Good morning, Kerr County!
After several days of unsettled weather, including some soaking rains last week, we're saying goodbye to those dark skies and heading into a week of sunny skies and highs into the low 90s. Summer is sticking around. Quite frankly, compared to other states (ahem, California), Texas weather looks downright delightful over the next few days.
On today's The Lead Live!
We welcome Texas Hill Country Advisors Andrew Gay and Gilberto Paiz back to our show. The financial planning duo will update us on the latest financial news. Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau's Leslie Jones will give us a preview of the week ahead.
FEATURED EVENT
Mark your calendar for Public Power Week Oct. 2-8, and the Bucket Truck Rides.
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The Kerrville Public Utility Board (KPUB) is hosting a family-friendly event to meet our heroes in hardhats while we celebrate Public Power Week!
Please mark your calendars for Saturday, October 8, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., to join us in Louise Hays Park for a free community event!
This will be a free community event with family-friendly activities that will include taking a ride in one of KPUB’s bucket trucks, arc & spark demos, line worker tool displays, photo ops with our linemen, face painting and more.
KPUB will be providing free hot dogs, chips and refreshments on a first-come, first-served basis, as well as a free t-shirt for the first 100 attendees. For more information: https://www.kpub.com/community/public-power-week/
❤️Show us the Kerr County you love
The Kerr County Lead is embarking on a project to help inform our reporting on the community and give a broader perspective to those who call this remarkable place home.
- What moves you about Kerrville, Center Point, Ingram, Hunt and the rest of Kerr County?
- Where do you like to have lunch?
- Where is your Kerr County place of zen or peace?
- Where's a place that you're proud of here in Kerr County?
All that we ask is for you to be our tour guide and let us share your story about what you think is unique about Kerr County.
Want to take us on a tour? Email us at louis.amestoy@kerrcountylead.com
Storylines to follow this week
Johnny Manziel of the Texas A&M Aggies celebrates after throwing a first quarter touchdown during a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Kyle Field on September 14, 2013 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) |
Return of Johnny Football
- Former Tivy High School football standout and 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel is supposed to be on hand for the school's Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday night. Manziel's legendary prep career earned him a ride to Texas A&M, where he shined even better. That shine collapsed under the weight of expectations in the NFL. Manziel has bounced around between the Canadian Football League and indoor leagues.
Johnny Manziel of the Zappers reacts during the second half against the Shoulda Been Stars during Fan Controlled Football Season v2.0 – Playoffs on June 04, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brett Davis/Fan Controlled Football/Getty Images) |
Economic outlook coming Thursday
- During Thursday's episode of The Lead Live, Kerr Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Gil Salinas will discuss the regional economy. We'll also ask Salinas about the loss of longtime colleague Theresa Metcalf, who left KEDC for an opportunity in Colorado. Some of the big questions for Salinas focus on continuing to recruit businesses for Kerr County, where housing is hard to come by and not exactly affordable.
Speaking of housing
The website realtor.com suggests the housing market may be cooling, especially after a slower-than-expected August. The other trend was a jump in inventory — at least nationally. However, the Texas A&M Real Estate Center notes Kerr County's inventory rose by 19% from June to July. There were 205 properties on the market — the most since November 2020. "It's the time of year when prices typically slow," explains Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale. "We usually see a peak in median listing prices in June, and then prices come down as we move toward the end of the year." The leads us to show what's available right now in the Kerr County market:
Less than $300,000
Ok, this home at 249 Backacre Rd. is on 12 acres, and the owners chopped the price by $60,000. It's still $300,000 but has 3,486 square feet with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. There are also some fascinating things to see in the home, like a vintage television and a slot machine. You want good bones and a great view — this is one for you.
A birds eye view of the home on Backacre Road and a view of some of the artifacts in the home. |
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What's interesting about the Kerrville market is that there are slim choices even if you can afford to step up in price — let's say you could afford anywhere from $301,000 to $600,000. Consider these tranches of housing:
- $301,000 to $600,000, there are about 49 homes listed on Realtor or Zillow.
- $601,000 to $900,000 gets you some impressive real estate, but there are just 28 properties to choose from. Seven of those 28 residences are more than $800,000.
- And for those with a mega-budget, $901,000 and above, there are 28 properties — that's right, there are more million-dollar properties than those in the lower price range.
