Good morning, Kerr County!
Tonight's game-time kickoff temperature for Tivy and Fredericksburg should be 84 degrees — that's 7 p.m. for those who don't follow high school football. We're going to continue to see some mild mornings and then a warmup in the afternoons through next week. The bad news is there is no rain in the long-term forecast.
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On today's The Lead Live!
We wrap up another busy week with a financial roundup from Andrew Gay of Texas Hill Country Advisors and a weekend preview from Leslie Jones of the Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau. And you never know who might show up on a Friday morning.
Two conversations worth watching
Kerr Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Gil Salinas was our guest on Thursday's The Lead Live, and we covered a wide range of topics about economic development in Kerr County. Here's the video:
On Wednesday, Kerrville attorney Greg Richards, who hosts his podcast through The Lead, chatted with Keri Wilt, who owns Grape Juice and Well Tended Properties with her husband, Patrick. Richards asked about the Wilt's entrepreneurial journey and navigating the challenges along the way. Here's the video:
Today's newsletter is sponsored by KPUB
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The Hill Country Podcast with Tom Fox is also presenting today's newsletter
The Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on earth. In this podcast, recent Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with the people and organizations that make this the most unique areas of Texas. Join Tom as he explores the people, places and their activities of the Texas Hill Country.
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Stories we're following
A shooting in Uvalde draws attention
- Just to add to the complicated stories coming from Uvalde, a shooting Thursday afternoon led to people in the community holding their breaths. Police said two people were injured in the shooting, while four were arrested in the incident. Read more here: https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2022/09/08/shooting-at-uvalde-memorial-park-leaves-multiple-victims-injured-police-say/
One of Texas' top doctors steps down
- Dr. John Hellersted, who has headed the Texas Department of State Health Services since 2016, is retiring. Here's the story from the Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2022/09/08/texas-health-department-commissioner/
Queen Elizabeth II is remembered
The final public picture of Queen Elizabeth II, just two days before her death. (Getty Images) |
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott paid tribute to British monarch Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday afternoon. "Queen Elizabeth II was also more than a leader of one of the greatest monarchies in history and a close United States ally; she was a mother, a grandmother, and a wife who showed a deep devotion to her family and to her nation," Abbott said.
Teachers are saying they've had it — at least, that's what a poll said
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A poll by the Charles Butt Foundation online found that 77% of Texas teachers were thinking about leaving the profession.
"Many cite a lack of respect, support, and appreciation from their students' parents, communities, elected officials, and the public," the Charles Butt Foundation said in its report. "Some say these feelings have been exacerbated by the pandemic and the current political climate."
Teachers across the state face issues with salaries, curriculum and growing hostility toward inclusion and equity education. However, pay continued to be a significant issue.
"Finally, a substantial share point to low pay as a primary reason for seriously considering leaving, mentioning the potential to earn higher pay in other jobs," the report said. "Several teachers say they cannot sustain their standard of living on their current salary and feel pay is not commensurate with experience; others mention the impact of increasing health insurance premiums."
For instance, in the Kerrville Independent School District, teachers with no dependents have most of their premiums covered, but adding spouses and children drives those prices up. A teacher subscribing to the district's top plan would shoulder more than $900 per month for family benefits.
When the Charles Butt Foundation asked these same questions in 2020, just 58% of teachers said they were considering exiting from the profession.
"Furthermore, among those who have seriously considered leaving, a majority — 93% — have actively taken steps to leave the profession within the past year," wrote Shari Albright, president of the Charles Butt Foundation, which is an outreach of H-E-B CEO Charles Butt.
Things to watch tonight in Fredericksburg, Tivy's 61st meeting
Tivy quarterback Kale Lackey showed off his passing game last week after a big running night in the season opener against Medina Valley. Lackey threw for four touchdowns against Davenport in a 31-28 loss. |
Tivy takes the field tonight against its old rival Fredericksburg, and both teams are trying to right themselves in Week 3 of the season. Tivy is 1-1, coming off a 31-28 road loss against Davenport, and visiting Fredericksburg is off to an 0-2 start.
The Antlers gave up big plays against Davenport before roaring back in the second half. However, one of the killers for the Antlers was a 3-of-12 performance converting on third downs. All three of Tivy's second-half touchdowns came on fourth-and-long opportunities.
Tivy leads the overall series 37-21-3, and the Billies haven't won back-to-back games since 2006. Fredericksburg won last season 44-27.
