It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Lions Foundation Park in Liberty Hill, TX gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Liberty Hill, TX is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Lions Foundation Park in Liberty Hill, TX with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Bella Sera Liberty Hill or visit Fort Tumbleweed, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Liberty Hill, TX, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Liberty Hill, TX understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Liberty Hill, TX 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
The Liberty Hill Independent School District is asking voters to weigh in on a proposed tax rate increase on Nov. 4. If passed, the measure, which appears on the ballot as Proposition A, would generate an additional $10.7 million in tax revenue for the 2025-26 school year.That would be a big deal for the fast-growing school district, which has had to cut approximately $10 million from its budget over the past couple of years due to funding constraints and a failed tax ratification election in 2024."The reality is that budg...
The Liberty Hill Independent School District is asking voters to weigh in on a proposed tax rate increase on Nov. 4. If passed, the measure, which appears on the ballot as Proposition A, would generate an additional $10.7 million in tax revenue for the 2025-26 school year.
That would be a big deal for the fast-growing school district, which has had to cut approximately $10 million from its budget over the past couple of years due to funding constraints and a failed tax ratification election in 2024.
"The reality is that budget cuts over the last two years reduced student program opportunities and increased the burden on our teachers and staff," Liberty Hill ISD Interim Superintendent Travis Motal said in a statement. "Prop A is about restoring what was lost — programs, resources, and staffing — so that we can deliver the level of education that meets Liberty Hill ISD’s vision of building champions in academics, character and community."
The additional revenue, school district officials said, would be used to help pay for the district's day-to-day operations, including teacher and staff salaries, student programming, classroom support and safety measures.
It is not a bond election that would fund buildings, major maintenance and land.
The school district is proposing a tax rate of $1.24 per $100 of home valuation. For a median-valued home within the school district's boundaries, that would mean an additional $29 per month, or $348 per year, in school taxes.
The rate is about thirty cents less than it was during the 2018-19 school year, said the district's Chief Financial Officer Rosanna Guerrero.
Guerrero also said some homeowners may not see an increase at all because of Williamson County's "homestead cap." The cap ensures a home's taxable value does not increase by more than 10% each year.
"What we have found is that there's people in Liberty Hill that taxes are actually going down because the value didn't go up the full 10 percent," Guerrero said. "Even with the higher tax rate, their overall taxes are going down."
Some homeowners may also be eligible for a homestead exemption. These exemptions help determine how much of a home's property value can be taxed to pay for public schools.
Still, the proposed increase is too much for Jacque Frame, who is a parent to a third grader in the district. She said she intends to vote "no" on Proposition A.
"I'm worried this will keep pushing Liberty Hill towards becoming a place only the wealthy can afford, instead of the diverse, salt-of-the-earth town it's always been," she said.
Frame said she's also worried about the precedent a tax increase would set.
"Once tax hikes become the default solution, it opens the door for more increases down the road," Frame said. "At some point, we have to stop and ask where the accountability is and how much more our residents can realistically carry."
Approximately $7.2 million of the additional tax revenue would be invested in student programs and staffing. That includes bringing back 70 teaching and paraprofessional positions that were cut last year.
"Our librarians are teaching STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics], so instead of opening the library for checking out books, our librarians at the elementary level are now teaching every day," Guerrero said.
She said librarians are also helping implement the district's gifted and talented curriculum at the elementary level.
"We went from having a GT [Gifted and Talented] teacher on every campus to now having two district wide," she said.
Class sizes increased following staff cuts last year and teachers are feeling the effects, teacher Haika Karr said at a panel discussion about the ballot measure put on by The Liberty Hill Independent newspaper.
"Our class sizes are larger," she said. "More students take more time and we have less time, and I'm gonna say that is high stress environment."
Guerrero said the district would also invest in 25 additional operational and support staff positions, including bus drivers.
She said the goal is to better the district for current students and accommodate for growth.
The district's enrollment has increased by 101.6% over the past five years and has showed no signs slowing down, Guerrero said. Much of that growth is due to the construction of nearby homes and subdivisions.
"You might have heard school districts around us that are actually lowering in enrollment ... not as growing as much," she said. "We are definitely not in that same boat."
