News

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH/HIGHLAND LAKES NEWSPAPERS

The U.S. Marshals are hunting a Marble Falls man previously convicted on drug trafficking charges.

Thomas Richard Sims, 35, is wanted for violating the terms of his release following several years in prison on distribution and possession charges. A warrant was issued for his arrest on Saturday, July 26.

Supervisory Deputy Hector Gomez of the U.S. Marshals Western District of Texas said Sims went missing just before he was scheduled to check in to a substance abuse treatment program.  His probation officer purchased him a ticket to the program on July 8, but Sims never showed up.

Sims is expected to be hiding in Burnet County or the greater Austin area.

“His network isn’t there anymore, but we figure he’ll be in Marble Falls or the Burnet County area, or here in Austin,” Gomez said. “We figure if we get his name and photo out, it will shake the trees up a little bit.”

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH/HIGHLAND LAKES NEWSPAPERS

Editor's Note:

The following story ran in the Burnet Bulletin on Aug 3 and Marble Falls Highlander on Aug 2. To clarify the second paragraph of Burnet County Judge James Oakley's statements, he said he received "no comments" from residents "specifically regarding the Lauren Concrete application."

The clarified story follows in its entirety:

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Plans for a new concrete plant 4.5 miles north of Burnet city limits are underway.

Lauren Concrete, Inc., a Round Rock company, has submitted and Air Quality permit to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for review, and notified Burnet County officials of the application last week. The permit application cites a property located at 6975 US 281 north as the planned site for a concrete batch plant.

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH

HIGHLAND LAKES NEWSPAPERS

Burnet County officials and law enforcement are preparing for an influx of inmates from nearby counties in coming weeks.

Burnet County Judge James Oakley said commissioners court approved contracts with three Texas counties on Tuesday to house inmates in overflow conditions or special circumstances, and the jail has hired additional staff to handle the increase. Hayes, Somerville, and Taylor county jails have all contracted for the ability to send inmates to Burnet County Jail.

Prior to new staff, the jail was only allowed up to house 240 inmates based on its staffing. The total capacity of the jail is 587.

“It's a See-Saw effect,” Oakley said. “As we bring in new inmates, we hire more jailors.”

In late June, commissioners voted to unfreeze eight positions at the jail to prepare for the influx of new inmates.

BY GLYNIS CRAWFORD SMITH

THE HIGHLANDER

The Campus Carry Law (Texas Senate Bill 11) went into effect Monday, Aug. 1, and colleges and universities across the state posted the new advisory allowing concealed handguns on campus, including the Texas Tech University (TTU) and Central Texas College (CTC) campus in Marble Falls.

By coincidence, that day fell on the 50th anniversary of the 1966 University of Texas (UT) Main Building Tower shootings. What is widely considered the nation's introduction to mass murder, or campus shootings at the least, was witnessed in part by Marble Falls High School graduates, attending summer classes or orientation on campus. And, the city like others across the nation were riveted to the reports from KTBC by the young Neal Spelce and Gordon Smith and mourned with news director Paul Bolton when his grandson's name was found among the 13 who died after Charles Whitman found is mark in 43 people shot on the campus mall.

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH

HIGHLAND LAKES NEWSPAPERS

BY GLYNIS CRAWFORD SMITH
THE HIGHLANDER

A Kingsland man was killed in an accident July 27 on US 281 near Blanco when his SUV collided with an 18-wheeler and a pickup last week, according to published reports.

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officials said Clifton Vancura, 50, was driving a SUV northbound on US 281 north of Blanco at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27, when he sideswiped a semi-truck heading south after Vancura's vehicle drifted over the center line.

Vancura's then struck a pickup truck also heading south near the intersection of Brushy Top Trail, about four miles north of Blanco. The drivers of the other two vehicles were treated at the scene and released.

DPS troopers are investigating why Vancura went into the other lane. Alcohol does not appear to have been a factor in the crash, according to reports.

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH
HIGHLAND LAKES NEWSPAPERS

Casting Works LA is conducting an open casting call Saturday, Aug. 6, for extras for the new web-series, “Freedom on Trial,” to be filmed in Llano.
Extras are needed for the courtroom trial audience scenes and protestors for scenes outside of the courthouse.
The filming will take place Aug. 8-12 and the open casting call will be held on Saturday at the LanTex Theater, 113 West Main Street in Llano from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
The casting call will consist of a brief talk and photo with a member of the casting or production team. All participants should bring a non-returnable photo.
Interested parties may email castingcwla@gmail.com, though no appointment is necessary. Those unable to attend the open call but would like to be considered can email a picture, phone number, and available dates between Aug. 8-12.
No experience is necessary and all looks and body types are encouraged.

BY GLYNIS CRAWFORD SMITH
THE HIGHLANDER
Citizens may want to make a special effort to attend the meeting of the Cottonwood Shores City Council meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4.
The council will be honoring the 2016 Cottonwood Shores Outstanding Citizen, Carlos Naumann.
Naumann was chosen from among four nominees at the July 21 council meeting.
“This 80-year-old- citizen and longtime resident tirelessly monitors the streets from trash to keep Cottonwood Shores clean,” read Naumann's nomination from Debbie Holloway.
“Mr. Naumann was not at the meeting when he was selected,” said City Administrator Sheila C. Moore.  “We hope he will be with us Thursday to be recognized.”
Also submitted as outstanding in the city were Sylvia Breen, John Marr and Rex Holloway.