In a June 9 opinion, the Fifteenth Court of Appeals ruled that the November 2024 election approving the bond package should stand, finding that county officials complied with notice requirements and that challengers waited too long to raise their objections. The case has been sent back to the original trial court for further proceedings.

The ruling means the county won the appeal, the election remains valid and the bond program can move forward unless a higher court intervenes.

Attorney Bill Aleshire, who represents the plaintiffs, said his clients intend to file a motion for rehearing with the Fifteenth Court of Appeals, asking the court to reconsider what he believes are mistakes in the opinion. If the court declines to change its ruling, Aleshire said the plaintiffs plan to appeal to the Texas Supreme Court.

"It's too big and important of a case for the enforcement of the Open Meetings Law in Texas to just accept that opinion," Aleshire said.

Hays County declined to comment on the ruling.

The lawsuit centered on whether Hays County properly notified the public in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act before commissioners voted to place the road bond proposition on the ballot.

Four Hays County residents claimed that an Aug. 13, 2024, Commissioners Court agenda item failed to adequately inform the public that commissioners would consider a road bond election. A district court agreed and earlier this year declared the election and resulting bonds invalid.

The appeals court disagreed, though the ruling was not unanimous. The majority found that the county complied with the Texas Open Meetings Act by considering both the physical courthouse notice and the county's online posting together. While the physical notice did not specifically mention roads, the online posting included detailed information about the proposed projects, bond amount and election, which the court found satisfied the law.

The court also found the plaintiffs waited too long to challenge the issue. According to the opinion, two of the plaintiffs attended the Aug. 13, 2024, Commissioners Court meeting and spoke against the proposal but did not file suit until Oct. 21 of that year, the first day of early voting.

The court said election-related challenges must be brought quickly so courts have time to address potential problems before voting begins. Once voting begins, the opinion states that courts are generally reluctant to intervene because doing so can disrupt the election process and “set aside” the will of voters.

The opinion also noted that voters approved the bond package by a margin of 64,599 votes to 51,258 votes and that the lawsuit did not challenge the accuracy of the election results themselves.

"It is one thing to set aside a local ordinance for violating TOMA," Chief Justice Scott Brister wrote. "But it is quite another to set aside the results of an election in which 64,599 voters approved road bonds."

In a dissenting opinion, Justice Scott Field argued that the county should still have to prove it complied with the Texas Open Meetings Act before the bonds can be validated.

Field agreed the plaintiffs likely filed their election challenge too late, but said that should not prevent them from challenging whether the county properly complied with open meetings requirements as part of the separate bond validation case.

Field also concluded that the Aug. 13, 2024, agenda notice was insufficient because it referred only to a bond election and did not specifically disclose that commissioners were considering a $439 million road bond package involving several controversial transportation projects.

In closing, Field described the litigation as "a procedural mess" and urged the Texas Supreme Court to review the case and provide additional guidance on how open meetings laws should apply to online agendas and supporting documents.

Aleshire argued that the dispute is about government transparency rather than the bond projects themselves. He contends county officials should have specifically identified the road bond proposal on the Aug. 13, 2024, agenda so residents would clearly understand what commissioners were considering.

Unless a higher court intervenes, the ruling restores the voter-approved bond program and removes the largest legal obstacle facing the county's transportation projects.

Dripping Springs breweries Twisted X Brewing Company and Acopon Brewing Company combined to earn four medals during the Fredericksburg Craft Beer Festival beer competition.

Twisted X claimed two first-place finishes, winning the Hazy IPA category with McConauhaze and the Kölsch category with Gulf Kölsch.

Acopon Brewing Company also turned in an award-winning performance, earning first place in the British & Irish Beer category with Whitby, a British Golden Ale, and third place in the Czech Lager category with Matagot, a Czech Pale Lager.

The awards were presented during the fifth annual Fredericksburg Craft Beer Festival, which brought more than 30 breweries to Fredericksburg for a weekend celebrating Texas craft beer. Hosted by the Fredericksburg Rotary Club, the festival featured beer tastings, live music and community fundraising activities.

Jester King Brewery, another Dripping Springs-area brewery, was among the breweries pouring samples during the festival, though it did not participate in the competition.

The results highlighted the strength of the Dripping Springs craft beer scene, with local breweries bringing home multiple honors while competing against breweries from across Texas.

The promotion, organized through Destination Dripping Springs and Brew City, TX, runs from June 11 through July 19 and encourages residents and visitors to visit participating breweries throughout the community while following the excitement of the FIFA World Cup.

Participants can pick up a Brewery World Cup passport at any of the 10 participating breweries. To qualify for the prize drawing, participants must visit at least five breweries and collect a stamp from each location. Once completed, passports must be filled out with contact information and returned to any participating brewery or the Dripping Springs Visitors Center.

Completed passports will be entered into a drawing for prizes donated by participating breweries. Prizes include gift cards, brewery merchandise and other items. The drawing is scheduled for Wednesday, July 29.

The participating breweries are 12 Fox Beer Co., Acopon Brewing, Bell Springs Brewing Company, Fitzhugh Brewing, Ghost Note Brewing, Jester King Brewery, Lone Man Mountain Brewing Co., Suds Monkey Brewing, Twisted X Brewing Company and Vista Brewing.

Organizers say the event is designed to encourage visitors to experience Dripping Springs' growing craft beer scene while supporting local businesses.

Leone, a rising sophomore and trumpet player, was selected for the honor from a field of more than 20,000 participants statewide. Only a few hundred musicians receive the Outstanding Performer designation each year.

The achievement places Leone among a select group of Dripping Springs High School musicians. He is the 16th DSHS student to earn Outstanding Performer honors since 1998 and only the fifth trumpet player in school history to receive the recognition.

The UIL State Solo and Ensemble Contest is the culmination of the state's individual music competition process and features top-performing student musicians from across Texas.

School officials congratulated Leone on the accomplishment, noting the dedication and preparation required to achieve success at the state level.

“During Pride Month, we recognize and celebrate the courage, resilience and contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community,” according to the proclamation, “We reflect on the progress made toward equality, inclusion, and justice for all.

“Hays County affirms the values of freedom and fairness, and remains committed to fostering a community where all residents are welcomed, respected, and protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression,” reads the proclamation.

SMTX Pride Founder Sylvia Sandoval appeared at the Court to acknowledge her appreciation for the proclamation. “I know with these changing times, it's very important to have everybody have our back one way or the other,” Sandoval said. “So thank you.”

Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe stressed the importance of unity in her discussion of Pride Month.

“As we recognize Pride Month, it reminds me that we were taught early in life that we need to treat people with love and respect, compassion and kindness, and I think that still holds true today, and it's not just today, and not just this week or month, but it's every day,” Ingalsby said. “Regardless of our differences, we are better and stronger when we value each one's dignity in our community.”

The Commissioners Court continues to emphasize the importance of individual rights, according Pct. 3 Commissioner Morgan Hammer. “This court has consistently supported the fair and equal treatment of everybody and everyone, and I will continue to push that forward,” she said.

Mutual support among fellow community members helps them identify with each other, said County Judge Ruben Becerra. “We can all have these ideas, we can all have these opinions, but when someone needs you and you show up, I think that's the icing on the cake,” Becerra said."When we see each other as someone's loved ones, then we can have more peace in our day.”

Pct. 4 Commissioner Walt Smith expressed his support of the Pride Month proclamation and the Hays County employees it represents.

“I truly believe in the rights of every single individual, from a constitutional and a personal standpoint,” Smith said. “This resolution is important to a large number of our employees, and I'm happy to support it on their behalf today.”

“We honor those who paved the way for equality, as well as those who continue that work today, striving toward a future where everyone can live openly, authentically, and without fear,” reads the proclamation.

The 1871 Bearing Tree in Kyle received a boost from the Hays County Commissioner Court on May 12 when the court unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the historical significance of the LIve Oak and deemed it worthy of preservation and protection.

Located at 1501 North Old Stagecoach Rd., removal of the Bearing Tree has been discussed as part of development and road construction projects in the surrounding area, according to Pct. 3 Commissioner Morgan Hammer, sponsor of the resolution.

“If this tree is recognized by the state as a historical landmark, maybe we have a shot of protecting and saving the tree and rerouting a design,” Hammer said.

While the designation of historical markers is not within the purview of the Commissioners Court, this action could “really start the ball rolling,” according to Kate Johnson, president of Preservation Associates Inc., who spoke at the court in support of the resolution.

