Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight Comal ISD District 6 trustee Amanda Jones and Comal ISD District 7 trustee David Krawczynski Comal ISD trustees Amanda Jones and David Krawczynski have been reelected to the board according to unofficial May 3 election results from Comal and Bexar counties Jones of single-member District 6 and Krawczynski of single-member District 7 have both served on the CISD board since 2022 the pair is set to serve another three-year term Her opponent Giovianne Washington received 24.96% Some of her top priorities include continuing to push for public funding maintaining fiscal responsibility with a focus on teacher compensation and monitoring district growth In a post shared to Facebook following the election humbled and ready to serve the CISD community for another three years Election data shows that only 9.26% of Bexar County registered voters participated in the May 3 election only 11.38% of registered voters participated Of the 12 total votes cast within Bexar County for the CISD District 7 race Krawczynski said it is validating to know that the community is behind the board’s work the board will focus on seeing through the district’s five-year collaborative vision strategic plan with some of the priorities including facilities planning attending to growth in a strategic way and continuing to improve student performance “The board’s student-first mentality is going to drive our decision-making moving forward and (I’m) just looking forward to our team of eight in the next three years of my tenure,” Krawczynski said Erica Wilson is the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung's education and nonprofit reporter Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Get the latest breaking news from The Herald-Zeitung. Sign up today Delivering entertainment and live music news straight to your inbox every Thursday morning Would you like to receive our daily news? Signup today!   Every Monday evening you'll get caught up with the top stories from the last week Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account The Comal ISD board of trustees meet at the Support Services Building located at 1404 I-35 N Search autocomplete is currently not responding The City of New Braunfels will hold its  General Election on May 3 Check back to this page for updates on the election results for Comal and Guadalupe County The Complete 2025 Candidate Packet includes all necessary forms and instructions to get on the ballet The first day for filing is January 15 - February 14 Please Note: Kirkwood Manor was previously listed as an early voting location but has been withdrawn and will not be used as a location Please Note: Kirkwood Manor was previously listed as an election-day voting location but has been withdrawn and will not be used as a location City of New Braunfels550 Landa St.New Braunfels Phone: 830-221-4000Subscribe To City Updates Comal is opening on the Lower East Side this summer who will open something of his own in the space at 116 Forsyth Street Herbert is making a culinary departure from his last splashy Manhattan posting. Instead, his forthcoming Comal is a restaurant with a fine dining menu influenced by Mexico City and the global flavors of the city’s current restaurant scene Herbert grew up between Cuernavaca, Mexico, and CDMX and holds both U.K. and Mexican citizenship. “It’s a city that I know very well and it’s very close to my heart,” says Herbert. He added that in his adult life, even as he’s moved around for work, he returns for about a month every year, dating back a decade — including a recent restaurant hotel consulting job in Mexico he lured McGarry to come down to Mexico to do a series of dinners at the property Comal won’t stick strictly to traditional Mexican flavors: It will also pull in Herbert’s culinary background, which includes cooking at several restaurants in London, such as the River Cafe and Ikoyi Comal is the first restaurant that Herbert will open independently Part of the draw to opening on Forsyth Street was the turnkey nature of the former Gem Wine space which had not too long ago undergone its own renovation as it pivoted away from its initial tasting-menu roots The Comal team is working with La Metropolitana, a design studio known for top Mexico City restaurant clients like seafood favorite Contramar to create custom furniture for the LES space Herbert is working on adding outdoor seating as well they will pursue a full liquor license; cocktails will stray away from “cheesy” and blend elements of Mexican ingredients and spirits with classic New York cocktails All the new restaurant openings in New York this month Spencer Heath Bill Taylor Rebecca Salinas Kolten Parker Early voting results will be released at 7 p.m Scroll within the result embeds to see all races Find more election coverage on the Vote 2025 page SEARCH YOUR LOCAL RACESFind race resultsSchool DistrictsACCD Bond Election, Prop. ACandidateVotes For 77,23170% Against 33,71430%87.5% of Precincts Reporting (679 / 776) Karen Bryant 1,90466%Tim Blazi 96134%72.2% of Precincts Reporting (26 / 36) Sarah Faulkenberry 2,27177%Maritza Gonzalez-Cooper *68723%*Incumbent100% of Precincts Reporting (6 / 6) Garrett Wilson *2,30380%Scott Newberry 58020%*Incumbent100% of Precincts Reporting (6 / 6) Amanda Jones *44275%Giovianne Washington 14725%*Incumbent1.1% of Precincts Reporting (9 / 810) David Krawczynski *1,08073%Orlando OJ Dona 39027%*Incumbent0.6% of Precincts Reporting (5 / 882) Chris Davis *25341%Candace Esparza 18931%Renee Frieda *14624%Robert Travis Hildt 254%*IncumbentDilley ISD School Bond, Prop. ACandidateVotes For 16957% Against 12743%Dilley ISD School Bond, Prop. BCandidateVotes For 15453% Against 13747%Dilley ISD School Bond, Prop. CCandidateVotes For 14951% Against 14249%Dilley ISD Special Election, Prop. ACandidateVotes For 2,86566% Against 1,45334%12% of Precincts Reporting (34 / 283) Hons *11238%BJ Sekula *9733%Cathy Stolle 8729%*Incumbent100% of Precincts Reporting (14 / 14) Erica Salazar *16858%David Sosa 12042%*Incumbent100% of Precincts Reporting (6 / 6) Norma Cavazos *26657%David Abundis 20143%*Incumbent100% of Precincts Reporting (7 / 7) Robinson 33236%88.9% of Precincts Reporting (16 / 18) Lesley Lee 34663%Christopher Anderson 20537%70.6% of Precincts Reporting (12 / 17) Macias Jr.25153%Bianca Hulsey 22547%66.7% of Precincts Reporting (14 / 21) Amanda Poteet 38471%Arnoldo Salinas *15529%*Incumbent92.9% of Precincts Reporting (13 / 14) 2023%*Incumbent100% of Precincts Reporting (14 / 14) For 34483% Against 7017%100% of Precincts Reporting (14 / 14) For 31676% Against 9824%100% of Precincts Reporting (14 / 14) Bubba Kunde *27750%Ryan Schwab 20837%Traci A Sarmiento 7013%*Incumbent100% of Precincts Reporting (5 / 5) Jasso 2,75051%Homer Guevara Jr.*1,18322%Richard Delgado Jr.88416%Mary Olison 62311%*Incumbent96.4% of Precincts Reporting (27 / 28) Zapata 3,13755%Corinne Saldaña *2,61345%*Incumbent92.3% of Precincts Reporting (36 / 39) Ardiente 2,48442%*Incumbent90.6% of Precincts Reporting (29 / 32) Freeman *2,11251%Larissa Martinez 2,06149%*Incumbent86% of Precincts Reporting (43 / 50) Lionel Gandara *64453%George Cabasos 56247%*IncumbentPearsall ISD School Board, PL 6CandidateVotes Daniel R. Rivera 31959%Jack Carrasco 22241%Runge ISD School Board, Dist. 1CandidateVotes Zack Yanta 2071%Jacqueline Aguilar 829%100% of Precincts Reporting (14 / 14) Christine Ramirez *1956%Roy Dobson 1544%*Incumbent100% of Precincts Reporting (14 / 14) Loree Jefferson 3267%Sandy Villarreal 1633%100% of Precincts Reporting (14 / 14) Sorensen *1,94946%*Incumbent83.7% of Precincts Reporting (41 / 49) Jacob Aaron Ramos 1,18259%Leticia Ozuna *80641%*Incumbent100% of Precincts Reporting (19 / 19) Raquel Tristan Esquivel *9631%Andres Tito Guevara *8226%Rosa M. Garcia 8026%Karen Denise Davis *5417%*IncumbentSouthwest ISD, At-LargeCandidateVotes Ida Perez Sudolcan *38835%Sylvester Vasquez Jr.*38435%Erlinda Lopez-Rodriguez 23722%Pablo Manzanares 938%*Incumbent100% of Precincts Reporting (6 / 6) Some San Antonio-area school districts are searching for new school board members Those districts also hope some of their bond issues will become voter-approved by the end of Election Day School board elections will be held on May 3 in districts big and small San Antonio ISD will fill two of its trustee spots (District 1 and District 3) Medina Valley and Pearsall) will have two school board trustee spots up for grabs apiece three school board seats each are on the ballot in the Alamo Heights Voters will decide on four school board positions at Judson ISD and Northside ISD Some school districts within and outside San Antonio have propositions on the ballot with those districts’ improvements in mind The funds would go toward the construction of two new elementary schools and a high school Voters within the Dilley ISD have three propositions (A the combined $35.6 million worth of propositions would help the district upgrade its athletic training facility while also dedicating funds toward a performing arts center Another prominent education-related race is on the Bexar County ballot. The Alamo Colleges District is seeking approval of a bond package totaling $987 million Sign up for the free KSAT election newsletter in the prompt below for a wrap-up of the results More Stories Like This In Our Email Newsletter Copyright 2025 by KSAT - All rights reserved Nate Kotisso joined KSAT as a digital journalist in 2024 He previously worked as a newspaper reporter in the Rio Grande Valley for more than two years and spent nearly three years as a digital producer at the CBS station in Oklahoma City Email Newsletters KSAT RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us KSAT Internships Careers at KSAT Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. The Comal County Elections Center is located in