SMCISD’s campuses and offices will be close Thursday. Friday will remain a Parent Community Day, which is a student holiday. 

SMCISD said it will work with the Texas Education Agency to determine whether the state will give the district a waiver for lost instructional minutes caused by the winter storm. 

“We will know more next week and will keep you informed of TEA’s decision,” SMCISD said. “Stay warm and stay safe!”
 

The university said both its San Marcos and Round Rock campuses would be opening at noon on Thursday. All classes until 12 p.m. are canceled  

Texas State transportation services will begin service at 11 a.m. 
 

San Marcos Consolidated ISD, Texas State University and San Marcos Academy are all closed Wednesday.

SMCISD said it will continue to monitor weather conditions to determine opening campuses and offices on Thursday.

Texas State University closed its San Marcos and Round Rock campuses until Thursday

Texas State said its university emergency management is monitoring the winter storm warning for the area.

“The safety of our campus community is our top priority,” Texas State said in a news release. “We are working closely with area government agencies and educational institutions to monitor the current weather conditions, the forecast, and make decisions about potential delays and closures.”

For more information visit https://safety.txst.edu.

Schools across Hays County will also be closed Wednesday. Hays CISD, Wimberley ISD and Dripping Springs ISD all announced closures.

Hays CISD plans to reopen Thursday. Wimberley ISD and Dripping Springs both said a decision regarding reopening its campuses and offices for Thursday will be made by Wednesday.

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED SINCE ITS FIRST PUBLICATION. 

The warning, which went into effect Monday morning, expires at 6 a.m. on Thursday. NWS warns of significant icing and additional ice accumulations of a quarter to three quarters of an inch.

National Weather Service meteorologist Brandon Gale said there’s a wide range of expected ice accumulation because of the various terrain across Hays County.

“Far western parts of Hays County have the higher elevation, we could see up to three-quarters of an inch of ice accumulation through Wednesday,” Gale told the Daily Record on Monday. “But closer to the I-35 corridor, we’re looking more at the tenth of an inch to maybe quarter of an inch range.”

NWS is forecasting an 80% chance of rain and freezing rain overnight into Wednesday with temperatures falling back to below freezing. Rain remains in the forecast throughout Wednesday and overnight into Thursday. Temperatures Wednesday will get above freezing and are currently expected to remain above freezing Wednesday night.

Gale recommended residents remain vigilant as the forecast could change throughout the next few days.

“If we’re one degree off on our temperature forecast that could potentially have a decent impact on how much ice accumulation there is,” Gale said. “It’s just a tricky forecast based on the temperatures being right around freezing. People will have to monitor for any potential forecast updates. It will be an evolving forecast.”

NWS warns drivers against driving but suggests keeping an extra flashlight, food and water in the vehicle in case of an emergency.

To see the latest road conditions across the state visit drivetexas.org.

This story has been updated since its first publication. 

SMCISD released early Monday ahead of rainy conditions and temperatures plummeting below freezing. The district will remain closed Tuesday. Additionally, SMCISD said all after school activities and programs will be canceled on Tuesday, Jan. 31, including UIL activities.

SMCISD will monitor weather conditions over the next few days to determine opening campuses and offices on Wednesday, Feb. 1

SMA also released students early from classes Monday. SMA will remain closed Tuesday and will notify students, parents and staff if there is a delayed start on Wednesday through email, text and social media.

SMCISD and SMA were among schools and school districts across Hays County to close Tuesday. Wimberley ISD closed Tuesday because of forecasted precipitation and freezing temperatures. WISD said it would notify parties of any changes to the regular school schedule for Wednesday, Feb. 1 by Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Hays CISD closed its campuses and offices on Tuesday and Wednesday. The district plans to return to normal operations on Thursday, Feb. 2.

Dripping Springs ISD also closed Tuesday. Any announcement regarding Wednesday’s schedule would be made on Tuesday by 4 p.m.

This story has been updated since its first publication. 

Winter conditions will linger with rain remaining in the forecast throughout the day and overnight, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures will be around freezing Tuesday morning before rising to around 36 degrees, according to NWS Meteorologist Brandon Gale. Temperatures will fall again to freezing overnight into Wednesday morning.

The winter storm warning, which went into effect Monday morning, will last until 12 p.m. on Wednesday.

Gale said NWS is expecting two rounds of heavy precipitation.

“The first one will be [Tuesday] morning kind of around sunrise and during the morning commute,” Gale said. “Temperatures at that time in San Marcos will be around 32 degrees. So, that will be the first peak of potential ice accumulation. Then, temperatures throughout the day will rise to 36 [degrees] or so. So, there will be a transition back to just light liquid rain and drizzle. [Tuesday] night into Wednesday, we’ll see a second peak in precipitation and temperatures will also be dropping back to freezing. So, Tuesday night into Wednesday is the second period we’re monitoring. Most of the freezing rain accumulation in Hays County will fall during the second period.”

Gale said there’s a wide range of expected ice accumulation because of the terrain across Hays County.

“Far western parts of Hays County have the higher elevation, we could see up to three-quarters of an inch of ice accumulation through Wednesday,” Gale said. “But closer to the I-35 corridor, we’re looking more at the tenth of an inch to maybe quarter of an inch range.”

Gale recommended residents remain vigilant as the forecast could change throughout the next few days.

