Tiger track star Rachael Devee proudly represented Smithville High School in the UIL State Track and Field Meet in Austin last Friday and Saturday.  She was the only Tiger track and field athlete to advance and compete at the State level this season.

Davee competed well in the competition, placing seventh out of nine competitors with a time of 2:21.90 in the 800-meter run.

With this time she achieved her personal best for the year.

“Davee ran a good race and competed hard with tough competition,” said girls track head coach T.J. Christian. “Rachael has been working very hard to get where she got and did an amazing job throughout the year.”

Christian added that she looks forward to what Davee will accomplish next year and she hopes to see her back at the UIL State Track and Field meet in 2013.

There is a new postmaster in town at Smithville’s USPS post office on Main Street.

James Estrada, who has been employed with the postal service for a total of 22 years, 11 of those years as a letter carrier and now at his current position as a postmaster here in town.

Estrada’s hometown is El Paso, where he attended the University of Texas at El Paso and graduated with a degree in Business Management.

He currently lives in Round Rock and commutes to work every day. As for his family, he has a 14 year old son named Seth who loves to play football and baseball.

Throughout his postal career Estrada has done his fair share of traveling.  He started in San Diego as a letter carrier and moved on to New Mexico, Albuquerque, Denver, Dallas, Leander and now Smithville- He has managed to move his way up from carrier, to manager, to supervisor and now onto the head postmaster.

He transferred here from the Leander Post Office as a supervisor where his primary duties were to manage mail distribution operations of a particular facility, supervise the work of letter carriers and clerks that are assigned to that facility, developed and trained employees while conveying ideas both verbally and in writing with the staff, customers and other members of the community.

As a postmaster Estrada is the head person in charge of the post office and overseas the station and its employees.

“My goal is to provide excellent customer service to the Smithville community,” Estrada said. “If you build a great experience, customers tell each other about that.”

When asked what his favorite part of the job is he said, “I like meeting new people and interacting with the customers.”

Come out and meet your new postmaster, as he is excited to become a part of this community and provide you with a very pleasant post office experience.

In their second trip to the UIL State Tournament, Bailey Johnson and Brittany Hairgrove represented Smithville with great pride and spirit.

The girls came up short to Hondo High School girls double’s duo of Gilliam and Coyne 6-3, 0-6, 4-6 in a tough three set match.

During the first set the duo was on fire, forcing errors and capitalizing on Hondo’s mistakes to win the first set 6-3.

The Tiger girls put up a few errors too and lost the second set 6-0, forcing a third set.

Johnson and Hairgrove opened up the third set winning the first three games to go up 3-0. The girls lost two in a row but came back to go up 4-2 in the third set.  The duo couldn’t hang on, losing the match 6-4, which led to elimination from medal contention.

Smithville was the smallest 3A high school in the girls doubles draw and went up against schools with enrollments of over 600 students.

“Our team and coaching staff is very proud of the girl’s accomplishments this year,” said head coach Jason Segel.  “They had a season record of 13-2 for the year and carry an unmatched record of 38-8 over the past two years of playing together.”

Segel added that Johnson and Hairgrove are two time Region 3 champions in girls doubles and have qualified for the State Tennis Tournament two years in a row.

“It was another great season for our tennis kids and a wonderful run at the State title for Johnson and Hairgrove,” he said.

First-time butterfly release part of ceremony

By Terry Hagerty, Times Reporter

There’s a valuable saying that the American Cancer Society promotes and it goes like this: “No matter who you are, there’s a place for you at Relay For Life. Each dollar you raise will help save lives. How far will you go to make a difference in the fight against cancer?”

That’s an open invitation – and a friendly challenge – to the public to get directly involved with the 2012 Bastrop/Smithville Relay for Life Friday and Saturday, May 18-19 at Bastrop High School’s Erhard Field, starting at 8 p.m. on Friday.

The annual Relay is an opportunity to not only honor cancer survivors and remember people that have been lost, but also to raise funds and awareness to help save lives through further cancer research.

This year will also mark the first “Wings of Hope” butterfly release, which will take place during the cancer survivor ceremony at 8 p.m. A butterfly in honor of a survivor or a caregiver can be purchased for $5/each and all proceeds will be donated to the Relay For Life of Bastrop/Smithville. Order forms can be obtained by contacting Cheri Ray at 512-718-8745.

And one of the repeat popular events is the lighting of luminarias, shortly after the survivor ceremony.

