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Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

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.

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Home Care In Richland Springs, TX

Home Care Richland Springs, TX

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 the historic Regency Bridge 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 Richland Springs, TX is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Richland Springs, TX

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 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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TESTIMONIALS

“My experience with these amazing home care professionals is as close to perfect as it gets! I have a dear friend that is in hospice and needed a little extra home care. Ken, the owner, was fast to respond to my call and started home care right away. I can't say enough good things about my experience with Always Best Care Senior Services' staff and owner.”

Edward C.
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“I work for this team and it's a wonderful team , great communication and support for our clients, their family members and our caring team of staff .”

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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a past client of this provider Ken and Bonnie were wonderful to work with. They were able to provide my mother with care and a very short notice. Their staff was some of the most caring people that I've ever met. Not only were they wonderful to my mother but also to my family. I would highly recommend using them.”

Mark A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Ken and Bonnie are wonderful people to help care for your loved ones. their staff was so caring to my mother and so nice to my family I highly recommend them to take care of your loved ones. I think there ought to be more than just five stars to give them”

Mark A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“For those who are searching for qualified caregivers for their loved ones, contact Ken Thomas at Always Best Care Senior Services. Mr. Thomas provides an authentic and professional guiding hand when discussing available services for your precious senior family members. When it is time for a beloved senior to receive assistance, Mr. Thomas understands the importance of providing trustworthy and quality support.”

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TESTIMONIALS

“Ken leads his Always Best Care Senior Services Agency with compassion for his clients and their families. He is a local senior care expert and leader in his community. If you are need of assistance in navigating your local senior care options, then do not hesitate to give Ken a call!”

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“Kenneth is kind, patient, experienced and knowledgeable. We are thankful to him for all his efforts and for going above and beyond.”

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“Very professional and welcoming people so I would definitely recommend my friends and family to Always Best Care in Boerne.”

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TESTIMONIALS

“The owner is so understanding and supportive of how I want my loved ones cared for. He and his staff actually listen to what I would like done for my parents. Very thoughtful, very professional and very caring. It’s such a relief to have help in caring for my loved ones”

Kristen B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Kenneth is knowledgeable and trustworthy. I can’t recommend him enough. You’re in good hands with Kenneth.”

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TESTIMONIALS

“ALWAYS BEST CARE is certainly a warm & caring business owned & operated by Ken Thomas. I certainly would recommend them for you or your loved ones excellent care.”

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“I will be forever grateful for the love you showered upon us and my grandmother”

Jill &.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Richland Springs, TX?

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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.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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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.

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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.

 Senior Care Richland Springs, TX

Types of Elderly Care in Richland Springs, TX

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal 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:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Richland Springs, TX
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

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:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Richland Springs, TX
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

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 Richland Springs City Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Richland Springs, TX
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

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 The FeedLot or visit Beveridge Bridge, 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.

 In-Home Care Richland Springs, TX

Benefits of Home Care in Richland Springs, TX

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:

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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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

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.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

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 Richland Springs, 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.

 Elderly Care Richland Springs, TX

Affordable 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:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your TX's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Richland Springs, TX

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

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 Richland Springs, 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.

Assisted Living Referral Services

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.


Respite Care Richland Springs, TX

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:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Richland Springs, TX

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:

  • Shady Shores Nursing Home
  • Brookdale Richland Hills TX
  • Lavender Springs Assisted Living
  • San Saba Senior Center
  • The Landing at Augusta Woods Senior Living
  • Countryside Senior Living and Memory Care of Spring
Home Care Richland Springs, TX

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.

 In-Home Care Richland Springs, TX

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

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

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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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 Richland Springs, 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.

 Elderly Care Richland Springs, TX

Latest News in Richland Springs, TX

Richland Springs football coach Jerry Burkhart seeks court relief to return to sidelines

San Angelo Standard-TimesRICHLAND SPRINGS - Time is running out for Richland Springs High School head football coach Jerry Burkh...

San Angelo Standard-Times

RICHLAND SPRINGS - Time is running out for Richland Springs High School head football coach Jerry Burkhart in his attempts to return to the sideline for the 2022 season.

On Friday, the nine-time state champion coach was denied a temporary restraining order filed in federal court against the University Interscholastic League’s three-year suspension for recruiting handed down in September. That forced Burkhart to relinquish all coaching duties, causing him to miss the past three football games.

There are two more regular-season games on the schedule for the Richland Springs team, which also is on a three-year probation, stemming from the finding of recruiting violations by the local district executive committee Aug. 23. The UIL’s State Executive Committee on Sept. 12 denied an appeal by the coach and the school.

What's at stake for coach Jerry Burkhart, Richland Springs Coyotes

In jeopardy for the football program and its coach are the state playoffs, which lead to an eventual state championship game in December. Under Burkhart, the Coyotes have yearly aspirations of state championships since winning their first state title in 2004.

