2025
YEAR IN REVIEW
May to August
DAILY RECORD STAFF
MAY 2
Indigenous & Tejano Museum exhibit opens
For a year and a half, the Council for the Indigenous & Tejano Community has painstakingly worked on an exhibit to show the history of the Native American and Mexican American people in Hays County, called The Past Within Us. This groundbreaking Indigenous and Tejano history exhibit offers a unique journey into Hays County’s past. On the first of four walls, they delve into the Indigenous ancestors’ creation story, the Native American tribes of Hays County, their languages, and a brief glimpse into pre-Hays County life. The exhibit is free and available to view inside the Historic Hays County Courthouse on Saturdays.
MAY 4
Abbot threatens removal of state grant funding if city passes ceasefire resolution
At the last San Marcos City Council meeting, there was an agenda item for “a possible resolution calling for the immediate and permanent ceasefire in occupied Palestine,” which prompted a letter from at large. Animal Protection Officers are searching for the animal with investigative help from the Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Division. If the fox is not found, the case will be handled as presumed positive for rabies due to the nature of the incidents.
MAY 21
Can Ban tries to combat increased river litter
The single-use container ban has been in effect for over a year now, with May 1 marking the day that enforcement starts. The ban was adopted into the city ordinance last year as a way to combat the increased litter at city parks near the river due to increased tourism during weekends and summer months. Local groups such as The Eyes of The San Marcos River and Wild Rice Studio have organized weekly river cleanups to help clean up litter left behind at and in the river. The ordinance states that, “It is unlawful for any person to possess any glass or single-use beverage container in or on the public waterway or in any designated areas where signs prohibit them on city park property”. The ordinance goes on to state, “Any person who shall violate any provision of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not more than $500.” When asked about the schedule of enforcement officers at the river, and plans to enforce the can ban Jamie Lee Case, Parks and Rec director said, “The ordinance will be enforced just as any other park rule is enforced currently.”
MAY 25
Hays County unable to stop development of Cloudburst Data center
Hays County Commissioners Court held a public workshop regarding the proposed Cloudburst Data Center, which would be located at 2955 Francis Harris Lane in New Braunfels. The center would be in both Hays and Guadalupe counties. Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra made it clear that the center will be built, and the commissioners court cannot do anything about that. “This is going to pass. It’s going to get approved,” Becerra said. “There’s nothing we can do about it.
MAY 28
Cheatham retires after 58 years at GJC
Georgia Cheatham has officially retired from Gary Job Corps after 58 years of service. Due to her many years of hard work and the great impact she has had, the center recently held a ceremony to send her off with the reverence she deserves, revealing what has been deemed Cheathams Corner — a platform and statue bearing her name for use as a place of reflection for the cadets. Cheatham has lived an exciting life, with her many years at GJC being just one of her many accomplishments.
MAY 30
Forever Number 13: Memorial held to honor Andrew Farias
Toyota Rattler Stadium was filled from midfield to end zone with people mourning the devastating loss of recent graduate Andrew Farias on Tuesday. The memorial held by the San Marcos High School Football Team Chaplain Pastor Mark Carrillo, in collaboration with the Rattler Football Booster Club, was a chance to honor the young man and the apparent great impact he had on his teammates and peers. Rattler football coach John Walsh announced that Farias’ jersey would be retired, so he would be the last player to wear the number 13; His jersey was framed and gifted to his mother Shannon Vasquez.
JUNE 6
City programs address river habitat restoration, attempt to increase flows
Flows will be critically low in the San Marcos river this summer, more so than has been seen since the mid-1950s, according to San Marcos Habitat Conservation Plan Manager Mark Enders. Although San Marcos did have several flooding events that helped to stabilize the decline in aquifer levels, Enders said it is not enough “to really change the trajectory of this drought.” But the city of San Marcos is doing its part to protect what’s left of the local aquatic plants and animal species’ environment by bolstering native plant populations and improving stormwater outfalls. The city recently hosted a ribbon cutting at Bicentennial Park to unveil a River Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project, which began in 2022 and focused on the stretch of the San Marcos River from City Park to downstream of Stokes Park, according to a press release issued by the city. Enders said improvements included removal of invasive species — Elephant Ears, Chinaberry Trees and Chinese Tallow that are native to Asia — and planting native riparian and wetland vegetation as well as improving stormwater outfalls to decrease erosion and the accumulation of sediment.