Johnson, who served as chair of the Hays County Historical Commission from 1999 to 2022, said Preservation Associates will be applying for a historical marker for the 1871 Bearing Tree, and the Preservation Texas organization will be making a state antiquities landmark for the tree.

The historical significance of the tree dates back to early settlements in this area.

“What makes this tree so remarkable is that it's part of our legal and historical record,” said Johnson. “This very tree is specifically referenced in the deed of the Franke family, marking the historic corner that helped establish and define some of the original land grant boundaries here in Hays County.” The Bearing Tree is currently located on the property of Alton and Deanna Franke.

Not only did the tree witness Texas history, it dates back to the founding of the United States, according to Johnson.

“Thanks to the professional research of Surveyor Kent McMillan, we now know this remarkable tree has likely been growing since 1776, the same year our nation was born,” Johnson said.

Bearing Trees, also known as or “witness trees,” were intentionally marked by early Texas surveyors to permanently identify, reference and preserve original land boundaries during the settlement of Texas, according to the resolution. “Surviving examples in publicly visible locations are exceptionally rare.”

“By recognizing this 1871 Bearing Tree, you are doing more than preserving a tree, you are helping preserve a living connection to the people, the land, and the history that built Hays County,” Johnson said.

Another Live Oak which grew along Old Stagecoach Road gained significant media coverage last year after the Kyle city council approved more than $900,000 to relocate it. The city council initially voted to remove the 400-year-old Porter Oak, but later reversed course following public outcry.

Also known as “Jolene,” the Porter Oak was moved in December of 2025 to city-owned land near the Six Creeks subdivision, which also borders Old Stagecoach Road.

“It is a beautiful tree, and is likely a lot happier now not being so close to the road,” Johnson told the Daily Record. “But it does not have the historical significance of the 1871 Bearing Tree.”

The resolution will be sent to the City of Kyle, Hays County departments, the Texas Historical Commission, and all agencies or entities involved in planning or infrastructure decisions affecting North Old Stagecoach Road.

“The Hays County Commissioners Court declares that every reasonable effort shall be made to preserve, protect, and avoid damage to the 1871 Bearing Tree, its root zone, canopy, surrounding landscape, and associated historic context,” according to the resolution.

Confirmation of nation’s first case of New World screwworm came Wednesday when animal health officials detected suspect lesions on the umbilical cord of a young calf in Zavala County, just west of Uvalde. This week, more cases were confirmed including one in Gillespie County near Fredericksburg.

The finding was confirmed June 3 by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. By Friday, it remained the only confirmed case in the United States.

News of the detection went out the same day that many Texas cattle industry leaders were making their way to Houston for the summer meeting and trade show put on annually by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, the nation’s largest livestock organization based in a state where cattle reign king to the tune of about $15 billion annually.

Organization president Stephen Diebel, a fifth-generation cattleman with ranching interests in Victoria and Goliad counties, issued a statement just moments after the lab confirmation went out.

While screwworms indeed pose what he called “a serious animal health threat, particularly for Texas,” he said, news of a single isolated case shouldn’t be cause for alarm.

“It is not a food safety issue,” Diebel said. “And ranchers and landowners should not panic. For the past 18 months, we have worked alongside our state and federal partners to prepare for the possibility of a positive New World screwworm case, and that preparation now positions us to respond quickly and effectively.”

TSCRA members have worked closely with the U.S. Agriculture Department, Texas Animal Health Commission and Texas Parks and Wildlife to increase surveillance, sterilize fly production and diminish its dispersal capacity since 2023, when animal health officials first became aware of the screwworms’ northward progression from Central America after the screwworm fly had been effectively eliminated from the North American continent in the early 1970s.

Many of the pesticides used in that effort back then were banned in the United States not long afterward.

Officials established a quarantine zone in Zavala County where lab tests confirmed the detection to limit cattle movement and control the spread of the invasive pest, and multiple agencies have been trained in identification, treatment and reporting protocols to enhance preparedness.

“TAHC has been actively preparing for a resurgence of NWS for more than two years,” said Dr. Bud Dinges, state veterinarian and executive director of the state agency. “We are putting these preparations into action, and we encourage all animal owners and caretakers to remain vigilant for the presence of larvae in animal wounds and report any suspicions.”

Dinges reiterated that U.S. food supplies remain safe. USDA’S Food Safety and Inspection Service ensures that the nation’s commercial food supply of meat, poultry and egg products are safe and properly labeled.

Screwworms do not infest fruits, vegetables or other food sources, such as grains or rice. They can, however, infest most any warm-blooded animal, and are most troublesome in the larval stage, as maggots of the NWS fly, known scientifically as Cochliomyia hominivorax.

Flies lay eggs in an animal’s open wound or orifice, and those eggs hatch into dangerous parasitic larvae. While primarily a livestock concern, screwworm cases infestations can also affect pets, humans and wildlife populations such as birds and deer.

Despite assurances from agency forces on the ground, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller was still critical of existing gameplans and called on the Trump administration to throw every available resource at halting the screwworm once and for all.

“For months, the screwworm has advanced rapidly through Mexico,” he said. “Even though billions of sterile flies have been dispersed by the USDA, the screwworm has still advanced more than 1,100 miles from Southern Mexico to Texas. Now, it seems, the consequences of those decisions are staring us in the face.”

Miller called on President Trump to take immediate action and lift any bureaucratic barriers existing to initiate widespread pesticide usage in impacted areas immediately.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was planning a press conference on the issue as this story went to press.

Meanwhile, members of the nation’s livestock organization in Houston were set to take up the matter Saturday, the final day of their annual conference.

Diebel urged cattlemen and landowners to stay vigilant.

“We ask ranchers and landowners to regularly put eyes on their livestock and wildlife, maintain a strong relationship with their veterinarians and report suspicious wounds or infestations immediately,” he said. “Early detection, rapid response and limited animal movement when necessary remain our strongest tools for containing and eradicating New World screwworms.”

The BCWPP is an interlocal agreement among Hays County, the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, the Watershed Association, the city of Wimberley and the city of Woodcreek. The plan, established as a three-year pilot program in 2024, aims to create a permanent framework for watershed protection which emphasizes education, engagement and long-term sustainability.

The agreement provides funding to monitor water quality in Cypress Creek and the Blanco River upstream and downstream of the Wimberley Valley to assess whether surface water is meeting Federal Clean Water Act standards. 
One of the stipulations of the agreement has been the addition of a supervisor within the Hays County Parks and Natural Resources department to oversee the plan. Melissa Wolter will begin her role as the BCWPP watershed coordinator on May 27.

Wolter is a Texas State University graduate with an undergraduate degree in Biology and a Master’s in Aquatic Resources. She was an Aquatic Science teacher at San Marcos High School from 2023 until earlier this year.

Karl Flocke, Hays County Director of Parks and Natural Resources, said that the work of the BCWPP impacts the county even in areas not adjacent to the Blanco River and Cypress Creek.

“Of course, [the agreement] has positive impacts on people and the environment well beyond those two watersheds,” Flocke said. “It is a true partnership, leveraging the resources and expertise of our five organizations.”

The BCWPP includes two of Hays county’s most treasured park areas, according to Jenna Walker, Director of Watershed Studies at the Meadows Center.

“This plan covers some of Hays County's crown jewels, including Cypress Creek and Jacob’s Well, which are also sentinels for the health of our larger watersheds, and they support the identity of our county and attract people from all over the world.

“They're also under increasing pressure from growth, storm water runoff, wastewater, land development, and as we all know, drought,” Walker said.

As part of her presentation to the court, Walker included a photo of the nearly dry Jacob’s Well taken earlier this month to illustrate the dramatic effects of the current drought.

David Baker, Executive Director of the Watershed Association, took that photo. He could not attend the court session due to a conflict in his schedule, but in an email to the Daily Record he described the effect of the drought as depicted in the photo.

“Jacob's Well is the key indicator of overall creek and aquifer health in our region,” Baker said. “The Well now spends long stretches at or near zero flow, with only brief recoveries after major rain events…. Per the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District's most recent drought updates, the Well has been at zero flow continuously since November 2025.”

Baker said the BCWPP's groundwater protection work is a key part of efforts to keep Jacob’s Well flowing, along with rainwater harvesting and on-site reuse. The Watershed Association is also researching alternative water supplies, according to Baker.

The challenges of Hays County water conservation efforts were the focus of Walker’s presentation, which included data on the explosive population growth in the area as well as evolving municipal water supply strategies.

She compared the predicted population growth for Hays county from the 2022 Texas Water Development Board Five Year Plan to the preliminary TWDB report for 2027.

