by Michael Robinson| Uvalde Hesperian

Top image credit: Google Map

03-22-26

A landowner is requesting Uvalde County abandon a portion of CR379 and CR380 in its entirety.  Marshall S. McCrea, Ill and Castle Rock Ranch, LP claim to own private property on both sides of these two public roads and currently has a fence over CR 379 which connects to CR380. Also included in the agenda packet is a picture of a sign posted near the entrance of CR 329. The property and two county roads up for consideration are located between 3-5 miles southeast of Utopia.

The item is Number 7 on Monday’s March 23rd Uvalde County Commissioners Court meeting scheduled for 10AM in the 3rd floor Uvalde County Uvalde County Courtroom.

In the motion submitted to Uvalde County, is says, “Over 15 years ago McCrea followed the statutory process to abandon County Road 379 and County Road 380 just east of where they connect in Uvalde County as shown on Exhibit ·B”. The County records still show that such abandonment is not represented on County maps. McCrea owns the real property on both sides of the portion of County Road 379 and County Road 380 further described in Exhibit “A”. McCrea is once again requesting the County to abandon Country Road 79 and County Road 380 at McCrea property line.

McCrea erected a gate located on the McCrea property line and has been locked for over 15 years. By this Motion, McCrea asks the Commissioners’ Court to abandon the portion of County Road 379 described in Exhibit “A” and abandon County Road 380 in its entirety, described in Exhibit “A” attached hereto.

Also, the motion states, “Uvalde County records indicate that County Road 3 79 and County Road 380 both “dead end” and do not connect with any other existing County maintained road. ”

Uvalde Hesperian questions: According to the motion included in the Uvalde County agenda packet pertaining to this item, it states the owner stated a statutory process to abandon CR 379 and 380 and the property owners placed a gate over the county road. While the county maintains the roads as county property for 15 years, the public has not had access to the county roads beyond the gate. Why hasn’t the county acted sooner?

What is the total combined length of two county roads that the property owner wants the County to abandon? What is the valuation of the roadway to be abandoned?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Thursday, March 12th, 2026

    On December 7th, a $756,348.69  Uvalde County awarded to DKM Enterprises LLC a contract to build seven low-water crossings on tributaries of the Leona River.

CR 428 is one of the seven low water crossings that is included. In order to construct the low water crossing, it was stated by Uvalde County Appraisal District Grant Writer Carl Esser that temporary access to adjacent private property be acquired.

  At the Monday, March 9th, Uvalde County Commissioners Court meeting, agenda item #13 was approved by Uvalde County which is a contractual agreement for temporary access of a strip of privately owned land referred to as Williams Ranch (5W), a Series of J & C Williams Investments LLC.

   County Road 428 located in the Deer Valley area north of Uvalde, CR 428 is one of the Leona low water crossings awarded to DKM Enterprises in December 2025. DKM will begin work within the next few months. According to County Commissioner Ronald “Ronnie” Garza, there are a number of residents who use that road as well as school buses.

  The County approved the terms of the contract for temporary access which will cost the county $500 a week for a maximum of five weeks. 

  According to Uvalde County Grant Writer Carl Esser, who presented the agenda item to the Court he said, “It will require a temporary bypass road (484 linear feet in length) to allow both incoming and outgoing traffic.” 

  Other considerations include a strand fence and a 14-foot gate on the north side of the bypass road to be installed by a private contractor. Esser stated a quote from Kimball fabricating to build the fence is estimated at $3,800.  According to Esser, the fencing is needed to keep livestock from venturing onto the Wright County Road.

  He went on to say limestone base will be laid down for the bypass road and at the end of the day, the limestone base material will be retained by the private property owner.

