A social media post from the Sheriff’s Office Oct. 20 said deputies are looking for Abraham Sa lomon Chacon, believed to be 40, who is wanted on charges of first-degree felony arson and third-degree felony cruelty to animals.

Deput ie s described Chacon as 5-feet-10-inches tall and weighing 200 pounds with brown eyes, black hair or a bald head, and numerous tattoos on his head, body and arms.

The case stems from three separate blazes that occurred at the same residence Oct. 17-18, investigators said.

The sheriff’s alert did not provide an address for the property.

Authorities said a woman reported receiving threats from a man on Oct. 14, days before the fires. She also told investigators an intruder broke into her residence and assaulted her that same night before leaving, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

On Oct. 17, Bastrop County Emergency Services District No. 1 responded to the first fire. According to deputies, witnesses reported seeing a man lurking at the property hours earlier, and the woman reported receiving additional threats shortly before the blaze broke out.

Authorities said firefighters returned twice Oct. 18 following reports of more fires at the home.

The woman told law enforcement she continued to receive threats from the male, including statements he intended to burn the home again, according to investigators.

The fires not only rendered the home uninhabitable, but the first blaze claimed the lives of the woman’s pit-bull terrier and seven 2-week-old puppies after first responders were unable to reach them, deputies said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office at 512549-5100 or Bluebonnet Crime Stoppers at 866930-8477.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted at bluebonnet.crimestoppersweb. com.

With the Wildcat stadium having undergone a recent remodel, this was Elgin’s first time playing at home after seven consecutive road games.

This is a change from their meeting last season, where Elgin visited and defeated Crockett 70-26.

The Wildcats alternated control, holding a lead three times throughout the game and outpacing Crockett 7-0 in the first quarter.

The Cougars picked up 20 points over Elgin in the second quarter, holding a narrow 20-14 lead going into halftime. The two teams split scoring 3-3 in the third quarter, with a five-yard pass in the fourth quarter pushing Elgin into a 24-23 lead.

Crockett responded in the final two minutes with a 3-yard rushing touchdown and a successful two-point conversion, finalizing the Elgin defeat at 31-24.

The Wildcats are now 3-5 overall and 1-2 for district, holding the fourth spot on district rankings.

Elgin will play its final road game of the season against the Bastrop Bears on Friday, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Last season, Bastrop visited and defeated the Wildcats 62-6.

The Bears currently maintain a 4-4 overall record and a perfect 3-0 record, placing them first on district rankings. Bastrop will enter the meeting riding a 65-0 blowout victory over the Navarro Vikings.

• Criminal trespass

• Unauthorized use of vehicle

• DWI with open alcohol container; possession of a controlled substance

• Possession of a controlled substance • Unauthorized use of vehicle

• DWI

• Marijuana possession

• OCT. 19

• Public intoxication; terroristic threat cause fear of imminent serious bodily injury

• Criminal trespass; DWI; failure to identify fugitive intent give false info; property theft

• Aggravated assault with deadly weapon; aggravated kidnapping with deadly weapon; assault causes bodily injury date/family/household member with previous conviction; driving with invalid license; unlawful possession firearm by felon

• ICE detainee; possession of a controlled substance; reckless driving; resisting arrest search or transport

• Theft

• DWI 3rd or more

• Criminal trespass

OCT. 20

• DWI; ICE detainee

• Criminal mischief

• Property theft

• Reckless driving; no insurance; no use of turn signals; speeding

• DWI; ICE detainee

• Evading arresting detective with vehicle

• Prohibited substance in correctional or civic community facility

• Possession of a controlled substance; ICE detainee

• Assault causes bodily injury; no insurance

OCT. 21

• Driving with invalid license

• Driving with invalid license with previous conviction/suspension

• Assault causes bodily injury family violence;

• Driving with invalid license

OCT. 22

• Criminal trespass

• DWI

• Aggravated assault date/family/ household member with weapon serious bodily injury

• Violation bond/protective order

• Manufacture/possession of a controlled substance

• Possession of a controlled substance • Criminal trespass

• DWI

• ICE detainee

• Criminal trespass

• Public intoxication

• ICE detainee

OCT. 23

• DWI with open alcohol container

• ICE detainee; manufacture/delivery of controlled substance

• Bench warrant; stalking

• Assault family/household member impeding breath/circulation

• Assault causes bodily injury

• Criminal trespass; theft

• Continuous violence against the family

• DWI with open alcohol container

OCT. 24

• DWI

• Driving with invalid license with previous conviction/suspension; DWI 3rd or more count

• Terroristic threat cause feat of imminent serious bodily injury

• Assault by physical contact-family violence

• Property theft

• DWI 2nd count

• Possession of drug paraphernalia

• Criminal trespass

OCT. 25

• DWI

• DWI with child under 15 years

• Disorderly conduct

• Property theft

• Loitering, camping, soliciting in public area; violation of city ordinance of littering

That’s a primary reason health premiums are growing nearly three times faster than wages, even as patients spend less time with their doctors and face routine delays and denials. In nearly three-quarters of commercial insurance markets, consumers lack meaningful choices.

Americans are rightly frustrated about paying nearly $30,000 in premiums for family coverage that squeezes patients at almost every turn. Roughly 70% support using antitrust enforcement to break up large health insurance companies. And by a 20-to-1 margin, voters want to block insurers from buying healthcare providers.

Yet while antitrust powers are an important tool — and should be used — they won’t restore insurance market competition on their own. To fix our problems, policymakers will also need to unwind the policies that fueled consolidation in the first place.

A few large insurers increasingly control not only health plans but the entire patient care journey — from doctors and pharmacy benefit managers to clinics and hospitals. That has reduced their incentive to improve outcomes and compete on care quality. Instead, every prescription, treatment decision, and coverage policy now presents an opportunity to expand profits.

Take pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the intermediaries that determine which drugs patients receive. Today, just three PBMs, each affiliated with a major insurer, process roughly 80% of all U.S. prescription drug claims.

Insurers argue that PBMs exist to lower costs, but since PBM reimbursement is tied to drug costs, they make more by steering patients toward higher-priced drugs. One House Oversight Committee report found over 1,000 cases in which PBMs used their gatekeeping power to steer patients toward needlessly expensive drugs.

This consolidation is no accident. Policies such as the Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act have distorted the market and empowered the largest insurers over their smaller competitors.

Obamacare imposed strict limits on how insurers could structure their coverage. That has made it harder for smaller insurers to compete through lower-priced, f lexible alternatives while strengthening the position of larger incumbents.

Obamacare also tied federal subsidies to rising premiums, inflating insurer revenues while weakening incentives to hold costs down.

And other federal programs have created similar distortions. Weak oversight of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which gives safety-net providers access to discounted drugs, has enabled some hospitals and insurers to profit by pocketing drug discounts rather than passing savings on to patients.

Policymakers can help by making greater use of antitrust tools like the Sherman and Clayton Acts.

But policymakers cannot stop there. To prevent consolidation from recurring, Congress must also address the root causes of insurance monopolies. It should give money to patients instead of insurers and make companies compete for customers.

