Pflugerville - Hutto | February 2024

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Pugerville Hutto Edition VOLUME 19, ISSUE 6 FEB. 10MARCH 8, 2024

2024 Voter Guide

Construction workers prepare one of the server rooms inside Sabey Data Centers in Round Rock. (Grant Crawford/Community Impact)

Data centers converge on area to meet tech needs

Development Corporation. “Most data centers, of any size, are going to put as much as a billion dollars on the ground. There are signicant investments in personal property and capital investment in the building itself. That obviously hits the tax base favorably.”

shape in the area, city ocials and industry lead- ers expect substantial economic investments to the surrounding communities, with an estimated boost in sales and property tax revenue. “[Data centers] tend to be a very strong asset to have in your community,” said Amy Mad- ison, director of the Pugerville Community

BY HALEY MCLEOD

The recent inux of high-tech infrastructure to the Round Rock, Pugerville and Hutto area has underscored the region’s appeal as a hub for digital innovation. With new data center developments taking

CONTINUED ON 24

Also in this issue

Impacts: Prost Alehouse Texas now open (Page 8)

Government: Hutto police vacancies lled (Page 12)

Election: March 5 primary election guide (Page 16)

Dining: The Victory Tap serving out of historic building (Page 29)

Get back to smooth sailing Ready to feel like yourself again? Our team can help you conquer bone and joint pain. From diagnosis to discussing all your treatment options, we’re here with you all the way.

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Photography may include models or actors and may not represent actual patients. Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of those medical centers or Baylor Scott & White Health. ©2024 Baylor Scott & White Health. 20-PF-974974 JC/GD

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PFLUGERVILLE - HUTTO EDITION

New Year New Home SALES EVENT

Choose from 3 financing options when you purchase a new Coventry Home January 1 - February 29: * $ 0

EXTENDED INTEREST RATE LOCK

INTEREST RATE BUYDOWN

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Plus up to $10,000 Flex Cash

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The “New Year, New Home” Sales Event only applies for the purchase of a started inventory home from Coventry Homes in the Austin metropolitan area with an original purchase date of January 1, 2024 through February 29, 2024. Seller will contribute up to 3% of the first approved contract sales price by Seller’s Management toward Buyer’s closing costs subject to maximum allowable Seller Contributions allowed by Lender. Available only to qualified purchasers financing through Seller’s Affiliated Mortgage Company (Jet Home Loans) and closing through Seller’s Affiliated Title Company (Prosperity Title Company of Austin). This is not a commitment to Lend. Purchaser can apply up to 3% of the first approved contract sales price toward the following available options; Interest Rate Buydown; $0 Closing Costs (Seller will pay normal Lender and Title Company closing costs, including normal pre-paid closing costs. Does not apply toward interest rate discount points, lender fees associated with a second lien, VA Funding Fee, buyer’s down payment, optional Title Insurance endorsements, loan application fees, credit reports, property appraisals, or PID Fees); or Extended Interest Rate Lock. Purchaser to make their decision at the time of loan application with Loan Officer. Flex Cash may be used towads sales price, closing costs, interest rate buydown, as allowed by Lender. Seller reserves the right to change or withdraw this offer at any time. This promotion may not be available in conjunction with any other promotions, price discounts, or purchase incentives. This promotion does not apply to Build On Your Lot sales. Additional terms and conditions apply. See your community Sales Counselor for more details.

Getting an electronic tag for your vehicle makes paying tolls easy — and saves you money. The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority accepts electronic tags from multiple Texas providers: Save time, Save money, Save hassle.

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Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity. About Community Impact

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Brittany Anderson Elle Bent Amanda Cutshall Kameryn Griesser Sarah Hernandez April Kelley Sierra Martin Katy McAfee Haley McLeod Hannah Norton Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Amira Van Leeuwen Zacharia Washington Chloe Young Graphic Designers Rachal Elliott Alissa Foss Gloria Gonzalez Melissa Johnson Sabrina Musachia

Amy Leonard Bryant General Manager abryant@ communityimpact.com

Minh Nguyen Joseph Veloz Copy Editors Adrian Gandara Beth Marshall Managing Editor Darcy Sprague Senior Art Production Manager Haley Grace Publisher Travis Baker

Grant Crawford Editor gcrawford@ communityimpact.com

Heather Hall Account Executive hhall@ communityimpact.com

Email newsletters communityimpact.com/newsletter Support us Join your neighbors by giving to the CI Patron program. Funds support our journalistic mission to provide trusted, local news in your community. Learn more at communityimpact.com/cipatron

16225 Impact Way Pflugerville, TX 78660 • 512-989-6808 CI Careers communityimpact.com/careers Press releases pfhnews@communityimpact.com Advertising pfhads@communityimpact.com communityimpact.com/advertising

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CHAMBER CONNECTION

Feb. 15 Annual Awards Banquet at 6 p.m. Courtyard by Marriott 16100 Impact Way, Pflugerville Tickets $85 or Table of 8 $850. Sponsorships available! Buy tickets online pfchamber.com

Join us! Events Calendar

Feb. 9 Happy Hour at The Growler Bar at 5 p.m. 1300 FM 685, Ste. 100 Feb. 20 Ribbon Cutting at The Hair Spot at noon 1601 E. Pflugerville Pkwy., Bldg. 2, Ste. 2201 Feb. 23 Morning Edition at Tru and Home2 Suites by Hilton at 8 a.m. 18700 Hilltop Commercial Dr.

