After checking in and getting the options for a free morning cocktail from Palmer’s Restaurant in front of the Remme House at 1132 Belvin, the next stop on the tour was the Taylor Family home at 130 North Mitchell. Owner Jamie Ruth welcomed guests and gave them an overview of her decor and artworks.

Next stop was the Shropshire Home at 802 San Antonio, now host to a diverse collection of antiques courtesy of co-owner Stephanie Shropshire, who built up much of her collection through her work with the Austin-based store Uncommon Objects. Her husband Paul was on hand to chat with visitors and answer their questions about the striking variety of antiques, all artfully arranged around the house. The Cafe Cortado coffee cart provided Home Tour participants with free coffee at the Shropshire Home.

Other stops on the tour, billed as the  “Heritage Home: Americana Experience,” by the HASM included The Scrutchin-Ault home at 816 Belvin, which included front yard displays of a 1790s Texas ranch bedroom and a 1970s-era Boy Scout camp.

Also on Belvin, Home Tour participants could take part in a champagne toast at the Talmadge House (802 Belvin), where owners opened up the pool area and backyard garden area to visitors. 

The final stop on the tour was Moore Manor at 545 West Hopkins St., where the Spoke Hollow String Band played as guests enjoyed picnic dinners at painted picnic tables which would later be auctioned off. 

The tables were constructed by the San Marcos High School Wood Shop, and each was uniquely painted by one of eight local artists: Bubba Ward, Darin Wood, Jamie Bernard, Thom Rogers, Yellow Dog Studios, the SMHS Art Department, Josh Garza and Donna Gamble. 

In a letter sent to families Tuesday, Goodnight Middle School Principal Joe Mitchell said a staff member sold cookies to students on campus, and several students later reported feeling unwell after consuming them.

“Four students have confirmed purchasing and consuming the cookies and were seen in the nurse’s office for evaluation,” Mitchell wrote.

Andrew Fernandez, communications coordinator for San Marcos CISD, said the cookies have been turned over to the San Marcos Police Department and will undergo testing by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

“We turned it over to SMPD. SMPD is going to turn it over to DPS to test the cookies,” Fernandez said. “If they do come back positive, our safety director escorted the individual off campus to a nearby facility for drug testing, so we’re awaiting results for that.”

Fernandez said four students went to the nurse’s office after consuming the cookies and were reported to be in stable condition.

“At this point, all the kids are okay right now,” he said.

The employee, who Fernandez said is a staff member at Goodnight Middle School, has been removed from campus pending the outcome of the investigation.

“They won’t be allowed on campus until the investigation is complete,” he said.

Fernandez said the district will follow established procedures as the investigation continues and will take further action depending on the results of the testing.

“If it is found there are drugs in these cookies, there will be termination involved for the employee,” he said.

Jennifer Zamarron, a parent of one of the students involved, said her daughter was “very much under the influence” after consuming the cookies and was later taken to the hospital for evaluation.

“A teacher sold pot cookies to her and other students at Goodnight Middle School,” Zamarron said. “The cookies are now getting tested. SMPD got them and it’s under investigation.”

Zamarron said the substance has not been confirmed and testing is still pending. She also alleged the cookies may have been sold on campus for months prior to the incident.

“Apparently these cookies have been sold to students since November 2025,” she said.

District officials emphasized that staff members are prohibited from selling or distributing personal food items to students under any circumstances and said they are reinforcing those expectations with employees.

“The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority,” Mitchell wrote. “We are taking this matter very seriously.”

Parents were advised to seek medical attention if their child experiences unusual symptoms and to notify the school so staff can continue monitoring student health.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the San Marcos Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

*This article has been updated.

Azua finished the regular season with a 25-10 overall record, 1.82 ERA and striking out 221 batters. She is also the third pitcher in Bobcat history to earn the Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year following Randi Rupp and Jessica Mullins while being the seventh pitcher in program history to win the conference pitcher of the year award. 

Azua was named 1st Team All-Conference where she was joined by senior first baseman Aiyana Coleman and senior outfielder Keely Williams.

Coleman finished the regular season with a .333 batting average in 123 at-bats where she hit 16 home runs, one off the school record for most home runs hit in a single season at 17 which she set last season. 

This year Coleman broke the school record for most walks in a single season with 61 along with 49 RBIs. 

Williams finished the regular season with a batting average of .385 in 169 at-bats where she led the team in hits with 65 along with 28 RBIs. Williams' season batting average is the fourth best in program history. 

Earning second-team all-conference honors is redshirt freshman outfielder Harley Vestal. 

In her first season with the Bobcats after transferring from Texas A&M, Vestal finished the regular season with a batting average of .338, the second highest on the team. Vestal was third on the team in hits with 48 along with nine doubles and 24 RBIs. 

The Bobcats enter their final Sun Belt Conference Tournament this weekend where Texas State will open tournament play against the James Madison Dukes. 

For Kielsmeier, this year’s signing class brings many years of experience as they join returners Saniya Burks, Kyra Anderson and Kaliyah Murphy. 

“I am so excited to announce the signings of our newest Bobcats,” Kielsmeier said in a statement. “This group has a wide range of experience at different levels of basketball that will be great additions to our team here at Texas State.”

Down on the block, the Bobcats signed a pair of centers in senior Lucija Milkovic and freshman Addison Carr, both of which stand at 6 '6. 

Milkovic, transferred from Seattle University where she averaged 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds for the Redhawks. 

Carr signed with the Bobcats after previously committing with Kielsmeier at Cleveland State. During AAU, Carr averaged 10 points, eight rebounds and one block per game.

Joining Carr as a freshman is forward Hayden Hearst who competed for Legion Prep. 

Junior Sofia Ceppellotti signed with the Bobcats following two seasons at North Alabama. Ceppellotti averaged 11.5 points and 4.9 rebounds for the Lions last season. 

The Bobcats also signed five guards including senior Crystal Henderson. A three-year player at Georgia State, Henderson was the 2023-2024 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year. During her junior season, Henderson averaged 16.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game for the Panthers. 

Junior Aliyah Carter, junior Cali Denson, senior Lay Fantroy and sophomore Emma Pique will also join the Bobcats as guards. 

Denson averaged 12.1 points per game last season at Oakland while Fantroy has made 999 career points and 578 rebounds during her time at Ohio, Texas Southern and Delaware, the latter of which she averaged 10.2 points per game. 

Carter returns home to Texas after spending her sophomore season at Cal State Bakersfield while Pique joins from Northwest College. 

Mauritz-Barboza qualified for state and captured the silver medal clearing 12-0 in the pole vault competition. 

Also competing at regionals was senior Aaryln Julian, who captured third in the 800-M run with a time of 2:18.50. 

Junior Dylan Bell placed 5th in the Long Jump competition, jumping 22-1.25. Senior Rowdy Proctor finished in eighth place in the High Jump Competition with a jump of 6-4. 

The UIL State Meet will take place next Thursday through Saturday. The 6A portion of the State Track Meet will be on Saturday. 

The Bobcats improved to 36-19 for the season and 16-8 in conference play. 

In the double-header on Friday, the Bobcats were locked in an offensive slugfest in Game 1 against App State. 

Texas State went up 3-0 over App State following a Mountaineer error then a sacrifice fly by junior Kate Bubela. 

App State took the lead in the bottom of the first, scoring on an RBI single before hitting a grand slam to go up 5-3. 

But the Bobcats answered with a two-run third inning following a solo home run by senior Kat Zarate then an RBI double by senior Keely Williams. 

App State took the lead back in the bottom of the third following an RBI double but the Bobcats answered with a six-run at-bat in the top of the fourth to go up 11-6. 

The Mountaineers responded with a five-run at-bat in the bottom of the fourth as the game was tied at 11-11. 

App State jumped back in front with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth but the Bobcats tied the game up in the top of the seventh following a solo home run by senior Aiyana Coleman. The Mountaineers won the game in the bottom of the seventh with a walk-off RBI single to win 13-12 and even the series. 

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Bobcats continued their offensive onslaught with a six-run top of the first to take a commanding lead. 

App State could only muster one run in the bottom of the first as the Bobcats went on to score nine unanswered runs en route to a 15-1 win to clinch the series. 

Texas State finishes third in the conference standings and will enter the conference tournament as the No. 3 seed. 