The 2022 plan predicts the Hays County population of 240,000 will grow to 730,000 in 2070. The preliminary draft of the 2027 plan revises the 2070 population estimate to 1,400,000.

“The numbers have doubled with the new plan,” Walker said. “So we have to plan accordingly and smartly…. it's going to take a lot of collaboration and sustained support from the county and the state and all of our partners.”

Walker also showed slides based on TWDB data of the projected municipal water supply strategies for Hays county for the next 50 years, which reflected a decreasing percentage of groundwater in the overall breakdown of the county’s water supply.

In the 2022 TWDB plan, groundwater was predicted to supply 37% of Hays County water over the next 50 years, with 94% of this water coming from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, 5% coming from the Trinity Aquifer and 1% coming from the Edwards Aquifer.

In the 2027 TWDB preliminary plan, groundwater is predicted to supply 8.9% of Hays County water over the next 50 years, dropping behind municipal conservation (27%), new major reservoirs (25.4%) and drought management (9.3%).

These figures emphasize the continuing importance of the Watershed agreement as the collaborative effort to meet these challenges.

Walker proposed that the BCWPP be made permanent and offered the following suggestions:

- Continued partner coordination around the BCWPP

- Support for ongoing water quality monitoring and watershed data interpretation

- Progress toward formalizing implementations roles and responsibilities

- Development of work planning and tracking tools

- Grant development and project identification

- Improved structure for communication among ILA (Interlocal Agreement) partners

Community education is an important aspect of the Protection Plan, according to Baker, a responsibility which includes public presentations like the one made by Walker, the special studies and planning initiatives led by the Watershed Association as well as ongoing efforts by Wimberley, Wood Creek and Hays County.

“The structure is intentionally collaborative so that no single entity carries the load alone, and the work continues beyond any one grant cycle,” according to Baker. “The goals are to protect water quality, sustain spring flow and baseflow and reduce nonpoint source pollution. And help our communities grow without losing the natural systems that make this region what it is.”

As part of the court discussion about the BCWPP, Flocke also announced a $50,000 grant from Texas A&M Forest Service to utilize tree-based solutions towards water quality.

The BCWPP is an interlocal agreement among Hays County, the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, the Watershed Association, the city of Wimberley and the city of Woodcreek. The plan, established as a three-year pilot program in 2024, aims to create a permanent framework for watershed protection which emphasizes education, engagement and long-term sustainability.

The agreement provides funding to monitor water quality in Cypress Creek and the Blanco River upstream and downstream of the Wimberley Valley to assess whether surface water is meeting Federal Clean Water Act standards. 
One of the stipulations of the agreement has been the addition of a supervisor within the Hays County Parks and Natural Resources department to oversee the plan. Melissa Wolter will begin her role as the BCWPP watershed coordinator on May 27.

Wolter is a Texas State University graduate with an undergraduate degree in Biology and a Master’s in Aquatic Resources. She was an Aquatic Science teacher at San Marcos High School from 2023 until earlier this year.

Karl Flocke, Hays County Director of Parks and Natural Resources, said that the work of the BCWPP impacts the county even in areas not adjacent to the Blanco River and Cypress Creek.

“Of course, [the agreement] has positive impacts on people and the environment well beyond those two watersheds,” Flocke said. “It is a true partnership, leveraging the resources and expertise of our five organizations.”

The BCWPP includes two of Hays county’s most treasured park areas, according to Jenna Walker, Director of Watershed Studies at the Meadows Center.

“This plan covers some of Hays County's crown jewels, including Cypress Creek and Jacob’s Well, which are also sentinels for the health of our larger watersheds, and they support the identity of our county and attract people from all over the world.

“They're also under increasing pressure from growth, storm water runoff, wastewater, land development, and as we all know, drought,” Walker said.

As part of her presentation to the court, Walker included a photo of the nearly dry Jacob’s Well taken earlier this month to illustrate the dramatic effects of the current drought.

David Baker, Executive Director of the Watershed Association, took that photo. He could not attend the court session due to a conflict in his schedule, but in an email to the Daily Record he described the effect of the drought as depicted in the photo.

“Jacob's Well is the key indicator of overall creek and aquifer health in our region,” Baker said. “The Well now spends long stretches at or near zero flow, with only brief recoveries after major rain events…. Per the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District's most recent drought updates, the Well has been at zero flow continuously since November 2025.”

Baker said the BCWPP's groundwater protection work is a key part of efforts to keep Jacob’s Well flowing, along with rainwater harvesting and on-site reuse. The Watershed Association is also researching alternative water supplies, according to Baker.

The challenges of Hays County water conservation efforts were the focus of Walker’s presentation, which included data on the explosive population growth in the area as well as evolving municipal water supply strategies.

She compared the predicted population growth for Hays county from the 2022 Texas Water Development Board Five Year Plan to the preliminary TWDB report for 2027.

The 2022 plan predicts the Hays County population of 240,000 will grow to 730,000 in 2070. The preliminary draft of the 2027 plan revises the 2070 population estimate to 1,400,000.

“The numbers have doubled with the new plan,” Walker said. “So we have to plan accordingly and smartly…. it's going to take a lot of collaboration and sustained support from the county and the state and all of our partners.”

Walker also showed slides based on TWDB data of the projected municipal water supply strategies for Hays county for the next 50 years, which reflected a decreasing percentage of groundwater in the overall breakdown of the county’s water supply.

In the 2022 TWDB plan, groundwater was predicted to supply 37% of Hays County water over the next 50 years, with 94% of this water coming from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, 5% coming from the Trinity Aquifer and 1% coming from the Edwards Aquifer.

In the 2027 TWDB preliminary plan, groundwater is predicted to supply 8.9% of Hays County water over the next 50 years, dropping behind municipal conservation (27%), new major reservoirs (25.4%) and drought management (9.3%).

These figures emphasize the continuing importance of the Watershed agreement as the collaborative effort to meet these challenges.

Walker proposed that the BCWPP be made permanent and offered the following suggestions:

- Continued partner coordination around the BCWPP

- Support for ongoing water quality monitoring and watershed data interpretation

- Progress toward formalizing implementations roles and responsibilities

- Development of work planning and tracking tools

- Grant development and project identification

- Improved structure for communication among ILA (Interlocal Agreement) partners

Community education is an important aspect of the Protection Plan, according to Baker, a responsibility which includes public presentations like the one made by Walker, the special studies and planning initiatives led by the Watershed Association as well as ongoing efforts by Wimberley, Wood Creek and Hays County.

“The structure is intentionally collaborative so that no single entity carries the load alone, and the work continues beyond any one grant cycle,” according to Baker. “The goals are to protect water quality, sustain spring flow and baseflow and reduce nonpoint source pollution. And help our communities grow without losing the natural systems that make this region what it is.”

As part of the court discussion about the BCWPP, Flocke also announced a $50,000 grant from Texas A&M Forest Service to utilize tree-based solutions towards water quality.

The city recently released the updated draft plan and launched an online survey that allows residents to review the document, explore interactive maps and submit comments directly on specific ideas and proposed land-use concepts.

According to city officials, the Comprehensive Plan serves as a long-range roadmap intended to guide growth, development and infrastructure decisions over the next 20 years while preserving the character and qualities that residents value most.

"The Comprehensive Plan is the city's visionary roadmap for the next 20 years, guiding how Dripping Springs grows and evolves while protecting the character and qualities that make our community special," city officials said in the announcement.

The draft plan is the result of a multi-year planning process that began in 2022 and included public meetings, stakeholder interviews, surveys and input from a citizen advisory committee.

The plan establishes five primary focus areas: Infrastructure and Facilities, Community Character, Connectivity and Corridor Enhancement, Housing, and Economic Development and Funding.

Among the major themes identified in the draft are the need for additional water and wastewater infrastructure, transportation improvements, expanded housing options and continued protection of open spaces, natural resources and Hill Country character.

The document also includes an updated Future Land Use Map intended to help guide future development within the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. Rather than focusing solely on development density, the plan uses a series of place types designed to reflect the desired character of different areas of the community.

Community feedback collected during the planning process emphasized preserving natural resources, maintaining the city's small-town atmosphere, protecting dark skies and balancing growth with quality of life.

The plan's vision statement describes a future in which Dripping Springs continues to grow while maintaining its identity as the "Gateway to the Hill Country."

City officials emphasized that the draft plan is intended to guide future decisions regarding land use, infrastructure and major development projects. The document itself does not change zoning regulations or approve specific developments but will help inform future planning and policy decisions.