The Billies have their own problems with their slow start. Fredericksburg got thrashed 53-17 against Salado and then followed that up with a 6-0 loss last week to Canyon Lake.
New Leadership Kerr County class introduced
The 37th class of Leadership Kerr County was introduced on Thursday night. |
The 37th class of Leadership Kerr County was introduced during an event at Security State Bank in Kerrville on Thursday evening. The class includes: Katy Taylor, Debra Lynn Lehr, Nellwyn Barnett, Idalia Conejo, Phillip A. Whitehead, Iris Huchton, Kelsi Wilmot, Chad Portie, Cody Scott, Stephanie A. Villanueva, Megan Folkerts, Wynita Yancy, Lori Ann Alonzo, Jillian M. Smith, Mary Campana, Jeannie M. Wanhainen, Elyssa J. Williams, Kelly Hagemeier, Ashley B. Phillips, Paul Martinez and Amy Powers.
To see more photos from the event: https://thekerrcountyleadphotography.zenfoliosite.com/zg/leadership-kerr-countys-new-class
Stuff to do today!
Golf
- Kerrville Professional Firefighters Golf Tournament — Scott Schreiner Golf Course, 11:30 a.m. Information: https://www.local3230.org The details: There's a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start. Florida Scramble format. A silent auction, awards, sausage lunch, and a BBQ dinner to benefit The Three-Alarm Fund.
Live music
- Lee Winright — Kerr Arts and Cultural Center, 5:30 p.m. Information: https://www.kacckerrville.com The details: Winright is a guitarist and songwriter who has worked with several well-known musicians, including Robert Earl Keen, Charlie Robison, Jack Ingram and more.
- Stan Morris — Cafe at the Ridge, 6 p.m. Information: https://www.shopsattheridge.com
- V3RTIGO — Pier 27 River Lounge and Pizzeria, 8 p.m. Information: (830) 896-7437. The details: New wave hits from the 1980s.
Markets and sales
- Kerrville Farmer's Market — Butt Holdsworth Memorial Library, 4 p.m. Information: https://www.kerrvillefarmersmarket.com The details: There are some key changes to the market, with new management, and some additions and subtractions to the lineup. There's a wide variety of locally sourced produce, meat, eggs, bread, cheese, beer, wine and a selection of prepared food, all sourced within the Texas Hill Country.
- Arts and Crafts Show — Trinity Baptist Church, 12-6 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Information: 830-895-0015 The details: Vendors from across Texas will bring our community together in this event. Free admission. Register at the entrance for door prizes. Shop the many vendors from all over Texas in the comfort of air conditioning. There's a car show to accompany the event on Saturday.
Dance
- Learn to Belly Dance — Kerr Arts and Cultural Center, 6 p.m. Information: The Cheeky Peacocks Dance Company The details: Bring a yoga mat, a bottle of water and a friend! The class is $10.
High school football
- Fredericksburg at Tivy, 7 p.m.
- Ingram Tom Moore at Harper, 7:30 p.m.
- New Braunfels Christian at Center Point, 7:30 p.m.
- Our Lady of the Hills at Medina, 7:30 p.m.
High school volleyball
- Ingram Tom Moore at Harper, 6 p.m.
Collegiate sports
- Men's soccer — Schreiner University, 1 p.m. Information: https://schreinermountaineers.com/sports/msoc/2022-23/schedule The details: Schreiner's soccer team plays host to Texas A&M-San Antonio in a non-conference match.
- Women's soccer — Schreiner University, 3:30 p.m. Information: https://schreinermountaineers.com/sports/wsoc/2022-23/schedule The details: Schreiner University plays host to rival Trinity College in a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference match.
Science and Nature
- 1-on-1 with a naturalist — Riverside Nature Center, 10 a.m. Information: https://www.riversidenaturecenter.org The details: Naturalist, author, and columnist Jim Stanley and Texas Master Naturalist and native plant enthusiast John Hucksteadt will be available to meet one-on-one to answer questions, and discuss various topics, or listen to ideas about nature.
Live music
- Arcadia Live, 7 p.m. Information: https://www.thearcadialive.org The details: Enjoy a magical evening of music, drinks and sunset along The Guadalupe River on the back deck at Arcadia Live.
- MKJAZZ — Joanne Marie and Me Wine Boutique, Ingram, 6 p.m. Information: https://www.facebook.com/wineboutique1
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.
