Lehman – St. Andrews track results

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More photos from this week along with other photos published in the Hays Free Press are available for viewing and purchase here.

Photo by Sean Kimmons

Supporters of the Lyndon LaRouche movement protest against U.S. President Barack Obama outside Kyle’s Post Office on Tuesday. Signs of Obama with a Hitler mustache littered the front of the post office as supporters provided information on LaRouche’s newly sponsored politician, Democrat gubernatorial candidate Kesha Rogers, who is racing in the 22nd Congressional District, an area south of Houston. LaRouche, who has run unsuccessfully for U.S. president several times and served 15 years in prison for mail fraud and tax code violations, has been a critic of Obama, which Rogers is trying to get impeached.

Stepping inside the Windwalker Primitive Weapons shop is like walking back into the ol’ wild west. (Photos by Sean Kimmons)

There’s a new business owner in Buda. And this one is packing.

David Stewart, who opened Windwalker Primitive Weapons this month, sells just about anything tied to the ol’ wild west, such as black powder guns, knives, bows and arrows and leatherwork.

In addition to vending old-time arms, Stewart reworks and refurbishes primitive weapons to their former state.

“This is a niche business,” Stewart said. “My real business is restoration.”

The shop, behind the Carrington House on Main Street, also serves as something of a museum. Besides the weapons, there are historical artifacts and photographs of the city.

The shop's prized black powder gun is the “Carpetbagger Sniper Rifle,” a six-shooter 1851 Colt .44 caliber replica pistol that can be shot separately or attached to a rifle’s housing.

Stewart says that since Buda does not have a museum, he wanted to bring a little history to the people.

“I just want to get people back into the history where we all came from,” he said. “If you’re not into history, then this stuff is boring.”

His shop can also be a respite for men whose wives are browsing the nearby antique shops, he quipped.

The shop’s biggest intrigue is the black powder guns, perfect for collectors, re-enactors or hunters seeking a tougher hunt.

“With black powder guns you take your time to stalk and hunt,” Stewart says. “You only have one shot.”

He says that he knows hunters who use these guns for feral pig and bird hunting.

“It’s more of a challenge for the hunter,” he said.

His prized black powder gun is the “Carpetbagger Sniper Rifle,” a six-shooter 1851 Colt .44 caliber replica pistol that can be shot separately or attached to a rifle’s housing.

Stewart claims that the rifle can shoot 100 yards accurately and original rifles similar to his can sell for more than $5,000. Although his is not for sale, customers can buy other black powder replica guns for $135 to $475.

It takes roughly three or four minutes to reload a six-shooter black powder pistol, Stewart says. First, the shooter has to fill the chamber with black powder, put a wad and ball into it, then pack it down, cover the chamber with wax and finally place a cap on it.

“Anything can go wrong,” Stewart says of the process.

The shop also sells hand-sewn leather gun holsters for $40. One can even get a rattlesnake-skinned gun holster for $135. Knife scabbards can be custom made for $35 to $55.

“Prices usually depend on what it is,” Stewart says. “I’m not here to make a million dollars. As long as I can make the rent I’ll be fine.”

Windwalker Primitive Weapons
320 N. Main St. Suite 201, Buda, Texas
(512) 426-5517
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 1 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday.

The Hays County Dispute Resolution Center (DRC) will host its first mediator training classes beginning March 24.

“Mediators are responsible for facilitating discussions with people who are in conflict by listening to the parties, encouraging communication, identifying interests, advancing the negotiation and promoting the development of effective solutions,” said Anna Bartkowski, executive director of the DRC. “It is challenging work, but extremely fulfilling, and we’ve had a lot of people inquire about becoming mediators or in updating their accreditation as more organizations and the courts are finding mediation to be an effective method of conflict resolution.”

The Hays County DRC Basic Mediation Training Course is designed to provide training and basic skills needed to serve as a neutral, third-party mediator. The trainees will also be able to observe an actual mediation.

The $500, 40-hour class is open to anyone with an interest in becoming a mediator or learning mediation skills. The program meets the standards of the Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures Act, the Texas Mediator Trainers’ Roundtable, the Texas Mediator Credentialing Association and the Association of Attorney Mediators. MCLE credits will be available to attorneys taking the class.

The classes will be held at the DRC offices, 829 N. LBJ, Suite 108, San Marcos. For more information, call the DRC at 512-878-0382 or email director@hcrdr.org.

When you “spring” your clocks forward on March 14 for Daylight Savings Time, take the time to check your family’s emergency preparedness status – and don’t forget to change the batteries in your smoke detectors.

“A little forethought, a few extras in the pantry, and an emergency plan that you and your family all know about can help you in most all emergency situations,” said Chuck Chapman, RN, emergency preparedness coordinator for the Hays County Personal Health Department.

The list below can get you started, Chapman said. “These are a few of the precautions and preparations you can take to protect you and your family. In a time of need, emergency resources are limited. By taking the time now to ensure your own safety, you allow those resources to help those truly in need.”

Get informed: Texas is prone to disasters of all kinds. Find out what hazards are common where you live. When severe weather threatens, tune in to local radio, television or get information online from the National Weather Service.

Make a family disaster plan: All families are different, so make a plan that fits your family. Each member needs to understand the plan and know which tasks he or she will be asked to do. You need to know escape routes from each room in your house as well as from your neighborhood.

Family communication: It’s important to plan how family members will contact one another if they are separated during an emergency. Complete a card for each family member listing the phone number of an out-of-town contact and other important numbers. Everyone should keep a card in a wallet, purse or backpack.

Utility shut-off and safety: For some types of disasters, you may need to disconnect utility services to your home. Natural gas leaks are the number one cause of fires after a disaster. Never turn gas service back on yourself.

Insurance and vital records: Make photocopies of your important documents and secure them in a safe place away from your home, or store in a container you can easily take with you. Here’s a list of some documents you might want to copy:
Name of medications
Insurance policies
Driver’s license, passport or other photo ID
Bank account information
Credit card information
Financial records
Inventory of home possessions
Cash and travelers checks

Prepare a disaster supplies kit: If you are forced to shelter in place or evacuate your home, you may not have time to gather all the necessities for keeping your family safe and comfortable. Assemble a kit now with enough supplies to take care of each family member for at least three days. It’s best to store your supplies in airtight, portable containers but something as simple as plastic trash bags or a backpack will work. Be sure to check your kit regularly and replace items that expire such as batteries, water and food. A basic kit should include: water, food, clothing, first aid kit, emergency tools, batteries, battery operated radio, toilet paper, whistle, shovel, state map, wet wipes and garbage bags, special needs items for yourself, babies and pets.

You can learn more at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/preparedness/ or by calling the PHD Office of Emergency Preparedness at 512-393-5538.

Most investors pay a great deal of attention to the price of their investments – yesterday’s price, today’s price, tomorrow’s price, next year’s price and so on. And that’s understandable, because we always want the prices of our investments to rise. Yet, if you focus too much on prices, you could end up making some costly mistakes.

Why? Because price-driven behavior is emotional behavior – and as an investor, you’re much better off making decisions with your head, not your heart. Suppose, for example, that you’ve seen a steep decline in the price of one of your investments.

After a while, you may feel that you just can’t take it anymore and you decide to “cut your losses” by selling the investment.  Conversely, you may have an investment that has gone up and up – and to grab even bigger gains, you buy more shares.

Both these decisions could backfire on you. When you sold the investment whose price had fallen, you might find yourself on the investment “sidelines” if that same investment starts to turn around. And when you throw more money at an investment whose price has skyrocketed, you’re betting against history – because no investment goes up forever. Furthermore, in both cases, your emotions will have led you to violate one of the guidelines of investing: buy low and sell high.

But apart from the tactical errors you may make when you over-concentrate on price movements, you’re also ignoring another key characteristic of investments – their value.

Traditionally, an investment’s “value” has been largely defined as whether or not it’s considered “expensive” or “cheap.” That’s why many investors take a close look at a stock’s price-to-earnings ratio (P/E). Generally speaking, a high P/E means a stock is more expensive, relative to its earnings, than a stock with a low P/E. Investors may be willing to pay more for the high P/E stocks because they feel these companies will be worth more in the future.

But P/E doesn’t tell the whole story of investment value. Any individual investment may have value to you because it can help you diversify your holdings. And while diversification, by itself, can’t guarantee a profit or protect against a loss, it can help you reduce the effects of volatility on your portfolio. For instance, if your portfolio is heavy with stocks, the presence of some bonds – even those whose market price has fallen because interest rates have risen – can help reduce the impact of a downturn that primarily affects stocks.

Clearly, the value of any investment has several dimensions – any or all of which may be valuable to you as you pursue your goals. So, as you build, maintain and adjust your portfolio over time, keep an eye on the changing prices of your investments – but don’t overlook their true value.

The United States Postal Service closed the sale Thursday night with Texas Property Works, L.P., officials said.

The 22,500 square foot Main Street property had been listed for $450,000. In 2009 the property was assessed at $382,800.

Officials with Texas Property Works were not immediately available for comment, but city sources say the company plans to renovate the building and reopen it in four to eight weeks.

Morgan Eason, wife of Buda Parks & Recreation Director Jake Eason, enjoys the waterworks at the new Stagecoach Park with her children Cali and Jaxon. (Photos by David White)

Running nearly two years behind schedule, Buda’s Stagecoach park is finally and officially open.

Originally scheduled for completion in May of 2008 – the first of five target opening dates – the 52-acre nature park nestled against Onion Creek was plagued by delays related to contractor issues, lawsuits and weather. City officials cut the ribbon on the park in December in conjunction with the Trail of Lights event, but Stagecoach remained closed for nearly three more months as the city completed work on the parking lot.
But as of last week, Stagecoach is officially online.

The gravel path running around the perimeter and the inside of the park is easily accesible to most everyone.

“It has been nothing but hip hip hooray that we finally got it open,” said Parks Director Jake Eason, who stepped into the position midway through the park development. “I’ve heard great feedback and how much people appreciate the trails and the openness and the attention to nature.”

Unlike more manicured parks with ball fields and paved basketball courts, the heavily wooded Stagecoach Park is a peaceful, rugged space to experience nature. The new park features lengthy hike and bike trails, a large fishing pond, a windmill attached to a splashing water cistern, a boy scouts fire pit and camping area, a pavilion and playscape.

Stagecoach Park is named for the stagecoach stop that sits in the front of the property, behind another historic home. Dating to the 1850s, the small stone building served as a rest stop for horse-drawn mail carriers between Austin and San Antonio.