JUNE 8
Job corps to resume operations for now
A federal judge granted a Temporary Restraining Order that would halt the closing of all of the Job Corps sites; campus operations can resume while the TRO is in effect. According to court documents, the U.S. Department of Labor is prevented from “issuing, enforcing, implementing, maintaining or giving effect to any shutdown tasks, job terminations, or student removals, and from taking any further action to eliminate the Job Corps program without Congressional authorization.” According to a statement issued by the National Job Corps Association on its Facebook page, several job corps students travelled to Capitol Hill to attend the congressional hearing and emphasize the critical role the program plays in education and skills training as well as the many ways it provides opportunities to students across the U.S
JUNE 22
Firefighter loses home to lightning strike
A San Marcos Fire Department Firefighter and a United States Marine Michael Mullinix lost his New Braunfels home to a fire on June 12. “A lightning strike … started a fire that destroyed his home, leaving him and his family without many of their belongings and their home,” stated San Marcos Fire Chief Les Stephens. “While we’re grateful everyone is safe, they are now facing the overwhelming task of starting over. He has spent his life protecting our community and serving our country — now it’s our turn to step up and support him.” Stephens also wanted to acknowledge the firefighters, both on and off-duty, who assisted the Mullinix family during the fire.
JUNE 25
Wonder World receives multiple awards
Wonder World has had a wonderful year of recognition and awards from local to state distinctions. The cave and adventure park has been operating in San Marcos for over 100 years, welcoming thousands of visitors from school field trips to tourists and locals looking for a fun adventure. The natural underground cave is wondrous, but the park offers a variety of fun from their train ride through Mystery Mountain into a preserve of Texas wildlife where guests can feed emus, goats, peacocks and more, to the charm of the anti-gravity house that will leave you questioning the laws of physics. The park has an arcade and a treasure trove of collectibles to look through in the gift shop, or feel free to hunt for your own crystals in their gem mining experience. They offer a snack bar reminiscent of soda pop shops with all the fan favorites from nachos to hotdogs, plus plenty of picnic areas near their resident blue and gold macaws.
JUNE 29
Lawsuit voids Hays County Road Bond
Plaintiffs were successful in a suit to void and invalidate the Hays County Road Bond, which was “seeking to enjoin Hays County from taking actions to recognize the Hays County Commissioners Court vote to place the $439 million road bond package on the November 5, 2024 ballot as a lawful action to call the special election,” according to the original suit filed on October 21, 2024. Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra stated that the court would need to make “critical decisions” on the possibility of an appeal. The county is waiting on final documentation from the courts before making a decision whether or not to move forward with the appeal.
JULY 4
San Marcos man arrested for arson in connection with Savage’s fire
Aidan Lane Dwyer, 24, of San Marcos, was arrested in Jasper County and charged with arson, a second degree felony, in connection with the fire that burned Savage’s Hill Country Bar and Grill on June 27. No bond has been set as of the morning of July 1. One person has been reported injured in the fire, according to the Jasper County Sheriff ’s Office; however, the Hays County Fire Marshal’s Office said the investigation into the fire is ongoing and did not confirm if there were any injuries related to the fire. Dwyer has been transferred to the Hays County Jail.
JULY 9
Floods wreak havoc across the Hill Country
Devastating flash floods took the lives of many people in the Hill Country this Fourth of July weekend. Cities such as Kerrville, Hunt, Liberty Hill, Georgetown and Seguin saw mass flooding events due to heavy rainfall. The area around San Marcos still had flash floods but received significantly less rain than many cities in Central Texas. Emily Heller, National Weather Service Austin/ San Antonio, said the 24 hour precipitation reports for Thursday, July 3 into July 4 showed the highest rain reported near San Marcos was in Fischer, which received 3.77 inches of rain. In Hays County, Dripping Springs was hit the hardest, receiving 2.9 inches of rain across July 4 and 5.
