Good morning, Kerr County!
We started the week with a note from the National Weather Service that said we just had "unseasonably warm" weather. Terrific. The week ahead? There's a chance of thunderstorms tonight, but Tuesday looks fun — 95 degrees. After that shock, we should see temperatures in the 70s and 80s the rest of the week.
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On today's The Lead Live!
We have a solid week of great shows, starting with today's guest appearance by Rob Ward, who wrote the musical "For Such A Time As This." Joining Ward is composer Lew King. The musical premieres Friday at Playhouse 2000. Based on the biblical story of Esther, "For Such a Time as This," is a love story. 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. Coming later this week:
- Tuesday — Becky Babb will tell us about her wedding, doubling as a fundraiser for Kerrville Pets Alive! Kerrville NAPA Auto Parts store owner Cindy Colbath will discuss National Car Care Month, and NAPA is also working on a KPA fundraiser.
- Wednesday — It's Wonderful Wednesday with Gold Cup Pawn and Fitch Estate Sales owner Rachel Fitch.
- Thursday — District Attorney Lucy Wilke, who represents the 216th District Attorney's office, will discuss Child Abuse Awareness Month. Joining Wilke will be Brent Ives, executive director of Hill Country Crisis Council, Kellie Early, president of the Kerr County Child Services Board, and Stephenie Cantu, program director at Kids Advocacy Place.
- Friday — Museum of Western Art Executive Director Darrell Beauchamp will discuss the museum's latest show. We'll also have Jenna Moebes on to discuss Hill Country Cravings — her delicious new catering business.
Today's newsletter is sponsored by
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At 6 p.m. tonight it's the Texas Hill Country Advisors on The Lead
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Coming later this week, a big P&Z discussion
Kerr County public meetings are light this week — although Ingram City Council meets Tuesday — the one to watch will be Thursday afternoon's Kerrville Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
On the agenda? How about six short-term rental applications and a request for a zoning change to allow the construction of more than 350 apartments on a 36-acre parcel just north of Riverhill along Medina Highway. It's nestled into the same spot where a planned 500-home development before falling through, but this one won't be bumping up against Riverhill neighborhoods.
In a letter from attorney Greg A. Richards, who represents the property owner, the project description focuses on Kerrville's workforce housing needs.
"It is critical for our community to retain and attract quality nurses, entrepreneurs, firefighters, EMS, and Police, our teachers, construction professionals and our young families to serve our community," Richards wrote the commission. "If they are going to work here, they need to live here. Right now, these key members of our community are finding that most existing and newly constructed housing is simply priced beyond their reach."
The issue of short-term rentals is one the commission has seemed to struggle with, and it will be interesting to hear their potential objections. Previously, the commission denied conditional-use permits for short-term rentals if the property owner was not present.
In one of the permit requests, a neighboring property owner wrote a letter opposing the approval. Steve and Ginette Tally, who owns a short-term rental in Taos, N.M., noted that the short-term rental doesn't fit into the Sendero Ridge neighborhood.
"The presence of one or many STRs in a neighborhood affects the permanent resident's (owner-occupied) perception of stability and now places the neighborhood in the pretense of "commercialism," the couple wrote.
Focusing on farming and ranches draws a crowd
About 50 people listened to attorney Jim Bradbury discuss livestock law, fence law and a lot of the legal issues involved in owning a farm or ranch. |
It probably wasn't how some would choose to spend their Saturday, but it was an indispensable day for those who own farms and ranches in Texas.
Century 21 The Hills Realty sponsored its first Farm and Ranch Expo at Schreiner University. About 50 people took furious notes during an afternoon legal session and peppered Austin-based attorney Jim Bradbury with questions.
Even for those ill-informed about the farming and ranching law, it was an attention holder because Bradbury addressed things like — what if your cow gets out and gets hit by a car? Sounds funny, but it's an essential conversation for any property owner with livestock.
For John Sawyer, who helped organize the event for Century 21, the day was a success and one that the real estate firm will probably do again soon.
Hill Country Youth Ranch hits its mark for fundraising
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Saturday proved to be a magnificent day for running the roads and trails at the Big Springs Ranch for Children and an even better day for the fundraising the runners turned in to support Hill Country and Big Spring ranches.
With 212 runners tackling distances from a 26.2-mile marathon, a 13.1-mile half marathon, 12-kilometer run (7.4 miles) and a 5-kilometer run, the runners raised more than $87,000 to support the work at Ingram's Hill Country Youth Ranch and the Leakey-based Big Springs Ranch.