Approximately $1.3 million of the additional tax revenue would be invested into safety and security.
Guerrero said the state currently provides Liberty Hill ISD nearly $600,000 a year to pay school resource officers and implement various safety and security measures. The actual cost, however, exceeds $1.9 million. Proposition A would help fill that gap, she said.
Teachers recently received a seven to 10% raise as a result of the passage of House Bill 2 earlier this year. Approximately, $2.2 million of the tax revenue from Proposition A, Guerrero said, would fund an additional 1%raise for all employees and a one-time retention bonus for employees hired before Sept. 30 of this year.
Guerrero said Liberty Hill ISD is also currently conducting an external audit of all of its positions and pay grades.
"We know that we are one of the lowest paid districts in our surrounding area. Teachers can literally go next door to surrounding school districts and get $3,800 to $4,000 more in their salaries," she said. "So we need to remain competitive."
Frame said she shares concerns about teacher retention, but that it "has as much to do with culture, support, and manageable workloads as it does with pay."
If Proposition A fails, Liberty Hill ISD officials said the district will likely have to cut an additional $3 million from its budget this spring.
Possible cuts include not opening Legacy Ranch Middle School or Lariat Trails Elementary in 2026. The district is also looking at reducing transportation routes, increasing class sizes and sharing campus staff such as school resource officers, nurses and counselors.
"That would really be unfortunate, in my view," said Albert Kennedy, a parent of second grader. "If they spend all this bond money and build this beautiful new elementary school, this beautiful new middle school, and then it's set to open and they don't have the maintenance and operations funds to run them."
To bring in additional revenue, the district said it might charge higher facility rental fees and require students to pay to participate in extracurricular activities.
The the district's fund balance, or savings account, has also dropped to $13 million — nearly half of what it should be, Guerrero said.
If Proposition A fails, Guerrero said it's likely the district will have to take out loans and go into debt to continue operating. She said the district just finished paying off operational loan debt from more than 10 years ago.
Kennedy said all of that information makes the choice clear to him; he intends to vote "yes" on Proposition A.
"It's the one thing that local districts can do to provide additional funds to their school districts, and there have been other districts around the Austin metro that have done that, but Liberty Hill ISD has not yet done that," he said. "To ensure that they get the funding they need for great education and to be competitive with the districts that have done that, it's, in my opinion, vital — this VATRE, this year."
If you happened to step outside on Tuesday night between 8:00 and midnight, you might have caught a glimpse of something truly rare in the Lone Star State: a soft red, green and pink glow lighting up the sky. To everyone’s surprise, the aurora borealis, or northern lights, made a stunning appearance in the southern tier of the United States as a powerful geomagnetic storm swept across the atmosphere. With longer exposure photos it is possible to view the Aurora Borealis this evening this far south. Here are photos fr...
If you happened to step outside on Tuesday night between 8:00 and midnight, you might have caught a glimpse of something truly rare in the Lone Star State: a soft red, green and pink glow lighting up the sky. To everyone’s surprise, the aurora borealis, or northern lights, made a stunning appearance in the southern tier of the United States as a powerful geomagnetic storm swept across the atmosphere.
With longer exposure photos it is possible to view the Aurora Borealis this evening this far south. Here are photos from our office in New Braunfels, looking north. For more on this geomagnetic storm and its impacts visit our colleagues @NWSSWPC pic.twitter.com/LDltOTN6n1
— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) November 12, 2025
Luckily, we’re not done yet with the potential for stunning celestial views in Texas. In fact, this current geomagnetic storm is the result of a series of intense coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that have occurred since Sunday.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, we’ve already experienced two out of three CMEs, with the final one expected to reach Earth on Wednesday. This will set the stage for another night of gorgeous hues in the sky, possibly even stronger and more vibrant, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
Set the timer on your phone to remind you to step outside and look up Wednesday night in Austin. The best time to view the northern lights will be from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., but keep an eye out any time after sunset at 5:36 p.m.
• Be sure to step away from streetlights, give your eyes a few minutes to adjust to the darkness and look toward the north. • At times, you may be able to see the aurora with the naked eye, but if not, try using your phone’s camera in long-exposure mode, it can often capture colors and movement that aren’t immediately visible. • Be patient because the auroras can dance and suddenly spike, so stay alert.