The Bobcats will open up tournament play against the No. 6-seeded James Madison Dukes. This is a rematch from last year’s conference tournament opener where the Dukes upset the Bobcats 2-0. 

First pitch is set for 10 a.m. Thursday at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park. 

Weekend Notes

• Texas State currently sits 31st in RPI and are in position for snagging an at-large bid. The Bobcats resume currently boasts four Quad 1 wins over Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Clemson and Northwestern. 
• While the Bobcats don’t need the autobid to punch their ticket for the NCAA Tournament, a deep run in the conference tournament will go a long way solidifying their spot. 
• Texas State’s pitching staff is currently boasts the best team era in the conference at a 2.51, which also ranks inside the Top 25 nationally
• The Bobcat offense has seemingly found their stride over the last few weeks, having scored five or more runs in seven of their last ten games and are currently averaging 6.6 runs per game during that stretch, a +2.31 difference on the team’s season average. 

Texas State falls to 27-21 overall, 10-14 in conference and are now in danger of missing the conference tournament.

“You just have to keep playing, fighting and sticking together,” Trout said. “We talk about culture and family all the time. It’s what it needs to be. When you go through hard times it gets tested the most so that's number one. 

The other piece, we just need to have guys step up and go be who they are. I think they're trying sometimes too hard to do too much and they're not getting the results. So you just have to keep grinding away and  believe in one another. We've seen this offense and this team, when we're playing really well baseball, we're going to beat anybody. So you have to believe that's gonna show up here in the last couple weeks of the season, and hopefully fight to go make the conference tournament.”

The Bobcats scored first on the leadoff home run from RaShawn Galloway in the bottom of the first.

Later, junior Justin Vossos connected with a two-run RBI single to make it a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, junior Manny Salas hit an RBI single to make it a 4-0 Bobcat lead.

South Alabama cut into the lead with a fielder’s choice, scoring one run in the top of the fifth inning.

The Jaguars later tied the game in the top of the sixth with a three-run home run, making it a 4-4 game.

South Alabama later took a 6-4 lead on a two-run RBI double in the top of the eight before tacking on another run in the top of the ninth.

Texas State is back home Tuesday against Baylor. First pitch is at 6 p.m.

Weekend Notes

• After entering last week with an RPI of 37, combination of the loss to Texas A&M Corpus Christi and being swept by South Alabama has sunk the Bobcats’ RPI to 56. Texas State’s at-large bid is likely over with their only shot at making the NCAA Tournament is winning the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. 
• The sweep also dropped Texas State in a four-way tie for tenth place in the conference. Only the top ten teams in the standings make the conference tournament. 
• The Bobcat offensive slump continues on as Texas State has failed to score more than five runs in 11 of their last 12 games. 
• Tensions over how the season has gone for the Bobcats seemed to reach a boiling point when Texas State players were seen getting into a visible argument that was so heated, coaches were to separate the teammates. 

Hays County officials have confirmed that all five occupants of an aircraft which crashed in the Wimberley area on Thursday night have died. Emergency responders were dispatched at approximately 11:05 p.m. Thursday night following reports of an aircraft down in the Wimberley area.

The aircraft, identified as a Cessna 421C, was confirmed to have crashed with five individuals on board, according to a statement from Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra.

Fire and EMS personnel remained on scene through the early morning hours.

Preliminary information indicates the aircraft was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of impact. Based on current findings, there is no indication of a mid-air collision. A second aircraft traveling in the vicinity landed safely in New Braunfels.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been notified and will be leading the investigation into the cause of the crash.

Out of respect for the families involved, the identities of those on board are not being released at this time pending notification of next of kin.

This remains an active investigation. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

Decline in deaths marks success of community efforts to combat crisis

The Hays County Commissioners Court proclaimed April 29 as “Fentanyl Awareness and Overdose Day” last week, prior to a discussion featuring Janel Rodriguez, founder of the nonprofit Forever 15, and Texas State fentanyl education advocate Kelly Clary. The Hays County Sheriff’s Office also provided data on the decreasing number of fentanyl deaths in the county since 2022.

“Collaboration among local government, law enforcement, public health agencies, educators, higher education institutes and community partners is critical in addressing the fentanyl crisis,” according to the proclamation. “Alongside our community partners, families, educators, and organizations throughout the county continue to demonstrate leadership and commitment to increasing awareness and expanding access to resources in Hays County.”

Matthew Gonzales, Hays County Health Department Director, speaking following the reading of the proclamation, stressed this collaboration between the county and local organizations.

“Part of the mission behind the Behavioral Health Division is to be that lighthouse helping highlight resources for the community,” he said. “But part of Public Health’s mission is also social marketing, which is helping change the behaviors of our residents towards positive outcomes. And we can really accomplish that work through the work with our partners that are nonprofits, but also academia.”

Janel Rodriguez started the Forever 15 project after her 15-year-old son Noah died of fentanyl poisoning in 2022.

“We were losing so many kids that year here in Hays County, and I grew up here, and I knew that I didn’t want any more of our kids to die,” Rodriguez said. “We wanted Hays County to be known for something more than just losing all of these kids.”

“Because of this tragedy, we started the Forever 15 Project to spread awareness and to provide resources for those who are at risk or who know someone at risk and to honor those who have been lost,” according to the Forever 15 website.

Chief Deputy Brett Bailey of the Hays County Sheriff’s Office provided an update on fentanyl poisonings in the county in a letter submitted in conjunction with the proclamation: “2022 marked the highest number of poisonings, with 31 incidents and six resulting in death. In 2023, there were 25 poisonings with eight fatalities. In 2024 that number dropped significantly to nine poisonings, six of which were fatal. In 2025 we saw just four poisonings and notably zero deaths.

“Over the past year, from April 1, 2025, to April 1, 2026, we have documented only two poisonings, both early this year, with none reported since January,” according to Bailey.

Bailey also praised the work of Rodriguez and Noah’s father Brandon.

“Our agency has been fortunate to partner with Janel Rodriguez and Brandon Dunn through the Forever 15 project initiative that has made a profound and measurable impact, not only in Hays County, but across the country and beyond.

“Since its inception in 2022 Forever 15 has reached more than 10,000 students, along with countless parents and community members through conferences and presentations. Their work has extended far outside of Central Texas, even internationally, as keynote speakers at a major drug conference in Mexico City,” according to Bailey.

Commissioner Walt Smith said that the Forever 15 project started as a request by Rodriguez to put up a billboard on I-35 to make people aware of the dangers of fentanyl.

“We’ve come a long way from that,” Smith said. “I want to thank our DA’s office for being so proactive, going after the highest sentences they can for the people who are dealing this in our community. I think there is an understanding in our community now that if you deal or If you deal in fentanyl, you could get charged with murder.”

Kelly Clary, Associate Professor at Texas State University, spoke in support of the proclamation. Clary’s current funded projects include a $1.9 million SAMHSA grant supporting Hays County in implementing fentanyl education for middle and high schoolers.

“Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. What makes fentanyl especially dangerous is not just its potency, but its presence where people don’t expect it,” Clary said “It is increasingly found mixed into counterfeit pills and other substances, often without a person’s knowledge. Many individuals who experience an overdose never intended to use fentanyl at all.”

Clary emphasized that fentanyl awareness is not just a public health issue, but a community responsibility.

“It requires collaborations between school districts, healthcare providers, first responders, policymakers as well as families. It is about making sure that every person, especially our youth and young adults, have access to accurate information, practical tools and the confidence to act when it matters most,” Clary said.

“This was not an easy decision to make, nor did I make it lightly. Serving as CEO has been the most meaningful and rewarding role of my career, and I am incredibly proud of what we’ve built together as a team. PEC is strong, and I have full confidence that our Board and leadership team will move forward with the vision, integrity, and commitment that define PEC,” said Parsley.

The Board of Directors has initiated a structured CEO selection process to identify a leader who will build on Parsley’s legacy and guide PEC into its next phase of growth, starting with a focused group of candidates with deep knowledge of the business and its strategy. As the process progresses in the coming weeks, the Board will assess the current slate of candidates and determine the appropriate next steps to ensure the best possible outcome for PEC and its membership.

Parsley joined PEC as its first female CEO in December 2017. Her more than eight-year tenure stands as one of the most consequential in the cooperative’s 87-year history, defined by extraordinary growth, operational resilience, and national recognition. She guided the cooperative through a period of remarkable transformation across every dimension of the membership, service territory, and organization.

