Good morning, Kerr County!

We are looking at a sunny week ahead after last week's dreary but moisture-heavy event that resulted in at least 1 inch of rain. That was much needed. We could see rain on Saturday night. The next two days could be warm, including 75 degrees on Tuesday. However, a cold front will bring decidedly cooler temperatures Wednesday through the weekend. Think highs in the 50s.

On today's The Lead Live!

It's going to be a busy week on The Lead Live, with today's show kicking off things led by Texas Hill Country Advisors Gilbert Paiz and Andrew Gay updating us on the economy. The Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau's Leslie Jones is our guest for much of the week because her boss, Julie Davis, is running around Ireland. Join us at 9 a.m.

Sneak Peek on the 12 Days of Giftmas

You will get outstanding customer service from Kerrville's Wild Birds Unlimited

The Lead Live is hosting Gibson's 12 Days of Giftmas on Thursday, and we've got stores, gift shops and nonprofit groups ready to show off their Christmas gift ideas. The 12 Days of Giftmas runs through Dec. 16, and we have plenty of space left for others to join. Wild Birds Unlimited, a founding sponsor of The Lead, offered up these gift ideas available now for birding enthusiasts or those looking to become birders. Stop by their Junction Highway store, 855 Junction Hwy, and tell them The Lead sent you.

An emphasis on binoculars

We know plenty of other businesses or nonprofits can use some exposure heading into Christmas. So, we're expanding it to the 12 Days Of Giftmas! Here's what you need to know:

• The promotion runs from Dec. 1-16 (Monday-Friday).
• If you do all 12 days, you have to bring the exact number of gift ideas for that corresponding day. Dec. 1 is Day 1, meaning you bring just one gift.
• You have to be on the show for about 5 minutes! That means we're doing it live!
• You need to RSVP by emailing louis.amestoy@kerrcountylead.com.
• The shows are from 9-10 a.m., except on Wednesdays when its 10-11 a.m.
• It's free.

So, far 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
• Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau Gift Shop
• Wild Birds Unlimited

And we're back to the Commissioners' Court

The Kerr County Commissioners' Court could appoint Precinct 3 Commissioner Jonathan Letz and Precinct 4 Commissioner Don Harris to negotiate with the city of Kerrville over the contract to provide library services — exactly how that will go over with the Kerrville City Council is unclear.

Harris used inflammatory language in describing his objections to the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library's decision to host Banned Book Week.

"Banned Book Week is a marketing campaign pretending to be a protest," Harris said during the Nov. 14 court meeting. "And this year they were marketed to groomers."

The term groomers have come into greater light as a piece of hate speech, which suggests all LGBTQ+ people are interested in sexualizing children. In the wake of a shooting at a Colorado Springs gay nightclub Club Q that left five dead and 25 injured, some supporters of the accused gunman used similar rhetoric.

"We shouldn't tolerate pedophiles grooming kids," right-wing provocateur Tim Pool tweeted to his 1.4 million followers. "Club Q had a grooming event. How do prevent the violence and stop the grooming?"

The Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library staff faced accusations of grooming children, being lesbian Marxists and being pedophiles. On Nov. 14, a split court voted to give 120 days' notice to the city to end the contract. Now, the contract is a quid-pro-quo agreement that suggests the city and county trade library access for animal control services. However, a more careful review of state law puts the impetus on the county because it's required to provide animal control to all Kerr County residents.

The county provides no financial support for the library and has long balked at any attempts to do so since the current library opened in the 1960s. Kerrville residents pay county taxes to support animal control, and Kerrville voters carried passage of Proposition C, which would fund a new animal shelter.

In other court business

The commissioners will hear from concerned residents who live along Eagle Ridge Road in southern Kerr County about a planned development's impact on the rural area. Led by Jack McGuire, the residents are questioning the suitability of Eagle Ridge Road for an additional 200 cars per day — currently, the road serves less than 100. Residents are worried that a new subdivision could lead to 100 new homes in the area — all with wells and septic.

Another boozy week in Kerr County

When it comes to finding suspected drunks, Kerr County law enforcement is particularly adept at rooting them out. Over the last eight days, Kerr County Sheriff's deputies and Kerrville police officers made 34 arrests — 27 for drunk driving, public intoxication and drug possession. Here's the breakdown from Nov. 20-27:

• Suspected drunk driving arrests, 14
• Suspected public intoxication arrests, 10
• Suspected possession of drugs, 3

Kerr County Sheriff's deputies did make one arrest of a Kerrville man on suspicion of sexual assault of a child.

Federal judge tosses part of suit against Kerrville

U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez tossed parts of a federal lawsuit against the city of Kerrville by developer Brent Bates and his company Post Hole Ventures, but it's a split decision.

On Oct. 19, Rodriguez dismissed most of Bates's suit against the city but said two parts could proceed — the developer's claims over due process can proceed. Bates' attempt to retrieve public documents was dismissed because Rodriguez said Bates had not correctly gone through the state courts first. Rodriguez also found no Fourteenth Amendment violations, but he said he found Bates' claims plausible that the city denied him due process.

The controversy relates to an unfinished office building on Water Street, part of a complex developed by Bates that has engendered other lawsuits. The three-story building, overlooking the Guadalupe River, faced several actions by city officials and code enforcement. Still, Rodriguez argued the two sides needed to complete their legal back and forth.

"Finally, it is undisputed that no hearing has been held regarding the finish out permit despite Post Hole Venture's repeated attempts to provide necessary documentation," Rodriguez wrote. "Taken as true, PHV has alleged a plausible case that it has been deprived of its property without due process."

Symphony releases more seats for Thursday's concert

Symphony of the Hills' Christmas concert, "The Miracle of Christmas," is one of the season's biggest draws, and demand for tickets is high. On Sunday night, the Symphony opened up a limited number of tickets for Thursday's performance.

The Symphony said seats can be reserved online at caillouxperformingarts.com or by calling or visiting the Cailloux Theater Box Office, (830) 896-9393.

The show's lineup features the Grand Chorus and an audience sing-along:

• Broughton/Arr. Vinson – Miracle on 34th Street Overture
• Silvestri – A Christmas Carol (Main Title)
• Hinds – A Children's Hannukah
• Christmas Carol Sing-Along, conducted by Patricia Lee, Assistant Conductor
• The first part of Handel's Messiah with the Hallelujah Chorus ad guest soloists Sarah Davis, soprano; Alexis Korbe, alto; Seth Lafler, tenor; Christopher Besch, bass.
• Eugene Dowdy and Andrea Runnels conduct the performance.

Our top 5 events this week

Thursday, Dec. 1

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.

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.

Friday, Dec. 2

Performing arts

• A Sanders Family Christmas — Playhouse 2000 VK Garage Theater, 7:30 p.m. Information: https://www.caillouxperformingarts.com The details: It's Christmas time, 1941, in Mt. Pleasant, North Carolina (home of the pickle factory) and Dennis Sanders is making his last appearance with the singing Sanders Family before heading off to join the war effort. The family shares the news with their Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church friends while celebrating the season the only way they know how – with amazing music.

Saturday, Dec. 3

Christmas Events

• Ingram Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting — Ingram Loop, 6 p.m. Information: https://www.cityofingram.com The details: Enjoy a parade of floats made by your local businesses in the City of Ingram. Festivities include Santa, Christmas tree lighting, carols, hot cocoa, and cookies to get you in the holiday spirit. The parade travels along the Ingram Loop.