Updated June 20, 5:50 p.m.
The Hays Highway
Kyle moves to Stage II water restrictions
Anticipating pumping restrictions from ground water providers, the City of Kyle is implementing Stage II water restrictions, effective June 21.
(June 20, 2008)
See the Kyle Mercury story.Kyle rec center survey shows broad interest
A survey of Kyle residents shows broad support for an indoor recreation center as city officials develop plans for such a facility, which would be located on a 43-acre regional park.
(June 20, 2008)
See the Kyle Mercury story.
Kyle council considers downtown projects
The Kyle City Council and city staff are examining two proposals to revitalize the downtown area with civic facilities. This week, the council heard one proposal to locate a new library near the city square, as well as a preliminary timeline for the restoration of the old city hall.
(June 19, 2008)
See the Kyle Mercury story.
Late entry wins committee approval for Kyle library site
Ending a curious round of discussion, a library building committee in Kyle voted to approve a downtown site while recommending that the city spend less for the land than it’s likely to cost.
(June 17, 2008)
See the Kyle Mercury story.
New Kyle overpass remembers old ranching families
The new Center Street overpass in Kyle, like the Kyle Parkway overpass, features the cattle brands of six old Kyle ranching families. A third overpass at Kyle Crossing will complete the series in a little more than a year.
(June 11, 2008)
See the Kyle Mercury story.
Council appoints two to parks boards
With an eye on building a recreational center in the next two years, the Kyle City Council appointed a member to each of two parks boards Tuesday night.
(June 11, 2008)
See the Kyle Mercury story.
Library committee nears site decision
Kyle’s library building committee expects to consider about nine sites at a Thursday night meeting before offering a recommendation to the city council.
(June 9, 2008)
See the Kyle Mercury story.
Kyle staff proposes five-year capital improvement budget
Kyle’s city staff presented to the city council a five-year capital improvement budgets that included no surprises. The $35.5 million plan merely mentions a recreation center and library, for which the city has yet to secure funding.
(June 5, 2008)
See the Kyle Mercury story.
Kyle council passes major retail agreement
Kyle officials believe they may be exiting the economic incentives business while solidifying an intersection that’s not even two years old as the best shopping area between Austin and San Antonio.
(June 4, 2008)
See the Kyle Mercury story.
KPD issues crime alert
Kyle police are asking citizens to lock their cars and homes in response to a recent wave of car robberies.
(June 3, 2008)
See the Kyle Mercury story.
Changing city councils debut tonight
Less than a month after the May elections, local city councils will start looking different tonight. In Kyle, David Wilson will debut following his successful challenge against incumbent Dan Ekakiadis. In Buda, the council takes on a different form as it seats two new members and waits for a third.
(June 3, 2008)
See the Kyle Mercury story.
Third Kyle teen arrested in alleged party sex assault
Hays County Sheriff’s office said today they had arrested a third teen in the alleged sexual assault of two girls who lost consciousness at a party last fall and blacked out.
(May 27, 2008)
See the Kyle Mercury story.
Authorities say Kyle teenagers sexually assaulted two girls
Two former Lehman High School students were arrested today and charged with sexually assaulting two girls who told investigators they blacked out at a party.
(May 24, 2008)
See the Kyle Mercury story.
Kyle hires HR director
Kyle City Manager Tom Mattis completed a round of administrative hires by bringing in Sandra Duran as the city’s first human resources director.
(May 21, 2008)
See the Kyle Mercury story.
Kyle secures $2.5 million county parks grant
For one project, Hays County’s fastest growing city secured going on ten percent of the parks bond money approved by county voters last year. Kyle will use the $2.5 million for outdoor amenities on a 43-acre project that will one day include an indoor recreation center.
(May 15, 2008)
See the Kyle Mercury story.
Burglars ransack Kyle newspaper office
Thieves broke into the offices of the Hays Free Press on Center Street in Kyle early Monday morning, taking more than $20,000 in property, including production computers and a server.
(May 13, 2008)
See the Kyle Mercury story.