Under her leadership: - PEC grew from approximately 299,000 to more than 440,000 meters, cementing its standing as the nation’s largest electric distribution and transmission cooperative — serving more than 1 million Central Texans across a territory the size of the state of New Jersey.

- PEC navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and February 2021’s Winter Storm Uri, maintaining operations under unprecedented conditions and implementing a rigorous after-action review to strengthen the cooperative’s long-term resilience. Subsequent extreme weather events — record heat in 2022 and 2023 and severe cold snaps — tested the improved system, and PEC held firm each time.

- PEC established its own transmission control center in 2024 — the first time in the cooperative’s history — giving PEC real-time operational visibility and direct dispatching access within ERCOT and strengthening reliability for members across the service territory.

- PEC earned Top Workplace recognition multiple times during her tenure including national awards for Cultural Excellence Among Women- Led Businesses and the Top Workplaces USA Today award in 2025.

- PEC deployed advanced LiDAR and drone technology for transmission and distribution line inspections, completing reviews 23 times faster than manual methods across its 8,100-squaremile service territory.

- Parsley championed the cooperative’s community investment programs, directing grants and capital credits back to the members and communities PEC serves.

- PEC consistently held an AA- credit rating during her tenure, which is notable in the utility industry, particularly given COVID-19 and Winter Storm Uri.

“Julie has been a defining force for PEC and for the Central Texas communities we serve,” said PEC Board President Emily Pataki.

“She took on this role as a first in every sense of the word and led with the same excellence that has characterized her entire career. Her dedication to the membership has always been at the center of every decision she made. The team she has built and the foundation she leaves behind give us every reason for confidence in our path forward.”

In the coming weeks Parsley will work with the Board and Leadership Team to ensure a smooth and stable transition to the new leadership.

PEC spokesperson Kendra Acosta said that “more than 11,340 [PEC customers] fall within the city of San Marcos boundary.

Texas A&M Forest Service, joined by officials from The Texas A&M University System, Texas A&M AgriLife and local community leaders, officially broke ground April 29 on a new regional office in Smithville.

The groundbreaking ceremony marks a significant investment in the region’s emergency response capabilities and natural resource stewardship. The new facility is designed to provide modernized infrastructure to meet the growing demands of wildfire response and forest management in Central Texas.

The Bastrop County facility follows a series of strategic capital investments across the state.

“Buildings bring people together, but they also signal commitment — to the mission and the region,” said Jeffrey W. Savell, Ph.D., vice chancellor and dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences. “This new building will be a long-term home for the Forest Service here and a clear signal that we are here to stay.”

The $2.5 million, 4,400 square-foot, single-story building with a four-bay equipment shed will be built on 300 acres known as the Schulze tract, donated to Texas A&M Forest Service by Dr. Gene Schulze, who once had his medical practice there, in 1999.

Construction is expected to proceed through the remainder of the year, with the facility reaching full operational capacity in 2027.

Al Davis, director of Texas A&M Forest Service, said the agency aims to strengthen its presence in the communities it serves.

“With the help of The Texas A&M University System and the Texas Legislature, we are able to put down some permanent roots here with the construction of this new building,” Davis said.

This new Texas A&M Forest Service office will enhance operational readiness with strategi- cally placed equipment and personnel for rapid wildfire response. The facility will also serve as a strategic hub for forest stewardship and a local resource for landowners seeking guidance on forest health, land management and wildfire mitigation.

Bastrop County represents a critical area for the agency’s mission. The county is considered an epicenter of wildfire risk in Texas due to its unique ecology and history. The combination of the Lost Pines ecosystem — an isolated stand of unique loblolly pines — and rapid residential development creates a highstakes wildland-urban interface, WUI.

“Bastrop County is now one of the most proactive regions for wildfire preparedness,” said James Altgelt, emergency management coordinator, Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management.

“This includes the presence of our Volunteer Fire Departments, Emergency Service Districts, TIFMAS (Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System) strike teams and the strategic placement of state resources, such as the new Texas A&M Forest Service facility in Smithville.”

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a national observance that has been recognized since 1949, but its message has never been more urgent. In the United States, nearly 1 in 5 adults is living with a mental health condition, and more than 1 in 20 experience a serious mental illness that significantly interferes with daily life.

Behind these numbers are our neighbors, coworkers, friends and family members – people whose struggles are often invisible, but deeply real.

At San Marcos Treatment Center, I have the privilege of working alongside dedicated professionals who care for individuals and families navigating these challenges every day. We see both the weight of unmet need and the extraordinary resilience of those who seek treatment. In every story, there is strength – and there is hope.

Yet the gap between those who need care and those who receive it remains significant. Recent data shows that tens of millions of Americans require mental health treatment each year, but many do not access it due to stigma, cost or uncertainty about where to turn. At the same time, we are seeing concerning trends: rising rates of anxiety, depression and suicide, particularly among young people, alongside increasing demand for crisis services across the country.

The message is clear: mental health can’t wait.

Encouragingly, there are also signs of progress. Awareness is growing. More people are talking openly about mental health than ever before, and innovations such as telehealth have expanded access to care. Integrated, trauma-informed treatment approaches – addressing mental health, substance use and physical health together – are helping individuals achieve more sustainable recovery. And importantly, we know that treatment works. Positive outcomes are not just possible; they are happening every day.

Mental Health Awareness Month is more than a moment – it is a call to action. Each of us has a role to play in breaking the silence and igniting change:

• Listen and show understanding. If you suspect a loved one is struggling, start with compassion. Listening without judgment can be the first step toward healing. Encourage them to seek professional support.

• Share resources that save lives. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support 24/7 via call, text or chat.

• Act in an emergency. If someone is in an acute medical emergency or immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

• Support the future of mental health care. We must inspire and invest in the next generation of mental health professionals who can meet the growing need for care. San Marcos Treatment enter is proud to support training and mentorship opportunities that strengthen our workforce and our community.

Let’s commit to speaking openly about mental health. Let’s replace stigma with understanding, silence with conversation and barriers with access to care.

*Source: National Institute of Mental Health Andy Herod is the CEO of the San Marcos Treatment Center, located at 120 Bert Brown Road. For more information, call 512.396.8500 or visit sanmarcostc.com.

Note from Cargill: The opinions here are those of Candy Cargill. They do not reflect necessarily the views of any employees of the City of Blanco, or committees or council members.

Not long ago, I said the Hill Country is in danger.

Now, I’m saying something even more direct: We are out of time for polite concern.

Across the region — from Blanco to Fredericksburg, from Wimberley to Marble Falls, from San Marcos to Comfort and places in between — people reached out.

Farmers. Ranchers. Residents. Business owners.

They are seeing the same thing: Water disappearing. Land disappearing. The heritage of the Hill Country they love disappearing. And here is the truth we can no longer ignore: This is not happening by accident. It is happening because we are allowing it. We are allowing developments without proven water.

We are allowing fragmentation of ranch land that has held this region together for generations. We are allowing shortterm decisions to dictate a long-term future.

And while groups like the Blanco County Conservation Initiative and the Hill Country Alliance continue to educate and advocate — they cannot carry this alone. This fight belongs to all of us.

So here is the shift: No more awareness without action.

No more meetings without outcomes. No more silence.

If you are a legislator — we need water policy reform now, not someday. If you are a county leader — require infrastructure before expansion, not after damage is done.

If you are part of an environmental organization — turn up the volume.

If you are a farmer or rancher — your stewardship is the backbone of this region, and we stand with you.

If you are a business leader or landowner — think beyond the next deal.

If you are a public figure or celebrity who loves this place — your voice can move mountains. Use it.

And if you are simply someone who calls the Hill Country home: Show up. Speak up. Stay engaged.

In Blanco, we are not stepping back. Protecting our river, our water, and our way of life is not optional — it is our responsibility. And we are ready to work with anyone — any city, any county, any organization — willing to stand up for this region.

Because this is bigger than any one town.

This is about whether the Hill Country remains the Hill Country.

Or becomes something unrecognizable.

The line in the caliche is being drawn right now — not years from now, not someday. Right now.

And history will remember who stood up… and who stayed silent. For the love of Blanco. For the future of the Hill Country.