Officials are encouraging residents, business owners and property owners to review the draft and provide feedback.

"This plan will help guide decisions that impact our community for decades to come, and the city wants to hear from residents, business owners, property owners, and everyone who cares about the future of Dripping Springs," the city said.

The draft plan and interactive survey are available online at: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/a3c1a78bad1f424d929dbdfe1ffe4bb4/.

The Hays County Commissioners Court unanimously passed a proclamation designating May 13 as Peace Officers Memorial Day in recognizing officers in Hays County who have lost their lives or become disabled in the performance of duty. The proclamation also recognized the week in which this date falls as Police Week.

Peace Officers Memorial Day is sponsored at the nationwide level by the National Fraternal Order of Police and is implemented by the FOP Memorial Committee. The holiday was created on October 1, 1961, when Congress authorized President John F. Kennedy to designate a day to honor peace officers.

”It is important that all citizens know and understand the problems, duties and responsibilities of their law enforcement agencies, and that members of these agencies recognize their duty to serve the people by safeguarding life and property, protecting them against violence or disorder, and shielding the innocent against deception and the weak against oppression or intimidation,” the Hays County proclamation states.

Seven officers in Hays County have been killed in the line of duty, according to the proclamation, which recognized those officers as well as others who have who have become disabled while on duty:

“We will never forget the sacrifices of:

- Deputy Sheriff Henry C. Banks (Hays County Sheriff's Office)

- Night Watchman Henry H. Joslin (Kyle Police Department)

- Deputy Sheriff John S. Davis, Jr. (Hays County Sheriff's Office)

- Trooper Randall W. Vetter (Texas Department of Public Safety)

- Officer Kenneth M. Copeland (San Marcos Police Department)

- Officer Justin Putnam (San Marcos Police Department)

- Deputy Constable Manuel Phillipe De La Rosa (Hays County Constable’s Office, Precinct 2)

- Deputy Sheriff Dustin Speckels (Hays County Sheriff's Office)

- Correctional Officer James Henry (Hays County Sheriff's Office)”

Shane Smith, Captain of Support Services Law Enforcement Bureau for the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, appeared at the May 12 meeting to speak on the proclamation.

“This profession is not easy,” Smith said. “The men and women who wear the badge carry burdens most people never see, long hours, missed holidays, difficult calls, the weight of making critical decisions at a moment's notice. Yet every day, they continue to show up and serve. It is both a responsibility and privilege to protect the community we call home. Our deputies and officers do this work because they care deeply about the people in this county and the safety of our families.

“And while we recognize those who serve, we must also recognize the spouses and families who stand beside them. They carry the stress, the sacrifice and the uncertainty that comes with the profession, often without recognition, they support,” Smith said.

In their discussion of the proclamation, the Commissioners Court members emphasized the essential role of law enforcement in safeguarding rights and freedoms, as well as the importance of community support and recognition.

Judge Ruben Becerra praised the role of law officers as not only community members, but also citizen leaders.

“I thank you all for being not only the front line of our community defense and protection through the lens of public safety, but being embedded in our community in the way that you are, because that shows a capacity of accountability, which I think is the pinnacle of our public safety.”

Pct. 4 Commissioner Walt Smith discussed the role of the Commissioners Court in sending law officers to the national observance of Police Week in Washington D.C. to support the Hays County families of deceased officers. The Court had used ARPA funds in previous years, but last year added continuous funding into the base budget to support those families,” Smith said.

“We’ve sent along a group of constables to act as escorts for families who have lost their loved ones,” Smith said.

Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsby talked about the ongoing importance of peace officers to the county. ”I want to thank you and honor the courage, sacrifice and commitment of the men and women who serve our communities every day,” she said.

Later in the court session, Leticia Solis and Martin A. Espinoza were sworn in by Commissioner Ingalsby as regular full-time Deputies in the Hays County Constable's Precinct 1 Office.

The Hays County Commissioners Court unanimously passed a proclamation designating May 13 as Peace Officers Memorial Day in recognizing officers in Hays County who have lost their lives or become disabled in the performance of duty. The proclamation also recognized the week in which this date falls as Police Week.

Peace Officers Memorial Day is sponsored at the nationwide level by the National Fraternal Order of Police and is implemented by the FOP Memorial Committee. The holiday was created on October 1, 1961, when Congress authorized President John F. Kennedy to designate a day to honor peace officers.

”It is important that all citizens know and understand the problems, duties and responsibilities of their law enforcement agencies, and that members of these agencies recognize their duty to serve the people by safeguarding life and property, protecting them against violence or disorder, and shielding the innocent against deception and the weak against oppression or intimidation,” the Hays County proclamation states.

Seven officers in Hays County have been killed in the line of duty, according to the proclamation, which recognized those officers as well as others who have who have become disabled while on duty:

“We will never forget the sacrifices of:

- Deputy Sheriff Henry C. Banks (Hays County Sheriff's Office)

- Night Watchman Henry H. Joslin (Kyle Police Department)

- Deputy Sheriff John S. Davis, Jr. (Hays County Sheriff's Office)

- Trooper Randall W. Vetter (Texas Department of Public Safety)

- Officer Kenneth M. Copeland (San Marcos Police Department)

- Officer Justin Putnam (San Marcos Police Department)

- Deputy Constable Manuel Phillipe De La Rosa (Hays County Constable’s Office, Precinct 2)

- Deputy Sheriff Dustin Speckels (Hays County Sheriff's Office)

- Correctional Officer James Henry (Hays County Sheriff's Office)”

Shane Smith, Captain of Support Services Law Enforcement Bureau for the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, appeared at the May 12 meeting to speak on the proclamation.

“This profession is not easy,” Smith said. “The men and women who wear the badge carry burdens most people never see, long hours, missed holidays, difficult calls, the weight of making critical decisions at a moment's notice. Yet every day, they continue to show up and serve. It is both a responsibility and privilege to protect the community we call home. Our deputies and officers do this work because they care deeply about the people in this county and the safety of our families.

“And while we recognize those who serve, we must also recognize the spouses and families who stand beside them. They carry the stress, the sacrifice and the uncertainty that comes with the profession, often without recognition, they support,” Smith said.

In their discussion of the proclamation, the Commissioners Court members emphasized the essential role of law enforcement in safeguarding rights and freedoms, as well as the importance of community support and recognition.

Judge Ruben Becerra praised the role of law officers as not only community members, but also citizen leaders.

“I thank you all for being not only the front line of our community defense and protection through the lens of public safety, but being embedded in our community in the way that you are, because that shows a capacity of accountability, which I think is the pinnacle of our public safety.”

Pct. 4 Commissioner Walt Smith discussed the role of the Commissioners Court in sending law officers to the national observance of Police Week in Washington D.C. to support the Hays County families of deceased officers. The Court had used ARPA funds in previous years, but last year added continuous funding into the base budget to support those families,” Smith said.

“We’ve sent along a group of constables to act as escorts for families who have lost their loved ones,” Smith said.

Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsby talked about the ongoing importance of peace officers to the county. ”I want to thank you and honor the courage, sacrifice and commitment of the men and women who serve our communities every day,” she said.

Later in the court session, Leticia Solis and Martin A. Espinoza were sworn in by Commissioner Ingalsby as regular full-time Deputies in the Hays County Constable's Precinct 1 Office.

Following weeks of community discussion and feedback, the Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees voted 6-1 on Monday night to name the district’s new campus Driftwood Springs High School. The school is scheduled to open for the 2028-29 school year and will become the district’s 10th campus.

The decision came after months of work by a naming committee made up of students, parents, staff and community members. The committee reviewed survey results, discussed branding concepts and ultimately presented five official recommendations to the board for consideration.

The top two recommendations presented to trustees were Driftwood High School and Driftwood Springs High School. The committee also recommended the Wolves mascot with navy blue, gold and white colors for both concepts, though trustees only voted Monday on the school’s name. Mascots and colors remain under consideration and have not yet been finalized.

Other recommendations presented by the committee included Bear Creek High School, Sycamore Springs High School and Cypress Springs High School.

During Monday’s meeting, trustees repeatedly emphasized the amount of public feedback they received and the difficulty of balancing community identity, district traditions and future branding considerations.

Several trustees spoke in favor of retaining the “Springs” naming tradition used throughout the district while also acknowledging strong public support for the Driftwood name.

Trustee Mary Jane Hetrick said she believed the district could preserve both ideas.

“I feel like we can do both,” Hetrick said. “We can keep the Springs naming tradition.”

Trustee Rob McClelland said he believed the final name balanced district tradition with the opportunity for the new campus to establish its own identity.

