Good morning, Kerr County!
OK, kids, here we are — Dec. 1. That’s right, we’ve made it. We will wake up to cold temperatures, clouds and a chance of rain by tonight! There’s a 20% chance of rain later tonight, at least according to the National Weather Service.
On today’s The Lead Live!
The Gibson’s 12 Days of Giftmas is finally here! We are ready! Today’s episode of The Lead Live will be epic, but gift ideas are not the sole focus of today’s show. Soprano Sarah Davis joins us to preview Thursday night’s performance of the Symphony of the Hills at the Cailloux Theater. She may even give us her insights into the gifts on display.
Before the coronavirus pandemic struck, Davis lived in Berlin, Germany, where she was singing and enjoying a European lifestyle. She landed in the Hill Country because her parents own a ranch in Bandera. Davis calls Comfort home. She graduated from Trinity University and the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University.
Since returning to Texas — she grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area — Davis sings at Kerrville’s First Presbyterian Church with Seth Laffler. Tonight, she will sing a solo in Handel’s Messiah.
About the 12 Days of Giftmas
Our lineup includes:
- Gibson’s Discount Center
- NAPA Kerrville
- Hill Country Arts Foundation Gift Shop
- Museum of Western Art Gift Shop
- Tome, Gold Cup Pawn and Fitch Estate Sales
- Riverside Nature Center Gift Shop
- Kerrville Hills Winery (only on Friday)
- Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau Gift Shop
- Wild Birds Unlimited
- Billy Gene’s Restaurant
- Joanne Marie and Me Wine Boutique
- The Apothecary Shoppe
- Grace Academy
- Aurora Joleen Artistry
- Bella Shearhart Photography
Kerrville and Ingram NAPA are running a special for GIFTMAS!
As part of today’s launch of the 12 Days of Giftmas, Kerrville and Ingram’s NAPA stores are offering a special deal if you mention The Lead!
Here’s the deal: Any customer that buys any of the Dometic Ice Chest
(20 quarts, 35 quarts, 55 quarts) we have (while supplies last) an extra 20% off the sale price if they mention hearing us on THE LEAD for the whole 12 days (Dec. 1-16)
- 20-quart ice chest is now $184 instead of $230
- 35-quart ice chest is now $216 instead of $270
- 55 quart is now $256 instead of $320
The stores are also running a raffle for a 20-quart Dometic ice chest. Any purchase of $25 or over qualifies someone for a raffle ticket, but you have to ask for it.
Today’s events
Markets and sales
- Girls Night Out — Arcadia Live, 6-10 p.m. Information: events@thearcadialive.org The details: Mark your calendars for the 2nd annual holiday shopping extravaganza right here at the Arcadia Live theatre! There will be food, specialty cocktails, and a raffle drawing to cap off the night. Additional raffle ticket donations are available for purchase at checkout.
- Art Mart — Hill Country Arts Foundation, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Dec. 17. Information: https://www.hcaf.com The details: The annual Hill Country Arts Foundation showcase of hand-made arts and crafts by area artists. Gift ideas that are perfect for holiday giving.
Arts and crafts
- Design Your Own Ugly Christmas Sweater — Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library, 4-5 p.m. Information: https://www.kerrvilletx.gov The details: Decorate your own T-shirt/sweater to show off at your holiday parties. This is a free event, and all supplies are provided.
Live music
- Del Way’s Hill Country Christmas Concert — Calvary Temple Church, 6:30-8 p.m. Information: https://www.calvary.shor.tn/app The details: Pastor and award-winning singer/songwriter Del Way helps usher in the Christmas spirit with a blend of Christmas classics and original music. A special night you won’t want to miss.
- Kerrville Strummers — Inn of the Hills Pub, 7-10 p.m. Information: 830-895-5000 The details: Kerrville strummers is an event of local singer-songwriters getting together and playing new music for the town. This event is held every first Thursday of the month. We highly encourage all songwriters to come out and sign up. See you soon
- Happy Hour with Jake and Keith — Joanne Marie and Me Wine Boutique, 6 p.m. Information: https://www.facebook.com/wineboutique1
- Open Mic with Jake Owens — Gravity Check Saloon and Arena, 6 p.m. Information: gravitychecksaloonandarena.com
The last Kerrville P&Z meeting of the year
That’s it! It’s the final Kerrville Planning and Zoning Commission meeting of an eventful 2022. The meeting could be mercifully short or perilously long. The good news for the commission is there are no short-term rentals to discuss.
However, a major apartment complex, a preliminary part of a major housing development west of Texas 16 and on Camp Meeting Road, is in the final plat consideration. The developer has to meet several conditions related to water and sewer before gaining final approval, but it seems likely this project will move forward.
The commission will also consider an annexation request of less than a tenth of an acre into the city limits along Lehmann Drive. Now, it sounds like a minor deal, but it clears the way for Peterson Health to build an intersection at Lehman Drive that would connect to the hospital’s new parking lot.
