Llano County news

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Hunters looking for the big bucks can mean big bucks of the green variety to business.

Texas ranks first or second every time a national survey is conducted. The Lone Star State's 2.71 million hunters and anglers spend $4.1 billion annually and support 65,993 jobs, according to a study reported by the Congressional Sportsman Foundation.

“There’s no question that deer hunters boost the economy in small towns such as Burnet for the several weeks they are in the area,” said Kim Winkler, executive director of the Burnet Chamber of Commerce.

by Alexandria Randolph

highland Lakes Newspapers

A Buchanan Dam man and convicted felon was arrested on two violent felony charges after Llano County authorities claimed he assaulted an adult and child in two separate incidences.

William “Willie” Canchola, 30, was arrested on Saturday, Aug. 20, on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated sexual assault of a child, second-degree and first-degree felonies respectively.

Llano County Sheriff's Lt. Glen Williams said the two incidences occurred in Buchanan Dam, but would not reveal the location of the offense.

“It was separate incidences with a separate victim,” he said, adding that the victim of the aggravated assault with a deadly weapon was an adult.

Authorities would not say whether the victim was a member of Canchola's family or household.

The body of a man who drowned in Lake LBJ near Sunrise Beach Village was recovered Wednesday after a two-day search.

The man was identified as 74-year-old William Thornton Jr. of Harlingen.

According to a statement released by Sunrise Beach Village Police Chief Laurie Brock, the Llano County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call at about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, about a missing swimmer.

The caller reporter Thornton had gone swimming from a boat on Lake LBJ and encountered trouble in the water. The victim went under the water and did not resurface.

Sunrise Beach Village police and fire personnel responded to the scene at end of Beach Drive, where a search began for Thornton.

Joining SBV were personnel from the LCSO, Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife game wardens, Lake Colorado River Authority rangers and firefighters from Kingsland and Buchanan departments.

BY PHIL REYNOLDS

THE HIGHLANDER

Llano County commissioners are struggling to put together a budget while faced with rising costs and hearing that some county employees are leaving for higher-paying jobs in neighboring counties.

Commissioners held the second of two budget workshops on Tuesday, Aug. 2. They’re looking at a draft budget of $14,466,433, an increase of $370,323, or about 2.6 percent, over this year’s budget.

But they also heard Llano County Sheriff Bill Blackburn say that in the past few weeks he’s lost several deputies to higher-paying jobs, including both investigators who handle child sexual abuse cases.

“In one case, they’re being offered $14,000 a year more than we’re paying,” Blackburn said. “I can’t blame them for moving.”

Blackburn told commissioners several county offices hinge on how well the sheriff’s office does its job.

Casting Works LA is conducting an open casting call Saturday, Aug. 6, for extras for the new web-series, “Freedom on Trial,” to be filmed in Llano.
Extras are needed for the courtroom trial audience scenes and protestors for scenes outside of the courthouse.
The filming will take place Aug. 8-12 and the open casting call will be held on Saturday at the LanTex Theater, 113 West Main Street in Llano from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
The casting call will consist of a brief talk and photo with a member of the casting or production team. All participants should bring a non-returnable photo.
Interested parties may email castingcwla@gmail.com, though no appointment is necessary. Those unable to attend the open call but would like to be considered can email a picture, phone number, and available dates between Aug. 8-12.
No experience is necessary and all looks and body types are encouraged.

A late night accident Thursday claimed the life of one person just west of Marble Falls.

The accident occurred when two vehicles collided on Texas Highway 71 near the Burnet and Llano county line at 11:28 p.m. Thursday, July 14, about two miles west of the intersection with U.S. Highway 281.

One man, J. Lee Rethaber, of Kingsland, was killed in the accident. It was unknown what factored into the crash.

A Sunday afternoon, July 10, multi-vehicle accident in Horseshoe Bay claimed the life of one man, the Texas Department of Public Safety is reporting.

The accident took place at about 3:38 p.m. Sunday on Texas 71 near Ranch to Market Road 2147 in Llano County.

A 2011 Lincoln SUV driven by Jason McCombs was traveling eastbound on Texas 71 when it crossed into the westbound lanes and collided with a 2005 Suzuki, driven by Perry Greaves, near Summit Rock.