Llano County

EDITOR'S NOTE: Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) officials conducted a press conference in Austin Oct. 26, revealing the bridge could be completed as early as April 2019.

Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Plans take shape to replace the collapsed RR 2900 Bridge in Kingsland, as Texas Department of Transportation coordinate engineering meetings, draft designs and seek an emergency contract to potentially begin the process in December, officials say.

On Oct. 16, flood waters from Junction swept into the Llano River eventually slamming into the Highland Lakes at the mouth of Lake LBJ, washing away the structure.

By Phil Reynolds

The Highlander

Llano County will draw on the experience of other counties when it asks for federal disaster relief funds.

County commissioners approved a resolution declaring a disaster in an emergency meeting Thursday, Oct. 25, following flash floods that indundated neighborhoods and carried away a highway bridge.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Early voting in Burnet and Llano counties has begun for the Thursday, Nov. 6, general election and will continue through Friday, Nov. 2.

Special to The Highlander and Burnet Bulletin

In the aftermath of Highland Lakes flood event, emergency management officials have compiled a list of general help information for the public.

Those seeking assistance with the cleanup and other cleanup resources and wanting to donate or volunteer:

• Marble Falls First Baptist Church, 901 La Ventana, 78654 830-693-4381.

Go to https://fbcmf.org/flood/ for more information.

• First United Methodist Church, 1101 Bluebonnet Dr. in Marble Falls, 830-265-0761.

• Granite Shoals First Baptist Church, 505 S Phillips Ranch Road, 512-755-5217.

• The Church at Horseshoe Bay, 600 Hi Ridge Rd., 214-636-8373.

Collection points for water/sports drinks:

• Lakeshores Church parking lot, 700 US 281 in Marble Falls, 617-291-8310.

• Granite Shoals Fire Hall, 8410 W. FM 1431, 830-596-8110.

Editor's Note: As of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16 the Marble Falls Middle School shelter has reached capacity. Marble Falls First Baptist Church, 901 La Ventana Dr., has been established as a new shelter location.

Compiled by Savanna Gregg •
Staff Writer •

As flood waters continue to plague areas of Burnet and Llano counties Oct. 16, residents – and their pets – were evacuated from their homes to area shelters.

Flood waters in the Llano River ushered in by thunderstorms in a 24-hour period have wreaked havoc in the Highland Lakes.

Area emergency first responders have assisted residents in communities including Meadowlakes and Marble Falls as well as Llano and Kingsland in getting to higher ground.

For those who do not have alternative accommodations, officials have established temporary shelters until the flood waters subside.

Connie Swinney •
Staff Writer •

As the surge of the Llano River subsided, Highland Lakes residents and property owners reported minimal damage Oct. 9 and 10 to lakeside structures as well as some rising water along shorelines inching onto property.

Murky floodwaters from the Llano River from the Junction area crested in Kingsland after midnight just 24 hours earlier, eventually making its way through lakes LBJ and Marble Falls – to be captured in Lake Travis, just west of Austin.

On Oct. 10, the Lower Colorado River Authority reported floodgate operations on Wirtz and Starcke dams to pass floodwaters downstream.

UPDATE: Fire agencies reported the brush fire 90 percent contained. As of 10 p.m. Aug. 25, evacuated residents returned home. No reports of property damage or injuries, according to the Llano County Office of Emergency Management.

From staff reports •

A piece of mulching equipment operating on the right-of-way on Texas 71 just inside Llano County near the Burnet County line caused a brush fire Saturday, Aug. 25, which threatened the Horseshoe Bay Airport and prompted officials to notify HSB residents of the need to evacuate for safety.

Officials were not sure exactly how many acres were burned Saturday afternoon. Residents living east and north of the airport were advised to evacuate to Quail Point Lodge, which is owned by the Horseshoe Bay Property Owners Association.

A helicopter could be seen dropping water on the fire and firefighters from multiple agencies responded to the blaze, which occurred after noon Saturday.

By Phil Reynolds

The Highlander

A standing-room-only crowd of more than 50 filled the justice of the peace courtroom at the Llano County Law Enforcement Center Monday, cheering as county commissioners narrowly approved a resolution opposing a rock crushing plant on Sandy Creek.

The body of a 38-year-old white male from Austin was recovered Wednesday, July 4, from the Llano River arm of Lake LBJ in Kingsland after the man apparently drowned trying to swim across the lake.

Llano County Sheriff's Chief Deputy John Neff said his department received a 911 call about a missing swimmer at 2:55 a.m. Wednesday. Deputies responded to the scene and requested assistance from Texas Parks & Wildlife game wardens.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

A Llano County commissioner is holding a town hall meeting Tuesday, June 19, at the Kingsland Library to discuss a possible new portable rock crushing operation at Sunrise Beach Village off Texas 71.