Congress should also curb wasteful ACA subsidies, revise the Medical Loss Ratio rule, strengthen oversight of federal programs such as 340B, and reform Medicare reimbursement rules that pay hospital-affiliated providers more than independent ones for providing the same care. All of these policies drive consolidation, which drives up prices and premiums.

Patients deserve a healthcare market in which insurers compete for their business — not one in which a handful of companies own every step of a patient’s care.

Joel White is the president of the Council for Affordable Health Coverage, a nonprofit advocacy organization that seeks to lower the cost of health care for all Americans.

— heard from my mother

“I told my children once they were grown, if you’ve done dumb things you never told me about, don’t tell me now. I don’t need to know,” my friend said with a laugh last week.

During the chat, we compared stunts our kids pulled that gave us gray hair … in other words, the shenanigans we knew about.

These are incredible examples of “what were you thinking,” praying we never found out.

It happens in every generation. At this point, I’m prone to believe in guardian angels. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be sitting here pounding out this keyboard confession about one temporary lapse in judgment many years ago.

Let’s call it the “Mexican Joy Ride.” That might sound like a questionable appetizer on a South Texas bar menu, but it’s the best name for what happened in the summer of 1965 in Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico.

Long-time friend David Neeley and I spent a lot of time at each other’s houses growing up. His mom, Doris Neeley, was like a second mother to me. She was always so gracious to invite me on many of their trips, including one excursion driving into Mexico.

As a kid from Mount Pleasant, Mexico was total culture shock.

I still have vivid memories of Mrs. Neeley’s big Bonneville sharing the blacktop with ancient, sputtering trucks and mule-powered carts. We witnessed living conditions that were a study in stark contrasts—opulent homes just a stone’s throw from dirt-floor huts.

We stayed at the Hotel Chulavista, perched like a fortress on an elevated hill on Monclova’s north side, offering a sweeping view of the city below. Billed as “the place to stay” back in 1965, it was the backdrop for our big adventure one siesta-worthy afternoon.

The hotel driveway was a steep asphalt ribbon that climbed the hill, skirted the pool and dropped back down toward the city. David’s mom was relaxing in her room while he and I checked out the pool, then decided to explore the hotel grounds. That’s where we crossed paths with a local boy about our age — wheeling a sunfaded, battered Volkswagen Beetle.

How we actually struck up a conversation remains a mystery. We spoke zero Spanish, and our new friend spoke no English. Yet, through the universal “smiles and frantic handspeak language,” we comprehended his offer of a joy ride.

With the bulletproof confidence of teenage boys, we climbed right in.

Down the hill we went, dropping like a roller coaster into the city. I don’t think speed limits existed in Mexico then—but if they did, our driver treated them as a suggestion. It was a sightseeing tour in fast-forward. Our guide shouted enthusiastic, nonstop commentary in Spanish, talking just as fast as he drove, while the Beetle buzzed through the streets like a caffeinated hornet.

In 1965, Monclova was home to about 70,000 people—a fraction of its current population of 250,000. But to two small-town Texas boys, it felt like New York City. For 30 frantic minutes, we blurred past bustling business districts and historic neighborhoods.

The grand finale was a dizzying spin around the famous Glorieta Juárez, a massive traffic circle featuring a towering monument to Mexican President Benito Juárez.

Before we knew it, the Bug chugged back up the hotel hill and, with a flurry of laughter and waving, our newly befriended driver sped away.

Not for a single second did it ever cross our minds that getting into a car with a total stranger in a foreign country was a terrible idea.

We did, however, have better survival instincts at dinner that evening when David’s mom asked, “What have you boys been up to this afternoon?”

“Oh,” I replied with a shrug. “Hanging out around the pool.”

David’s mom and mine are both gone now. Neither ever learned of the “Mexican Joy Ride.”

Recalling that clandestine excursion so many years ago, I completely understood my friend’s request to her children last week. That’s because we earned our gray hair just like every other parent.

We remember our dumb stunts and remain perfectly content knowing only what our kids confessed to growing up.

A preacher sat on the porch as an ice cream vendor drove slowly down the street. The preacher’s small son ran to him and said, “Daddy, give me a quarter.” The preacher pulled out a quarter and flipped it to his son.

The son’s friend was also playing in the yard. The preacher heard the boy say, “Go get a quarter from your Daddy for me.” The preacher’s son said, “You go get it yourself,” and the small friend replied, “But — he’s your Daddy.”

“Go tell him you’re my friend, and ask him for a quarter,” the son said.

The little boy came near the porch where the preacher continued reading his paper. The boys were not aware that the preacher saw them or heard them.

That’s just the way we are with our Father-God: We think we’re handling things all by ourselves, unheard and unobserved.

The small boy looked over at the preacher, who just kept reading.

Finally, he moved closer and said, “My name’s Johnny.”

“Hi, Johnny. My name is Mr. Williams.”

“Yeah, I know,” Johnny said, as he kept his eyes on the preacher’s son. “Mr. Williams? I know you son.”

The preacher said, “Good.” As he listened, the little boy looked down the street and saw the ice cream truck getting closer. Urgency took over and the preacher’s son whispered, “Ask him.”

“Mr. Williams, I am your son’s friend.”

The preacher said, “Good. I’m his friend too.”

Finally, the boy blurted out, “Mr. Williams, will you give me a quarter? Your son said I could ask.” And he held his hand up toward the father, with his face toward his son.

His actions implied the preacher was too big for him, that he has no right or basis on which to approach him for anything. He felt there is no good reason for the preacher to give him anything he asks for — he doesn’t deserve it — but only he has what he needs.

His actions said, “Right now, I have an urgent need, and I know your son. In the name of your son, Fredrick, give me a quarter.”

Friends, God listens. He knows.

When trouble knocks you down, when darkness deepens, when you don’t know what you’re doing or feel all alone, go to God in prayer.

Tell Him, “I do know your Son. I have a need, and in the Name of Your Son, Jesus, I ask You for what I need.” Until next week, Anita Onarecker, an Elgin resident, author of “Divine Appointment: Our Journey to the Bridge” and minister to women and adults, earned a Master of Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007.

BASTROP — A delegation of local officials made a recent trip to South Korea to encourage companies involved in healthcare, manufacturing, construction and technology to plant roots in Bastrop.

Mayor Ishmael Harris, City Manager Sylvia Carrillo- Trevino and Economic Development Corp. Chairman Gary Blake spent five days — Oct. 12Oct. 17 — in South Korea meeting with business leaders as the city looks for ways to prepare for growth, they said.

“I’d rather be sitting across the table asking questions than standing outside wondering what happened,” Harris said in a social-media post.

South Korean firms have been flocking to neighboring Williamson County ever since Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. announced in November 2021 it was building a second plant in the Austin area.

Since that time, other area cities and governments have made overtures to Asian firms while seeking the potential for lucrative business relationships.

According to the post, the Bastrop delegation met with LG CNS, a South Korean technology company, to discuss its K-Bridge initiative, which aims to help Korean companies explore opportunities to enter the U.S. market.

Bastrop, Killeen and Henderson are among three Texas cities South Korean industries are considering for potential opportunities.

Discussions with the Bastrop visitors covered advanced manufacturing, logistics, biotechnology and healthcare. A company representative also expressed interest in visiting Bastrop while in Austin for a conference in November, Harris said.

