Good morning, Kerr County!
One day more! That's the cry from the National Weather Service when it comes to forecasting fire weather — one more day. For those of us who love warm temps it's OK, but the dryness in the air continues to present fire dangers. However, the National Weather Service said it should break on Thursday night and into the weekend. That doesn't mean we'll see cooler temperatures — just more humidity. Here's the forecast:
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On today's The Lead Live!
We could be on a boat today or from a balcony at the Guadalupe Condominiums for today's episode, hosted by Delayne Sigerman. With an assist from Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing's Kristin Hedger, we could be on her electric pontoon boat — Bullfeathers — having a conversation with Mayor Bill Blackburn, Hedger and Nimitz Lake enthusiast John Anderson about how to best utilize the lake. If the winds pick up, we'll be chatting from Hedger's balcony overlooking the lake and river. Either way, join us at 9 a.m.
Programming note for later today
Join us at 1 p.m. as we chat with actor and musician Billy Bob Thornton about his April 16 appearance at Arcadia Live! Thornton and his band, The Boxmasters, were scheduled to perform last year, but COVID-19 sank that performance.
Speaking of Arcadia, check out our featured event!
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Old 97's is an enduring group that can trace its roots back to 1993 when lead singer Rhett Miller and bassist Murry Hammond formed the band. From there, the Old 97s have become a mainstay in the Americana scene and will play in April with Lyle Lovett in Dallas. Here's a sample of what Spotify had say about the group: Old 97's released the debut album Hitchhike to Rhome in 1994. It garnered positive reviews and began to build the group's alt-country fan base, which they consolidated on the album's follow-up, Wreck Your Life. Issued in 1995 by the newly formed Bloodshot Records — a label that would also launch the alt-country careers of Neko Case and Ryan Adams.
Sometimes the best discussion comes last
In the waning moments of Monday's Kerr County Commissioner's Court meeting, a discussion about the county's proposed subdivision plan featured a back-and-forth about getting it done.
Judge Rob Kelly said he wants to get the proposed rules into a friendlier format, but Precinct 3 Commissioner Jonathan Letz said he believes the county still has a long way to go.
The issue here is the county is attempting to get ahead of a potential wave of new development by adopting new rules that guide subdivisions. Much of it has to do with limiting variances and ensuring water availability. The Texas Legislature has tied the hands of cities and counties when it comes to development, but counties can't zone.
In the draft document, Letz said he found problems with the proposal.
"There are a lot of things that I thought, substantively, were wrong, especially fire protection," Letz told the court. "I'm not sure where we are with some of these, but we need to really look at closely."
Letz objected to language that required a large-scale water tank to help combat fires — a requirement he described as "ridiculous."
Kelly said it was important for the court to meet in workshops over the coming weeks to finalize the rules.
"What I want to do is line them up so we can make these final decisions," Kelly said. A county consultant drafted the recommendations and recommendations from County Engineer Charlie Hastings and County Surveyor Lee Voelkel. Kelly wants them to put their plans together so the court can finalize the plans.
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You can't go boom for San Jacinto Day
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said he's on the fence about canceling fireworks sales, but he had strong support from the commissioner's court to cancel fireworks for San Jacinto Day.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Don Harris said a large church in Ingram had already called off its fireworks sales due to the increased fire risks.
"It's just good common sense," Kelly said during Monday's commissioner's court meeting.
Fire was very much on the judge and the commissioner's minds in the wake of two brush fires that threatened homes last weekend. All four precincts have burn bans in place.
Kelly didn't make a final determination for fireworks sales for the Fourth of July — the weather will likely aid in his decision.
Things to do today
- Karaoke — Arcadia Live!, 6 p.m. Information: https://www.thearcadialive.org The details: For the first time, Arcadia hosts a karaoke night. Do you have the nerve to "Let it Go?"
- Trivia night at The Boat — The Boat Oyster Bar and Grill, 9 p.m. Information: 830-896-3354. The details: Come and join The Boat for trivia night. Prizes, drink specials and Schreiner Alumni "Professor Sparky" to host. Bring your team.
