BOERNETHE ST R Tuesday, March 9, 2021 Covering the community since 1906 BoerneStar.com $1 Thank a veteran or a military person every day for their service to our country. Officer fights firing Process leads to lawyer for FOR city manager warning legal action if Davila’s words not withdrawn Geneva ZACHARYTAYLOR WRIGHT P.E. Day [email protected] A 16-year veteran of the Fair Oaks Ranch Police Department was terminated last year, and the former officer is contesting the employ- ment separation with the city. The contestation process has resulted in a letter from City Manager Tobin Maples’ legal representation to the terminated officer, Richard Davila, which claimed Davila’s statements to the press were defamatory and untrue and threatened legal recourse for the statements if they weren’t withdrawn. The letter from Branscomb Law, written on behalf of Maples, said Davila accused Maples of ordering Fair Oaks Ranch Police Chief Tim Moring “to destroy government records and documents subject to record retention schedules, which were purportedly in the desk draw- ers of the former Fair Oaks Ranch chief of police.” The letter again claimed the state- ments were false and defamatory and said any lawsuit concerning the statements would not require proof from Maples of suffered damages in the way of his reputation or mon- etary losses. In response to the letter from Geneva School of Boerne Grammar School students participated in P.E. Day on Friday morning on the school’s football field as kindergartners Branscomb Law, Adam Muery, through fifth-graders played games and enjoyed activities, all with a Christ-centered superhero theme. TOP: Third-graders Claire Halinski, a lawyer in Hutto representing Ava Munsell, Hannah Reynolds, Harvey Straight and Reese Yost, from left, link their arms during an activity. ABOVE LEFT: First-grader Victoria Reaser puts her hand through a falling hoop as she plays a game. ABOVE RIGHT: First-grader WIlliam Matthews concentrates on bouncing a ball with a base during his activity. Star photos by Keith E. Domke See FIRING, Page 3 Boerne ISD, FOR gear up Man fatally shot for election in apartment KEITH E. DOMKE ZACHARYTAYLOR WRIGHT man in the living room of a third- [email protected] floor unit in Building 2 of the [email protected] apartment complex who had been Despite having two council shot in the face. The published terms as well as the mayor’s Bexar County sheriff’s detec- reports stated authorities said expiring this year, there will be tives are investigating the fatal the circumstances surrounding no contested races in the city of shooting that occurred near Fair the shooting were not clear, but Boerne on May 1. Oaks Ranch early Friday, result- they hoped to learn more from The three incumbents were ing in the death of 20-year-old witnesses. the only individuals to complete Hector Chavera. Those close to Chavera have the filing paperwork by the The Bexar County Sheriff’s shared links on social media plat- February 12 deadline, meaning Office confirmed the name of the forms to a crowd-sourcing fund to there will not be an election to deceased Monday morning. help with funeral costs. determine who will be mayor, According to published reports, “Hector was a kind soul who as well as the District 2 and 4 deputies answered a call at about would give the shirt off of his council members. 2 a.m. reporting a man had been back to anyone that needed it,” a The same cannot be said in shot at the Rustico at Fair Oaks post reads. “His life was cut short the Boerne Independent School Law enforcement vehicles and yellow police tape help mark the apartments, 27595 Interstate 10, by a senseless act of violence, and scene of Friday’s fatal shooting in the Rustico at Fair Oaks apart- south of Fair Oaks Parkway. See ELECTION, Page 3 ments, 27595 Interstate 10. Submitted photo Upon arrival, deputies found a See SHOOTING, Page 3 Volume 115 Number 20 INDEX DEATHS INSIDE All contents copyright 2021 At the Trail . 5 Reports . 10 Argentina Becker Buzzer-beater The Boerne Star launches BHS boys Bookworm. 5 Service Directory . 10 basketball team to Capital Highlights . 4 For complete obituaries, see Page 2 Final Four; BHS Sports . 6-7 Classified . 9 and online at www.boernestar.com. girls dream season Street Beat . 12 ends in state Crossword . 5 semifinals. See Focus on the Family . .4 Viewpoint . 