March 5 Ribbon Cutting at Pigtails & Crewcuts at noon 19101 Limestone Commercial Dr. March 7 Ribbon Cutting at Jovie Apartments at Noon 1305 E. Wells Branch Pkwy.

101 South 3rd Street | Pflugerville, Texas 78660 | 512.251.7799 | info@pfchamber.com

PFLUGERVILLE - HUTTO EDITION

Impacts

4 Two Hands Fresh Corn Dogs The restaurant offers a variety of Korean-style specialty corn dogs, ranging from traditional options to corn dogs coated in crispy rice puffs, potato cubes and spicy ingredients. They also serve several beverages, including slushes as well as milk and boba teas. • Opened in November • 201 University Blvd., Ste. 540, Round Rock • www.twohandsus.com 5 Trooper Smoke & Vape Gallery The veteran-owned business opened in central Round Rock in January. The smoke and vape shop offers a variety of vaping and smoking supplies. • Opened Jan. 8 • 3141 Eagles Nest St., Ste. 250, Round Rock • Facebook: Trooper Smoke & Vape Gallery 6 Urban Betty Urban Betty opened its third location in Round Rock in January. The Austin-based salon was first opened in 2005 by Chelle Neff. The hair salon offers complimentary beverages to its clients, and is a Green Circle Salon. This means up to 95% of materials previously considered waste, such as hair foils, hair, aerosol cans and other materials, are recycled and repurposed. • Opening Jan. 16 • 3001 Joe DiMaggio Blvd., Ste. 1350, Round Rock • www.urbanbetty.com

130 TOLL

N. A.W. GRIMES BLVD.

Round Rock

110

EAGLES NEST ST.

1431

KENNEY FORT BLVD.

JOE DIMAGGIO BLVD.

130 TOLL

W. BOWMAN RD.

KALAHARI BLVD.

620

GREENLAWN BLVD.

HERITAGE CENTER CIR.

45 TOLL

S. A.W. GRIMES BLVD.

LOUIS HENNA BLVD.

MOPAC

MAP NOT TO SCALE

Round Rock

footprint with a new Express Care clinic that opened in January. Diane Plas, a family nurse practitioner with Harbor Health, said the clinic will fill a need for clinics meeting urgent care demands in northeast Round Rock, the next level between the health system’s general practice clinics and local emergency rooms. • Opened Jan. 22 • Located at 455 University Blvd., Ste. 400, Round Rock • www.harborhealth.com 3 Poker House Austin The legal gambling club, bar and restaurant has 25 poker tables and a variety of pay-for-play options. • Opened Jan. 1 • 2400 S. I-35, Ste. 160, Round Rock • www.pokerhouseaustin.com

Coming soon

7 Austin Regional Clinic The clinic is planning a third Round Rock location near Greenlawn Boulevard, with completion of the facility tentatively set for 2025, according to ARC Chief Financial Officer Brandon Teenier. Teenier said the new facility is planned as a multispecialty clinic and will include an outpatient surgery center. • Opening TBA • 3207 Greenlawn Blvd., Round Rock • www.austinregionalclinic.com 8 Club Car Wash A new Club Car Wash location is expected to open this spring in Round Rock. The car washing facility will

Now open

1 Big Frog Custom T-shirts & More The locally-owned franchise offers custom T-shirt designs in a variety of sizes and colors, as well as custom designs for bags and accessories, headwear, sweatshirts and polos. • Opened Jan. 17 • 206 W. Main St., Ste. 112, Round Rock • www.bigfrog.com/roundrock 2 Harbor Health The health care provider expanded its Round Rock

