Check frequent coronavirus updates Find latest local information on pandemic Businesses are victims wilcosun.com Vol. 46 No. 2 GEORGETOWN, TEXAS n JUNE 7, 2020 One Dollar of COVID-19 Page 1B Hundreds rally downtown for peace, justice By BRAD STUTZMAN marked by passion and an- ger. Some who turned out From a man old enough were outspoken. Others to remember social unrest said they came because of the 1960s and 70s, to a they felt the need to do child who wondered if ugly something, even if they chapters of American his- were unsure of what. tory are repeating them- Protestors were not ho- selves, nearly 300 communi- mogenous in physical ap- ty members came together pearance or in how they be- lieve this nation’s ongoing and deep-seated problems “Honestly, I can’t might be resolved. Jaquita Wilson — a com- believe this is munity activist, military happening again. wife and 2019 City Council candidate — bluntly sug- I read about it in gested a starting point. history books. “If we could stop killing black people, that would be I thought it was OK,” she said. finally over. Signs of the times And it’s not.” Georgetown Police Chief Wayne Nero, who along Aziel Quezada with other city and county age 11 leaders attended the pro- test, estimated the crowd at downtown Wednesday af- 200 to 300 people. ternoon to protest the death “No arrests or incidents,” of George Floyd and other Police spokesman Capt. Ro- acts of police violence. land Waits said. HELLIER LISA The two-hour protest, Ms. Wilson noted Residents of all ages and races joined together peacefully Wednesday to protest the death of George Floyd and march while peaceful, was also Continued on 5A around the courthouse Square to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Georgetown Judge picked in ‘Live PD’ case resident dies, By BRAD STUTZMAN Additionally, an out-of- Judge Stubblefield said Stubblefield said it’s best county judge has been ap- Nathan Hecht, chief jus- for someone unrelated to Although Big Fish En- pointed to preside over the tice for the Texas Supreme Williamson County politics tertainment has, accord- lawsuit. No trial date has Court, appointed Judge and government to hear the case count nears 700 ing to one source, stopped been set. Peeples to hear both the cases. filming Live PD episodes By LISA HELLIER Billy Ray Stubblefield Live PD lawsuit and an un- “It’s important for the in Williamson County, the of Georgetown, adminis- related criminal complaint public to have a sense ev- Three more people died County Breakout civil lawsuit commission- trative judge for the state’s filed against County Judge erything is being done in a in Williamson County this ers brought against Sheriff 27-county Third Judicial Bill Gravell. completely impartial man- Status week as a result of contract- Robert Chody will proceed, Region, confirmed Judge The task fell to Judge ner,” Judge Stubblefield Confirmed 660 ing COVID-19, and the total two lawyers representing David Peeples from San An- Hecht after local judges, said. “My history in the Recovered 438 the Commissioners Court of confirmed cases reached Deaths 27 tonio will serve as judge for including Mr. Stubblefield, county goes back 43 years. I said Wednesday. 660. Ever Hospitalized 98 the lawsuit. recused themselves. Judge Continued on 5A One of the three deaths Currently Hospitalized 8 was recorded as a George- Ever in ICU 47 town resident. Currently in ICU 4 Ever on Ventilator 25 A woman in her 80s died Currently on Ventilator 3 Monday and two men, one in his 70s and one in his 80s, Gender Officials expect more mail-in ballots died Thursday. The death Female 50% toll now is 27. Male 50% By BRAD STUTZMAN 2 Commissioners Court or on Election Day. cast in person. Georgetown accounts for meeting, Mr. Davis reported Williamson County Dem- Mr. Davis agreed, stating, As Williamson County 89 of the total reported cas- Age Group his office has received 5,200 ocratic Party Chairwoman “I don’t recall that being the 1 to 17 27 prepares for its first elec- es. Three cases have result- applications for Democratic Kim Gilby confirmed Mr. case ever.” 18 to 40 222 tion in the age of COVID-19 ed in death, and 24 of the mail-in ballots. Davis’ anticipated num- “We dodged a bullet with 41 to 60 244 and social distancing, Elec- cases are currently active. 