Burnet Texas news

Amy Prayer

Highland Lake Newspapers

John Ballard, 48, of Burnet along with his female pit bull escaped his mobile home that caught fire Saturday, Feb. 25.

Burnet Fire Department (BFD) was alerted of the fire at 5:20 p.m., located at 101 Valley Drive in Burnet. When they arrived six minutes later Ballard's home was completely engulfed in flames and was a total loss.

“It only took three to four minutes for my house to burn from end to end,” said Ballard.

Although the fire was not out of control BFD called for assistance with water from Bertram and Cassie Volunteer Fire Departments who arrived with tankers.

With the help of 13-20 firefighters on scene firefighters were able to have the fire composed by 6:02 p.m.

During his investigation, Fire Marshal John Paul Erskine was able to find the source of the fire.

A jury trial has been set for a Burnet County man charged with four counts of indecency with a child through sexual contact after a case status hearing was held Friday, Jan. 27.

A trial date of March 20 has been set for Travis Dean Wimberly, 23, Burnet, who was indicted in February 2016. He will be tried by 424th District Judge Evan Stubbs.

Wimberly is accused of indecency with a child by having sexual contact with a minor, a second-degree felony, on two separate occasions — once on Dec. 28, 2015, and three times on Jan. 2, 2016. He is also charged with indecency with a child through exposure, which is a third-degree felony, from another incident on Jan. 2, 2016.

He remains in the Burnet County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bond, or $10,000 on each of the five counts against him.

Representatives for District Attorney Wiley “Sonny” McAfee declined to comment on the pending trial last week.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program will begin its season helping with Income Tax returns tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 2.

Free preparation and electronic filing will be offered in Marble Falls at the Boys & Girls Club, 1701 Broadway Street, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb. 2-April 13. The exception will be March 14 and 16.

In Burnet, assistance will be offered 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Mondays, Feb. 6-April 10 at the Hill Country Community Foundation Building, 402 East Jackson Street. The one exception will be Feb. 27 when the service will be open at the Herman Brown Free Library, 100 East Washington Street.

The local program was developed to provide free tax preparation to help anyone over 50 who could no afford help with their Income Tax Return. In practice, the program is open to all ages and backgrounds who need assistance.

Burnet resident Bill Piotrowski is looking for a few good men and women who have previously served their country in the armed forces.

Piotrowski is the sole remaining officer for the Burnet Veterans of Foreign Wars Highland Lakes Post 6974 on US 281 in Burnet. He said he has been given until Feb. 7 to find seven people not only willing to join Burnet VFW as new members, but to take on officer positions within the organization, or the post will be forced to close for good.

“We owe it to our community, local veterans, friends, and fellow citizens to help keep this post open,” Piotrowski said. “On Feb. 7, 2017, a vote will decide the fate of VFW Post 6974. This vote could be the final chapter of a story that is over 50 years old, but we still have a chance to right this wrong. If we can find veterans who have served their country honorably in an overseas conflict, we can change this outcome.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Tips from Hill Country Crime Stoppers led to the arrest of three boys in Burnet for break-ins Jan. 9 and Jan. 21 that caused at least $10,000 in damage, repair and stolen property at the old Burnet Elementary School campus where Quest High School and new Texas AgriLife Extension facilities are located and at the Burnet High School.

Burnet police were able to catch up with the three suspects on Tuesday morning, Jan. 24, after Crime Stopper Tips started coming in,” said Burnet Police Chief Paul Nelson, who said his department gathered evidence and located all of the stolen property that was taken during the burglaries.

“All three juveniles will be charged with Burglary of a Building and Criminal Mischief,” said Nelson. “They were taken to juvenile detention yesterday afternoon (Jan. 24) where they are under the supervision of juvenile probation. A 33rd Judicial District judge will decide where they go next.”

Blaming the victim and methamphetamine addiction did not sway a Burnet County jury that returned a guilty verdict in the trial of Jesus Jose “Joey” Lacer on Jan. 11 in the court of 33rd District Judge Allan Garrett.

It was a case that District Attorney Sonny McAfee held up as a triumph in the recovery of the victim.

Lacer was convicted of Assault Family Violence by Impeding Breath (choking) and Sexual Assault and assessed a 10-years prison sentence for the choking case, the maximum prison term, and 12 years for the sexual assault. The maximum potential sentence for sexual assault is 20 years.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Salvation Army is alive and well in Burnet County, evidenced Wednesday, Jan. 11, by the delivery of $26,000 collected by bell ringers in Marble Falls and Burnet.

The idea of ringing bells before kettles to collect money for the disadvantaged at Christmastime began in 1891 in England. Today, you may pass by volunteers at Walmart in Marble Falls and Beall's in Burnet without realizing what represent, but Brooks Blake knows.

“Everyone is so good, so generous, teaching their kids to give,” said Blake. “So many people stop and say how they have been helped. It is heartwarming.”

For some time now, volunteers come from the county's three Rotary Clubs—those that meet at noon in Marble Falls and Burnet and Daybreak Rotary in Marble Falls.

Marble Falls and Burnet again will be sites for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22.

The free no-questions-asked service allows the public to dispose of unused, unwanted prescription medications.

In cooperation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) events are being carried out at 4,700 collection sites nationwide, operated by 3,800 local law enforcement agencies and other community partners.

“America is presently experiencing an epidemic of addiction, overdose and death due to abuse of prescription drugs, particularly opioid painkillers,” reads the DEA announcement of the event. “(More than six million) Americans age 12 and over—2.4 percent of the population—abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health released last month, more than abuse cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine combined.

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH

HIGHLAND LAKES NEWSPAPERS

The 2016 Miss Bluebonnet was safe Thursday, Sept. 8, during an active shooter threat at Sul Ross State University Alpine Campus.

Sierra Armentrout reported to family and friends on social media that she was off campus during an active shooter threat.

“We were rushed off campus to go elsewhere,” Armentrout reported, adding that there is “SWAT everywhere and law enforcement on every corner.”

Sul Ross State University reported an active shooter threat Thursday morning, and campus-wide lockdown was in place on the Alpine Campus as of 10:30 a.m.

“Earlier today a shooting incident was reported at Alpine High School. The high school facilities are currently in lockdown mode and law enforcement officials are on the scene,” Sul Ross State officials reported.

Armentrout, ov Burnet High School Class of 2016 and BHS cheerleader of the year, currently attends the college.

By Christi Bertelson

Highland Lakes Newspapers

Brother Doug Fowler and wife Barbara were heavy hearted when they learned that some children in Burnet County were going to endure winter of 2009 with no jackets or warm clothing.

“When they found out, Doug asked the church (New Life Church), family and friends to donate what they could to help these children,” said Jenny Parker, a volunteer for the Ministry.

After donating, Doug knew there was a sense of importance that they needed to continue to help the community in any way they could.

‘Martha’s Clothing Ministry’ came to life with just a few things the church, family and friends could gather.

“The Ministry started with just a few tables made from saw horses, little stacks of clothes and one table of jackets,” said Parker.

Doug named the Clothing Ministry after ‘Martha of Bethany’ from the Bible, who was known for her concern for others.