July 4 Firework celebrations safety and across guidelines for the county the holiday Page 10 Page 3 Vol. 145 No. 7 GEORGETOWN, TEXAS n JUNE 30, 2021 One Dollar Capacity crowd cheers rodeo’s return 3,300 turn out for Jarrell’s first major live event post-Covid By CHRISTOPHER DE LOS SANTOS event, said Mayor Larry Bush. “This rodeo is the most excit- As the sun crawled toward the ing event for our citizens,” said western horizon Saturday after- Mr. Bush. “We are very happy noon, vendors and caterers at they returned. The rodeo brings the Williamson County Sheriff ’s out the goodness in the commu- Posse Rodeo in Jarrell restocked nity and it has events to please for another capacity crowd. every age.” Trailers carried broncos, In addition to bucking bron- steers, bulls, and barrel racing cos, wild steers, barrel racers, horses toward the arena, while calf ropers, and bull riders, after Posse Captain Chris Mattice, sundown, mutton bustin’ is a big together with his officers and attraction. other Posse members, prepared “Mutton bustin’ is a real for the drill team ceremony and crowd pleaser,” said Posse cor- the rodeo. poral Jammie Swanks. The city and residents could Families brought their ele- not be more excited to have the mentary school-age children rodeo there for the second time to sign up for all the Mutton in Jarrell and the 77th annual Continued on 11 Kase Alff, 4, of Jarrell, enjoys a snow cone treat on a warm evening at the 77th Annual Williamson County SHARP ANDY BY PHOTOS Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo. Bareback rider Shawn Perkins of Roberts, Montana, competes on Friday. ‘I was there, I remember when they came.’ Georgetown Holocaust survivor recounts story behind man charged library’s ‘13 Jewish Driver’s Licenses’ exhibit with murder By KATE THURMOND Inge Stanton describes the By CHRISTOPHER DE LOS SANTOS After a year of waiting, the house where Georgetown Public Library is she lived as a A Georgetown man hosting a traveling exhibit of was indicted on a mur- 13 recently discovered Jew- child in Lichtenfels. A der charge Thursday ish driver’s licenses that were in connection to his confiscated — along with their photo on her wife’s February 19 dis- owners’ automobiles, homes father’s banner appearance. and worldly goods — in the in the exhibit Travis Hall, 48, of lead up to and during World shows her as Georgetown, was in- War II. a baby, as well dicted on a first de- The story behind the licens- as a picture of gree murder charge JULIE HALL es lays out the early stages of the apartment for allegedly striking Missing since one family’s experience of the building where and killing his wife February 19 and Holocaust, starting in a small she grew up. Julie Hall, 47, also of presumed dead. Bavarian town — but perhaps Georgetown, with a even more astounding is the wrench and with a tale of what happened after blunt object, court records show. the discovery of the licenses A Williamson County grand jury re- in 2017. turned the indictment. The charge car- The 13 driver’s licenses ries a punishment of up to 99 years in — found in an envelope by a prison, if Mr. Hall is convicted. Continued on 12 THURMOND KATE A Williamson County judge set the bail at $1 million bond for the charge, jail records show. Ms. Hall was last seen alive on Feb- ruary 19, according to Mr. Hall’s arrest GISD’s STAAR declines mirror state’s affidavits. She was reported missing after she did not go to work as a special education teacher’s aide on February 22 Texas Ed Commissioner: ‘Painfully clear’ pandemic had statewide negative impact on learning at Howard Norman Elementary School in Hutto. By KATHERINE ANTHONY ficials say Covid-19 is the rea- creased from 2019 across all ruptions caused by Covid-19 Ms. Hall’s remains have not been re- son why. subject areas and grade levels. during the 2020-21 school year. covered, according to a press release As in the majority of school The Texas Education Agen- STAAR was not administered “It is painfully clear that the from the Georgetown Police Depart- districts across Texas, George- cy released scores of the 2021 in 2020 due to the statewide pandemic had a very negative ment. town ISD’s scores on the 2021 State of Texas Assessments pandemic-related shutdown impact on learning,” TEA Ed- Mr. Hall has been held in the William- STAAR tests dropped com- of Academic Readiness (STA- of schools. ucation Commissioner Mike son County Jail since his February 26 pared to 2019, the last year that AR) late last week. Statewide, On Monday, TEA placed the Morath said in a statement. arrest on two charges of tampering with tests were administered. scores show Texas students blame for the decline in state- “Now, we have full assessment or fabricating evidence in the disappear- State and local education of- “not meeting grade level” in- wide scores on learning dis- Continued on 5 ance of Ms. Hall, jail records show. Bail for each charge was set at $500,000. Mr. Hall’s February 26 arrest was on third degree felony charges of allegedly Volumetric water rates tampering with blood evidence in his (per 1,000 gallons) New water rates apartment and on his tools in connection with the investigation into his wife’s dis- Gallons Cost in effect appearance. He also allegedly lied to in- vestigators about his wife’s whereabouts. 