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offer both individual and subscription-based services, with a selection of tiers based on different levels of cleaning available. • Opening this spring • 901 N. A.W. Grimes Blvd., Round Rock • www.clubcarwash.com 9 Wing Zone Wing Zone is a Las Vegas-based chain that is known for its menu of bone-in and boneless chicken wings, hand- breaded chicken tenders and flavor-rubbed french fries. • Opening in April 2024 • 117 Louis Henna Blvd., Ste. 100, Round Rock • www.wingzone.com 10 HTeaO This will be the second locally owned HTeaO franchise planned for Round Rock. The company first launched in Texas in 2009. HTeaO’s menu offers a variety of tea and coffee options as well as a special menu of drinks named “cotton candy,” “pink flamingo” and more. • Opening this summer • 16419 Ranch Road 620, Round Rock • www.hteao.com 11 Lively Delivery Services The Austin-based courier and storage company offers cartage, air-freight and warehouse space. • Opening June 2024 • 2020 S. A.W. Grimes, Bldg. 1, Ste. 140, Round Rock • https://lively-delivery-services.business.site 12 A Go Go Sushi and Ramen The new Japanese restaurant, owned by Kelvin Ng, will open at the former location of Gino’s Vino Osteria. • Opening in mid-February • 1400 E. Old Settlers Blvd., Ste. 200, Round Rock • 512-852-8111

Now open

14 MACS at Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center The gourmet macaroni and cheese shop sells pasta dishes, salads and various desserts. Kalahari Resorts houses over 20 food and beverage options, as well as a convention center, a salon, retail shopping and a water park. • Opened Jan. 2

16 Spotless Car Wash The car wash is now open in northeast Round Rock, just shy of Hutto’s extraterritorial jurisdiction line. The company provides several service options that range from $8 to $20 for a single wash, and the location is equipped with an express tunnel car wash and team of skilled professionals, according to the business’s website. • Opened Dec. 27 • 4500 University Blvd., Round Rock • www.spotlesscw.com

• 3001 Kalahari Blvd., Round Rock • www.kalahariresorts.com/texas

Dupuy, The Dance Spot offers a variety of classes for both children and adults in dance styles including but not limited to ballet, ballroom, jazz and contemporary. • Opened Jan. 27 • 4400 Sam Bass Road, Round Rock • www.dancespotx.com 15 Round Rock Chamber The Chamber moved operations to a temporary space in the Heritage Carriage House in Round Rock. The organization will operate out of the building until renovations are complete at its permanent home in the Griffith Building. The project is expected to be finished in 2025. • Relocated Dec. 15 • 910 Heritage Center Circle, Round Rock • www.roundrockchamber.org

Closings

17 Bargain Mart of Round Rock Bargain Mart of Round Rock, formerly known as Angie’s Discount Grocery, closed in December. The discount grocery store provided a wide selection of food items at discounted prices. • Closed in December • 206 W. Bowman Road, Round Rock

Relocations

13 The Dance Spot The Dance Spot celebrated its relocation to a new space near Sam Bass Road in January. Construction on the new space began in early 2022. Owned by Kathy

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PFLUGERVILLE - HUTTO EDITION

Impacts

Pflugerville

A.W. GRIMES BLVD.

RED BUD LN.

Now open

45 TOLL

137

1 Prost Alehouse Texas The brewery in downtown Pflugerville offers a variety of craft beers brewed in-house, as well as fine wines and nonalcoholic beverages. The food menu includes street tacos, burgers, hot dogs and snacks, such as Bavarian pretzels, elote bowls and tater tots. • Opened Dec. 19 2 Dollar Tree Operating in the former location of a CVS, the store sells a variety of discount goods, including kitchen and home decor, office supplies, toys and crafts, cleaning tools, snacks, drinks, and seasonal decorations. This is the second Dollar Tree location in Pflugerville, with another operating in the city’s Stone Hill Town Center. • Opened mid-November • 1605 Wells Branch Parkway, Pflugerville • www.dollartree.com • 115 E. Main St., Pflugerville • www.prostalehouse.com 3 Down South CaJJun Eats The eatery opened its doors next to Ashley HomeStore

GREENLAWN BLVD.

7 8

LIMESTONE COMMERCIAL DR.

PFLUGER FARM LN.

Pflugerville

MAIN ST.

1825

130 TOLL

MAP NOT TO SCALE

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in Pflugerville. The restaurant will serve flavorful Cajun cuisine, including signature dishes, such as swamp grits, CaJJun boudain egg rolls, gumbo and more. Originally from Beaumont, brothers Jahmaal and Jermaine Dumes founded CaJJun Eats with a desire to bring authentic Southeast Texas- and Louisiana-style food to the area. • Opened Dec. 31 • 15424 FM 1825, Ste. 280, Pflugerville • www.cajjuneats.com 4 Pollo Regio The franchise’s new location is now open for business in Pflugerville. Only the second location in Central Texas, the quick-service restaurant will serve authentic mesquite-grilled chicken as well as a variety of traditional Mexican-style dishes, such as tortas, flautas and tacos. • Opened Jan. 22 • 16123 Dessau Road, Pflugerville • www.polloregio.com 5 Wilsonart Engineered-surfaces company Wilsonart has a new showroom and distribution facility, supplying high- pressure laminates and engineered composite materials used for countertops, office or retail space and furniture. • Opened Jan. 18 • 19101 North Heatherwilde Blvd., Bldg. 4, Ste. 100, Pflugerville • www.wilsonart.com