Luckily, the forecast will cooperate with clear skies expected throughout the evening and until after midnight. Then clouds will develop around 2 a.m. and become widespread along the I-35 corridor by sunrise. Temperatures will be mild but dip into the 60s around 8 p.m. and then the low 60s from midnight through sunrise on Thursday.
CMEs are blasts of solar material consisting of charged particles with strong, localized magnetic fields, and they extend into space from the Sun. The current series of CMEs originated from sunspot AR4274, and they are the strongest recorded since October 2024.
“This batch of CME’s that have already come in were profoundly stronger than anticipated,” Shawn Dahl, service coordinator at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, in a video posted on X.
He explained that Tuesday’s geomagnetic storm was initially ranked at a G2 to G3 (moderate to strong) level, but during the event, it briefly reached G4, which is considered severe on a scale of 1 to 5. Wednesday’s event is forecast to reach G4 as well, but could potentially climb to G5, with viewing expected as far south as the Texas coast.
“The third CME will be the most energetic activity out there in space, and it’s traveling faster than the other two,” Dahl said. “We believe it’s going to pack an even stronger punch than what we’ve already experienced.”
The aurora does not need to be directly overhead but can be observed from as much as 600 miles away when the aurora is bright and if conditions are right.
The stunning green, pink, and red colors are caused by the interactions between charged particles from the Sun and gases in Earth’s atmosphere.
If you're seeing the Northern Lights tonight, here's an explainer of how the different colors can appear! We are currently seeing a vivid display of pinks and greens here at the office! pic.twitter.com/S0NLzG5HOa
— NWS Northern Indiana (@NWSIWX) October 11, 2024
Mary Wasson is a newsroom meteorologist for the San Antonio Express-News. She can be reached at [email protected]
Mary has been a meteorologist for more than 16 years. Since she and her family were forced to shelter from a tornado, she has been fascinated with how storms develop. Originally from Winchester, Ky., she earned a communications degree from Morehead State University and a Master of Science in Geoscience from Mississippi State University. She has worked in Rapid City, S.D., Lexington, Ky., Austin and Temple.
The journey began in late August. Ten games later, the real season is about to begin. The playoffs for Texas high schools start in less than a week. In the Austin area, there are several headliners, including Vandegrift-Westlake, Bowie-Hutto and Lake Travis-Round Rock. As Liberty Hill coach David Seaborn told his team after Friday's win over Bastrop, "We're all 0-0 now"The road to AT&T beckons. Here are the upcoming Austin-area games:Texas high school football playoffsClass 6A Division I...
The journey began in late August. Ten games later, the real season is about to begin.
The playoffs for Texas high schools start in less than a week. In the Austin area, there are several headliners, including Vandegrift-Westlake, Bowie-Hutto and Lake Travis-Round Rock. As Liberty Hill coach David Seaborn told his team after Friday's win over Bastrop, "We're all 0-0 now"
The road to AT&T beckons. Here are the upcoming Austin-area games:
Class 6A Division I
Bowie (6-4) vs. Hutto (8-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Hutto Memorial Stadium
Round Rock (5-5) vs. Lake Travis (10-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Kelly Reeves Stadium
Class 6A Division II
Westlake (7-3) vs. Vandegrift (8-2), 7 p.m. Friday, Monroe Stadium
Vista Ridge (7-3) vs. Dripping Springs (9-1), 7 p.m. Thursday, Tiger Stadium
Class 5A Division I
Burleson Centennial (4-6) vs. Georgetown (8-2), 7 p.m. Friday, GISD Athletic Complex
Friendswood (6-4) vs. Anderson (9-1), 3 p.m. Saturday, House Park
Weiss (8-2) vs. La Porte (9-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Bulldog Stadium, La Porte
East View (7-3) vs. Midlothian (7-3), 7 p.m. Friday, Midlothian HS
John Tyler (4-6)vs. Cedar Park (7-3), 7 p.m. Friday, Gupton Stadium
Class 5A Division II
Pflugerville (6-4) vs. S.A. Sam Houston (6-4), 7 p.m. Friday, Alamo Stadium
Connally (6-4) vs. San Antonio Jefferson, 7 p.m. Friday, SAISD Sports Complex
