Good morning, Kerr County!
After hitting a high of 82 degrees on Tuesday, we will see things cool down considerably — about 25 degrees cooler. A cold front will bring highs into the upper 50s and lows in the upper 30s. This is a two-day trend, with temperatures expected to return to the low 70s by Friday.
On today's The Lead Live!
It's Wonderful Wednesday, and we are chatting with Rachel Fitch, the owner of Gold Cup Pawn and Fitch Estate Sales. Join us at 9 a.m.
A note about changes coming to The Lead
For those of you who are paying subscribers to The Lead, some of you have begun receiving refunds from Meta. This is part of The Lead's transition from Meta to a new website in the coming days. All subscribers will receive The Lead's morning newsletter for free during this interim period until we complete the transition to a new email service.
For those who paid for annual subscriptions, you will continue to receive The Lead based on your renewal. Monthly subscribers will need to re-subscribe once the new email service launches.
We've had some ask if The Lead is responsible for the refunds — we are not. The Lead received payment when you subscribed. Meta's responsibility is to refund those who paid through Facebook Pay.
Our new website will continue to offer the comprehensive coverage you've grown to expect from The Lead, along with some new features. The Lead Live, the morning webcast, will continue on Facebook Live!
So, stay with us. We're continuing to build The Lead. If you have questions, please email me at louis.amestoy@kerrcountylead.com.
Today is the last day to RSVP for the 12 Days Of Giftmas!
 |
Coming Thursday is the first day of the Gibson's Discount Center's 12 Days of Giftmas. We're still looking for small businesses, nonprofits and others offering Christmas gifts to join us to showcase their items for sale, but here's the catch — they need to do it for 12 days. On the first day, broadcast on The Lead Live, each participant brings a single gift idea they are offering at their store or gift shop. The number grows each day until we reach our 12th day on Dec. 16.
If you're interested in participating — it's free — let us know by emailing louis.amestoy@kerrcountylead.com
More Christmas … here come the lights
 |
The Lead's second annual KPUB Christmas Lights Tour kicks off Thursday. Where we will stop is unclear, but we may just make our way into some of Kerrville's neighborhoods east of Sidney Baker Street. We'll see. If you'd like us to stop by, please fill out this form so we can get there: https://forms.gle/rCf144zd4sZVpZ2c8
The categories for this year's contest are:
- Best use of the Grinch (Sponsored by Herring Printing)
- Best use of the Bumble (Sponsored by George and Judy Eychner)
- Best use of Baby Yoda (Sponsored by Texas Hill Country Advisors)
- Best use of the Nativity (Sponsored by Vecino's Restaurant and Food Truck)
- Best use of Critters (not real) (Sponsored by Hill Country Podcast)
- Best use of Color (Sponsored by La Escondida 1962)
- Best use of White Light (Sponsored by Pour4 Bartending)
- Best use of Luminarias (Sponsored by 10-4 Marketing)
- Best use of Music (Sponsored by Kenneth O'Neal)
- Best use of Inflatables (Sponsored by Russell Nemky)
- Best use of Christmas Tree (Sponsored by Brenda Brown Real Estate)
- The Buzzie Hughes Memorial Most Unusual Decoration, (Sponsored by Buzzies Bar-B-Q)
- Best use of Christmas Decor In Architecture (Sponsored by SLS Partnerships)
- Most Elegant (Sponsored by Brenda Hughes)
- Most Reverent (Sponsored by Dickey's Barbecue)
- Uniquely Texan (Sponsored by Dickey's Barbecue)
Today's events
Women's college basketball
- University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at Schreiner University, 6 p.m. Schreiner hosts the 2-0 Crusaders. The Mountaineers have won two of their last three and are 2-3 on the season.
Live music
- Finals of the Texana Troubador Competition — Southern Sky Music Cafe, 6:30 p.m. Information: https://www.southernskymusiccafe.com
Markets and sales
- 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.
- Kerr County Produce Market Day — The Big Red Barn, 10 a.m., Information: 830-896-7330 The details: Kerr County Produce Market Day (The Big Red Barn). Local Hill Country wholesale warehouse distributor for the finest fruits and vegetables. Open to the public.
The ringing of the bells
It's that time of year — volunteers ringing bells on behalf of the Salvation Army. On Tuesday, the Salvation Army's Kerrville Kroc Center held its "Kettle Parade," where some of the most prominent business supporters decorated their kettles.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
There were colorfully decorated offerings from Cecil Atikisson Motors, H-E-B, Mini Mart, Destination Cycle, Tellus, James Avery, Lemon Tree Cleaners, JAM Radio, but the most striking was a thick-legged offering from South Star Bank.
Yes, the bank decorated its kettle as the iconic "Leg Lamp," from the hit 1983 movie "A Christmas Story." It's the ultimate prize of Old Man Parker, delightfully played by the late Darren McGavin. Of course, Mrs. Parker wasn't as delighted, and the leg suffered a gruesome fate — one of two disappointments realized by Old Man Parker, the other when the Bumpus bloodhounds stormed into the Parker house to consume a turkey dinner.