“If we’re one degree off on our temperature forecast that could potentially have a decent impact on how much ice accumulation there is,” Gale said. “It’s just a tricky forecast based on the temperatures being right around freezing. People will have to monitor for any potential forecast updates. It will be an evolving forecast.”

NWS warns drivers against driving but suggests keeping an extra flashlight, food and water in the vehicle in case of an emergency.

To see the latest road conditions across the state visit drivetexas.org.

The Texas Department of Transportation said it will shut down the intersection at 9 p.m. on Friday with traffic anticipated to reopen by 9 p.m. on Saturday, weather permitting. 

TxDOT said traffic using the northbound and southbound I-35 frontage road will not be impacted. 

Eastbound traffic, however, will detour to the southbound I-35 frontage road and U-turn at Wonder World Drive to access SH 123. Westbound traffic will detour to the northbound frontage road and U-turn at State Highway 80/Hopkins Street to access Guadalupe Street. 

TxDOT said road signs have been put in place to alert drivers of the upcoming closure. TxDOT asks drivers to be patient during the closure and remain aware while traveling through the work zone. 
 

The San Marcos Police Department was dispatched to a reported disturbance at The Grand at Stonecreek apartments, 490 Barnes Dr., on Sunday at approximately 12:12 a.m. Officials said a caller reported a man identified as Kyle Lobo, 36, had been drinking and was armed with a gun. 

Lobo assaulted an occupant of the apartment, according to the caller. Police found Lobo outside of the apartment when they arrived with a child in his arms, officials said. Lobo proceeded to hand the child to the female caller then drew his handgun. Officers then shot him, officials stated. 

Lobo was transported to Ascension Seton Hays in Kyle where he was later pronounced dead. 

The Texas Rangers were called to the scene and will investigate the shooting. Officials said SMPD’s Criminal Investigations Department and the Office of Professional Conduct will also investigate. 

The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pursuant to SMPD policy. 

Lobo was previously an SMPD officer but resigned from the department in October after criminal accusations were made against him related to family violence. Lobo voluntarily resigned from the department on Oct. 6 and was arrested by the Hays County Sheriff’s Office on charges for continuous violence against the family and injury to child. 

The investigation into Sunday’s incident is ongoing. 

Both warnings go into effect Thursday at 6 p.m. The wind chill warning expires at noon on Friday, while the hard freeze warning stretches through Saturday at noon. 

Dangerously cold wind chills are expected in the San Marcos area overnight Thursday into Friday morning. NWS is forecasting wind chills as low as seven degrees below zero. 

Temperatures are expected to drop into the low to middle teens Thursday night. The high temperature Friday is forecast at or near 32 degrees. Temperatures fall into the high teens Friday night into Saturday before getting above freezing on Saturday afternoon. 

A wind advisory will also go into effect beginning at noon on Thursday until 12 a.m. on Friday. NWS forecasts with winds beginning 10-15 mph during Thursday and then becoming north winds between 20-25 mph in the afternoon. Gusts could be as high as 30 mph. 

National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Quigley said the Arctic cold front is expected to blow through San Marcos between 12-4 p.m. on Thursday. 

“In the wake of that cold front will be very, very cold Canadian air that will begin filtering into the region quite rapidly,” NWS Meteorologist Andrew Quigley told the Daily Record on Tuesday. “We’ll probably see 20-25-degree temperature drops behind that front relative to what we warm up to Thursday afternoon when it gets here. Combined with that very cold air, we’re going to have very breezy, even windy conditions across the entire area from Thursday night through early Friday morning. That combination of very cold Canadian air combined with the gusty winds is going to lead to downright frigid air temperatures but also wind chills from late Thursday night into Friday morning.”

NWS asks drivers to use extra caution when driving. Ahead of the freezing weather, NWS recommends bringing pets indoors, staying indoors if possible and letting faucets drip to prevent frozen pipes.
 

The Hays County Sheriff’s Office said the corrections officer was guarding the inmate as they received medical treatment on Monday when the inmate allegedly assaulted the officer and began to flee. The officer chased the inmate through the emergency room. HCSO stated that the officer discharged his firearm, striking the inmate. Medical staff immediately began administering life-saving measures, but the inmate died. 

HCSO said the inmate was in the Hays County Jail for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, bail jumping, failure to appear, reckless driving, criminal mischief and evading arrest and detention. 

Officials said the inmate's identity will be released after next of kin has been notified. 

The Texas Rangers were called to the scene per Hays County Sheriff’s Office policy. Officials said the investigation is ongoing and any further details will be released at a later time. 

The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave as per protocol.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation, contact Detective Travis Terreo with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office at 512-393-7896 or travis.terreo@co.hays.tx.us and refer to case number HCSO 2022-67679. You can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously by calling 1-800-324- 8466 or you can submit your information on-line to Tip Line P3tips.com as well as submit a tip on the new Hays County Sheriff’s Office App.
 

Erik Holman, 34, was killed when he was hit by a vehicle while attempting to cross southbound I-35 as a pedestrian to the northbound side on Sunday.

Officials said first responders were dispatched to a collision near mile marker 207 on southbound I-35 at approximately 7:22 p.m. First responders found Holman dead upon arrival at the scene. 

Justice of the Peace Maggie Moreno responded and ordered an autopsy to be performed, officials said.

No charges are expected to be filed against the driver. I-35 was shutdown for approximately 2.5 hours during the investigation. 
 

