Burnet County

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

Burnet Bulletin

Burnet County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday, Nov. 27, on a plan to share with affected municipalities portions of a $100,000 donation from the Lower Colorado River Authority for cleanup from the October flood.

The plan approved by commissioners honors LCRA's request that at least 70 percent of the money be used for waterway cleanup. The remaining 30 percent will be used to pay for household hazardous waste removal ($20,000), refrigerant removal ($3,000) and monitoring ($7,000) at the county's Phillips Ranch road debris site, the latter a requirement of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

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

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.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has asked President Donald Trump to approve a presidential disaster declaration for Burnet and Llano counties in the wake of flooding and severe weather which devastated the Highland Lakes last month.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Early voting in Burnet and Llano counties has begun for the Thursday, Nov. 6, general election and will continue through Friday, Nov. 2.

Special to The Highlander and Burnet Bulletin

In the aftermath of Highland Lakes flood event, emergency management officials have compiled a list of general help information for the public.

Those seeking assistance with the cleanup and other cleanup resources and wanting to donate or volunteer:

• Marble Falls First Baptist Church, 901 La Ventana, 78654 830-693-4381.

Go to https://fbcmf.org/flood/ for more information.

• First United Methodist Church, 1101 Bluebonnet Dr. in Marble Falls, 830-265-0761.

• Granite Shoals First Baptist Church, 505 S Phillips Ranch Road, 512-755-5217.

• The Church at Horseshoe Bay, 600 Hi Ridge Rd., 214-636-8373.

Collection points for water/sports drinks:

• Lakeshores Church parking lot, 700 US 281 in Marble Falls, 617-291-8310.

• Granite Shoals Fire Hall, 8410 W. FM 1431, 830-596-8110.

A body found near Circle Drive near Kingsland on Lake LBJ during Tuesday's flooding has been identified as a woman who went missing in Llano River flooding in Junction nearly three weeks ago.

The Travis County Medical Examiner has identifed the body as being that of Charlotte Moye, according to the Burnet County Sheriff's Department, which issued a press release Saturday, Oct. 20.

Sheriff's deputies responded to a call to the Lake LBJ waterfront in the 700 block of Circle Drive at 11:58 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16. The complainant believed he had located a body that had washed ashore during flooding on Lake LBJ.

Patrol deputies arrived and called investigators to the scene. The victim was pronounced deceased by Burnet County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Roxanne Nelson and an autopsy was ordered. The body was sent to the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office for identification and an autopsy.

Editor's Note: As of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16 the Marble Falls Middle School shelter has reached capacity. Marble Falls First Baptist Church, 901 La Ventana Dr., has been established as a new shelter location.

Compiled by Savanna Gregg •
Staff Writer •

As flood waters continue to plague areas of Burnet and Llano counties Oct. 16, residents – and their pets – were evacuated from their homes to area shelters.

Flood waters in the Llano River ushered in by thunderstorms in a 24-hour period have wreaked havoc in the Highland Lakes.

Area emergency first responders have assisted residents in communities including Meadowlakes and Marble Falls as well as Llano and Kingsland in getting to higher ground.

For those who do not have alternative accommodations, officials have established temporary shelters until the flood waters subside.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Utopiafest organizers announced on their website Wednesday, Oct. 3, they are moving the festival to Reveille Peak Ranch on County Road 114.

Burnet County Sheriff Calvin Boyd confirmed the move Wednesday and said he believes “this is a much better location for this type of event” than a private ranch on Shady Grove Road (County Road 200).

“I think this was something they had planned on doing after the public hearing and it was actually the first site they originally picked,” Boyd said. “I think they have a much better chance of getting a (mass gathering) permit with this new location. Reveille Peak is set up for events like this and getting out there is much safer, so I feel better about it.”

Editor's Note: Bertram Police Chief JJ Wilson offered comments in response to the indictments against him in the Friday, Oct. 5 issue of The Highlander. In that same issue, 33rd/424th Judicial District Attorney Wiley ("Sonny") McAfee also offered a statement from the DA's office.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

The 424th Judicial District Grand Jury indicted Bertram Police Chief James Jay (“JJ”) Wilson Oct. 2 on charges of felony aggravated perjury, felony misuse of official information and misdemeanor official oppression, court documents stated.

The charges stemmed from three incident allegations in Burnet County in connection with a dispute over hay ownership, the release of criminal background information and a sworn statement in a drug-related arrest, according to the grand jury indictments.