- Need more suggestions? Here you go: https://kerrcountylead.com/74-things-to-do-in-kerr-county-between-march-31-april-10
Southern Sky Music Cafe headed for the exit
The Hill Country Arts Foundation has terminated the lease of the restaurant and live music venue Southern Sky Music Cafe. HCAF Executive Director Sarah Derousseau said the Ingram-based foundation has no plans to bring a restaurant back to the space. Southern Sky has consistently attracted live music for more than a year, and neither side said why the lease was not renewed. In a since-deleted Facebook post, Southern Sky said it was looking for another space.
In the mood for food!
We like to pester the now-retired Sandy Wolfmueller about books, and today we asked her to name the five essential Texas cookbooks. Wolfmueller gave us eight. Here they are:
The Texas Cookbook by Mary Faulk Koock
OK, this was the definitive Texas cookbook in the 1960s, and Mary Faulk Koock cooked for Van Cliburn and wicked Democrats like LBJ and Harry Truman. However, the book warmed us up with a simple recipe for "Son of a Gun Stew:" Brains, sweetbreads, diaphragm, kidney, liver and heart. Add some water, peas, onions, other veggies — maybe a jalapeno, but no corn. Yum.
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The Homesick Texan by Lisa Fain
Fain's book is a mouthwatering journey – heavy on Tex-Mex goodness. We're down with it. In 2005, Fain started a blog to chronicle the absence of Texas food from her life in New York. https://www.homesicktexan.com/ If you visit the site today, you'll find plenty of recipes that call for Fritos as the main ingredient.
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Franklin Barbecue
If you don't feel like waiting in line for days, read the book and try it yourself. Of course, restaurant owner and Chef Aaron Franklin is now in the stratosphere of celebrity cooks, but we've thumbed through the book, and there's some sage advice. No. 1 takeaway — patience.
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A Cowboy In The Kitchen by Grady Spears and Robb Walsh
We realize many of you like the brisket; although we'd argue smoked turkey is the real Texas gem, this book starts with a chapter devoted to steak. Winner! This book is also a fun read, and isn't that a key to a good cookbook?
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Houston Junior League Cookbook
Here's the Amazon description: This classic cookbook has been a necessity for Texas chefs for 30 years. There are more than 1,500 recipes, including sections on Gulf Coast cooking, Tex Mex, and wild game dishes. This pantry cookbook is one that no cook should be without.
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Threadgill's
The Austin landmark is memorialized in a cookbook that celebrates Southern cooking.
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Pastry Queens by Rebecca Rather
We're not sure which chapter we want to try first: Chapter 1, Texas Hill Country Garden Party; or Chapter 4, San Antonio Tex-Mex Fiesta. The author does a good job of name-dropping, but the food is anything but pretentious.
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Helen Corbitt's Cookbook
Helen Corbitt was the food director at Nieman-Marcus, and her influence is still felt. However, she has a recipe for bacon peanut butter bread. Can we get it gluten-free?
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Schreiner University sports updates
After a 4-3 loss to Dallas University last Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader, Schreiner University's baseball team erupted for 45 runs in the next two games to win the series and snap a three-game losing streak.
The Mountaineers pounded out 36 hits in the two games, including four home runs and 10 doubles. While the offense exploded, the Mountaineers played an entire series without an error — a first this season.
Senior Jet Muniz broke out of a three-game hitless streak to go 7-for-9 in the last two games, with eight RBI. Muniz elevated his batting average to .321 on the season.
The Mountaineers are now 11-10 overall, 3-3 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference and return home Friday for a three-game series against Centenary.
On the softball diamond, Schreiner University finished 1-2 last weekend against rival Trinity University in San Antonio. The Mountaineers had lost seven consecutive games before beating Trinity 6-1 in the second of the three-game series. It was pitcher Bri Wodtke's best effort of the season by throwing a complete game and striking out five.