Royce Robison, 23, was arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter after emergency crews responded to a major traffic collision at the 3000 block of State Highway 123 at approximately 8:06 p.m. on Friday. 

The San Marcos police and fire departments, along with San Marcos Hays County EMS, responded to the collision. Officials said a preliminary investigation determined a blue pickup driven by Robison was on Clovis Barker Drive when it ran a stop sign and collided with a red Chevrolet traveling on SH 123 that was attempting to turn into an apartment complex. 

The driver of the red Chevrolet— who was not immediately identified— was transported to CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital - San Marcos, where they died from injuries sustained from the collision. 

Justice of the Peace Maggie Moreno responded and ordered an autopsy to be performed, officials said. 

Robison was arrested and transported to the Hays County Jail after medical clearance. He was charged with intoxication manslaughter, and was released on Saturday on a $35,000 surety bond. 

Officials said the pickup’s passenger, who was identified as Connor James Duran, 24, of New Braunfels, was transported to the Hays County Jail and charged with public intoxication. Duran was released without bail. 
 

The news was first reported by Zach Barnett at footballscoop.com.

In a statement, Texas State Athletic Director Don Coryell confirmed the decision to move on from Spavital.

“This afternoon, I met with head football coach Jake Spavital to inform him that we are making a change in the leadership of our football program,” Coryell said.

“Jake has been a tremendous member of our Bobcat community for four years, engaging our fans and donors, recruiting tremendous young men to wear our uniform, and acting as a man of integrity and character. Ultimately, we simply did not win enough games and make the desired progress for us to believe that the immediate future would be different. On behalf of Texas State Athletics, I want to thank Jake for his service, and we wish him, Mehgan, and their family all the best moving forward.”

Spavital’s overall record at Texas State was 13-35 including going 4-8 in his final season with the team.

“I strongly believe that Texas State Football can consistently win at a high level,” Coryell said. “We have some of college football’s most passionate and generous fans and supporters; we have tremendous facilities; we are located in a hotbed of football-driven communities and recruits; we are aligned in our collective vision for Texas State Football; and we are working on providing the necessary resources to enable our student-athletes and coaches to be successful.”

The Bobcats will be on the search for their fourth head coach in the FBS as Texas State will look to qualify for their first bowl game in program history in an ever competitive Sun Belt Conference.

“Our search for a new head football coach is underway, and we will move with the utmost speed and diligence,” Coryell said. “We are confident that we will find an excellent leader of men, a man of character, and a tremendous football coach to take us to unprecedented heights. I will refrain from commenting on the search until we are ready to introduce our new coach.”

This is a developing story and will be updated as additional information becomes available. 
 

Texas State University Police said the flyers contained unsubstantiated threats of explosions to four campus buildings — Jowers, Theatre, Chemistry and Education buildings — over the next three days. 

UPD said it is sweeping the buildings and surrounding areas. The buildings threatened have not been evacuated and university activities are expected to continue as scheduled. 

There is no credible threat to campus at this time, UPD said. There will, however, be an increased police presence on-campus as an investigation into the threats continues, officials said, adding that UPD is with several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, ATFF, Homeland Security and the University of Texas at Austin Police Department regarding the matter. 

UPD said additional information will be shared when it is available. 
 

The Hays County Sheriff’s Office stated John File, 28, was killed after deputies responded to the Belterra Subdivision in Dripping Springs on Saturday morning. 

Deputies responded to the 1300 block of Trinity Hills regarding a disturbance between a man and a wrecker driver. Deputies later responded to the 100 block of Victoria Court for a follow-up investigation related to the disturbance. 

Deputies arrived at a residence on Victoria Court, where File exited the residence armed with a knife, HCSO said. Officials stated that File rushed the deputies and one deputy fired several rounds, striking File and a 78-year-old at the residence. 

The 78-year-old woman sustained a gunshot wound to her arm. Both were transported to a local hospital, HCSO said. File was pronounced dead at a hospital at 1:58 a.m. The female is being treated for injuries. 

The Texas Rangers were called to the scene to assist as per Hays County Sheriff’s Office policy. 

The investigation into Saturday’s incident is ongoing and further details are not available at this time. 

The sheriff’s office asks anyone with information regarding the investigation to contact Detective Brian Wahlert with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office at 512-393-7896 or brian.wahlert@co.hays.tx.us and refer to case number HCSO 2022-61347. You can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously by calling 1-800- 324-8466 or you can submit your information on-line to Tip Line P3tips.com as well as submit a tip on the new Hays County Sheriff’s Office App.

The University Interscholastic League State Executive Committee handed down the decision during a meeting Tuesday in Pflugerville. The SEC found that San Marcos violated UIL’s Constitution and Contest Rules, Section 409, Recruiting. San Marcos Athletic Director and head football coach John Walsh was given a five-game suspension. San Marcos Consolidated ISD officials said Walsh’s suspension begins immediately. San Marcos High School assistant coach Lee Vallejo was given a two-year suspension from coaching.

“[San Marcos Consolidated ISD] is disheartened by the fact that the student athletes competing on next year’s football team will be the most affected,” the school district said in a statement following Tuesday’s UIL SEC meeting. “They deserve every right to compete at the highest level offered by the UIL and it is unfortunate that this opportunity is being taken away from them. The SMCISD Board of Trustees will be meeting on October 27, 2022, to review the matter and determine the course of action.”

