A local bar turned on its taps in February to serve up fresh brews to the Burnet community. The One Loose Tooth Tavern is run out of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6974 building at 1402 Buchanan Drive.
The veteran-operated tavern features 33 taps of beers and ciders, pool tables, darts, game machines, and several televisions. Weekly events like half-off drinks for ladies on Tuesdays, pool tournaments on Thursdays, and food trucks on Fridays and Saturdays keep the venue lively.
VFW Post Commander Sean Jones mans the taps at The One Loose Tooth Tavern. Staff photo by Caden Senn
Post Commander Sean Jones, told DailyTrib that the venue is open to the public– veteran or not– and encapsulates the VFW’s mission of giving back to former service members and the community.
“We are here to serve the community,” he said. “And people should know that the money they spend here is going to, if not to help the veterans, it’s going to help the community. (The VFW) is a nonprofit, so people who want to come in can know their dollars are well spent here.”
According to Jones, the VFW hopes to expand its property to encompass more of its three-acre footprint and become a premiere destination for the community. Current plans include an outdoor patio area with food trucks and a spot for live music and dancing.
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In an after-action report, the city of Granite Shoals recorded more than 4,500 attendees at GraniteFest 2026 in early May, helping make the annual festival one of the largest community celebrations in recent memory as the city marked its 60th anniversary.
Attendance over the May 8-10 weekend was estimated at around 4,500, with about 1,398 attendees on May 8, 2,741 on May 9, and roughly 100 on May 10 attending the Mighty Thomas Carnival. The festival, held at Quarry Park, coincided with the 60th anniversary of Granite Shoals’ incorporation on May 9, 1966.
The celebration drew residents and visitors for a weekend of live music, fireworks, carnival rides, a car show, food vendors, children’s activities and other attractions.
“This year’s GraniteFest served as both a signature community celebration and a historic milestone as the City of Granite Shoals commemorated its 60th Anniversary on May 9th,” City Manager Sarah Novo told DailyTrib.
Revenue from the Mighty Thomas Carnival increased by 30 percent, rising from $40,560 in 2025 to $52,941 in 2026, according to a presentation during the May 26 council meeting.
“The city extends its sincere appreciation to our sponsors, volunteers, vendors, city staff, community organizations, and countless attendees whose support and participation helped make this year’s GraniteFest and 60th Anniversary celebration an overwhelming success,” Novo said.
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Developers announced in late April that a 55-acre Marble Falls retail center, The Shops at Flatrock Crossing, was moving forward despite several delays, setbacks, and false starts. Now, site work is underway and the unmistakable signs of progress can be seen on the property that sprawls along U.S. 281 on the south side of the city.
The Flatrock Crossing project has been hovering on the minds of Marble Falls residents since it was announced in April 2024, promising dozens of new storefronts and restaurants, like Academy Sports + Outdoors, Ulta Beauty, Boot Barn, and Chipotle Mexican Grill. Originally expected to be completed by March 2026, the shopping center hit major snags before getting off the ground in April of this year.
“Right now, we’re moving trees,” Flatrock Crossing co-developer Russ Roper told DailyTrib in late May. “In a few weeks, we’ll be piling surface rock.”
Roper said that after the rock was moved, there would be a few weeks of rock blasting, and then major leveling work across the build site. Heavy equipment, cleared land, large burn piles, and more evidence of construction are now regular sights at the shopping center’s future location.
As of now, Flatrock Crossing is on track for its fall 2027 opening date.
“(Flatrock) is something we’ve been looking forward to for our community and our family and our partners,” Roper said. “When the pad site work is multi millions of dollars, you don’t commit to something like that unless it’s a done deal.”
The Shops at Flatrock Crossing is a massive undertaking, with an estimated $130 million price tag and 330,000 square feet of retail space. It is part of the larger Roper Ranch East Planned Development District, which will eventually include a large residential area and other commercial expansion along U.S. 281.
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The city of Bertram recently began discussing the future of its emergency medical services during a May 26 council meeting, shortly after approving a $70,000 EMS contract with the city of Burnet.
The contract, which will provide medical services throughout 2027 and station an ambulance within Bertram city limits, has increased by 700 percent over the past two years.
According to Burnet city officials, Bertram had contracted emergency medical services from the city for a significantly discounted rate of $10,000 a year for roughly two decades.
In 2025, Burnet proposed a $30,000 increase for services throughout 2026, amounting to $40,000 total, citing that the services provided were worth far beyond what Bertram had been paying. The 2027 contract will add another $30,000, for a total of $70,000.
