Burnet news

Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Radio traffic in Burnet County will sound more active than normal Wednesday, Feb. 5, as first responders take part in an all-day regional emergency exercise.

First responders will gather from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Texas AgriLife Extension Office, 607 N. Vandeveer, Burnet, for the Firestarter 2020 exercise, which is being sponsored by the Capital Area Council of Government (CAPCOG) and Burnet County Emergency Management, where they will take part in scenarios designed to test their emergency response capabilities. …

From staff reports

A test rocket engine fire at the Firefly Aeronautics facility in Briggs resulted in temporary evacuations and closure Jan. 22 of a stretch of a state highway and several Burnet County roads, officials reported.

Initially, Burnet County Sheriff's Office reported just before 6:30 a.m. a “possible explosion” had occurred at the facility. The report led to an evacuation of residents and businesses within one mile radius of the site and shutdown of U.S. 183. Roads were re-opened about three hours later. …

Elizabeth Johnston/Special to The Highlander

Mary Jane Avery/Special to The Highlander

Republicans are busy planning two upcoming events. Organizers along with the Burnet Chamber of Commerce and Burnet Bulletin will be hosting the 2020 Candidate Forum on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. at the Agrilife Extension at 607 N. Vandeveer in Burnet. They are also completing details for their Chili Cook-Off, Pie Bake-Off and Scholarship Auction to be held at the Burnet Fairgrounds on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Pictured, during a recent planning session, are: Karyn Mason, Londa Chandler, Gail Teegarden, Kara Chasteen, Kay Stripling and Darlene Hargett.

Connie Swinney/The Highlander

A global fast-food icon's Marble Falls location will temporarily close its doors in January to make way for a new building at the same location. The last day of business at McDonald's, 1605 RR 1431, is Jan. 26. Demolition is scheduled to begin Jan. 30. “That's when the bulldozers show up,” said Teresita Arnold, area supervisor over the Marble Falls and Burnet eateries. “It will be new, bigger and more parking.” The new building is expected to be completed in 100 days.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Hundreds of peace officers and emergency personnel from around the state descended on Marble Falls two days before Christmas to honor a Burnet PD K9 handler who died after suffering an apparent heart attack, just a week short of his year anniversary with the agency.

A funeral mass for Burnet PD K9 Officer Jose Humberto Meza was conducted at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church Dec. 23, followed by a procession to Post Mountain Cemetery where graveside services were conducted with full law enforcement honors. …

Contributed/BCSO
Members of a new Burnet County Crisis Negotiation Team are comprised of officers from both Burnet County Sheriff's Office and Marble Falls Police Chief that will be available to respond to assist any agency in Burnet County.

Find the rest of this story in the Tuesday, Nov. 26 issue of The Highlander, the newspaper of record for the Highland Lakes. To offer a comment or news tip, email lew@highlandernews.com. To subscribe to the newspaper, call 830-693-4367 or click here to subscribe to our e-Edition online.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

The public will have one final chance to give input on the Public Use Plan for the old Highland Lakes Golf Club course at Inks Lake State Park during a 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, public hearing at the Burnet Community Center.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

A grassroots non-profit organization has labeled the elections websites for Burnet and Llano counties “not secure” in its latest survey of Texas county websites.

Special to the Highlander

Highland Lakes Publishing welcomed Jeff Shabram to their family of media publications in November as the new publisher and editor of The Highlander and Burnet Bulletin as well as a growing number of print publications and digital platforms.

Prior to settling in the Highland Lakes, Shabram was the publisher of the Hearst-owned Midland Reporter-Telegram and oversaw Hearst's west Texas media publications as president and group publisher from 2015 to present. Shabram took over the reins for the Highlander and Bulletin staff on Nov. 4.