The UIL SEC hearing surrounded San Marcos High School’s appeal of District 27-6A Executive Committee’s decision to ban the varsity football program from postseason eligibility for two years. Additionally, 12 student athletes were ruled ineligible after the District 27-6A Executive Committee claimed they transferred for athletic purposes.

The 12 students transferred from different districts throughout the area, including Canyon Lake, Comal ISD, Converse Judson and San Antonio Wagner.

Eleven of the students played on the same AAU football team, the Texas Seminoles. The DEC alleged that Earl Anderson, a San Marcos Consolidated ISD employee who was a parent with a child who played on the Texas Seminoles, was the main recruiter. The DEC also claimed Anderson was a volunteer coach with San Marcos High School. Walsh, however, informed the DEC and SEC that Anderson was not a volunteer coach.

Anderson received a public reprimand during an Oct. 3 meeting before the UIL SEC. No further official action was taken against Anderson by the state executive committee during Tuesday’s meeting regarding the alleged recruiting violations.

Vallejo received his two-year coaching ban on Tuesday for allegedly recruiting a student from the New Braunfels area. According to testimony, Vallejo engaged in a conversation with a woman who he looked to engage in a relationship with. Vallejo made the recruiting conversation as small talk with the student, according to documents obtained by the Daily Record. The child, however, never enrolled at SMCISD.

Vallejo was suspended from 365 days from all athletics by SMCISD. “Importantly, the investigation into the allegations against Mr. Vallejo did not yield any evidence of Mr. Vallejo communicating with any other parent or student and provided no evidence of recruiting anyone else,” documents sent from SMCISD’s legal counsel to UIL SEC Chair Michael Motheral and state executive committee.

“Any type of recruitment is just, it’s wrong,” Motheral said during Tuesday’s meeting. “For me, there needs to be a consequence coming from this group for [Vallejo].”

Motheral stated that there was no link between Walsh and SMCISD recruiting but the state executive committee handed Walsh a five-game suspension for concerns regarding program oversight.

All 12 student-athletes at San Marcos High School were ruled ineligible for three years after they appealed their varsity eligibility status to the UIL SEC during two separate meetings in October. The student-athletes would be eligible at the schools they are appropriately zoned to attend.

Although San Marcos is banned from postseason play in 2023, the Rattlers are eligible for the playoffs this season. San Marcos’ season continues Friday against New Braunfels inside San Marcos Toyota Rattler Stadium at 7:30 p.m. 

This story has been updated since its first publication

The San Marcos Police Department responded to the Aqua 16 Apartments — 1640 Aquarena Springs Dr. — at approximately 9:39 p.m. on Friday for reports of shots fired. 

City of San Marcos officials said police determined through an initial investigation that Lee Mendoza, 22, got into a physical altercation with two individuals at the apartment. Police said Mendoza fired a gun while holding his son in his arms. He struck both individuals, who were not immediately identified. 

Officials said the two victims were transported to Ascension Seton Hays hospital in Kyle for treatment. Their condition was not available at the time of publication. 

Police arrested Mendoza and transported him to the Hays County Jail. Mendoza remains in the jail where he faces two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of endangering a child.

This is a developing story and will be updated if any additional information becomes available. 
 

The San Marcos Police Department and emergency personnel were dispatched to a collision involving a train and pedestrian on Hopkins Street at approximately 10:30 p.m., according to City of San Marcos officials. 

Officers reported a man had been standing or walking along the railroad tracks near Long Street when he was struck by a westbound train. Police said the man was transported to Ascension Seton Hays in Kyle. He was listed in critical condition, at the time of publication. Officials did not immediately identify the man. 

Officials said a second person was cited for trespassing along the railroad tracks at the time of the collision. 

Railroad crossings at the west access, east access and Hopkins Street were blocked for approximately four hour during the investigation, police said. 
 

SMCISD’s board will discuss, consider and take possible action to approve a resolution authorizing legal counsel to take any appropriate action to defend district students from UIL disqualification during Monday’s regular board meeting. 

The board’s potential action comes after 12 student-athletes at San Marcos High School were ruled ineligible for 3-years after they appealed their varsity eligibility status to the UIL State Executive Committee. UIL oversees high school athletics in the state.

The students were originally ruled ineligible for allegedly transferring to San Marcos High School for athletic reasons by the District 27-6A District Executive Committee. The DEC also handed San Marcos a two-year playoff ban, which SMCISD and SMHS officials appealed to the UIL SEC on Oct. 3.

San Marcos’ football program regained playoff eligibility following the meeting, however, athletic director and head coach John Walsh and SMCISD employee Earl Anderson were both given three years of probation and were also issued public reprimands.

During the Oct. 3 meeting, the UIL SEC said it reserved the right to revisit possible postseason sanctions following the eligibility hearings. The UIL SEC will reconvene at a future meeting to discuss San Marcos’ postseason eligibility. 

The SMCISD trustees will meet in open session to take action, if necessary, on legal counsel taking action to defend district students from UIL disqualification. Such action, however, would need authorization and consent from a student's parent or legal guardian. 

In other business, the board will issue a proclamation in recognition of SMCISD’s participation in Manufacturing Month during Monday’s meeting. 

The trustees will also discuss and take possible action on a team of 8 Training. The board will also consider taking action on renovation of Miller Middle School facilities. 

