STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY SUNRISE BEACH VILLAGE — Environmental groups and government entities have drafted resolutions and proposed stricter oversight on the burgeoning mining industry as planned dredging operations await word about permits from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. (more…)

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  UPDATE: As of noon July 2, Burnet County joined the list of counties imposing a ban on outdoor burning, officials said.   FROM STAFF REPORTS MARBLE FALLS — As the summer dry spell and heat linger, several area counties and municipalities have imposed burn bans. The city of Marble Falls is under a burn […]

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FROM STAFF REPORTS BURNET — The results are in for the primary runoff elections in Burnet and Llano counties. (more…)

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FROM STAFF REPORTS BURNET — Early voting in the Republican and Democratic primary election runoffs wraps up Friday, May 17, giving voters in Burnet and Llano counties one more day to cast their ballots in advance of Election Day, which is Tuesday, May 22. (more…)

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FROM STAFF REPORTS BURNET — With the school and municipal elections behind us, the focus is now on the Republican and Democratic primary runoffs May 22. Early voting for the runoffs is Monday-Friday, May 14-18. (more…)

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FROM STAFF REPORTS BURNET — Highland Lakes voters have one more opportunity to cast their ballots in a handful of local races. The May 5 elections feature contested races in Burnet, Bertram, Granite Shoals, Kingsland, and the Llano Independent School District. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY LLANO — Offenders who fail to pay their fines or show up in county court could face another problem — public scrutiny — due to a new Llano County Attorney’s Office program that calls out warrant violators on social media. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY LLANO — Should he win back his Llano school board incumbency in an upcoming race, a newly elected Llano County judge would have to resign from the board due to state law, officials said. With no opposing party challenger in the general election, Llano County Judge-elect Ron Cunningham, a Republican, is […]

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FROM STAFF REPORTS BURNET — While not as “glamorous” as the major party primaries or the November gubernatorial election, local municipal and school district elections affect residents’ daily lives from property taxes to zoning ordinances. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY LLANO COUNTY — The shooting death of a longhorn steer on a remote county road has resulted in a criminal investigation and a $5,000 reward offered by a Llano County rancher. The incident is believed to have happened sometime over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend, March 17-18, on a ranch just […]

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LLANO — Llano County is getting a new county judge after Republican voters gave the GOP nomination to a challenger during the March 6 primary elections. And the primary season isn’t over as one race is headed to a runoff. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY LLANO — Llano County Sheriff’s Office deputies will arm themselves with high-tech body cameras and vehicle surveillance equipment to give them an edge in collecting evidence and during on-scene interactions, officials said. (more…)

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FROM STAFF REPORTS LLANO — Early voting in the primaries for the Republican and Democratic parties got underway Tuesday, Feb. 20, and continues through Friday, March 2. Election day for the primaries is Tuesday, March 6. (more…)

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FROM STAFF REPORTS KINGSLAND — A series of community forums and candidate meetings will provide Llano County residents with a chance to get to know who’s running for election in the March 6 Republican primaries. (more…)

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UPDATE: City of Burnet offices closed Jan. 16. UPDATE: Burnet CISD, Marble Falls ISD, Llano ISD, and Faith Academy of Marble Falls cancel classes Jan. 16. UPDATE: As of 4:30 p.m., Burnet County officials opted to close county offices and services on Jan. 16 due to the potential for hazardous travel conditions.   STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY SPICEWOOD —  […]

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STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY LLANO — Texas Rangers are investigating the death of a Llano woman arrested Christmas Eve on a public intoxication charge who later died in an Austin hospital after suffering a “medical incident” while in custody at the Llano County Jail, officials said. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY LLANO — Investigators are sorting through how a Llano police officer’s Facebook posting of a popular song’s lyrics led to a voluntary evacuation of at least one department at the Llano County Courthouse on the eve of Thanksgiving. (more…)

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FROM STAFF REPORTS HORSESHOE BAY — Voters overwhelmingly re-elected two incumbents to the Horseshoe Bay City Council, according to results of the Nov. 7 election from election officials in Llano and Burnet counties. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY HORSESHOE BAY — During a non-presidential election year, voters go to the polls Nov. 7 to decide on bond issues, some city and school elections, and a few state constitutional amendments. (more…)

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FROM STAFF REPORTS LLANO — Recent wet weather and fall-like conditions prompted Llano County officials to lift a ban on outdoor burning, allowing residents a chance to rid their property of landscaping materials, cut brush, and household garbage. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY HORSESHOE BAY — Llano County commissioners sidestepped sending a resolution in opposition to a proposed rock crushing operation and opted instead to send individual letters to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which is considering Asphalt Inc.’s air quality permit. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY LLANO — Llano County commissioners proposed leasing several thousand acres of property in West Texas to a renewable energy company to launch a solar power farm, creating a potential revenue stream for local education. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY LLANO —  Crews have reopened some Llano County offices Aug. 18, including the tax-assessor collector’s and treasurer’s offices, after completing water damage repairs caused by a ruptured water pipe that temporarily shuttered the three-story building adjacent to the Llano County Courthouse. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY LLANO — Llano County commissioners approved a proposed budget Aug. 14 that included continued funding for Llano County Jail operations. This followed an outcry from local law enforcement, who rejected a consideration to house all inmates at the Burnet County Jail, officials said. (more…)

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CONNIE SWINNEY • STAFF WRITER BURNET COUNTY — The Federal Aviation Administration has launched investigations into two emergency plane landings — one in the middle of the night on Texas 71 —  in two days in Burnet and Llano counties, according to reports by the Texas Department of Public Safety. (more…)

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CONNIE SWINNEY • STAFF WRITER LLANO — Growth is spurring an increase in traffic in the Highland Lakes; however, state officials might put the brakes on additional funding for rural roadway upgrades as more populated areas compete for those dollars. (more…)

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