Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Special to The Highlander

At the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas State Parks will be closed to the public effective at the close of business Tuesday, April 7 in order to maintain the safest environment for visitors, volunteers and staff, according to a press release from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).

"The state agency will continue to stay current with the latest public health recommendations and will announce when a definite reopening date has been determined," the release stated.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

At the height of the winter season, catching a glimpse of one of the largest birds of prey on Earth is not out of reach for visitors to Burnet and Llano counties.

From December to spring time, Lake Buchanan and the Colorado River which feeds into it, along both the counties have become migrating grounds to the American bald eagle and a number of their juvenile brood. …

By Nathan Hendrix
Staff Writer

The Granite Shoals City Council approved an ordinance Jan. 14 to prohibit automated and unsupervised deer feeders within the city limits in an effort to stem the population of deer in municipal areas.

The ordinance was first discussed in a December 2019 council meeting with suggested changes that were eventually approved in the final version. …

Savanna Gregg
Staff Writer

Lake-area residents heard a future Public Use Plan for the Inks Lake State Park complex, including Inks Lake State Park, Longhorn Cavern State Park, and Park Road 4, at a public hearing held Tuesday, Dec. 12 at the Burnet Community Center.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Marble Falls City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 16, put the force of a resolution behind an application for funding of a new hike, bike and nature trail on the city's north side.

The resolution supports application to to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) for a $200,000 grant for development of a trail at the Park View park site east of Mormon Mill Road and bounded on the east by Park View Drive and on the south by Park Ridge Drive.

The item was part of the council's consent agenda, so discussion was not part of the meeting, but the council based its decision on background material provided by Robert Moss, director of the Marble Falls Parks & Recreation Department.

By Richard Zowie

The Highlander

A weekend on the water turned into a tragedy as a man died in the early morning of July 23 after being pulled from the water at Buchanan Dam the day before.

According to Steve Lightfoot of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Juan Antonio Bolaños, a 28-year-old Mexican national, was on a float tube at the dam Saturday evening when he fell off at some point and was unable to swim.

Friends on shore say it was about 15 minutes before they realized he wasn’t there. They then went out and brought him to shore.

Lightfoot said medical personnel responding were able to detect a pulse from Bolaños, who was then transported by helicopter to a hospital.

The Mexican national was pronounced dead early Sunday morning.

Lightfoot said at this time, no further details of Bolaños’ death are known. He added that there is currently no indication of foul play.