Candy Cargill Mayor, Blanco, Texas

Dear Editor, When I was a kid, I thought I had pretty good ears. Well, maybe not to look at. After all, they were kind of big, stuck out a bit, and if I had to honestly describe them, I’d have to say they looked goofy. I wasn’t alone there: the kids in school agreed.

On the other hand, they did what they were supposed to do: they heard things. Loud things. Soft things. Happy things. Sad things. Nice things. Angry things.

I seemed to hear everything around me, even things I shouldn’t, like those whispered conversations between my parents. Not those yucky romantic “sweet nothings” when they called each other “Baby” and “Honey.”

No, it was more like those tense, clipped disagreements, often shot through with words I wasn’t supposed to know – the ones I learned in the school yard – the ones that I was definitely not supposed to hear at home. Those were the talks where “Jimmy” gave way to “James,” and “Evie” was replaced by “Evelyn.”

When I’d hear things get that formal, I knew it was time to skedaddle. Or at least hide under my bed so I could listen without getting caught.

That’s why I was always confused when my mother would accuse me of not listening. That made no sense to me. After all, I heard everything she said. “You may have heard me,” she’d explain, “but you didn’t listen.”

“Yes, I did,” I’d protest. “Then why didn’t you take out the trash cans to the curb when I asked you to?” she challenged me.

I didn’t have a good answer. In fact, I had none at all – and that’s when I started to get it. Hearing and listening are two different things. Yes, I heard her, but it went in one ear and out the other. And the trash didn’t go anywhere.

I thought about that during last week’s San Marcos City Council meeting. More talk about Data Centers. Talk. Talk. Talk. Talk. Talk.

I may be exaggerating just a bit, but it seems that Data Centers have been the primary topic of conversation by the City Council since they first got on its radar screen last August – almost a full year ago.

And as long as the Council has been tossing around the Data Center issue, the people of San Marcos have been turning it right back to them – meeting after meeting after meeting – and explaining to Council and to city commissions – sometimes patiently, sometimes politely, sometimes with exasperation, sometimes with impatience and, more and more often, with frustration.

They’ve been pretty clear about where they stand: they don’t want Data Centers in San Marcos. Period. Full stop. End of story.

We all understand the big issues driving much of that opposition: water consumption here in a place where water is scarce. Electricity consumption where generating capacity and transmission infrastructure are lacking. The huge direct and indirect costs of buildup. Environmental degradation.

And there’s the growing awareness of the extent to which Artificial Intelligence – AI – is dependent on Data Centers. This is driving a growing squeamishness about both of them.

We’ve reached a point where there’s an emerging understanding that the promised benefits of AI may not fully outweigh the potential downsides – and there are many.

Some, pointed out by experts, include job displacement and loss, social manipulation, privacy violations, AI ”hallucinations,” data quality issues, financial risk, bias resulting from bad data, and potential manipulation of users by AI systems or by unscrupulous system operators.

At this point in their development, along with almost everyone I know, I’ve made a firm decision against supporting Data Centers – facilities that may be politely described as the Pandora’s Box of the 21st century – operating here in our own back yard. We’re not alone in this. Nationwide, community after community do not want Data Centers.

The City of San Marcos has been in a confusing dance with Data Centers since 2025. Originally, the Planning and Zoning Commission turned the concept down. That meant that the Council had to deliver a supermajority of 6-1 to give the green light to Data Centers. But it could only muster an approval vote of 5-2. At every step of the way, residents of San Marcos objected. Loudly. Vociferously. And in great numbers.

But that was then and this is now. As someone much wiser than me once said, “You can’t keep a bad idea down.” In January, P&Z agreed, revisiting the issue and reversing itself, voting in favor of permitting the development of Data Centers.

The issue was on the agenda of last week’s City Council meeting as part of a larger land-use package. The Council passed amendments that focused on Data Centers’ place in the Land Use Matrix. their use of water and other utilities, noise and setback issues, development criteria, and permitting. Again, the residents of San Marcos objected. Just as loudly, just as vociferously and, again, in great numbers.

Mayor Jane Hughson was in favor of the amendments, explaining that she didn’t want to close the door completely “because there may be technological changes in the future that will make this, I’m not going to say, desirable, but will make it less objectionable.”

I understand her position, but I do wonder why would we want to embrace something that, while “less objectionable” is still objectionable?

I find myself in much closer agreement with City Council member Amanda Rodriguez, who made it very clear that while she initially thought placing Data Centers in the Land Use Matrix’s “Heavy Industrial” category would be sufficient, “That was not what people wanted.” Consequently, she proposed that Data Centers not be allowed in any category of the Land Use Matrix. She was outvoted, despite the clear support she had from virtually all members of the public who spoke at the meeting.

As one speaker said, “This is the fourth time that Data Centers and public comment have been before you. Each time we think we have made progress, that we’ve killed a proposal, or convinced council members – you – to understand or believe that these Centers represent a serious problem and threat to our community, we find ourselves back here, again.”

If my mother were here to speak to the City Council herself, I’m confident she would tell them, “You may hear us, but you’re not listening.”

Sincerely, Jon Leonard San Marcos

To the Editor, I read with much interest your article about Pennington Funeral Home. It brought back many fond memories. In 1967, I visited what was then Southwest Texas College, to see if they would accept me into a Master’s program. While at the registrar’s office, I told them I would need to find a job and a place to live before I could confirm my attendance.

Imagine my surprise when about a week later I received a phone call from a Mrs. Albright at Pennington Funeral Home. She offered me a job which included a small monthly payment and utilities paid, rent-free apartment. I started working for the Albrights in January of 1968, when I enrolled for my Master’s degree. I did not find out until a few weeks later that Ms. Edra hired college students to help them so they could get their degree.

What makes my story a little different is the fact I lived in Searcy, Arkansas, at the time and had never heard of the Albrights or Pennington Funeral Home. When she called, she had never seen me. Evidently someone in the registrar’s office knew her and gave her my name. She called and offered me the job before she ever saw me.

The apartment I lived in was the one above the funeral home in which Bill had been raised. I worked for Pennington’s for two years until I completed my graduate program, and was continually surprised by the compassion and generosity of this precious couple. My last semester, I had to do a practicum at a rehab hospital, and had no hours, except weekends, to work. I went and told Ms. Edra the situation and her words to me were: “You’re here to get your degree. You do what you have to do. We’ll give you work hours on the week- ends, so you can stay here until you graduate.”

I don’t know if she ever knew how many students she helped complete their degree, just by giving them the part-time job they needed in order to stay in school. I will always be indebted to the Albrights, and will never forget the education I received, in addition to my studies in college, by working in a funeral home.

It was an experience that impacted me greatly, made possible by the care and generosity of three wonderful people, Edra and Willard Albright and Edra’s son, Bill Pennington. The world could use a lot more people like them. Lynn Wilson Gonzales, Texas

KZSM is one of 21 organizations awarded grants through the Foundation’s “Strengthening Local Media to Advance Community Health” initiative, created to deepen local coverage of health and social issues in Central Texas. Regan Gruber Moffit, VP of Community Investments at St. David’s Foundation, describes the grant recipients on the Foundation’s website: “The dynamic media outlets that are receiving grants as part of this funding opportunity are not just reporting on communities, they are elevating the voices and lived experiences of Central Texans most impacted by health inequities. Their work ensures that the stories, challenges, and strengths of these communities are seen, heard, and valued.”

KZSM gives voice to underserved communities through shows such as “Raices” (Roots), “Veterans Hour,” and “Indigenous Voices.” We continually seek new programming from underserved populations. In addition, our public-affairs programs such as “Open Door” and “We the People” regularly highlight Red Cross Community Adaptation Program (CAP) nonprofit partners focused on providing health, housing, and hunger resources during steady state and times of disaster.

We’re profoundly gratified to have this opportunity to expand our care for the community into the realm of health and wellness. We’ll soon launch a new weekly one-hour program dedicated to local health issues, community clinics, mental health resources, and social factors affecting well-being. Tentatively scheduled for Tuesdays at noon, the show will feature bilingual (English/Spanish) live or call-in interviews-accessible conversations about physical and mental health including trauma, behavioral-health supports, and culturally relevant care. We’ll talk with nonprofit partners, community clinics, health departments, and local experts, but anyone with ideas or information about how people in our community can take control of their own health might be a guest. If you have something to share, contact us at KZSMSan-Marcos@gmail.com.

