Bill Burden Elementary Principal Christina Gamez will lead Lariat Trails Elementary, opening in August.

What's happening: Liberty Hill ISD announced the selection of Gamez as the principal for its eighth elementary school on Jan. 6. The new campus is slated to open in the Lariat Trails neighborhood off County Road 214.

Career history: Gamez began her career in education as a physical education teacher at Bill Burden Elementary in 2012 after graduating from Texas A&M University.

In 2017, Gamez helped open Rancho Sienna Elementary, where she taught, supervised paraprofessionals and led the campus specials team. As an assistant principal intern, she assisted with the opening of Santa Rita Elementary in 2020.

Gamez was appointed as the assistant principal of Bill Burden after receiving her master’s degree in Educational Administration in 2021. In 2024, Gamez became principal of the campus.

She will continue serving as the principal of Bill Burden until the position is filled, according to district information.

Time Out Sports Bar in Liberty Hill is now permanently closed.

Posts on Time Out's Instagram page confirmed that the bar has shut down. Its last day open was Jan. 4.

What they're saying: A post on Time Out's Instagram page thanked customers.
"Laughs, tears, and memories were always made here. We love you all so much," the post said.

A recent burn ban for the unincorporated areas of Travis County—areas outside of any specific city—was recently extended to remain in effect until Feb. 10, according to a news release from the county.

The burn ban had been put into effect on Dec. 29 and originally was slated to end on Jan. 6, as previously reported by Community Impact.

The details: The burn ban was extended due to continuing dry conditions. The ban applies to outdoor burning in unincorporated areas of Travis County, but does not include prescribed burns, outdoor welding, cutting, grinding, or other hot work operations when conducted in accordance with the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office guidelines.

Travis County officials urge residents to:

• Use caution when grilling or barbecuing outdoors. Residents should keep a water source or fire extinguisher nearby when doing so.
• Avoid the use of leftover fireworks from the recent holiday. Even small fireworks can ignite dry vegetation and pose a wildfire risk.
• Call 911 if they notice a fire that may be out of control.

A new U.S. Postal Service rule could impact when time-sensitive mail, such as tax forms and mail-in ballots, is considered officially sent.

The overview: Effective Dec. 24, mailed items are postmarked when the USPS processes them, rather than the date items are dropped in a mailbox. A postmark refers to the date and location stamped or printed on most mailed items, indicating when and where the USPS “accepted custody” of a mailpiece, per the federal agency.

Zooming in: According to the Texas comptroller’s office, the updated USPS guidance means items could be postmarked “several days” after they are dropped in a mailbox. This includes date-sensitive items sent by Texas residents and businesses, such as property tax payments, federal tax returns, mail-in ballots and required business reports.

To ensure that mail is postmarked on the day it is sent, customers can take mail into their local post office and request that the item be hand-stamped for free, according to the USPS. Texans can also pay property taxes and submit ballots in-person at county offices.