Liberty Hill (8-2) vs. San Antonio Lanier, 7 p.m. Thursday, Liberty Hill HS
Class 4A Division I
Fredericksburg (3-7) vs. LBJ (8-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nelson Field
Eastside Memorial (6-4) vs. S.A. Davenport (10-0), 7 p.m. Thursday, Davenport Stadium
Lampasas (8-2) vs. Lake View (7-3), 7 p.m. Thursday, Lake View Stadium
Somerset (8-2) vs. Manor New Tech (5-5), 7:30 p.m. Friday, House Park
Taylor (5-5) vs. Canyon Lake (7-3), 7 p.m. Friday, Lockhart HS
Class 4A Division II
Carrizo Springs (4-6) vs. Wimberley (6-4), 7 p.m. Friday, S.W. Legacy Stadium, Von Ormy
Class 2A Division I
Moody (6-4) vs. Thorndale (7-3), 7 p.m. Thursday, Wildcat Stadium, Temple
LIBERTY HILL — Playing with passion and precision, Liberty Hill earned a district football title with a surprisingly easy win Friday night at Panther Stadium.The Panthers, who dominated Bastrop on the offensive and defensive lines, showed no mercy in a 48-14 victory to capture the District 11-5A Division II title. After taking photos in front of a banner that read DISTRICT CHAMPS, players held the district title trophy aloft, knowing they had just beaten an unbeaten team."We're now 0-0," first-year Panthers coac...
LIBERTY HILL — Playing with passion and precision, Liberty Hill earned a district football title with a surprisingly easy win Friday night at Panther Stadium.
The Panthers, who dominated Bastrop on the offensive and defensive lines, showed no mercy in a 48-14 victory to capture the District 11-5A Division II title. After taking photos in front of a banner that read DISTRICT CHAMPS, players held the district title trophy aloft, knowing they had just beaten an unbeaten team.
"We're now 0-0," first-year Panthers coach David Seaborn yelled at his players in a celebratory huddle.
That was his way of telling them the real season — the state playoffs — begin next week. There are more trophies to be earned in November and December.
"We've been waiting to this this since last year," Liberty Hill running back Dylan Belinga said. "They beat us last year by three (actually 35-31). We came out here hungry, hungrier than they were."
Here are some takeaways from a game that was never in doubt:
Belinga was the key to the offense, rushing for 204 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Panthers led 22-7 at halftime, and Belinga opened the second half with an 87-year touchdown on the first play. Using the fabled Slot-T, Liberty Hill earned all 481 of its yards on the ground. The Panthers also got help from Preston Benefield (96 yards, 2 touchdowns), Jack Pitchford (77 yards, 1 TD), Bryce Muchaw (49 yards) and Judah Fried (39 yards).
Liberty Hill made an early statement, driving 94 yards on its first offensive drive of the game, capped by a short run by Benefield. The Panthers were simply more physical than the Bears.
"We spend a lot of time in the weight room," Belinga said "Most high schools don't. I knew this would happen if we played the way we practiced."
Belinga has been one of the most productive running backs in the Austin area, earning 1,247 yards as the regular season closed.
Numbers don't lie. Bastrop led the state in Class 5A DII scoring heading into the game, averaging 63 yards a game. The Panthers' previous low came in a 48-34 win over China Spring in early September.
The defense, which had major contributions from lineman Alister Vallejo, lineman Logan Neal, lineman Hunter Sims and linebacker Will Barfield, limited Bastrop quarterback Weston Nielsen to a season-low 167 yards passing and no touchdowns. He entered the game averaging 272 yards passing with 37 touchdowns. It didn't help that his receivers kept dropping passes that were on the money.
"This was a statement win," Vallejo said. "We put the world on notice."
No one wearing purple played any better than Vallejo, a Michigan pledge who torched Bastrop's offensive line. On one play he grabbed Nielsen and tossed him aside like a rag doll. After every big play, Vallejo stared at the home crowd, pushed out his chest and raised his massive arms skyward.
"If you're not going to play with emotion, you shouldn't play at all," he said. "The game is much more than snaps, tackles, running, all that. There's such an emotional piece to this game that you can't replace."
Just like Seaborn drew it up.