61 to 80 129 By comparison, he said bers and noted the deadline only one party having a tions Administrator Chris A total of 12,262 coronavi- Over 80 38 discussions with the coun- to apply for a mail-in ballot runoff,” Mr. Davis said, Davis predicts more people rus tests have been conduct- ty’s Democratic Party lead- is July 2. noting the anticipated low might vote by mail than in ed, which resulted in a 5% ers reveal they anticipate Ms. Gilby said this could turnout should make it eas- Cases person during the July 14 positive rate in Williamson 3,000 or 4,000 people voting be the county’s first election ier for voters, poll workers by City Open CasesRecoveredDeceased Democratic Party runoff. in person during the two- where the number of mail- County. Georgetown 24 62 3 Speaking at the June week Early Voting period in ballots cast exceeds those Continued on 7A The 41- to 60-year-old age Round Rock 114 177 22 group has 36.9% of the total Hutto 7 36 1 cases in the county. The 18 Cedar Park 10 37 0 to 40 age range accounts for Leander 6 41 0 33.6% of the cases. Togeth- Austin (in Wilco) 7 31 0 Other towns 27 54 0 er they make up more than Source: Williamson County Health Dept. County adds $10M to small-biz grant 70% of the cases. White individuals ac- By BRAD STUTZMAN Wilco Forward on May 6 count for the majority of have died in the county be- and 2,600 applications ar- the cases at 66.2%. Black cause of the virus. This in- The Williamson County rived that first week, he individuals make up 8.9% cludes one woman over 100 Wilco OKs $30 million Commissioners Court has said. of the total, Asian people years old, four men in their added $10 million to its ini- for cities, social services “They come in now 10, make up 2.6%, others are 90s, four women in their tial $25 million outlay for Commissioners voted 5-0 at their June 2 meet- 15, 20 a day,” Mr. Heselmey- 2% and unknown are 20.3%. 90s, three women in their grants to small businesses ing to set aside $30 million to benefit city gov- er said. Non-Hispanic individu- 80s, a man in his 80s, four hurt by the COVID-19 pan- ernments, emergency service districts, the local He noted the check writ- als make up 42.7% of those men in their 70s, a woman demic. health district and Bluebonnet Trails, which pro- ing process usually lags confirmed positive and His- in her 70s, three women in Action came at the June vides mental health services. one or two days behind the panics account for 42%. The their 60s, two men in their 2 Commissioners Court Commissioner Covey said the relief will be for approval process and he rest are unknown. 60s, two men in their 50s, meeting, following the coronavirus-related expenses but “not for cities praised the auditor’s office The percentage of avail- a woman in her 50s and a weekly Wilco Forward re- to shore up their sales tax they did not receive.” for its hard work. able beds in area hospitals man in his 30s. port from County Treasur- She said the application process will be similar “This has been a monu- is at 52%, and available ven- Visit the Sun’s website at er Scott Heselmeyer. to what’s been in place for Wilco Forward. mental task and we have tilators is at 72%. wilcosun.com for current The latest round of check Officials said applicants for the second phase some very talented people Twenty-seven people COVID-19 case counts. payments county commis- of coronavirus-related assistance will either be going through the applica- sioners approved this past encouraged or required to attend a training class tions,” Mr. Heselmeyer told week totaled a little more on how to complete their applications. commissioners. than $5 million. (See Page An anticipated third phase would focus on help “I can’t [emphasize 6A.) for community service groups such as The Caring enough] the difference this Mr. Heselmeyer said that Place and the Round Rock Area Serving Center. REOPENING SOON! is making in our communi- Classes | Makerspaces | Gallery | Gift Cards | Pop-up Shops through June 1 a total of “We’ve got to expend the money by the end of ty,” he continued. “If you’re 3,200 small businesses — December,” Commissioner Covey said. “Most of a retail business, you’re Check out our defined as those having 100 the expenses have already happened.” buying for the summer or new location or fewer employees — had — Brad Stutzman fall inventory. When you while you’re applied for grants of up to haven’t had any income the $30,000 each. driving down Of those, 2,328 had been Continued on 7A Williams! approved, with 198 denied in payments had been ap- Since the program began, and 754 still pending review proved from the initial $25 the average grant has been ©2020 Sunday Sun 4236 Williams Drive from the County Auditor’s million allotment through for $10,266 Mr. Heselmeyer 512-688-1587 office. June 1, with $21.1 million said. TheArtisansWorkbench.com A total of $23.8 million actually paid out. Commissioners launched