“We proposed to (Bertram) $70,000 for next year,“ Burnet City Manager David Vaughn said during a May 18 special meeting of the Burnet City Council. “But, their number at a minimum should be in the upper 200 to 300 (thousand dollar) range for the quality of service.”
Bertram’s plan
Bertram Mayor John Baladez acknowledged during the City Council’s May 26 meeting that the contract had long been discounted, but told his fellow council members that the city would need to be conscious of further price increases going forward.
“We’ve had a really good deal for a long time,” Baladez said. “We were paying $10,000 a year to have an ambulance sitting here. But in the future, where are we going to come up with $1 million or half a million or whatever it’s going to take? I want y’all to start thinking about that.”
If Bertram couldn’t shore up that money in the future, Baladez said that Burnet could potentially pull its ambulance from the city, creating strained response times during critical emergencies.
While he noted an ESD partnership would be far in the future, would need voter approval, and be funded by taxpayer dollars, Baladez said he wanted those conversations to be known by the public to keep them informed on their emergency services going forward.
“ESD 10 just formed in Briggs… and they were talking about us joining them,” Baladez said. “I want it in your head and out in the public. It’s a decision we as citizens all have to make. We all pay taxes, and nobody likes paying more taxes. But if it means somebody here in town is gonna have a response time from 5 minutes to 30 minutes, that can be life and death.”
What is an ESD?
An ESD provides emergency services to a defined district by collecting a small tax from residents within its boundaries, up to 10 cents per $100 property valuation, to be used exclusively for fire protection, emergency medical services, or both.
An ESD is put on a ballot for residents to approve when a petition containing at least 100 signatures from voters who own property in the district is filed with the county. Read more about ESDs under Sec. 775.012 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
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A fresh seafood market, Savory Alaska, recently opened its doors at 1405 State Street in Marble Falls. The market officially opened on April 4, but hosted its grand opening ceremony on Thursday, May 28.
Owned and operated by Oatmeal residents Nathanael Ferguson, an Alaska native, and his wife Sarah, a Texas native, Savory Alaska offers several varieties of wild-caught salmon, halibut, cod, rockfish, crab, shrimp, and more from cold northern waters.
According to Nathanael, he grew up working on fishing boats with his family in southeast Alaska, and has drawn upon his long-time connections to the fishing industry to bring in fresh fish from his former home and other natural fisheries.
“Instead of hiring a crew to help him on the boat, (my dad) had some kids to help him,” Nathanael joked with DailyTrib. “I grew up on a fishing boat kind of like kids grow up around here on farms and ranches.”
The business started as a booth at farmers markets in 2018, but the Ferguson family recently made the leap to a full-fledged storefront. It’s all hands on deck, with the Ferguson children following in their father’s footsteps and helping with the family business.
Hours of operation: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursday through Saturday
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Horseshoe Bay Police Patrol Sergeant Brad Holden was recognized during the May 19 meeting of the Horseshoe Bay City Council for his role in an investigation that helped identify a contracted postal carrier now facing multiple charges related to mail theft in the city.
The investigation began after a resident reported not receiving a gift card despite company records showing it had been mailed to the correct address. The victim also learned when and where the card had been used, giving Holden a starting point for the case.
Holden then traced the transaction to a local business and obtained surveillance footage, but store employees could not identify the person shown in the video. While following up on leads, Holden showed a photograph of the suspect to other businesses and was told the individual resembled a local postal employee.
“I followed up on the mere possibility that the person seen in the video may be a postal employee,” Holden told DailyTrib. “ My follow-up efforts led me to discover an employee that resembled the person from the video.”
To further compare the images, Holden located publicly available photographs of the employee and found similarities to the person captured on surveillance footage. He then shared his findings with the HSPD’s Criminal Investigations Division.
“The primary suspect in this case was a USPS contracted employee at the time of the crime,” Holden said. “By virtue of their job, they had legitimate access to mail that passed through the Horseshoe Bay Post Office.”
The investigation was also aided by details gathered during the initial report from the victim. According to Holden, when asked whether anything similar had happened before, the victim recalled occasionally receiving opened greeting cards or special-occasion mail.
Holden said the investigation reinforced “the importance of paying attention to small details and asking the right questions when speaking with victims and taking reports,” noting that information a victim considers unimportant can sometimes be key to finding the truth.
He also emphasized that local postal officials were not suspected of any wrongdoing.