The delegation also met with healthcare organizations CHA Biogroup and OrganoidSciences to discuss medical research and Bastrop’s vision for a regional hospital.

Officials visited Seoyon E-Hwa, which operates an auto parts facility in Hutto, and toured Plan M, a modular construction company.

Harris said the meetings were meant to build relationships and explore possibilities.

No agreements were signed, and no incentives or development projects were approved.

He also emphasized that international busines s oppor tunit ies should not overshadow local merchants and contractors.

“They are the backbone of development in our region and nobody knows our community quite like they do,” he said.

Any future proposals would need to be reviewed for their effects on infrastructure, water and wastewater services, transportation, the environment and local employment, Harris said in the post.

The mayor added he wants to prepare Bastrop for expansion while protecting the community’s history and character.

“I want a Bastrop that is prepared, not surprised,” he said.

The court authorized the department to transition from its current cellphone data extraction software, Cellebrite, with a system from Magnet Forensics that includes GrayKey, a tool designed to open smartphones and recover digital evidence.

Officials said the upgrade could increase the successful cellphone extraction rate from 50% to as high as 90%, strengthening investigations involving child sexual exploitation and narcotics offenses.

“We’re going to other agencies and asking them, ‘Can you unlock our phones?’” Sheriff Maurice Cook told commissioners Oct. 13. “We’re going to Round Rock — we go to Austin — we go to different agencies.”

According to county documents, recent smartphone security upgrades have lowered Cellebrite’s effectiveness, leaving investigators unable to retrieve potential evidence from about half of the devices they try to access.

The approval followed public comments from residents, who questioned the county’s use of surveillance technology, citing controversy over facial recognition software and automatic license plate-reading cameras.

“I think that we need to pump the brakes here,” resident John Bush said. “I remember good old-fashioned community policing, building relationships with the people where you don’t have to leverage (artificial intelligence) surveillance technology in order to watch people like Big Brother.”

Cook defended the technology as a tool for probing serious crimes, noting that investigators must have legal authorization to access a device.

“This is not just willy-nilly going out there and looking in your phone,” Cook said. “The only time that we get this technology and use it is with a search warrant … if you want people having child pornography, facilitating narcotics, then don’t approve this.”

He also clarified that deputies must physically possess a cellphone in order to use the software.

Under the approved transition, the county will maintain its existing Cellebrite subscription until it expires in March 2027, while three employees complete specialized training on the new system.

County documents list differing firstyear costs for Magnet Forensics, running from about $52,000 to $58,000. Both estimates include software, hardware and discounted training.

The county’s information technology department will contribute $21,000 toward the first-year cost, with the remainder funded through the Sheriff’s Office budget.

After the transition, the annual subscription will is priced at $23,000, an increase of about $2,500 over the current software.

The Lady Wildcats were unable to clinch a playoff position, placing fifth on district rankings behind the Hendrickson Lady Hawks. This is an improvement from last season, where Elgin finished sixth on the rankings with a 2-10 district record.

The Lady Wildcats had an erratic pre-season, going on a six-game win streak before accumulating a five-loss streak to then pick up a nine-game win streak.

Elgin opened its season on the road against Georgetown on Sept. 8, falling to the Lady Eagles 3-0. The Lady Wildcats picked up a separate 3-0 defeat by Georgetown at home at their second meeting later in the season.

To end the season, Elgin took home a 3-1 victory over the Manor Lady Mustangs. This was the second victory over Manor this season after not having faced the program since a 2-0 loss in 2023. The Lady Mustangs took the first set 25-23, with Elgin winning the remaining sets 25-18, 25-20 and 25-23, respectively.

Overall, the Lady Wildcats picked up 64 set wins and 60 losses. For district play, Elgin won 17 sets and allowed 31 sets.

The Wildcats will start district play on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. on the road against Glenn. This is the first meeting between the two since a 61-54 tournament defeat by Glenn in 2024. Elgin varsity boys will face the Manor Mustangs on the road on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. for the first time since 2021, looking to bounce back from an 80-29 defeat at home.

The varsity boys will begin their season on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. with a scrimmage against the Taylor Ducks hosted by Elgin.

In the 2025-26 season, the varsity boys finished sixth on district rankings with an 11-19 overall record and 3-9 for district.

The Lady Wildcats will open their season on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 11 a.m. with a scrimmage in China Spring, TX versus China Spring. The Elgin varsity girls will begin district play on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. with a road game against the Georgetown Lady Eagles.

The Lady Wildcats will face Manor at home on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. The varsity girls last played the Lady Mustangs in a 2024 tournament, falling 4920.

The Lady Wildcats faced off against Glenn during tournament play last season, picking up a steep 55-15 defeat by the Lady Grizzlies. Elgin will look to redeem itself as it hosts the next meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.

To close out the 202526 season, the varsity girls placed sixth on district rankings and accumulated an 11-23 overall record and 3-9 for district play.

With the Wildcat stadium having undergone a recent remodel, this was Elgin’s first time playing at home after seven consecutive road games. 

This is a change from their meeting last season, where Elgin visited and defeated Crockett 70-26. 

The Wildcats alternated control, holding a lead three times throughout the game and outpacing Crockett 7-0 in the first quarter. The Cougars picked up 20 points over Elgin in the second quarter, holding a narrow 20-14 lead going into halftime. 

The two teams split scoring 3-3 in the third quarter, with a five-yard pass in the fourth quarter pushing Elgin into a 24-23 lead. Crockett responded in the final two minutes with a 3-yard rushing touchdown and a successful two-point conversion, finalizing the Elgin defeat at 31-24. 

Elgin will play its final road game of the season against the Bastrop Bears on Friday, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Last season, Bastrop visited and defeated the Wildcats 62-6.

The Bears currently maintain a 4-4 overall record and a perfect 3-0 record, placing them first on district rankings. Bastrop will enter the meeting riding a 65-0 blowout victory over the Navarro Vikings. 

The Oct. 13 session also included plans to replace utility meters and a transfer of water infrastructure.

The meeting also revealed broader tensions over how Smithville should manage development, improve infrastructure and balance public needs against costs.

Rents on the rise 

Though the council delved into a detailed discussion about affordable housing, members took no action.

According to Councilman Brandon Dunham, the city should address the imbalance between local earnings and housing costs. He added rental housing in Smithville tends to be more expensive than in Austin.

“Whenever I first made the decision to move back to Smithville, I was living in Austin, close to downtown. It was more expensive for me to rent in Smithville than it was to rent in Austin and so that’s ultimately why I decided to buy a really cheap house,” Dunham said. 

He described the experience as a wake-up call because income for restaurant workers and others is significantly lower in Smithville.

“You are constantly in a position where you can’t afford to live here,” Dunham said.

VFD fees

In other business, the city will not refund disputed fees collected to support the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department; residents have questioned the charges and sought refunds.

City Manager Trey Jobs reported on discussions with the city attorney, adding the fee had not originally been established correctly. The city subsequently made the fee voluntary so residents could opt out.

However, officials said the city’s current position is not to refund previously collected money.

Jobs explained the proceeds had been used to support the VFD’s operations, administrative expenses and emergency response services. He also indicated the city had considered whether residents followed the necessary procedures to challenge the fees. 