Approval of 2022-23 T-Tess Appraisers is also on the board’s docket. In a separate closed session the trustees will discuss the superintendent's evaluation instrument and related matters. The board will convene in open session to take any possible action. 

Monday’s meeting takes place at San Marcos High School — 2601 Rattler Road — inside the Criminal Justice Classroom, beginning at 6 p.m. The meeting can also be viewed online at https://www.smcisd.net/Page/320. 

There will be a closure at the intersection of Interstate 35 and Guadalupe Street/State Highway 123 as well as a full closure of State Highway 21.

TxDOT will close the I-35 intersection at Guadalupe Street and SH 123, beginning Friday at 10 p.m. as crews begin to widen the northbound I-35 bridge at SH 123.

North and southbound traffic will not be impacted, TxDOT said. Eastbound traffic will detour to southbound I-35 frontage road and U-turn at Wonder World Drive to access SH 123, while westbound traffic will detour to the northbound I-35 frontage road and U-turn at State Highway 80/Hopkins St. to access Guadalupe St.

TxDOT said all lanes will reopen to traffic on Monday, Oct 17 at 5 a.m., weather permitting. Road signs have been placed to alert drivers of the upcoming closures.

State Highway 21 will be closed to through traffic from SH 80 to RM 150, beginning Friday at 8 p.m. and last through Monday, Oct. 17 at 5 a.m.

Pictured above, a map of the closure of State Highway 21 and detours. Map courtesy of Texas Department of Transportation

TxDOT said local access to SH21 will be available. Through traffic going southbound will use SH 80 to FM 1984 to FM 1966, while southbound traffic will detour using RM 150 to I-35, according to the City of San Marcos. Road closures will occur as crews set beams on the new bridge for FM 110 at SH 21.

TxDOT asks drivers to be patient and remain aware while traveling through work zones.

Moments before, the Texas State redshirt junior safety hauled in his first career interception, picking off Appalachian State quarterback Chase Brice’s pass as the Mountaineers were driving, looking to stage a double-digit rally early in the third quarter. 

With his legs churning across the turf, Spears cut to his right and with the help of his teammates he found the endzone to put the Bobcats up 30-3. It was one of many moments of elation for Texas State as it pulled off a 36-24 win over Appalachian State in front of 25,613 maroon and gold clad fans —  the most to pack Bobcat Stadium for a Sun Belt conference game.

“My legs started getting tired near the 40,” Spears said. “It was my first [interception]. My adrenaline just kicked in. I still can’t believe it.” 

Texas State (3-3, 1-1 Sun Belt) entered Saturday’s game against App State (3-3, 1-2) as 19-point underdogs. But as the clock rolled to zeroes, it didn’t matter what the Las Vegas prognosticators predicted as the Bobcats secured what head coach Jake Spavital described as a “big-time moment” for the program.

“Just, overall, a great team win,” Spavital said. “Coach [Shawn] Clark has a really good football team. They’re beat up like a lot of teams are across the country right now. You know, that’s a team that beat Texas A&M and went toe-to-toe with North Carolina. They had College Gameday at their university, and they’ve done a lot of great things there. For us to win that game was a big-time moment for our program. It was the first time we beat App State in school history. It took every single one of us.” 

Texas State’s offense quickly found a rhythm on its opening possession, marching down to the App State 4-yard line. But Mountaineer cornerback Dexter Lawson Jr. squashed the Bobcats’ momentum with an interception in the endzone. 

Texas State, however swung momentum back in its favor by halting App State on 4th and 1, putting itself in good position at the Mountaineer 42. 

The Bobcats scored first on the ensuing possession thanks to a 2-yard touchdown run by sophomore Lincoln Pare. Texas State kept swinging, landing punches throughout the opening half with a 2-yard touchdown pass from redshirt junior quarterback Layne Hatcher to redshirt freshman wide receiver Charles Brown. Texas State added a 33-yard field goal from kicker Seth Keller followed by a 23-yard touchdown pass by Hatcher to  sophomore wide receiver Ashtyn Hawkins to put the Bobcats up 24-0. 

App State put its first points on the scoreboard with a 30-yard field goal by kicker Michael Hughes as time expired in the opening half to get within 24-3. 

The Mountaineers looked poised to take full momentum as they drove deep into Texas State territory before Spears dashed App State’s hopes with a 94-yard pick-six to push the Bobcat advantage to 30-3. 

App State fought back with three passing touchdowns — two from Brice to tight end Henry Pearson and one to wide receiver Dalton Stroman — in the second half. 

But two field goals by Keller gave Texas State enough cushion to pull out the 36-24 victory. 

“Once the clock said one and then zero, I’m pretty sure everybody had the same mentality I had — I was happy,” said Hawkins, who hauled in six receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown. “I thank the crowd, I thank the fans, everybody that came up. We wouldn’t be here without them.” 

Texas State’s 3-3 record marks the Bobcats best start to a season since 2014. The team’s 3-0 record at home to begin the 2022 campaign is the best start at Bobcat Stadium since 2012. 

“[We did what] we’ve been doing the last nine months,” Spears said of Saturday’s performance where the Bobcat defense held App State to 41 rushing yards and forced three turnover on downs, one fumble and one interception. “We’ve been praying for this. We’ve been doing this. I’m glad we got to show y’all what we’ve been doing because this is what we’ve been doing. We really get after it. We can do a lot. It’s what we do on defense.” 