Voter turnout varies in Saturday elections
Challenger David Wilson trounced incumbent Dan Ekakiadis in Saturday's Kyle city council eletion. Meanwhile, the elections brought out little interest in the San Marcos school board, but considerable interest in the Buda City Council.
(May 13, 2008)
See the Kyle Mercury story.
State orders 'Kyle Klips' fine
The Texas Ethics Commission has ruled on a controversial campaign publication in the 2006 Kyle elections, ordering the publisher to pay a $100 fine. (May 6, 2008)
See story.
Biscuit Brothers play Plum Creek
The Biscuit Brothers, Buford and Dusty, delighted about 300 kids at Fergus Park Sunday as Plum Creek closed out its Front Porch Days, which has changed over seven years from a home sales pitch to a party for the people who bought the homes. (May 6, 2008)
See Daily Drive entry.
Kyle launches alert system
Kyle recently initiated its "CodeRed" alert system, an Internet and telephone-based messaging center that will enable the city to provide emergency information to its citizens. (May 2, 2008)
See story.
Front Porch Days this weekend
Plum Creek, Kyle's aspiring town-within-the-town, holds its seventh annual town festival, Front Porch Days, this weekend. (May 2, 2008)
See Daily Drive entry.
Kyle receives bond upgrade
Just in time to issue $22.8 million in general obligation bonds, Kyle received a bond rating upgrade to A-plus from Standard & Poor's. (April 26, 2008)
See story.
Water measures to begin
Kyle has announced "Stage-1" water restrictions, which automatically begin every May 1 under the city's water guidelines. (April 26, 2008)
See Daily Drive entry.
Center Street debate continues
Kyle's planning commission recommended a new restaurant use along Center Street Tuesday, while the mayor tries to stimulate dialogue and residents worry that increased traffic will choke the street. (April 23, 2008)
See story.
Kyle announces movie series
Kyle's Parks and Recreation Department has announced its summer movie series, six free films at Gregg-Clark Park on Friday nights from May 2 through September 5. (April 23, 2008)
See Daily Drive entry.
Moore leaves Kyle Council
Veteran Kyle Councilmember Mike Moore decided to give up his seat, citing demands on his time from family and employment. (April 18, 2008)
See Daily Drive entry.
Circling the square
Commentary
Kyle wants a new downtown library, renovations to the old city hall are deemed expensive and the city square is largely dormant. Do all those problems have the same solution? (April 13, 2008)
See Daily Drive entry.
Council stalls Dacy project
Concerned that the Hays County Commissioners can't move on road projects, the Kyle City Council declined to spend the first $65,000 on improvements to Dacy Lane. (April 10, 2008)
See Daily Drive entry.
Old city hall in limbo
Kyle officials aren't sure what to do about their old city hall, the renovations for which now carry a $670,000 price tag. The issue pits nostalgia against pragmatism. (April 6, 2008)
See story.
Haverda's transition
In another sign of Kyle's constant change, long-time public works director Jimmy Haverda is stepping aside to run the city's public works inspections for his last couple years before retirement. Meanwhile, Kyle is growing its public works department to 18 employees. (April 5, 2008)
See story.
Library gains focus, loses ground
The Kyle City Council brought more focus to the library project Tuesday by talking along the lines of $3.3 million for a budget. But the city still doesn't know where to build the library. (April 4, 2008)
See Daily Drive entry.
Return of Market Days
Kyle's Market Days are making a comeback, though in a slightly different place and form. (March 25, 2008)
See Daily Drive entry.
Kyle looks at CBD-1
CBD-1 zoning along part of Center Street in Kyle began as a compromise and has matured into a confusion. (March 20, 2008)
See story.
Crossing a dry hole
Kyle is trying to change an old back road into something of a business loop on the north edge of town. It's the difference between Dry Hole Road and Kyle Crossing. (March 4, 2008)
See Daily Drive entry.
There's a reason
Hays County Judge Liz Sumter kept her appointment to meet Sunday with Kyle citizens, baffling the assembled with her explanations and composure under tough questioning. (February 24, 2008)
See Daily Drive entry.