“I believe Driftwood Springs High School strikes the right balance,” McClelland said. “It honors the history and heritage of a broader community that helped build this district over 150 years, while also giving students at this new campus the opportunity to create traditions and a legacy uniquely their own.”

The district’s naming committee had previously identified Driftwood and Driftwood Springs as the consistent front-runners throughout committee discussions and survey results. District administrators told trustees the committee also discussed a wide range of mascot and color concepts during the process.

The new high school is being constructed off Darden Hill Road east of Cypress Springs Elementary. The approximately 506,000-square-foot campus is designed to serve 2,500 students in grades 9-12 and carries an estimated project cost of $298.8 million.

Planned facilities include baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, practice fields, a band practice lot, an agriculture barn and a sub-varsity competition stadium. The district has said the campus will not include a varsity football stadium, with varsity football games and graduation ceremonies continuing to be held at Tiger Stadium.

The campus was approved by voters as part of the district’s May 2023 bond package.

This article has been edited to a remove a quote that was misattributed. We apologize for the error. 

The study was approved by the Hays County Commissioners Court in January. It is the county’s first major water study since 2011 and is being conducted by HDR Engineering.

County officials say the study is meant to provide a clearer picture of how water moves through the county, where infrastructure gaps exist and what challenges may lie ahead.

According to the county, the study will examine water supply planning, wastewater management, flooding concerns and regulations that impact water use. The project also includes flood assessments in all four county precincts and a review of possible centralized sewer options in the Hillside Terrace neighborhood.

Last week, Hays County Precinct 4 Commissioner Walt Smith hosted one of several public stakeholder meetings connected to the study. Smith said the meetings are designed to gather local information from residents, water providers and environmental groups while HDR remains in the data collection phase.

Smith said the county’s previous water study is now outdated because of major growth and development over the past decade.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Morgan Hammer said West Hays County has faced water challenges for years.

“There have always been challenges in West Hays County,” Hammer said. “There are so many factors at play, and every part of the county is different, so this study will help us clearly see what’s really going on.”

Smith said county leaders expanded the study beyond water supply concerns to also include flooding and wastewater issues.

“We are really trying to take a look at where the water is coming from, where it’s being used, what the sources of that water are, what impact it has, especially in flood situations,” Smith said. “And then what happens to it once it’s been used within the system?”

Smith said county officials also hope the study will provide data that can support future discussions with state lawmakers about local planning and development authority.

A wide range of groups were invited to participate in the meetings, including groundwater districts, watershed associations, environmental organizations, regional planning groups and licensed water system operators.

He said many residents may not realize how many licensed public water systems exist in the county.

“For example, in my precinct, there’s roughly 140 licensed public water systems,” Smith said.

Smith said even some small businesses can qualify as public water systems under state regulations. He pointed to a gas station at the corner of Nutty Brown Road and FM 1826 as an example. Because the business serves food while operating on a well, it must be licensed and regularly test its water supply.

Smith said public meetings are important because residents often know about local flooding or infrastructure problems that may not appear in maps or official data.

“There are things, especially when we look at the flood portion of the study, that only local residents with knowledge of the area would know,” Smith said.

Smith said residents have already shared concerns about low-water crossings, flood-prone areas and water systems dealing with well failures or enhanced monitoring by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

County officials said the study is expected to take about 11 months to complete and will cost no more than $542,360.

Smith said the county is currently focused on gathering information and conducting stakeholder interviews.

“We’re collecting the paint right now,” Smith said. “We’re trying to get all the input that we can, and then once we get that and the data is analyzed, that’s where you paint the picture of what’s actually on the ground here in Hays County.”

Additional public meetings are expected as the study moves forward. He also said county leaders want the final report to remain an active planning tool rather than a one-time study.

“This is not a study that should be put on a shelf,” Smith said. “The county itself and the commissioners court must use this data in the most effective way possible.”

The sounds of blacksmithing, live music and children digging through mock archaeological sites filled the grounds of the Pound House Farmstead this weekend. It was a lively return for a historic event that was held for the first time in years this weekend.

Pioneer Day at the historic farmstead in Founders Memorial Park marked the revival of a longtime community tradition that had not occurred since the COVID-19 pandemic following major restoration work at the property. Organizers said the event served both as a fundraiser for the museum and a way to reconnect the growing community with its history.

“We celebrated Pioneer Day 2026. We haven’t had one since I think 2018,” Jeanne Polk, president of the Friends of the Pound House Foundation, said. “It’s nice to slow down and see that this is a part of the actual history of Dripping Springs.”

Throughout the day, visitors stepped into what organizers described as a living snapshot of 19th century Texas Hill Country life.

The event featured historic demonstrations, candle dipping, quilt making, loom weaving, blacksmithing and children’s activities. Guests also toured the historic house, took hayrides and visited vendors selling food, sweets and vintage items. A Buffalo Soldier reenactor showcased historical artifacts and interacted with children throughout the day. 

The Pound House Farmstead traces its origins to 1854, when Dr. Joseph Pound and his wife Sarah settled in what would become Dripping Springs. The original log room of the house still stands today.

According to the museum’s historical records, Joseph Pound first came to Texas in 1847 during the Mexican-American War before returning with Sarah in the early 1850s. The Pound family became one of the founding families of Dripping Springs and helped establish many of the area’s earliest community institutions. Polk said the property once stretched across roughly 700 acres and served as far more than just a family home.

“The house served as a community meeting place, it was a church, it was a hospital,” Polk said. “It served as a school.”

The farmstead is believed to be the last remaining historic farmstead in Dripping Springs. Today, about five acres remain preserved as a museum property.

The house never underwent major modernization during the decades it remained occupied by descendants of the Pound family. According to the museum, indoor plumbing was never added, and electricity was not installed until 1947.

The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Texas State Historical Landmark in 1965. It officially opened as a museum in 2003. Polk said Pioneer Day had historically been one of the community’s signature heritage events before a series of setbacks interrupted the tradition. A 2019 event was canceled because of rain, followed shortly afterward by the pandemic and a lengthy roof replacement project at the house.

“We’ve been trying to get back in the community’s presence, trying to get folks to remember,” Polk said.

She said organizers hope the return of Pioneer Day will help reconnect residents, especially newcomers, with the area’s roots as Dripping Springs continues to grow rapidly.

“People have to get connected with history again, with the history of the community, especially as large and fast growing as Dripping Springs is,” Polk said.

The Pound House Farmstead is open Saturdays and Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Organizers said the museum relies heavily on admissions, donations and grants to continue operations and preservation efforts. Visit phfmuseum.org to get involved with the history of Dripping Springs.

Volunteers, community members and supporters gathered Sunday as Dripping Springs Hometown Missions dedicated and blessed a newly constructed home for longtime area resident Melody Snell as part of the nonprofit’s “Home in a Month” project.

The ceremony took place at Snell’s property on Signal Hill Road near Dripping Springs, marking the completion of a monthlong volunteer effort to replace her aging mobile home with a new “stick-built” tiny home.

According to Hometown Missions, Snell had lived in her previous mobile home for nearly 40 years. Built in the 1970s, the structure had become unsafe and no longer provided reliable protection from storms and deteriorating conditions.

Snell, a longtime member of Gateway Church Dripping Springs, spoke about the emotional transition as she prepared to leave the home where she had spent much of her life.

“Tonight is the last night I will spend in this shelter God has provided me for the last 39.5 years,” Snell said in a statement shared before the dedication ceremony. “Strong storms have made my mobile home shake and groan like a sinking ship. Yet, the hand of God always kept it upright for me.”

She also reflected on the support she received from the community and her faith throughout the process.

“I am seeing the prayers of my father being answered,” she said. “Our Father heard his many prayers and has not forgotten them. He has not forgotten me.”

Organizers said volunteers spent the past month building the home through donated labor, materials and community support. The project was designed to provide Snell with a safer and more stable living environment while allowing her to remain in the community she has called home for decades.

Snell’s life story includes years spent in Peru as the daughter of missionaries who worked translating the Bible into native languages, according to Hometown Missions. The organization also noted that she has faced serious health challenges, including cancer, while remaining active in her church community.

During the dedication ceremony, volunteers, supporters and friends gathered to celebrate the completion of the project and recognize the community effort behind the build.

Dave Edwards, president of the Hometown Missions Board of Directors, said the organization’s work reflects a broader mission of community service and faith.