New Braunfels at 396 N. Seguin Ave. (Maddy Morales/Community Impact) Incumbent David Krawczynski is leading his opponent Orlando OJ Dona Jr. with 73.77% of votes, or 751 votes for the Comal ISD Single Member District 7 race. (Maddy Morales/Community Impact) Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 67F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. On Thursday, May 1, the Comal County Commissioners Court issued a formal proclamation honoring Farmers Mutual for its 136 years of continuous service. This timeless principle laid the foundation for Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Association of Comal County (Farmers Mutual) when it was established in 1889. What began as a cooperative effort among local farmers to protect their rural homes and buildings from fire has grown into a respected, enduring institution serving the community for over a century. Today, Farmers Mutual continues to operate as a member-owned Texas property insurance association, guided by the same spirit of mutual support. From its beginnings rooted in necessity, the organization has evolved while remaining deeply committed to its mission of serving others. The legacy of leadership has also continued across generations. Tim Salge served as general manager and president of the board from 1977 until his passing in 2020. His son, Josh Salge, now carries that mantle, ensuring Farmers Mutual continues to thrive and adapt while remaining anchored in its founding principles. Farmers Mutual plays an active role in giving back to the Comal County community — most notably through support for local students via scholarships and charitable contributions. Farmers Mutual’s recognition as a Texas Treasure is not just a celebration of longevity — it’s a tribute to the power of community, resilience and the enduring belief that when neighbors support one another, everyone benefits. Get the latest breaking news from The Herald-Zeitung. Sign up today! Delivering entertainment and live music news straight to your inbox every Thursday morning. Every Monday evening you'll get caught up with the top stories from the last week. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account. Showers this evening becoming a steady light rain overnight. Low 68F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Pictured is a rendering of Comal County's new mental health facility, which is set to be constructed on West San Antonio Street in New Braunfels.  Comal County Commissioners are supporting the request of local state legislators in requesting $9.5 million to fund the operational costs of the new mental health facility. The approval was made after Texas Representative Carrie Isaac and Texas Senator Donna Campbell began the process of requesting the funding for the 2026-27 biennium. County Judge Sherman Krause explained the reasoning behind the importance of supporting the requested funding. “A conference committee has already been named to work out the differences between those two budget bills and they’re asking that we adopt this resolution of support to provide to Senator Campbell and Representative Isaac so they can share with those conference committee members.” The approval was unanimous without further discussion during the Comal County Commissioners Court meeting on Thursday, May 1. Tyler Johnson is the assistant managing editor of the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung who is also the county and crime reporter. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The Comal ISD board of trustees meet at the Support Services Building located at 1404 I-35 N. in New Braunfels. (Community Impact staff) New Braunfels, Northeast San Antonio Metrocom Editor Canyon Lake is located in Precinct 4 and has two developments that will be affected by the Texas Water Company's water service denial. (Jamie Moore/Community Impact) Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. Comal ISD gives 22 high school seniors guaranteed job interviews after education programby SBG San Antonio | Justin Kraiza Texas — High school students from Comal Independent School District participated in the district's annual Ready Teach Conference on April 7 at the Support Services Building The event offered students an inside look into the teaching profession and sessions on the first-year teaching experience and job searching Teach" graduation stole and a letter of intent from the district This letter guarantees them a job interview with Comal ISD upon completion of their education degrees and teaching certificates Chapman III was present to congratulate the students These aspiring educators are part of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program which prepares students for careers in teaching and the creation of instructional and enrichment materials Teach," familiarizes students with curriculum development Teach program is available at Canyon High School students complete teaching internships at various campuses Participating students from Canyon High School include Jennifer Baker Davenport High School students include Annika Coston Pieper High School students include Autumn Hecox Smithson Valley High School students include Liliana Beierschmitt Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight The remains of an old truck can be seen on April 21 2025 due to the low water levels at Canyon Lake Editor’s note: The featured story in each edition of the H-Z this week will focus on one aspect of water as we take a closer look at the ongoing drought and the impact of explosive population growth in the area watering restrictions and low water levels are all signs of the ongoing drought conditions in Comal County that are drawing concerns over economic environmental and real human impacts within the community Perhaps the most staggering evidence of the county’s drought are historically-low levels at Canyon Lake which have led to despair from locals who grew up with fond memories of the lake Canyon Lake is currently 46.6% full, according to Water Data For Texas a number that has decreased from 59% in the last year With regard to water flow at the Comal and Guadalupe rivers the ideal water flow for recreational use falls between 100 and 499 cubic feet per second (CFS) the Comal River at New Braunfels had a flow of 61.7 CFS and the Guadalupe River above the Comal River at New Braunfels had a flow of 64 CFS Comal Conservation Executive Director Ryan Spencer expressed concern about how low water levels folks that depend on the tourism traffic such as marinas AirBnBs or even grocery stores are going to struggle unless the county receives a good amount of rainfall between now and June As the county experiences drier and drier years as of late conversations have elevated about the availability of water and how it relates to new developments and population growth we had the worst drought we’d ever witnessed in Texas,” Spencer said there were 17,000 people living in Comal County Now we’re experiencing a drought that is similar to the drought of record but we have over 200,000 people living in the county so the water situation is similar to what was happening back then The difference is the number of people that rely on the aquifers and the rivers and the lake for their sustenance for the water they drink and the water they use in industry and agriculture and all those things so there’s just an incredible demand for water in this region right now and that’s associated with the population growth.” There are many residents and businesses in Comal County that depend on wells in the Edwards and Trinity aquifers to access groundwater there is the chance for the groundwater table to sink down If someone’s well is on the cusp of depression — even though they might have had that well for more than 100 years — suddenly it goes dry and they have to either drill a new well use rainwater harvesting or try to find some other way to supply their needs Comal County is defined by its water sources and the current water situation is taking a toll on families who have lived in the area for generations Spencer recently met with a landowner at a ranch that their family has owned for more than 100 years The spring and well on their property is now running dry “That landowner has been out there longer than the lake has existed and there’s a human element to this where you have people that have lived out here for generations,” Spencer said they’re seeing the land they’ve known all their lives changing and that’s a very real thing that is happening to them.” “how good we’ve gotten at making water reliable cheap and safe” has also contributed to the overuse there was a massive growth in production ability with the emergence of high-volume pumps and other technology “And so we started spending water like it was affordable,” Spencer said and so people kind of lowered their reverence toward water as a resource in general The price for water got lower and lower.”  