Kyle library could stay downtown
Advocates for a new library and the old part of Kyle are pushing for the city to place a new library on Burleson Street. (February 21, 2008)
See story.
Sumter schedules Kyle
Following a public outcry after she left Kyle off her scheduled tour of Hays County cities, Hays County Judge Liz Sumter fit Kyle into her schedule for Feb. 24. (February 8, 2008)
See Daily Drive entry.
Who's for it?
Commentary
The mayor of Kyle asked Hays County Commissioner Jeff Barton why anyone would oppose a new state road financing plan for improvements to Interstate-35 through Kyle. Here's the real question: Who's for it? (February 6, 2008)
See Daily Drive entry.
Judge's oversight
Commentary
Kyle residents feel snubbed after Hays County Judge Liz Sumter left the county's fastest-growing city off her coming tour of town meetings. (February 1, 2008)
See Daily Drive entry.
Kyle names Blake police chief
Befitting a career in numerous civic settings, Michael Blake will start as Kyle's new police chief in about a month. (January 23, 2008)
See story.
Clearing up Kyle's closing time
Confusion continues about the legally mandated closing time for businesses in Kyle. Maybe this will help. (January 9, 2008)
See story.
Street life
The streetscaping of Center Street is all but completed, waiting only on trees and benches. But one crucial touch is beyond the city's influence. (January 9, 2008)
See Daily Drive entry.
'Polar bears' come out in Kyle
About 20 people in Kyle decided a cold swim would be the right way to bring in the new year. (January 1, 2008)
See story.
Kyle's year of change
As of spring, Kyle still waited just to open a grocery store. By year's end, Kyle laid the groundwork for much more sweeping change, rounding out a remarkably transformative 2007. (December 31, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Webster's father dies
In November, Todd Webster cut his term on the Kyle City Council 18 months short to attend to his dying father in Ohio. Wednesday, Webster's father died. (December 27, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Center Street work finishing
Expect delays on Center Street late this week as crews finish the road work for the streetscaping. The street should be back in full swing by the start of the year. (December 23, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Kyle raises impact fees
Kyle no longer will be the building bargan it has been, but it still will be cheaper than comparable area cities when it implements a new impact fee schedule. (December 21, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Synecdoche and microcosm
Today's ugly inconvenience along Center Street reflects the growing pains felt all across Kyle. (December 15, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Advice sidelines Bryant
Reluctantly accepting the city's legal advice, new Kyle Councilmember Ray Bryant sat out a council discussion about an issue that helped get him elected. (December 6, 2007)
See story.
$4 million gift for Kyle
A bid for infrastructure around the coming Seton Hospital came in $4 million under expectations last week, making the hospital/retail project potentially even more lucrative for Kyle. (November 26, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Kyle lays rec center ground
The city council in Kyle took major steps towards developing a rec center of at least 23 acres Tuesday, accepting a site recommentation and kicking off preliminary engineering. (November 22, 2007)
See story.
More low-grade drama
Commentary
For all the change in Kyle, one aspect is the same as ever: conflict between Councilmember Dan Ekakiadis and others on the council. (November 21, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Bryant up for balancing act
Incoming Kyle City Councilmember Ray Bryant is in for a balancing act, unless what's good for Kyle really is good for the east side. (November 13, 2007)
See story.
