Burnet

By Richard Zowie

The Highlander

Perhaps it’s not so unusual at Fort Croghan to see people dressed in mid-19^th century attire, even in the sweltering Texas summer heat.

It might be unusual, though, to see people in such anachronistic attire while standing next to modern-day cameras, boom mikes, lights and other filmmaking equipment.

Led by actor and filmmaker Chase Parker, a crew of actors, actresses and those who work behind the camera spent the second week in July in Burnet to film scenes for an upcoming western film, “American Fishtrap.”

Parker said the film takes place the day after the Civil War ends, when two brothers-in-law return home to learn that their wife and sister-in-law has been kidnapped.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

The former general manager at Cecil Atkission Motors in Burnet has been arrested and indicted for theft of money from his former employer that was earmarked to pay for a direct credit mailer.

Kirk Edmond Hagen of Bertram, 39, currently a licensed Realtor with RE/MAX Burnet, was arrested by Kerrville Police Department on a warrant from Burnet County on Friday, Jan. 20, and was released on $7,500 surety bond. He was charged with theft of property greated than $1,500 but less than $20,000, a state jail felony under Section 31.03(e)(4)(A) of the Texas Penal Code.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Working in conjunction with other local agencies, Burnet County Sheriff's deputies in the Special Operations Unit have arrested 17 individuals in Burnet and Llano counties as part of a month-long undercover investigation targeting methamphetamine dealers in the two counties that culminated in a raid Thursday at multiple locations.

Burnet County Sheriff Calvin Boyd said a total of 31 warrants were obtained on the 17 individuals arresed, charging each with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in penalty group 1, more than one gram but less than four grams.

Each charge is a second-degree felony under Texas Penal Code, Chapter 481.112(c), punishable by a prison sentence of two to 20 years and a $10,000 fine.

“This represents a significant impact on the local methamphetamine supply network,” Boyd said.

UPDATE: A correction was made to the date of the alleged assault based on information given to a Highland Lakes Newspaper reporter by the family of the victim. Readers are asked to keep in mind that what is presented here is not all of the information. See Friday's The Highlander for more details on the case. 

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH

A 21-year-old Horseshoe Bay man was arrested on charge of sexual assault of a child after he allegedly raped a teenage girl by coercion.

Nicholas Bryant Foster was arrested on Nov. 11 on the second-degree felony charge after a teenage girl under 17 years of age made an outcry to her mother, naming Foster as the offender.

According to an arrest affidavit released by the Burnet County Sheriff's Office, deputies were contacted by the victim's mother about the sexual assault of her daughter on Oct. 23. Family of the victim clarified Monday that the assault occurred in the early morning hours of Oct. 22.

by Alexandria Randolph

Highland Lakes Newspapers

Another district judge was 'hung' in the courthouse hall this week before a score of onlookers.

The portrait of former district judge Guilford Jones was hung in the hall at the Burnet Courthouse Annex on Wednesday following a ceremony honoring the local figure.

Guilford, or 'Gil' Jones, as many refer to him, practiced law for 60 years, including service as a lawyer, 16 years as District Judge for the 33^rd District Court, and most recently a legal mediator and arbitrator. He retired from the position as district judge in December 2012.

“When he made his ruling, he made his ruling on the law,” said presiding 33^rd District Judge Allan Garrett of Jones. “You knew you'd get a fair shake every time.”

by Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

Highland Lakes Newspapers

Very few people have not heard of the theory of six degrees of separation — the theory that everyone and everything in the world are connected by six or fewer steps from any other person or thing in the world.

This theory was originally introduced by a Hungarian author, Frigyes Karinthy, in a 1929 short story, “Chains” (Lánczemek) and is used to demonstrate how the world, though incredibly large, can be a small place through our interconnectedness.

by Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

Highland Lakes Newspapers

This year has been a tough one for entertainers. We have lost some great names in the arts, including Prince, David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Glenn Frey, Patty Duke, Maurice White, Harper Lee, Pat Conroy, Merle Haggard and Muhammed Ali.

This week, we added another name to the list of greats we have lost — our very own columnist, former Texas Press Association president and Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame honoree Willis Newman Webb.

Willis passed away at his residence in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Monday, July 18, at the age of 79. Below this column is the first of the last two columns Willis wrote for us. The other will appear in next week's Highlander.

by Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

Highland Lakes Newspapers

For the past few months, my fellow cast and crew at the Hill Country Community Theatre have been recreating the fictionalized story of sharpshooters Annie Oakley and Frank Butler on stage in the Irving Berlin muscial “Annie Get Your Gun.”

The production features some of the most recognizable music in the history of American theater, including the anthemic “There's No Business Like Show Business” and the rousing “Anything You Can Do.”

As of today, July 29, we have three more productions of this show — at 7:30 p.m. tonight and tomorrow, July 30, and at 2:15 p.m. Sunday, July 31 — before we say goodbye to Col. Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show and strike the set.

Area of Concern:

All of South Central Texas for flash flooding and subsequent river flooding, with a slight risk for severe storms and isolated tornadoes primarily in the Coastal Plains. See attached graphics.

Threats & Impacts:

Tornadoes:  A few tornadoes in the Coastal Plains possible, low risk elsewhere

Winds:  Up to 60 mph

Area of Concern:

All of south-central Texas, especially the Hill Country and I-35 corridor. 

Threats & Impacts:

Tornadoes:  Low threat for tornadoes.

Winds:  Wind gusts to 60 MPH.  

Hail: Up to 2 inches in diameter.

Rainfall: Localized amounts near 2 inches.