The largest selection of fashion frames in Williamson County Taylor PATSCHKE & PATSCHKE Real Estate LLC 601 Mallard • 512-352-3016 Remember to thank a We can help you with Round Rock P ALL your real estate needs. Veteran and P Serviceman P www.patschkeproperties.com 2120 Round Rock Ave. • 512-388-1333 P every day! (512)365-1905 www.TaylorPress.net SERVING EASTERN WILLIAMSON COUNTY SINCE 1913 SUNDAY • MARCH 14, 2021 $1.00 vol. 108 issue 11 Amtrak TAYLOR’S ANNUAL station discussed COTTON BOLL FERNANDO CASTRO [email protected] Possible improvements to the Taylor’s Amtrak station will be the subject of an upcoming study. On March 11, the Taylor City Council approved an interlo- RELAYS cal agreement with the Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS). The agree- Remember to set your clocks forward an THURSDAY, MARCH 11 ment relates to a Texas hour today. Department of Transportation grant awarded to CARTS for a INSIDE DUCK POND feasibility study to upgrade the train station. TAYLOR, TEXAS “I think it’s a great win-win opportunity for the city,” said Tom Yantis, Taylor city develop- ment services director, “and I think we have the potential to make some really great See AMTRAK • page 3A Padavil guest at Taylor ISD’s new superintendent has had a full schedule. Read about items on his agenda on page 1B luncheon Taylor Chamber members and friends are invited meet COVID-19 UPDATER and hear from Dr. Devin County # of cases Padavil, Taylor ISD’s new superintendent, at an online Williamson 36,192 luncheon Monday, March 15. Harris 362,716 Padavil joined Taylor public schools Feb. 2. Previously, he Dallas 248,724 served as area superintendent Tarrant 208,894 in Leander ISD and assistant Bexar 169,782 superintendent for secondary schools in Fort Bend ISD. El Paso 126,416 He has also served as the Travis 77,231 principal that opened Lebanon Trail High School in Frisco and Collin 70,945 principal of Hendrickson High Bell 21,006 School and Kelly Lane Middle School both in Pflugerville ISD. Bastrop 6,642 In 2015, he was named Milam 1,355 Region XIII High School Principal of the Year. In 2016- In Williamson County See results on page A7. 17, he served as president of 419 Deaths Photos by Jason Hennington See CHAMBER • page 3A OBITUARIES Patricia Ann Evans Taylor ACDEC places second in state Doris Marie Bryan Guthrie Roznovak Jeronimo O. Ruiz Sr. TIM CROW schools in the subjective cat- [email protected] Clifton Joe Stacha Jr. egories. Robert David Wollrab (Bobby) Vicki Rowe coaches the The Taylor High School Taylor Academic Decathlon Academic Decathlon (AcDec) team and received the Texas FIVE DAY FORECAST team competed in the Texas Academic Decathlon Small State Academic Decathlon School Coach of the Year Precip Low Hi virtual competition Feb. 27 Award. and earned the State Small SUN 55% 48° 72° She has been a teacher School Silver Medal as a for over thirty-eight years MON 1% 59° 84° team. and has coached AcDec for TUE 24% 61° 84° Due to a technical issue 19 years. Her team consis- with the Regional competi- tently ranks in the state’s top WED 24% 47° 81° tion, no objective subject three, and they frequently THU 0% 44° 70° medals were awarded. earn rankings at the national However, the subjective level. Find up to date weather forecasts at TaylorPress.net scores from speech, inter- Rowe was nominated for view and essay became the Coach of the Year by cur- scores for the state competi- rent team member, Jessilyn FOLLOW US tion. Fuentes. In her nomination, Fortunately, for the Taylor Fuentes described Rowe as Taylor High School’s Academic Decathlon Team brought home the state silver medal in the team, they had the highest an educator dedicated to small school division. Team members are Jessilyn Fuentes, Jett VanBrocklin, Zane Talavera, total in the state over all of Adrian Badillo, Tommy Rojas, Dylan Ruemke, Alyssa Schweiger and Tristyn Davy. the large, medium and small See STATE • page 2A Photo by Tim Crow LLongong TTermerm MortgagesMortgages VVIC’SIC’S & AAirir Schmidt Insurance Agency Providence NNowow AAvailablevailable A hometown tradition of honesty & trust A Caring Community Funeral Home Located in Historic Downtown Hutto CContactontact SSteventeven KKovarovar Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration, Appliances 115-A East Street | PO Box 30 | Hutto, TX 78634 5512-671-223212-671-2232 P: 512-759-3277 | F: 512-759-2830 807 Carlos Parker Blvd NW SERVING TAYLOR & SURROUNDING AREAS SINCE 1978 [email protected] Taylor, TX www.schmidtinsuagency.com 512.352.5909 Mortgage Loan Offi cer #500148 Email: [email protected] 3352-72043352-72045522--77220044 Locally owned and operated www.taylorprovidencefuneralhome.com 103 N. MAIN, TAYLOR • STATE LIC # TACLB625C [email protected] (512) 365-3614 Fax: (512) 352-9211 TTOMMYOMMY TTALLEYALLEY RROOFINGOOFING PROFESSIONAL SOLUTIONS A name that stands for Quality and Integrity DEPENDABLE SERVICE | QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP TERRY’S BODY SHOP, INC. Serving Taylor and Surrounding Locally