In addition, we will collaborate with youth at El Centro Cultural Hispano to produce weekly 15-minute youth-led segments on health and mental health from a minority youth perspective.

Stay tuned for music, talk, and ways to take control of your own health!

After the unexpected cancellation of the 2025 festival due to rescinded NEA funding, this year marks both a long-awaited return and a poignant finale. The 2026 edition will be the final Soul 2 Sole Festival, closing out a groundbreaking quarter-century legacy that has shaped, elevated and championed the art of tap around the globe.

“For 25 years, Soul 2 Sole has been a gathering place for master artists, emerging dancers and tap lovers from around the world,” said Acia Gray, Tapestry Dance founder and artistic director. “Though it’s bittersweet to say farewell, this final festival is a celebration of everything and everyone who has contributed to this incredible journey. The rhythm lives on in every dancer who has shared the Soul 2 Sole experience.”

This internationally recognized festival brings together artists, students and audiences for an immersive week of rhythm, artistry and community. Participants will experience the signature mix of technique classes, improvisational sessions and conversations that have defined Soul 2 Sole for decades. Guiding this exploration of tap dance as a living, evolving art form are some of today’s most celebrated artists: Dianne Walker, Acia Gray, Brinae Ali, Nicholas Young, Luke Hickey, Elizabeth Burke, Jeremy Arnold and tap historian Margaret Morrison.

Beyond festival week, Soul 2 Sole will extend its reach with additional classes and workshops planned this summer, giving dancers of all levels the opportunity to continue their training with world-class faculty. More information will be available at Tapestry.org “The rhythm of Soul 2 Sole has never been contained to a single week,” Gray said. “We will have additional classes and workshops planned this summer, so the learning doesn’t stop when the festival does. This is your chance to go deep with artists who have shaped tap for gen- erations.”

Live music remains at the heart of the Soul 2 Sole experience, with festival performances accompanied by the Soul 2 Sole Jazz Trio: Masumi Jones on drums, Angelo Lembesis on piano and Dylan Jones on bass.

As one of only two still-existing and among the oldest tap festivals in the world, Soul 2 Sole has endured while many others across the United States have succumbed to financial challenges, shifting funding landscapes and changes in arts ecosystems. Its legacy reflects a rich lineage of tap innovators, advocates and educators who have passed through its studios and stages.

While the Soul 2 Sole Festival takes its final bow, Tapestry Dance Company’s commitment to tap dance continues year-round. The company will maintain its successful tap dance classes and its popular monthly Tap Jam sessions, which remain a vital gathering place for dancers, musicians and audiences. These ongoing programs ensure that the spirit, rhythm and community cultivated through Soul 2 Sole will continue to thrive in Austin and beyond.

At the core of the 2026 festival are two dynamic concerts at the Long Center, open to the general public.

Participants’ Showcase on Friday, June at 8 p.m. An energetic evening featuring auditioned works by festival participants, blended with performances by this year’s distinguished guest artists and the Soul 2 Sole Jazz Trio.

Friends in Time – Faculty Performance on Saturday, June 20 at 8 p.m. A powerful, reflective finale featuring solos, improvisation and musical interplay from the 2026 faculty and musicians, honoring the artistic friendships and creative exchanges that have defined Soul 2 Sole for a generation.

“Each night will be a celebration of the spirit that has driven Soul 2 Sole for 25 years,” Gray said. “It’s an opportunity for audiences to experience the depth, joy and artistry of tap one more time on the Long Center stage.”

Soul 2 Sole is supported in part by an Austin Live Music Fund Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music, & Entertainment.

As a Long Center Resident Company, Tapestry is a professional, non-profit organization founded in 1989 by Acia Gray and Deirdre Strand for the purpose of developing a foundation in multi-form dance and music performance and education. For over 35 years, the critically acclaimed events and programs of Tapestry Dance have included more than 68 full length world premiere concerts.

Awarded best ensemble, best dancer, best choreographer and other honors by The Austin Critic’s Table Awards, Tapestry is also listed on the TCA Touring Roster.

Video Magic was one of those delightful local video stores of the mid-90s, and for two blissful years, I received a paycheck for watching movies and creating inane lists: What is the best Christopher Walken movie of all time? What are the Top 5 Christmas movies involving Bruce Willis? Who was the Best Rapper/Actor Combination: 2Pac, Ice Cube, or Queen Latifah?

So when last week’s rain kept me off the trails, I harkened back to that golden era of film and asked, “ What are the best trail movies?”

Our quest begins by asking, “Should trail movies actually have to feature a trail? This kind of purist inquiry might serve us well in the genre of Christmas movies that actually have to mention the birth of Christ, but in the very niche world of trials, it eliminates almost everything but “Wild,” “A Walk in the Woods”, and “The Way.” I heartily recommend the first two books, but the movie adaptations fall well short of the prose, so if you’re looking for a Hollywood Star on the trail, forego Robert Redford and Reese Witherspoon, and enjoy Martin Sheen, who turns in a fantastic performance as a grieving father on the Camino de Santiago.

We might also ask, “Do documentaries count as movies?” This is a thorny subject, as there is much controversy around titles like “The Endless Summer” (surfing) and Warren Miller films (skiing), or more recently “Free Solo” (climbing) and Billy Yang films (trail running). To complicate things further, nowadays, some of the best content for hiking is found on YouTube with people like Homemade Wanderlust or Kyle Hates Hiking.

However, if you find yourself rained out and needing a trail fix, “Mile, Mile and a Half ” scratches the itch with fantastic cinematography of the John Muir Trail while following a group of artist friends on their sojourn.

Finally, if we are just looking for the best movie about hitting the trail, then the answer perennially points us to “The Lord of the Rings.” Tolkien doesn’t get nearly enough credit as a nature writer, and between Bilbo’s maps, Frodo’s descriptions, and the Hobbits’ walking songs, we can’t help but want to see mountains with Gandalf! Peter Jackson’s interpretation of the texts in the breathtaking New Zealand countryside solidifies this classic as one of the best trail flix ever.

So next time you get rained out, throw on the extended version of “The Fellowship of the Ring,” and start crafting your own walking tunes with a cuppa. As a bonus, it will also refresh you for the forthcoming “The Hunt for Gollum” film, which takes place between “The Hobbit” and “Fellowship.”

Rattler Resource Center supports local students in college, career planning

Texas State University and San Marcos High School continue their long-standing partnership through the High School Mentor Program, an initiative designed to help students and families successfully navigate life after high school.

Established in 2009, the program has played a vital role in increasing awareness and participation in postsecondary opportunities across the San Marcos community.

Operating through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s college access initiatives, the program places Texas State student mentors on campus throughout the academic year. These mentors foster a strong college-going culture while providing direct, individualized support to students preparing their next steps.

Mentors assist with completing college applications, identifying scholarship opportunities, submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), registering for standardized tests, and understanding the enrollment process.

Beyond college readiness, mentors guide students in exploring a full range of post-secondary pathways - including careers, military service, and technical or trade schools - ensuring each student can pursue a path aligned with their goals and interests.

Texas State mentors work up to 20 hours per week at the Rattler Resource Center, where they provide one-on-one guidance and resources to help students and families make informed decisions about their future.

Rosina Ruiz Valle,program specialist at Texas State University, emphasized the intentional structure behind the program’s success.

“We recruit, screen, train, and support student mentors at the Rattler Resource Center at San Marcos High School. We also assist in training college mentors and school personnel on the mission of the program, and the services mentors provide.”

Valle added that the strength of the program is rooted in the relationships mentors build with students.

“At its core, this program is about students supporting students. Our mentors not only share knowledge - they build trust, model possibilities, and help students see a future they may not have imagined for themselves.”

At the campus level, the program is implemented in close collaboration with school pleadership. Eva Key, Lead Counselor at San Marcos High School, highlighted the direct impact mentors have on students.

“Texas State Mentors are an essential part of our postsecondary guidance. They serve as the initial point of contact for college searches and the application process. From exploration to financial aid, they truly inspire our SMHS students to actively pursue their postsecondary opportunities.”

The program’s impact extends beyond logistics - it builds confidence and long-term vision for students. Twila Guajardo, Principal of San Marcos High School, noted the deeper value mentors bring to the campus.

