In May, Hays High senior Taylor Cooper earned the incredible distinction of Outstanding Performer at the UIL Texas State Solo and Ensemble Competition at the University of Texas at Austin. Of the 100,000 who participated at regional UIL music contests and the 25,000 musicians who performed at TSSEC,...

drastic food shortage at the Hays County Food Bank is sparking a community effort to restock the shelves that help curb food insecurity in the county. The initial plea for help came June 25 after a Facebook photo showed empty shelves at the food bank. Within two days, 3,000 pounds were donated for t...

arly July gets me in the mood to plant fall tomatoes. Texas A&M’s Vegetable Garden Planting Guide advises gardeners to get their fall tomato transplants in the ground between July 7 and August 7. (Larger transplants in 1 gal. pots or larger can be planted as late as Sept.1.) I prefer to plant determ...

olan Ryan was one out away from pitching his second no-hitter in as many months on Jul. 15, 1973 when the Detroit Tigers’ Norm Cash strolled to the plate carrying a table leg instead of a baseball bat. The umpire was not amused.   “You can’t use that up here,” he gruffly informed the prankster. “Why...

Area residents came out in force to celebrate Independence Day at local parades and firework shows. Check out some snapshots here.  (photos by Hays Free Press staff)

Burn ban off Recent widespread rainfall led Hays County Commissioners Tuesday to lift its burn ban for unincorporated areas. Fire Marshal Clint Browning said the rainfall made it safe for outdoor burning “for a while, at least.” Officials urge residents to take precautions if they plan to burn outdo...

recently received a telephone call from a nice lady who had come upon a baby bird in her yard.   The bird did not have enough feathers to fly and was standing in the grass, perhaps with an injured wing. The lady put the bird in a box and took it indoors.   Then she called me.   The advice I gave her...

Staff members from the Hays Free Press were exubilant this week as it was announced that the newspaper had been named the best in Texas for newspapers of similar size. The newspaper has been named best in class, winning sweepstakes, seven of the past 8 years, only missing 2011. The Hays Free Press w...

1 . Vegetable Garden: The timing always feels a bit strange, but this is actually the month to renew your vegetable garden for the fall harvest season. From seed, plant snap and lima beans, sweet corn, Swiss chard, cucumbers, summer and winter squash (my favorite), black-eyed peas, okra, cantaloupe,...

W ith the publication of this column, “This Week in Texas History” is officially 35 years old making it the longest running feature of its kind ever.   And for that I am indebted to the many newspapers that have carried it all these years and to you, my loyal readers. As the sun slowly set in the pi...