Owned Communities for Over 35 Years & Operated 1508 W. 2nd • Taylor, Texas 76574 512-352-2838 Of ce [email protected] 512-844-8883 Cell Terry Tschoerner Richard Rumley M-41984 Owner Manager 512-269-1382 | www.plumbout.com 2A TAYLOR PRESS SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021 Local wins $1 million A Taylor resident claimed a second-tier prize of $1 million in the Texas Lottery scratch ticket game Instant Millionaire. The ticket was purchased at M&M Food Mart, located at 100 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., in Taylor. The claimant elected to remain anonymous. This was the 28th of 40 second- tier prizes worth $1 million to be claimed in this game. Instant Texas Academic Decathlon Small School Coach of the Year, Vicki Rowe, is congratulated by students, Taylor ISD Millionaire offers Superintendent Dr. Devin Padavil, THS Principal Andrew Maddox, Assistant Principal Alane Ognowski, Assistant more than $519 Principal Steven Vigil, and TEE Foundation Executive Director Moppy Miller. million in total prizes, Photos by Tim Crow including 10 top prizes of $2.5 million. STATE • page 1A Overall odds of winning any prize in improving her students’ the game are one in education by taking 3.20, including break- the necessary time and Medal winners in even prizes. involvement required individual categories and creating an impact About the in her students’ lives. SPEECH Texas Lottery “Whether teaching Tommy Rojas – Scholastic Silver Beginning with English or coaching Alyssa Schweiger – Varsity Silver the first ticket sold Academic Decathlon, Tristyn Davy – Varsity Bronze in 1992, the Texas Mrs. Rowe always Lottery has reportedly INTERVIEW makes sure to invest Adrian Badillo – Scholastic Gold, with a perfect score of 1,000. generated $32 her creativity, money, billion in revenue and time to aiding her ESSAY for the state and students to pursue their Alyssa Schweiger and Tristyn Davy –Varsity Gold, a tie with perfect distributed $68 billion very best career and scores of 1,000 in prizes to lottery to establish a love for ART players. Since 1997, learning every day,” Alyssa Schweiger – Varsity Bronze the Texas Lottery Fuentes said. has contributed Prior to COVID-19, SCIENCE $26.4 billion to AcDec scholars enjoyed Zane Talavera – Honors Bronze the Foundation study sessions that MUSIC School Fund, which Rowe hosted in her Adrian Badillo – Scholastic Silver supports public home, providing home Alyssa Schweiger – Varsity Bronze education in Texas. cooked meals for the As authorized by the ART team as they diligently Alyssa Schweiger – Varsity Bronze Texas Legislature, worked to prepare for certain Texas Lottery competition. Chez Rowe OVERALL WINNERS: revenues benefit state is described by schol- Scholastic Bronze, Adrian Badillo-who will receive an additional The Texas Lottery scratch-off game Instant Millionaire was the vehicle for programs including ars as a fun day for $1,000 in scholarship money; one Texas citizen to become $1 million richer. the Fund for Veterans’ everyone on the team Varsity Bronze, Alyssa Schweiger-who will receive an additional Courtesy graphic Assistance. Since the and something they $1,000 in scholarship money; first veterans’ themed all looked forward to. Varsity 4th Place, Tristyn Davy, who will receive an additional $750 scratch ticket game The Texas Lottery Daily 4, Cash Five and Her hospitality, as well in scholarship money. was launched in 2009, provides several scratch ticket games. as her guidance and the Texas Lottery has games for lottery For more encouragement, has led Top scorers in each team category for Taylor include Zane Talavera reportedly contributed players including information visit Texas the team to many suc- in Honors, Adrian Badillo in Scholastic and Alyssa Schweiger in more than $151 Powerball, Mega Lottery on Facebook, cesses. Varsity. million for programs Millions, Lotto Texas, Twitter, Instagram, “In her eyes, every Overall, the team amassed 37,214 points in this year’s curriculum, supporting Texas All or Nothing, Texas YouTube or at http:// single student on cam- “The Cold War.” In addition, each team member will receive $900 in veterans. Two Step, Pick 3, www.txlottery.org. pus is a potential team scholarship money. member,” said Fuentes. “No one is wrong for the team. And because countless students grow abilities and their indi- of this, she has helped more confident in their vidual gifts.” Taylor High School Principal, Andrew Maddox, presents Vicki Rowe with the Texas Academic Decathlon Coach of the Year Award. MARCH 26, 2021 Bluebonnet Trails Community Services is now offering medical 6 P.M. care services in Taylor at our Integrated Healthcare Clinic located at Northview Christian 404 Carlos G. Parker Boulevard. The expanded services celebrate the partnership between Texas Church 2900 N. Main A&M – College of Nursing and Bluebonnet Trails Community Services St.Taylor with a mission of increasing access to medical and mental health care for Central Texans in rural communities.