Coming soon

6 The Goat The dining and gathering space, a component of the 1,050-unit mixed-use development LC Pflugerville under construction near the Stone Hill shopping center, is expected to open by this summer. The Goat, which will be open to the public, will feature food, drinks and live music, according to the company’s website. • Opening this summer

• 18612 Pfluger Farm Lane, Pflugerville • www.lcgoat.com/locations/pflugerville

Closings

8 Gen Korean BBQ House The national restaurant chain will open a Pflugerville location in mid- to late 2024. The company is awaiting permit approval to take over the space previously occupied by Morelia Mexican Grill, co-CEO David Kim said. The menu boasts a variety of freshly prepared meats, seafood and vegetables, as well as traditional Korean ban-chan. • Coming late 2024 • 18900 Limestone Commercial Drive, Ste. 100, Pflugerville • www.genkoreanbbq.com

7 Morelia Mexican Grill The Elgin-based restaurant permanently closed its Pflugerville location after 10 years at Stone Hill Town Center. This comes as two other businesses in the shopping center, Kirkland’s and The Children’s Place, announced early 2024 closures as well. • Closed Jan. 1 • 18900 Limestone Commercial Drive, Ste. 100, Pflugerville • www.moreliamexicangrill.com

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PFLUGERVILLE - HUTTO EDITION

Impacts

Hutto

1 2

Now open

1660

119

1 Sol Center Physical Therapy The physical therapy office helps patients increase strength, alleviate pain, improve balance and more. • Opened Jan. 16

EXCHANGE BLVD.

110

• 3333 CR 119, Ste. 40, Hutto • www.solcentertherapy.com

199

2 Sky’s Herbal & Wellness The business offers a variety of CBD products meant to help with relaxation, relieve pain or reduce inflammation. • Opened Nov. 5 • 3333 CR 119, Ste. 18, Hutto • 512-608-7818

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Coming soon

3 Plaque Panther Dentistry Owned by Dr. Devon Harris, the office will provide a range of services, including gum care, fillings, crowns, dentures, Invisalign, veneers, athletic guards and more. • Opening this spring

137

138

GATTIS SCHOOL RD.

MAP NOT TO SCALE

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Coming soon

4 Bumble Bee Pediatric Dentistry The office has its books open to start receiving patients in mid-February. Led by Dr. Amy Albright, the business will provide a variety of dentistry services for children. • Opening in mid-February • 351 Exchange Blvd., Ste. 140, Hutto • www.pediatricdentisthutto.com

In the news

5 Tesla Tesla has taken up space in an industrial building on CR 199 in Hutto, city officials confirmed Jan. 3. It remains unclear how the company plans to use the facility. • 200 CR 199, Hutto • www.tesla.com 6 Hippo Cafe The cafe, owned by Scott and Stacie Feller, reached its five-year anniversary in February. The restaurant serves breakfast and brunch options, such as omelets, French toast, chicken-fried steak, burgers, salads and more.

7 Teapioca Lounge Owned by Eric and Tonya Thomas, the business will offer a variety of boba teas, coffee and lemonades. The franchise also sells smoothies, slushies and

8 Taco Palenque The Mexican restaurant will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner options, ranging from tacos and quesadillas to parrilladas and antojitos. The restaurant, which has locations in Round Rock, Austin and Cedar Park, also serves margaritas, beer and micheladas.

other frozen treats. • Opening in April

• 571 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto • www.teapiocalounge.com

• Opening this spring • 2722 FM 685, Hutto • www.tacopalenque.com

• 109 E. Front St., Hutto • www.hippocafe.com

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Government

Officer hires to help restart traffic patrol unit in Hutto The Hutto Police Department has hired nine new officers since October due to an overwhelming recruitment response, Police Chief Jeffrey Yarbrough said in a presentation to the City Council Jan. 18. The boost in the department’s ranks is expected to ease concerns related to traffic enforcement and response times. In a nutshell “This is an example of good leadership, because part of the problem is not just pay, it’s also how the people are treated. And so when word gets around, ‘Hey, you’ll get treated with respect in Hutto, and you’ll get paid also for doing that,’ it’s like a one-two combination.” MIKE SNYDER, HUTTO MAYOR

Fritz Park project to begin this summer Pre-construction tasks for renovations to Fritz Park in Hutto began in January, while work to improve the park is expected to begin this summer. What residents need to know Locals may notice fences on the western side of the park as crews begin surveying, grading and performing erosion control. Area residents will be notified before construction begins. The project is expected to wrap up by spring 2025.