Of course, the scene-chewing scenery of Big Springs Ranch — which is at the headwaters of the Frio River — was a pretty good enticement to make a jaunt out to Leakey.
If you'd like to see more images from the Headwaters of the Frio Marthon here you go: https://thekerrcountyleadphotography.zenfoliosite.com/zg/headwaters-of-the-frio-marathon |
Schreiner softball is starting to surge
It's taken some time, but the Schreiner University softball team has gotten hot — winning four of their last five games.
The Mountaineers swept Austin College in Sherman, Texas, with strong hitting and pitching over the weekend. In the first game of a doubleheader, pitcher Bri Wodtke struck out eight in a 2-1 victory. Wodtke came back Sunday and struck out 10 to lead the Mountaineers to a 7-2 victory.
Schreiner is now 9-21 overall but is 6-6 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Mountaineers welcome Dallas for a three-game series starting Saturday.
Schreiner salvages a win over Centenary
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Schreiner University's baseball team put in extra work on Saturday and came up with a doubleheader split against visiting Centenary. Centenary scored four runs in the top of the 13th inning in the first game to break open a 4-4 tie.
The Mountaineers answered in the bottom of the 13th when Will Vogt hit a two-run home run to cut the Gents' lead to 8-6, but that was as close as the Mountaineers would get.
In the finale, the Mountaineers jumped out to a 4-1 lead after the first inning and then fell behind 9-4 going into the bottom of the fourth. In Schreiner's half of the inning, the Mountaineers erupted for five runs to tie the game 9-9. In the sixth and seventh innings, Schreiner added runs to complete an 11-9 victory.
The Mountaineers are now 12-12 overall and 4-5 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Start planning the rest of the week
Tuesday, April 5
Public meetings
- Ingram City Council — Ingram City Hall, 6 p.m. Information: https://www.cityofingram.com/agendabudget.html
Events
- Job Fair — Kerrville Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, 12-3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Information: https://kerrvillekroc.org/workhere/ The Details: The Kroc has 18 positions open, and they're looking for help immediately. Bring your resume and a photo I.D.
(Recurring events)
- KACC Exhibits — Kerr Arts and Cultural Center, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: https://www.kacckerrville.com The details: Three exhibits are running at KACC through April 16. The Hill Country Youth Art Exhibit; Kerrville 1940-1960, a photographic history of the community sponsored by the Kerr County Historical Commission; Passion Project: Our contributions to the world, a collection of work from Schreiner University, senior art students.
- Heaven's Declare Art Exhibition — Museum of Western Art, 10 a.m. Information: https://www.museumofwesternart.com The details: Featuring works by renowned artists who celebrate the heavens. The exhibition will feature works by Phil Bob Borman, G. Russell Case, Tim Newton, Laurel Daniel, Linda Glover Gooch, David Griffin, David Grossman, Michael Magrin, Denise LaRue Mahlke, Phil Starke and John Taft.
- The Fiber Show and Sale — Hill Country Arts Foundation, Ingram, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Information: https://www.hcaf.com The details: An exhibit of fiber art by artists from across Texas.
Wednesday, April 6
- Job Fair — Kerrville Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, 12-3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Information: https://kerrvillekroc.org/workhere/ The Details: The Kroc has 18 positions open, and they're looking for help immediately. Bring your resume and a photo I.D.
- EduScape Talk and Tour — Riverside Nature Center, 10:30 a.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 & Tour will feature presentations by leading experts, followed by a tour of the EduScape.
- 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.
- Live music by Tom Prasada-Rao — Schreiner University, Junkin Campus Ministry Center, 7 p.m. Information: Dr. William Davis, Dean of Faculty, at wdavis@schreiner.edu or 830-792-7415. The details: This unique event presents an intimate conversation with a professional musician about his life, songs, and musical process. Music and Conversation feature audience participation and great original songs as illustrations. Tom Prasada-Rao is a musician's musician – an unassuming presence on the folk scene since the early nineties. His voice belies his musicianship and his extraordinary songs. From Rishi's Garden with its homage to Ravi Shankar to the groove of Sleeping Beauty, Tom's music is melodic, ambitious and reverent.
Want to see more events? Click here: https://kerrcountylead.com/37-things-to-do-between-april-5-9-in-kerr-county
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