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SERVING EASTERN WILLIAMSON COUNTY SINCE 1913 vol. 102 issue 61$1.00SUNDAY • AUGUST 2, 2015
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TODAY:
Mostly
sunny
High Low
99 75
The Richeys are busy as bees.
Go to page 15 to read all about the
Weir beekeepers latest project.
WEATHER
INSIDE
OBITUARIES
Thank aThank a
VeteranVeteran
each day!each day!
Al
Peters
See Page 6 for full obits.
National car dealers helped
Austin Disaster Relief Network
(ADRN) drive in a big donation
for flood victims in Taylor.
In June during the National
Independent Automotive
Dealers Association (NIADA)
convention, outgoing president
Keith Hagler was presented a
check for $15,600 to the Austin
Relief Disaster Network to
assist the rebuilding and relief
efforts in Taylor. Hagler owns
and operates Taylor Auto
Credit, a local used car dealer-
ship.
According to Hagler, NIADA
chairman Arlan Kuehn of
Nebraska jump-started other
NIADA members to help.
“[Kuehn] saw reports on the
national news about flooding in
Texas, and in Taylor,” Hagler
said. “When he called me I was
helping get water out of the
church.”
Kuehn contacted Hagler to
find out how to help, and Hagler
suggested a donation to ADRN.
At the NIADA Convention it
is customary for the incoming
president to give a gift to the
outgoing president. Rather than
a gift, Kuehn made the dona-
tion. Hagler said Kuehn started
by donating $500 and asked
other members to contribute.
“In all, $7,800 was raised
during the convention, and the
NIADA Foundation matched
that total,” Hagler said.
The donation is a part of the
NIADA Foundation’s renewed
commitment to charitable giv-
ing, both at a national level
and within the communities of
Car dealers drive flood donationJASONHENNINGTON
news@taylorpress.net
Owner of Taylor Auto Credit Keith Hagler (right) and
Austin Disaster Relief Network Executive Director
Daniel Geraci were both in attendance at First Baptist
Church (Davis St.) for a check presentation to help flood
victims in Taylor.
Photo by Jason Hennington
The Gonzales fam-
ily is ready to host
its annual Walter
Gonzales memorial
horseshoe and wash-
er tournament Aug. 8
at the S.P.J.S.T. Hall
in Taylor. This year
marks the 17th year
for the horseshoe
tournament, and the
sixth year for the
washer portion of the
tournament.
“It’s a way for our
family to get together
and raise funds for
the Leader Dog
Foundation,” said
Ray Gonzales.
Funds raised from
the event are given
to the Lions Club,
and then donated to
the Leader Dog for
the Blind. Last year,
the Taylor Lions Club
was the “Top Dog”
with their contribu-
tion to Leader Dog,
as they are the num-
ber one Lions Club in
the world.
Walter Gonzales’
son Raul Gonzales
started the Gonzales
foundation, which
makes the donation
to the Lions Club,
because his father
had a disease known
as retinitis pigmen-
tosa. According to
Family
hosts annual
tourney Aug. 8
See TOURNEY • page 3
August is not a
typical time to fly
kites, unless you plan
to participate in the
annual kite day in
Taylor.
Taylor Parks and
Recreation will host
its second annual
Kite Day and Fest
on Sept. 12, at the
Taylor Regional
Park. The free event
is a competition in
which participants
bring and fly their
kites, and are judged
for their perfor-
mance.
“It’s designed to
be fun,” said Parks
and Recreation
Superintendent Mike
DeVito. “We would
like people to come
out and just have a
good time.”
While most kite
festivals are held
in April or March,
the Taylor Kite Day
separates itself being
held at the end of the
summer.
“It draws more
attention because its
not when you would
expect it,” DeVito
said. “It stands
alone.”
He said it is
always windy at the
Regional Park, so
there should not be
any problems getting
kites in the air.
The competition
is split into four age
groups including
the following: 5 and
under, 6-11, 12-18 and
19 and older. Kites
will be judged on
certain criteria like
their design, theme,
the duration of flight,
altitude and size.
Participants are
welcomed to use
homemade or use
Kites ready
to fly high
JASONHENNINGTON
news@taylorpress.net
See KITES • page 2
Heat cause high power usage
ERCOT Supervisor of System Operations Dave Pence (left) and System Operations Manager Jimmy Hartmann give
a tour of ERCOT in Taylor and explain how the system works during a special event earlier this year.
Photo by Richard Stone
Electric demand growth leads to a record-setting week
The Electric Reliability Council
of Texas (ERCOT), grid operator
for most of Texas, set four consecu-
tive daily records for July electric
demand this week and may set more
records by the end of the summer.
“As the Texas economy continues
to thrive, ERCOT serves some of the
fastest-growing cities in the coun-
try,” ERCOT Senior Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer Brad
Jones said. “Population and business
growth continue to drive up electric
use.”
What can you do?
ERCOT says you can
help conserve energy by:
• Turning off all unnecessary lights,
appliances and electronic equipment
• When at home, close blinds and
drapes that get direct sunlight
• Set air conditioning thermostats to
78 degrees or higher, and use fans to
cool the air
• When away from home, set air con-
ditioning thermostats to 85 degrees
and turn all fans off before you leave
• Block the sun by closing blinds or
drapes on windows that will get direct
sun
• Do not use your dishwasher, laun-
dry equipment, hair dryers, coffeemak-
ers, or other home appliances during
the peak hours of 3 to 7 p.m.
• Avoid opening refrigerators or freez-
ers more than necessary
• Use microwaves for cooking in-
stead of an electric range or oven
• Set your pool pump to run in the
early morning or late evening, not dur-
ing peak demand hours
See ELECTRIC • page 3
The University of
Texas at Austin is
helping students get
credit, where credit
is due – literally – by
leading an effort to
help college student
get their associate’s
degree.
The Reverse
Transfer Program is
an attempt to find
students who have
earned enough hours
for their associate’s
degree, and award
them. The program
was announced
Tuesday, and UT
officials hope these
students will continue
their schooling.
“It’s a win-win-win
solution all the way
around,” UT-Austin
Registrar Shelby
Stanfield, who led the
initiative, told Texas
Tribune.
UT reported that
almost 270,000 people
in Texas alone are
eligible for their asso-
ciate’s, and can take
advantage of the pro-
gram. Most probably
started their academic
careers at a junior or
community college,
Give credit where credit is due
Reverse transfer program pushes for associate’s degree
JASONHENNINGTON
news@taylorpress.net
See CREDIT • page 3
See FLOOD • page 2