Yarbrough informed council the Hutto Police Department has faced staffing shortages in the past, with 16 vacancies in 2022. However, the recent hires have enabled the department to reorganize patrol areas and establish a dedicated traffic enforcement unit meant to decrease how often officers are diverted on patrol. Though the police department has made great strides to fill its ranks, the agency is still looking to fill positions that would “re-establish previously collapsed essential units,” as

indicated by city documents. These positions include: • a crisis intervention specialist, • crime scene tech • information technology specialist City Council approved a request for a budget amendment allowing additional funds for the department to continue their recruitment process.

COLLEGE ST.

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BY HALEY MCLEOD

Bond sale to help expand water plant Pflugerville Council approved selling bonds Jan. 9 to the Texas Water Devel- opment Board to fund the expansion of the Wilbarger Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility. In a nutshell Council’s approval marks the final issuance of a $164 million agreement with TWDB to fund the project, meant to help the city meet an increased demand for water and wastewater services. Dusty Traylor, financial adviser for the city, said the TWDB offered a 2.61% interest rate, compared to a 3.93% interest rate found on the traditional market. “This translates to about $28.3 million in interest savings over the life of these bonds,” Traylor said.

Commissioners against groundwater petition Williamson County Commissioners Court approved a resolution Jan. 9 outlining the plans to manage groundwater and declined support of a petition to annex parts of Williamson County into a neighboring county’s conservation district. The gist The Aquifer Conservation Alliance, an advocacy group formed by Williamson County residents, refiled a petition Sept. 6 with the Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District in Bell County. The petition, which was originally submitted in March 2023, outlines a request to annex the western half of Williamson County into the conservation district for it to manage the region’s use of the Trinity Aquifer. Williamson County commissioners chose not to support the petition, as Bell County officials would retain a majority of the district’s board members.

“Annexation into another groundwater district is premature, but if the results from the study turned out [that] there’s some action we need to take, that needs to be directed

by Williamson County, in my opinion, and not by another county.” CYNTHIA LONG, PRECINCT 2 COMMISSIONER

Looking ahead According to Williamson County documents, officials have allocated $77 million for water and wastewater infrastructure projects in fiscal year 2023-24, via American Rescue Plan Act funding, with another $1 million dedicated specifically to a groundwater study. The Court selected LRE Water, LLC Dec. 19 to conduct the groundwater study. LRE will also partner with regional experts to perform the study.

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PFLUGERVILLE - HUTTO EDITION

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Election

Voter Guide

2024

To view the full list of all contested state and national candidates, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide. Only candidates in contested elections are included. Visit county election websites for information on uncontested races.

KEY

R Republican

D Democrat

*Incumbent

R Joseph T. Langone U.S. Representative District 31 R Mike Williams R Mack Latimer R John Carnan Anderson

D Frankie Lozada D Armando “Mando” Perez-Serrato

Dates to know

D Dean Phillips D Cenk Uygur D Marianne Williamson State elections U.S. Senator R Ted Cruz* R Holland “Redd” Gibson R R.E. “Rufus” Lopez D A. “Robert” Hassan D Carl Oscar Sherman D Colin Allred D Heli Rodriguez Prilliman D Mark Gonzalez D Meri Gomez D Roland Gutierrez D Steven J. Keough D Thierry Tchenko U.S. Representative District 10 R Michael T. McCaul* R Jared B. Lovelace D Theresa Boisseau D Keith McPhail U.S. Representative District 17 R Pete Sessions*

Feb. 20: First day of early voting March 1: Last day of early voting March 5: Election day

R John Carter* R William Abel R Abhiram Garapati

Where to vote

Williamson County and Travis County residents can vote at any polling location during early voting or on election day. Visit www.wilcotx.gov/elections or https://elections. traviscountytx.gov for a full list of county polling places.

D Stuart Whitlow D Rick Von Pfeil D Brian Walbridge U.S. Representative District 37 D Lloyd Doggett* D Eduardo “Lalito” Romero D Christopher “Chris” McNerney Railroad commissioner R Christie Clark R Christi Craddick* R Corey Howell R James “Jim” Matlock R Petra Reyes D Bill Burch D Katherine Culbert Texas Supreme Court justice, Place 2

Sample ballot

Federal election U.S. President R Ryan L. Binkley R Chris Christie R Ron DeSantis R Nikki Haley R Asa Hutchinson

R Vivek Ramaswamy R David Stuckenberg R Donald J. Trump D Joseph R. Biden, Jr.* D Gabriel A. Cornejo D Edward Kimbrough D Star Locke

D DaSean Jones D Randy Sarosdy

The primary elections are coming. Now is the time to research, plan and vote! PUBLIC EDUCATION IS ALWAYS ON THE BALLOT