“There was some discussion with the attorney when the fee had to be protested and in what manner you make it legal to recover and make a claim and that was not done by the majority of the folks that requested the funds back,” Jobs said.

Earlier in the meeting, council members considered a revised interlocal agreement with the VFD. 

The proposed changes included quarterly response reports, increased financial oversight, annual inventories of city-owned equipment, verification of nonprofit status and provisions for terminating the agreement over financial misconduct or other violations. 

The discussion also referenced a VFD budget amount of $131,700.

 Utility meter system

Meanwhile, council members unanimously authorized the city manager to negotiate a contract for a new automated utility meter reading system. The contract still requires final approval, funding and legal review. 

The concern was that aging equipment has made meter readings and billing more difficult. 

A proposed advanced metering system through Techline by deploying Aclara devices would provide an automated solution for electric meters, with the potential to integrate existing water meters.

The presentation identified an initial proposal of $1.36 million, with an estimated five-year cost of about $1.5 million.

Council members discussed the financial implications of replacing equipment and emphasized the need for compatibility with the city’s billing systems.

The project could improve utility billing accuracy, reduce manual work and address infrastructure problems, but would require a substantial investment, officials said.

 Aqua Water Supply Corp. agreement

The council also approved agreements concerning the transfer and management of water infrastructure involving Aqua Water Supply Corp. 

The arrangement covers 24 customer connections and involves a $100,000 payment, divided into two $50,000 installments.

Under the interim service agreement, Smithville would maintain and repair the affected infrastructure while Aqua WSC continues billing customers under its existing rates.

The arrangement is intended to continue until the Public Utility Commission of Texas approves the transfer. Officials explained the process could take considerable time, depending on regulatory approval.

The council also approved a separate agreement covering the purchase and transfer of the water-service infrastructure.

A social media post from the Sheriff’s Office Oct. 20 said deputies are looking for Abraham Salomon Chacon, believed to be 40, who is wanted on charges of first-degree felony arson and third-degree felony cruelty to animals.

Deputies described Chacon as 5-feet-10-inches tall and weighing 200 pounds with brown eyes, black hair or a bald head, and numerous tattoos on his head, body and arms.

The case stems from three separate blazes that occurred at the same residence Oct. 17-18, investigators said.

The sheriff’s alert did not provide an address for the property.

Authorities said a woman reported receiving threats from a man on Oct. 14, days before the fires. She also told investigators an intruder broke into her residence and assaulted her that same night before leaving, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

On Oct. 17, Bastrop County Emergency Services District No. 1 responded to the first fire. According to deputies, witnesses reported seeing a man lurking at the property hours earlier, and the woman reported receiving additional threats shortly before the blaze broke out.

Authorities said firefighters returned twice Oct. 18 following reports of more fires at the home.

The woman told law enforcement she continued to receive threats from the male, including statements he intended to burn the home again, according to investigators.

The fires not only rendered the home uninhabitable, but the first blaze claimed the lives of the woman’s pit-bull terrier and seven 2-week-old puppies after first responders were unable to reach them, deputies said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office at 512-549-5100 or Bluebonnet Crime Stoppers at 866-930-8477.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted at bluebonnet.crimestoppersweb.com.

According to an Oct. 15 social media post, the first report occurred near FM 20 and Walter Hoffman Road, where a man driving a black Dodge Durango pulled over a driver, ordered them out and took personal belongings.

Authorities also said a second person reported a similar encounter.

“Of the encounters we have heard about there has been no violence and no indication the subject is armed,” Sheriff Maurice Cook said in the post.

The SUV is described as having a brush guard, dark-tinted windows, no license plate and a redand- blue light bar on the dashboard.

The driver was dressed entirely in black, wearing tactical-style pants, leader gloves and a ski mask covering his face.

Authorities are urging anyone who encounters a vehicle or person matching the description to call 911.

The sheriff acknowledged that state law requires drivers to pull over for cars displaying red and blue lights but said drivers should consider their personal safety.

“We cannot give any instructions to disregard the state law,” Cook said. “However, you be the judge if your safety is in jeopardy.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bastrop County dispatch at 512-303-7000.

A citywide scavenger hunt this month is bringing residents into local businesses as participants search for miniature Bigfoot statues and compete for a $500 grand prize.

Organized by Anthony Stowe, Nick Shaulis and Ben Harris, the trio behind the local podcast “Hey Elgin,” Operation Sasquatch’s “The Hunt — Finding Squatchy” launched Oct. 1, challenging residents to find 20 hidden statues at businesses across the city. Organizers said the monthlong event combines technology, community engagement and charitable fundraising to encourage residents to shop locally.

“We put our heads together to try and figure out a way to drive foot traffic downtown or to local businesses,” Stowe said. Sasquatch is — for now — a mythical, shaggy, bipedal anthropoid said to inhabit the soggy swamplands of East Texas, the impenetrable forests of the Pacific Northwest and other regions, joining the ranks of cryptids such as the Loch Ness monster.

The sasquatch theme grew out of a running joke surrounding Shaulis, who frequently shared posts about Bigfoot, conspiracy theories and other unexplained phenomena on social media before bringing those interests to the podcast.

Within its first five days, the hunt attracted 62 registered participants, recorded 151 statue discoveries and generated 63 purchases at participating businesses.

That number had grown to 71 purchases by the seventh day, according to Stowe.

The idea for the event developed after the trio interviewed around 50 local businesses through their podcast, which recently celebrated its first anniversary and 50th episode. Stowe said those conversations inspired the group to create an activity that would encourage residents to visit local storefronts.

“The three of us love this town and we want people to love this town as much as we love it,” Harris said.

Eventually, the group established Operation Sasquatch as a nonprofit with a mission to “do the most good locally.”

To join the hunt, participants register online and receive a list of locations. At each business, hunters search for a 3D-printed sasquatch statue, scan its QR code and submit a photo for verification.

Residents who locate all 20 statues qualify for a drawing to win $500 on Nov. 1 at Millie’s on Main, located at 212 N. Main St.

Beyond the scavenger hunt, the nonprofit has expanded its efforts through partnerships with local organizations, including the Lucky Old Scoundrels Motorcycle Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Harris said what began as a podcast featuring residents and businesses has since become a way to give back to the community.

“We’re just three guys, we just want to have fun,” Harris said. “We’re all transplants, but we love this town.”

Residents interested in participating in the hunt can register at thehunt. heyelgin.com.

The Bastrop County Commissioners Court Oct. 13 approved a resolution calling on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to convene a local session regarding a permit application from Pacifico Energy, a California based energy infrastructure company.

The company is proposing a power plant capable of generating 1,300 megawatts of electricity to support data- center development in the area.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Clara Beckett acknowledged the county’s limited regulatory authority over commercial development, explaining that counties lack zoning powers.

However, she indicated there was little that could be done by the county to stop the project.

“If they submit their permits and they comply with the few things that we have regulatory authority over, we shall issue the permit,” she said.

At press time, there was no public announcement if or when TCEQ would hold the hearing.

The commissioners’ request is prompted by growing opposition to data center development in Bastrop County, with residents sounding alarms about potential effects on surrounding communities. Common worries concern drains on the power grid and water, as well as noise pollution.

