The Lead April 14, 2022: Kerrville pays tribute to the contributions of a veterans' champion — Alan Hill

Good morning, Kerr County!

Another warm day on the horizon and an even hotter weekend ahead as we head into the Easter holiday. You can expect temps in the 90s on Saturday and Sunday. We'll see some humidity over the next few days, making things muggy, but no rain in the forecast.

On today's The Lead Live!

Delayne Sigerman returns as host, talking about Saturday's EasterFest event at Flat Rock Park in Kerrville. The folks from Kerr Konnect, the vital ridesharing service here in Kerr County, will join us to discuss their needs, especially for volunteer drivers. Join us at 9 a.m. Also coming Friday, Hill Country Cravings owner Jenna Moebes will discuss her delectable offerings, which have become a hit at weddings, parties and other events.

Our super show is taking shape

We're planning our first-ever SUPER SHOW for The Lead Live — an approximately six-hour live stream with about 20 guests on Monday. The show starts at 8 a.m. and runs through 2 p.m. or later. We are opening The Lead Live up to anyone who has a story to share, a product to pitch, a song to sing, a campaign to mount, an opinion to give, an event to celebrate, and a business to promote. Guests confirmed so far are Irene Van Winkle, Judy Eychner, Crystal Smith, Bella Shearhart, Layng Guerriero, Dale Leach, Ada Brown, Mindy Wendele, Kamaria Woods, the Kerrville Police Department, Tera Legenza, Karen Guerriero and Jeremiah Romack. Want to be on the show? Register here: https://thekerrcountyleadphotography.zenfoliosite.com/super-show-booking

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Plan your day

• Police Station Tour — Kerrville Police Station, 2 p.m. Information: www.keepkerrvillesafe.com The details: Visit the Kerrville Police Station and see where the officers, detectives and staff work.
• Child Abuse Awareness Month Luncheon — Light on the Hill, 610 Methodist Encampment Road, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Information: kerrcsb@gmail.com, reservations required for the free lunch. The details: Kerr County Child Services Board is hosting Belong CEO Tara Roussett and working as a team to meet the needs of abused children in the Hill Country. "The foster care system in Texas is currently in a transition period as it transfers the casework to a private agency which in Regional 8b (Including Kerr County) Belong, a division of SJRC Texas who has been awarded the contract from the state of Texas. This agency will be taking over the casework currently provided by Department of Family and Protective Services. We want Belong to be a successful in Kerr County and we want to help provide the resources and relationship to help make that happen," said Kellie Early, president of Kerr County Child Services Board.
• Child Abuse Prevention Seminar — Hill Country Youth Event Center, 6-7 p.m. Information: https://hillcountrycrisiscouncil.com/ The details: An instructive session led by the Kid's Advocacy Place, Kerr County Sheriff's Office, CASA and Hill Country Crisis Council where parents and children in the sixth grade and up can learn about warning signs of abuse.

More on Child Abuse Awareness Month

Our interview with 216th District Attorney Lucy Wilke

https://fb.watch/cmSAY-GuRh/

Read our story from the interview: https://kerrcountylead.com/kerr-county-continues-to-fight-against-child-abuse

Chamber of Commerce backs Prop. A

The Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce's board of directors has voiced its support for the city's effort to pass a bond to pay for a $45 million public safety building. Voters will decide the fate of the proposed 69,000-square foot building on May 7.

"The Chamber feels that it is important for the business community to support the city of Kerrville and its front-line workers to protect and serve our community," said Allison Bueche, chair of the board of directors. "We encourage our member businesses and the community to vote for Proposition A in the upcoming bond election."

The City Council pays tribute to Alan Hill

If there was a definitive Kerr County voice regarding veterans' affairs, it was the late Alan Hill, who died in January at 76. On Tuesday night, Kerrville Mayor Bill Blackburn honored Hill's legacy with a proclamation, which Hill's family tearfully accepted.

"It is such an honor to have family here and those who have served and who are friends with Alan Hill," Blackburn said. "He was a great guy. He was easy to talk to. He was so proud of his work for veterans."

Blackburn was flanked by Hill's family and friends from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. As the family thanked the city, those in attendance rose and gave a standing ovation in honor of Hill's remarkable legacy of service.

Hill served three tours of duty in Vietnam with the U.S. Army. As his obituary noted, he was a man of many skills, and his career shifted to law enforcement, then into nursing, and then back to helping veterans.

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Gov. Abbott draws fire over inspections

Gov. Greg Abbott flip-flopped on a decision to provide a second inspection of Mexican trucks coming across the border into Texas after business leaders complained that their deliveries were unnecessarily delayed.

