GOOD MORNING
We had a great interview with Konrad Wert on Monday's show, who performs under the name "Possessed by Paul James." If you have a chance to watch it, we recommend it. Speaking of recommendations, we also hosted our first podcast with Andrew Gay and Gilberto Paiz of Texas Hill Country Financial Advisors, who chatted about interest rates. Today, we will continue our great conversations when Brenda Hughes, Tome O'Hern and Hunter Schmidt join The Lead Live this morning at 9 a.m.
LINKS TO MONDAY'S SHOWS
- Interview with Konrad Wert: https://fb.watch/99Lv0Awi0r/
- Texas Hill Country Advisors: https://fb.watch/99LrV-c6N1/
THINGS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT
- We are just 11 days from the Kerrville Lighted Christmas Parade, and the great George Eychner lighting the town up with Christmas lights; the Kerrville Christmas Lighting Corp. worked hard to continue to provide lights for the community.
- We drive by Ken Stoepel Ford daily. The lack of inventory attributed to a shortage of microchips needed to make the cars and trucks operational makes us wonder if we'll see an impact in sales tax revenue — or a decline in revenue. That reality hasn't completely taken hold in Kerr County — yet.
TODAY'S EVENTS TO CONSIDER
Sheriff's Foundation Fundraiser
Arcadia Live
6-9 p.m.
- The Kerr County Sheriff's Foundation, a new nonprofit, is hosting its first fundraising effort from 6-8 p.m., at Arcadia Live, 717 Water St. The priority will provide Sheriff Larry Leitha with the tools needed for the special response team to handle critical situations. This is a free event. To learn more about the organization, visit their website at: kerrcountysf.com
WHAT'S DRIVING THE NEWS
Arrest made in the death of Tivy High School football player
The Texas Department of Public Safety said a 19-year-old man is responsible for the death of a Tivy High School football player on Nov. 4.
Jonah Kai Stone, 19, of Kerrville, was taken into custody on Nov. 5 and booked into Kerr County Jail. Stone faces manslaughter and driving while intoxicated.
San Antonio television stations, quoting a DPS report, said Stone was driving a 2002 F-250 pickup truck and speeding when he struck a 2022 Kia K5 from behind. David Palestrant, 17, was a passenger in the truck, along with two others. The truck rolled and plunged down a ravine. Palestrant died at the scene. Stone was uninjured, but paramedics took the other two passengers to University Hospital in San Antonio.
Kerrville says it can't release public documents related to fatal racing crash
Citing potential litigation, the city of Kerrville has asked the Texas Attorney General to consider a request from The Lead to provide public documents related to the city's role in an Oct. 23 drag race at Kerrville-Kerr County Airport that led to the deaths of three people.
In a letter to Attorney General Ken Paxton, Kerrville assistant attorney William Tatsch said the city believes the documents requested are exempt from disclosure due to pending litigation. The city, according to Tatsch's letter, has already been served with a "Notice of Claim" letter.
At least two attorneys groups represent the families involved in the crash that left Daniel Jones, Santiago Martinez and Rebecca Cedillo dead. Andrew Toscano, the attorney for the families of Martinez and Cedillo, said the city has already declined his request for documents.
However, Kerr County attorney Heather Stebbins released the county's records to The Lead on Monday. Those records covered a routine amount of information about the event, but nothing specific about the county's role in it outside of the commissioner's court approving it on Sept. 13.
The following is what The Lead requested of the city on Oct. 25: "Any and all communications between city of Kerrville and the organizers of Race Wars 2, Ross Dunagan and Flyin' Diesel Performance in regards to the city's role in Race Wars 2 event held Oct. 23, 2021 at Kerrville-Kerr County Airport. This request should include any communications between city staff, Council with the organizers of the event, along with the Airport Board. Any communications involving security, donations or expenses should be included."
In Tatsch's letter to the state, he argued that the international media attention from the event had heightened the city's chance of being sued.
"Furthermore, the anticipated litigation is based upon the subject matter of the request — the city's potential role in approving and/or organizing the stock car race (sic)," Tatsch wrote. "In short, this documentary evidence there is more than a chance of litigation."
In an interview with The Lead last week, Toscano said the challenge of his case was with the city and the county. Toscano said his most likely course of action would be to file a lawsuit against the insurance company of Martinez's father to have the case located in Bexar County.
In the 38 pages provided by the county, most of the dialogue is about the potential impact on the airport runways and operations.
Sheriff announces a major bust
 |
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha announced that a multi-agency task force made 20 arrests of men suspected of soliciting prostitution and trying to coerce children into sex. "This operation represents a big win for the safety of our community, in Kerr County and the region," Sheriff Larry Leitha said. "Once again, our Criminal Investigation Division led a strong effort with invaluable support from our interagency partners."
Here's the story: https://kerrcountylead.com/900245477348063
Voices cram into the Kerr County Commissioners Court
So many people showed up to speak Monday at the Kerr County Commissioners Court that Judge Rob Kelly moved the meeting to another courtroom. Most of the speakers urged the county not to accept $10 million in federal funding. However, since the meeting moved, it also eliminated the county's ability to live stream it to YouTube.
Kerrville City Council meets tonight
The City Council will discuss several changes to its meeting procedures at its 6 p.m. meeting. Place 1 Councilman Roman Garcia has proposed a raft of changes, including removing the rule that speakers present their addresses when speaking to the Council. Several people have complained about the practice — standard operating procedure for most public meetings — arguing it's an invasion of privacy. Place 3 City Councilwoman Judy Eychner, however, is proposing a ban on personal electronic devices during the meetings. While the City Council is issued a city-owned iPad, Garcia uses a personal laptop. Even personal electronic devices are covered under the Texas Open Meetings Act, which requires disclosure of communications via those devices.
GOOD COMMUNITY NEWS
 |
The folks at J.K. Bernhard Construction and its affiliated company, Steel Frame Solutions, were named in the Top 100 fastest-growing companies owned by Texas A&M graduates.
Founded in 2006, owner Kevin Bernhard has grown the company into one of the largest commercial builders in the Hill Country. Bernhard, of course, is an A&M graduate.
The crews of J.K. Bernhard have completed Arcadia Live, Medina ISD bond projects, Kerrville ISD bond projects, the Guadalupe River Trail extension, HEB Tennis renovation, Siboney Cellars near Johnson City, and other wineries on the Texas 290 corridor.
Steel Frame Solutions provide metal building and metal house
packages for consumers and contractors in the Hill Country ranging from house covers to 9,000-square foot metal frame homes to 70,000-square-foot equestrian centers and all facets of self-storage facilities.
J.K. Bernhard was ranked No. 12 in the rankings, while Steel Frame Solutions was ranked No. 51. The companies were honored during an Oct. 22 football game at Kyle Field.
