Issue #9
CANDIDATE FORUM TONIGHT
It’s election season Smithville and much like the spring weather, things are starting to heat up. We’ve got two contested races:
Tyrone Washington is running unopposed for Place 1.
Want to meet the candidates and see where they stand on the issues? Come out to Fat Cafe Cafe at 6pm tonight!
This is your chance to meet the candidates, hear their thoughts on the important issues facing our town, and get your questions answered.
We will see you there!
Property Tax vs Sales Tax?
“To grow or not to grow” has become a central question (and a dividing issue) for the Place 2 seat, and there’s been a healthy debate about sales tax vs property tax as revenue drivers for the city.
We decided to look at the sales tax data with one question in mind: how much sales tax revenue would it take to generate the same amount of property tax revenue of one $350,000 home?
See what we found in our latest piece.
Why is my Utility Bill so High?
Did you open your March utility bill and find your bill was way higher than normal? You are not alone!
Find out how big the increase was and why. PLUS see if the rates will continue to rise for next month in our latest news analysis.
Garbage Rates Stay
Waste Management, the city’s garbage contractor, increased their rates by 1.44%. But the rate for residents (currently $48.50 for residential), will remain the same.
Learn how that’s possible and see what the city plans to do with the $23,000 in additional revenue in our full article.
And if you’re looking for a recap of the actions taken at Monday’s city council meeting, read our wrap-up here.
Support Smithville Texas News
Thank you to everyone who has supported our journalism project so far! It allowed us to focus on some data-driven stories this week that we hope you enjoy!
We also had a good boost in subscribers and followers this week, so thank you to everyone who forwarded the newsletter!
If you like what you read this week, please share with your friends and neighbors!
Honoring Raymah Davis
Beloved Justice of the Peace Raymah Davis was honored by Bastrop County last week when they dedicated the Precinct 2 building in her honor.
“My mom was a woman of compassion, strength and grace. She devoted herself to her family, her community, and to making the world a better place one small act at a time. It's only fitting that this building stand as a tribute to her unwavering love and dedication.”
~Courtney Taylor
SISD Job Fair
Want to join the Tiger family? SISD is hosting an online job fair on Wednesday, March 26 from noon to 1pm. Get your career started!
State-bound!
Congratulations to our THREE state-bound girls powerlifters!
Sophomore Emery Bayer, junior Shantel Harlow, and senior Raya Powell will travel to Edinburg on Friday to participate in the State meet.
Look for a story on these ladies’ journey this year in next week’s newsletter.
From the Publisher:
I’m going to take this space this week to answer a reader question:
“What’s up with the song above your letter?”
Great question!
I love music, particularly live music, so it’s constantly on in my house.
When I’m working I usually listen to something without words. In the mornings it’s usually classical or something calm. After lunch I turn to instrumental funk or focus beats. The Nashville Sessions by the New Mastersounds has been my go-to afternoon album recently.
When I published the first edition of this newsletter, it was kind of a mess. I had Give It Time by Goose (my favorite band) on repeat that week, and I felt like the lyrics paired well with the message in my Letter.
As the weeks have gone on it’s been a mixture of meaningful lyrics, favorite songs, beautiful music, and songs I just can’t get out of my head:
Issue #2: Wake Me Up, Aviccii: Great beat with touching lyrics. He died way too young.
Issue #3: The Klon Concert, Keith Jarrett: One of the most beautiful improvisational piano concerts ever recorded. Fun fact: he almost didn’t play because the piano was in horrible condition.
Issue #4: I Won’t Back Down, Tom Petty: I needed to remind my inner critic that I wasn’t giving up.
Issue #5: Life Is What You Make It, The Souljazz Orchestra: Heard it on a playlist and just loved the beat and the message.
Issue # 6: Ghost, Phish: Phish’s summer tour had been announced that week and I was taking a trip down memory lane to the first song I heard live.
Issue #7: Lead Up, Goose: A new single from my favorite band.
Issue # 8: Free Bird, Lynyrd Skynyrd: One of the best guitar solos ever recorded. It never gets old.
And now this week I’ve got The Sunshine by Manchester Orchestra. A friend of mine texted it to me last week and I really liked it.
If you have any suggestions for songs, please let me know. I love learning new music and sharing with others.
And thank you for continuing to support this journalism project! We are officially two months old on Friday and I’m amazed at the support. Let’s keep going!
Looking forward to see what we can build together,
~K
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Kristen Meriwether
Publisher, SmithvilleTexasNews.com
Kristen@smithvilletexasnews.com
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Follow us on X @NewsSmithville