Supporters note data centers are needed for artificial intelligence, banking, military needs and communication. The large industries also returned substantial tax revenue that can support local schools and infrastructure.

While the proposed plant would provide electricity for nearby industrial development, commissioners are asking for greater transparency and public input before state officials decide on any permits.

TCEQ issues approvals for construction- heavy projects such as industrial sites and data centers, including permits covering emissions, air quality, water and wastewater.

“We need answers backed by actual data,” said Mary Santana, who is building a home near the proposed plant.

Other residents expressed frustration over what they described as limited communication from developers, while some urged officials to take a stronger stance against data-center development.

Similar concerns have been aired in the nearby communities of Taylor and Hutto.

“I’m pleased that the court has decided to take steps in defending our county … I would love for this resolution to have been considered six or eight weeks ago, but we’ll take what we can get,” Cameron Allen told commissioners.

State law does not permit counties to have general zoning authority, nor can a county government approve or deny the construction of large industrial complexes such as a data center.

Those permitting decisions are reserved for state agencies such as TCEQ, although counties can OK local tax abatements and economic incentives, as well as work with road contractors and groundwater conservation districts.

Beckett said the county is partnering with legislative counsel and the Texas Urban Counties Association on potential laws that could provide counties with more power over data center development.

The county’s request also follows a Sept. 21 order from Gov. Greg Abbott directing TCEQ to halt permits for data centers while state agencies review their electricity and water demands.

The freeze involves a comprehensive audit of new and proposed data centers by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and the Texas Water Development Board, requiring them to review water consumption, power systems and affects on the grid.

The audits are expected by December.

The City Council unanimously voted Oct. 13 to terminate its contract.

“Everything has been locked out on the system, but they are still physically present,” Acting City Manager Beau Perry said.

The decision followed a monthlong pause initiated by Police Chief Chris Noble in September as controversy surrounding the technology intensified nationwide. Texas cities including Austin, Pf lugerville, Manor, Hutto, Bastrop, Bandera and Boerne have also ended their Flock agreements.

“This decision is not anti-police and it is not a decision against using technology to fight crime,” Mayor Pro Tem YaLecia Love said in a statement. “It is a decision that says Elgin should invest in tools that provide a demonstrable public-safety benefit while maintaining clear local control over residents’ information.”

Elgin’s system included 25 cameras and a mobile trailer equipped with four cameras of its own. Thirteen cameras were funded through the city’s general fund at a cost of $39,000 annually, while the remaining 12 cameras and trailer were supported by a Texas Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority grant totaling about $63,000.

Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to halt state support in late August affected the grantfunded cameras and trailer, while the agreement covering the 13 city-funded cameras was renewed in March and subsequently left on the city’s books until its expiration in 2028.

At press time, the Department of Public Safety still used ALPRs, but under new guidelines.

The council’s vote directs city staff to terminate the agreements and work with the city attorney to negotiate any remaining financial obligations.

Councilman Roland Silva said residents had expressed widespread opposition to the cameras, citing concerns about how information collected by the technology could be used.

“I come from a law-enforcement background and I know the benefits of having data,” he said. “The problem with what we’re seeing today nationwide is more of a trust issue, I think, amongst the community.”

Silva noted the concerns were not necessarily directed toward the Police Department but reflected broader worries surrounding surveillance practices.

Noble previously defended the cameras’ investigative value, telling the Courier in September their removal would affect the department’s ability to investigate crimes ranging from violent offenses to property crimes, but maintained the decision on whether to continue its use should rest with the council and the community.

Police agencies have said ALPRs are “force multipliers” that help track criminal activity across multiple jurisdictions and can even be used to find missing persons.

Critics counter that even though Flock and other firms have tightened rules for accessing the stored information — Flock purges its database every seven days — too many concerns remain about widespread access to the surveillance information.

Recent violations have included police using the data to spy on people for personal reasons.

This was the first recorded meeting between the two programs, with the Raptors holding a 0-7 overall record coming off a 19-12 defeat by Navarro the week prior.

“We’re definitely getting better,” said Elgin head coach Richard Lucero. “Now it’s just a matter of getting consistent with our practice habits and the way that we approach game week as a whole.”

Freshman running-back JC Keller and senior wide-receiver Brandon Sorrells picked up two touchdowns each after passes by sophomore quarterback Tanner Modesette.

“Tanner has been through a lot and has grown a lot,” said Lucero. “He was thrust into a difficult situation of playing varsity after playing in only three varsity games last season, but now he will be our quarterback for the next few years.”

Elgin is now 3-4 overall and 1-1 for district play, holding the fourth spot on district rankings.

The Wildcats will return home after seven consecutive road meetings to play their first home game of the season, hosting the Crockett Cougars for homecoming on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m.

“It’s very exciting” said Lucero “The stadium’s been renovated, the press box been innovated, we got a new scoreboard so we’re looking forward to that. It’s going to be a great evening for us.”

The Cougars are currently 3-4 overall and split 1-1 for district, coming off their own blowout victory over Navarro.

These performances qualified both runners for the regional meet taking place in Huntsville from Oct. 26-27. The top 10 qualifiers from regionals will advance to the state meet on Nov. 7 in Round Rock.

“It would be amazing for either one of these young folks to qualify,” said Elgin boys cross country coach Alvis Prince. “We’ve got everybody signed back for next year, so the future is looking amazing already.”

Out of the four Wildcats who competed in the varsity boys 5000meter run, Trevino finished third overall with personal record of 16:18.00. He is ranked eighth in district standings. This performance comes after Trevino was selected as the Elgin High School Male Student Athlete of the month for September.

Five Lady Wildcats competed in the varsity girls 5000-meter run, with Hodges finishing seventh overall and led the girls’ squad with a time of 20:31.00.

“That was literally the first full 5K she has run,” said Prince. “She’s been running junior varsity, so her future is really bright.”

Overall, the Wildcat cross country team finished fourth overall with a combined 104 points. This was the final fullteam meet of the season.

Since 2024, the Lady Wildcats have picked up zero sets over Weiss and surrendered 18 consecutive blowout sets.

Elgin did not go down without a fight, narrowly falling to Weiss in the first set 27-25. The Lady Wildcats could not duplicate the first set success however, losing in the second and third sets 25-15.

The Lady Wildcats are 22-20 overall and 3-9 for district play, sitting at sixth for district rankings. This is a slight improvement from this time last season, where Elgin maintained a 2-9 district record.

Elgin varsity volleyball played its final home game on Tuesday, Oct. 20 against the Pflugerville Lady Panthers before closing out regular season play against the Manor Lady Mustangs on the road on Friday, Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Bastrop County voters will head to the polls Nov. 3 to decide several local races, including who will serve as county judge and Precinct 4 commissioner.

Incumbent County Judge Gregory Klaus will face off against challenger Dock Jackson, while incumbent Precinct 4 Commissioner David Glass will compete against write-in candidate Kat Hammer.

At the state and federal levels, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott faces Democrat Gina Hinojosa and Libertarian Pat Dixon, while Republican Ken Paxton faces Democrat James Talarico and Libertarian Ted Brown for U.S. Senate. Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick faces Democrat Vikki Goodwin and other third-party challengers.

