, federal meteorologists tell the full story. In 15 hours of legislative testimony this week, none of it came up.
At 12:56 a.m. on July 4, 2025, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Austin sent a message through its professional communications platform: “Some cell mergers about to take place in central Kerr County. This will be an area to watch for potential flash flooding.”
Eighteen minutes later, a flash flood warning went out to cell phones across the Hunt area — the ninth such warning issued for the Guadalupe River corridor since 2020. The previous eight had all expired without a mass casualty event.
By 4:03 a.m., NWS had upgraded that warning to a Flash Flood Emergency — the most urgent alert the agency can issue. Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator Dub Thomas was home sick that night. Whether anyone else in Kerr County’s emergency structure was actively monitoring professional NWS channels during those critical hours remains unknown. Read more: https://kerrcountylead.com/the-monster-in-the-canyon-what-the-storm-actually-was-and-what-was-never-asked/
The Lead’s Special Sections
Arts and Culture
Kroc Center’s Pumpkin Run, Kroctober Fest kick off a busy season, with after-school spots open
The 16th annual Pumpkin Run 5K steps off at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, followed by the free Kroctober Fest from 9 a.m. to noon. Kroc marketing director Ashley Phillips and Kroc Academy Director Dee Blevins previewed both on Tuesday’s episode of The Lead Live.
Spies, sleuths, rockabilly and a stadium full of Mountaineers: Your Kerr County week, Oct. 12-18
Playhouse 2000’s P2K Youth Theater is staging two comedies back to back in the VK Garage Theater, with performers ages 8 to 18.
Doyle Community Center fills October calendar, seeks donations and volunteers
The Doyle Community Center has a senior lunch, a game night and Bible study sessions on its October calendar. It is also asking for donations and volunteers as it continues to serve families affected by the July floods.
Photo galleries
Photo gallery: 2026 Tivy High School Homecoming Parade
The 2026 Tivy High School Homecoming Parade delights thousands along Water Street parade route.
Photo gallery: Baubles and Beads highlights the fight against breast cancer
Baubles and Beads raises awareness about the fight against breast cancer, and it’s one of Kerr County’s most meaningful events.
Photo gallery: KPUB’s 2026 Public Power Week Bucket Truck Rides
Drawn by the bucket trucks, which lift KPUB workers more than 20 feet into the air, visitors enjoyed complimentary hot dogs and drinks.
Photo gallery: Symphony of the Hills makes 2026-2027 season debut
Guest vocalists Brandon Morales and Bronwyn White drew standing ovations Thursday night as the Symphony of the Hills opened its 2026-27 season at the Cailloux Theater.
Photo gallery: Blessing of the Animals
This is the second year that the two churches have joined together to host the event, which drew more than 50 dogs, cats, a pair of mini horses and a snake for blessings.
Photo gallery: Kerr Arts and Cultural Center celebrates twin shows
The artist group known as the Magnificent Seven debuted its final show together at the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.
Photo gallery: KPSF Trivia Night
The Kerrville Public Schools Foundation held its annual trivia event at Inn of the Hills on Oct. 3, 2026 to raise funds for programs within the Kerrville Independent School District.
Photo gallery: Schreiner football posts 31-28 win over Southwestern
Schreiner University trailed by seven three separate times Saturday night against Southwestern (Texas) and answered every time in a non-conference game that Southwestern controlled for long stretches on the scoreboard — and still lost, 31-28, at Antler Stadium.
Photo gallery: Flags of Honor at River Star Park
Five hundred American flags stood in formation at Kerrville River Star Arts Park on Saturday as veterans, first responders and flood survivors gathered for the Kerrville Flags of Honor ceremony, the culmination of a week of 9/11 25th-anniversary memorial events across Kerr County.
Photo gallery: K-STAR’s annual car show
K-STAR, a nonprofit aimed at protecting at-risk children, held its annual fundraising car show at the Hill Country Youth Event Center on Sept. 12, 2026.