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Local elections Texas House of Representatives District 20 R Elva Janine Chapa R Terry M. Wilson* Texas House of Representatives District 52 D Jennie Birkholz D Angel Carroll Texas House of Representatives District 19 R Kyle Biedermann R Manny Campos R Ellen Troxclair* D Dwain Handley D Ach Vance Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District, Place 2 D Maggie Ellis D Edward Smith* D Melissa Lorber Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District, Place 5 D Thomas J. Baker* D Karin Crump

Texas Supreme Court justice, Place 4 R John Devine* R Brian Walker Texas Supreme Court justice, Place 6 D Bonnie Lee Goldstein D Joe Pool Presiding judge, Court of Criminal Appeals R Sharon Keller* R David J. Schenck Court of Criminal Appeals judge, Place 7 R Barbara Parker Hervey* R Gina Parker Court of Criminal Appeals judge, Place 8 R Lee Finley R Michelle Slaughter* State Board of Education, District 10

District judge, 353rd Judicial District D Susana Castillo D Madeleine Connor* D Sherine Thomas Travis County District Attorney D Jose Garza* D Jeremy Sylestine Travis County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5 D Ornela Deseta D Tanisa Jeffers D Rick “Rico” Olivo* Williamson County Commissioner Precinct 3 R Valerie Covey* R Mitch Slaymaker Williamson County Constable Precinct 3 R Bert Witcher R Kevin Wilkie R Deke G. Pierce Williamson County Constable Precinct 4 D Perry Travis D Kenneth Guerrero

R “DC” Caldwell R Tom Maynard* R Mary Bone D Raquel Saenz Ortiz D "DC" Caldwell

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PFLUGERVILLE - HUTTO EDITION

Education

ACC ocials propose free tuition program for high school seniors

Some enrolled and prospective Austin Community College students could soon qualify for free tuition, pending the outcome of a proposal from ACC’s new chancellor. What’s happening? In February, ACC Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart will propose to the college system’s board of trustees a measure to create a zero-cost tuition program for high school seniors, with the eventual goal of including students at all lev- els who live in the college system’s service area. While Pugerville and Hutto are not in ACC’s district, Pugerville ISD is within the service area and could benet from the program. If approved, it will go into eect this fall, a Jan. 10 release from ACC states. ACC has not increased tuition rates in the last decade. About the program High school students who reside in the service area and graduate this spring would qualify for up

How it works Under the program, $85 per credit hour would be funded for each student for a period of three years, covering several fees paid by students: Resident tuition $67 General fee $15 Success fee $2 Sustainability fee $1 $85 per credit hour allocations Fees that would not be covered include: • Out-of-district fees • Tuition for nonresident and international students • Course- and program-speciic fees • Textbook costs

SOURCE: AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMMUNITY IMPACT

to three years of free tuition, with enrolled ACC students qualifying for two years of free tuition.

Hutto ISD names rst principal for Gus Almquist Middle School

Hutto ISD named Ryan Burns as the rst principal for Gus Almquist Middle School, which is set to open this fall. What you need to know Trustees of the school board voted unanimously to name Burns to lead the campus during a Jan. 25 meeting. Burns has served the district in both assistant principal, associate principal and principal positions at Hutto High School and Farley Middle School.

“It is an honor to be named the rst principal of Gus Almquist Middle School. I have loved serving the Hutto community for the last eight years through

both Farley Middle School and Hutto

High School.” RYAN BURNS,

FUTURE PRINCIPAL OF GUS ALMQUIST MIDDLE SCHOOL

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON & BROOKE SJOBERG

In preparation for the upcom- ing school year, the Pugerville ISD board of trustees approved the 2024-25 school calendar during a Jan. 18 board meeting. The background From Dec. 19-Jan. 18, parents, students and other community members provided feedback on two calendar options put forward by the District Academic Advisory Council. According to Adelaida Olivarez, chief academic and innovation ocer, over 1,800 responses were recorded. The board selected the calendar option favored by 60% of the respondents. Dates to know Per the approved calendar, there are a total of 187 teacher work days and 172.5 instructional days. Students will start classes Aug. 13 and end May 22, while teachers will start Aug. 2 and end Pugerville ISD board approves 202425 calendar

School holidays Sept. 2: Labor Day Oct. 11: parent/teacher conference day (student holiday only) Oct. 14: Indigenous Peoples’ Day (student holiday only) Nov. 1: Diwali Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving break Dec. 20-Jan. 6: winter break Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 17: Presidents’ Day/bad weather makeup day March 17-22: spring break, which coincides with The University of Texas as well as Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown and Leander ISDs April 18: Good Friday Early release days include: Oct. 31: Halloween Dec. 19: winter break May 22: last day of school

Unmatched Academic Results Join us for an Open House! Thursday, February 15, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Tuesday, February 27, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

SOURCE: PFLUGERVILLE ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

May 23. There are also two bad weather days built into the calendar. If needed, Feb. 17 will be the rst day used and May 23 will be used as the second.