“At Hometown Missions, we believe that when churches, businesses and individuals come together in service, we are living out God's call to love our neighbors,” Edwards said. “To every volunteer who has ever swung a hammer, painted a house, served meals or simply shown up, you are not just building homes — you are building a community that reflects God's love.”

Hometown Missions is a faith-based nonprofit organization focused on providing safe and stable housing for local residents through volunteer-driven home construction and renovation projects.

Dripping Springs welcomed home a state champion from the State Track Meet last weekend. Izzy Crew, an outstanding athlete in the wheelchair division, competed in three events and returned with one gold and two silver medals. She qualified in the 400 and finished second with a time of 1.09.63. She duplicated the second in the 100 with a time of 18.54. Her gold medal came in the shot put. She tossed the iron ball 21'.75 feet to win the event and also to set the new school record. She will have two more years to add to her medal collection.

While the latest advisory was issued by Austin Public Health for Austin and Travis County, Hays County officials have also dealt with confirmed West Nile virus activity in recent mosquito seasons, including positive mosquito trap tests in areas near Dripping Springs and Wimberley last year. 

Mosquito season in Central Texas typically runs from May through November, especially during warmer and wetter months when mosquitoes breed more rapidly.

According to Austin Public Health, mosquitoes can carry diseases including West Nile virus, Zika, dengue fever, encephalitis and canine heartworm.

“While we’re all getting ready to enjoy the summer, let’s be sure to bring mosquito repellent and appropriate clothing anytime we plan on spending time outdoors,” Austin Public Health Environmental Health Services Division Chief Marcel Elizondo said in the advisory. “We've consistently seen West Nile virus for years, and this year shouldn’t be any different.”

In 2025, Austin-Travis County reported 41 mosquito pools that tested positive for West Nile virus, along with five preliminary human cases pending final confirmation by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Hays County officials also reported multiple positive mosquito traps during the 2024 and 2025 mosquito seasons, including detections in unincorporated areas near Dripping Springs and Wimberley. 

Health officials recommend residents follow the “Four Ds” to reduce mosquito exposure:

• Dusk and dawn — Mosquitoes that spread West Nile virus are most active during early morning and evening hours.

• Dress — Wear long sleeves, pants and loose-fitting light-colored clothing outdoors.

• DEET — Use insect repellents containing DEET or other EPA-approved ingredients.

• Drain — Eliminate standing water around homes, including flowerpots, clogged gutters, birdbaths, old tires and outdoor containers where mosquitoes can breed.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people infected with West Nile virus experience no symptoms, though some may develop fever, headaches, body aches or rash. Severe illness is more likely among older adults and people with weakened immune systems. 

Hays County operates a mosquito surveillance program that monitors mosquito activity and tests traps for mosquito-borne illnesses throughout the county. 

More than two dozen Texas school districts must provide documentation to Paxton’s office “regarding the display or lack thereof of the Ten Commandments and their policies,” Paxton said in a statement Thursday. 

The districts must also show that their school boards voted on whether they would set aside time each day for students and staff to pray. A new state law required school board members to vote on prayer time in school by March 1. 

“I will always fight for students’ fundamental right to pray in our schools and work to ensure that Texas kids are able to learn from the Ten Commandments daily,” Paxton said in a statement. 

Paxton is investigating the following districts: Alamo Heights, North East, Austin, Cypress-Fairbanks, Lackland, Lake Travis, Fort Bend, Houston, Dripping Springs, Plano, Northside, Conroe, Galveston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Lubbock, Wichita Falls, McAllen, Amarillo, El Paso, Corpus Christi, United, Texarkana, Victoria, Waco, Abilene, San Angelo, Brownsville, and Beaumont. 

Here’s what we know: Texas can enforce a state law requiring public schools to display posters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms after an April 21 federal court ruling.

A 9-8 majority of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Texas' law requiring public schools to display posters of the Ten Commandments did not violate the Constitution, which prohibits governments from establishing an official state religion.

"It does not tell churches or synagogues or mosques what to believe or how to worship or whom to employ as priests, rabbis, or imams," the ruling stated. "It punishes no one who rejects the Ten Commandments, no matter the reason."

Sixteen families from across Texas sued over the law, alleging that it amounted to state leaders promoting their interpretation of Christianity over other faiths.  

All 17 active judges on the court listened to the case —Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District — alongside a similar challenge in Louisiana, the first state to pass a Ten Commandments requirement for its public schools. The court cleared the way in February for Louisiana to fully implement its law. 

After the decision, the civil rights organizations representing the families expressed disappointment. 

"The court’s ruling goes against fundamental First Amendment principles and binding U.S. Supreme Court authority," the groups said in a statement. "The First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state, and the freedom of families to choose how, when and if to provide their children with religious instruction. This decision tramples those rights.”

The case is playing a central role in the national debate over whether the laws violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, which prohibits governments from endorsing or promoting a particular religion. The civil rights organizations said they plan to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the decision.

Background: The Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 10 in 2025, with Gov. Greg Abbott signing it into law that June. It requires public schools to display donated posters of the Ten Commandments, sized at least 16 by 20 inches, in a visible space on classroom walls.

The families — represented by a coalition of civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas — sued 11 school districts to block what their lawyers called “catastrophically unconstitutional” legislation.

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery agreed, blocking the law from taking effect in the districts named in the lawsuit: Alamo Heights, North East, Lackland, Northside, Austin, Lake Travis, Dripping Springs, Houston, Fort Bend, Cypress-Fairbanks and Plano.

Biery concluded the law improperly favors Christianity over other faiths and said it would likely interfere with families’ “exercise of their sincere religious or nonreligious beliefs in substantial ways.”

Paxton asked the 5th Circuit Court to overturn Biery’s ruling and allow all 17 active judges on the court to hear the Texas and Louisiana cases together.

A federal judge blocked Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law from taking effect in 2024, a decision unanimously upheld last year by a panel of three judges on the 5th Circuit Court. Twelve of the appeals court’s judges were appointed by Republican presidents. The court is considered one of the most conservative in the nation.

The arguments for the case did not include two other prominent Texas lawsuits challenging the Ten Commandments law.

One lawsuit resulted in a federal judge blocking 14 more school districts from complying with the law. The other asks a federal judge to block all Texas schools from following the law and is pending.

Why the families sued: They argued that the law subjects children to a state-imposed Protestant version of the Ten Commandments that many religious and nonreligious Texans do not recognize.

The families believe the law seeks to pressure students into observing and adopting Texas officials’ preferred religious principles.

They say the law will inflict harm by alienating children of those who do not follow the state’s preferred religion and that parents’ authority to direct their children’s religious education is undermined.

“Posting the Ten Commandments in public schools is un-American and un-Baptist,” Griff Martin, a pastor, parent and plaintiff in the lawsuit, said in a statement last year. “S.B. 10 undermines the separation of church and state as a bedrock principle of my family’s Baptist heritage. Baptists have long held that the government has no role in religion — so that our faith may remain free and authentic.”

The families’ lawyers argue that because children are legally required to attend school, they have virtually no way of avoiding Texas’ required version of the Ten Commandments.

The U.S. Supreme Court found public school displays of the Ten Commandments unconstitutional in 1980. Civil rights attorneys argue that only the Supreme Court can overturn its previous rulings.

What the state argued: Paxton and attorneys from his office say the Ten Commandments played a significant role in the nation’s history and heritage. State leaders have said previous rulings from federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court did not examine that historical significance.

State lawyers also note that the Supreme Court recently eliminated a test, established by a previous ruling, that determined when a government had unconstitutionally endorsed or established a religion.

“There is no legal reason to stop Texas from honoring a core ethical foundation of our law, especially not a bogus claim about the ‘separation of church and state,’ which is a phrase found nowhere in the Constitution,” Paxton said last year.

Lawyers with the attorney general’s office see the Ten Commandments requirement as requiring only a “passive display on the wall” that does not rise to the level of coercion because students are free to ignore the posters. The law might cross the line if it sought to incorporate the Ten Commandments into lessons or assignments, they argued.

The posters must go up in Texas classrooms only if donated by someone. The law does not specify what would happen if school leaders choose not to comply. The state views that as evidence no threat or harm is posed to families. However, Paxton threatened legal action if schools do not comply and sued three districts for alleged noncompliance.

What happened during oral arguments: Some judges questioned state officials from Texas and Louisiana about their decisions to use a Protestant version of the Ten Commandments and how that would affect families who do not follow those religious principles. 

Lawyers for the states argued that the laws do not ask children to subscribe to a particular belief and urged the judges to consider legislators’ intent to teach students about important documents in U.S. history.