"Before the game, I told our team to play angry, violent football," Seaborn said. "That's the way football should be played and (Vallejo) does that on a daily basis."
Updated 5:54 p.m. Nov. 5Liberty Hill ISD’s tax rate election through Proposition A passed by a narrow margin, unofficial voting results show.The resultsIn the Nov. 4 election, 52.19% of voters, or 3,986 people, cast their ballots in favor of Prop A, while 47.81% of voters, or 3,651 people, voted against the measure, according to unofficial results from Williamson County.Zooming outAbout 18.9% of registered voters in Williamson County participated in the Nov. 4 ...
Updated 5:54 p.m. Nov. 5
Liberty Hill ISD’s tax rate election through Proposition A passed by a narrow margin, unofficial voting results show.
The results
In the Nov. 4 election, 52.19% of voters, or 3,986 people, cast their ballots in favor of Prop A, while 47.81% of voters, or 3,651 people, voted against the measure, according to unofficial results from Williamson County.
Zooming out
About 18.9% of registered voters in Williamson County participated in the Nov. 4 election with 85,322 ballots cast, according to county data.
Posted 7:54 p.m. Nov. 4
Early voting results from Williamson County show Liberty Hill ISD’s tax rate election through Proposition A passing.
The update
In the Nov. 4 election, Liberty Hill ISD voters will decide whether to approve an increase to the district’s tax rate through Proposition A.
Unofficial early voting results show 2,409 voters, or 56.14%, cast their ballot in favor of Proposition A while 1,882 voters, or 43.86%, voted against.
On the ballot
LHISD is asking voters to approve a maintenance and operations, or M&O, tax rate of $0.7389 per $100 valuation, which is about $0.07 higher than the fiscal year 2024-25 M&O tax rate of $0.6669 per $100 valuation.
The interest and sinking, or I&S, tax rate would remain at $0.50 per $100 valuation, making for a combined tax rate of $1.2389 per $100 valuation.
The M&O tax rate funds the day-to-day operations of a district, including salaries, benefits and operational costs, while the I&S rate may only be used to repay debt.
Without an election, LHISD is expected adopt a lower M&O tax rate of $0.64 due to compression from the state as property values grow, according to a report from independent financial auditing firm Moak Casey. Since 2018, the district's M&O tax rate has decreased by $0.375 due to state compression.
The district called a tax rate election in November 2024, during which voters failed to approve a nearly $0.06 tax rate increase.
The impact
In the Nov. 4 election, Texas voters will decide whether to raise the property tax exemption on a homeowner’s main residence, known as a homestead exemption, from $100,000 to $140,000. The exemption would apply only to taxes charged by public schools, which make up the majority of an average homeowner’s property tax bill, according to reporting.
If the state proposition and LHISD’s Proposition A passes, homeowners with a median home value of $516,513 could expect to pay around $4,665 in school property taxes in fiscal year 2025-26, which is an estimated $341 increase from the previous fiscal year, according to district information.
The background
LHISD is seeking to generate $10.7 million in additional revenue to invest $7.2 million in student programs, $2.2 million into teacher and staff retention, and $1.3 million in safety and security initiatives.
The increased tax rate is intended to help the district fill a $10 million funding hole, interim Superintendent Travis Motal told Community Impact in September. The district has made around $8 million in budget cuts over the past two fiscal years and realized a $2 million budget deficit in FY 2024-25.
This school year, the district cut around 78 positions, many of which supported teachers, increased class sizes and reduced planning periods for teachers
If the Nov. 4 tax rate election does not pass, LHISD is expecting to make $3 million in additional cuts next fiscal year, Motal said at an Oct. 20 board meeting. The district could consider not opening Legacy Ranch Middle School or Lariat Trails Elementary in 2026, further increasing class sizes, sharing staff between campuses or charging fees to participate in extracurricular activities, according to district information.
Also of note
Over 44,300 ballots were cast in Williamson County during the 12-day early voting period from Oct. 20-31, representing 9.8% of registered voters in the county.
Voting totals from Election Day Nov. 4 have not been released yet as polls were open until 7 p.m. or until those in line cast their vote.
Stay tuned
This article will be updated as election day vote totals are released. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Visit ’s voter guide to view results for all local races.
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