Closer to home, Republican incumbent Stan Gerdes faces Democrat Mary Elizabeth Klenz for Texas House District 17, while Republican incumbent Charles Schwertner faces Democrat Paul Thomasson for Senate District 5. Voters will also decide congressional, attorney general and other statewide races.

Voters will also consider propositions on alcohol sales, emergency services and school funding. These include measures to legalize the sale of all alcoholic beverages, including mixed beverages, in various jurisdictions, a proposed annexation into Bastrop County Emergency Services District No. 2, a Bastrop Independent School District tax rate increase and a $4.5 million McDade Independent School District bond proposal.

The Courier reached out to candidates in the county judge and Precinct 4 commissioner races and invited them to respond to questions about their campaigns, qualifications and priorities.

For a complete list of polling locations, sample ballots and additional election information, visit bastropvotes.org.

MEET THE CANDIDATES BASTROP COUNTY JUDGE

GREGORY KLAUS electgregoryklaus.com

Why are you running for office?

I’m running for reelection because I care deeply about Bastrop County and want to continue the work we’ve started. As our county grows, experienced leadership and responsible planning are more important than ever.

Why should voters choose you?

My experience in county government, budgeting and emergency management has prepared me to address the challenges we face. I’ve worked alongside Commissioners Court and county departments to strengthen public safety, improve services and move important projects forward. I believe in listening to residents, working together and being accountable to taxpayers.

If elected, what would be your top three priorities?

My priorities remain public safety, responsible growth and fiscal responsibility. I will continue addressing public safety needs, protecting taxpayer dollars and working with state legislators to seek greater local authority over developments such as data centers that impact our water resources, infrastructure and communities.

DOCK JACKSON dockjackson.com

Why are you running for office?

I am running for Bastrop County J u d g e to provide effective and open government to Bastrop County. I intend to be a voice of action and leadership for our residents as well as a listening ear for many concerns that need to be addressed. Decorum and open communication with local residents is important and I hope to restore that element of the proceedings. I believe that to be a good public servant and county judge requires vision, leadership, experience, integrity and honor.

Why should voters choose you?

I bring three decades of elected and community service on the Bastrop City Council as council members and mayor pro tem and almost ten years of work in the county judge, county clerk and justice of peace offices. My work with the Texas Municipal League, including service as TML president working with the Texas Association of Counties as a partner to connect cities and counties has also prepared me to advocate for Bastrop County at the state level and seek resources for local needs. My longtime commitment and continued service to our county and the knowledge I bring to the position should be considered in the election of the next county judge.

If elected, what would be your top three priorities?

Provide and protect our water by supporting safe, reliable and sufficient water sources for current residents and future generations by partnering with cities and utility organizations. Plan for responsible growth and improved infrastructure by developing a comprehensive Bastrop County Master Plan. Strengthening public safety and emergency services by budgetarily supporting our law enforcement, fire protection, Emergency Medical Services, first responders and emergency preparedness.

PRECINCT 4 COMMISSIONER

DAVID GLASS

electdavidglass.com

Why are you running for office?

I’m running for re-election because I love Bastrop County and believe there’s more work to be done. I’ve worked hard to bring common sense leadership, fiscal responsibility and real results to Precinct 4.

Why should voters choose you?

I bring proven leadership, business experience and a track record of getting things done. I’ve worked to improve our county roads, strengthen infrastructure, support public safety and promote responsible economic growth. I believe in listening to residents, protecting taxpayers and making decisions based on facts, not politics.

If elected, what would be your top three priorities?

Roads and infrastructure: Continue improving roads, drainage and transportation to meet our growing county’s needs. Fiscal responsibility: Protect taxpayers, control spending and encourage quality economic development that strengthens our tax base. Public safety and quality of life: Support law enforcement, emergency services and environmental protection.

KAT HAMMER kathammertx.com

Why are you running for office?

I care about our community and believe that we deserve transparent leader ship and integrity. I am skilled at working with a diversity of opinions to find common ground and achieve outcomes; ensure that everyone has a seat at the table.

Why should voters choose you?

I am invested in residents, community and will fight for all.

If elected, what would be your top three priorities?

My top priorities include curbing the development of data centers by working with Independents, Republicans, Democrats, activist groups and state legislatures. Improve communication with constituents by offering town halls every 90 days; advocating for a once-a-month evening commissioner’s meeting; and offering evening virtual office hours. Lastly, we must manage urban rural small-town charm. Build relationships with county department heads and county staff, current commissioners in Bastrop. Investigate what other counties are doing that we can learn from and improve Bastrop County.

2026 ELECTION EARLY VOTING

Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 19 and runs through Friday, Oct. 30:

• Oct. 19-23: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Oct. 24: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Oct. 25: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Oct. 26-30: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Early voting locations are open to any registered voter in Bastrop County

• Bastrop County Courthouse Annex, 804 Pecan St., lower level, conference room, Bastrop

• Smithville Recreation Center, 106 Royston St., Smithville

• Bastrop County Cedar Creek Annex, 5785 FM 535, Cedar Creek

• North Bastrop County Community Annex, 702 Bull Run, Eglin

ELECTION DAY VOTING Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Bastrop County voters may cast their ballots at any of the county’s 15 Election Day polling locations.

The glitch caused by “an extra address validation” affected Texans who updated their names and addresses on the state’s government record portal, texas.gov, between Sept. 1 and last week, according to an email sent by the Texas Secretary of State’s Office.

Many of the updated records were still missing voters’ new addresses, election officials said. As of the afternoon of Oct. 16, those addresses are now showing up for Texas county election officials, according to an email from the state office.

Alicia Pierce, a spokeswoman for the secretary of state, said the agency sent 15,000 records back to counties. She added the problem has been resolved, and voters will still be able to cast a ballot.

This latest issue arises only days after Texas election officials said they cleared an earlier voter registration backlog. That was caused by an error prompted by a Texas Department of Public Safety software update.

It had an impact on more than 500,000 voter registrations submitted since October 2025, officials said.

NEW POLLS: DEMS LEAD NEARLY ALL STATEWIDE RACES A new poll from the University of Texas at Austin shows Democrats with narrow leads in nearly all statewide races, the Houston Chronicle reported. However, polling in each statewide race is within the margin of error.

Only Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico polled positively with 50% of the voters.

James Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project, said Democratic competitiveness is driven by a sizable gap in enthusiasm between Democratic and Republican voters — at least 10 percentage points.

“That’s really significant,” Henson said. “That is going to be what the last two weeks of this campaign are about — it’s about Republican campaigns trying to drive up Democratic negatives and trying to stir what is right now a pretty uninspired Republican electorate in the state.”

No Democrat has won a statewide race since 1994.

ABBOTT SAYS HE WON’T DEBATE HINOJOSA

Incumbent GOP Gov. Greg Abbott said he is better off holding campaign stops around the state than facing his Democratic opponent Gina Hinojosa in a debate, the Houston Chronicle reported.

“The most important thing that a governor can do is to show up in communities,” Abbott said during a stop in Tyler. “What voters want to see and hear, they want to see their governor in their community. They want to have the ability to ask their governor questions.”