“There has been no indication that management of the USPS in Horseshoe Bay had any indication of the suspect’s wrongdoings. Once facts of the investigation were brought to their attention, they immediately cooperated with the investigation and helped facilitate its ultimate outcome,” Holden said.
The investigation ultimately led to the arrest of Melanie Rodriguez, 49, a contracted mail carrier who served Horseshoe Bay. Rodriguez was first arrested Jan. 23 on a charge of theft of mail, a state jail felony, and later arrested on Feb. 20 on three additional charges: credit card or debit card abuse, state jail felony, credit card or debit card abuse of an elderly person, third-degree felony, and fraudulent possession of identifying information, state jail felony. She was released on April 9. Police have said the investigation remains active and additional charges are possible.
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Several hundred property owners, including dozens from Burnet and Llano counties, have signed and filed a petition against a controversial transmission line project spanning significant portions of Central Texas.
“Over 1,300 directly affected property owners were denied the essential right to attend a public meeting where they could voice their concerns and express their community values regarding this significant development,” reads the petition. “Applicants added 400 miles of new route links… without notice to, or any input from, these newly affected landowners.”
The petition supports a motion for immediate remedy and relief, signed and submitted by 179 landowners the same day. The motion calls for the transmission project to be put on pause until the next legislative session (January 2027); the PUCT to enforce proper notification standards; the PUCT to extend intervention deadlines due to failure to properly notify affected property owners; and the review of statewide policy on 765-kV expansion.
The project has loomed over the heads of many local residents and officials due to all proposed routes of the line running through Burnet County. If approved, the project would bring the power of eminent domain, 18-story steel towers, and 200- to 300-foot easements.
Several hundred additional testimonies and protests have been filed against the project in hopes of changing its course before the PUCT decides its fate in September.
Background on the Bell County East to Big Hill 765 kV Transmission Line
The transmission line project’s intention is to bring power to West Texas, but many Burnet County residents believe that it would be at the expense of Hill Country landowners.
The project was mandated by the Texas Legislature in 2023 through House Bill 5066. The bill aimed to increase the reliability of the Texas electric grid, and also specifically targeted bringing power to the Permian Basin region of West Texas.
The results of that study showed a massive increase in the projected demand for electricity from that region, mostly to satisfy an estimated addition of 11,695 megawatts to the grid from the non-oil and gas industry. Per ERCOT’s study, this load would be made up of 59 percent cryptocurrency operations, 22 percent “green hydrogen” projects, 13 percent “other” commercial and industrial projects, and 6 percent datacenters. Power would also be used to electrify the petroleum industry in West Texas.
Once ERCOT’s study was completed, the PUCT tasked Oncor Electric Delivery and the Lower Colorado River Authority with devising a plan to deliver more power to the Permian Basin. After months of planning the organizations created a preliminary plan and route for 765 kilovolt powerlines to be run from Central Texas to West Texas. Burnet County was notified of the plans, and the fact that it would likely be included in all possible routes, in May 2025.
The project, to be paid for by the state, has an estimated total cost of $33 billion, and would include three major lines, including the Bell County East to Big Hill project.
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The following people were arrested and booked into the Burnet County Jail from May 22-28, 2026, according to the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office. City of residence and release information are listed when available. This list does not constitute an official court document, and all persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Seth Allen Barnes, 31, of Bertram was arrested May 22 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 or 1-B of more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams. Released on May 24, credit time served.
Jerrod Anderson Cozby, 32, of Burnet was arrested May 22 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 or 1-B of more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams, theft of property valued more than $2,500 but less than $30,000. Released on May 22 on $17,500 in bonds.
Marie Lara, 33, of Cottonwood Shores was arrested May 22 by the Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD): driving while license invalid with a previous conviction or suspension without financial responsibility. Released on May 23 on $1,500 in bonds.
Anthony Luis Villarreal, 35, of Marble Falls was arrested May 22 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 or 1-B of less than 1 gram, assault causing bodily injury to a family member. Released on May 25 on $132,500 in bonds.
Sara Grace Mckeon, 36, of Meadowlakes was arrested May 23 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): parole violation.
Marcus Darnelle Perez, 29, of Marble Falls was arrested May 23 by the Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD): criminal mischief valued more than $750 but less than $2,500. Released on May 23 on $5,000 in bonds.
Juan Jesus Salinas-Molinero, 25, of Granite Shoals was arrested May 23 by the Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD): criminal trespassing, public intoxication.
Elizabeth Suzanne Williams, 36, of Spicewood was arrested May 23 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): resisting arrest, search, or transportation, assault against an elderly or disabled individual, two counts.