The judges questioned how children would know the posters have anything to do with American history. They also asked for historical evidence showing the use of the Ten Commandments in public schools. 

Lawyers for the states pointed to early textbooks that referenced the Ten Commandments but acknowledged those materials were largely used in religious settings prior to the establishment of public schools in the 1800s. 

Public schools used the materials through the early 20th century. However, a prominent historian who testified in the case noted that the Ten Commandments were not significant aspects of the texts and that it is unclear how much teachers relied on those specific lessons. 

“A legislature in Louisiana, a legislature in Texas, is absolutely well within its right to say: We want to actually teach our students about founding documents,” said Ben Aguiñaga, the attorney representing Louisiana. 

Judges asked the lawyers representing the families why they consider the Ten Commandments posters problematic when students recite the Pledge of Allegiance and learn about the Declaration of Independence and Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail — all of which refer to God. 

King’s letter and the Declaration of Independence may reference religion, the lawyers replied, but they’re about more than religion.

Some judges noted during arguments that the Supreme Court’s 1980 ruling heavily relied on a test that courts no longer use. The families’ lawyers countered that removing the test did not overturn Supreme Court precedent preventing the Ten Commandments from going up in public classrooms.

If students do not follow the religious principles in the state’s mandated version of the Ten Commandments, judges asked, can’t they ignore the posters? 

“They can't just look away, your honor,” said attorney Jon Youngwood, representing the families. “Not for 13 years. Not in every class. Not every minute of every day.”

What the court ruled: A court majority concluded that the U.S. Supreme Court's 1980 ruling in Stone v. Graham is no longer valid. That case found a Kentucky law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments unconstitutional. 

The Supreme Court recently abandoned the test established in Stone that determined whether states had illegally endorsed or promoted a religion, the 5th U.S. Circuit judges noted. That means "there is nothing left of Stone," they noted in the ruling.

They concluded that Texas' Ten Commandments law does not establish an official state religion. Among reasons, they noted that it “levies no taxes to support any clergy. It does not co-opt churches to perform civic functions."

The judges ruled that the law is not coercive because it does not require students to learn the Ten Commandments or give teachers authority to undermine students' religious beliefs. 

"Yes, Plaintiffs have sincere religious disagreements with its content," the opinion reads. "But that does not transform the poster into a summons to prayer."

An opinion written by judges who opposed the decision argued in response that it is insignificant that Texas’ law does not require schools to teach the Ten Commandments. 

The law poses a threat to children’s religious beliefs and undermines what parents may want their kids to learn about religion, they wrote in dissenting statements.

The opposing judges agreed with the argument of families who sued that the Supreme Court has not overturned its Stone v. Graham ruling. Lower courts are bound by Stone even if the test established in it is no longer in use, they added. Taking into account the historical-based approach courts must now use, the dissenting judges said Texas’ law still violates the Constitution.

This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune.

Dripping Springs is finding themselves in familiar territory in softball playoff lore. They are presently in the regional finals opposite Pharr-San Juan-Alamo after defeating NB Canyon 7-4 in a one-game playoff. Usually playoffs are a best of three series. Both coaches have to agree. However, there are times when a coach feels their best odds is to put it all on the line for one game and hope for the best. Coach Wade Womack did not agree and the flip of the coin is the determiner. Dripping Springs lost the toss and had to settle for one at Hays and hope the team did not have an off night. They did not.

Now they will test Pharr-San Juan-Alamo for a repeat chance at a berth in the state semis. They have a gaudy 36-1 record. One learns to question the ability of those who made up the wins in that record. A peek at their games reveals not many games were of the close variety. One thing is sure. If Coach Womack has his way there will not be just one game. If they have to, the Lady Tigers have the where with all to handle the situation.

As expected, Canyon would be competitive. The Lady Tigers drew blood first by scoring two in the top of the first. Canyon retaliated with one in their half. DS put up one in the third and added two more in the fourth. In their half Canyon made a push with three. In the process they chased Sadie Bradford, the Lady Tigers ace. In this situation the coach just cannot take a chance to ride out the storm. Tatum Green stepped in to stop the bleeding with a tremendous showing and gained the win. Thirteen hits, including two HR's did not hurt the effort.

Vs NBC: Hits: Lauren Byrnes 3, Green 3, Alex Wiatrek 2, Emma Phillips 2, Lillian Wearden, Bradford, Lorelei Gamble. HR: Wiatrek, Gamble. RBI: Byrnes 3, Wiatrek 3, Gamble. WP: Green 4IP, 1H, 1K; Bradford 3IP, 3H, 4R, 4ER, 5W, 2K.

Competing in Lexington, Kentucky, Dripping Springs advanced to the quarterfinal round for the second consecutive year. The team’s Secretariat squad included Liam Ianiro, Abir Kulkarni, Zoey Parks, Pia Rajneesh and Shreyas Rangaraju.

At the Texas Forensic Association State Tournament in March, 12 Dripping Springs students qualified to compete. In World Schools Debate, Liam Ianiro placed fourth and Zoey Parks placed sixth among top speakers in the state.

Students competing at the state tournament included:

• World Schools Debate: Liam Ianiro, Zoey Parks, Shreyas Rangaraju, Anayeli Hernandez, Thomas Ibanez Duran, Zoe Perez, Elizabeth Banks and Bennett James
• Congressional Debate: Aaniya Khan and Pia Rajneesh
• Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Abir Kulkarni
• Program Oral Interpretation: Anvika Jain

Four students also qualified for the National Speech and Debate Association National Tournament, scheduled for June 14–19 in Richmond, Virginia. Qualifiers include Liam Ianiro, Abir Kulkarni and Zoey Parks in World Schools Debate, along with Pia Rajneesh in Congressional Debate.

In addition to competitive success, six students earned Academic All-American honors from the National Speech and Debate Association: Annika Gillella, Jenna Hall, Aaniya Khan, Liam Ianiro, Abir Kulkarni and Zoey Parks. The recognition requires students to reach a Superior Distinction level of 750 points, complete at least five semesters of high school coursework, maintain a minimum 3.7 GPA and demonstrate strong character and leadership.

The honors cap off another successful year for the Dripping Springs program, which continues to rank among the top speech and debate teams in Texas.

Members of the Dripping Springs High School varsity winter guard pose following their performance at the Texas Color Guard Circuit (TCGC) State Championships held April 18, 2026, at Strahan Arena in San Marcos, where the team earned a fifth-place finish in Scholastic National A competition. The DSHS Tiger Band program’s winter guard capped the season with the top-five placement among statewide competitors. Senior captain McKenzie Culberson was also recognized individually as a 2026 TCGC Scholarship recipient. Photos courtesy of DSISD

Creative endeavors - painting, writing, music, and such - tend to be solo experiences. The Dripping Springs Art League created socials, Clubs, exhibits, markets, classes, and more to serve the hundreds of local artists and their interests to meet, create, and market their art within their hometown.

Celebrating Art in Dripping

In November of 2024 the fledgling Dripping Springs Art League hosted a gala to celebrate our first year and the amazing art and artists who call Dripping Springs home. It was a great time with 130 members, friends, and sponsors joining the lively evening.

However, after the event we felt we needed to raise the bar, expand the scope, and make a statement. Thus, ‘Night to Inspire: Color Our World!’ was born.

On April 16th, we stepped it up:

• We relocated from a local winery to Dripping Springs Ranch Park’ Main Event Room
• We welcomed over 260 artists and community members to join the evening
• We featured 9 live artists and 3 demo artists sharing their talents and inspiration throughout the evening
• We partnered with the artists of the Appamada School, Ledgestone Senior Living, and Marbridge Foundation to ensure a cross-section of local talent was on display
• We showcased nearly 500 pieces of art from 100 local artists

Our modest 2024 celebration transformed into the marquee art event of the year for Dripping Springs and the Hill Country!

The Art League certainly achieved our objective to raise awareness of the arts in Dripping, to highlight the tremendous talent across all art mediums, and to raise funds to support our dynamic programming for the year ahead.

Community Mobilization

Yet perhaps what is most gratifying, is the mobilization of so many members to dream, plan, create, and execute such a large event.

• About 20 of our members energetically developed our concept of a marquee community art event in the fall of 2025
• Over a dozen of our Club leaders gathered art from our members for display
• 35 volunteered during the evening to provide customer service at check-in, with guest questions and art purchases, and with wrapping and checkout

• 

• Two dozen artists and family members filled the yeoman’s task of moving all the infrastructure - art racks, tables, weights, lights, and more - to DSRP and back within a 24 hour period

By the time the week concluded over 90 people, more than a third of our members, chipped in! 

