STAFF WRITER JENNIFER FIERRO JOHNSON CITY — It’s hard to believe, but there’s a chance Johnson City will be turning off Lights Spectacular, the event that celebrates the holiday season from late November through New Year’s Day. (more…)

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EDITOR DANIEL CLIFTON BURNET — The 150 shoes hanging from trees on the Burnet County Courthouse lawn are reminders that, as most of us go on about our lives, there are approximately 150 children in Burnet County who are in foster homes because of abuse and/or neglect. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER JENNIFER FIERRO LLANO — Ann Rossberg heard the chatter from many parents of pre-kindergarten students. “They aren’t familiar with what (education) options they have,” said the Llano County Library children’s librarian. (more…)

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FROM STAFF REPORTS MARBLE FALLS — The Marble Falls High School art department continues to shine as two of its programs recently earned several accolades. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY JOHNSON CITY — Going through the discomfort of a simulated violent altercation might be the difference between life and death for women who come face to face with a real attacker. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER JENNIFER FIERRO BURNET — Parents who believe their kids are spending too much time on their digital devices are invited to a free screening of the documentary “Screenagers — Growing up in the Digital Age.” Presented by the Burnet Consolidated Independent School District, “Screenagers” looks at the impact of smart devices on families. […]

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STAFF WRITER JENNIFER FIERRO BUCHANAN DAM — The Hill Country Humane Society has saved thousands of animal lives through reconnecting lost pets with their families, adoptions, and partnering with no-kill rescue groups. Because of its efforts, the Petco Foundation awarded the shelter that serves Llano and Burnet counties with an $18,000 grant in March. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER JENNIFER FIERRO MARBLE FALLS — While Barney Sarver could have included several recommendations for Marble Falls Middle School coach Joe Powell’s nomination for Fellowship of Christian Athletes Austin-area Coach of the Year, it only took one. (more…)

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FROM STAFF REPORTS MARBLE FALLS — Marble Falls Independent School District board members celebrated one of the district’s bus drivers with two honors during the regular trustees’ meeting March 20. Paula Smith earned the district’s Living the Vision Award as well as the Property Casualty Alliance of Texas Bus Driver of the Year. (more…)

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EDITOR DANIEL CLIFTON BURNET — The day after a gunman killed 14 students and three faculty members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, several Burnet Middle School Interact Club members met with club sponsor Sara Te. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER JENNIFER FIERRO MARBLE FALLS — Leta Stephenson-Smith had decided to decline an invitation to attend the 3-on-3 basketball tournament March 15, which was part of the city of Marble Falls’ weeklong Spring Break activities. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER JENNIFER FIERRO LLANO — Helping families become stronger units is at the core of why the Llano County Library is part of the Family Place Library national network. To help families achieve that goal, the library is hosting its annual Play and Learn Series (PALS), a free five-week workshop with programs 10-11:30 a.m. […]

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STAFF WRITER JENNIFER FIERRO BURNET — When people turn 65, they are thrust into a complex world for which many aren’t prepared: Medicare. To help individuals maneuver through the system, Mackenzie Winterowd, a licensed agent with Premier Medicare Solutions, is leading a seminar at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, at the Herman Brown Free Library, […]

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STAFF WRITER JENNIFER FIERRO JOHNSON CITY — Software promising that anyone with a working computer and the internet can file their own taxes has encouraged many Americans to do just that. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER JENNIFER FIERRO MARBLE FALLS — Marble Falls High School students knew there was little they could do to comfort the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. (more…)

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EDITOR DANIEL CLIFTON KINGSLAND — Spring Break is a few days away, but Boys & Girls Club of the Highland Lakes-Kingsland branch director Colby Collins is already looking toward summer — for good reason. “We have a lot of kids we serve, and we want to make sure we’re open during the summer for them,” he […]

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STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY KINGSLAND — When Rodger Woods announced he was holding a free license to carry course for teachers, by the second day, he had 60 educators from across the Hill Country signed up. “It helps awareness, builds familiarity and the confidence related to guns,” said Woods, who is the operator of R […]

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EDITOR DANIEL CLIFTON MARBLE FALLS — Marble Falls High School teacher Kimberlee McLeod knew she was going to have classroom visitors March 6, but the school’s principal told her the H-E-B film crew was there regarding the school district’s possible Excellence in Education award. (more…)

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EDITOR DANIEL CLIFTON LLANO — When someone has Alzheimer’s disease, loved ones and caregivers have a lot of questions. One question is where do they go to find the answers. One source is Alzheimer’s Texas, an organization dedicated to care, research, and education. It created the Lunch n’ Learn program to help caregivers of those […]

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EDITOR DANIEL CLIFTON BURNET — In what seems like a less secure world, safety has become a topic at many churches and other places where people gather. Williamson County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Brandon Schaefer hopes to alleviate those concerns by addressing what churches and other organizations can do in case of an active shooter situation. […]

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FROM STAFF REPORTS BURNET — In 2015, First Baptist Church of Burnet organized a Safety Team in an effort to address any concerns about the church’s safety, particularly in regard to active shooters or similar situations. (more…)

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FROM STAFF REPORTS BURNET — City and school officials will host an upcoming State of the Community address, featuring public leaders reflecting on the past year’s accomplishments and providing insight into future policies and projects. (more…)

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STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY MARBLE FALLS — Wearing a ballistics helmet could mean the difference between life and death during a violent incident in which officers are in the crossfire. The two active shooter events that occurred in Florida since 2016 magnified how violent and dangerous such a scenario could be for those who are […]

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EDITOR DANIEL CLIFTON MARBLE FALLS — Once upon a time, education was fairly uncomplicated. Students walked into class, took a seat, and the teacher stood at the front of the room and taught them “reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic.” (more…)

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FROM STAFF REPORTS MARBLE FALLS — When people give blood, they help countless others survive accidents, surgeries, premature births, and other unforeseen events. (more…)

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EDITOR DANIEL CLIFTON MARBLE FALLS — Colt Elementary School’s first STEAM day all started with a dairy cow named Dorothy. (more…)

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