News

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

The Pedernales Electric Cooperative will engage in a communications campaign next year to make members aware of the change to single-member districts before the Board of Directors election.

Directors voted unanimously to approve an election communications plan at their regular board meeting in Johnson City on Monday, Dec. 19.

Vice President of Communications and Business Services Alyssa Clemsen-Roberts said the goal of the plan, which will begin next month, is to inform members of the upcoming election, provide comprehensive education about the new single-member district voting system, encourage member participation in the election and promote and reinforce what she called “the cooperative difference.”

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Marble Falls High School senior James Garrison has been working with a U.S. Army recruiter to qualify has a Black Hawk crew member.

But that is “Plan B” in a well-mapped life course that suddenly looked set for “Plan A” Friday, Dec. 16.

Congressman Roger Williams presented Garrison a nomination to the U.S. Air Force Academy in a surprise ceremony. It was attended by that recruiter, Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Meyers, school representatives, scout leaders and his family—parents, Jesse and Debbie Garrison; younger brother, Jesse, and grandparents, Sam and Delores Garrison.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Burnet County Sheriff-elect Calvin Boyd introduced his choice for a new chief deputy Monday, Dec. 19, introducing Mike Cummings of Houston at a morning press conference.

“Mike Cummings has a great resume and he is going to be really good for the Sheriff's Office,” said Boyd. “There is a lot of excitement in the Sheriff's Office.”

Boyd, who won his post handily in the Republican Primary, will quietly take the oath of office at midnight on New Year's Eve to step into the shoes of retiring Burnet County Sheriff W.T. Smith.

He went on to enumerate the chain of command reporting to Cummings: Chris Jett, as the new administrative captain; Capt. Ricky Bindseil, continuing as patrol captain; Capt. Dwight Hardin, in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Special Operations Unit (SOU), and Capt. Matt Kimbler, in charge of the Burnet County Jail.

Marble Falls Independent School District (MFISD) will be generating approximately $7.4 million in savings in bond interest during the next 20 years by refinancing the district's 2008 and 2009A bonds with new bonds issued next year.

Trustees approved issuing the new bonds during their regular board meeting Monday, Dec. 12. This will be the fourth phase of a district refunding program initated with a bond sale approved by the board at their July 21, 2014, meeting, Marble Falls ISD Superintendent Dr. Chris Allen said.

The first phase of refunding refinanced a portion of 2007A bonds, which generated $376,267 in interest cost savings to Marble Falls taxpayers. A second phase initiated in February 2015 refinanced another portion of 2007A bonds and generated another $1,808,334 in cost savings.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

One of the first orders of business at Granite Shoals City Council meeting Tuesday, Dec. 13, was the introduction of a new police officer, Leon Ingersoll, by Granite Shoals Police Department Chief Gary Boshears.

“We received applications from several dozen qualified individuals for this position,” said Boshears. “We looked for someone who also were a good fit for the community.

“Officer Ingersoll brings some important training to the department. He served our country as a U.S. Army military policeman and K-9 officer. From there, he went to the State Department, providing security for dignitaries in different areas around the world. He has been a Texas peace officer since 2011. He is a certified mental health peace officer and a certified hostage negotiator.”

Boshears noted that Ingersoll still devotes time to staying in shape and enjoys his time with his family.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Funeral services were held Saturday for two local area teens who were among four people that died in a Dec. 3 traffic pile up on US 290 east of Ranch to Market Road 1370 near Fredericksburg.

Destiny Joy Conatser-Barrow, 17, of Leander and Evan Karl-Lee Langbein, 16, of Fredericksburg and formerly Johnson City, were a brother and sister who died at the scene of the mid-day accident. She was a cheerleader at Rouse High School in Leander.

Also dead were two Azle residents, Keith Hoover, 58, who also died at the scene, and Don Corley, Jr., 61, died later at Hill Country Memorial hospital in Fredericksburg.

According to a report from Sgt. Sergeant Orlando Gus Moreno, a public information officer for the

By Frank Shubert

The Highlander Publisher

Burnet County Commissioners Court met in regular session on Tuesday, Dec 13. Among the first items of business included action on replacing Burnet County Precinct 4 Constable Chris Jett with Millicent “Missy” Bindseil.

Jett resigned his office in November to accept the position of Administrative Captain with the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office.

“My command staff position is responsible for developing a new policies manual, evaluating and helping implement new technology,” said Jett “I will also also be responsible for dispatch, court security, warrants and bonds, and civil process.”

The Court expressed their appreciation for Jett’s service.

“You’ve been an outstanding constable,” said Precinct 1 Commissioner Bill Neve.

By Frank Shubert

The Highlander Publisher

The Pederenales Electric Cooperative (PEC) Complaint Committee, appointed to review the director complaint regarding board member James Oakley, canceled its called meeting for 9 a.m. today, Wednesday, Dec. 14. The meeting is subject to re-scheduling, pursuant to appropriate PEC notice requirements. On the advice and recommendation of its counsel, the committee is postponing this meeting, pending attorneys work in the matter.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Garrett James Ballard was found guilty on two counts of capital murder and sentenced to life without parole on Monday, Dec. 12, in the 33rd District Court of Judge Allan Garrett.

He was charged in the shooting of two close friends, Elijah “Eli” Adam Benson, a 17-year-old Burnet High School student, and Travis Leslie Fox, a 26-year-old Burnet High School graduate.

After a week of testimony, the jury was out just over half an hour from deliberation to verdict, 2:10 p.m. -2:45 p.m.

“Once found guilty of capital murder, when the state does not seek the death penalty, life with no possibility of parole is the automatic sentence,” said District Attorney Sonny McAfee.

The decision not seek the death penalty in this case was made in cooperation with the victims' families from the outset.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Candice Rae Buckley, 26, of Belton was confined in the Burnet County Jail Tuesday, Dec. 6, on charges of intoxication assault and homicide with a vehicle, apparently in connection with the Sept. 3 four-car fatality accident on U.S. 281 north of Burnet.

The accident occurred not long after 9 a.m. that Saturday morning.

Roselee Rodriguez, 26, and her seven-year-old son, West Adair Jr., of San Antonio died when they were thrown from their 2003 Ford Expedition in a head-on collision with a northbound auto forced into her path by a 1998 Lexus, driven by by Buckley. The victim's three-year-old son, Isreal Rodriguez, survived the crash after being treated at Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin.