illegal dumping

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

When Burnet County Sheriff's Office Deputy Jason Jewett arrives on the site of a public nuisance and illegal dumping case, he continues to be shocked at the level of potential violations involved.

“Somebody was living there,” he said of an abandoned RV surrounded by strewn garbage on Corner Street. “If you drive down the street, it's scary.” …

Connie Swinney
Staff Writer •
Law enforcement officials say illegal dumping cases are piling up in Burnet County.

During the week of Aug. 27, law enforcement reported one state jail felony arrest for illegal dumping on a property just outside Granite Shoals and unveiled two other large-scale dumping indictments – all while crews were in the midst of an un-related cleanup of several barrels illegally dumped behind a church in Joppa.

By Connie Swinney
The Highlander •

Burnet County officials are awaiting tests results of a “dried resin” found in several 55-gallon barrels illegally dumped into a waterway Aug. 5 behind an historic church outside Bertram.

In the meantime, investigators want the public's help finding possible suspects, as they start the cleanup process behind the historic Joppa Church, 8425 County Road 210, and the San Gabriel River behind the building.

The Burnet County Sheriff's Office report stated that a church official discovered at least eight 55-gallon barrels that Sunday at the bottom of an embankment, floating in the river.

“Clean up of a small river like this can easily run into the millions of dollars if the contents were to be found as hazardous,” according to a statement by church officials. “We are praying that nothing highly toxic will be found.”