News

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

The famed Bluebonnet Belle C47 Skytrain, which assisted in Hurricane Harvey relief efforts and was an integral part of the Highland Lakes Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force, crashed Saturday morning at Burnet Municipal Airport's Kate Craddock Field in Burnet while attempting to take off for an air show in Wisconsin.

Fourteen people were aboard the Belle, headed for the annual Oshkosh Air Show when the plane left the runway shortly after 9 a.m. Saturday and crashed before catching fire and eventually exploding. Miraculously, all 14 people aboard the craft survived the crash and made it out of the plane before the explosion.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Johnny Campbell, executive director of the Marble Falls Area Emergency Service (MFAEMS) presented a contract proposal to the Granite Shoals City Council during a regular meeting Tuesday, July 10.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

When the Granite Shoals City Council last Tuesday night, July 10, it was with options on the table for work, scheduled to begin July 21, on the road bond project.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Continued closures of Burnet County highways and roads due to railway activity the past several days has left Burnet County officials feeling “sidetracked.”

It has even prompted Burnet County Judge James Oakley to ask Austin Western Railroad officials for a sitdown at the next Commissioners Court meeting on Tuesday, July 24, to see what can be done to get the two sides back on the right track.

Meanwhile, Austin Western Railroad officials on Thursday apologized for the delays motorists and first responders experienced and explained what caused them.

By Phil Reynolds

The Highlander

Cottonwood Shores city council members agreed Thursday to let the city’s parks department expand open days for the splash pad by two additional days. The catch is that any additional water use has to be paid for out of the parks and recreation budget.

By Phil Reynolds

The Highlander

A standing-room-only crowd of more than 50 filled the justice of the peace courtroom at the Llano County Law Enforcement Center Monday, cheering as county commissioners narrowly approved a resolution opposing a rock crushing plant on Sandy Creek.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

A 2009 case in which a Burnet County woman allegedly influenced her son to shoot her romantic rival was re-enacted on the Investigation Discovery channel Saturday night.

Marble Falls High School has won its share of acting acclaim under the direction of theatre director Jon Clark, but last month, Troupe 3701 reached new heights at the International Thespian Festival (ITF), held in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Seven MFHS students earned superior ratings at the national level and the duo of Charles McLean and David Cowan became the first team from Marble Falls High School to be called back for a main stage showcase at ITF, held at the University of Nebraska June 25-30.

The body of a 38-year-old white male from Austin was recovered Wednesday, July 4, from the Llano River arm of Lake LBJ in Kingsland after the man apparently drowned trying to swim across the lake.

Llano County Sheriff's Chief Deputy John Neff said his department received a 911 call about a missing swimmer at 2:55 a.m. Wednesday. Deputies responded to the scene and requested assistance from Texas Parks & Wildlife game wardens.