White luminaria bags are transformed and illuminated after dark at every local Relay For Life event. Each one is personalized with a name, photo, message or drawing by a Relay For Life participant or supporter in memory or honor of a friend or loved one who has been affected by cancer.

It is quite an event to witness as the sun sets. Luminarias, lining the track, illuminate the growing darkness and a quiet falls over the event that had been filled with the sounds of celebration just minutes before. Relay For Life participants, survivors and caregivers then gather together for a ceremony to remember loved ones lost to cancer and to honor those who have battled the disease. Participants walk the track lined with luminara bags in reflection. It is often a very emotional moment in which hugs and tears flow freely.

“A caregiver who has lost a loved one may find comfort from a fellow caregiver who has faced a similar loss,” according to ACS officials. Meanwhile, a survivor can gain hope and strength from others who have taken the same journey and survived.

There are multiple opportunities to donate to the Relay, both before and during the weekend event. Many local groups, including “teams” walking in the event have already been busy raising funds for battling cancer.

For more information on how to get involved with the Bastrop/Smithville Relay for life, see the website: www.relayforlife.org and look for “Bastrop/Smithville.”

Unfortunately for Zimmerhanzel, a quote in a Times story last week may have made it sound like winning the state championship wasn’t a big deal for him.

Zimmerhanzel said it was one of the most special moments of his life.

At the tournament Zimmerhanzel played without teammates and competed by himself as a medalist. He was asked if that changed his game.

“That’s really not a big deal. It’s still just golf,” Zimmerhanzel said. “I wasn’t playing all that great coming in here, but I guess I did just good enough.”

For golf coach Ken Moree and everyone in Smithville it was a proud moment. Zimmerhanzel joins Tiger golfer Bill Bunte, who won the crown in Class A in 1966.

Zimmerhanzel was tied for the lead after the first round with a 71. Going into the final round he said he felt good and that he knew he had a chance to win.

“I hadn’t been playing that great going into the State Tournament,” Zimmerhanzel said. “But my dad gave me a few tips and they worked out pretty well for me.”

The Smithville junior said his competitors were tough and played very solid throughout the tournament. He finished with a 74 on the course, ending with a 1-over 145.

“I’m grateful for everything. I want to thank my parents, Coach Moree and everyone who believed in me,” he said.

On the third weekend in May, two local state parks will host events centered on these wonders of the sky. Both Bastrop and Buescher state parks, located in Bastrop and Smithville, respectively, have scheduled astronomy programs focusing on the night sky and the upcoming partial solar eclipse.

On Saturday, May 19, Buescher State Park will host “Stargazing at the Lake,” on the lake’s dam, a drop-in program that begins at 8:30 p.m. and lasts until the park closes at 10 p.m. Knowledgeable staff will have telescopes trained on several celestial objects, including Saturn, Mars and several stars. Visitors can also learn the lore behind many springtime constellations, like the Big Dipper, Draco (the dragon) and Canis Major (the big dog).

“The night sky at Buescher is really remarkable,” site manager Cullen Sartor said. “In good conditions, you can see the Milky Way without a telescope or binoculars.”

The following day, May 20, presents a unique view into the evening sky. Central Texas will be witness to a partial solar eclipse, while many points in the western part of the country will see a full solar eclipse. For about an hour before sunset, the Austin area will be witness to the moon passing between Earth and the sun, causing the partial eclipse.

Although you’ll be able to see the partial eclipse from your house, you must take precautions to protect your eyes. Even though we won’t get the sun’s full strength, it can still damage your vision. Bastrop State Park’s “Solar Eclipse Viewing Party” will give visitors the opportunity to view the partial eclipse safely, using a number of methods.

“We’ll have telescope with special solar filters and other safe, NASA-suggested methods,” park interpreter Katie Raney said. “Visitors will also be able to make their own simple pinhole projector.”

The solar eclipse party runs from 7:30 p.m. to sunset, about 8:30 p.m., at the Bastrop State Park’s Scenic Overlook. Curious onlookers can drop in any time to observe the eclipse before the sun drops below the horizon.

On Tuesday, June 5, the planet Venus will pass between Earth and the sun, and will be visible against the sun for a few afternoon hours. The next time this astronomical event will occur won’t be for another 117 years, making this a true once-in-a-lifetime event! From 7:00 p.m. to sunset, Bastrop State Park will have a viewing station set up at the Scenic Overlook so visitors can observe this astronomical event safely as well.