Texas State’s campaign continues when it travels to take on Troy (4-2, 2-1) on Oct. 15 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Ala. at 2:30 p.m. 

Spavital knows the Bobcats will have to put in the same effort they did Saturday night if they want to win their first road game of the season. 

But, on a night where everything came together to take down App State, the fourth-year head coach knows Texas State proved it can compete with anybody. 

“I just think that’s a momentum kind of game for us to understand what we’re capable of doing when we play together and play clean football and play the game of football the right way,” Spavital said. “So, that’s a big win for these kids in terms of just the confidence level and showing them and showing everyone that we can play with anybody because [App State’s] a very good program.” 

Kyle Lobo voluntarily resigned Thursday and was arrested by the Hays County Sheriff’s Office on charges for continuous violence against the family and injury to a child. 

HCSO notified SMPD of criminal accusations made against Lobo related to family violence on Monday, Oct. 3, the City of San Marcos said in a news release. Lobo was immediately placed on administrative leave and SMPD began a concurrent investigation while HCSO conducted an independent criminal investigation. 

The sheriff’s office obtained arrest warrants for Lobo and he was arrested after he submitted his resignation. Officials said Lobo’s peace officer license will reflect a dishonorable discharge as a result of his resignation in relation to criminal misconduct allegations. 

Officials added that SMPD cannot provide further comment on the matter because this is an ongoing criminal and internal investigation. 
 

San Marcos CISD employee Earl Anderson was also given three years of probation beginning immediately. Walsh and Anderson were also issued public reprimands. 

SMCISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Cardona, Walsh and Anderson met with the UIL State Executive Committee (SEC) on Monday to appeal recommendations made by the District 27-6A Executive Committee (DEC) for alleged recruiting violations, which included a two-year playoff ban for San Marcos High School’s football team. The alleged recruiting violations surround 12 students who transferred to San Marcos High School from several area school districts. Eleven of the students played on the same AAU football team, the Texas Seminoles. In August, the District 27-6A Executive Committee recommended that the student-athletes be ruled ineligible for the 2022-2023 season with a second recommendation to ban the ineligible student-athletes for an additional two years due to allegations of recruiting. 

The UIL SEC will hear an appeal by each student-athlete at separate meetings.  

Following Monday’s meeting, San Marcos would be eligible for postseason play, however, the UIL SEC reserves the right to revisit possible postseason sanctions following the upcoming eligibility hearings. 

“My first thoughts after today is I’m really appreciative of this process that the UIL has in place for an appeal to a DEC decision. I thought the State Executive Committee did a great job of (making) the burden of proof on us,” Walsh said. “I think they let us do that in a very fair setting. I appreciate how they handled it today.”

While the door isn’t completely closed on a postseason ban, SEC members did deliberate on the possibility of delaying the ban for the next two seasons.

“I would say that the attorney is correct when she stated that we have juniors and seniors who are gonna be impacted and they don’t even know these kids … I would think we probably need to wait to make that decision on the postseason ban until after we’ve dealt with the students,” UIL executive director Charles Breithaupt said during the hearing. “Then [we’ll] determine whether the DEC was correct in that … I don’t think these next two years that there should be a postseason ban on juniors and seniors who had nothing to do with this.”

Similar to the mentality San Marcos has held all season, the Rattlers will control what they can control when it comes to the results of the hearing. They’ll operate under the current ruling which leaves them eligible for the 2022-23 UIL playoffs.

“It would’ve been unfair to punish those kids that had nothing to do with anything that was put out there,” Walsh said. “So we’ve got [Schertz] Clemens Friday night and I get to go back to the school and coach for a playoff spot … we’re gonna go to work this week on Clemens and be thankful how our program was treated today.”

When the District 27-6A DEC made its ruling in August, it felt like a cloud hanging over the program and San Marcos has had to work despite of it while playing five football games. Walsh said that the program has had tunnel vision through the first six week of the 2022 season.

“I think our coaches do a great job, (and) our kids do a great job of creating that family atmosphere within our program. We haven’t let the outside noise bother us one bit. Hopefully a little bit of positive noise we’ll let inside our brains and maybe get a little boost…I’ve learned a lot [about the UIL SEC process] in the last 35 days.[I’m] thankful the UIL has this appeal process in place.”

San Marcos is set to play its district opener against Clemens inside Toyota Rattler Stadium in San Marcos at 7:30 p.m.

This story has been updated since its first publication. 

John Walsh, San Marcos athletic director and head football coach, Earl Anderson, teacher at San Marcos High School, and SMHS will meet with the UIL State Executive Committee on Monday, Oct. 3 at 9:30 a.m. 

San Marcos High School’s appeal comes after the District 27-6A District Executive Committee handed the football program a two-year playoff ban in August for alleged recruiting violations. 

Walsh previously said several players who transferred were ruled ineligible for transferring for athletic reasons. Walsh added the alleged players involved in the ruling played on the same select youth football team as middle schoolers.

The ban — if upheld by the UIL, which oversees high school athletics in the state — would be effective starting this season, meaning that barring a change after the appeal process San Marcos would be unable to qualify for the 2022 UIL State Championships regardless of record.  

“At no point did any SMCISD coach or staff member recruit any of the student-athletes that were ruled ineligible,” SMCISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Cardona said in a statement released on Aug. 25. 

