News

From staff reports

Debris and unsafe conditions prompted the Lower Colorado River Authority today to extend the closure of Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls for week to 10 days following an assessement of post-flood waterway conditions.

Lake Marble Falls will remain closed until at least Monday, Nov. 12, and Lake LBJ will remain closed until at least Friday, Nov. 16, an LCRA press release stated.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Marble Falls ISD voters overwhelmingly approved a $55 million bond issue Tuesday night in final but unofficial returns.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Llano County officially elected a new county judge in final but unofficial results during Tuesday's general election as a slate of unopposed Republican candidates filled the ballot.

From Staff Reports

Due to motorist complaints, Texas Department of Transportation halted contractor work Nov. 5 on sidewalk improvements from the north end of the U.S. 281 Bridge to Broadway Avenue in Marble Falls.

The work began on Friday, Nov. 2 but was halted that day due to several issues including a vehicle rollover near the south city limits on U.S. 281, traffic congestion possibly connected to weekend travel, a music festival and opening weekend of the rifle season.

As crews started work again in the right-of-way along businesses just north of the bridge, one of the bridge lanes was reduced to a single lane causing backed up traffic as far as the south side of the bridge. TXDOT honored another city request to suspend the construction.

The city of Marble Falls has requested TXDOT consider dispatching night-time crews to do the right-of-way construction work to avoid day-time traffic congestion.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Burnet County Commissioners voted unanimously Monday, Nov. 5, during a special called meeting to accept a $100,000 contribution from the Lower Colorado River Authority to help defray flood debris cleanup costs of public waterways.

Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

The city of Meadowlakes must uphold the terms of a 99-year contract with the community's Property Owners Association after a judge ruled in favor of the POA's continued lease of city property for an RV and boat storage facility.

The Meadowlakes City Council requested that city staff pursue breaking the lease of the 90-unit facility on nearly two-acres within the city limits.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) officials conducted a press conference in Austin Oct. 26, revealing the bridge could be completed as early as April 2019.

Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Plans take shape to replace the collapsed RR 2900 Bridge in Kingsland, as Texas Department of Transportation coordinate engineering meetings, draft designs and seek an emergency contract to potentially begin the process in December, officials say.

On Oct. 16, flood waters from Junction swept into the Llano River eventually slamming into the Highland Lakes at the mouth of Lake LBJ, washing away the structure.

By Phil Reynolds

The Highlander

Llano County will draw on the experience of other counties when it asks for federal disaster relief funds.

County commissioners approved a resolution declaring a disaster in an emergency meeting Thursday, Oct. 25, following flash floods that indundated neighborhoods and carried away a highway bridge.

The All-City Worship and Family Fun Fest will go on as scheduled beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday at Veterans Park in Granite Shoals.

The Fun Fest, including a free lunch for any who want to attend, will follow the worship service.

The event is organized by the Granite Shoals Faith Alliance and supported by the city’s first responders.

“Activities may be somewhat abbreviated this year due to flooding in the city, but it will be a good chance for neighbors to get together and celebrate,” said the Rev. Jackie English.

“We had between 120 and 150 homes flooded in this disaster,” said the Rev. Randy Taylor. “The important thing is that there was no loss of life. We can celebrate that together.”

The park is located almost at the end of South Phillips Ranch Road at the intersection with Willow Street.

Savanna Gregg

Staff Writer

The Highlander

At an emergency City Council meeting called Thursday, Oct. 25, Bertram City Council members unanimously voted to place embattled Police Chief James Jay (“JJ”) Wilson on unpaid administrative suspension following his arrest for suspected driving while intoxicated after crashing and leaving his patrol unit along the 5000 Block of Ranch-to-Market 1431 outside Marble Falls on Wednesday, Oct. 24.

The Texas Department of Public Safety responded to the scene of the crash 8:30 p.m., and eventually arrested Wilson at Scott and White Hospital in Marble Falls, to which he had gotten a ride.

This incident occurred not a month after a 424^th Judicial District Grand Jury indicted Wilson on charges of felony aggravated perjury, felony misuse of official information, and misdemeanor official oppression, according to court documents.