One major concern with regard to water scarcity and flow is a broader impact on the environment — not just in New Braunfels waterfowl and salamanders all depend on freshwater locally But Spencer also pointed out that juvenile fish and animals on the coast need a less salty environment to grow up in before they move out to deeper waters “Without the freshwater inflow from our rivers 300 miles away from us are being impacted,” Spencer said He spoke to the importance of conserving water and how each person has a role to play he said conservation is the cheapest form of water that we have if we can use less and make it go farther “Every person matters when it comes to water conservation and it’s true there are larger water-users that matter more but all of us have a role to play in conserving water and so thinking about how we use water in our daily lives is really important and creating that reverence for water in our community again is super important because again our great grandparents would be shocked to see how much water we use every day — it’s pretty staggering,” Spencer said “I think that’s one thing that people don’t always realize is that the way they use water makes a really big difference.” Editor's note: Steven Carr is no longer affiliated with ShockWater Car Wash Systems Carter leads the total votes in the New Braunfels election for the City Council member position in District 1 according to unofficial results from Comal County Comal 864’s new agave bar Escorpión opened April 22 coming out the gate pouring samples of its spirits Owner and chef Dayna Lee-Márquez and beverage director Graham Stockley held a five-course tasting April 21 allowing guests to try out the new offerings Those who have met Lee-Márquez know she is fearless But no one is exempt from moments of vulnerability she prepared dishes that brought her out of her comfort zone brandishing her Mexican heritage while playing in uncharted territory The result was a meal that was as full of spirit as it was of flavor – gastronomy that felt like a spoonful of heart “I’m going to play with different things to start putting on the menu that are going to be bar-specific bites,” Lee-Márquez said “I want to have two or three bites that are consistently on the bar menu that that my team can put together if I’m not around but that just shows that food ties more Escorpión Stockley met Lee-Márquez with a perfectly matched cocktail “We don’t back down from anything,” Stockley said “We might not get it right the first time but we will try and try and try and try again until we’re happy and people are happy.” Greenville-based Methodical Coffee announced in March 2024 that it would take over Bake Room, a beloved artisanal bakery in The Commons that closed abruptly in February 2024 Methodical Coffee has three Greenville locations at 147 Welborn St Methodical Bakery is located in The Commons next door to its coffee bar The Westin Poinsett’s Spoonbread Restaurant is serving a “Roaring Twenties” brunch every Sunday until the end of the year The brunch is a celebration of the restaurant’s upcoming 100-year anniversary with the culinary team recreating dishes that were classically prepared in the 1920s like chicken a la king Input your search keywords and press Enter the redevelopment of County Square is one of the biggest — and the most important — developments in Greenville’s recent history when you have a small piece of land and it doesn’t work out as intended there’s a lot more at stake,” said Nancy Whitworth the City of Greenville’s deputy city manager “With this site and its sensitivity to the park and downtown The county-owned property is more than 37 acres equivalent in size to downtown Greenville’s core and located within walking distance of Falls Park and the Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail Its redevelopment is expected to be a billion-dollar the redevelopment of a block of South Main Street across from the Peace Center the mixed-use development at the corner of North Main and Washington streets the master planned urban community on Verdae Boulevard and Laurens Road on land once owned by the late reclusive textile magnate John D at 1,100 acres and $1.5 billion when completed and we’ve got to make sure to get it right,” said Greenville County Council Chairman Butch Kirven County Square was not thought of as a part of Greenville’s downtown But Falls Park opened in 2004 and Fluor Field two years later planning started for the Swamp Rabbit Trail a 22-mile multiuse trail that opened in 2009 Because the former mall that now houses county operations will be torn down the developer and the county have a wonderful opportunity to design from the ground up professor emeritus of city and regional planning at Clemson University and former member of the city’s planning commission and Design Review Board “They have the opportunity to be creative and efficient and make it an important part of Greenville “Any time you double or triple the density of activities it’s going to strain existing capacities,” he said “They’ll have to have other ways to get there so you don’t have to get in a car They’ll need to think carefully about the back streets They need to make it attractive and feasible to walk with site lines and well-defined walking routes.” who said the city hasn’t had discussions with the developer said the city will be interested in how the development’s design will minimize impacts on traffic The city will also look at other elements like parking The development will likely require a zoning change “There’s no opportunity to back-door anything.” Kirven said County Square is more than an extension of downtown “It’s a test bed to demonstrate how the future looks in an urban environment,” he said “It’s a clean slate where we can design and create a smart urban environment for the future Acceptable Copy Guidelines for the CJ Guaranteed Service Before issuing a press release over the CJ Guaranteed service you 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incidental damages regardless of the form of action Community Journals shall not be liable for any delay or non-performance arising from any cause beyond its reasonable control All news releases and other information transmitted by Community Journals must contain a clearly identifiable source The source indicates the entity or individual that is responsible for the Content and cannot be the name of an agency issuing news on Your behalf This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York If any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid the remaining provisions shall nevertheless continue in full force without being impaired or invalidated in any way Any dispute arising under or related in any way to this Agreement shall be adjudicated in a court of competent jurisdiction in the County of New York Nearly two decades after the idea for a Cancer Survivors Park grew from a high school senior project to beautify an area outside a local cancer treatment center Greenville Cancer Survivors Park will hold its grand opening this weekend A public ribbon cutting will be held at 11 a.m “The Dedication to a Vision of Hope and Healing” will feature community leaders sharing the story about the creation of the park and plans for the Center for Hope & Healing a space for community celebrations and survivorship programs The ceremony will include recognition of the Greenville Health System and other contributors who made the park possible “The Garden Party,” will be held from 6 p.m The fundraising soiree will feature music by Trey Francis Guests at the party will be able to walk through the park and hear stories about the design and meaning Tickets are $125 and are available at cancersurvivorspark.org/the-garden-party.php Proceeds will benefit the Cancer Survivors Park Alliance’s education programs A free Cancer Survivors Day Celebration will be held at the park from 1 p.m Activities include walking tours of the park A survivors recognition ceremony and photo are set for 2:32 p.m Registration is requested but not required “We are excited to be celebrating a significant milestone — the transformation of a challenged piece of property into a beautiful park We still have much to do as we transition from bricks and mortar to a focus on incorporating the creative features and resources that are the essence of our vision — creating a space for hope and healing,” said Kay Roper executive director of the Cancer Survivors Park Alliance As the functions of parks grow more complex public-private partnerships have increased as a funding source Greenville’s Unity Park is an example of many of the current trends in building urban parks — a greater reliance on public-private partnerships the conversion of postindustrial sites into green space and construction of facilities that accommodate fluctuation in water levels to help water quality and flooding issues “Parks are no longer simply places for recreation That’s why public-private partnerships are so important,” said Catherine Nagel “Really where public-private partnerships shine is that they bring in more resources and skills.” While Greenville has been known for public-private partnerships for downtown development projects such as the Hyatt Mayor Knox White said Unity Park is the city’s first example of a true public-private partnership on a park The city has earmarked $20 million in hospitality tax revenue for the new park over 10 years and wants private partners to contribute another $20 million Separate from the city’s fundraising efforts is one led by Community Journals’ chairman and co-founder Doug Greenlaw to raise money for a veterans memorial in the park Greenlaw is a founder of the Upstate charter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart “Public-private partnerships have become a critical funding tool in the toolbox,” said Kevin O’Hara vice president of urban and government affairs for the National Recreation and Parks Association public-private partnerships are good for parks.” Chicago’s Millennium Park was a result of a public-private partnership Mayor Richard Daley originally proposed construction of a parking garage with a landscaped greenroof on land that had been parkland The original plan financing called for $120 million from parking revenue bonds and $30 million from private resources plans for the park had changed drastically A cycle center provides heated bicycle parking There are outdoor art galleries and a promenade and the Pritzker Pavilion that hosts the Grant Park Musical Festival Underneath the park is a 4,000 space parking garage the park was the Midwest’s most popular tourist attraction There’s a wide range of how park public-private partnerships are structured “There’s a real range of public-private partnership models