“This program does more than provide information - it builds confidence, removes barriers, and ensures every student has access to the guidance they need to pursue their future. Our students benefit from consistent, individualized support that helps them navigate complex processes like college applications and financial aid, while also building belief in what is possible for their lives after graduation.” University leadership also recognizes the strength of the partnership and its role in shaping student success. Nick Weimer, Assistant Vice Provost for Experiential and Academic Initiatives, underscored the broader impact.

“Every day, our Texas State mentors demonstrate what’s possible when students are supported. This partnership is about more than college applications - it’s about helping young people see that their dreams are within reach.”

Together, Texas State University and San Marcos High School are creating pathways to opportunity one student at a time.

For additional information, contact Rosina Valle at Rv1073@txstate.edu

In Austin, Broadway shows draw audiences to Bass Concert Hall and the surrounding area, where theatergoers support local restaurants, hotels and retail businesses before and after performances. That $40.2 million in economic activity reflects both direct expenditures by producers and the presenter to stage the shows and the additional spending audiences bring to the city.

The “Economic Impact of Touring Broadway 2023–2024” report highlights how that pattern plays out on a national scale, with dollars spent in connection with Broadway performances continuing to circulate across industries and into surrounding communities — driving billions in economic activity well beyond the theater itself.

“The arts deliver immeasurable human value while also creating very tangible economic benefit to communities that support it,” said Bob Bursey, Executive and Artistic Director of Texas Performing Arts. “When a Broadway show comes to Austin, it’s not just a night at the theater — it’s dinner out, a hotel stay for a family driving in from out of town, and an experience that keeps people coming back regularly to support businesses.”

Of the $5.7 billion in nationwide economic impact, more than $1.34 billion comes directly from audiences spending on dining, transportation, shopping, and lodging tied to their theater experience. The remainder reflects direct expenditures by producers, presenters, and venues to bring productions to stages across the country, underscoring the full scope of touring Broadway’s role in supporting local businesses and jobs well beyond the stage.

The economic momentum reflected in this report comes as Broadway in Austin announces its largest season in history. The 2026–2027 lineup features a record 11 productions at Bass Concert Hall, including seven Austin premieres — among them Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen, Buena Vista Social Club and Death Becomes Her — alongside returning favorites including The Phantom of the Opera, Beetlejuice and The Book of Mormon. Season subscription packages start at $290 and are on sale now at BroadwayinAustin.com.

So you fly to the north, staying aloft for 18 to 24 hours without drinking, eating, or stopping. If you’re lucky, you might have a tail wind to push you along. If you’re unlucky, you might encounter a gale pushing you backwards and forcing you to drop exhausted into the chilly waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Fish food.

It’s one of the greatest migration events on earth and it takes place every spring just like clockwork.

From Mexico and South America, some two billion birds move through Texas, about one-third of the total migration across the United States. They fly across some 700 miles of open water where to stop is to die.

When they finally reach the limit of their endurance, and have burned up the stored fat which fueled their flight, the birds reach landfall.

One of the major landing spots is the Sabine Woods Bird Sanctuary, created by the Texas Ornithological Society. Folks come from all around the world to see the migrant fallout when birds arrive after their arduous journey across the Gulf.

Other landing sites include Sea Rim State Park six miles west of Sabine Woods. Sea Rim is home to the Gambusia Nature Trail, one of the state’s best marsh boardwalks. You might spot alligators, coyotes and bobcats at the park, but most folks come to see the masses of shorebirds – avocets, phalaropes, spoonbills, plovers and sandpipers.

Farther west, High Island is a favorite stopping place for migrating birds; it has four distinct bird sanctuaries – Boy Scout Woods, Eubanks Woods, Smith Oaks and S. E. Gast Red Bay. Birds will also find refuge at the Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary.

All in all, it is a small miracle that birds can make the difficult flight over a treacherous ocean and arrive at these welcome sanctuaries. But I’m sure glad they do.

Despite needing to replace several star playmakers from last season, the Rattler offense will not be short on firepower, especially at wide receiver.

With leading wide receivers Jordan Lampkin and Aiden Benavidez returning from last year’s team, Head Coach John Walsh is excited about the potential of his unit.

“The secondary group and the receiver group, we have no issues there,” Walsh said. “We have Lampkin, the Benavidez boys, Braylen Gatewood and Darrian Cruz that are back and Dylan Bell, who’s fixing to be jumping tomorrow at the state track meet in long jump. So we’re pretty rich back there and I feel really fortunate.”

Along with Lampkin and Aiden Benavidez, looking to make their mark on the season is the junior duo of Xzavier Reyes and Aithan Benavidez.

Despite not being starters the season before, the pair have emerged as key contributors for the Rattlers going into 2026.

“When the season’s over, I put a depth chart together of what I think is going to be our next football team and then I present it to the guys,” Walsh said. “I had two guys not on there. Aithan Benavidez, who is Aiden’s little brother, and Xzavier Reyes. But both those guys were not on my watch list and all my coaches said that I missed a mark on both of them. It was really clear early that those guys were going to be varsity players and varsity players that saw the field quite a bit.”

In the ground game, the Rattlers will look to focus their rushing attack around sophomore Jarren Lopez.

Following the loss of JT Narro after tearing his ACL, Lopez has stepped up for the Rattlers and has become workhorse in the ground game while sharing the carries with junior Cameron Bundage.

“[Lopez] can start at receiver,” Walsh said. “He’s got really good hands and good lateral movement. But I think what sets him apart from a lot of high school running backs is his patience and vision.. So it’s pretty impressive to watch him be patient, know how our blocking schemes are supposed to end up after two seconds then find that hole and burst through it.”

One of the biggest questions of the Rattler offense is replacing several key starters on the offensive line.

With several new faces taking over new starter roles, their progression will be a determining factor of how far the Rattler offense can go.

“Our trenches will be where the magnifying glass is,” Walsh said. “Coach Wallace has done a good job of getting everybody strong but you have to be tough and you don’t know how tough you are until you get to line it up against a different colored helmet over there. So I’m going to be challenging those guys now in the summer and as we start the fall. You know as well as I do, we go as the trenches go. They’re definitely the unproven group of our football team and we’ll see when we get there.”

With junior Ricardo Villalpando and sophomore Ayden Salik taking the reins at quarterback, Walsh has been happy with the progression of his two young quarterbacks.

“What I’ve really been pleased with is that Ricky’s not released to throw until the end of this month so Aiden’s been doing all the passing,” Walsh said. “[Salik] definitely improved on his accuracy. He’s an accurate quarterback, but when you’re a freshman out there and the bullets are flying you become not as accurate.

“But in two weeks time, I’ve seen much improvement in him being able to keep his composure and throw the ball where it needs to be. Both have done a good job of having command in a huddle. Ricky sets the standard early on just his ability to gather everybody up, get the play called, and really know what everybody else is doing. Aiden’s just a year younger and he’s learning that,” Walsh said.

San Marcos continues spring practice in the month of May, ending with the spring game May 14.

It is hard to imagine averaging a 4:30 per mile pace for 26.2 miles. Running a 4:30 mile is a great time in itself but to do it for a marathon distance is truly amazing. The London Marathon set another record with a record number of finishers at 59,830 runners. This beats the New York Marathon of 59,286 runners.

Having that many runners enter a marathon is almost as unbelievable as a 4:30 mile pace. An interesting note is 5 of the 10 fastest marathons run are in the London Marathon.

I still recall the time when Roger Bannister first broke the four minute mile and it was considered a fantastic feat of endurance. Now the two-hour mark which has stood for all these years is broken. I am not sure if there will be that many runners breaking that time the way runners have broken Bannister’s four-minute mile time. It seems once a record fastest time has been broken, runners know that it can be done and they no longer see it as an impossible task.

I started to think about how the human body can adjust to demands and reach limits never thought possible. My first thoughts of running a marathon was one of those “it will never happen” kind of thing. Then 16 marathons later it wasn’t that hard after all. My first few years of running an eight minute per mile was a major accomplishment. Years later the time was closer to a six minute mile. Now I watch local 5K and 10K races and children under 12 years are running fast times.

And records for runners at 80-90+ years running marathons or sprinting 100 meters in a Master’s Track Meet the changes in meeting new challenges are now common occurrences. Every runner that starts a running program and looks back at the beginning distances and time and compares it to what they can do now is a perfect demonstration of the body adapting to stress.