Challenger School offers uniquely fun and academic programs for preschool to eighth grade students. Our students learn to think for themselves and to value independence.

Avery Ranch (PS–G8) (512) 341-8000 15101 Avery Ranch Boulevard, Austin Round Rock (PS–G1) (512) 255-8844 1521 Joyce Lane, Round Rock Spicewood Springs (PS–K) (512) 258-1299 13015 Pond Springs Road, Austin

PfISD to continue volunteer policy for chaplains after state law change

Pugerville ISD trustees chose to continue its policy allowing chaplains to act as volunteers. This comes as a new state law allowing Texas schools to hire chaplains as counselors went into eect last year. What you need to know By voting at the Dec. 19 meet- ing, the PfISD board of trustees are in compliance with Senate Bill 763, which went into eect Sept. 1. District sta claried

that the recommendation to allow chaplains to volunteer in the district but not be employed as counselors solely based on their status as such does not bar them from working for the district in other capacities if they meet all requirements and are determined to be the best t for the position. School boards across the state were required to vote individu- ally on their respective policies.

An independent private school offering preschool through eighth grade

PFLUGERVILLE HUTTO EDITION

Development

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON, GRANT CRAWFORD & HALEY MCLEOD

TSTC Hutto to add manufacturing programs with $54M expansion Officials with Texas State Technical College’s East Williamson County campus in Hutto are pre- paring to break ground on a $54 million facility that will feature new and expanded programs to address critical needs in the region’s advanced manufacturing industry. The details The project will be completed in two phases, according to Rob Wolaver, senior advisor to TSTC’s executive vice chancellor and chief operating officer. The first phase will expand the existing industrial systems technology program, while the second phase will add a new advanced manufacturing technician program. Additionally, the school officials are looking to expand the welding program.

Pflugerville council approves new mural In partnership with a local business owner, Pflugerville City Council approved Jan. 23 a new mural for a building in the downtown area. What’s happening? The artwork is planned for the backside of West Pecan Coffee + Beer, located at 100 West Pecan St. The city commissioned regional artist Mike Johnston for the project. Johnston’s mural design combines a traditional postcard aesthetic with a modern touch, featuring the phrase “Greetings from Pflugerville” prominently displayed across the art space. The commission will cost $31,000 to be funded by the city’s hotel occupancy tax revenue.

Hutto breaks ground on Megasite’s main road Construction is underway on the main thoroughfare for Hutto’s Megasite, which is set to become a hub for big tech manufacturing developments off Hwy. 79. The overview Williamson County and city of Hutto officials held a groundbreaking ceremony Jan. 12 for what’s been dubbed “Spine Road,” until an official name is decided on. It will serve as the main roadway to the 1,400-acre tech center, where companies, such as Skybox Datacenters and its partner Prologis Inc., are planning to build a data center campus. Titan Development is also working on an industrial park to provide storage and manufacturing space. “My hope is that five years from now we have really low tax bills, because all these great companies are now footing the bill,” Hutto Mayor

Megasite impact

“We’re trying to be really deliberate in making sure we’re training folks to be highly productive technicians the day they set foot in whichever employer’s door they walk through.” ROB WOLAVER, TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SENIOR ADVISOR

City-approved tax increment reinvestment zone allows revenue gains to be redirected to fund infrastructure projects and improvements Increased property tax revenue is expected to help generate more funding for schools and potentially lower tax bills for families Proximity to Samsung Semiconductor plant boosts additional companies’ interest in Megasite

Retail, green space coming to Blackhawk Developers plan to build a retail center, Ridge Crossing, with green space in the Blackhawk neighborhood in Pflugerville. The details With construction to begin this fall, the site will include space for retail and restaurant use. A spokesman for Tiemann Land and Cattle Development said the green space will feature play mounds similar to the Alliance Children’s Garden in Austin.

TSTC representatives said a groundbreaking for the new facility is expected to take place by the end of March or in early April, and the goal is to welcome the first students into the new facility for the spring 2026 semester. Why it matters Wolaver said the college has a custom-designed “skillset pathway process” that looks at what skills and occupations employers need, and the curriculum is reverse engineered so students are trained specifically to meet those needs.

SOURCE: CITY OF HUTTO/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Mike Snyder said. Funding for the $16 million roadway off FM 3349 comes from bonds issued by the city of Hutto, and the construction is expected to be finished around August. While the city and Hutto Economic Develop- ment Corporation have agreements with Titan and Skybox, more companies are expected to locate to the area in the future.

