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The Lead Live adds Aug. 24 to Nonprofit Week — register today
Segments are now available for Monday, Aug. 24, running from 9 to 11:20 a.m. Five 20-minute slots are open — and Light on the Hill has already claimed the first one, taking the 9 a.m. spot.
The Lead’s stories
Community Foundation has deployed $80 million in flood relief. The question that won’t go away: why not just give it to the city and county?
The money has gone to 102 different organizations across 161 individual grants, funding everything from home rebuilds to mental health counseling to a $10,000 grant that outfitted Kerrville police officers with dress uniforms.
Kerrville police restore captain rank in round of promotions
James Machetta and Jonathan Cline were promoted to captain and Jason Beard to lieutenant during a ceremony attended by family and friends. The department also swore in Dalton Bandy, a lateral officer joining with prior law enforcement experience.
Kerrville ISD faces $2.7 million deficit as enrollment decline deepens
The latest figures project a $2,687,325 shortfall for the 2026-27 school year, with total spending of about $50.3 million against $47.6 million in revenue. That gap is smaller than earlier drafts — the second budget update pegged it at $4.85 million and the third at $3.8 million — reflecting cuts and revised projections since the spring.
Your questions about Kerrville’s disaster tax rate, answered
Under Texas law, cities that have experienced a declared disaster can adopt a “disaster tax rate” — a mechanism that lets them raise the property tax rate above the standard voter-approval cap without triggering an automatic election, specifically to fund disaster-related recovery costs.
Playhouse 2000 opens ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ Friday at the Cailloux
The show stars married couple Jeffrey Brown and Jane L. Sansom-Brown as Tevye and Golde, leading a cast of 35 local volunteer singers and dancers under director Heather Cunningham, music director Alexis Korbe, choreographer Ambra Harrah and stage manager Kerri Sparkman. Brown is also Playhouse 2000’s executive director, a post he’s held for 15 years.
Shelter reopens, grant assistance and free rides available for flood-affected residents
The shelter is located at Calvary Temple, 3000 TX-534 Loop in Kerrville, and is open 24 hours. Meals are provided, but pets are not allowed. Anyone who knows someone displaced by the flood and in need of a place to stay is asked to direct them to the shelter.
Kerr County Commissioners Court extends disaster declaration, PIA suspension
Commissioners voted to extend the county’s Declaration of Local State of Disaster stemming from the severe storms and flooding, and authorized County Judge Rob Kelly to sign the extension.
Heat advisory issued for Kerr County as heat index nears 112
The advisory covers Kerr, Bandera, Blanco, Dimmit, Gillespie, Kendall, Uvalde and Zavala counties. Forecasters said hot temperatures combined with high humidity may cause heat illness, and the advisory will remain in effect overnight because temperatures aren’t expected to drop out of the 80s.
Flood survivors to rally at Kerrville City Council meeting, demand more federal and state support
Advocacy group Rebuild plans press availability before and after today’s 3 p.m. emergency meeting
5 reasons to stay out of the water after a flood
Beyond the sewer leak, health experts say there are several good reasons to avoid the river right now
City warns of sanitary sewer overflow in Town Creek, urges public to avoid contact with waterway
Advisory extends downstream to Louise Hays Park and Kerrville-Schreiner Park; TCEQ and UGRA notified
Chamber Foundation, LiftFund detail business recovery resources on The Lead Live
No Chamber membership required for grants; LiftFund allows “double-dipping” for the first time, previous recipients welcome to reapplyNo Chamber membership required for grants; LiftFund allows “double-dipping” for the first time, previous recipients welcome to reapply
What comes after the water: The science of mold, and how to remediate a flooded home the right way
Homebuilder Craig Lenard and All Hands and Hearts’ Alix Seyforth joined The Lead Live for an in-depth conversation on flood remediation; here’s what the research says about why their guidance matters
Kerr County Courthouse closed indefinitely; county lays out full relocation plan for every displaced office
Basement flooding could keep some offices out for up to a year; ground floor offices expected back in 1-2 weeks
Most of last year’s newly planted river trees survived Thursday’s flood
Kerr County River Foundation says volunteers return to work staking survivors; group seeking donations to replace lost water tanks
Symphony of the Hills Fourth of July Performance
The Year: The Flood’s Impact on Kerr County
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
Playhouse 2000 opens ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ Friday at the Cailloux
The show stars married couple Jeffrey Brown and Jane L. Sansom-Brown as Tevye and Golde, leading a cast of 35 local volunteer singers and dancers under director Heather Cunningham, music director Alexis Korbe, choreographer Ambra Harrah and stage manager Kerri Sparkman. Brown is also Playhouse 2000’s executive director, a post he’s held for 15 years.