Compelled to Serve

Why do people mobilize?

I believe people want to be a part of a community effort - something big, something transformative, something that feels good!

And those drivers are not just fulfilled for a Night of art and inspiration, and not just for our other large events like the Art Lounge at Songwriters Festival in October or our West of Weird Art Tour in February, but for the dozens of other events - large and small - throughout the year. 

What’s Next?

We welcome the broader Dripping Springs community - artists and art lovers alike - to join us. Explore your creative side. Find your tribe. Share your vision. Find your cause. 

So after we all catch our breath a little, we’ll be prepared to raise the bar once again. To help ensure our community which is filled with history, culture, and stories also has a splash of color year round!

This will set the Lady Tigers up for a much tougher match in the Area round. It will be with SA O'Connor (26-4). They are ranked 19th in the state while the Lady Tigers are 18th. It is a matchup that deserves to be played later in the playoffs but it happens at times that a good team goes out early.

In the first game it looked like Cedar Ridge might try to make a game of it when a homerun gave them a 3-1 lead after two. Sadie Bradford shut them down from that point and the Lady Tigers started piling up the runs for the win. Emma Phillips loved the pitching. She had four hits, a homerun and four RBI's. The next game ended quickly as the Lady Tigers scored eleven runs in the second and third and that was enough to invoke the ten-run rule after five.

Vs CR1: Hits: Phillips 4, Lauren Byrnes 2, Alex Wiatrek 2, Lorelei Gamble 2, McKenna Riley, Lillian Wearden, Bradford. 2B: Gamble. WP: Bradford 7IP, 6H, 3R, 3ER, 3W, 8K, 1HR.

Vs CR2: Hits: Tatum Green 3, Brooklyn Reiling 2, Mc Riley 2, Wiatrek 2, Phillips 2, Byrnes, Lyla Dusing, Addie Glenn, Wearden, Gamble. HR: Phillips. WP: Green 5IP, 8H, 1R, 1ER, 2K.

The Pound House Farmstead Museum will host its annual Pioneer Day event on Saturday, May 16, offering a full day of hands-on activities, historical demonstrations and live entertainment celebrating early Texas Hill Country life.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pound House Farmstead, 419B Founders Park Road, and will commemorate 171 years of the historic site along with the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Jeanne Polk, president of the Pound House Farmstead Board of Trustees, said the return of the event has been highly anticipated by past attendees.

“I cannot be happier to host the Pioneer Day event once again at the Pound House Farmstead,” Polk said. “Those who have attended in the past have frequently asked me when can I add back a Pound House Pioneer Day to the spring calendar. Come join the PHF Board members, volunteers, and the Dripping Springs community.”

Visitors will be able to explore the historic property, which includes a restored farmhouse, smokehouse, arbor, windmill, rock walls and garden areas. The site offers a living depiction of 19th-century rural life, including the well-known “Heritage Oak,” estimated to be more than 500 years old, and antique roses dating back to 1853.

The event will feature a wide range of activities for all ages. A dedicated children’s area will include crafts and experiences such as candle dipping, corn husk dolls, musical instrument demonstrations, leather stitching, archaeology activities, corn shelling and grinding, and butter churning. Traditional games like dominoes, checkers, chess, stilts, hoop and stick, gunny sack races and corn cob toss will also be available.

Demonstrations throughout the day will include Dutch oven cooking, soap making, blacksmithing, quilting, weaving and spinning, as well as a Texas Parks and Wildlife Buffalo Soldier program and Native American hoop dancing. A one-room schoolhouse exhibit will also be open, along with historic home tours.

Additional attractions include hayrides, live music performances by Alex Dormont, Ryker Pantano and Randall McKinney, food vendors, nonprofit booths and a variety of shopping opportunities.

Fundraising efforts tied to the event will include a vintage rummage sale, silent auction, sweet shop, provisions store, quilt sale and handmade jewelry.

Brenda DeWitt, the museum’s farmstead manager, encouraged residents and visitors to attend.

“Join us in celebrating 171 years of Pound House Farmstead history and America’s 250th year anniversary,” DeWitt said.

Advanced discount tickets are available at phfmuseum.org. For more information, call 512-858-2030.

The Pound House Farmstead is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been a Texas State Historical Landmark since 1965. It has operated as a museum since opening to the public in 2003 and continues to serve as a center for historical education and community gatherings.

The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools that expand access to Advanced Placement (AP) courses while supporting students in achieving college readiness and success. Research shows that students who take AP courses and exams are more likely to attend college and graduate on time. Students who enter four-year colleges with credit from AP exams accelerate their path to graduation and build confidence for college success.

Dripping Springs High School previously earned Bronze recognition on the 2024 AP School Honor Roll, its first time being honored since the program launched in 2023.

For a campus to be recognized on the AP School Honor Roll, they must meet the following criteria: College Culture: 40% or more of the graduating cohort took at least 1 AP Exam during high school.

College Credit: 25% or more of the graduating cohort scored a 3 or higher on at least 1 AP Exam during high school.

College Optimization: 2% or more of the graduating cohort took 5 or more AP Exams during high school. At least 1 of those exams was taken in 9th or 10th grade, so that students are spreading their AP experience across grades rather than feeling disproportionate pressure in any single year.

“We have worked on this initiative for a long time, and our partnership with Hill Country, our mental health authority, has been exceptional,” agenda item sponsor and Precinct 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe said. “This is a curriculum-driven, evaluative, and therapeutic restoration program that will provide meaningful services and support to individuals in need.”

Under Texas law, individuals must be competent to proceed in court, meaning they can understand the charges against them, assist their defense attorney, and meaningfully participate in their legal strategy. Currently, individuals who are found incompetent often face long delays awaiting placement in a state hospital for treatment. In the Hays County Jail, delays can stretch to nearly 300 days.

“This is a major issue not just in Hays County, but across our state and country,” said Landon Campbell, Division Chief Assistant Criminal District Attorney. “Right now, people are sitting in our jail, not moving forward with their cases, not able to defend themselves, and simply waiting for treatment.”

The newly approved program enables Hays County to collaborate with its local mental health authority to offer competency restoration services directly within the Hays County Jail, thereby eliminating the need to wait for placement in the state hospital system.

“Jail-Based Competency Restoration short-circuits a system that is not meeting the needs of our community,” Campbell said. “Instead of waiting nearly a year for treatment, we can provide those services right here, right now.”

The program is designed not to push individuals more quickly through the justice system, but to connect them with appropriate care and expand access to diversion and treatment- focused court options.

The Commissioners Court also emphasized the program’s fiscal responsibility. Housing an individual in jail for approximately 300 days can cost taxpayers an estimated $45,000, often without any progress toward treatment or case resolution.

“We’re spending significant taxpayer dollars while getting nothing in return,” Judge Ruben Becerra said. “Anything we can do to shorten that timeline is absolutely worth pursuing.”

The program will be funded through a state grant awarded to Hill Country Mental Health, which will embed forensic mental health professionals within the Hays County Jail to provide curriculum-driven, therapeutic and evaluative competency restoration services. The county’s primary financial responsibility will be related to medications, which will be provided through existing jail healthcare contracts.

Michelle Salmire, Director of Forensic Services for Hill Country Mental Health and HVD Centers, said similar programs have shown strong results.

“In our neighboring county, we’re seeing a 75% success rate in restoring competency within 60 days or less, sometimes even within 30 days,” Salmire said. “This partnership has the potential to make a real difference for the 24 individuals currently waiting for services in Hays County.”

Officials expressed appreciation for the collaboration among the Commissioners Court, District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, Hill Country Mental Health, and jail medical provider WellPath.

”I am pleased that we have reached a point where there is a shared understanding of the significant benefits this program will deliver,” Ingalsbe said.

The Jail-Based Competency Restoration Program is expected to begin implementation in the coming months, with county officials committed to providing updates as it moves forward, according to a Hays County press release.

The full schedule for the rest of the week can be found at www.hayscountylivestockshow. org. Here’s a glimpse of the shows that are happening on each day: Market Rabbits Show Breeding Rabbits Show Judging of Ag Mechanics Projects 

Tues. Jan 20

Breeding Goat Show Market Goat Show Judging of Home Skills Projects Breeding Sheep Show Market Sheep Show 

Wed. Jan 21

Breeding Swine Show Market Swine Show Poultry Show 

Thurs. Jan 22

Breeding Cattle Show Market Steer Show 

Fri. Jan 23

Auction set up 

Sat. Jan 24

Awards & Auction