After the final week of the regular season – Nov. 4, when Richland Springs has an open date – the playoffs start Nov. 11, with the first of four playoff games that could lead to the state championship game set for Dec. 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

The decision by U.S. District Judge Robert Pittman for the Western District of Texas in Austin denied temporary relief for Burkhart, while his lawyer prepares for a lawsuit overturning the UIL decision on the recruiting allegation based on constitutional rights.

“We filed the lawsuit in state court in Travis County on (Oct. 7) and had a hearing in front of a state court judge on the 11th,” said Jon Mark Hogg of Jackson Walker LLP in San Angelo. “During that hearing, the (Texas) attorney general’s office, appearing on behalf of the UIL and the executive committees removed it into federal court because of the federal constitutional issues.”

“We presented the TRO last Friday (Oct. 14) to the federal judge and he denied the TRO and instructed us to get together and get a schedule and set a hearing date.” Hogg said.

Currently coaching the Richland Springs team are assistant coaches Shawn Rogers, Harley Ethridge and Jeremy Martin. According to RSISD Superintendent James Womack, longtime assistant coach Rogers has resumed his duties as offensive coordinator while Ethridge coaches defense.

Martin is in charge of special teams. Burkhart was the defensive coordinator at the time of his suspension.

According to an email from UIL Deputy Director Dr. Jamey Harrison outlining the parameters of the suspension, Burkhart "cannot be a part of coaching in any way. No practices, practice planning, personnel decisions, film analysis, nothing."

As the RSISD athletic director, Burkhart had "administrative only duties that do not have anything to do with coaching."

Without Burkhart on the sidelines, the Coyotes beat Coolidge 74-30 on the Friday following the district's ruling, then had an open date before facing then-No. 3 Cherokee in the District 16-1A D-II opener. The Indians beat Richland Springs 78-47, Cherokee’s first win over the Coyotes since 2000, it is believed.

Last Friday, Richland Springs bounced back for a 44-40 win over Rochelle. The Coyotes currently are ranked No. 5.

Coach Jerry Burkhart's legal effort

The suspension has caused Burkhart to miss three games and more than five school weeks of instructional time with his athletes.

Unless Burkhart's employment status changes, the coach is asking for a permanent injunction against the order against coaching at any UIL member school for three years, Hogg explained.

“We have decided to forego a temporary injunction hearing at this time. We will request expedited discovery and an expedited final hearing on the merits,” Hogg said on Wednesday.

The lawsuit states that “Burkhart has a constitutionally protected liberty and property interest in continuing his employment and working as Richland Springs head football coach and pursuing his chosen profession of coaching high school football” and that the order of the governing body of public high school athletic competition in Texas “injures his reputation in the coaching community, deprives him of his ability to perform his job, meet his contractual obligations and prevents him from being able to make a living or work in his chosen profession.”

The lawsuit goes on to state that the UIL decision will “likely….result in Burkhart losing his job” and that it “violated Burkhart’s rights under the First, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and Article I Secs. 8 and 19 of the Texas Constitution.”

According to the lawsuit, “Burkhart also seeks a declaration that Section 409 of the UIL Constitution & Contest Rules is unconstitutionally vague on its face, or as applied in this case.”

Richland Springs High School was also found to have violated Section 409 of the UIL Constitution & Contest Rules (C&CR), which prohibits recruiting, and the SEC issued a public reprimand and a three-year probation, stopping short of a playoff ban for the Class 1A Division II football program. The Burkhart lawsuit, however, did not address the punishment for the school.

What led to the appeal

The appeal Sept. 12 was in response to the August meeting of the District 16-1A Division II Executive Committee at the Rochelle ISD administration building. At that time, a complaint of recruiting was brought against Burkhart by a neighboring school from which an athlete transferred to Richland Springs.

On Aug. 23, the DEC met to determine whether two UIL C&CR Rules were violated when a football player from Mullin enrolled at Richland Springs, 32 miles to the southwest of Mullin and winner of the 2019 UIL Class 1A Division II state football championship.

At the Aug. 23 meeting, the DEC ruled that the player had moved for athletic purposes – a violation of Section 443 of the rules that govern all UIL athletic competition – and that Burkhart had violated Section 409, which prohibits enticing a student-athlete to transfer to a school to participate in athletic competition.

Present at the meeting were committee chairperson Lewis, along with Freeman, Graves and Bordner. Also present was Womack. The Richland Springs’ representative on the committee was not allowed a vote.

Each district has an executive committee, made up of an administrator from each school in the district.

The DEC vote Aug. 23 was 3-1 in favor of finding Burkhart guilty of recruiting. Freeman was the single “no” vote.

Richland Springs was ranked No. 2 in the state by Texas Football magazine at the time of the SEC ruling, which went into immediate effect.

According to the UIL website, the SEC is comprised of school administrators from across the state. Smaller panels are formed to hear appeals of district executive committee decisions. The committee members present during the Sept. 12 meeting included Mike Motheral, the chairman, along with Johanna Denson, the vice chairman, and Paul Galvan.

