Good morning, Kerr County!
We are in the middle of a cold front, folks — one with the bare minimum of moisture. We can expect cool days and chilly nights for the next few days.
On today's The Lead Live!
We turn the show over to Keri Wilt today. Wilt and her husband, Pat, own Grape Juice in Kerrville, and they've ventured into a promising short-term rental business. However, Wilt is also a great storyteller, and we look forward to her first appearance as our host. The show starts at 9 a.m.
ICYMI Monday's The Lead!
Andrew Gay, Gilbert Paiz and Greg Richards shared hosting duties on Monday, and had a broad discussion on small business. Watch it here:
So, where's Louis?
Well, Louis Amestoy, the regular host of The Lead, is at a digital media conference in Miami but returns Wednesday for a special show with Rachel Fitch. On Thursday, Delayne Sigerman returns to the show after a two-week break, and she will interview architect Peter Lewis, who plays a significant role in shaping Kerr County. On Friday, Crystal Smith of Billy Gene's Restaurant stops by to tell us about her business and political activism.
A scene from the Florida Keys. |
Council is going to council tonight!
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The Kerrville City Council meets tonight, and who knows what to expect from the meeting. After all, the City Council has proven to be a source of high drama of late, but this feels like a reasonably benign meeting.
The City Council will discuss ending its use of Zoom meetings now that the worst (maybe) of the coronavirus pandemic has passed. Councilman Roman Garcia said the city spends thousands of dollars to facilitate Zoom videoconference technology — that the general public no longer uses.
The council meets at 6 p.m. but will hold a 4 p.m. work-study session to review community improvement projects and review the city's pavement program.
Speaking of pavement
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Four members of the City Council were present on Monday on the groundbreaking of the latest road improvement project — this one on west Barnett Street. Councilmembers Judy Eychner, Brenda Hughes and Roman Garcia, joined Mayor Bill Blackburn for the groundbreaking.
The $10.5 million project funding comes from a 2019 certificate of obligation the City Council authorized to pay for long-needed road reconstruction and drainage.
The remaining phase consists of reconstructing Hillside Drive, Barnett Street, Cottage Street, McFarland Drive, Remschel Avenue, W. Barnett Street, and Wallace Street.
These projects involved improvements were for sidewalks, underground utilities, and drainage infrastructure.
Breaking ground to make Christmas brighter
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While there was no break dancing involved, we suspect the Kerrville Christmas Lighting Corp. members did a little happy dance on Monday when the long-awaited connection of Tranquility Island in Louise Hayes project to the city's electrical grid.
After months of dreaming, planning and hoping, the $200,000 project to electrify the island moves forward. Previously, generators powered the island's lights, but now the parks department can light up the island year-round.
This project was funded jointly through Kerrville's Economic Improvement Corporation (EIC) and by the Kerrville Christmas Lighting Corporation (KCLC). The KCLC raised $100,000 to contribute towards the project cost and the EIC provided a matching grant of the same. The City Council, the final approval authority of the EIC, supported the project and approved the funding agreement in 2021.
Things to do today:
Free movie night
The Cafe at the Ridge
5:30 p.m.
We're going, being honest, to have the Oreo cheesecake. Oh, by the way, they're showing a free movie.
College softball
Howard Payne at Schreiner University (doubleheader)
Schreiner University
1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
The Mountaineers continue their epic 14-game homestand with a non-conference doubleheader against Howard Payne.
"Art of the Plains"
Museum of Western Art
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Information: https://www.museumofwesternart.com
This artistic celebration features realistic and representational artworks in traditional media depicting the American Great Plains region, including its landscape, wildlife, people, and way of life in historical or modern times.
KACC Art Exhibits
Kerr Arts and Cultural Center
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Paintings by Elaine Capers & Daneshu Clarke, "Kerrville Art Club Judged Show" members of the Kerrville Art Club show their best work in this judged exhibit, "GAGA Group Show" An insiders look at 16 GAGA member artists who have participated in past A Look Inside digital exhibitions.
Form and Function
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
