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ABOUT US
 Radio Free Liberty Hill is an independent online news service developed to keep the greater Liberty Hill community better informed of the news that matters most.
This news website was developed in spring 2009 by professional journalists and website designers as a learning tool for area young people interested in pursuing careers in journalism, advertising and marketing, website design and business. In a very short time, it has become the preferred first source of online news in the area.
It began with the premise that giving back to the community is the first order of business, and making a difference is paramount. That's why we are training high school students to ask questions, record responses, and write stories while offering a new advertising venue to area businesses trying to reach customers in Williamson County.
The absence of a real journalism program in the Liberty Hill schools is regrettable and we intend to do something about it while apprenticing local students to become involved in their community by learning to ask, listen and report.
Radio Free Liberty Hill is a news organization that adheres to professional ethics and rules of journalism. The staff is taught and supervised by news professionals who believe that journalism is a legitimate professional career path that comes with a journalism education and experience. It is that education and experience that allows us to teach others one of the most honorable professions in a democracy.
And it's that experience and professionalism that sets us apart from other local news organizations. Without bias or personal agendas, we report the facts, work hard to report all sides, and give readers the full story without editorial comment.
Radio Free Liberty Hill
Apprentices and Journeymen
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Mario Barraza
 Mario, a life-long resident of Liberty Hill is a senior at Liberty Hill High School.
He enjoys sports and being outdoors. He plays drums and hopes to one day have his own recording studio.
Mario is considering a career in journalism.
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Brianna Shrubar
 A senior at Liberty Hill High School, Brianna is new to the area. She is a student trainer at LHHS and enjoys all types of sports.
Brianna is planning to attend the University of Texas at San Antonio when she is interested in pursuing an education in broadcasting or physical therapy.
She joined the Radio Free team because she wanted to learn more about journalism and about her new hometown.
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 Jennifer is a junior at Liberty Hill High School.
She loves to act, write and read. Jennifer wishes to pursue a career in communications, preferably journalism. She enjoys writing for Radio Free Liberty Hill because it gives her the opportunity to learn more about the journalistic process.
If Jennifer could have any wish come true, she would wish to perform on the Broadway stage in New York City.
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Kayla Lawson
 Kayla is a senior at Liberty Hill High School. She hopes to attend Texas State University in San Marcos where she plans to major in journalism.
Kayla enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, photography and spending time with friends.
Kayla joined the Radio Free internship program because she was looking for an opportunity to utilize writing skills and interact with different people in the community.
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Lauren Smith
 A senior at Leander High School, Lauren plans on pursuing a career in journalism, focusing on sports photography and broadcasting.
In true journalistic fasion, Lauren enjoys writing, reading and of course, photography. She is also very inolved in theatre and hopes to use it as a tool to enhance her broadcasting ability.
Lauren is very passionate about what she does and is very excited to be working with the Radio Free Liberty Hill team.
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Claire Wilkison
 A senior at Liberty Hill High School, Claire is interested in pursuing a career in photography and news reporting.
She enjoys playing soccer and singing, and has served as an official youth soccer referee and coach for the Liberty Hill Youth Soccer Association.
"Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom."
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About the Publisher
Radio Free Liberty Hill Owner/Publisher Shelly Wilkison has more than 25 years of experience as a professional journalist since earning a degree in journalism and Spanish from Baylor University in 1984.
Specializing in public affairs reporting, she has worked for major dailies and smaller bi-weekly newspapers in Texas where she covered politics, elected officials, city and county governments, the Texas Legislature, criminal and civil courts, and law enforcement.
In addition to her newspaper experience, she served as a press secretary to a state senator in the late 1980s, and later as a political and media consultant. Mrs. Wilkison has been working in recent years through her company Free State Media Group to produce newsletters, magazines and content-rich websites for businesses and organizations across the country.
Since moving with her family from East Texas to Liberty Hill in 1999, she has been a regular contributor to various news magazines and trade publications in print and online, and is a sought-after freelance writer on law enforcement training and police labor issues. Additionally, Mrs. Wilkison was a contributing writer and editor on a U.S. Department of Justice publication released in 2006 relating to police labor-management relations. And in 2000, she was a contributing writer and editor of The Ultimate Sacrifice, a book that chronicled the stories of Texas peace officers killed in the line of duty since the early days of the Republic.
Driven by a strong commitment to community and family, Mrs. Wilkison frequently volunteers her time to various charitable organizations. Some of those include the Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce where she currently serves on the Board of Directors; the Liberty Hill Youth Soccer Association where she served as President and a member of the Board of Directors from 2006-2008; the Peace Officers Memorial Foundation where she served as Family Assistance Coordinator for the Texas Peace Officers Memorial Services at the State Capitol from 1999-2001.
Shelly and her husband, Charley Wilkison, have three children -- all of whom have attended or are currently attending Liberty Hill public schools. Charley is Public Affairs Director for the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT).
The Wilkisons are the proud family of three bassett hounds who reside gracefully in Liberty Hill.
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Advertisement
Student interns volunteer to help Liberty Hill All Sports Booster Club in summer 2010
Student reporters are donating their time this summer to write for the Liberty Hill Fall Sports Program published this year by the Liberty Hill All Sports Booster Club. The Program, which is a fundraising project for the Booster Club, will be sold at Panther Stadium during home football games in fall 2010. LHASBC donates 100 percent of the money it raises every year to Liberty Hill student athletic programs. Funds are used to purchase training and conditioning equipment, therapeutic and rehab equipment for use by students in all sports programs at the high school and junior high.
Radio Free Liberty Hill donates school supplies to help local students
Radio Free Liberty Hill is a proud contributor to charitable programs that provide school supplies for Liberty Hill students from economically disadvantaged families. In fall 2010 and fall 2009, RFLH contributed supplies and backpacks for six students. Both years, the effort to provide school supplies was organized by the Liberty Hill Community Outreach Center. In August 2010, 70 local children were served. (Courtesy Photo)
Student Interns, Fall 2009-Spring 2010
Student Interns, Spring-Summer 2009
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