Burnet County

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

A project to restore the static airplane display at Burnet Municipal Airport got a big boost Tuesday, March 27, when the Burnet County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to fund $40,000 of the project through unclaimed Pedernales Electric Cooperative capital credits.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Pedernales Electric Cooperative continues to grow by leaps and bounds as the nation's largest electric cooperative added 15,000 new meters last year and is expected to add at least that many in 2019 as well, CEO Julie Parsley said last week.

By Phil Reynolds
Contributing Writer

With the approval of what may be a unique city agency Thursday, Cottonwood Shores city council members took another step toward what some city officials believe to be a path to development.

From staff reports

On Monday, Feb. 25, President Donald Trump granted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's request for a presidential disaster declaration for 33 Texas counties, including Burnet and Llano counties.

This action provides access to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation grant programs for impacted communities that are recovering and rebuilding following severe weather and flooding this past fall, especially the Oct. 16 Highland Lakes flood.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Cathy Sereno made history Tuesday, Feb. 12, becoming the first mayor of the newly incorporated City of Double Horn in final but unofficial election results.

Sereno received 85 votes to top a field of nine candidates who ran in a special election held at the Spicewood Community Center to choose a mayor and five aldermen for the city. As the top votegetter, she is automatically elected mayor.

Special to The Highlander
The Marble Falls Rotary Club, along with generous donations from additional Rotary clubs, recently awarded $17,427 to the Burnet County Flood Victim Relief Fund to assist with long-term relief efforts created in response to the October 2018 flooding in Burnet and Llano counties.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Burnet County has a new county auditor and purchasing agent after 33rd District Judge Allan Garrett and 424th District Judge Evan Stubbs appointed Karin A. Smith to the position, effective Feb. 4.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Burnet County commissioners will hold a public hearing at 5:05 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, about applying for a $350,000 Community Development Block Grant for removal of October 2018 flood debris.

Commissioners voted Tuesday, Jan. 15, to contract with Langford Community Management Services, a Leander-based firm, to administer and provide project-related management services for the county's grant application. Langford has provided grant administration services to a number of local entities, including several block grants for the City of Marble Falls.

The Jan. 22 public hearing will allow citizens the opportunity to discuss all aspects of the Texas Community Development Block Grant program, which is part of the Texas Department of Agriculture. Discussion topics include citizen participation, past CDBG fund use, eligible CDBG activities and amount of funding available.

By Richard Zowie
Staff Writer

Embattled former City of Bertram police chief J.J. Wilson has agreed to reimburse the city for a $1,000 deductible to acquire a new police cruiser that he's been charged with crashing in October.

“Hey, I've got a rifle I want you to advertise!” the caller said.

“A rifle?” I asked.

“No, not a rifle. A rifle. For a Gator” he said.

“You have a rifle made for an alligator?” I asked, not sure I heard correctly.

“No, there is no rifle. It's a rifle. You know, where you sell tickets and the person with the winning ticket gets a prize?”

“Oh, a raffle!” I said. “I misunderstood you.”

“That's what I've been saying. A rifle. For a Gator.”

“You're giving away an alligator?”

“No, a Gator. You know, a Mule?”

“Well which is it, an alligator or a mule? Those are two very different animals, plus I'm not sure you can sell tickets to give away an alligator in the state of Texas.”

“It's not an animal. It's a fur-wheeler.”

“A fur-wheeler? But, alligators and mules don't have fur! Wheels don't either!”

“No, dummy, not fur like animal fur. I mean the number “fur!”