Both state park programs are free after park entry fees, which are $4 for individuals ages 13 and over. For more information, visit the parks’ websites or contact park interpreter Katie Raney at katie.raney@tpwd.state.tx.us or (512) 718-0211.

The team has four students who qualified for the National Forensics Tournament in Indianapolis, Ind.

Xavier Clark qualified in dramatic interpretation, Kayla Mead qualified in poetry and prose, Mason Morris and Luke Steiner qualified in CX debate.

To attend the Nationals this year the team will hold fundraisers and events.

So far the team has raised $1,500 through car washes, bake sales and garage sales. At this time they are in need of an additional $3,500.

Come help contribute on Saturday, May 19 from 8 a.m.to 2 p.m. at a yard sale to be held across from the Dollar General store on Loop 230. There will also be a bake sale, barbecue plates, face painting and more.

Donations can also be sent to the Smithville High School Debate Team, P.O. Box 479, Smithville, TX.

LPAA board secretary April Daniels led the meetings with the assistance of Jill Strube, city grants writer. Daniels and her husband John, an actor, director and playwright, run Playhouse Smithville on Main Street.

“A cultural district designation tells the public that an area is very culturally significant and lets them know that they should visit and learn about the area,” Daniels explained. “And when they do spend time here, they usually spend money.”

At a lunch meeting last week, Daniels told a group that the benefits of the cultural designation go beyond tourism.

“Ever heard of demolition by neglect?” Daniels asked. “We can see that along our Main Street. The cultural designation gets the ball rolling the other way. It provides incentives and access to grants that can help revitalize our city.”

There are 16 cities in Texas that have received the official state designation for their cultural districts, ranging from large metropolitan areas like Dallas and Houston to much smaller communities like Huntsville and Winnsboro.

Typically a cultural district is a mixed-use area of a community that has a high concentration of cultural facilities; art institutions, parks, restaurants, music and theater venues and popular attractions, which can serve as a draw for tourists and residents.

Cultural districts include a variety of art disciplines including music, theater, dance, visual art, art education, literature, written and spoken word and cultural outreach.

Besides revitalization from tourism and access to grant dollars, a cultural district designation can attract businesses, enhance property values and provide an expansion in the tax base. A revitalized district also serves as an incubator for a creative and innovative environment according to Daniels, which happens when artists work with building owners to seek incentive financing for renovations.

One of the objectives of the meeting was to create a boundary for the cultural district. The area should be walkable from a central hub, which is considered to be Main Street. Each meeting netted a different footprint for the district.

The district can also have an “overlay,” which is an area that’s outside the main boundary that contains culturally or historically significant locations. In Smithville’s case, an overlay would also have movie locations, which have proven to be a draw for the film friendly community.

Carol Snyder and David Herrington of the Smithville Heritage Society will provide historical material for the application.

Daniels pointed out that the designation does not impose any regulation on property owners, buildings or businesses in the district.

“There’s no effect whatsoever on zoning,” Daniels explained. “There’s no authority to require us to do anything.”

A city council resolution supporting the application is pending.

A final preliminary meeting on the Cultural District Program is planned for MLK Park (MLK and Miller Streets) for Tuesday, May 29 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will feature free hot dogs and beverages.

The application will be sent to the Texas Commission on the Arts to meet a June 1 deadline.

For more information, contact Daniels at playhousesmithville@yahoo.com or Strube at JStrube@ci.smithville.tx.us.

Almost 200 students were in the cafeteria at the time and many fled when the incident started, according to school officials. One student was bruised during the melee, which was considered a “serious disruption” according to school policy.

Details about the fight vary, although an online petition website supporting the student’s appeal claims all the students in the cafeteria took part but only a few were held responsible and disciplined.

Smithville Superintendent Rock McNulty didn’t discuss details of the incident citing student privacy, but he did say ten students received identical punishment

Students received a Class C ticket for destruction of property from the Smithville Police Department, which is school policy for this type of incident, he said. Students were also suspended for three days.

The parent of one student did not agree with the punishment, which was determined by principal David Edwards and it was appealed to McNulty, who agreed with Edwards’ disciplinary action. The parent then appealed to go before the board.

There has been inaccurate information circulated about the incident and the disciplinary actions, according to McNulty, including claims that the students won’t graduate.

“Graduation is an important family event and a rite of passage for a student,” McNulty said. “Contrary to reports, no student has been denied participation in this year’s Smithville High School graduation ceremonies.”

Smithville High School graduation ceremonies are Friday, May 25 at 8 p.m. at Barry Field. The school board will meet at the administration building boardroom, 901 N.E. 6th St., at 6 p.m. on Monday.

