Good morning, Kerr County!
A little bit of change in the weather coming to the rest of the week and into next — some clouds, like what we saw on Wednesday afternoon. That means potentially humid mornings. Fun! Expect highs in the mid to high 90s for the next few days.
On today's The Lead Live!
We delve back into the conversation about short-term rentals resumes when the small business owners share their side of the story. We talk with Robin Perrin, Keri Wilt, Nathan Fitch and Kim Richards about their experience owning short-term rentals, dealing with some of the accusations leveled against them and what's next in this ongoing discussion. We expect to have the other side next week. The Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau's Leslie Jones updates on the upcoming weekend events. Texas Hill Country Advisors Andrew Gay updates us on the Federal Reserve's decision to raise interest rates.
Things to do across Kerr County today and Friday!
Public meetings
- Kerrville Planning and Zoning — Kerrville City Hall, 6 p.m.
History
- An Evening with the Buffalo Soldiers — Doyle School Community Center, 6-8 p.m. Information: clifton@doylecommunitycenter.org The details: Clifton Fifer lectures on the legacy of the famed Buffalo Soldiers, members of the U.S. Army's cavalry units after the Civil War.
Science and Nature
- Nature Nights — Riverside Nature Center, 6 p.m. Information: 830-257-4837 The details: Artifacts: The Storytellers.
Live music
- Braden Toomey — Southern Sky Music Cafe, 7 p.m. Information: https://www.facebook.com/southernskymusiccafe
- Open Mic Night — Gravity Check Saloon and Arena, 6-10 p.m. Information: https://www.facebook.com/GravityCheckSaloon
Friday, July 29
Markets
- Kerrville Farmers Market — A.C. Schreiner Mansion at the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library, 4 p.m. Information: The details: The Kerrville Farmers Market features a growers and producers only market in downtown Kerrville. They offer a wide variety of locally sourced produce, meat, eggs, bread, cheese, beer, wine and a selection of prepared food all sourced within the beautiful Texas Hill Country! The final market of the season.
Livestock shows
- Battle of the Cattle — Hill Country Youth Event Center, 8 a.m. Information: https://www.battleofthecattle.com/ The details: We're going back to our roots & putting on an old-school BOC-style show for summer '22! If you've been around BOC for a while, you'll appreciate the classic Battle of the Cattle mega jackpot summer show that we've planned for you, jammed-packed with fantastic prizes, give-aways, a Texas-sized showmanship contest & a steer show that will knock your sombreros off.
Science and Nature
- 1-on-1 with a naturalist — Riverside Nature Center, 10 a.m. Information: https://www.riversidenaturecenter.org The details: Naturalist, author, and columnist Jim Stanley and Texas Master Naturalist and native plant enthusiast John Hucksteadt will be available to meet one-on-one to answer questions, and discuss various topics, or listen to ideas about nature.
Performing Arts
- "Last Gas" — Playhouse 2000 VK Garage Theater, 7:30 p.m. Information: https://www.playhouse2000.com The details: Nat Paradis is a Red Sox-loving part-time dad. He manages "Paradis' Last Convenient Store," the last place to get gas (or anything) before the Canadian border in northern Maine. When an old flame returns to town, Nat gets a chance to rekindle a romance he gave up on years ago. But sparks fly as he must choose between new love and old. This play takes a hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking look at love lost and found and what it means to "get back to happy."
- "Matilda" — Hill Country Arts Foundation Point Theater, Ingram, 8:30 p.m. Information: https://www.hcaf.com The details: Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. Unloved by her cruel parents, Matilda impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. During her first term at school, Matilda and Miss Honey profoundly affect each other's lives, as Miss Honey begins recognizing and appreciating Matilda's extraordinary personality.
Dance
- Learn to Belly Dance — Kerr Arts and Cultural Center, 6 p.m. Information: The Cheeky Peacocks Dance Company The details: Bring a yoga mat, a bottle of water and a friend! The class is $10.
Live music
- Mindy Brown — Cafe at the Ridge, 6 p.m. Information: https://www.shopsattheridge.com
- Sean Kendrick — The Hunt Store, 7 p.m. Information: 830-238-4410
- The Tailgaters — Pier 28 River Lounge and Pizzeria, 8 p.m. Information: 830-896-7437
- Mark 2 — Joanne Marie and Me Wine Boutique, 6 p.m. Information: https://www.facebook.com/wineboutique1
- Monte Montgomery — Southern Sky Music Cafe, 7 p.m. Information: https://www.facebook.com/southernskymusiccafe
Speaking of raising rates
The Mega Millions Lottery topped $1 billion on Wednesday after no one won the massive jackpot. The next drawing is 10 p.m. Friday. We asked our readers what they would do with the money. Here's a sample:
- Jennyth Peterson wrote: "A person could fund a new building for the county animal shelter (with in-house vet care), fix the town's water lines, fund affordable housing projects all over Kerrville because we wouldn't need profit, random acts of kindness all over town. There would still be plenty left over for any family to live very comfortably."
- Pam Umstead wrote: "Whatever God says to do with — what fun that would be!"
- Brandy Hood wrote: Purchase property and build a mega-sports complex — ice skating, skating, bowling, trampoline park something for families to do this in this town, so they don't have to go to S.A. to have a family outing. Then, of course, pay off some bills."
- Kelly Rogers wrote: "Write a large check to KCSF for two Bearkat vehicles, new equipment, whatever they need to help protect and fight crime in Kerr County! Donate to the food banks, shelters, Free medical clinics, etc."
- Tracee Rogalla-Guard wrote: I would buy land to help aged-out foster kids actually have a shot at survival without being on the streets. Give them tools and trades to learn and safe housing."
- Harold Larkin wrote: "Give most away, because I have never seen a U-Haul following a hearse."
Nonprofit Week is fully booked
Thanks to the generous support of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, The Lead is hosting a week of nonprofits on the webcast Aug. 22-26. We have hit our maximum of 30 spots; we may move some groups to regular shows in the coming days. The Nonprofit Week features 15 hours of programming, with each nonprofit receiving 20-minute segments. It's not our only big week of programming as we head toward the end of 2022. Here's a look at what we have planned:
- September: Small Business Conversations and Leadership.
- October: Hospitality and Fun.
- November: Veterans Stories.
- December: The Lead's 2022 Christmas Lights Tour.
The planning and zoning face a simple meeting today
For months the Kerrville planning and zoning commission faced one lengthy meeting after another — primarily thanks to planned developments and short-term rentals.
So, on the surface, a one-item agenda seems like a leisurely afternoon of work — or will it be?
The 4 p.m. meeting's sole action item is creating a planned development district around the center that houses Soaring Dragon restaurant. The plans call for additional parking in the back of the complex accessible from Clay Street. That's it. We will see if it's that easy.
For history lovers, Clifton Fifer delivers today
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There's no better storyteller than Kerrville's Clifton Fifer, and tonight, he's hosting a lecture about the Buffalo Soldiers — members of the U.S. Cavalry who served in the post-Civil War army. The talk is at 6 p.m. at the Doyle School Community Center.
Patriots Club gets it wrong on short-term rentals
The Conservative Patriot Club of the Hill Country, which pretends to be expert in politics, proved it is a tool of misinformation when it comes to local public policy.
In an idiotic Facebook post, the group said the city is promoting short-term rentals at the planning and zoning commission and the City Council. The post said that the city's bread and butter were short-term rentals.
There are less than 100 short-term rentals in the city limits — hardly the makings of bread and butter. However, this is the kind of hysterical nonsense perpetrated by certain groups who can't tell where their political loyalties rest.
