Hays County Sheriff Tommy Ratliff kept his losses low in Buda and was marginally favored across the county, winning the Democratic nomination to fill the rest of the term left unexpired when the late Sheriff Allen Bridges died in December 2008.

For the next two months, starting Sept. 14, River Road will be closed to through traffic from Davis Lane to Aquarena Springs Drive, for the construction of a new water line. Traffic ill be detoured to Davis Lane, Aquarena Springs and Uhland Road.

San Marcos CISD (SMCISD) elementary school teachers recently finished a workshop and training session called “Worlds of Water,” which explored water use and conservation.

A truck towing a mobile home snagged utility wires Friday afternoon, taking out power in parts of San Marcos for about 30 minutes.

The San Marcos City Council approved $49 million in bond issues last week, mostly to address infrastructure projects throughout the city.

With the presence of 14 Native American groups, the Aquarena Springs Earth Day celebration Saturday was larger than ever. Above, Mario Garza of the Indigenous Cultures Institute gave blessings using incense for 45 minutes.

If the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) declares critical drought restrictions in February, as expected, it doesn’t mean simply that water use has to be reduced 20 percent. Local water experts indicate that the last 18 months of dry weather is close to replicating conditions of the legendary 1950s drought, with all the damage that suggests.