to consider,” she said “The key is to fit the model to your community Some cities have a strong base of philanthropic organizations City Park would also mirror the trend in other cities where postindustrial sites are turned into parks and green space those sites are on waterfronts and riverfronts areas that some cities turned their backs on and became nasty places to which people didn’t want to go a waterfront cargo yard was turned into one of New York’s signature parks The city redirects real estate taxes from residential and commercial developments in the project zone creating a self-sustaining revenue stream that is far less dependent on concessions and permits for special events than signature parks in other major cities “Parks are helping to revitalize cities and put them on the map,” Nagel said “It’s exciting that those projects are not just happening in the largest cities but in medium and small cities as well.” SAN ANTONIO – UPDATE on 4/23: A man accused of shooting another man in Canyon Lake was arrested in San Antonio, according to the Comal County Sheriff’s Office. Brian Joseph Shermer was apprehended without incident near Evans Road and Nacogdoches Road on Tuesday Shermer is being held at the Comal County Jail for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon ORIGINAL STORY: The Comal County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect accused of shooting another man in Canyon Lake is wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon deputies responded to a shooting in the 300 block of Sir Arthur Way where a 37-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound to the leg was taken to a hospital and has since been released Shermer allegedly fled the scene on foot before deputies arrived Shermer was last seen wearing dark clothing Anyone with information on Shermer’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Comal County Sheriff’s Office at 830-620-3400 Gabby Jimenez is a digital journalist at KSAT Gabby is a San Antonio native and joined the KSAT team in January 2025 she has reported for newspapers in Louisiana and Virginia earning a Virginia Press Association award for Combination Photo and Story in 2024 Copyright © 2025 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Comal County Commissioners approved an agreement with Christchurch Texas L.P located at 1500 Hancock Road in Canyon Lake COMAL COUNTY Texas – A Canyon Lake man was arrested last week on multiple marijuana trafficking charges the Comal County Sheriff’s Office announced on Monday Those records also show Horne is facing two marijuana charges between 1/4 ounce and 5 pounds Comal County deputies said their narcotics unit executed a search warrant at Horne’s home Friday in the 1000 block of Canyon Shores Authorities seized 11.78 pounds of marijuana more than 6.5 ounces (6.56) of THC extract products and $139,060 in cash Horne was booked into the Comal County Jail on $3,000 bond for each charge Deputies said their investigation is ongoing More related alleged drug crime coverage on KSAT: Ryan Cerna is a digital news trainee at KSAT Cerna graduated with degrees in Journalism and Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas in 2024 He has worked in newsrooms in Austin and New York City before his time in San Antonio The Water Oriented Recreation District of Comal County (WORD) is set to lease its office at 1928 FM 2673 to Comal County for use as a new sheriff's office substation The Comal County Sheriff’s Office is set to add a new substation in Canyon Lake Comal County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to pass an agreement between the county and the Water Oriented Recreation District of Comal County (WORD) WORD is set to lease its Sattler office at 1928 FM 2673 to Comal County which intends to use the space as a sheriff’s office substation “This lease was approved by the board of directors Monday evening and in my mind it’s a very elegant solution to the problem of getting the sheriff’s office out of the broom closet over at JP4 and into a temporary location,” WORD General Manager Mike Dussere said Comal County is set to pay WORD $2,000 per month to use the office and is also slated to pay The county is responsible for paying all utilities and providing necessary insurance to cover the premises 2026 for an additional 12 months unless the county defaults on the contract “This is an excellent opportunity for all of us,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Jen Crownover said The Comal County Courthouse was built in 1899 and later remodeled Comal County Commissioners unanimously approved the final plat for the third unit of Canyon Ranch a housing development in the Spring Branch area to begin development of an additional 200 lots in the subdivision has lived in the Hill Country for the last 35 years He spoke at Thursday’s Comal County Commissioners Court meeting to ask commissioners to deny additions to Canyon Ranch “The reason why I’m asking you not to sign the plat approval for this subdivision is because Canyon Lake is in a crisis situation,” Luongo said “At the time when this subdivision was approved the lake level was at a full level and there wasn’t really a big problem He said the residents of Canyon Lake do not want the subdivision to continue I’m asking you to stand up for the community stand up for the people of Canyon Lake who do not want to see our water supply dwindle down to nothing.” Luongo added that Canyon Lake supplies water for Hays Kendall and Bexar counties in addition to Comal “This is a tragedy that’s about to happen,” he said noting that all of the public boat ramps are closed due to low water levels “The rate of evaporation increases as (the water) goes down and we’re heading toward the summer,” Luongo continued “I’ve been watching this lake go down week after week after week It’s just a small little trickle into Canyon Lake.” one of the assistant engineers for Comal County presented the final plat for Unit 3 of Canyon Ranch to Comal County Commissioners He insisted there was a sense of urgency to make the decision due to a 15-day timeline which would expire before next week’s meeting He talked about water availability for the subdivision stating the developers have an agreement with the Texas Water Company “It’s been approved and it’s in their analysis They can supply this subdivision with that amount of water They do have a water availability report on file that is good through December but this subdivision falls underneath that approved report at this time,” Vollbrecht said to commissioners Commissioner Jen Crownover of Precinct 4 said she and other commissioners have heard the community’s feedback regarding the Canyon Lake water levels and concerns about further real estate development in the county They’ve fulfilled all of the laws and regulations and everything for their subdivision I know this is happening now and there’s been a lot of publicity about the water company turning down several subdivisions because of water supply but this one has been in the pipeline for years and they’ve accounted for that amount of water in their planning,” she said “I just want to make the point that we really don’t have a choice in the matter at this point it would be approved by default or overturning of the district court anyways.” Canyon Ranch is located on FM 306 in Spring Branch — about four miles east of U.S Highway 281 Tyler Johnson is the assistant managing editor of the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung who is also the county and crime reporter Comal County commissioners on Thursday approved final plats for the first phase of Canyon Ranch 400 a housing development in the Spring Branc… Comal County Commissioners Court recognized the Kaderli family on Thursday 2025 for receiving a Texas Historical Commission Subject Marker A ceremony is scheduled for May 3 at 10 a.m at Mystic Parkway and Mexican Hat Drive in Spring Branch Benedict and Anetta Kaderli emigrated from Switzerland in 1873 and settled on 160 acres northwest of New Braunfels in 1877 The Kaderli land now hosts part of Canyon Lake’s Mystic Shores subdivision and remains of the original homestead are still visible six miles east of US Highway 281 Descendants of Benedict and Anetta Kaderli were in attendance Thursday at the Comal County Courthouse as a proclamation was read recognizing the family with a Texas Historical Commission Subject Marker The proclamation said that Benedict and Anetta Kaderli arrived in Indianola Texas before procuring a wagon and making the 150-mile trek to New Braunfels They were said to have hidden away their money at the bottom of a wagon grease bucket to protect their nest egg along the way The Kaderlis later built a two-story stone house near Bates Creek Descendants lived near the family homestead until the devastating drought of the 1950s when family members began to move to other nearby towns The proclamation from Comal County Commissioners Court also offered a commendation to Paula Rieker from the Comal County Historical Commission Rieker is the sponsor for the historical marker and the research for her book “The Heritage Lands of the 711 Ranch” ultimately led to its approval A marker dedication ceremony is planned for Saturday May 3 near the intersection of Mystic Parkway and Mexican Hat Drive in Spring Branch Sandra Ibarra NEW BRAUNFELS POLICE – A Comal County sheriff’s deputy was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated bonded out of the Comal County Jail on Tuesday morning New Braunfels police arrested Rangel earlier in the morning Hard-hitting journalism from the KSAT Investigates team delivered straight to your inbox NBPD pulled Rangel over for a routine traffic stop along I-35 according to City of New Braunfels spokesman David Ferguson He said a blood warrant for Rangel was issued Rangel