The UIL Executive Committee meets at the Austin Marriott North, 2600 La Frontera Blvd. in Round Rock. Monday’s meeting is open to the public and all interested parties are welcome. To view Monday’s meeting online visit https://bit.ly/3RtOfjg.

The San Marcos Consolidated ISD Board of Trustees is set to hold a closed session discussion regarding the UIL Executive Committee’s decision on Monday evening. The trustees will consult with legal counsel regarding the decision and will consider taking possible litigation. The board will meet Monday at 6 p.m. inside the Criminal Justice Classroom at SMHS, 2601 Rattler Road.

The San Marcos Police Department said it arrested Anthony Jean Perez Rios, 20, of San Marcos, as a suspected fentanyl distributor after weeks of investigating the matter. A juvenile male was also arrested in connection with fentanyl distribution.

Police said they executed a search warrant on Sept. 2 at approximately  9:30 p.m. at a residence where Rios and the juvenile male were detained. Police found 384 fentanyl pills, identified as counterfeit Percocet pills, in two prescription pill bottles inside the suspect’s apartment, SMPD said in a social media post, adding that 12 fentanyl pills were located in the juvenile’s jeans. Two firearms were also seized from the apartment, police stated.

Rios admitted to regularly supplying the juvenile with fentanyl pills during an interview with police, SMPD said.

Rios was arrested and charged with manufacture/delivery/possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance to a minor and possession of controlled substance. The juvenile male was arrested and charged with manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, a second-degree felony. The juvenile male was placed in a juvenile facility, police said.

Rios is currently in the Hays County Jail on three bonds totaling $175,000 at the time of publication.

The investigation into the case is ongoing, according to a city spokesperson.

John Walsh, San Marcos athletic director and head football coach, said several players who transferred were ruled ineligible for transferring for athletic reasons. Walsh also said the alleged players involved in the ruling played on the same select youth football team as middle schoolers. Walsh continued to say that the district will appeal the DEC’s ruling to the University Interscholastic League, which oversees high school athletics in the state. 

The ban would be effective starting this season, meaning that barring a change after the appeal process San Marcos would be unable to qualify for the 2022 UIL State Championships regardless of record.

“There’s an appeals process, we’re gonna go through the appeal process,” Walsh said, “and I trust the process.” 

“I told our kids we can [only] control what we can control and let’s make dang sure that if the ruling gets overturned we’re in there [and] that we’ve qualified ourselves for the playoff to get into it.” 

San Marcos CISD Superintendent Michael Cardona also released a statement regarding the matter on Aug. 25.

"This message is on behalf of the SMCISD Athletics Department. Yesterday, August 24, the 27-6A District Executive Committee (DEC) made a recommendation to issue a two-year postseason ban on our SMHS football program," Cardona said. "The DEC also recommended that multiple student-athletes be ruled ineligible for the 2022-2023 season with a second recommendation to ban the ineligible student-athletes for an additional two years due to allegations of recruiting. At no point did any SMCISD coach or staff member recruit any of the student-athletes that were ruled ineligible."

Quote from @jwalshrattler on today’s rumors regarding a playoff ban for San Marcos football:

Part 1:

“Today the 27-6A district executive committee ruled several of our players that have transferred ineligible for transferring for athletic reasons.”@smdrsports

— Jude McClaren (@judemcclaren) August 24, 2022

This report has been updated. 
 

More than 7,590 freshmen are enrolled at Texas State for the fall semester. In fall 2021, 6,625 freshmen enrolled for the semester, which was the previous record holder for class size. 

“We are excited so many freshmen have chosen to become Bobcats," Texas State University President Kelly Damphousse said. "This historic class is a testimony to Texas State’s commitment to student success and to providing a one-of-a-kind campus and educational experience that prepares our graduates for the workplace and the world.”

Texas State said it remains committed to increasing college access by continuing its test-optional admissions. The university will also assure admissions for the top 25% ranked high school students beginning in 2023. 

“The University made a strategic investment in new merit scholarships for first-year students and new transfers in the past two years,” said Gene Bourgeois, Texas State provost and vice president for academic affairs. “The goal was to reach more students with financial aid and scholarships. We are pleased to see many new bobcats take advantage of these awards.”

The university also said it set a record with more than 34,000 first-year applications, which surpassed the previous record of 32,686 set in 2020. 

Texas State said the number of incoming freshmen ranked in the top quarter of their graduating class increased by 26% — 643 more than last year. 

The university also said a record for total number of first-time undergraduate and graduate students at 11,322, which surpassed 11,000 new students for the second year in a row. 

Texas State will finalize enrollment numbers on the 12th day of the fall semester. 
 

An unidentified 15-year-old sophomore enrolled in Hays CISD died from a suspected fentanyl overdose in San Marcos on Saturday, Aug. 20.

This marks the third suspected fentanyl death of a student at Hays CISD in the past month, school officials say. The students would have attended Johnson and Lehman High Schools. 

Hays CISD held a media availability Wednesday morning to discuss what the district Chief Communication Officer Tim Savoy calls “a crisis.” 

“When you have your third student death, that’s a crisis,” Savoy said. “That’s a pattern. At that point, it’s ‘clear the calendar, clear everything off your desk, this is the number one priority.’” 

Savoy said Hays CISD is developing informational posters to spread the word about fentanyl and recently went live with a website, explaining what action steps the district is taking and how parents and community members can get involved. 