Love train
Commentary
Two Kyle city council candidates criticized by outgoing Councilmember Todd Webster see no reason to hit back. After all, they're not running against Webster. (November 3, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
New fair for new people
Commentary
Kyle kicks off its expanded version of its traditional fair tonight. It's the difference between greeting and meeting. (October 19, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Three run for Webster seat
Three candidates filed to run for the Kyle City Council seat to be vacated by Todd Webster, who is resigning. (October 19, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Plans for planner
Commentary
Kyle has hired its second planning director this year while more clearly describing the position's function. (October 12, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Kyle election frees Webster
An opinion from the secretary of state's office allows Kyle to hold a November special election, enabling City Councilmember Todd Webster to officially resign. (October 3, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
The flaky and the hot
Commentary
Now that Kyle is on a roll, the city would be wise to grow as independently of Austin as possible. (October 2, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Webster intends to resign
Todd Webster wants to go full-time with his father, who is engaging hospice, but he doesn't want to resign from the Kyle City Council until he likes the timing. (September 12, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Fair off the square
It had to happen some time. Kyle is moving its traditional Fair on the Square from the town square to Gregg-Clarke Park and changing the festival's name. (August 16, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Back to the drawing board
The city council in Kyle revoked its preliminary approval of zoning code revisions this week, putting a tense process back on square one. (August 9, 2007)
See story.
Old town, new economy
Kyle's city council is considering an economic development plan that would leverage a hospital, a train station and a river while showcasing the historic downtown. (June 30, 2007)
See story.
Ulhand move stuns Kyle
A group of landowners fronting SH 21 told the Kyle City Council this week that they're voluntarily annexing with Uhland, thwarting Kyle's plan to someday control the highway's potentially lucrative intersection with FM 150. (June 21, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
A city and its grocer
Commentary
H-E-B Plus! finally opens at 6 a.m today. In how many cities approaching 30,000 is the opening of a grocery story such a big event? (June 8, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Kyle police chief resigns
Following six years of guiding the Kyle Police Department through unprecedented growth, Chief of Police Al Moore announced his resignation Wednesday. (May 16, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
The crowded road to prosperity
Commentary
The reason northern Hays County needs roads and jobs is the reason Kyle could have missed out on jobs last Thursday. Fortunately for Kyle, Councilmember David Salazar fought through Austin traffic and gave the Kyle City Council the necessary quorum to approve a letter of intent with the Seton Family of Hospitals. (May 7, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Hospital emblemizes city change
The replacement of Kyle's last interstate ranch with a major hospital emblemizes the city's changing profile. (May 5, 2007)
See story.
Will homebuilders follow suit?
Commentary
Now that doctors and lawyers are coming to Kyle, are homebuilders still going to argue that the city can't support a high-end housing market? (May 4, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Same job, different time
Amelia Sanchez will replace the legendary Minerva Falcon as Kyle's city secretary. Fortunately for Sanchez, she won't have to wear so many hats. (April 26, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Kyle's coming retail boom
The opening of H-E-B Plus! in Kyle, moved up nine days to June 6, will include 13 contiguous retail chains, with more to come. (April 24, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Night comes to Kyle?
Commentary
By law, the sidewalks in Kyle have to roll up at 10 p.m. If that's still true on June 15, H-E-B doesn't stand to be very happy. Expect a change. (April 16, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Captain Hernandez
A consultant told Kyle's city council last month that Lieutenant Pedro Hernandez functioned more like a captain. This week, the city promoted Hernandez to captain. (April 13, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
KACC hires leader
Kyle's chamber of commerce didn't look far for a new executive director, bringing in the former leader of the San Marcos Hispanic chamber. (April 5, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Webster's worry
Kyle City Councilmember Todd Webster is trying to balance his civic responsibilities with the coming death of his father in Ohio. (March 21, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Study finds low Kyle police pay
A study commissioned by the Kyle City Council and staff shows the city pays its police considerable lower than others its size. But some councilmembers beieve there must be more to it. (March 8, 2007)
See story.
Planning?
Or emergency management?
Commentary
Kyle has hired a director of planning about seven years after the city really needed planning. (March 1, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Towns clash over acreage
Ulhand city officials went before the Kyle City Council to complain about Kyle's proposed annexation of land that could be in the ETJ for both cities. Even Susie Carter was there. (February 27, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Kyle counts to 25,001
The city council approved a resolution saying it's population exceeds 25,000 this week, meaning the city can expand its extra-territorial jurisdicton. (February 22, 2007)
See Daily Drive entry.
Kyle waits on zone map
Councilmembers tabled the adoption of an official city zone map Tuesday night, due to confusion about its contents. (February 22, 2007)
See story.
