Llano news

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

As U.S. 281 projects in Burnet and Llano counties continue into the new year, crews are scheduled to launch work in at least two more highly-traveled areas in 2020.

In southern Burnet County, construction crews have continued to remove tons of crushed rock along several miles of U.S. 281 in the southern Marble Falls city limits from the RM 2147 East intersection to an area just short of the Texas 71 intersection. …

UPDATE: In an email statement Nov. 6, a Llano County Sheriff's Office investigator attributed the damage of the monument to a vehicle traveling eastbound on Texas 71 which left the roadway and crashed into marker and through the adjacent fence.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

The Texas Historic Commission (THC) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will team up to repair a damaged historic monument which commemorates a pivotal battle in the region's settlement by western pioneers, officials announced Nov. 1.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

A Sunrise Beach man's death while incarcerated in the Llano County Jail Oct. 29 has prompted an investigation by the Texas Rangers.

Benjamin Braden Hoffman, 41, was “found unresponsive” around 12:29 p.m. while in the observation area of the facility, 2001 Texas 16, officials said.

The probe, considered protocol for in-custody deaths, will examine clues including cause and circumstances surrounding his death. . . .

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

A private-public partnership between the city of Llano and a mining company has resulted in the removal of several tons of river sand from two lakes in the community, increasing domestic water storage capacity.

On Sept. 27, Llano officials said they welcomed the continuation of a 10-year dredging contract with Collier Materials through 2025 due to the success of the project, which involves the company mining river sand and paying the city to take it away.

Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

In the wake of a recent family violence allegations, a former Llano County deputy now faces a charge of possessing child pornography.

Steven Andrew Sifford was taken into custody Sept. 1 at an east Texas bar known as Alibis in Groveton and booked into the Trinity County Jail.

A day later authorities transferred him twice – first to the Llano County Jail and then to Kerr County Jail – due to his former status with the LCSO facility where he had worked five years.

From staff reports

Dove season begins on Sept. 1 for the central zone which includes Llano and Burnet County.

The season extends through Nov. 3, then starts again on Dec. 20 through Jan. 14, 2020. Statewide falconry hunting season is Nov. 16 through Dec. 2.

Legal shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset. Bag limits for the central zone are 15 birds daily, no more than two white-tipped daily aggregate and three times daily bag possession limit.

Photo by Nathan Hendrix/The Highlander
Brandon Loving, of Kingsland, took aim at Inks Ranch in Llano as part of the Llano Lions Club “Sporting Clays for a Cause” event on Saturday, Aug. 17. The event raised money for the Lions Club scholarship program. See more photos in the Tuesday, Aug. 20 issue of The Highlander. To subscribe, call 830-693-4367.

From staff reports

Llano County Sheriff’s Office executed a narcotics search warrant July 10 at 855 Wood Forrest, Kingsland, Llano County.

Around 7 p.m. deputies seized approximately 10 grams of methamphetamine, firearms and paraphernalia at the residence.

Special to The Highlander

The Llano Lions Club has announced plans for their inaugural Sporting Clays for a Cause to be held Saturday, Aug. 17.

Special to The Highlander

After finding more than 18 species of fish during a recent sampling trip on the Llano River, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Inland Fisheries staff are encouraged to see fish populations rebounding following historic flooding in October 2018.