Opinion

Behind the Martha Knies Keep Wimberley Beautiful Park, located next to the Wimberley Radio station, you can walk down a ramp to the Cypress Creek Nature Preserve Trail. This 7.2 acre Preserve is owned by the City of Wimberley. The trail leads up to The Blue Hole Park and eventually to the parking lot near the swimming hole. The land in this Preserve has never been developed or farmed and gives you an opportunity to view a pristine riparian landscape, which is a unique ecosystem.

Capital Highlights by Gary Borders

At this time of year, we reflect on the year’s bounty and events. We all give thanks in our own ways. At KWB, we are thankful for many things. The recent rain has greened up the area and added much needed water back into our waterways and aquifers. We are hopeful that we will be able to get out soon and consider new plantings. One project will be the area by the Wimberley Square sign, giving it some care after the recent rebuild of the wall.

The Texas Legislature, conceived as a part-time body to meet every other year for 140 days, is now in its record fifth session (counting the regular session). When the impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is included, legislators have been in Austin pretty much the entire year, as the Texas Tribune noted. While legislators are paid just $7,200 a year in salary, per diem payments – meant to cover their expenses while in Austin – have mounted. If the fourth special session goes a full 30 days, taxpayers will have spent $4.8 million keeping lawmakers in Austin.

The rains and cooler weather came in time for us to enjoy our fall flowers. The asters survived the drought as did the lantana, white boneset and purple cenizo.

As the clock ran down on the Legislature’s third special session, Texas House and Senate leaders exchanged barbs over Gov. Greg Abbott’s school choice bill and border security proposals, the Austin American- Statesman reported.

It’s not too late to plan for a blue bonnet (lupinus texensis) patch in your yard this spring.

Gov. Gregg Abbott and the Texas House are at loggerheads over which will come first – vouchers for parents to pay for private school tuition, or funneling more money to public schools, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Today, pumpkins are a sign of fall and the coming holidays, and no thanksgiving table is complete without a pumpkin pie. But pumpkins have not always been associated with Thanksgiving.

Stop, Look, and Listen Before You Vote...but VOTE I would like to expand on what I wrote here last week about the two types of people who run for office, the “politicians” and the “public servants”. These are my observations about our current council meetings: First, one member speaks at great length, campaigning for her latest ideas about what the council needs to spend our tax dollars on. Just because someone is very busy and vocal does not mean that she speaks for the majority of residents. After a few thoughtful questions or objections from other council members, their input is ignored and she, along with the mayor and a few of his yes men, go right ahead and do whatever they wish. I see that committees work hard to advise the council, and their advice is often ignored as well. This controlling group is a majority on the council now, but they do not represent most of us. Do we want a council that does what they want or a council who listens to what we want?

— Nancye Britner, Past Mayor Pro Tem

Did you know that retired teachers, aides, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, school maintenance personnel and administrators have not gotten a cost of living increase for almost 20 years? Many of you are not aware that most retired teachers are not eligible to receive Social Security, and instead, a TRS pension is the primary source of income. The recent Social Security cost of living raises that helped many, do not include retired school personnel.

To my neighbors in Woodcreek: It is election time for our city, and I want to encourage my friends and neighbors to vote Hambrick, Bonniwell, and LeBrun. I am making this endorsement because I believe they will protect our City from the negative effects of short-term rentals in our residential neighborhoods. The Planning & Zoning Commission has given the current Council a solution that has been tested in other cities. Yet, six months later this Council has failed to act. I fear their decision will not be favorable to my neighbors and I. If you review recent agenda packets, you will see Council has adjourned to closeddoor executive session several times to discuss the issue of STR’s. Why? They owe us an open discussion and the opportunity to have input. Why is this Council not allowing citizens to participate in such a crucial decision?