The Lead Nov. 11, 2022: Remembering Veterans and their service

Good morning, Kerr County! Remember Veterans Day!

Rain! That's the forecast, but it also includes severe thunderstorms. The National Weather Service said storms could happen before 3 p.m. today and warned: "some storms could be severe, with large hail and damaging winds." By 5 p.m., the temperatures could fall to 51 degrees. Expect a cool overnight, with the weekend being cool and sunny.

On today's The Lead Live!

Kerrville Police Department Sgt. Jonathan Lamb takes over the show with at least two interviews of veterans from the police department and another veteran aboard the U.S.S. Pueblo, which the North Koreans seized in 1968. Stacie Leporati will stop by to pitch Arcadia Live events this weekend.

Short takes

• Kerrville Police Department Assistant Chief Curtis Thomason will retire from the force after a 25-year career. Thomason said he's got plenty to do in retirement, including spending time with his sons, working on his family's ranch, and helping his wife's insurance business. Kerrville Police Chief Chris McCall is recruiting for Thomason's replacement.
• The Kerr Economic Development Corp. handed out its Top 40 awards to a regional group that covered movers and shakers from across the Texas Hill Country. Just some of those selected were Dietert Center Executive Director Brenda Thompson, Kerrville City Manager E.A. Hoppe, Peterson Health President and CEO Cory Edmondson. Here's a look at the photo gallery: https://thekerrcountyleadphotography.zenfoliosite.com/zg/kedcs-2022-top-forty

Things to do today

The arts

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• Texas Furniture Makers Show — Kerr Arts and Cultural Center, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Information: https://www.kacckerrville.com The details: Texas Furniture Makers' Show® is an annual statewide Competition of the Finest Custom Furniture Makers in Texas. The show is held at the beautiful Kerr Arts & Cultural Center.
• Works We Love Show — Museum of Western Art, 10 a.m. Information: https://www.museumofwesternart.com The details: "Works We Love," featuring Fred Harman, creator of "Red Ryder and Little Beaver." Also on display are works from our permanent collection.

Friday, Nov. 11

Veterans Day Events

• Veterans Appreciation Breakfast — Hill Country Veterans Center, 8:30-10:30 a.m. Information: https://www.kerrvillerotary.org The details: Breakfast Tacos, fruit, coffee, fellowship and war stories will be provided. Please come and allow us to thank you for your service to our country personally.
• Veterans Day Event — Doyle School Community Center, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Information: https://www.doylecc.org/ The details: St. Paul's United Methodist Church Pastor Rev. Glen Luhrs, a retired Air Force master sergeant, will give a short talk. Lunch will be served after the talk.

Markets and sales

• Buttons and Bows Bazaar — First Christian Church, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Information: https://www.firstchristiankerrville.org/ The details: Come shop for unique handcrafted items, jams, jellies and pickles, frozen casseroles, a bake sale, quilt raffle, and so much more. Lunch is available for purchase.
• The Artisan Market — Kerrville Apostolic Church, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Information: 830-896-8191 The details: Come get your holiday shopping done early at this all-handmade market.
• 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.

Live Music

• Ashley Valero, Clifton Fifer and Konrad Wert — Arcadia Live, 5 p.m. Information: https://www.thearcadialive.org The details: An incredible Kerrville trio makes their live performance debut on the back deck at Arcadia Live! Read our preview of today's concert: https://kerrcountylead.com/ashley-valero-brings-the-spirit-of-service-to-live-debut-at-arcadia-live

• David Ramirez — Arcadia Live, 7 p.m. Information: https://www.thearcadialive.org
• Stan Morris — Cafe at the Ridge, 6 p.m. Information: https://www.shopsattheridge.com
• The Wilder Blue — Southern Sky Music Cafe, 6:30 p.m. Information: https://www.southernskymusiccafe.com
• C-Rock — Pier 27 River Lounge and Pizzeria, 8 p.m. Information: https://www.pier27riverlounge.business.site
• Conjunto Nuevo Zagas — La Escondida 1962, 7 p.m. Information: laescondida1962@gmail.com
• Shane Stumpf — Joanne Marie and Me Wine Boutique, 6 p.m. Information: https://www.facebook.com/wineboutique1

Shots fired, as county wants to discuss library agreement

Back in September, Precinct 1 Commissioner Harley Belew spoke at the Kerrville City Council meeting, urging them not to "die on the hill" of the library's decision to display books that have been objected to or banned.

On Thursday, the Kerr County Commissioners Court decided to fire the first volley against the city in a dispute over library books. Yet, the fallout from that decision could result in unintended consequences for everyone.

It was Precinct 4 Commissioner Don Harris who fired that shot, potentially foreshadowed by an email sent by Harris' wife to Councilmember Brenda Hughes, whom Harris pointedly criticized for her comments during Tuesday night's City Council meeting. Don Harris wants to review the agreement during Monday morning's court session. The meeting starts at 9 a.m.

At risk is an agreement between the city and county that swaps services — animal control and county access to the library. Each government shoulders the financial burden of its respective service — worth more than $1 million annually.

The severability of the contract might not be as easy as Don Harris and Belew think, and there is potential backlash in the wake of a successful bond measure — carried by Kerrville residents — to pay for a new $5 million animal shelter.

And there are other interlocal agreements between the city and the county, including emergency medical services. Additionally, state law requires Kerr County to provide rabies control. Precinct 3 Commissioner Jonathan Letz had the county issue a press release last week assuring residents that the interlocal agreement didn't mean Kerr County could stop providing services.

Letz's opinion on the library is clear — he said the librarians crossed a line by displaying books with sexual content near the children's section. The festering controversy has dominated the City Council's agenda for weeks.

After two attempts to get the City Council to take action against the librarians, the City Council was steadfast Tuesday in pushing back against those protesting the display of at least three books featuring LGBTQ+ characters or themes. Even when presented with a petition of more than 1,000 signatures, City Council members maintained their belief that the library staff responded to a complaint by moving the display.

Belew attacked Hughes and Dr. Bill Rector, who Belew narrowly defeated in 2016, for their stances on the library. Belew said Hughes was wrong in her forceful defense but tripped on himself into a discussion that suggests all LGBTQ+ people are "grooming" children for sex. But Harris' wife launched an assault on Hughes via an email.

"As watched your tyrranid (sic) yesterday evening in reference to your thoughts on the library situation, I was so taken aback, not by your stance on the issue, (although I do not agree with you), but rather the way you handled yourself as a public servant," Jennifer Harris wrote. "Should it not be apart of your job as a council woman to represent your office and YOURself with etiquette and decorum and not some out-of-control pissed-off teenager!"

Harris' husband, however, hasn't always shown decorum in meetings and uttered "Lets Go Brandon" during a commissioner's court session. For the uninformed, "Lets Go Brandon" is a slur against President Joe Biden that means "Fuck Joe Biden."

More on how the voters were thinking

As we mentioned above, Kerr County voters shot down two propositions to pay for county facility upgrades — and shot them down decisively. However, voters were clear in their support for Prop. C, a $5 million bond to pay for a new animal shelter.

Prop. C passed in all of the Precinct 1 voting precincts, but it met defeat in three precincts — 202, 308 and 404 (narrowly). The 202 and 308 precincts are in east Kerr County, including Center Point.