Good morning, Kerr County!
We can expect some unsettled weather again — as in a 20-30% chance of thunderstorms. That threat sort of intensifies tonight, but after that, the rain chances slip away. We are looking at a broiling weekend with a high of 97 on Saturday.
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Happy MAY THE FOURTH
On today's The Lead Live!
Another show with political bells and whistles! Mayoral candidate Judy Eychner and City Council candidates Joe Herring Jr. and Brenda Hughes will discuss their campaigns today. At 10 a.m., Natalee Peppitt of Gold Cup Live and Tome Boutique will discuss her latest retail expansion in downtown Kerrville.
A special invitation for political candidates
Ok, political candidates here's your chance to make your final pitch before Saturday's election. The Lead Live is opening up Friday's show starting at 8 a.m. for candidates to make their pitch for 10 minutes — uninterrupted. However, you have to reserve your time here: RSVP your spot for Friday's The Lead Live
Today's newsletter is sponsored by
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Voter turnout
There has been much hand-wringing over the voter turnout numbers for Saturday's municipal election, and it's clear that the participation numbers are behind the March primary elections. The Secretary of State's office reports 3,394 cast ballots through Tuesday's final day of early voting — about 9% turnout. With a ferocious primary battle among Republicans, the turnout was about 13% in March.
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Today's planner
Outdoors
- Eduscape lecture — Riverside Nature Center, 1 p.m. Information: https://www.riversidenaturecenter.org The details. The UGRA EduScape is an award-winning demonstration garden that contains numerous examples of water conservation and stormwater detention practices that you can incorporate into your landscaping. The EduScape Talk and Tour will feature presentations by leading experts, followed by a tour of the EduScape. The lecture focuses on Urban Riparian and Watershed Protection.
Food and drink
- Wild West Wine Wednesday — Museum of Western Art, 5:30 p.m. Information: https://www.museumofwesternart.com The details: Join us and meet the folks from Newsome Winery in Comfort. Hear about their products, try out a sample, and enjoy our latest exhibits.
Markets and Sales
- Friends of the Library Book Sale — Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library, 1–3 p.m. Information: https://kerrvillet.gov/349/FOTL-Book-Sale The details: Looking for a great read? Or better yet, come down and support the work of Friends of the Library. Maybe find a banned book? That sounds like a fun day to us.
- Kerr County Produce Market Day — The Big Red Barn, 10 a.m., Information: 830-896-7330 The details: Kerr County Produce Market Day (The Big Red Barn). Local Hill Country wholesale warehouse distributor for the finest fruits & vegetables. Open to the public.
Texas reacts to Supreme Court leak involving Roe V. Wade decision
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Twitter
See @thehill's post on Twitter.
twitter.com/thehill
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Twitter
See @BetoORourke's post on Twitter.
twitter.com/BetoORourke
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Kerrville wins transparency award
When it comes to financial transparency, the Texas Comptroller says the city of Kerrville is one of the best. The city's finance department received the Traditional Finance Transparency Star and the Debt Obligation Transparency.
The honors came after reviewing the city's finances and reporting by the comptroller's office. The state Transparency Stars program recognizes local governments for going above and beyond in their transparency efforts. The program recognizes government entities that:
- Open their books in their traditional finances and in the areas of contracts and procurement, economic development, public pensions, and debt obligations.
- Provide clear and meaningful financial information by posting financial documents and through summaries, visualizations, downloadable data, and other relevant information.
Kerr County drug bust
A 41-year-old woman faces drug charges after a multi-county interdiction agency stopped her in Kerrville. Sheriff's deputies from Kerr, Gillespie and Kendall counties made a traffic stop at mile marker 493 on Interstate 10 of a 2016 Mercedes Benz sedan making erratic lane changes.
The deputies stopped the driver, who identified herself as Hien-Thang Thi Lam, but deputies said her real name was Thoa Le Nguyen, 41, of Garden Grove, Texas.