The most expensive home on the market in Kerrville is at 215 Wren Rd. and is listed at $4.35 million. It's a home topping 12,000 square feet, with five bedrooms and five bathrooms. However, this home is more suited as a wedding venue, religious gathering, or conference center. The house has its own event spaces and a top-notch parking lot.
Kerrville's most expensive home right now — $4.35 million. |
Speaking of economic development
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The Kerrville Triathlon Festival is coming, meaning you better find a place to stay. The Kerrville Convention and Visitor's Bureau releases its monthly list of major events and their impact on respective hotels, and the triathlon leads the way in nights booked. The most impacted is Inn of the Hills, which is race central. The inn has 400 nights booked that weekend of Sept. 24-25. No other event comes close in September, which is one of the busiest of the year.
Speaking of events, here's a look at things for today and Wednesday
Today
High school volleyball
- Austin Waldorf at Our Lady of the Hills, 5 p.m.
- Medina at Center Point, 6 p.m.
Live music
- Vinyl Night — Inn of the Hills, 7 p.m. Information: (830) 895-5000 The details: Every Tuesday night, come out for a night of solid tunes and good company. Snacks are on the scene. Beer specials. Beefeater specials. New wines.
Art exhibits
- Kerr Arts Exhibits — Kerr Arts and Cultural Center, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: https://www.kacckerrville.com The details: Three art exhibits. Paintings by James Crouse, "Images" KACC judged membership show, "Photoquest" a judged exhibit featuring images captured by members of the Kerrville Camera Club. Artists reception August 27th, 1-3 p.m.
- Luckenbach Legacy, Hondo's Daughter, Becky Crouch Patterson Exhibition — Museum of Western Art, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: The details: Becky Crouch Patterson, a fifth-generation Texan whose father was the legendary developer of historic tiny-town Luckenbach, made famous by Waylon Jennings's classic song, "Let's Go to Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love." This is Patterson's original art, described as a marriage of Texas Folk Art and Fine Art, plus textiles, memorabilia and works from her life. In addition to her work, Hondo and Luckenbach artifacts fill three cases.
- Hill Country Arts Foundation Member's Show — Hill Country Arts Foundation, Ingram, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Information: https://www.hcaf.com The details: Featuring art by HCAF member artists.
Exhibits
- Hill Country Music — Kerr Regional History Center, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday through Sept. 8. Information: 830-258-1274 The details: An exhibition about the rich history of Hill Country music. Learn how country music was created and helped inspire other music genres, and how a German music teacher, Julius Weiss, helped inspire Scott Joplin to create ragtime and become the "King of Ragtime." The exhibit will feature the Kerrville Folk Festival and how the event inspired the music scene in Texas.
- Mexico: Splendor of Thirty Centuries — Kerr Regional History Center, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday through Sept. 8. Information: 830-258-1274 The details: An exhibition based on the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the San Antonio Museum of Art's international exhibition, and organized by Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. In Mexico, two civilizations have lived and fought across the land and within the soul of every individual. One civilization is native to the Americas. The other originated in Europe, but now is so firmly ensconced that it has become an elemental part of the Mexican character. "Mexico" presents 3,000 years of Mexican culture and history. Photography highlights stone sculptures from prehistoric times, liturgical artifacts from Colonial Days, 19th-century portraits and landscapes, and works on canvas and paper by 20th-century muralists. The exhibition enhances appreciation of Mexico's richness and complexity and its people.
Wednesday, Sept. 7
Support
- Parkinson's Support Group — Peterson Hospice & Home Health Building, 4-5 p.m. Information: (361) 813-6410 The details: Parkinson's Support Group meets the first Wednesday of each month from 4-5 p.m.
Food and fun
- Whataburger Grand Opening — Kerrville Whataburger on Memorial Highway, 10 a.m. Information: Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce The details: Since 1950, Whataburger has proudly served a bigger, better burger. It all started when a young entrepreneur named Harmon Dobson had a bold idea: to serve a burger so big that it took two hands to hold, and so good that after a single bite, customers couldn't help but exclaim, "What a burger!"
