News

Special to The Highlander

The refill of Lake Marble Falls is scheduled to begin on March 18 and conclude by the end of the day on March 21.

LCRA temporarily lowered lakes LBJ and Marble Falls in December to assist lakeside property owners in recovering from recent historic flooding along the Colorado and Llano rivers. The drawdown made it easier for residents to remove debris, dredge and maintain or repair docks, retaining walls and other infrastructure.

Unforeseen circumstances such as floods or extended power emergencies could prompt LCRA to change or cancel the drawdowns. Equipment and tools should not be left in the lake unattended and should be removed from the lakebed when not in use.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

A watchdog group announced a victory in oversight of the Lower Colorado River Authority which can result in improvement recommendations or event potential abolition of water authorities, if they entity demonstrates either wasteful spending or propagates duplicate or unnecessary programs.

Special to The Highlander

A Burnet County jury acquitted an Alabama man of two counts of indecency with a child on Tuesday, March 5, in the 33^rd District Court.

Jonathan Gulley had been accused of engaging in sexual contact with a minor with offenses that were alleged to have occurred in September and November 2014.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

An effort to restore Sandy Creek has taken root in Llano County.

About 25 landowners, conservationists and other volunteers attended the Sandy Creek Riparian Restoration Field Day March 2 on private property (County Road 316) adjacent to Sandy Creek to assess land and put so-called revegetation efforts into practice.

“People like myself and other professionals, we really didn't think about rivers. They were just part of the landscape,” said Steve Nelle, a Natural Resource Conservation Service retiree. “We didn't know anything about how to manage them or take care of them.”

Sponsored by Hill Country Alliance, the Bender family welcomed the volunteers to their property to tour the creek shoreline, plant black willow cuttings and sedges as well as broadcast native seed and transplant muhly grasses.

Connie Swinney/The Highlander
Two men, who were on their way to Llano, survived an emergency landing into an empty lot in Granite Shoals. The incident happened about 1:15 Wednesday, March 6 at the intersection of Hilldale and Baker Street, a few blocks from the community's air strip. Police reported the Granite Shoals men in the single-engine aircraft said shortly after take off they heard what seemed to be engine problems. The refused treatment at the scene. Other than the aircraft, there was no damage to nearby property. The FAA will conduct an investigation.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Two hospitals with connections to Burnet and Llano counties are among the 24 hospitals statewide to have earned the highest quality of care rating possible from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

The mountain of 2018 flood debris that has been sitting for four months at a Granite Shoals lot should be gone before spring arrives.

From staff Reports

The Texas Department of Transportation will host an open house on improvements to Ranch to Market Road 1431 from Ranch to Market Road 1174 to Bar K Ranch Road this Tuesday, March 5, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Lago Vista Middle School Cafeteria, 8039 Bar K Ranch Road, Lago Vista.

The purpose of the open house is to gather public input on the proposed improvements in Burnet and Travis counties. The public is invited to come and go at their convenience and staff will be available to answer questions.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

In its first fiscal year of operation, the Burnet County Sheriff's Office commercial traffic unit has helped clear the way for safer roadways.

By Nathan Hendrix
Sports Editor

Briley Sralla is setting her sights on success after becoming the youngest female shooter to qualify for the 2019 National Junior Olympic Shooting Championships earlier this month.

At just 11 years old, Briley of Round Mountain, was selected to participate in the NJOSC in Colorado Springs after her performance at the qualifying event in Fort Worth. Invitations were sent to 607 athletes representing 48 states.

Briley has been using firearms for as long as she can remember, although he just recently started competition.

“When she was five, she asked Santa for a pink .22,” Krissy Sralla, Briley's mother, said. “We knew then she was going to be a shooter.”