 Carl Esser responded to a public records request submitted to Uvalde County by the Uvalde Hesperian with additional details bypass roadway including the width of the road as well as the amount of Limestone base to be used and its cost:

Breakdown of Costs for Temporary Access Agreement

1. $500/week for maximum of 5 weeks                       $2,500.00
2. Fence and Gate Cost estimate:                                    $3,500.00
3. Temporary bypass road cost of materials:
4. Total estimated cost of materials                               $1,834.00

       Total costs for Temporary Access Agreement           $7,834.00

02-23-26

By Michael Robinson| Uvalde Hesperian

Top Photo: Diana Olvedo-Karau; Uvalde Hesperian File Photo

Diana Olvedo-Karua spoke to the Uvalde County elected officials where she addressed issues that she claimed might not be illegal but are, in her opinion, unethical.

Karau addressed the county court during citizens’ comments portion of this morning’s meeting.

“A few years ago, County Commissioner Mariano Pargas moved from Precinct 2 to Precinct 1 and the argument from Judge Mitchell was that he already been elected and he’d finish out his term,” Karau said,

She added that a few more years passed, and the court decided, during required redistricting, the court decided to gerrymander, a little nook out of the east side of Uvalde so that Commissioner Pargas could continue to be in Precinct 2.

“Then a few years more…County Attorney John Dodson no longer lives in Uvalde County, but there’s loopholes, and he continues to be in that position though he no longer lives in this community and is not adequately serving the residents of Uvalde County,” she said.

Additionally, she pointed out that Uvalde County Commissioner John Yeackle filed to run for Uvalde County Judge in November 2025, the same month, Uvalde County Judge William “Bill” Mitchell was suspended. “There was no judge to fill that seat, she said.”

“This court has always argued that if someone is running for an election, it gives them an unfair advantage to remain on the court.” she said.

Karau went on to say Interim Judge Jerry Bates has the ability to appoint someone to fill the Precent 1 seat on the Uvalde County Commissioner’s Court held by Yeackle.

February 11th, 2026

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

  Texas Hill Country River Region Executive Director Kristi Gerdes presented the organization’s quarterly report Monday, February 9th and stated that 19-Mile Crossing located on Highway 55 continues to accumulate lots of trash. Gerdes stated the garbage includes old furniture and other household trash.

See Link to Video Here.

  Gerdes stated the organization and the county are looking into placing additional dumpsters to address the trash situation. 

  The THCRR is a Uvalde County Hotel Occupancy Tax collector and the organization uses the tax monies it collects to promote the Texas Hill Country and also funds River Cleanup efforts for the Frio River and the Nueces River.

  In a previous news report on 19-Mile Crossing, it was learned from THCRR officials that studies have indicated local county residents are the ones most likely to visit 19-Mile Crossing rather than out of town visitors.

THCRR reports 4X amount of money spent on cleaning up 19-Mile Crossing than the Frio River

Press Release from Acting Uvalde County Judge Jerry Bates

01-24-26

SUBJECT: Courthouse Closure AND Cancellation of Commissioners Court Meeting

The Courthouse will be closed on Monday, January 26^th  and will resume on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.  Also be advised that the Regular Meeting of the Uvalde Commissioners Court, originally scheduled for Monday, January 26, 2026, at 10 AM in the Commissioners Courtroom located on the 3^rd floor of the Uvalde County Courthouse has been cancelled.

The cancellation is due to inclement weather.

The next meeting of the Commissioners Court is scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2026, at 10 AM in the Commissioners Courtroom located on the 3^rd floor of the Uvalde County Courthouse.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

 

By Michael Robinson/Uvalde Hesperian

01-14-25

Image source: LinkedIn

  Knippa’s had a streetlight located on Main Street near the town’s post office that once shined some light but was shut off according to Uvalde County Officials.  

  AEP External Affairs manager Jimmy Ernest stated Uvalde County Judge Bill Mitchell reached out to him in 2025 to try to get it reconnected. Earnest said after the matter was researched, they found the County was not paying for the light. It was a Lion’s Club chapter that may not exist anymore.

Earnest, who spoke on the matter at the County Commissioners’ meeting, recommended the County add 15 new lights to Knippa. 