A whirlwind of action, finger-pointing, and high-level negotiations led to the change of direction. While Abbott is not likely to admit defeat, there was significant criticism from business leaders in the U.S. and Mexico that Abbott was hurting the economies of both countries.

Both the Houston Chronicle and the Texas Tribune reported Abbott ordered Department of Public Safety officers to provide an additional layer of inspection for every truck coming across the border — sometimes taking an hour per truck. That led to a miles-long backup at the ports of entry. In protest, Mexican truckers blocked trucks bound from the U.S. from entering Mexico.

Twitter See @JeremySWallace's post on Twitter. twitter.com/JeremySWallace

The move irritated the U.S. Department of Customs and Border Enforcement, which already inspects trucks coming across the border. With an estimated 60% reduction in border traffic, the controversy soon reached the White House.

Twitter See @ABCPolitics's post on Twitter. twitter.com/ABCPolitics

Twitter See @elpasomatters's post on Twitter. twitter.com/elpasomatters

More events coming your way on Friday

Friday, April 15

GOOD FRIDAY

• Good Friday Audio Experience — Kerrville Church of Christ, noon. Information: Kerrville Church of Christ The details: There are five basic senses of the human body: sight, smell, taste, touch and sound. Come and listen as the church takes you on an audio journey through the events of Good Friday. This is an outdoor, personal, come-and-go event available from noon to 7 p.m. Stay in your car or walk through the event.
• Kerrville Farmers Market — A.C. Schreiner Mansion, 4 p.m. Information: https://kerrvillefarmersmarket.com/ The details: Come down and enjoy a complimentary beer, or buy a handcrafted pizza and enjoy the market.
• "For Such A Time Is This" — Playhouse 2000 VK Garage Theater, 7 p.m. Information: https://www.playhouse2000.com The details: Based on the biblical story of Esther, "For Such a Time as This" is a love story about the young beauty who captures the heart of a King despite her place in an enslaved class, and ultimately saves her people. Using a wide variety of musical styles and more than a smattering of humor, the musical relates one of the great stories in a way that appeals to a broad audience, young and old alike.
• Cycling — Schreiner University, 7 a.m. Information: https://schreiner.edu/easter-hill-country-tour/schedule/ The details: Experience, the charm and hospitality of the Texas Hill Country and three days of the best riding Texas, has to offer. Quiet, well-paved roads, fully-stocked rest stops and panoramic scenery have made the Easter Hill Country Tour one of the premier cycling events in Texas, with routes suitable for all categories of participants, from novices to experienced riders.
• Veterans Appreciation Breakfast — Hill Country Veterans Center, 8 a.m., Information: https://www.kerrvillerotary.org The details: The Kerrville Rotary Club would like to invite all veterans in Kerr County to be honored at a complimentary breakfast. The breakfast menu consists of Tacos, fruit, coffee, fellowship and war stories.
• Live music by Jason Dea West — Trailhead Beer Garden at Schreiner University, 5–7 p.m. Information: https://www.trailheadbeergarden.com The details: Jason Dea West is an American troubadour who sings what he lives and lives what he sings. Wests' poignant lyrics blended with vintage country, folk and blues, and timely sensibilities. From epic guitar and harmonica instrumentals to humorous song as story, Jason never strays very far from the anarchic punk-folk roots of his beloved former band Barefoot Surrender and his celebrated current band Intuitive Compass.
• Live music by Bill Mahko — Babez Seafood Bucket, 5 p.m. Information: Bill Mahko Music
• Live music by Mindy Brown — Cafe at the Ridge, 6 p.m. Information: https://www.shopsattheridge.com
• Live music by Thomas Jones — Pint and Plow Brewing Co., 6 p.m. Information: https://www.pintandplow.com The details: Thomas Jones is an Austin Texas based musician who plays Country, Blues and Rock covers as well as originals.
• Live music by Gary Patrick — Southern Sky Music Cafe, 6 p.m. Information: https://www.southernskymusiccafe.com
• Live music by Rick Reyna — Pier 27 River Lounge and 8 Ball, 8 p.m. Information: 830-896-7437
• Live music by Miles Adams — La Escondida 1962, 7 p.m. Information: La Escondida 1962
• Live music by The Flashbacks — Joanne Marie and Me Wine Bistro, 6–9 p.m. Information: https://www.facebook.com/wineboutique1/
• Live music by the Collector's Edition — The Hunt Store, 7 p.m. Information: The Hunt Store The details: They’ll take you down memory lane note by note.