News Briefs: As published in the May 7 Hays Free Press

PEC head to meet with members

Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) General Manager Juan Garza will be visiting local communities to meet with members in a series of forums being held throughout PEC’s service territory. Members are invited to attend the forums, which will be held between May 6-29 in a number of cities.

“Meeting with our members in a personal setting is a great opportunity to introduce myself and to answer firsthand any questions they may have,” Garza said. “I want members to know that PEC is open and eager to hear from the members and communities we serve.”

At each forum Garza will discuss PEC operations and challenges, and will participate in a question-and-answer session. Dates for the forums are as follows:

- May 6, Dripping Springs City Hall (City Council Chambers), 511 Mercer St., Dripping Springs, 7-8:30 p.m.

- May 13, St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 801 N. Burleson, Kyle, 7-8:30 p.m.

- May 20, Hill Country Bible Church Northwest Auditorium, 12124 RR 620 N., Austin, 7-8:30 p.m.

Garza assumed duties as PEC General Manager in early February 2008. He began serving as Austin Energy General Manager in 2002 after two years as the city’s Director of Human Resources and Civil Services. He came to Austin from Corpus Christi where he served as City Manager from 1988 until 1996 and then entered the private business sector until his relocation to Austin.

Maps and directions to each of the forums are available at www.pec.coop or by calling toll-free at 1-888-554-4732.

Kyle Farmers Market plans opening day

The Kyle Farmers Market will kick off the 2008 season with its opening day market Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to noon. The market will be at the historic Michaelis Ranch on FM 150 about 2 miles west of FM 2770.

The Michaelis Ranch has plenty of parking and a covered area for shopping. The market supports family farmers from Hays and surrounding counties and offers shoppers a variety of fresh, locally grown produce. The market will be open each Saturday through the fall.

TxDOT to close IH-35 in Buda area

Portions of IH-35 in Buda will be closed throughout the entire weekend, said officials from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

Beginning at 9 p.m. Friday night, the southbound interstate will be closed between the FM 1327 exit ramp and the onramp south of Main Street. Traffic will be diverted to the frontage road.

On Saturday afternoon, the northbound interstate also will be closed. Drivers will exit the interstate just north of Turnersville Road and will re-enter north of FM 1327.

Local access will be maintained on the frontage roads south of Main Street, but motorists who stay on the access road north of Main Street will have to turn east on Turnersville Road, said TxDOT District Engineer Don Nyland.

Motorists wishing to head northbound into Austin from Buda will have to make the FM 2001 turnaround, enter the interstate and be diverted off of IH-35 with the rest of the detour traffic. The detour traffic coming off the interstate will be allowed northbound without having to turn on Turnersville Road.

The closures will last throughout the weekend. All lanes will be reopened before 6 a.m. Monday, Nyland said.

The closures will allow TxDOT workers to hang beams over the interstate as part of the SH 45 interchange construction.