Abbott is seeking a fourth term. This is the first race in which he has not debated a Democratic gubernatorial challenger. Hinojosa held a news conference outside the Governor’s Mansion last week with side-by-side lecterns — one empty.

“It is really on-brand for Greg Abbott to spend more money to tell lies about me, rather than showing up in person to debate me,” Hinojosa said. “These lies are funded by his billionaire donors.”

STATE APPEALS ORDER REQUIRING AC IN PRISONS Lawyers for the state have appealed a federal judge’s order that all state prison cells be climate- controlled before 2030. The appeal was filed with the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Texas Standard reported.

The state also asked U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman to suspend his order, arguing it could disrupt critical operations in the prison system while the appeal continues.

“Throwing chaos and confusion into TDCJ’s ongoing plans to install complete air-conditioning, before the Fifth Circuit has a chance to rule, needlessly wastes finite resources, and frustrates TDCJ’s efforts to acquire funding to address operational and life-safety measures to protect its population while moving... expediently to install air conditioning,” the filing said.

In September Pitman issued his ruling in a case filed by prison-rights advocacy groups. The groups argued that forcing inmates to endure triple-digit temperatures inside prison cells was unconstitutional. Just more than a third of the state’s prisons are climate- controlled, while 90,000 incarcerated Texans don’t have air conditioning.

The legal fight began with a 2023 complaint filed by Bernie Tiede, a high-profile inmate featured in the film “Bernie.”

COMPTROLLER HUFFINES PLANS $3M OFFICE RENOVATION Republican Controller Don Huffines plans to use $3 million in funds from a state agency that manages and invests state revenues to renovate his offices, according to The Dallas Morning News. Records obtained by the paper show that Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Co. would pay for the renovation of the comptroller’s executive suite.

Huffines is the GOP nominee for comptroller and was appointed by Abbott to serve out an unexpired term. He faces state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, in November. She called the proposed use of trust company funds “highly inappropriate.”

“The comptroller is supposed to keep those funds segregated,” she said. “You can’t raid it for operational expenses in the Comptroller’s Office.”

Since being appointed, Huffines has vowed to cut government spending; 41 comptroller employees were fired in recent weeks.

HOME, AUTO INSURANCE RATES TRENDING DOWN Both homeowner and auto insurance companies have filed proposed premium rate decreases since July, according to the Texas Department of Insurance. The agency said the proposed decreases affect about 700,000 Texas policyholders.

Homeowne r rate changes have averaged a 4.3% decline over the past 90 days, according to TDI.

“Lower rate filings are an encouraging sign for Texas consumers, and we’re pleased to see some relief beginning to reach the market,” said Insurance Commissioner Amanda Crawford. “As rates moderate, Texans should take advantage of the competitive market, shop around and make sure they’re getting the best value for their coverage.”

Nearly 160 companies sell auto and homeowners insurance in Texas.

Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published community newspapers in Texas during a 30year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park.

Have you ever felt like you’re at your wit’s end?

Have you used that phrase to describe your frustration or the chaos around you? When scripture refers to that phrase, it means the end of wisdom, skill or maybe insight.

Yes, the phrase is in the Bible — Psalm 107:27b: “…and (they) were at their wits’ end.” Reading this psalm prompts me to wonder how we arrived at our wits’ end, and to look for the difficulties that prompted the original hearers toward such frustration.

Psalm 107 provides different examples of when God delivered people from their many troubles, situations like the ones we face today. People had adversaries, others were hungry and thirsty; some so fraught, their trouble so great, that their soul fainted within them. The pressure was real and the vice squeezed tighter. Life gets that way at times, when stress compounds.

People were in prisons of their own making: walls built from misery and rebellion and the consequences of their poor choices. They spurned the counsel of God. Do you suppose He was unaware of their thoughts and actions? Had God known their opinions and conclusions? Of course He was aware and allowed them to falter. Then, He humbled them to help them realize that no human help could save them.

If you haven’t faced such a wall or boulder too tough to blast through, then be forewarned — you will! Life is just like that. We will face situations beyond human control.

There will be circumstances we cannot correct or manage. People always seem to think we know all that is necessary for life and wellbeing, that God may be out there somewhere, but He’s unlikely to notice me or my life. Again, please read this psalm, for you will learn different.

Scripture describes people who think like this, those who choose to live ignoring the Lord, as fools, and rebellious, headed toward destruction.

The best thing about being at your wit’s end is that it causes you to realize you need help — help outside yourself.

“Being at their wits end, the people cried to the Lord, and He brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still … then they were glad and thanked Him for His lovingkindness.” Ps 107:2831 NASB This is the God who cares for us, who’s power is great; who changes a wilderness into a pool of water, dry land into springs, and grants us a future and harvest.

“Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things; and consider the lovingkindnesses of the Lord.” Ps 107:43 Dear friend, let us be wise. Until next week, Anita Onarecker, an Elgin resident, author of “Divine Appointment: Our Journey to the Bridge” and minister to women and adults, earned a Master of Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007.

According to an Oct. 15 social media post, the first report occurred near FM 20 and Walter Hoffman Road, where a man driving a black Dodge Durango pulled over a driver, ordered them out and took personal belongings.

Authorities also said a second person reported a similar encounter.

“Of the encounters we have heard about there has been no violence and no indication the subject is armed,” Sheriff Maurice Cook said in the post.

The SUV is described as having a brush guard, dark-tinted windows, no license plate and a red-and-blue light bar on the dashboard.

The driver was dressed entirely in black, wearing tactical-style pants, leader gloves and a ski mask covering his face.

Authorities are urging anyone who encounters a vehicle or person matching the description to call 911.

The sheriff acknowledged that state law requires drivers to pull over for cars displaying red and blue lights but said drivers should consider their personal safety.

“We cannot give any instructions to disregard the state law,” Cook said. “However, you be the judge if your safety is in jeopardy.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bastrop County dispatch at 512-303-7000.

A citywide scavenger hunt this month is bringing residents into local businesses as participants search for miniature Bigfoot statues and compete for a $500 grand prize. 

Organized by Anthony Stowe, Nick Shaulis and Ben Harris, the trio behind the local podcast “Hey Elgin,” Operation Sasquatch’s “The Hunt — Finding Squatchy” launched Oct. 1, challenging residents to find 20 hidden statues at businesses across the city.  Organizers said the monthlong event combines technology, community engagement and charitable fundraising to encourage residents to shop locally. 

“We put our heads together to try and figure out a way to drive foot traffic downtown or to local businesses,” Stowe said. 

Sasquatch is — for now — a mythical, shaggy, bipedal anthropoid said to inhabit the soggy swamplands of East Texas, the impenetrable forests of the Pacific Northwest and other regions, joining the ranks of cryptids such as the Loch Ness monster.

The sasquatch theme grew out of a running joke surrounding Shaulis, who frequently shared posts about Bigfoot, conspiracy theories and other unexplained phenomena on social media before bringing those interests to the podcast.

Within its first five days, the hunt attracted 62 registered participants, recorded 151 statue discoveries and generated 63 purchases at participating businesses. 

That number had grown to 71 purchases by the seventh day, according to Stowe. 

The idea for the event developed after the trio interviewed around 50 local businesses through their podcast, which recently celebrated its first anniversary and 50th episode. Stowe said those conversations inspired the group to create an activity that would encourage residents to visit local storefronts. 