Austin Cook, 18, of Marble Falls was arrested May 24 by the Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD): criminal mischief valued more than $750 but less than $2,500, assault causing bodily injury of a family member. Released on May 24 on $7,500 in bonds.
Stephen Shawn Holm, 53, of Granite Shoals was arrested May 24 by the Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD): driving while license invalid with a previous conviction or suspension without financial responsibility. Released on May 25 on $1,500 in bonds.
Rachel Joy Brown, 31, of Lampasas was arrested May 25 by the Burnet Police Department (BPD): possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 or 1-B of less than 1 gram.
James Selleck Cokendolpher, 19, of Burnet was arrested May 25 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): minor in consumption, minor in possession of an alcoholic beverage. Released on May 26 on $1,000 in bonds.
Bryan Cody Jordan, 40, of Burnet was arrested May 25 by the Burnet Police Department (BPD): driving while license invalid with a previous conviction or suspension without financial responsibility.
Austin Michael Liscum, 27, of Kingsland was arrested May 25 by the Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD): possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 or 1-B of more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams.
Colby Don Lohse, 31, of San Angelo was arrested May 25 by the Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD): driving while license invalid, failure to appear. Released on May 26 on $1,500 in bonds.
Gilberto Depaz-Chaparro, 28, of Dallas was arrested May 26 by the Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD): driving while intoxicated. Released on May 27 on $7,500 in bonds.
Gilberto Depaz-Chaparro, 28, of Dallas was arrested May 26 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): driving while intoxicated with an open container of alcohol. Released on May 27 on $7,500 in bonds.
John Stuart Howze, 72, of Marble Falls was arrested May 26 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): assault on a security officer.
Ashley Elizabeth Kingsbury, 22, of Burnet was arrested May 26 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): driving while intoxicated with an open container of alcohol. Released on May 27 on $1,500 in bonds.
Domingo Angel Quintero, 52, of Burnet was arrested May 26 by the Burnet Police Department (BPD): parole violation.
Fred Soliz, 62, of Burnet was arrested May 26 by the Burnet Police Department (BPD): driving while license invalid with a previous conviction or suspension without financial responsibility.
Robert Lee Alexander Jr., 46, of Meadowlakes was arrested May 27 by the Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD): driving while intoxicated, third charge or more, possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 or 1-B of less than 1 gram, failure to identify as a fugitive intent to give false information.
Scott Lee Burris, 45, of Marble Falls was arrested May 27 by the Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD): expired license plate registration. Released on May 28 on $250 in bonds.
Nathan Wayne McCray, 24, of Marble Falls was arrested May 27 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): assault causing bodily injury.
Omar Antonio Suarez, 37, of Cottonwood Shores was arrested May 27 by the Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD): driving while license invalid with a previous conviction or suspension without financial responsibility. Released on May 28 on $1,500 in bonds.
Christopher Castillo, 53, of Burnet was arrested May 28 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): sexual assault of a child.
Joshua Cross Foster, 21, of Marble Falls was arrested May 28 by the Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD): driving while intoxicated. Released on May 28 on $1,500 in bonds.
Pedro Martinez Garcia, 39, of Marble Falls was arrested May 28 by the Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD): parole violation.
Isaiah Alejandro Gonzales-Hardy, 27, of Granite Shoals was arrested May 28 by the Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD): accident involving damage to vehicle greater than $200.
David Glenn Izell, 69, of Burnet was arrested May 28 by the Burnet Police Department (BPD): theft of property valued more than $100 but less than $750, four counts.
Nathan Wayne McCray, 24, of Marble Falls was arrested May 28 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): assault causing bodily injury to a family member.
Jessie Cruise Michael, 21, of Liberty Hill was arrested May 28 by the Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD): public intoxication. Released on May 28 on $500 in bonds.
John Franklin Music, 40, of Bertram was arrested May 28 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): continuous violence against the family.
Jerica Virginia Mari Sepulveda, 27, of Marble Falls was arrested May 28 by the Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD): public intoxication. Released on May 28 on $500 in bonds.
Harold Eugene Sites III, 50, of Burnet was arrested May 28 by the Burnet Police Department (BPD): theft of property valued more than $2,500 but less than $30,000.
Clinton Grey Walker, 32, of Salado was arrested May 28 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): driving while intoxicated. Released on May 28 on $7,500 in bonds.
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Agendas for Highland Lakes governments are posted 72 hours before a meeting so are not always ready by the time this story is published. Check the links for more information.
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