The land is a sliver of hillside that will create enough room for the construction crew to create a T-intersection. Peterson is building a new parking lot to the rear of the hospital campus. The hospital’s northern parking lot will become a new $42 million ambulatory surgery center.
The meeting starts at 4 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
Schreiner women come so close to upset
It still counts as a loss on the season log, but Wednesday night’s performance by Schreiner University’s women’s basketball team may be a starting point.
The Mountaineers took the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor to the wire, pushing the NCAA Division III No. 13-ranked Crusaders to the breaking point in a 64-61 loss — one decided in the final six seconds.
Schreiner’s Demauria Miles hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 61-61 with 43 seconds remaining, sending the Mountaineers into pandemonium, but it wasn’t to last. With five seconds left, UMHB’s Catherine Kaiser took a pass for a layup to break the tie and a foul by Schreiner’s Gabby Ivarra — the three points were the difference.
“I love everything we did except the rebounding,” said Schreiner coach Stacy Stephens, adding UMHB held a 56-36 advantage in rebounds. “That was really the biggest deal. We are going to keep getting better. I think this game is a great bounce going into the conference because if we can play with No. 13 in the nation, than who can’t we play with?”
The Mountaineers ambushed the Crusaders with their relentless defensive effort, forcing UMHB into 22 turnovers. However, UMHB’s size in the middle presented plenty of challenges. The Crusaders outscored Schreiner 44-32 in the key, with center Kaiser leading the way with 15 points.
However, Schreiner’s constant attacking offered plenty of chances for the Mountaineers to separate. With the game knotted at 50-50, Schreiner’s Nariyah Buggs broke the deadlock with a layup — two of her game-high 17 points — drawing a foul. Buggs converted the free throw, and the Mountaineers held a perilous three-point lead.
Aiding the Mountaineers was the near collapse of the UMHB offense, which went silent for nearly half of the fourth quarter. The Crusaders missed all 11 of their 3-point attempts in the game.
Buggs helped build the lead to six thanks to a free throw and a layup off a UMHB turnover. However, the Crusaders clawed their way back, forcing the thrilling final seconds of the game.
It was Schreiner’s fourth loss of the season by less than five points. The Mountaineers are now 3-6 and headed into Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play this weekend with road games at Houston St. Thomas and at Centenary in Shreveport, Louisiana.
To see more photos from the game: https://thekerrcountyleadphotography.zenfoliosite.com/zg/schreiner-university-women-miss-upset-against-mary-hardin-baylor
Kerrville-Schreiner Park closes for bow hunt
In a park destined to be a hiking, biking and camping destination, the city of Kerrville and Texas Parks Department are hosting a bow hunt in Kerrville-Schreiner Park.
For safety, the Southside/Hillside area of the park will be closed Dec. 1-18, to all traffic and park visitors; however, the Riverside area of the park will remain open to the public as usual. The Southside/Hillside area of the park will reopen on Dec. 19.
Hunters are selected to participate in the wildlife management bow hunt through an electronic drawing process facilitated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Public Hunt Program each year.
Additional information about the Public Hunt Program can be found at https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/public/. Standby hunters will not be allowed this year.
For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (830) 257-7300, recreation@kerrvilletx.gov.
The KPUB Christmas Lights Tour sneak peek
We took a little tour of the neighborhoods around Schreiner University on Wednesday night as we moved toward the launch of the 2022 KPUB Christmas Lights Tour. We found some early gems on Westminster and Jefferson streets. Here’s a look:
Our 2022 KPUB Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1LLVt-vs_reoYFJS0R0AxtUeGxoAwbKM&usp=sharing
The categories for this year’s contest are:
- Best use of the Grinch (Sponsored by Herring Printing)
- Best use of the Bumble (Sponsored by George and Judy Eychner)
- Best use of Baby Yoda (Sponsored by Texas Hill Country Advisors)
- Best use of the Nativity (Sponsored by Vecino’s Restaurant and Food Truck)
- Best use of Critters (not real) (Sponsored by Hill Country Podcast)
- Best use of Color (Sponsored by La Escondida 1962)
- Best use of White Light (Sponsored by Pour4 Bartending)
- Best use of Luminarias (Sponsored by 10-4 Marketing)
- Best use of Music (Sponsored by Kenneth O’Neal)
- Best use of Inflatables (Sponsored by Russell Nemky)
- Best use of Christmas Tree (Sponsored by Brenda Brown Real Estate)
- The Buzzie Hughes Memorial Most Unusual Decoration, (Sponsored by Buzzies Bar-B-Q)
- Best use of Christmas Decor In Architecture (Sponsored by SLS Partnerships)
- Most Elegant (Sponsored by Brenda Hughes)
- Most Reverent (Sponsored by Dickey’s Barbecue)
- Uniquely Texan (Sponsored by Dickey’s Barbecue)