“This is just the beginning of the conversation, and it’s going to be a long conversation, we’re afraid,” Savoy said. 

According to the district’s website,  Hays CISD stocks Narcan at all campuses – through the nurses’ offices and school resource officers (SROs) from the Hays County Sheriff’s Office.

Narcan is an overdose reversal drug that can potentially be lifesaving but is not a guarantee. Those precious seconds matter, a reality that San Marcos/Hays County EMS personnel know all too well. 

“When we arrive, it’s (often)  way too late in the game,” said San Marcos/Hays County EMS Assistant Chief Jim Swisher. 

Last week, Kyle Police Department authored a social media post ahead of the school year to warn the community about the dangers of fentanyl. According to the post, the department reported at least 16 suspected fentanyl overdoses with seven resulting in death. Many of the victims were reportedly between 14 and 18 years of age. 

While the PD is still waiting on toxicology reports, Barnett told the Daily Record the police have other facts to strongly suggest deaths were the result of fentanyl. 

Barnett says the fentanyl pills can resemble common prescription pills, including Oxycodone, Xanax, or Percocet. 

“Because these pills are not laboratory-produced pills or label pharmaceutical-grade pills, the fentanyl dispersion throughout the pill is unequal,” Barnett said. 

One of the reasons why fentanyl is so dangerous, according to Barnett, is that even consuming less than a pill can result in a fatal overdose.

“What we’re hearing ( the young people are doing is they are breaking these pills into pieces, and they're taking one piece at a time, thinking that if I take one piece and I'm doing okay, then maybe two pieces I can feel even better,” Barnett said. “What they don't realize is that these pieces have unequal amounts of fentanyl in them. And the first piece of pill, or the third piece or the fifth piece of pill can have a deadly amount of fentanyl.” 

Distributors are finding their way into school districts through a variety of social media apps that target youth. Though Barnett couldn’t name the specific apps, he says that there are “many,” and a majority allow them to remain undetected. 

Not only is fentanyl a dangerous and life-threatening drug, but the state of Texas also imposes severe consequences for manufacturing or distributing fentanyl. 

Senate Bill 768, passed just recently by the Texas state legislature, set the punishment for the manufacture or delivery of four to 200 grams of fentanyl to a minimum of 10 years in prison or a maximum life sentence. 

Barnett advises parents to have a conversation with their child about drug use, keep an eye on their child’s social media activity, and “really pay attention to this problem. Even if you don't think they are exposed.” 

Friends and community members can also get involved by leaving an anonymous tip with Hays County Crime Stoppers.

“You’re not tattling,” said Jeri Skrocki, Hays CISD Chief Safety & Security Officer. “You’re potentially saving a life.” 

This story has been updated since its first publication

Dr. Emilio Carranco, director of Texas State’s Student Health Center, said the person lives off campus and will remain in isolation until the “rash heals and is no longer contagious as recommended” by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. 

The Hays County Local Health Department will conduct a case investigation and assist in identifying and containing close contacts of the positive patient, Carranco said in a message to university students, faculty and staff. 

HCLHD recently reported Hays County’s first two monkeypox cases on Aug. 12. 

The CDC is tracking the ongoing monkeypox outbreak spreading across the U.S. and several countries. Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus that is a part of the same family viruses as variola virus which causes smallpox, according to the CDC. Monkeypox is rarely fatal but causes a rash, fever, intense headache, muscle aches, exhaustion and swollen lymph nodes. 

The CDC says transmission occurs through close physical contact with someone who has monkeypox, including contact with objects contaminated with the virus from contact with an infected person. Monkeypox is primarily spread through contact with infectious sores, scabs or bodily fluids. It can also spread by respiratory secretions during prolonged face-to-face contact. The CDC says anyone can contract the disease regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. 

The CDC recommends anyone with a rash that looks like monkeypox to contact their healthcare provider and avoid gatherings, sex or being intimate with anyone until they consult their provider. 

There were 15,433 total confirmed monkeypox cases in the U.S. with 1,283 in Texas as of Tuesday, according to the CDC. 

At Texas State, Carranco said the risk of exposure to university campuses remains low. Texas State will carefully analyze any subsequent or additional reportes on a case-by-case basis and will provide additional notices only if “other significant factors warrant such notification.”

Texas State said anyone who suspects they might have monkeypox should wear a face mask, isolate themselves from others, call a primary care provider or Student Health Center at 512-245-2161. 

Officials said a medical emergency was called for an inmate — later identified as James Warren Knight, 41, of Dripping Springs —  on Tuesday at 4:58 p.m. HCSO added that Knight was transported to a local hospital after he was seen by jail medical staff. 

Hospital staff attempted treatment but Knight was pronounced dead on Wednesday at 5:59 a.m., officials said. 

The sheriff’s office stated that a preliminary investigation doesn’t indicate foul play but autopsy results are pending. 

The Texas Rangers are investigating Knight’s death. 

Knight was in custody at the county jail for multiple charges out of Hays County, including resisting arrest/search or transport - Class A misdemeanor; Unlawful carrying of a weapon - Class A misdemeanor; Criminal mischief - Class B misdemeanor; Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon - second degree felony; Violation of protective order - Class A misdemeanor; Tampering with ID number - Class A misdemeanor. Knight also had a charge of possession of child pornography - 3rd degree felony - from the Austin Police Department.