New Year, New Stories

Happy 2026, Wimberley Valley!

Happy New Year! Here's hoping everyone had a lovely holiday, blessed with friends, family, and fun.

And speaking of fun: what a great inaugural New Year's Eve Ball Drop and Street Party celebration on the Square! At the stroke of 7pm (which seemed to be a unanimously great idea among those in attendance), a massive crane lowered a ball more than 100 feet to ring in 2026. 

The event was well attended, and it was a great way to see neighbors and friends (to this editor, it seemed very much like a LOCAL celebration). The Hill Country Honeys did a great job with the soundtrack, and of course, KWVH was live during the festivities, including GM Tim Kiesling presiding over the ball drop.

A big thanks to Mayor Chiles and the City Council, along with the Visit Wimberley folks for making this event -- and the entire holiday season -- a huge hit.

Things return to "normal" in our little town in January -- enjoy the slower pace. And don't forget, school is back in session TOMORROW, so plan accordingly. (Not that parents need a reminder.)

Water Wise Tackles Drought this Month

Drought continues to shape life in the Hill Country, but smart, local solutions can help us grow abundance even in dry times. Join the Water Wise Series for “Abundance in Drought: Wicking Gardens and Seed Saving” on Saturday, January 17, from 10:30am. to 12:30pm in the Wimberley Library Meeting Room.

Janet Bradford of the Wimberley Garden Club will demonstrate how to build a “wicking” garden bed — a water-efficient system that conserves moisture while producing healthy, vigorous plants.

Following the demonstration, Kat Locke, President of Keep Wimberley Beautiful, will explain how seed saving expands our use and understanding of native plants. She will also introduce the Wimberley Village Library’s Seed Catalog, where residents can both borrow seeds and contribute seeds for others to enjoy.

The session is hosted by Salwa Khan of Mothering Earth and Zane Liston of the Watershed Association and is open to anyone interested in gardening, conservation, and community resilience.

Sign up here.

Texans Start 2026 Campaign

The Wimberley Texans are back in action. The boys took second place at the Wimberley Hoopfest tournament, with a rare loss to Glen Rose. That puts their record at 20-2 before tomorrow night's non-district game against Poth. District play starts on the 16th against archrival Canyon Lake.

Meanwhile, the lady hoopsters will try to snap a two-game losing skid when they travel to McNeil tonight.

Soccer season is underway, too, with the 2-0-1 girls team facing Luling tomorrow night, and the boys team visiting Highlands tomorrow night as well.

Let's go TEXANS!