South Star Bank Branch Manager Kyla Gesell attachs the lamp shade on the "Leg Lamp." |
The Fall colors are something else
We took a drive out to Hunt on Tuesday in search of Fall color, and we were not disappointed. Of course, there are plenty of excellent examples across the Hill Country, but there's something about the sun setting against some of the water crossings. The pictures don't do the beauty of the moments justice.
 |
 |
 |
Fire Department looking for matching funds for EMS vehicle
The Kerrville Fire Department is seeking year-end donations to support an important need: a six-wheel, all-terrain vehicle. Currently, the department has a specially-outfitted golf cart for emergency services. Due to the vehicle's limitations, it can only be effectively used along the River Trail.
The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country matches all donations up to $30,000. The total cost for the vehicle and the rescue equipment that goes with it is $60,000.
Grace Academy takes home the hardware
 |
Kerrville's Grace Academy students brought home some serious academic and athletic hardware during the Nov. 7-11 Coastal Plains Junior Regional Student Convention in Palacios, Texas.
The competition brought together 200 students from throughout Texas for a competition. Grace Academy students ranged from second to seventh grade, competing in more than 120 events. "Our young students this year competed in a variety of Academics, Arts, Athletics, and various Platform events," said Shelly Flach, administrator for Grace Academy of Kerrville. "All students medaled in at least one event, with some in all of their events."
- Levi Belew, second grade: Radio Program (1st); 100m Dash, Male; Checkers, Poetry Writing.
- Adriana Enriquez, third grade: Bible Memory (1st); Small Ensemble (1st); Archery, Unlimited Free Style, Female (3rd); Bible Bowl (4th); 3-on-3 Volleyball, Female (6th); 100m Dash, Female; Sculpture; Spelling.
- Sophie Lancour, third grade: Radio Program (1st); Small Ensemble (1st); Archery, Bare Compound Bow, Female (2nd); 400m Relay, Female, (5th); 3-on-3 Volleyball, Female (6th); 200m Dash, Female; Photography, Color Plants; Sculpture.
- Everlee Uballe, third grader: Small Ensemble (1st); Photography, Color Animals (2nd); Photography, Color Plants (2nd); Photography, Color Computer Enhancement (4th); 100m Dash, Female.
- Ellie Lancour, third grade: Radio Program (1st); Sculpture (1st); Small Ensemble (1st); Archery, Bare Compound Bow, Female (3rd); Bible Bowl (4th); 400m Relay, Female, (5th); 3-on-3 Volleyball, Female (6th); 400m Dash, Female (6th); Photography, Color Special Effects; Spelling.
- Lilly Bryant, fourth grade: 400m Relay, Female, (1st); Bare Compound Bow, Female (1st); Photography, Color Animals (1st); Photography, Color Plants (1st); Photography, Monochromatic Plants & Animals (1st); Small Ensemble (1st); 400m Relay, Female (1st); 3-on-3 Volleyball, Female (2nd); Photography, Color Character Trait (3rd); Photography, Color Still Life (3rd); Bible Bowl (4th).
- Brianna Burno, fourth grade: 400m Relay, Female (1st); Small Ensemble (1st); 3-on-3 Volleyball, Female (2nd); 100m Dash, Female (6th).
- Bryanna Salinas, fourth grade: Radio Program (1st); Small Ensemble (1st); Photography, Monochromatic Plants & Animals (2nd); Tennis, Singles, Female (2nd); Photography, Monochromatic Character Trait (3rd); Sculpture (3rd); 400m Relay, Female (5th); 3-on-3 Volleyball, Female (6th); 200m Dash, Female; Photography, Color Animals.
- Tanner Smith, fourth grade: Science Exhibits, Engineering (1st); Tennis, Singles, Male (1st); Archery, Unlimited Free Style, Male (2nd); Chess (2nd); Science, Exhibits, Research (2nd); Sketching (3rd); Photography, Monochromatic Scenic (3rd); Photography, Color Computer Enhancement (3rd); Photography, Color Scenic (4th); Colored Pencils (6th); Photography, Color Character Trait; Track & Field Shot Put.
- Bailey Cox, fifth grade: Photography, Color Character Trait (1st); Photography, Color Scenic (1st); Radio Program (1st); Science Exhibits, Collection (1st); Small Ensemble (1st); 3-on-3 Volleyball, Female (2nd); Archery, Unlimited Free Style, Female (2nd); Photography, Monochromatic Scenic (2nd); Bible Bowl (4th); Checkers (4th); Tennis, Singles, Female (4th); 400m Relay, Female (5th).
- Anna Mertz, fifth grade: 400m Dash, Female (1st); 400m Relay, Female (1st); Small Ensemble (1st); Photography, Color Special Effects (2nd); Archery, Unlimited Free Style, Female (4th); Bible Bowl (4th); Photography, Color Still Life (5th); 3-on-3 Volleyball, Female (6th); Checkers; Sculpture; Spelling.
- Maddie Morales, seventh grade: 200m Dash, Female (1st); 400m Relay, Female (1st); Small Ensemble (1st); 3-on-3 Volleyball, Female (2nd); Dresses (2nd); Photography, Color Animals (3rd); Checkers (5th); Photography, Color Character Trait; Colored Pencils.