Also present were UIL staff members Dr. Charles Breithaupt, the executive director of the UIL, along with Harrison, although only the committee members are allowed to vote on the appeal.

The lawsuit names as defendants: The University Interscholastic League; Michael Motheral, Arturo Cavazos, James Colbert Jr., Curtis Culwell, Johanna Denson, Paul Galvan, Leandro Gonzales Jr., Edna Kennedy, Glen Teal, Marshall Scott III, Carla Voelkel and Daryl Wade, in their official capacities as members of the UIL State Executive Committee; in addition to Dave Lewis of Rochelle ISD, Jennifer Bordner of Cherokee ISD, Jack Graves of Brookesmith ISD and Leon Freeman of Lohn ISD, in their capacities as members of the UIL District 16A-1A Division II Executive.

More detail on the lawsuit

According to the “Factual Background” section of the lawsuit:

“Burkhart is under a written two-year contract with the Richland Springs ISD to serve as head coach. Under this contract he cannot be terminated except for good cause or extreme financial exigency that requires a reduction in personnel. Of course, one of the requirements of any employment contract is that he must be able to do the work for which he was hired.”

The lawsuit goes on to recount details of the matter related during the August district executive committee meeting at Rochelle, with Burkhart generally denying recruiting violations but explaining events from his point of view.

The lawsuit does not deny that two telephone calls took place between Burkhart and the student-athlete from another school district, but that the SEC did not let the coach testify as to the content of the two phone calls.

“Rather than consider this testimony, it appeared the SEC had already made their decision before the hearing started,” the lawsuit reads. “The SEC was solely focused on the length of the… phone call… and the claim that Burkhart should have hung up on the student and called the coach at Mullin. The Chair (Motheral) was openly hostile to Burkhart during the proceedings berating him….about the ‘Coach’s code of honor.’”

The lawsuit further states that “Burkhart was never given a chance to provide an opening statement, cross-examine witnesses or have questions submitted to the relevant witnesses or make a closing argument. The documents Burkhart provided in evidence were never considered or discussed.”

No. 3 Cherokee upsets No. 2 Richland Springs, beats Coyotes for first time since 2000

San Angelo Standard-TimesCherokee High School ran away from Richland Springs 78-47 in a District 16-1A Division II football game Friday night in Richland Springs.It was a battle between the home team Coyotes, who were ranked No. 2 in the state by Texas Football magazine, and the visiting Indians, who were ranked No. 3. The two teams are 30 miles apart, both located inside San Saba county.It is believed to be Cherokee’s first win over Richland Springs since 2000. Richland Springs has won nine state championships in ...

San Angelo Standard-Times

Cherokee High School ran away from Richland Springs 78-47 in a District 16-1A Division II football game Friday night in Richland Springs.

It was a battle between the home team Coyotes, who were ranked No. 2 in the state by Texas Football magazine, and the visiting Indians, who were ranked No. 3. The two teams are 30 miles apart, both located inside San Saba county.

It is believed to be Cherokee’s first win over Richland Springs since 2000. Richland Springs has won nine state championships in six-man football since 2004, more than any other six-man football program in Texas.

The Coyotes were without the services of long-time head coach Jerry Burkhart, who was suspended for three seasons from coaching for violation of the UIL rules against recruiting. Burkhart has long been touted by colleagues and opponents as being a defensive genius.

It is the first district-game loss for Richland Springs since 2001, when the Coyotes lost to Panther Creek. The Cherokee win ended an 81-game district-game winning streak by the Coyotes.

Cherokee, winners of three state titles in the 1970s, fell to Richland Springs last year 84-81, and 92-70 in 2020. The Indians returned four starters from a 7-4 team last year. Cherokee came into the season ranked No. 10 by Texas Football. Rochelle was ranked No. 15 preseason by Texas Football.

Joel Valdez completed 8-of-9 passes for 177 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Indians to the win. He also rushed for 79 yards and two TDs. On defense, he led the Cherokee effort with 10 tackles, including one for a loss of yards.

Gunner Baugh rushed 11 times for 150 yards and two TDs for Cherokee. He also had an interception on defense.

Rode Ligon and Joey Bond each caught two TDs passes for Cherokee. Ligon kicked six PATs worth two points apiece. He also had six solo tackles. Bond had seven solos and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Braxton Ethridge led Richland Springs with 178 yards on 21 carries. He scored five rushing TDs. He completed 14-of-24 passes for 152 yards.

Richland Springs (4-1 overall, 0-1) travels to Rochelle next Friday for another district game. Rochelle is ranked No. 13 according to sixmanfootball.com, which reports exclusively on six-man football. Richland Springs was ranked No. 4 on the sixmanfootball.com rankings while Cherokee was No. 5.

Cherokee (5-0, 1-0) is open next Friday and hosts Rochelle on Oct. 21.

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