was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation Comal County Sheriff Mark Reynolds told KSAT Investigates Rangel has been with the Comal County Sheriff’s Office since January 2018 according to state law enforcement records Read more reporting on the KSAT Investigates page Daniela Ibarra joined the KSAT News team in July 2023 This isn’t her first time in the KSAT newsroom– the San Antonio native spent the summer of 2017 as an intern earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Texas Sandra Ibarra is an assignments editor at KSAT 12 FORECASTSHARE PHOTOS & VIDEORed flag warning issued for Comal County amid fire risk concernsby Ethan Trejo Texas — A red flag warning has been issued for the entire area tomorrow due to expected high winds and extremely dry conditions raising concerns about potential brush fires advised residents in the Hill Country area to remain cautious Despite the extreme drought conditions plaguing the county the area has not yet met the threshold to implement a burn ban Klabunde emphasized the importance of vigilance especially as extreme weather conditions could impact the area Klabunde warned that wind speeds could gust up to 50 miles per hour Klabunde said they will monitor the entire county as fires could ignite from various sources Klabunde advised taking precautions to prevent fires Giovianne Washington is running against Incumbent Amanda Jones for a seat on the Comal ISD board of trustees WILLISTON — The sign above El Comal Mexican Cuisine says a lot about the painstaking process the owners followed to get their new restaurant started 2023,” which is a long time ago for a place that just opened in early January Cayetano Santos and Casimiro De Jesus followed that lengthy path because they wanted to get their restaurant right The natives of the Mexican state of Oaxaca are doing what they can to make that oft-thrown-about Mexican-restaurant label “authentic” as true as possible at El Comal With help from family and friends who help staff the restaurant They create dishes on the spot using implements common in Oaxaca including the comal – a flat piece of cookware used over an open fire to cook chiles tomatoes and other ingredients – that gives the restaurant its name “In order to keep the freshness we have to cook as (customers) order,” Santos said Natives of rural OaxacaSantos and De Jesus are natives of rural Oaxaca – they both speak Triqui a local language – but didn’t meet until they worked in the restaurant industry in Albany Santos worked in Albany at a Chili’s restaurant as well as Mexican and Indian eateries before going on to make sushi at a fine-dining restaurant Michael’s College and served as an interpreter/translator for the federal government De Jesus said he made pizza and worked in a Mexican restaurant in Albany He arrived in Vermont to study culinary arts at the Northlands Job Corps Center in Vergennes and after that ran the Piesanos pizza place on Main Street in Burlington The two made plans more than a year ago to open El Comal in the Taft Corners Shopping Center but ran into obstacles as they strived to serve true Oaxacan food Santos said he and De Jesus set out to make their own tortillas from pre-made masa “We couldn’t use the masa that we were sent to try,” according to Santos contained too much lime or didn’t use the type of corn that he and De Jesus wanted They decided to make their own masa but it took months to find the right-sized mill to fit in their modest kitchen in Williston El Comal might not provide exactly what diners have been conditioned to eat in Americanized Mexican restaurants Because of the specialized ingredients and the labor-intensive tools used to make dishes as they’re ordered Santos said those eating at El Comal might be surprised that their meals aren’t fast and cheap (Entrees range from $16 to $27.) He said part of the service El Comal provides is teaching about the cuisine of Oaxaca and that good Mexican food can be more complicated than people realize “People seem to like mole,” he said of the chocolate-based sauce common in Oaxaca “They seem to like quesadilla al comal.” The latter is a handmade tortilla folded in half and filled with fresh cheese El Comal seats 40 diners and will have outdoor seating Business has been strong in the first few weeks It’s been really crazy on the weekends,” he said with possible additions including ceviche and pork dishes finalize their liquor license and get their feet on the ground as they establish El Comal in the relatively soft winter restaurant season “I think it’s a good time to open,” Santos said El Comal Mexican Cuisine, 28 Taft Corners Shopping Center, Williston. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. (802) 764-0279, www.instagram.com/elcomalwillistonvt/ Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com Texas — A packed house gathered at Comal County's Commissioners Court to address the pressing issue of water scarcity Several water companies presented their outlook for the future including the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority discussed current water usage levels and supply They outlined solutions such as aquifer storage and recovery wells though these projects require time to meet demand Crownover was pivotal when the Texas Water Company recently announced it could no longer supply water to nine subdivision projects Providers also suggested strategies like higher charges for excess users and increased impact fees for new developers Crownover and residents agree that ongoing conservation and dialogue are crucial for maintaining a future water supply A New Braunfels resident expressed concern "We're turning into a desert area and we're just to see Canyon Lake dry up The community continues to seek answers and solutions to the water crisis Texas - A confirmed measles death in Texas has sparked widespread concern where health officials are on high alert after a person with a confirmed case of the disease reportedly traveled through New Braunfels earlier this month the director of public health for Comal County spoke about the growing concerns and the county's response Fraser confirmed that while there have been no additional confirmed cases in the county public health officials are prepared to assist physicians in testing anyone who meets the criteria for measles exposure Fraser emphasized that while the threat is real the county is continuing its monitoring efforts has shifted public attention and may drive a greater sense of urgency in the community To help mitigate the spread of the disease Fraser continues to advocate for vaccination She highlighted that Comal County offers several vaccination programs for uninsured and underinsured adults and children Public health nurses and epidemiologists are available to assist with vaccination inquiries and help individuals review their immunization records health officials urge the public to stay vigilant and ensure that their vaccinations are up to date especially as the threat of measles persists Texas — As schools face potential funding cuts Comal Independent School District is focusing on equipping students for success through its Career Technical Education (CTE) programs These programs offer students alternative routes to college and opportunities to gain a competitive edge in the workforce and either do that for an indefinite period of time." The CTE programs provide year-long courses that allow selected students to explore various careers highlighted the real-world applicability of these courses "When you think about in the real world we can immediately start working in a clinic like that and whether we didn't want to go to college and just wanted to stop here Schools such as Canyon Lake High School offer skill training that goes beyond traditional grading leading to certifications and real-world job opportunities which involves creating arrangements for events like proms and weddings where students train for certification in electrocardiography emphasized the practical application of these skills "You always hear that most common like question I'm never going to use algebra in the real world...if they take a CTE class You're going to use these applications in some way or another in your everyday life." Despite uncertainties about future funding the district remains committed to providing CTE programs which they believe are crucial for students' success is what...high school really needs to be about is giving these kids the opportunity to learn I think this program is important," said welding teacher "These hands-on skills are really important not only just to learn how to do the skill itself but just the basic things that come along with it putting your head down and working hard at something to get better at it," added another CTE Student Pictured is the Dovetail condominium complex being constructed at New Braunfels' Freiheit Village Pictured is an apartment complex that is currently being built within the Veramendi subdivision Editor’s note: The featured front-page story in each edition of the H-Z this week will focus on one aspect of water as we take a closer look at the ongoing drought and the impact of explosive population growth in the area Due to the ongoing drought and water scarcity in Comal County residents are quick to blame local government officials for the rapid housing development occurring at this time According to Texas Local Government Code Title 7, Chapter 212, Section 010: “The municipal authority responsible for approving plats shall approve a plat” if it meets the appropriate standards Subdivision regulations in Comal County include the reviewing of plats replats and amendments to plats; drainage improvements; water availability; wastewater treatment and disposal; and road construction standards Comal County Commissioners Jen Crownover of Precinct 4 Doug Leecock of Precinct 1 and Scott