County Judge James Oakley

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Burnet County Judge James Oakley on Wednesday, March 18, declared a state of disaster for Burnet County due to a public health emergency in an effort to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The order activates the county's emergency management plan for the next seven days unless the state of disaster is continued by the Burnet County Commissioners Court, who were to meet Thursday, March 18.

Included with the declaration were a set of recommendations by the Burnet County Health Authority and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the county was advising the public to follow:

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

A Pedernales Electric Cooperative complaint committee has stopped short of calling for the removal of Burnet County Judge James Oakley from the Board of Directors entirely but has recommended his removal as Vice President of the cooperative's board.

The recommendation of the Complaint Committee will be discussed and action taken during Tuesday's regular Board of Directors meeting at the cooperative's headquarters in Johnson City.

The board will also consider a resolution by Oakley to rescind the bylaws for removal and discipline of a PEC director from bylaw amendments that were put in place just one week before Oakley made a post on Facebook which brought national media spotlight to the PEC and cast Oakley in an unfavorable light.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Residents from all over Burnet County gathered at the First Baptist Church of Marble Falls tonight, Thursday, May 5, to observe the National Day of Prayer.

It was a night to especially honor veterans U.S. Rep. Roger Williams said he was proud to say Fort Hood was part of his 25th Congressional District and members of each branch of the military stood in recognition of their songs performed by the Hill Country Community Band. The Community Choir led attendees from at least 10 county churches in song.

County Judge James Oakley welcomed the gathering and prayers and heartfelt words were offered by religious leaders Tucker Edwards of MFFBC, Gene Glaeser of Lake Shores Church, the Revs. Doug Lindley of Burnet FBC,  John Berkman of Hill Country Fellowship, Kyule Byrd of Church at the Epicenter, George Perry of St. Frederick Baptist and Ellen Hibler of First United Methodist Church of Marble Falls.