JULY 16
HCWC receives Blue Impact grant for their transitional housing program
One in four adult women in the U.S. have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, according to data from the National Domestic Violence Hotline. When violence occurs behind closed doors, the Hays Caldwell Women’s Center opens theirs, offering recovery, support and stability for victims of domestic abuse. The HCWC has been empowering survivors of abuse since 1978, serving hundreds of women and children in the Hays and Caldwell counties. Their hard work is being recognized by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas who has awarded HCWC a Blue Impact grant to support Marla’s Place, which is a safe housing program for survivors of violence.
JULY 18
TXST honors legacy of professor battling cancer
An honored Texas State professor is in a dire battle with cancer, and the staff are making sure her legacy will live on in a meaningful way that will take care of the students studying the subject she was so passionate about throughout her prestigious career. Kym Fox serves TXST in several important roles: Professor of Practice at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, co-director of Texas Community Health News, graduate assistant coordinator and, for more than 20 years, has led the journalism major and served as program coordinator, according to the Texas State website. Her journalistic accomplishments at the university are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to her career. The scholarship webpage states that before she began teaching, she was a daily journalist for 23 years with her most recent position as the deputy metro editor for the San Antonio Express-News. During her earlier years as a reporter for the Mesa Tribune, she received awards for her coverage of child abuse and juvenile justice in addition to state honors for news and feature writing.
JULY 25
Two dead in shooting on the Square
Two shooting fatalities occurred after a fight involving several people around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 19 at the intersection of San Antonio Street and Guadalupe Street. Jermiah Jayden Tobias, 19, was taken into custody just after 8 p.m. the same day. Tobias is facing two counts of Capital Murder and one count of Aggravated Assault, according to information provided by the San Marcos Police Department. At a press conference, San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge said that they are still looking for a suspect, Avery Saul Bowman Jr., who will also be charged with Capital Murder. The shooting followed a fight that began between two men who knew each other. Standridge said a third man, Avery Saul Bowman Jr., joined the fight after stealing a necklace from one of the initial individuals in the fight.
JULY 27
City of San Marcos drafts first Historic Preservation Plan
Be a part of history, or at least part of preserving it by adding your comments and suggestions to the first ever draft of the city of San Marcos Historic Preservation Plan. July 27 is the last day for public input, one can review the document and add comments online at smtx.konveio.com/historicpreservationplan. “Our comprehensive plan has bits and pieces and recommendations that are preservationminded, but this is a standalone document that will really help to guide preservation policies over the next five to ten years,” San Marcos Historic Preservation Officer Alison Brake said.
AUG 22
Council blocks Highlander SM One Data Center zoning
Just after midnight on Wednesday morning, the San Marcos City Council rejected an ordinance to change the Preferred Scenario Map for the city’s Comprehensive Plan for the Highlander SM One Data Center, proposed by John Maberry for a 200acre property on Francis Harris Lane. The request would have changed the classification of the property on the map from “conservation/cluster” to “commercial/employment low.” Had the ordinance passed, the council would have heard comments on a subsequent ordinance rezoning land to “Light Industrial,” paving the way for construction of the CyrusOne data center.
AUG 24
SMCISD improves to ‘C’ ranking, celebrates eight of ten distinctions
San Marcos CISD received an overall “C” rating for ‘acceptable performance’ for the 2024- 2025 school year from the Texas Education Agency. This is a significant improvement from the last three school years of “D” ratings. SMCISD raised their score 8 points compared to the 68 score received for the 2023- 2024 school year. The district score of 76 is just 2 points shy of their preCovid score of 78 from the 2021-2022 school year. In addition to the rating, SMCISD received distinctions for eight out of the ten eligible campuses.
AUG 31
Food Bank’s Big Opening: Hays County Food Bank expands into bigger location with marketstyle pantry
Food insecurity numbers are on the rise but the Hays County Food Bank is ready to provide life changing access to food and resources for those in need with the relocation and expansion of their facilities. Located at 1612 S. I-35, on the south frontage road, the new food bank is nearly triple the size of the last location, allowing for more food storage and the ability to serve a greater capacity. The new facility offers a market-style donation model, where guests can reserve a time to shop the shelves for free, allowing more freedom to choose which items best suit their needs and family size.