This is true with strength contests as well. Back when Paul Anersonl at a super heavyweight lifted 400 pounds over his head, it was considered the ultimate record. Now lifters in the middle weight class are now lifting close to that weight.

One of the fastest growing sports in high school is powerlifting and competition is for both boys and girls. I remember entering a meet and watching a girl that probably weighed 98 pounds squat with over 200 pounds. The weight looked like it would crush her but she lifted it and was ready for more weight. Limits are meant to be broken.

When you talk about world records such as running under two hours it should not be confused with personal records or improvement. In David Epstein’s book, “The Sports Gene” he writes about how there are some individuals that have the genes to reach these ultimate goals if they choose to work hard to reach them. Researchers have developed tests to determine an individual’s potential.

One example is the VO2 Max test on a treadmill. With a tube collecting your air as you run, a machine analyzes the CO2 level and can predict your potential for running. My test results showed I had a potential of running a three hour marathon. I made it to 3:03 so for me that was pretty close to reaching my potential.

Another key factor that Epstein mentioned is that many of the world class runners from Africa started running at a young age and was a factor in their ability to reach high levels of performance. Reach for your personal best ability.

Texas State women’s golfers Grace Quintanilla and Yvonne Chamness were selected as two of 36 individuals to represent their institutions in regional play as part of the 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships. The pair will play at the Ridgewood Country Club in Waco.

Regional play will take place May 11-13 at six regional sites, with 396 participants and each site featuring 12 teams and six individuals. The top five teams (30 teams total) and the low individual not on an advancing team (six individuals total) from each regional site will advance to compete in the national championships to be played May 22-27 at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California.

The Waco Regional will be the first postseason appearance for freshman Quintanilla, who finished her regular season ranked No. 107 nationally and was selected to the Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team following a tie for fifth place finish.

Quintanilla was in the lineup for 10 of 11 tournaments in her opening campaign, only missing one due to international duty with the Philippines. Of those 10, she led the Bobcats in seven and finished with a team best 71.5 adjusted scoring average. Overall, she posted five rounds in the 60s and 16 even or under par with 29 of 30 rounds counting toward the team score. Her best finish was T4 at the Chevron Challenge and her season-low round of 66 was signed for on the event’s second 18.

The veteran, Chamness, will be making her third consecutive appearance at an NCAA Regional after qualifying as an individual in 2025 and part of TXST’s conference championship winning team in 2024. She saw her highest placement tied for 24th last season in Lubbock.

Chamness appeared in all 11 tournaments this season, earning runner- up honors on two occasions. Overall, she led the lineup in four. Her 10 rounds in the 60s and 17 rounds even or under were a team best, as were her four eagles and 101 birdies. The senior posted a 72.6 scoring average and saw 31 of 33 rounds counted.

As a team, the Bobcats finished just outside of an at-large bid, concluding the regular season ranked No. 54. TXST produced five top five finishes this season highlighted by a team championship at the Texas State Invitational in February and a runner-up finish at the SBC Championship. The Bobcats also garnered the most Sun Belt Player of the Week honors this season with five, including three from Chamness and a pair from Quintanilla.

The Texans rallied in the seventh inning, scoring 11 runs to defeat the Devine Arabians 12-11 for the Area championship.

Wimberley improves to 25-7-2 for the season, while Devine finishes the season at 20-15-1.

After Wimberley tied the game on a Devine fielding error, the Arabians scored six unanswered runs to lead 7-1 going into the seventh inning.

The Texans loaded up the bases with one out before Ella Patek hit a tworun double, cutting the deficit down to 7-3.

Following Patek with runners on second and third, Reagan Kenley hit a two-run RBI single to score two more runs and make it a 7-5 game.

After an RBI triple by Peyton Wharton, the Texans tied the game on an RBI double by Morgan Smith to make it a 7-7 contest.

Grace Strobel was hit by the pitch before Jewel Lock gave the Texans the lead on an RBI single as Wimberley went up 8-7.

Loading up the bases with two outs, Bailey Wright cleared the bases with an RBI double before Patek hit an RBI double of her own as Wimberley entered the bottom of the seventh up 12-7.

The Arabians answered back in the following atbat, scoring on an RBI single before a three-run home run made it a onescore game at 12-11.

As Devine looked to recapture the lead and take home the win, the Texans had other ideas. In the circle, Strobel forced back to back groundouts to capture the final two outs as the Texans held on to win the thrilling game 12-11.

Wright went 3-5 from the plate with three RBIs while Patek went 2-5 with three RBIs. Strobel ended the game with the win while throwing 3.2 innings.

Wimberley will face the winner of Columbia and Zapata in the regional semifinal round.

Guadalupe County and Cloudburst Texas, LLC have a development agreement for a 706-acre data center site near the Hays County line. The county retains regulatory authority but grants Cloudburst vested rights under current rules, preventing future restrictions or delays. The project excludes residential use and includes specified utilities and a 100-foot setback. The agreement lasts 10 years with extensions tied to progress, runs with the land and becomes void if used for housing.

Guadalupe County’s proposed agreement with Cloudburst Texas, LLC would grant property tax abatements for a multi-building data center project valued at a minimum of $500 million. Construction is planned from 2026– 2030, with each phase qualifying for a 10-year abatement starting upon completion. Taxes would be reduced by 90% initially, decreasing over time. In return, Cloudburst must meet investment, job creation and operational requirements, maintain the facility longterm and comply with performance standards or risk repayment of abated taxes.

Cynthia Thompson, Executive Chair of Cloudburst Data Centers, said even with the abatement, over a ten-year period, Cloudburst will still pay $488 million in taxes to Guadalupe County, $4.5 million for roads and $394,000 for the York Creek Water District to help preserve the creek.

Guadalupe County Judge Kyle Kutscher said he believes there is a benefit to the project and preferred to have a data center over a residential development.

“I also understand that everything’s not perfect. There are potential concerns. There are potential harms that go along with any development that happens,” Kutscher said. “20,000-25,000 residential lots within a few years is far more detrimental to the environment, looking at impervious cover, the activity, the number of people, the resource usage; the list goes on and on… There are potential hazards with anything, but residential development, the rate in which it’s happening, is hurting our county because we have very little control over it."

Guadalupe County Commissioner Jacqueline Ott didn’t believe a tax abatement was necessary for Cloudburst to operate in the county.

“It is true that we, as a county-level governing body, do not have the ability to control who sells their land, to whom they sell, and what a landowner does with land they purchase, so long as they are compliant with the law,” Ott said. “However, having learned of other Texas counties who have not given tax abatements to data centers, with the knowledge that Texas is projected to be the next date center heavy hotspots and realizing that time is of the essence with the impetus being placed upon the data centers to develop and build, I believe it may not be necessary for this court to grant the academy in order for a data center to operate here."

Both the development agreement and tax abatement agreement were passed three to two.

Tax Aide

When: Mondays, 9:30 a.m - 5 p.m.

Where: San Marcos Public Library What: Trained volunteers from AARP prepare individual tax returns for free by appointment at the library starting in February. To register go to: https:// www.aarp.org/money/ taxes/aarp_taxaide/ locations.html or call the library.

Room: Meeting Room A

Yoga Monday Night Reset 

When: Mondays, 7:00 8:00 p.m.

Where: San Marcos Public Library What: Join yoga teacher E.D. Watson for a chill, relaxing yoga practice. Bring a mat and any props you like to use.

Info: Call 512.393.8200

Cover Letters Made Easy 

When: Mondays from 9-10 a.m.

Where: San Marcos Public Library Conference Room (128) What: Market yourself and gain an edge in today’s job market by learning how to write an effective cover letter. We will discuss the components of a cover letter, review proper formatting, and determine what content to include and what to leave out.

Info: Call 512.393.8200 Registration/Cost: free

Overeaters Anonymous

When: Tuesdays 12-1 p.m.

Where: First Lutheran Church, 130 W. Holland St.

What: Overeaters Anonymous

The Community Calendar continues on page 9 Info: For those with a problem with food or body image Registration/Cost: free

Al-anon

When: Tuesdays 12:301:30 p.m.

Where: United Campus Ministry, 510 N. Guadalupe St.

What: Al-anon Info: A fellowship for friends and families of alcoholics Registration/Cost: free

Resumes Made Easy 

When: Thursdays, from 1 - 2 p.m.