0-7,000 $1.85 Each charge carries from two to 10 years 7,001-15,000 $2.75 in state prison, if Mr. Hall is convicted. 15,001-25,000 $4.80 Follow the 2-day per week watering schedule ©2021 Williamson County Sun 25,000 and more $8.40 City of Georgetown | water.georgetown.org 2 The Williamson County Sun, June 30, 2021 Leaving children, pets in cars during Summer heat is dangerous As many residents pre- many things, including ex- Children and elders pare for Independence Day treme temperatures,” DPS should not be left alone in and summertime activi- Director Steven McCraw vehicles, no matter the cir- ties, the Texas Department said. “Heat-related injuries cumstance, public safety of Public Safety (DPS) is and deaths are often pre- officials warn. urging Texans to take extra safety precautions to avoid heat-related dangers. I DPS advises people to n just 10 minutes, the temperature take extra precaution on inside a vehicle can increase by behalf of vulnerable peo- ple like children and the 20 degrees when not in operation. elderly. So far in 2021, two chil- dren in the U.S. have died ventable, and we all need Children are more vul- from heat-related deaths, to be vigilant in protecting nerable to heatstroke, be- according to noheatstroke. ourselves and others.” cause their body tempera- org. In 2020, 24 children According to the Nation- tures rise three to five times died. Texas has the most al Highway Traffic Safety faster than those of adults, pediatric vehicle deaths in Administration, in just 10 officials said. Cracking or the country from 1998 to minutes, the temperature rolling down a window 2020, with 132. inside a vehicle can in- makes little difference in “Children are more crease by 20 degrees when reducing the rising tem- susceptible than adults to not in operation. perature in a vehicle. Golf championships slated at area private clubs nce again, and throughout. Berry Creek’s senior divisions for Forest Creek test Hole-in-one with a return Barnhart posted men and women will be compet- Forest Creek Golf Course in Berry Creek CC: June 24 — Lee to some degree 142, good for a one- ing for honors. Round Rock, which debuted a Bundy, No. 17 at 150 yards, 7-iron; of normalcy, stroke victory over Sun City’s courses, which be- totally renovated and updated witnesses were Mike Swayze, the champion- the par-70 layout. In came private in January, will course a couple years ago, is again Regan Heitz and Terry Genen- Oship golfing season at winning the title, he be holding the men’s champion- hosting a significant amateur bacher. Georgetown’s four pri- noted that his putting ships in early September. The event in July. vate clubs begins next was working well. trio includes Legacy Hills and The annual Centex Amateur Future events week. In the women’s White Wing, both of which were Championship will be contested July 1–4. LPGA Tour, Volun- First up is George- championship, it was designed by World Golf Hall of over the city layout on the week- teers of America Classic, Old town Country Club, a repeat for a former Fame member Billy Casper, and end of July 17. American Golf Club, The Colony. which has been opera- Georgetown High Cowan Creek. There are two 36-hole catego- July 6–9. 100th Women’s Texas tional since the 1920s. THE TEXAS School Eagle golfer The Sun City women’s champi- ries in which a golfer can com- Open, River Crest CC, Fort Worth. Their championships Jennifer Aranda. She onship tournament will be played GOLFER pete. They are the championship July 8–11. Cimarron Hills Golf for both women and shot 153 and captured in early October. division and the age 50 and more & CC, Bear Invitational. men is set for the her seventh club title. Cimarron Hills Golf and Coun- Doug Kienitz mature category. July 10–11. Georgetown CC, weekend of July 11–12. Aranda won from try Club, a course that debuted in Last year’s champion was Club Championships for men and Last year’s cham- 2011 to 2013, in 2015 2003 under the guidance of World Round Rock resident Ethan Mill- women.