Earnest stated the electricity cost for the 15 lights would be less than $200 per month.

Commissioner Roy Kothman said, “I think it’s a safety issue for Knippa  (It is) a small price for the County to pay. ” Kothmann went on to say the area near the Uvalde Farmer’s Coop gas pumps along Highway 90 are a dangerous spot

  Uvalde County Auditor Alice Chapman jumped into the conversation and said her office handles the connections, “My problem is I don’t have the money.,” Uvalde County Auditor Alice Chapman said.

 Kothmann said the AEP will be providing the lights and changing the existing lights with LED’s

 Chapman had mentioned the county was paying $400 per month for trash cleanup in Knippa but since Keep Knippa Beautiful. a non–profit citizen service organization has been helping pick up the town’s trash, the county could likely free up some money for the lights there. 

 In the end, the County Commissioner’s voted to approve the new lighting for Knippa. 

In a phone conversation with Kothmann, he told the Hesperian that money for the lights would be found or tied to another budgeted item.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

 November 19th, 2025

  On November 18th, The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct acted to suspend Uvalde County Judge William “Bill” Mitchell without pay as part of an inquiry pertaining to the November 3rd indictment handed up against Mitchell by the 28th Judicial Grand Jury on the charge of Official Oppression. The official inquiry posted on November 18th states the commission received the indictment on November 11th.

 According to information obtained by the Uvalde Hesperian in cases where a Texas County Judge is suspended, it falls on the Commissioners Court to appoint an officer of the court to handle the county judges’ official duties. Such action would likely be taken at the next Uvalde County Commissioner’s Court meeting.

 According to the inquiry by the Commission, the suspension is effective until the charges are dismissed, or Mitchell is acquitted of all charges in the indictment or upon further orders by the commission. Uvalde County Judge Bill Mitchell was not in his office this morning when the Uvalde Hesperian stopped by shortly before 9 AM. 

william-mitchell-order-of-suspension-indictment

11-11-25

By Michael Robinson| Uvalde Hesperian

Uvalde County Commissioners voted to approve the purchase of a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado for the 38th District Attorney’s office for $66,559.01 from Uvalde Chevrolet. According to Uvalde County Grant Writer Carl Esser stated that advertisements for bids for the vehicle were placed with a locally printed newspaper and on Uvalde County’s website. He said Uvalde Chevrolet submitted the only bid received by the County.

  Esser stated funds for the purchase of the vehicle will come from the Board of Prosecution Unit Grant at no cost for Uvalde County.

 According to State of Texas Governor Greg Abbott Campaign website article from 2018, the Border Prosecution Unit was established in 2009 by the 81st Legislature. The article also states $5.8 million in grant funding is for the Border Prosecution Unit (BPU) to help crack down on gangs and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) along the Texas border.

“The BPU is made up of 17 district and county attorney offices within the Texas border region that focus on investigating and prosecuting cases related to narcotics, weapons, human trafficking, organized crime, gangs, and other border-related offenses. Nineteen BPU awards were released to District and County Attorneys in border communities across Texas,” the article reads.

 Commissioners also approved accepting a bid for a Mass Notification System. Esser said the Mass Notification System bid was awarded to the Reed Group $9,994 for the first year, with a recurring cost of $7,195 per year for a guaranteed three-year contract. The purchase for the system will be paid for out of the Uvalde County Emergency Operations Center Operations budget.

Uvalde County also accepted a FY 2026 Border Protection Unit Grant.  This is a recurring grant of $2,339,000. It’s a two-year grant beginning on September 1st, 2025, to August 1st, 2027.

Esser said the grant provides for the salaries of prosecutors and investigators involved in border related investigations to continue border related investigations as well as maximize resources.

 Diana Olvedo-Karau spoke after the court approved the grants expressing her concerns for tax monies being spent by the County placing a burden of taxes regular people have to pay whether it be local, state or national.

Karau also expressed her concern that the state funding for border related grants may run out eventually as conditions on the border have diminished greatly.