The Friends of the Smithville Veterans Memorial Park have put together a special day starting with bed races and a parade in downtown Smithville at 9 a.m. The fun continues at around 11 a.m. at Riverbend Park for food, games and an auction. The event gets country rocking with a stellar musical lineup starting at 4:30 p.m. and features headliner Cory Morrow.

The fundraiser is all about the park; a unique tribute meant to honor five Smithville-area soldiers who were killed recently in the fight against terrorism – a big price to pay for such a small town. The idea for the park, developed and spearheaded by Smithville Mayor Mark Bunte, is being built through donations and volunteer labor and will honor veterans from across Bastrop County.

The park will feature a splash pad, a feature that was added after the families of the fallen soldiers said they wanted to bring youthful energy and joy to the park while simultaneously paying respect to the fallen soldiers.

The center piece of the park will be a 16-foot angel, sculpted by renowned Smithville artist Bill McGlaun and featuring gold-plated dog tags from each soldier. The memorial will also provide a special place of honor for the names of all veterans from Bastrop County.

Participants needed

Friends of the Park director Kathy Karcher said the group is looking for participants for the barbecue cook off and bed races, as well as kickball, washers, horseshoes and volleyball players for a round of tournaments.

“We’re doing all this to honor our fallen heroes,” Karcher explained. “The park will be a place to meditate, find peace and to remember. We want everyone to participate in this memorial that will honor those who have sacrificed for our freedoms.”

Bed races, a team event with participants pushing a custom built bed along Main Street, will be run right before the parade to entertain the crowd. YouTube videos of this “sport” are entertaining and organizer Andis Goble is sure it can be hit in Smithville. Five person teams can sign up for $50, with all proceeds going to the Memorial Park. Call Andis at 512-237-3282, ext. 2320 for more information.

If you’re interested in getting your game on, there’s room for your team at the fundraiser. Enter the barbecue cook off, or join one of the tournaments for kickball, washers, horseshoes and volleyball. For more information on signing up, visit tinyurl.com/veteransparkteams.

Patriotic Parade

Racing beds down Main Street will kick off the day at 9 a.m. A parade to honor veterans is set for 10:30 a.m. and will feature a variety of veterans groups, bands, military vehicles, Jamboree court, Miss Memorial Day, the Patriot Guard Riders and more.

The parade begins at Wilkes Street and Loop 230 and will run down Loop 230 to the stop light and then make a left on Main Street. The parade will continue one block on Main Street and then make a right onto NE 2nd Street where it will move past the Memorial Park. The route takes the parade left onto Gazley Street (Hwy 95), and then left on NE 1^st Street, ending at Olive Street.

The Memorial Park fundraiser will continue at Riverbend Park for lunch beginning at 11 a.m. Meal tickets are $10. At 1 p.m. a live auction will begin and continue through the afternoon.

Music under the oaks

Cory Morrow, a superstar of the Red Dirt music scene, will headline the fundraiser’s musical entertainment, which kicks off at 4:30 p.m. at Chuckwagon Square.

Morrow’s sound is perfect for the venue, which sits under large oaks at the park. There’s room to sit back and watch the show or get onto the large dance floor. Morrow is set to start at 10:30 p.m.

Morrow will be joined by Todd Fritsch, whose single “Home” is climbing the country charts. The cattle rancher and country star is the real deal and so is his music. Fritsch is set to begin at 9 p.m.

Darby Ledbetter is a talented singer, songwriter and soldier and no stranger to the Riverbend stage. This combat veteran played at last year’s fundraiser and inspires the public and the troops at his performances. Ledbetter will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m.

Catfish and the Waterdogs bring their unique music to the stage at 6 p.m.

Smithville’s own Ben Johnson will start the evening’s music at 4:30 p.m., with his brothers and lifelong friends who make up his band. Their rocking country sound is a perfect way to start the show.

Presale tickets for live music are available for $20 from Prosperity Bank and First National Bank in Bastrop and Smithville and at the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce, Smithville City Hall, the library and the rec center. Tickets are $25 at the door and VIP tickets are available for $200. Get tickets online at tinyurl.com/smithvillemusic.

Friends of the Park assistant director Nina Richards is one of the volunteers who has spent more than a year working on getting funding for the park. For her, the work is something that comes from her heart.

“We don’t realize what our military does to ensure our freedom and to keep us safe and protect us,” Richards said. “It’s an honor to be able to honor them.”