“The three of us love this town and we want people to love this town as much as we love it,” Harris said. 

Eventually, the group established Operation Sasquatch as a nonprofit with a mission to “do the most good locally.” 

To join the hunt, participants register online and receive a list of locations. At each business, hunters search for a 3D-printed sasquatch statue, scan its QR code and submit a photo for verification. 

Residents who locate all 20 statues qualify for a drawing to win $500 on Nov. 1 at Millie’s on Main, located at 212 N. Main St. 

Beyond the scavenger hunt, the nonprofit has expanded its efforts through partnerships with local organizations, including the Lucky Old Scoundrels Motorcycle Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars. 

Harris said what began as a podcast featuring residents and businesses has since become a way to give back to the community. 

“We’re just three guys, we just want to have fun,” Harris said. “We’re all transplants, but we love this town.” 

Residents interested in participating in the hunt can register at thehunt.heyelgin.com.

Eight newly hired firefighters put their skills to the test last week as Bastrop/Travis County Emergency Services District No. 1 expands its workforce to keep pace with rapid growth and rising emergency calls.

The weeklong training marks the district’s largest hiring effort to date, adding six firefighters and two lieutenants to a department that has grown from nine full-time firefighters to 30 in just three years.

The district is working to improve response times and strengthen emergency services across its 200-square-mile coverage area, according to Battalion Chief Eran Denzler.

“As the area booms, it’s not going to slow down. Neither will we,” Denzler said. “We have to stay above the curve and try to get ahead of it.”

The department has also grown from one fire station to three.

The district serves Elgin, McDade and portions of Travis County, including parts of Manor. Its three stations are located in Elgin, McDade and along FM 1704, with two more in the planning stages.

The department now responds to an average of 15 calls a day, compared with about 10 three years ago. Denzler said opening more stations has helped reduce the response times.

“We added the manpower to add more capabilities to our services, medical and rescue,” Denzler said. “That’s the goal. Seconds count.”

During the training, the new hires practiced deploying hoses, advancing lines and preparing to enter simulated burning buildings at Pflugerville’s Fire Station 7 and Training Facility.

The exercises follow what Denzler described as a “crawl, walk and run” approach, gradually increasing the complexity of scenarios firefighters would see in the field.

Denzler said the hiring process was competitive, drawing about 100 applicants. Forty candidates were invited to complete written testing and physical evaluations before the eight spots were filled.

“When they dial 911, it doesn’t matter if they’re in the city or in the country,” he said. “They want the highly trained — they want good equipment and they want us to come save their day.”

ESDs in Texas have their beginnings not only in public safety but politics, taking root in the late 1980s as rural communities sought professional levels of fire protection and emergency medical services that went beyond all-volunteer fire departments.

ESDs are an independent political body funded usually through property taxes or sales taxes.

Although the first came into being in 1949, they were officially authorized by Texas voters in November 1987 with a state constitutional amendment.

The Legislature converted more rural districts to ESDs in 2003 and there are more than 300.

Bastrop/Travis County ESD No. 1 is governed by a five-member board of commissioners approved by voters for staggered four-year terms. Funding comes from property taxes; the headquarters is in Elgin.

KRXT is a locally focused radio station based in Taylor and owned by Steve Laukhuf, who also serves as an on-air host.

The station currently covers Wi l liamson, Milam and Lee counties.

The expansion into the pair of new markets means listeners will get to enjoy content with a regional flair.

“We are honored to provide local coverage of Elgin, Manor and beyond. When the big cities forget, we remember and are proud to welcome these communities to the regional KRXT coverage area,” Laukhuf said.

The station’s programming includes country and polka music, local news, community events, sports and other information from around Central Texas.

KRXT also has a partnership with the Elgin Courier and Manor Journal, both owned by Granite Media Partners Inc.

Reporters from the newspapers appear 9 a.m. each Wednesday on KRXT’s “Hometown Highlights” segment with Laukhuf to discuss current and upcoming news in the communities.

“Our partnership with our local radio is an important one as we help highlight the news that matters in this area,” said Elgin Courier and Manor Journal Area Editor Emily Treadway.

KRXT is currently up for the 2026 Texas Country Music Awards Terrestrial Radio Station of the Year.

The station, which is under the Cowboy Broadcasting Network LLC umbrella, can be reached at 512-6497985 or find it on the web at cbntexas. com.

The studio is in the historic McCrory Timmerman Building at the corner of Main and Second streets in downtown Taylor.

About 100 people reviewed designs and heard updates from the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority Oct. 1 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The agency is proposing to extend the toll road along U.S. 290 from Texas 130 to Texas 95 in Elgin.

“Our approach to this project has always been to listen first, understand the needs of the community and develop solutions that meet those needs,” CTRMA Director of Engineering Mike Sexton said.

Officials said the new designs include elevated tolled sections to reduce congestion at intersections, dedicated turnarounds to improve traffic flow and extended turn lanes.

According to CTRMA, the stretch of 290 saw about 2,700 crashes from 2020 to 2025, including about 19 fatalities.

ShadowGlen resident Frances Meyer, who has lived in the subdivision for 15 years, said she was encouraged by the proposed elevated roadway, including a section over the subdivision’s entrance at Lexington Street. She said crashes are frequent at FM 973 near the H-E-B and at Lexington, where drivers try to beat the light.

“We’ve needed this since like yesterday,” Meyer said. “We constantly hear sirens from firetrucks and ambulances all day long.”

With construction likely not beginning until 2030 or 2031, Meyer said she worries the process is too slow. She and her husband are considering moving over safety concerns, adding that in April she was run off the road at 290 and Lexington, resulting in two punctured tires and a tow into Austin.

“It concerns me that so many accidents have happened, and we have lost a lot of lives,” Meyer said. “It is sad. We hope (more) lives are not taken needlessly.”

Manor resident Crystabell Trucksess, who has lived in the city for nearly two decades, echoed those concerns.

“The traffic situation in Manor is horrific,” Trucksess said. “If the toll extension helps, that would be great, but the growth is so exponential something needs to give for our area.”

Sam Samaripa, who is running for City Council Place 4, said the city could act sooner by hiring more police officers and cracking down on drivers running red lights, including 18-wheelers.

His opponent, Place 4 Councilwoman Sonia Wallace, said the city is already working on that.

“We have had positions available for a number of budget cycles, and some of the positions have not been filled,” Wallace said. “It’s not just the police force … We need to also have the work done on 290, and we need to have more thoroughfares going through our city in all four directions to help us be able to navigate that.”

CTRMA officials said the project is about midway through its environmental study and schematic design process, which is expected to last until the end of 2027 or early 2028.

In the meantime, the agency said it will continue gathering community input, evaluating improvements and environmental impacts, and determining whether the project should move forward.

Meyer said she is encouraged by how carefully the agency is working with residents.

“When we first started, we were leery,” Meyer said. “We didn’t think anything was going to be put forth, but when it did, it was reassuring to know that they are listening to the public.”

“It concerns me that so many accidents have happened, and we have lost a lot of lives. We hope (more) lives are not taken needlessly.”

— Frances Meyer, ShadowGlen resident