Texas Department of Public Safety

Eight juvenile males were removed from the Joshua Home near Bertram Wednesday after an investigation into allegations of abuse, neglect, labor violations, fraud, licensing violations, and human trafficking, the Burnet County Sheriff's Office reported today.

During the past several weeks, investigators and officials from many state and local agencies conducted joint investigations into the Joshua Home, which purports to be a residential home for troubled boys and which is affiliated with a nonprofit organization known as The Joshua Home Ministries.

A Llano man was killed early Friday morning in a one-vehicle accident on Texas 71, according to a Texas Department of Public Safety report.

The accident occurred at 5:45 a.m. Friday about seven miles east of Llano. A 2006 Chevrolet Malibu P4 driven by Robin Magrath Lacey, 52, was westbound on Texas 71 when, for unknown reasons, Lacey's vehicle traveled off the roadway to the right and then he overcorrected to the left.

By Richard Zowie

The Highlander

The Llano County Sheriff's Office said it could take months to get answers on skeletal remains found April 1 on a large ranch in the western section of the county.

Sheriff Bill Blackburn of Llano County said a family member of the ranch owner discovered the skeletal remains while riding around on a remote area of the property on an ATV.

“It's definitely not an archeological find, and we won't rule on a cause of death until we get forensic results back from Texas State University,” Blackburn said. “We'll then send DNA results to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) at the University of North Texas in hopes of getting a positive identification.”

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

UPDATE: In addition to finding the package not a threat, the investigation determined it was not left with malicious intent, only the remains of a school egg drop project left in the cleaning of an automobile.

An investigation continues by the Marble Falls Police Department into a suspicious package found at the car wash in the 1600 block of Mormon Mill Road about 11:45 a.m. Monday.

The package was cleared by explosive ordinance technicians from the Austin Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety, who were transported quickly to the scene via APD helicopter.

“It was determined this was not an explosive, but it still is a suspicious package to be left where it was,” said Criminal Investigations Capt. Glenn Hanson. “We don't know if it was placed there intentionally to cause a reaction by law enforcement or if it is something innocent.

By Lew K. Cohn

and Frank Shubert

The Highlander

First responders from Burnet, Llano, Blanco and Lampasas counties were honored Thursday, Jan. 18, at the 15th annual Hill Country 100 Club awards banquet and meeting at the Galloway-Hammmond YMCA of the Highland Lakes in Burnet.

AUSTIN, TEXAS – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is inviting the public to attend Breaking the Mold: The Women of the Texas Highway Patrol recruiting event on Thursday, Nov. 16, in Austin.  The law enforcement symposium will bring awareness to women in law enforcement and discuss opportunities available for all persons (men and women) seeking a career as a Texas State Trooper.  The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Texas State Capitol - Legislative Conference Room; Capitol Extension Room E2.002 (100 Congress Avenue in Austin). 

In a counterpoint to remembrance observances yesterday, Sept. 11, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steven McCraw issued a statement regarding vigilance to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks:

“On this day 16 years ago, terrorists launched cowardly attacks against our nation on Sept. 11, 2001. Today we honor and remember those who lost their lives as a result of the attack, including valiant first responders. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. The families and friends of those who lost loved ones remain in our thoughts and prayers.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Hill County Sheriff’s Office are asking for the public’s help in locating John Terry, who disappeared in 2014 in Hillsboro. Authorities suspect foul play.

Terry, 30 and the father of two young boys, was last seen leaving the Walmart Supercenter in Hillsboro at approximately 6:34 p.m. on Oct. 17, 2014.  One day later, his 2014 Jeep Compass was found abandoned on County Road 2346 in Abbott, about 25 miles from his house.

Abbott High School was having their homecoming the night Terry was last seen. At the time of Terry’s disappearance, he was wearing a black  tee shirt, blue jeans, tan work boots and a blue Dallas Cowboys ball cap featuring a “D” in white embroidery.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Texas Rangers and other Texas Department of Public Safety and law enforcement officials swelled the crowd from Horseshoe Bay Saturday, Jan. 21, to memorialize Ranger Stanley Keith “Stan” Guffey.

The event marked the 30th Anniversary of the event Jan. 22, 1987, in which Ranger Guffey died in the line of duty, rescuing a two-year-old kidnap victim in Horseshoe Bay. The Texas Department of Public Safety and its Texas Ranger division, the Texas Ranger Association, retired Texas Ranger Association and the City of Horseshoe Bay and local businesses sponsored the event for the unveiling of a Texas Ranger monument from the People of the State of Texas.

“Texas Rangers are woven from a special fabric,” said Josefina Garza Guffey Jennings, Guffey's widow, when she addressed the crowd. “It is not that that Rangers are extraordinary men, it is that extraordinary men , and now women, join the Texas Rangers.”