News

Here is a recap of what was featured in the Wednesday, Oct. 5, e-edition of the Taylor Press.

Despite unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic and other factors, Taylor Independent School District is on a path to higher achievement for the 2022-23 school year, officials said. “I am just really proud of the work our principals and our teachers are doing,” said Superintendent Devin Padavil.

TAYLOR – With half of Taylor’s schools projected to be over capacity in 2026 and the fact that it takes three years to get a new school designed and built, Taylor ISD is on a tight deadline to get funding approved. Add in the safety and security updates needed at the existing schools, and you have the foundation for the $82.47 million bond Taylor ISD residents will be voting on come November.

Time is running out to register to vote in the upcoming election. Anyone interested has until Tuesday, Oct.

Carnival rides, live music, food, animals and more are just a taste of the many events scheduled between Oct. 26-29 for the 2022 Williamson County Fair and Rodeo at the Williamson County Expo Center, 5350 Bill Pickett Trail in Taylor.

National Night Out promotes police-community partnerships Communities across Texas fired up their grills and brought out the kids to meet their neighborhood police and other first responders Tuesday, Oct. 4 for National Night Out.

Tiny cowboys and cowgirls ages three to five are invited to bring their own decorated stick horses and wear their finest western duds to strut their stuff and compete in the stick horse racing event Wednesday Oct. 26 at the Williamson County Expo Center, 5350 Bill Pickett Trail in Taylor.

Texas Critter Crusaders will be holding their second Annual Spay-ghetti Dinner & Dance on October 22nd at the Taylor SPJST, located at 5025 FM 619, from 5pm to 10pm. The evening will include “Yappy Hour”, a spaghetti meal and dance, as well as a bucket raffle. Tickets are on sale now through October 15th. $30 for adults, $15 for kids 12 and under or To-go plates, $20 for dance and raffle entry after 7pm. Tickets can be purchased on their website at www.texascrittercrusaders. com or by calling 512-966-5034. The meal is catered by Thrall Country Diner and music provided by DJ Michael Craig.

G “Don’t be mad at the preacher. He didn’t know what you did before he preached that sermon.” — Source unknown but good to keep in mind Talking with friends last week when the topic of preachers came up got me thinking about them; individuals with rare dedication deserving of an extra jewel in their crowns.

The Toon Squad scavenger hunt, a project started by local artist Dennis Levitin, is now underway. Levitin began the project last year painting cartoon characters on surfaces inside local businesses. The purpose of the cartoons is to draw more people to Taylor while supporting local businesses.

HUTTO – Hutto Independent School District (ISD) is proud to announce that four campuses have received the distinction of being named a Texas Education Agency (TEA) Purple Star Designation campus. The award is for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years in recognition of being schools that excel in meeting the needs of military-connected students and their families. The campuses that received the designation are Benjamin “Doc” Kerley Elementary School (KES), Howard Norman Elementary School (HNES), Veterans’ Hill Elementary School (VHE) and Hutto Middle School (HMS).

HUTTO – October is National Bullying Prevention Month. During October, students, schools and communities all over the world unite to “STOMP Out Bullying.” STOMP Out Bullying is the leading national anti-bullying and cyberbullying organization for kids and teens in the U.S.

AUSTIN – A new permanent leader of the main grid operator for Texas takes the helm this week. In August, the board of directors of the Energy Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) announced that Pablo Vegas will take over as the President and CEO for ERCOT effective Oct.

With early voting only weeks away, Taylor Independent School District officials hard at work in the community answering questions about an upcoming $82.5 million bond issue. At the Sept.

One of the many highlights of homecoming each year is the induction of Taylor High School graduates into the Taylor High School Duck Hall of Fame. This year the Ex-Students Association added four alumni to the distinguished list: world famous athlete Fred Kerley (class of 2013), anthropologist Peggy Leshikar Denton (class of 1970), educator Tim Crow (class of 1980), and Jessica Harkins Shahin (class of 1970) for her commitment to serving