Sports
Schreiner falls in five sets at Texas Lutheran
The Mountaineers fell to 10-8 overall. Their record in the American Southwest Conference stays at 3-3 because the match did not count in the standings. Texas Lutheran is 6-0 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Cody Smith scores twice as Schreiner sweeps season series with Howard Payne, 3-1
Smith led all players with eight shots, five on goal, to go with his two goals.
Schreiner women snap seven-match skid, wins 2-0 at Howard Payne
Abby De Hoyos scored both goals. She opened the scoring in the 38th minute, two minutes after picking up a yellow card, and added an insurance goal in the 80th minute off an assist from Madison Carmickle.
Turnovers sink Schreiner as Howard Payne pulls away 41-21
Schreiner (3-4, 0-2 ASC) has lost three straight. Howard Payne (5-1, 1-1) bounced back from a 33-10 loss at Mary Hardin-Baylor.
Schreiner erases 7-point deficit in second set, sweeps Howard Payne
Schreiner hit .225 as a team (38 kills, 13 errors, 111 attempts). Howard Payne hit -.008, with 29 errors against 28 kills on 127 attempts.
Schreiner University Sports Pages
Obituaries
Frederick Parkhurst: Jan. 11, 1948-Oct. 19, 2026
Rick loved deeply and was deeply loved. He will be missed.
Diane Atkins: Feb. 25, 1956-Oct. 13, 2026
Diane lived a life defined by love, kindness, faith, and a deep devotion to family and friends. Whether through a warm smile, a helping hand or words of encouragement, she touched countless lives and left an unforgettable mark on everyone fortunate enough to know her.
Paul Capps: Jan. 5, 1944-Oct. 16, 2026
Following his military service, Dwayne channeled his steady work ethic and skill into a lifelong career as a building contractor. For decades he was known for his exceptional craftsmanship, honesty, and the pride he took in every structure he built.
Betty Joyce Stork: June 27, 1934-Oct. 15, 2026
Betty chose first to be a homemaker and mother of four, then built a career as a bookkeeper, jeweler, and a dental office manager.
Diane Killeen: Jan. 29, 1953-Oct. 5, 2026
She was highly involved with the Kerrville VFW Women’s Auxiliary. She received the award of La Femme of the Year to Cabane 1055 in recognition of her outstanding service. She devoted a lot of her time and energy to fundraising and feeding the veterans and their families and friends.
Community voices
Wayne Uecker: So, God made a small-town Texas business owner
In this Paul Harvey-inspired piece, Kerrville resident Wayne Uecker praises the small business owners of Kerr County.
Editorial: A year later, the hardest comment to hear
So when “nobody told us” gets said out loud, a year on, it lands as a heavy sigh for everyone who has spent that year telling. The nonprofits that stood up relief funds within the week. The case managers. The volunteers.
Commentary: How a trip to Ingram helped bond, unite the San Antonio Spurs to greatness
That trip was initiated by Spurs ownership and management, but it was executed by head coach Mitch Johnson, who made trips to Kerr County in the days immediately after the flood. Johnson saw the devastation firsthand through his volunteer efforts; he connected with the community, especially Ingram Tom Moore football coach and athletic director Tate DeMasco.
They came for Brenda Hughes. Here’s what they used — and what the truth is.
This has been an extraordinary campaign. Not because of anything Hughes has done, but because of what has been done to her.
The Mission of The Kerr County Lead
Covering community news in the heart of the Hill Country.
Founded in 2021, The Kerr County Lead aims to provide high-quality journalism for Kerrville, Texas and the surrounding communities of the splendid Texas Hill Country. In the coming years, Texas faces exponential growth and the challenges of managing land, resources and water. At the same time, the Hill Country offers a robust quality of life and culture. With this mission, The Lead focuses its work on the stories that matter most to the readers in Kerr County.
