Here is a recap of what was featured in the Wednesday, Oct. 12, e-edition of the Taylor Press. The e-edition is mailed to subscribers and available at www.taylorpress.net.
GOOD LIFE 5 K BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER
The 10th annual Good Life 5K and Kids K was held Oct. 8 at Bull Branch Park. The event raised thousands of dollars this year for key community projects, including upgrades to the surface of Memorial Field as well a new family fitness park nearby with exercise facilities and new landscaping, plus a new percussion park at Murphy Park.
The race included about 200 participants of all ages. First-place winner Kingston Wilson, 13, and female first-place winner Talia Johnson, 12, both declined the $50 dollar cash prize due to University Interscholastic League regulations preventing student athletes from receiving money for any athletic event. Wilson had the fastest finish time overall with 17:36, and brother Keegan Wilson, 14, the second fastest finish at 17:46.
TAYLOR CFO TALKS UTILITY BILLS AND BUDGET
On the Oct. 10 edition of Taylor Talk, the Taylor Press monthly interview series with Area Editor Jason Hennington, Taylor’s Chief Financial Officer Jeffery Wood shared information about the duties of his job and why utility bills are higher in Taylor. Wood said a big part of the chief financial officer’s job is to oversee the city’s budget, a nine-month process, which involves working together with the city manager, all the city’s departments and the city council to determine what the needs are and how much money will be available through taxes and other sources of revenue.
During the interview, Wood pointed to Taylor’s aging infrastructure as a reason for the city’s high utility bills. As an example, Wood shared that most of the infrastructure in Hutto, which has lower rates, is brand new, while Taylor’s is many decades old and in more need of maintenance.
Taylor Talk can be seen live on the second Monday of the month at noon at www.facebook. com/GoTaylorTx/. All previous episodes are available on the Taylor Press Facebook page as well.
TAYLOR BAND WINS THIRD CHAMPIONSHIP
The Taylor High School band and color guard claimed their third class Saturday at the Lost Pines Marching Festival in Bastrop.
The Taylor band won the 4A Championship after receiving the highest 4A scores in music and visuals in the preliminary round. The Taylor High School bad picked up more preliminary round awards with the percussion section and the color guard being ranked in 1st place at the festival.
In the finals, Taylor High School ended up finishing in 5th place overall, only being beaten by 5A and 6A schools. The color guard continued their strong showing on Saturday by being ranked 3rd overall at Saturday’s competition.
STYLE CHANGE A KNOCKOUT FOR LOCAL BOXER
On Saturday, Oct. 8, Destiny Jones scored a unanimous victory over Iranda Paola Torres in San Antonio. This was Jones’ fourth professional fight, which brings her record to 3-1.
Jones won the judges’ decision 58-56, 59-55, 59-55 over Torres, who came into the bout 13-71. Torres was the more experienced fighter and had a slight height and reach advantage over Jones. However, with a different style and the crowd behind her, Jones was too much for her opponent.
After a loss in August to the taller Stephanie Han, Jones had to make adjustments for her recent fight. Her trainer, David Watson, said he completely changed Jones’ strategy and technique as a fighter to prepare for the more experienced Torres. Watson said the plan is to continue forward with the old-school style of boxing, which she learned eight weeks ago.
Jones will fight again Nov. 12, against Aizhan Khojabekova in Houston.