Investigators said they found 31.2 grams of methamphetamine in the car, 24 state-issued identification cards and 34 credit and debit cards not belonging to the suspect. Financial documents not belonging to the suspect were also discovered, along with two additional meth pipes. Through the investigation process, the suspect admitted to using fake IDs to set up business accounts with cellular phone providers, among other acts to impersonate others for the purpose of financial gain.
"This type of financial crime leaves innocent people and businesses holding the bag on thousands in losses, not to mention the disruption to one's life caused by having an identity stolen," Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said. "Often, drug and other criminal activity like ID theft are closely connected. We encourage all citizens to check their credit reports and keep an eye on the accounts in their name. This can happen to anyone. Based on the information gathered so far, this arrest may have prevented hundreds of average people from becoming victims."
Nguyen was booked into the Kerr County Jail on one count of possession of a controlled substance, one count of fraudulent use or possession of identifying information items (50 or more), and three counts of tampering with a government record with intent to defraud or harm. Total bonds are $105,000.
Fur Ball is selling out fast
We already have one mega charity ball, but there's always room for more, especially for a good cause. So, Kerrville Pets Alive will host its first-ever "Fur Ball."
Scheduled to be held at 6 p.m. on Oct. 1 at the Museum of Western Art, the "Fur Ball" will feature live entertainment, dinner, dancing, a full open bar and silent and live auctions to support the nonprofit's fundraising efforts.
"The Fur Ball has been a dream of mine since our nonprofit was formed in the fall of 2019," said Karen Guerriero, KPA President. "Our board is so excited to bring the first event of this kind to the Kerrville area that will benefit animal welfare. We have a wonderful committee of women who have big plans in store for our ball—it will be a formal affair with a funky and fun twist to it!"
While attendees will not be bringing their own pets to the event, KPA will have rescue animals present at the event that have been adopted and placed into loving homes already. The committee also has plans for a "cuddle lounge" space with animals for Fur Ball guests to love on and a few other unique event features to make this a one-of-a-kind Hill Country affair!
"Seating is very limited and is selling quickly for the event. So quickly that we've sold about half of our event seating already through sponsorships and individual tickets," Guerriero said. "We anticipate the event will be sold out by summertime. Please get your tickets now for a night of cattin' around and a doggone good time for our life-saving cause!"
Faux fur only is requested at this event. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available on the KPA website at kerrvillepetsalive.com/furball. For event questions, please contact either of KPA's Fur Ball co-chairs, Wendy Grona (830-459-3719) or Allison Bueche (830-329-5173).
Summer history camp
It's a unique opportunity for children to learn all about the history of Kerr County. The Kerr County Historical Commission will offer a summer history camp from 9 a.m. to noon June 6-10. Children may register who have completed the third grade or the fourth grade in 2022. Union Church is the home of the camp. The fee per camper is $50. The camp features presentations by the staff from the Upper Guadalupe River Authority; Fun on the Frontier with Clifton Fifer; Life on the Frontier with the Daughters of the Republic of Texas; Ranching Work and Tools with Julius Neunhoffer; and A Day in the Life of a Texas Ranger with former Texas Rangers. For registration information, call Bunny Bond, vice-chair of the commission, at 830-377-9940.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
You may have noticed the signs at the Kerr County Courthouse recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness is leading some of that work. The organization's Kerrville chapter sent a press release reminding people about mental health care challenges.
Mental health affects how children, adolescents, and adults think, feel and act, and also how to handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Five facts about how individuals in the United States live daily: one in five adults experience a mental health condition each year, more than 50 million individuals are affected by mental illness, 17% of children and adolescents ages 6 to 17 experience a mental health condition, 19% of adults (estimated 48 million) have an anxiety disorder, and the suicide rate has increased 35% since 1999.
Mental illness is a treatable health condition involving distress or functional impairment related to thinking, emotion, or behavior.