Haag of Precinct 2 explained the process developers must go through and how “ministerial” their role is when it comes to approving these developments [our role] is ministerial,” Crownover said we ‘shall’ approve plats once they fulfill all laws and regulations.” Leecock said the county’s role in the development process is unfortunate we don’t play a significant role in controlling new development,” he said “What we have control over is strictly based upon the powers that the state legislature has granted to the commissioners court Developers are required to fulfill plat requirements that are submitted to our engineering department The engineering department then works to review the plat in comparison with our subdivision regulations including a water supply and an appropriate TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) mechanism for dealing with wastewater the developers are notified to rectify the issue and submit corrections.” She mentioned that developers must secure utilities for their proposed subdivision They must also secure access to their project then negotiations are with them for access and/or improvements Developers must also have a plan for wastewater they can have residents construct their own septics via individual permits through the county then that entire process is handled through TCEQ for wastewater treatment," Crownover said Once the developer fulfills all of those requirements which includes things like maps and road designs Once it passes through the county’s engineering office it goes to Commissioners Court for approval Crownover also noted that most subdivisions are done in units or phases which allows developers to get approval one unit or phase at a time access and utilities for the entire project must be planned from the start “When you see another unit of Canyon 400 come through all of those utility commitments were handled on the front end of the project for the full build-out of the project most developers will do a unit or two at a time in the approval process power and other things are already secured before the date of the initial filing,” Crownover said Once developers fulfill what they need to do at the state level “Counties do not have the ability to vote down a development on the sole basis that we are growing too fast or the development does not fit in what is existing,” he said “The state of Texas is a property rights state Texas — Comal County Commissioners have unanimously agreed to develop a new app designed to enhance communication between the sheriff's office and residents "This is something that we've been looking at for some time." The app aims to provide a more direct and concise form of communication bringing the resources of the sheriff's office directly to residents' mobile phones "This app will basically bring the resources and the entire disposal of the sheriff's office to the hands of those people that have mobile phones...anything that our website can do the app will be able to do," Reynolds said The app will be managed by various departments within the sheriff's office and will offer access to jail records and optional alerts for up-to-date community notifications that either is something that's going to interrupt traffic flow or The deputies and personnel here at the office can interact with that and it would actually send out an alert to those that are subscribed to it here's what's going on," Reynolds explained The app's development cost of $27,000 is largely covered by donations Reynolds assured that there will be no charge for using the service The app is currently in development and could be available for iPhones and Android devices in as soon as 45 days "We're hoping that it again will open up a whole new interaction with the people that live in the county and come to visit," Reynolds said Sal Salazar Santiago Esparza NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – Comal Conservation was founded in 2018 as a response to the quick population growth in the county said water conservation is a huge undertaking but it’s also an economic problem,” he said Spencer said Comal County receives billions of dollars each year in tourism revenue “Folks that come to visit our county are coming to this county because the rivers are gorgeous the limestone cliffs are unbelievable,” Spencer said “About 33 percent of the jobs in New Braunfels are linked to the hospitality industry.” Some are coming to stay; Comal County welcomes about 10,000 new residents each year New Braunfels had a population of 21,000 people; now that number is 120,000 The projections by the Texas Water Development Board show the population is going to continue to increase and that’s being conservative,” Spencer said most of that water goes to feeding green lawns.” He says part of the conservation effort is teaching people to go with native plants and grasses instead of St “We all have a role to play in water conservation,” he said Part of that also includes landowners and ranchers Spencer is working with property owners and city and county leaders to protect wildland which is critical to the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers “We live in the most beautiful place in Texas just enjoy the natural spaces that make this part of Texas so beautiful,” Spencer said From left are incumbent Comal ISD District 6 Trustee Amanda Jones and challenger Giovianne Washington Two candidates are running for the Comal ISD single-member District 6 trustee position in the May 3 election as they strive to improve the district and support local students The candidates are Giovianne Washington and Amanda Jones the latter of whom has held the position since 2022 community and commitment drive Jones to want to run for school board reelection as she says the work is not done and consistency is key she said it is imperative to see the five-year plan through to 2028 to give Comal the highest potential to provide a high-quality education and attain academic achievement while also supporting safe and effective learning environments for all students I also remain committed to our fiscal responsibility while working with the district in finding solutions during budget constraints including teacher retention and competitive compensation,” Jones said I hope to continue to be an advocate and a voice for the community to consistently be involved and be informed a Comal mother of three and is passionate about volunteering for this community she served on multiple committees in the area including the Bond Committee in 2019 She said one of the top issues that Comal is facing regards public funding for academic achievement she plans to continue the push for public funding dollars in the district and state as well as work with the district to provide opportunities for all in helping students be college “As an engaged community and current board member for SMD 6 I remain diligent in what is going on at the state level regarding public funding for our schools,” Jones said “I converse with our district and community members about the importance of public funding and will continue to work with local and state representatives to understand Comal ISD’s value in our area and challenges relevant to our district needs Texas to rally with other parents and students across the state to advocate for public funding.” Another top issue Jones wants to address is continuing fiscal responsibility with a focus on teacher compensation this is a critical part of our district to maintain the culture in Comal,” Jones said “There is a direct correlation between our teachers and our student outcomes By continuing to be fiscally conservative and examine ways to receive and retain our teachers with competitive compensation we can continue to grow greatness in Comal.” as a long-time Comal resident and experienced board member she said she will continue to monitor the fast-growing district Jones thinks it is vital to keep connecting with developers to maximize opportunities while continuing to maintain fiscal responsibility of building and occupying campuses for long-term use Comal ISD District 6: Giovianne Washington Amid pressing issues facing Comal ISD and public education Washington says he is running for the single-member District 6 trustee seat to be a part of the solution Washington has lived in the district since 2007 and said he would bring a fresh and experienced outlook to the board He has an array of experience in advocating for and supporting education Washington has been the chairman of the Bexar Technical Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities (TACPD) He shared more information about the role this committee plays in the community “The TACPD serves as a link between citizens with disabilities and Bexar County,” Washington said “The committee provides assistance to offices and departments to ensure equal accessibility to opportunities in employment The committee also makes recommendations to commissioners court on issues concerning employment policies and practices the committee provides educational services designed to inform county employees of the various accessibility problems faced by persons with disabilities.” Washington also has previously served on the CISD 19/25 Budget Committee and currently serves on the district’s School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) “I want to help ensure Comal ISD’s vision of developing lifelong learners and independent thinkers prepared for post-secondary vocational or military service success becomes a reality for all students,” Washington said “As a current parent and committee member at Comal ISD I have seen both the strengths and challenges of Comal ISD’s public schools I am eager to continue creating an excellent learning community at Comal ISD by drawing on my educational and professional experiences and direct work with Comal ISD district