Rip-offalooza
Commentary
The promoters of an ill-fated Beach Boys show in Kyle are offering a free show of local talent for the city's $40,000. Councilmembers seem to not be thrilled. (February 20, 2007) See Daily Drive entry.
Falcon retires
For the last 32 years, City Secretary Minerva Falcon has been the one constant in Kyle city government. After this month, that, too, will change. (January 29, 2007) See Daily Drive entry.
An electric moment
A high tech manufacturer has relocated to Kyle, bringing up to 200 jobs to the city. (October 18, 2006) See Daily Drive entry.
Noisy neighbors
If you heard that residents were going to their city council with a complaint about noise on a Saturday night, would you expect them to be complaining about ... a church? (September 27, 2006) See Daily Drive entry.
Good vibrations? Or good money gone bad?
Commentary
If the real Beach Boys play at Thunderpalooza, then Kyle has spent $40,000 well. But if it's just Mike Love's Beach Boys Review ... (September 14, 2006) See Daily Drive entry.
Kyle Klips hits big time
Commentary
It had to happen sometime. The governor's campaign office is blaming the comptroller for a campaign publication in Kyle. (August 9, 2006) See Daily Drive entry.
Cars and cash
With one eye on building better roads for its expanding populous, the City of Kyle has another eye on a 50-percent budget expansion. (August 9, 2006) See story.
Kyle Klips goes to DA, ethics boards
The Kyle City Council has completed an investigation of Kyle Klips, with the findings now off to the district attorney and the Texas Ethics Commission. (July 24, 2006) See story.
Remembering Ann Strom
Commentary
The author of Kyle: The Prairie City, a prominent Kyle historian, died on July 9. (July 13, 2006) See The Daily Drive entry.
Kyle opens FM 1626 addition
The city has opened a crucial piece of its transportation and economic development plans. (June 16, 2006) See story.
Moore good sense
Commentary
Mike Moore's election to the Kyle City Council will add a sensible voice to its proceedings. (June 10, 2006) See The Daily Drive entry.
Clipping Kyle Klips
The controversial campaign flier finally has acknowledged it's on shaky ground by shutting down shortly after the city council launched an investigation. (May 19, 2006) See The Daily Drive entry.
The votes are in
Kyle voters went for experience in Saturday's municipal elections. (May 13, 2006) See Daily Drive entry.
Groceries and guerrillas
Commentary
H-E-B finally announced, definitively, that it's coming to Kyle. How will the news change a tawdry Kyle City Council election that ends today? (May 12, 2006) See The Daily Drive entry.
Farewell to an old city hall
Commentary
The Kyle City Council conducted its last business at the historic city hall on the town square Tuesday night. The city staff already has moved into a brand new, $1.8 million administration building that includes new chambers. (April 4, 2006) See The Daily Drive entry.
The Kyles and Kyle
Not every day does a family visit a town bearing its name. The reason is pretty simple. Jana Hunter, a great granddaughter of Edwin Kyle, grew up in Little Rock, AK, where her father, Thomas Harrison Baker III, was an administrator at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. Now and then, Hunter would ask her father why the family never visited the little Texas town first settled by and named after her family. "Because there's nothing there," he'd say. (Oct.15, 2005) See story
Fun at the fair
The Fair on the Square once again brought thousands to the middle of town. The city celebrated its 125th anniversary with birthday cake, a parade down Center Street, crafts booths, barbecue contests and music throughout Friday night and Saturday. (Oct. 18, 2005) See story
125 and counting ...
To say the city is 125 years old this year is a bit misleading. In so many respects, the city is brand new, changing a good deal more in the last five years than in the 120 years preceding. (October 14, 2006) See strory
No return to 'normalcy'
You've heard about a bumper sticker around town that says, "Keep Kyle Normal." The very idea of keeping the city normal raises numerous questions. To wit: "Define normal," said Parks and Recreation Director Kerry Urbanowicz. (Oct. 14, 2005) See story