4 Sports, Pages 6-7. Take Us Out Tonight! Estate Planning •Probate • Wills Trusts •Real Estate Law 210.996.3163 Law Offi ce of Lasca A. Arnold, PLLC 430 W. Bandera Rd, Ste1 926 E. Blanco Rd., Boerne, TX 78006 Enjoy our FRESH and Boerne, TX Email: [email protected] www.lascaarnold.com DELICIOUS Chinese (830)249-4982 www.shanghaiimboerne.com specialties! THE BOERNE STAR LIFE TRIBUTES Page 2 Tuesday, March 9, 2021 BIRTHDAYS Argentina Becker August 21, 1967 – February 24, 2021 MARCH 9 Gina Becker, age 53, passed in biochemistry at the University of Texas Health A memorial service will be held March 12, 2021, Daniel Basarich away at her home on February Science Center in San Antonio in 2014. Gina worked at 11 a.m. at nineteen:ten Betty Cox 24, 2021, after a six-year health for five years at the Greehey Children’s Cancer Church at 130 Sisterdale Elwood Nelson battle. Argentina, known as Research Institute before retiring due to health Road, Boerne, Texas Michael Vavala Gina, was born on August 21, reasons. 78006. Glenn Uecker 1967, to Gheorghe Raceanu and Gina loved Jesus Christ, her family, the outdoors, To leave condolences Katherine Upton Constantina Raceanu in Ilfov, gardening, research and crafts. for the family, please Clair Jones Romania. Gina is preceded in death by her father. She is visit www.ebensberg- Daniel Williams She received a chemistry Becker survived by her mother, Constantina Raceanu, of er-fisher.com. Anne King degree from Universitatea din Romania; her husband, Doug Becker; daughter Irina Arrangements with Charlotte Winans București in 1989. She taught chemistry in Bucha- of Boerne; and sisters Elena Lahman of Romania Ebensberger-Fisher Tony Montez rest, Romania, for 10 years before earning her PhD and Liana Stocia of Atlanta, Georgia. Funeral Home of Boerne. MARCH 10 Alice Decristoforo Sweet, sweet Boerne Joan Felps Aleta Gregory Lester Gregory Thomas Juern Doris Landcaster Judith McVey Catherine Oaster Myrtle Telken Jewell Burcham Jennifer Freeman Kayla Mitchel MARCH 11 Nona Lee Marilyn Loven Elia Maldonado Delyte MacDonald Gail McKenna Lynn Patrick Dale Schneider Clarence Mitchell BURN BAN The Boerne Parks and Recreation Department played host to the city’s chocolate walk on Saturday after it was postponed over the Valentine’s Day weekend because of the OObituariesbituaries aarere aalsolso ppostedosted oonlinenline aatt wwww.boernestar.comww.boernestar.com winter storm. Participants who purchased tickets received a map of participating stores in the Boerne downtown district and were given a chocolate treat if those businesses were visited. If all the stores were visited, participants could turn in a raffle ticket for a chance to win special prizes. The event encouraged individuals to shop Boerne. Above, a large group of shoppers make their way along the 100 block of South Main Street on Saturday morning. Star photo by Keith E. Domke St. Patrick: Do we celebrate with green or blue? I’ll bet you know all GUEST COMMENTARY about the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York and the celebration that started ED in Ireland. Also, I’m sure MERGELE you’ve heard about those Irish immigrants coming to the United States during the There was little Christianity potato famine (1840s) that in Ireland before his time. brought all those traditions The Roman government had with them. left Britain in 410 A.D. You also know that St. He seemed to have suc- Patrick’s Day is always ceeded in his mission because March 17 because it marks he later was made the first the day of St. Patrick’s bishop of Armagh and Pri- death. mate of Ireland because of Everyone should wear his efforts. He also became something green, should know as the Apostle of Ire- they not? Isn’t that what the land and its patron saint. Irish have always done? You There are shrines to honor also know Saint Patrick was him in Armagh, Northern Ire- from the Emerald Isle and land, and Glastonbury Abbey, was the patron saint of Ire- England. land because that is where Actually, the first St. Pat- it all began. He drove all rick’s Day Parade was held the snakes out of Ireland in Boston, Massachusetts, in and brought Christianity to 1737. Then who “invented” Ireland because he was a St. Patrick’s Day? Christian priest from Rome. Well, I understand it was Get Well, Stay Well! Well, now since you know Luke Wadding, an Irish everything what can I tell Franciscan friar long after St. Patrick was born in Ireland. PEDIATRICS you that you don’t know? Patrick’s death. Blue was Because you know all that, May the sun shine warm with those original wild tribes the color used to celebrate BOERNE CAMPUS I might as well give up right his day in Ireland, not green. upon on your face. and became those who live now. I didn’t know very That first Boston parade And the rains fall soft on these two islands today. 430 W BANDERA RD much about St. Patrick’s upon your fields. The English are a mixed of and celebration was almost SUITE 9 Day either, so I did a little 110 years before all those And until we meet again those wild tribes, Iberians, research – and this is what I Irish left Ireland for Amer- May God hold you in the Celtics, Norsemen-Vikings BOERNE, TX 78006 found out.