administrators and staff.” Regarding the most pressing challenges facing Comal and public education Washington said school districts and local governments need more funds to supply needed services students and residents need to have confidence that their needs including safety jobs and education will be met,” Washington said “The state of Texas has allotted a limited amount of money with which to fund public education and with no new funding from the state in sight the board of trustees’ role will be to examine the district’s expenditures very carefully.” As these critical issues continue to shape the future of public education in the state Washington wants to ensure members of District 6 are heard at the district level said he would advocate for the community’s interest and contribute to the development of policies that impact students hailed as ‘Barrio Magico Turistico’ or ‘the magic neighbourhood for tourists’ they signed up for Airbnb experiences like market tours and cooking classes for salsa and tortilla making they found a strong connection between Mexican and Indian cuisine ComalThe founders picked up what was earlier a Pizza Hut outlet at Trinity Circle on MG Road. In sections, the brick walls have been deliberately exposed to echo the rustic chic Mexico City vibe with pops of colour provided by framed paintings and bric-a-brac. There are Mexican touches throughout the 41-seater restaurant such as Gothic arches a cactus light fixture made by Chef Varun’s friend hand-painted tiles by Pune-based artist Shibani Diwalkar and a mural near the entrance by Bonda Soup Art Studio ComalComalThere are visual cues like decorated skulls from Dia de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead parade, mandatory Frida Kalho imagery, Calavera costumes to Talavera tiles. The enigmatic eagle forms the brand logo. “The Mexican flag, local transport, all the cast iron drain covers had the eagle emblem, so we used the Aztec version,” says the heavily tatted Chef Varun the kitchen is the biggest space with diner-style seating for 12 around the counter so guests can interact with the chef and catch all the action with festive Mexican music playing in the background the code for Mexico City) is like Aztec karaage served with salsa macha and banana hot sauce The showstopper is the melt-in-your-mouth Carne Asada or roast beef tenderloin cooked as a skewer served with Chile Butter and Scallion Salsa Camarones El Diabolo features shrimp with smokey Goan choriz (similar to Mexican sausages) try the spicy Birria Consommé with lamb neck and ramen noodles Pork Belly Chicharron has crackling pork with grilled plantains Instagram Bengaluru 560001; call 8123240555 for large group reservations The chicken is brined for 24 hours and dry aged for 24 hours before being jammed into the rotisserie – half a chicken for one portion there’s Postres (dessert) with signature churros Buñuelos Sundae with creamy scoops of vanilla custard and vanilla soft serve with citrus marmalade Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service (updated April 1 2021) and Policy and Cookie Statement (updated April 1 The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast FILE PHOTO: Students are dropped off on the first day of school 2023 at Comal Indpendent School District's Comal Creek in New Braunfels The Comal ISD Board of Trustees heard during a Thursday night meeting two options for the 2025-26 calendar that have students returning to school on either Aug the director of secondary school leadership said the calendar development process began in September at the first District Educational Improvement Council meeting The committee developed a list of preferred parameters to follow for the calendar’s creation which included not starting school on a Monday having a full week off for Thanksgiving and ending the school year prior to Memorial Day Peacock shared the similarities and differences between the two calendar options for trustees during the Thursday meeting Both calendar options fulfill the DEIC’s recommendation to start school on a Tuesday 19 for option A or a week earlier for option B and May 21 is the students’ last day of school Both calendars list March 9 through March 13 as spring break “It was decided to have spring break the second week of March to coincide with our partnership college where many of our high school students take courses to obtain dual credit,” Peacock said Option A contains 165 instructional school days and option B contains 170 instructional school days Option A includes 10 professional development days for teachers in August The two options include four in-year staff development days and two bad weather days Option A has 3.48 banked days and Option B has 8.48 banked days because of its additional instructional school days committee members voted on whether they preferred option A or option B and provided further feedback “Of the 66 DEIC members who completed the survey and 9 DEIC members — slightly under 14% — preferred option B Nineteen comments from the DEIC survey expressed a preference of option A’s inclusion of 10 August professional development days for teachers as opposed to option B’s inclusion of five days CISD stakeholders also had the opportunity to provide feedback on the two calendars this month through a survey The respondents constituted 1,171 employees Peacock said 4,780 respondents voted in favor of calendar option A representing approximately 89% of respondents There were 1,135 respondents who left comments about the calendars “A few themes emerged from the feedback provided,” Peacock said “Many commenters preferred the later start date and the 10 days of August staff development for teachers included in option A Many respondents disliked option B’s proposal to start school one week early and did not support the addition of five instructional school days in August to the calendar in option B.” Trustees will consider voting on the 2025-26 calendar at the January board meeting CANYON LAKE Texas – The Comal County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect accused of shooting another man in Canyon Lake Comal 864’s Escorpión bar is scheduled to open April 22 along with beverage director Graham Stockley Watch a video with Stockley before the opening as he makes a Kiwi Paloma with the Greenville Journal Up Front: The digital and print life of John Olson https://greenvillejournal.com/community/up-front-the-digital-and-print-life-of-john-olson-community-journals-greenville-sc/ was determined by a Comal County jury to be an SVP on Jan 30 after she was first convicted of sexual offenses in 2011 SVPs, according to Texas Law are a small group of sexual offenders that are considered extremely dangerous and likely to engage in repeated predatory acts of sexual violence due to a behavioral abnormality Inmates with two or more offenses who are nearing their release from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice need to be screened for the State’s Sexually Violent Predator Civil Commitment program This group is treated differently from traditional civil commitment with long-term treatment and supervision Jail records show Hamm was a candidate for this screening because she was convicted of 13 sexual offenses An investigation was first opened by the Comal County Sheriff’s Office in 2009 when Hamm was 22 Hamm had started an online relationship with two teenage girls She began grooming the victims through role-playing games, which are computer games where players control characters in an imaginary world The Alliance for Children defines child grooming as the calculated process by which an offender sexually abuses a child The act often involves manipulating them by establishing trust Hamm did this by giving the victims secret devices and gifts spending hundreds of hours with them on the phone and computer She made up false sexual assault allegations of the victims' parents in order to take them away from their support network The post stated Hamm also manipulated them over webcams Hamm coordinated a way to kidnap the teenage victims with Sarah Nadeau Hamm convinced Nadeau to drive from San Diego the victims were successfully transported by Nadeau riding some of the way in the trunk of her car When parents found the girls missing that morning they were able to find Hamm’s cellphone number She gave the families and police false information which kept the victims' real location hidden for a month when she moved them to Fresno Hamm was eventually captured when authorities placed a location device on a nebulizer she got for one of the victims Hamm pleaded guilty in 2011 to 13 convictions of sexual offenses and kidnapping according to the district attorney’s office the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole granted her an early release after she served 15 years According to the Comal County Criminal District Attorney’s Office her release made Hamm eligible for civil commitment consideration she was diagnosed by expert witnesses with several mental conditions that built a basis of the likelihood for Hamm to commit future acts of sexual violence testified she was highly manipulative and met the criteria for having a behavioral abnormality that made her likely to re-offend Hamm admitted the role-playing games had continued with various “pen pals” during her incarceration and lied during expert interviews and to the State’s attorney in August 2024 she was evaluated as Texas’s first woman SVP since the law was first enacted in 1999 Hamm will be transferred to the Texas Civil Commitment Center in Littlefield and evaluated every two years to determine whether her risk as an SVP has changed she will be given sex offender treatment and constant supervision “I am extremely grateful for the hard work and excellence by SVP Chief Erin Faseler and her team who took an important case for our