What: Are you job hunting, but need help with your resume? Learn how to create a resume, update the one you have, or have your resume reviewed by a librarian. No resume?

Bring your employment and education history.

Where: San Marcos Public Library Info: Call 512.393.8200

Caregiving Connections 

When: Thursdays, 6:00 7:00 p.m.

Where: San Marcos Public Library What: Caregiver support group. Facilitator: Kathy Palmer. Funded by St. David’s Foundation. For ages 18 and up.

Info: Call 512.393.8200

Cottage Kitchen Luncheon

When: May 7, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Where: Charles S. Cock House, 400 E. Hopkins St Who: Heritage Association of San Marcos What: Cottage Kitchen Luncheon. The March luncheon is hosted by Corridor Title - San Marcos, and the menu will feature Palmer’s Shepherd’s Pie with a salad and a roll. There will also be delicious homemade desserts.

Info: Lunches hosted by local businesses and organizations Registration/Cost: $10 per person

Migratory Bird Day Festival

When: May 9, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Where: San Marcos Discovery Center, 430 Riverside Drive Who: San Marcos Parks and Recreation What: Celebrate birds during this fun, interactive festival for the whole family. A live bird “meet and greet,” bird walks, live music, games, partner booths, crafts, activities and a migratory bird obstacle course are a few of the things we have in store for you. This festival is part of a global effort to further migratory bird conservation around the globe by creating a worldwide campaign organized around the planet’s major migratory bird corridors.

Learn more on our event StoryMap.

Info: free

Party in your Park – Celebrating National Kids to Parks Day!

When: May 15, 5-8 p.m.

Where: Jaycees Park, 1907 Lancaster Street Who: San Marcos Parks and Recreation What: Party in your Park takes place four times a year at a different neighborhood park! Join us as we play games, listen to music, make new friends and enjoy snacks and refreshments.

Info: free

Deadline for Senior Volunteer Award Nominations

When: May 15, 2026, 5 p.m.

Who: San Marcos Parks and Recreation What: The Outstanding Senior Citizen Volunteer Award was established in 2017 by the San Marcos Senior Citizen Advisory Board as a way to recognize and honor a senior citizen whose volunteer efforts have made San Marcos a better place in which to live. The San Marcos Senior Citizen Advisory Board will serve as the Selection Committee and will consider such elements as the nominee’s record of service (i.e. volunteer activities, site of service, years having served, and the impact of the activities on the community.

Info: Link to website and nomination form: www. sanmarcostx.gov/seniorvolunteeraward; paper copies available at the Activity Center

Dirt Dauber Festival 

When: May 16 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and May 17 from 12-5 p.m.

Where: Eye of the Dog Art Center, 405 Valley View West Rd.

Who: Eye of the Dog Art Center What: A celebration of clay and art in Texas with 70 clay artists selling work and giving live demonstrations.

Info: eyeofthedogartcenter. com Registration/Cost: free

The Parkinson’s Journey 

When: Third Wednesdays of the month Where: First Baptist Church, 325 W. McCarty Lane Who: Dr. Abel Galaviz What: Let’s go through this journey together and share strategies on how to cope wih Parkinson’s. We invite you to attend our meeting.

Info: abelgalaviz1@gmail. com Registration/Cost: free

Memorial Day Ceremony 

When: May 25, 10 a.m.

Where: Hays County Veterans Memorial, 450 E. Hopkins Who: San Marcos What: Veterans and community members will recite the names of all Hays County Veterans who were Killed in Action since WWI. This year marks the 22nd Anniversary of the dedication of the Hays County Veterans Memorial. Local Veteran organizations, the San Marcos High School Air Force ROTC, and the Aquarena Symphonic Band will be participating in the ceremony.

Registration/Cost: free

Creative Accountability Club 

When: April 26, May 31, June 28, July 26 at 2-3 p.m. Where: San Marcos Public Library Makerspace (139A) Who: Ellen Rebecca Geis What: Are you a creative who struggles? Come learn proven methods for creative project management, overcoming the inner critic, and reaching your creative goals.

Coaching and discussion format.

Info: Call 512.393.8200 Registration/Cost: free

Howard Lovell opened Yard Sale Records in March 2024 at 880 S Business IH 35 Suite 600, and focuses on selling vinyl records, CDs, VHS tapes and other vintage items like toys and clothing. Lovell said that the shop has built a loyal following, prompting an expansion that started in October 2025 and is still ongoing.

”When I started, I was worried that the only selling genres would be Texas Country and Americana,” Lovell said. “I was really shocked at how diverse the music taste is here. I’m able to sell a little bit of everything.”

Lovell moved to New Braunfels from Houston in 2020 and spent several years traveling to markets selling vinyl records before opening his storefront. Lovell said he’s really come to love the New Braunfels community and enjoys establishing connections with his customers.

Yard Sale Records’ success since opening has created an opportunity for future plans. Lovell said he hopes to open a second Yard Sale Records location in San Marcos by 2027, knowing that music stores are timelessly popular with college students.

Regular customers like Asa Neal said the store’s growth reflects the larger trend of renewed interest in physical media, especially with younger audiences. Neal has been collecting records for nearly a decade and said that physical formats offer a way to directly support artists in an era dominated by streaming.

”“Artists used to make most of their money from records and CD sales,” Neal said. “Now with platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, they don’t get paid nearly as much.”

Neal said buying vinyl is one way fans can help sustain musicians while also creating something personal. To her, buying albums is like documenting someone’s life, and each record represents a moment or phase.

The personal connection is also drawing in younger listeners like Taylor Clark, a San Marcos resident. Clark recently visited a vinyl market at the Phoenix Saloon on March 28, where Yard Sale Records set up a booth alongside other vendors.

Clarke said she enjoys exploring record shops and was excited to see a strong turnout at the event. Her interest in record shops has grown even more following the closure of Alchemy Records in San Marcos last year.

“It was heartbreaking when [Alchemy Records] closed,” Clarke said. “There’s something so special about having a place like that, it’s not just a place to find music, but also friends.” Clarke believes physical media is making a comeback, especially with Gen Z consumers who are looking for alternatives to constant digital consumption.

”We’re surrounded by screens all the time, so putting on a vinyl or even a CD just feels different. It feels more real and intentional,” Clarke said.

Other customers are drawn by the tangible connection to the music itself. Hayden Dane visited Yard Sale Records for the first time in search of “Bully,” a newly released album by Kanye West.

Dane said he had already streamed the album multiple times on his phone but wanted to own a physical copy.

”I’ve listened to it three times on Spotify already, but having it on vinyl is different,” Dane said. “You can actually hold it, look at the artwork and really appreciate it.”

As Yard Sale Records continues to grow, Lovell said he hopes the store remains more than just a place to shop. Yard Sale Records is positioning itself as part of a broader cultural shift with physical media finding life with a new generation of listeners according to Lovell.

The Eye of the Dog Art Center organized an Empty Dog Bowls fundraiser inspired by the Empty Bowls concept for the homeless, but tailored to help dogs. The event, held on March 29, attracted around 100 people and featured a gallery opening where bowls made by artists were sold. The $3,000 in proceeds was donated to PAWS Shelter of Central Texas recently in the form of a very large check. “We had PAWS in mind, because they do such a great thing for all the animals,” Tawni Bates, Eye of the Dog Art Center administrator, said. “And it’s just pretty cool that we raised as much money as we did on our first one.”

Caroline Smith, PAWS Fundraising Manager, said she brought an adoptable dog, Treble, to the event as well, who found a forever family. And the funds raised by Eye of the Dog are going to help other dogs find homes.

“Right now, we’re working on a behavioral program, which includes board and training for some of our dogs that need just a little more extra behavioral support before they get adopted,” Smith said. “We have about three dogs in our care right now that we’re getting ready to gear up into it, and it’s about $1,400 for each dog. So that will cover two of these dogs going through a two week board and train program, and then they can go into a foster home and be adopted out.”

Go to pawsshelter.org/ adopt to find adoptable pets.

The cost is $10 and will include meal, plus dessert, tea or coffee. Come support the Heritage Association of San Marcos.

San Marcos Bluebonnet Lions has been a part of San Marcos for over 40 years. This group of Lions embodies the Lions Clubs International slogan “We Serve.” The group has 40 Members and welcome new members.

To learn more, visit bluebonnetlions.org or visit our Facebook page.