- The Flyin A's — Trailhead Beer Garden at Schreiner University, 7 p.m. Information: The details: The husband-and-wife duo of Hilary Claire and Stuart Adamson—better known as The Flyin' A's — are on the cusp of releasing their fourth independent album. Their latest album, "You Drive Me Crazy," is a top-shelf complement to the pair's engaging, fun, contagiously enjoyable live shows, "You Drive Me Crazy" is right on the money. The album has received critical acclaim.
- Karaoke — Pier 27 River Lounge and Pizzeria, 8 p.m. Information: (830) 896-7437 The details: Warm up your vocal cords and get ready to sing the night away! If you've never tried karaoke before, you will not regret it.
- The Pickers Circle — La Escondida 1962, 7 p.m. Information: La Escondida 1962 The details: Anyone can join. Just show up.
Markets and sales
- 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.
- Friends of the Library Book Sale — Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library, 1–3 p.m. Information: https://kerrvillet.gov/349/FOTL-Book-Sale The details: Looking for a great read? Or better yet, come down and support the work of Friends of the Library. Maybe find a banned book? That sounds like a fun day to us.
Wine and spirits
- Wild West Wednesday — Museum of Western Art, 5:30 p.m. Information: https://www.museumofwesternart.com The details: Join us and meet the folks from Hill Country Distillery. Hear about their products, try out a sample, and enjoy our latest exhibits.
Keeping an eye on crime
As we've mentioned, the patriot groups are screaming that crime is on the rise in Kerr County. The assumption is leading us to track it, and the numbers are telling. Sept. 1-3, Kerr County law enforcement made 22 arrests — none involving an illegal immigrant. However, law enforcement did nab:
- Four people for assault, including a sexual assault on a child, and two others were domestic violence incidents.
- There were two driving while intoxicated charges and three cases of police picking up people suspected of being publicly intoxicated.
- One woman faces charges on suspicion of stealing from an elderly person.
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Do you need to go on a walk?
We all need to go on a walk, and the Kerrville Walking Group has a plan for all interested in making a trek with them at 8 a.m. on Saturday. The group is meeting at the Dieter Center. The group says they welcome pets and good conversation. Here's the link to the course: click here.
Time to get your library card — don't let it go
The Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library is joining the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide for Library Card Sign-Up Month, a time to remind parents, caregivers and students that a library card is the first step toward academic achievement and lifelong learning.
A library card opens a world of infinite possibilities through resources and services that give students the tools to succeed in school and beyond.
This year, Tony Award-winning performer, actress, singer-songwriter, and philanthropist Idina Menzel and her sister, author and educator Cara Menzel, have been named honorary chairs of Library Card Sign-Up Month. This September, Idina and Cara will join the American Library Association and libraries nationwide to sing the praises of a library card. The sisters' debut picture book, "Loud Mouse," about a little mouse named Dee who loves to sing very loudly, will be released by Disney Hyperion publishing house.
As honorary chairs, the Menzel's will remind everyone that the library is one of the best places to find your voice. And during Library Card Sign-Up Month, they want you to explore all the library has to offer, like-new children's books, access to technology, and educational programming.
For more information about how to sign up for a library card, contact the library reference desk at (830) 258-1274, or visit the city's website at www.kerrvilletx.gov.
They need sponsors for the kids at Halloween
The Kerrville Parks and Recreation Department needs booth participants and sponsors for the annual "Family Fright Night" Halloween event — arguably Kerr County's biggest Halloween event.
Set for 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 in Louise Hays Park, 202 Thompson Dr., it is a free event and will include games, trick-or-treating, food trucks, a costume contest, bounce houses, and more.
Organizations or businesses can support this community event by registering to host a booth. Park and rec encourages participants to decorate their car trunks or a 10-food-by-10-foot canopy tent to create a booth with a family-friendly Halloween theme of your choosing and distribute candy/prizes to trick-or-treaters. Include an activity for a little added fun. Booth entries must be submitted by Oct. 21 to be guaranteed a spot at the event.
Businesses and organizations can sponsor in-kind products for prizes or provide a monetary sponsorship. Cash sponsorships go directly towards providing candy, decorations and activities for this event. For full sponsorship benefits, parks and rec needs a donation commitment by Oct. 7.
The sponsorship packet and booth registration form can be found on the city's website at www.kerrvilletx.gov/1455/Family-Fright-Night, or visit the Parks Office located at 2385 Bandera Hwy.