County and used their expertise to protect Texas by handling this case for my office,” Comal County District Attorney Jennifer Tharp said and I am grateful for the jury’s verdict.” Avery Meurer is a Content Gatherer for KSAT 12 She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Communications/Radio Avery attended the Northeast School of the Arts (NESA) majoring in musical theater and creative writing Comal County is making it easier for residents to be in the know for emergency responses Comal County Commissioners unanimously approved the development of an app that is designed to keep residents up-to-date with activity within the Comal County Sheriff’s Office it will be a free download for residents here in the county It will basically bring the resources of the sheriff’s office available to do reports and look up things,” said Comal County Sheriff Mark Reynolds “For those that want to subscribe to alerts we can put items in there like car accidents could be available for download within 45-60 days The total cost of the first year is $27,000 and that includes the price to develop the app Reynolds mentioned that it would be included in the sheriff’s office budget going forward “It is continuously updated and then it gives us the ability to interact with it so we can put (notifications) in there,” Reynolds said about the app’s ability to provide alerts directly to a resident’s phone people go to Facebook to ask about certain emergency events happening in the county and the app would be a resource allowing residents to know exactly what is happening “I think this could be a great thing for people out in the county to have because how often do we see on Facebook ‘What’s going on there?’ If they were to support and download this app Unanimous support from Comal County Commissioners Court demonstrates a desire for better communication with its residents “I’m super excited about this app and excited to help you out in any way you need I’m a huge proponent for good communication so this makes me happy,” said Commissioner Jen Crownover of Precinct 4 the county will work with OVC to promote for residents to download it as quickly as possible The mobile app is designed specifically for iPhone and Android users CANYON LAKE, Texas - The Comal County Sheriff's Office is looking for three men and a vehicle they say may be connected to the theft of ATMs in Canyon Lake Comal County sheriff's detectives are investigating thefts of ATMs on April 2 at two different businesses One was located in the 1300 block of Sattler Road and the other was in the 2100 block of Old Sattler Road The photos of the suspects show three people One is wearing a blue-and-white baseball cap and a light-colored cloth wrapping their lower face The other two had hoods pulled up over their heads Officials are also looking for a newer model Anyone with information is asked to contact the Comal County Sheriff’s Office at 830-620-3400 The Source: Information in this report comes from the Comal County Sheriff's Office By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. SAN ANTONIO — A call for a suicide in progress on Wednesday escalated into a deadly gun battle between San Antonio police and 46-year-old Brandon Poulos resulting in Poulos' death and injuries to seven officers The confrontation ended early Thursday morning after an hours-long standoff with SWAT officers who ultimately shot and killed Poulos Authorities in Comal County revealed that less than 24 hours before that incident Comal County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a similar call involving Poulos His mother had called 911 around 11:30 p.m released on bond Sunday from Bexar County Jail was armed - a violation of his conditions of release - intoxicated and threatening suicide Records show Poulos had been booked Saturday on charges of assaulting his elderly in-laws and his spouse as well as a charge of driving while intoxicated - second offense Poulos' mother wasn't the only one to call 911 that evening. The Comal County Sheriff's Office said Poulos himself made 30 calls to 911, repeatedly threatening to shoot any law enforcement officers who approached him. All details 30 year law enforcement veteran Willie Ng said should have raised more alarms RELATED | Comal County deputies defuse tense situation with shooter day before officer shooting "He's threatening to shoot and kill a law enforcement officer," Ng who teaches graduate courses in law enforcement at the University of the Incarnate Word "He's already assaulted family members despite Poulos' mother reporting gunfire as she left the Comal County address Tuesday evening and a neighbor who reportedly heard shots fired around 2 a.m Comal County authorities approached the situation as a mental health call and deployed two deputies who stationed within a block from Poulos' home A spokesperson for the Comal County Sheriff's Office said hostage negotiators assisted dispatchers with Poulos' numerous calls for approximately four hours until all contact from Poulos ceased shortly after 3 a.m The Sheriff's Office said it deployed a drone to assess the scene at 3:22 a.m but initiated a reverse 911 call to alert neighbors of the situation the threat's still there," Ng said what if the threat killed everyone in the home and killed himself I think that it was sloppy - I really do." RELATED | San Antonio Police identifies 7 officers injured during Stone Oak shootout The Comal County Sheriff's Office said Poulos' mother advised them Poulos' wife and children were not at the home and they had no information anyone else was in the home at the time they disengaged The agency also said it was unaware of Poulos' criminal cases in Bexar County or an active protective order against Poulos until Wednesday afternoon The circumstances surrounding the delayed discovery remain under investigation a spokesperson for the Comal County Sheriff's Office confirmed Friday A warrant for Poulos' arrest for violating the protective order was secured around 2 p.m Poulos' spouse had requested permission from law enforcement to return to their Comal County home just before 3 p.m but was asked to wait as deputies were working to locate Poulos A warrant officer with Comal County was able to get in contact with Poulos by phone around 4 p.m Wednesday and he informed the officer he was at his mother's home in San Antonio admitting to being heavily intoxicated the previous night and recalling little of the incident," a spokesperson said Friday "He agreed to work with authorities on a surrender." Poulos' spouse again requested permission to return home around 6:30 p.m and Deputies met her at the home approximately an hour later Deputies got their first look inside Poulos' home just before 7:30 pm Wednesday when they escorted Poulos' spouse inside shell casings of different caliber weapons and a car with a shattered window in the garage Comal County authorities said as they were preparing to issue a "BOLO" for Poulos to surrounding agencies they learned he was already in a gunfight with San Antonio Police officers Records show the first San Antonio police officer had been shot by Poulos around 8:30 p.m "What if they would have done all these things the proper way Would that incident have occurred in San Antonio but there's a 'what if' that we should never have in law enforcement that way we can say we exhausted everything possible you have a lot of 'what ifs.'" Ng did not fault Comal County deputies for their response He said his doctoral thesis research revealed such issues ultimately trace back to leadership in law enforcement creating policies and procedures in response to political and social pressures often times without input from the law enforcement officers whom it impacts Ng said that has had the effect of officers at agencies across the country placing an emphasis on staying within the parameters of countless procedures and neglecting tactics officers are more concerned with disciplinary actions versus getting shot in the line of duty," Ng said of his research That means these officers are not proactive Because officers aren't looking for it 'I'm just going to stay parked here and I'm gonna wait to be dispatched I'm gonna come back and I'm gonna finish my report I'm gonna wait for my next call.' Why Because they don't want to go out there and look for something and potentially put themselves in a situation where somebody records it and they don't like the optics of it and then they're held accountable because political pressure." Comal County Sheriff Mark Reynolds declined to sit down for an interview but issued a statement asserting that his deputies followed protocol argued that the protocols need reevaluation Their protocols did not lead to a successful outcome RELATED | 'We're a family': Emotional 24 hours after seven officers shot The San Antonio Police Department said while officers who responded to the later suicide in progress call were not immediately aware of Poulos' earlier contact with Comal County its Fusion Center had been actively gathering and sharing intel for responding officers as the situation developed the President of the San Antonio Police Officer's Association did not return a request for comment on Comal County's earlier interactions with Poulos Though SAPOA shared a video on social media Friday night questioning why Poulos was out on bond to begin with The video called for Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales to be held accountable RELATED | What we know about past criminal history of the suspected Stone Oak shooter Gonzales' office said Thursday prosecutors had recommended bonds totaling $40,000 and a magistrate judge ultimately set Poulos' bonds at $35,000 Gonzales' office added that Poulos had not yet been served with a protective order out of Comal County until Sunday when he was in custody at the Bexar County Jail