Kerr County still has plenty of arts and culture to offer in the wake of flood
The marquee event of the week is the opening night of “Fiddler on the Roof” at the Cailloux Theater on Friday at 7:30 p.m., with a preshow dinner available at 6 p.m. The production runs a second performance Saturday, also at 7:30 p.m.
Flooding again damages Riverside Nature Center grounds, outbuildings
Initial assessments indicate damages not as significant as those following the July 4, 2025 flood.
Recent photos by The Kerr County Lead.
Photo galleries
Photo gallery: July 18, 2026 flood recovery
Across Kerr County on July 18, the community came together to help feed residents who were displaced by the July 16, 2026 flood.
Photo gallery: July 17, 2026 flood recovery
The day after the July 16, 2026 flood, Kerrville and Kerr County tried to pick up the pieces following a devastating event that damaged hundreds of homes and businesses.
Photo gallery: July 16, 2026 flood in Kerr County
In the early morning hours of July 16, 2026, another devastating flood tore through Kerr County, leaving one man dead in Kerrville.
Photo gallery: The 2026 Down Home Parade in Center Point
The Center Point community gathered in force on Saturday for the annual Down Home Parade
Photo gallery: The Lead’s Fourth on the River photos since 2022
Since 2022, The Kerr County Lead has covered Fourth on the River from the crowd at Louise Hays Park — the bands, the fireworks, the kids splashing in the Guadalupe, the whole town turning out for the Hill Country’s biggest Independence Day party.
Photo gallery: The 2026 Bluebell Bike Parade
Riders of all ages decorated their bikes before setting off on the charming neighborhood parade route, adding a lighthearted, family-friendly moment to the holiday.
Photo gallery: Symphony of the Hills’ “Stars, Stripes and Spirit” concert
Conductor Dr. Eugene Dowdy said the free concert was meant to honor both the tragedy and the community’s resilience, and before the performance, the public viewed nine original paintings from artist Robert R. “Bobby” Cahill’s “Freedom” series, tracing the history of the American flag since 1776.
Photo gallery: The 2026 Fourth on the River
The free, all-ages celebration featured a full day of live music — including Los Juanos, Jamie Lin Wilson, Junior Brown and William Beckmann, several of whom were booked for last year’s canceled show.
Photo gallery: Faith and Fellowship at Louise Hays Park
The free event offered space for community healing ahead of the flood anniversary, with live music from Southern Oaks Church, Briscoe and Caleb & Kelsey, plus access to trained mental health professionals for those still processing last year’s tragedy.
Photo gallery: Kerrville Pets Alive remembrance
Kerrville Pets Alive hosted a remembrance ceremony to honor pets lost in the July 4, 2025 flood in Kerr County.
Sports
Meet the Edwards siblings, Kerr County’s homeschool track and field powerhouse
Now it’s on to Iowa, where three Edwards kids will take the runway at Drake University with a Junior Olympics medal, and a little Hill Country pride, on the line.
Enchanted Rock opens rugged new Backcountry Area to hikers July 7
The roughly 640-acre expansion, tucked behind the park’s iconic granite dome, has been years in the making as part of the state’s Centennial Parks initiative. Monday’s opening marks the first phase of public access — and it’s not for the casual visitor.
Pat Holmes, AFL All-Star who later called Kerrville home, dies at 85
Durable as well as decorated, he started every game of his first five seasons and never missed a game in seven years with the Oilers, appearing in all 98 and starting 96.
Obituaries
Larry Johnson: Sept. 30, 1946-July 10, 2026
Larry kept himself busy not only as a long-haul truck driver, but also as an airplane mechanic. Larry also worked in the security sector as a civilian contractor at Laughlin Air Force Base.
Dolores “Lolo” Castillo Aguero: March 19, 1935-July 15, 2026
He played baseball and was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys and San Antonio Spurs. He and Janie spent New Years with his best friends in San Antonio, and greatly cherished those times.
Louise Walker: Feb. 25, 1931-July 18, 2026
Since arriving in Texas, she was active in numerous civic activities and at Trinity Baptist Church in Kerrville.
Robert Nacvich: Sept. 27, 1948-July 17, 2026
He was an Army veteran as a Military Policeman at West Point. He was a union electrician for several companies including NASA.
Rev. Fern Lancaster: Sept. 14, 1936-July 16, 2026
Fern devoted her life entirely to ministry. She became an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God denomination.
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.