ROUND ROCK 201 University Oaks Blvd (512) 341-9066 ARBORETUM 10515 N Mopac Expressway (512) 342-6893

GEORGETOWN 1013 W University Ave (512) 868-6696 PFLUGERVILLE 19000 Limestone

Commercial Dr (512) 953-4070

Transportation

BY HALEY MCLEOD

Street reconstruction to begin in Pflugerville Pflugerville City Council approved a $5.2 million contract Jan. 23 with Patin Construction LLC, launching the city’s Neighborhood Street Reconstruction Package 1B project. This is part of an ongoing initiative to revitalize neighborhood streets in Pflugerville. The overview The project will provide improvements to 18 streets in the Saxony and Willow Creek Section One subdivisions, with the scope of work includ- ing resurfacing, curbing, pavement markings and signs. Construction is anticipated to begin by late February and last roughly six months, according to city documents. Funding for the Neighbor- hood Street Reconstruction projects comes from three 2020 voter-approved bond propositions totaling $191.3 million.

Kelly Lane road improvements begin Phase 2 of a project to widen Kelly Lane in Pflugerville to four lanes began Jan. 10. What you need to know Road work, stretching from Falcon Pointe Boulevard to Moorlynch Avenue, will require the closure of Vilamoura Street, which is expected to remain closed until May. The city plans to keep lanes along Kelly Lane open throughout construction, which is expected to be done by January 2025.

REDWOOD LN.

MAPLEWOOD DR.

ELM DR.

MAPLEWOOD CIR.

HACKBERRY DR. SAGE CIR. JASMINE CIR.

COTTONWOOD LN.

CEDAR LN.

HOLLY CIR.

VILAMOURA ST.

MEADOW CREEK DR.

685

MOORLYNCH AVE.

FALCON POINTE BLVD.

512-232-5000 EdServices@austin.utexas.edu highschool.utexas.edu

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Events

BY GRANT CRAWFORD

February

Mardi Gras Bash Hill Country Community Ministries, a nonprofit organization offering support for those facing financial challenges, will host a Mardi Gras Bash. The event includes jazz music, cajun food, king cake and more, with the proceeds going to HCCM programming. • Feb. 17, 6-10 p.m. • $150 (admission) • Courtyard Marriott Pflugerville, 16100 Impact Way, Pflugerville • www.hccm.org Daddy Daughter Dance The Pflugerville Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its second annual Daddy Daughter Dance: Under the Stars, which is open to girls ages 3-12 and their dads or male role models. The event at the Pflugerville Lions Club includes snacks, drinks and a photo booth. • Feb. 17, 5-7:30 p.m. • $10 per participant (Pflugerville residents) $13 per participant (non-Pflugerville resident)

2024 Round Rock Classic Presented by Karbach Brewing Co., the annual baseball classic at Dell Diamond will feature teams from University of Kansas, University of Kentucky, Texas State University and Washington State University. Over three days, the four teams will

compete at Dell Diamond. • Feb. 23-25 • $22 (starting ticket price) • 3400 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock • www.milb.com/round-rock

• 500 N. Railroad Ave., Pflugerville • https://parks.pflugervilletx.gov

Cirque Du Soleil Crystal The company is bringing its show combining ice skating and acrobatics to the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. The show features circus acts, such as trapeze swinging, but

adapted to be performed on ice. • Feb. 21-25 (showtimes vary) • $55 (starting ticket price) • 2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park • www.hebcenter.com

Methodist Church in Round Rock. The performance includes renditions of a variety of Italian composers as well as a medley from the movie “The Godfather.” • March 8, 7:30-8:50 p.m. • Free

• Free (admission) • 100 Pecan St., Pflugerville • www.collective.westpecancoffee.com

Classic metal tribute Denim & Leather, a classic metal tribute band, and Rock & Roll Rebel, an Ozzy Osbourne tribute band, will perform at Hanovers Draught Haus.

• 1004 N. Mays St., Round Rock • https://wilcosymphony.org

March

Eighth Annual Pet Pfest The Pflugerville Public Library will host its annual celebration of animal companions. The event includes crafts and activities, while local rescue organizations will be in attendance with adoptable pets. • March 9, 2-4 p.m. • Free

• March 2, 9 p.m. • Free (admission)

Pecan Street Collective The Pecan Street Collective features over 50 local vendors set up throughout the downtown area in Pflugerville. Participating sites include West Pecan Coffee + Beer, Hassell Dental, The Sewing Station, Three Legged Goat, The Merc, Ruffles and Rust, Ceramics n More, Pecan Street Market and United Partners. • March 2, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

• 108 E. Main St., Pflugerville • www.hanoversaustin.com

Williamson County Symphony Orchestra The nonprofit symphony organization will perform a concert, themed “Glorious Italy,” at First United

• 1008 W. Pfluger Street, Pflugerville • https://library.pflugervilletx.gov

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HUTTO 307 Farley St. 78634

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HUTTO 307 Farley St. 78634

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HUTTO 307 Farley St. 78634

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PFLUGERVILLE - HUTTO EDITION

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