Several criminal charges filed against former Burnet County Judge James Oakley were recently dismissed in the “interest of justice.” The charges, originally filed by Burnet County’s former district attorney, had loomed over Oakley since 2023.
According to court documents filed in the 33rd Judicial District Court of Texas, the March 2023 charges of abuse of official capacity, tampering with evidence, and official oppression were dismissed on May 20 by 452nd District Attorney Tonya Ahlschwede, who had been appointed in December 2025 by the court to handle the case after local 33rd/424th District Attorney Perry Thomas voluntarily stepped away from the case in November 2025.
“I’m just pleased at the swift actions of the appointed (district attorney’s) office,” Oakley told DailyTrib. “It’s been stressful.”
The reason for dismissal on all of the charges was noted as in the “interest of justice” on all three motions to dismiss filed in 33rd District Court.
DailyTrib was unable to reach DA Ahlschwede or presiding Judge Dibrell “Dib” Waldrip for comment by the time of this article’s publication, but the term “interest of justice” is used when the prosecution or judge believes that continuing the case wouldn’t serve justice.
Background and proceedings
Two of the dismissed charges against Oakley stemmed from his involvement in a vehicle accident in 2021. He was accused of manipulating evidence and attempting to intimidate the other party involved in the accident. The “abuse of official capacity” charge was connected to a perceived conflict of interest in serving as both county judge and as a board director for the Pedernales Electric Cooperative.
The charges were originally filed by former 33rd/424th District Attorney Wiley “Sonny” McAfee, who left office at the end of 2024. All three of these charges were “quashed,” or tossed out, by visiting Judge Waldrip in July 2023. Before McAfee left office, he appealed the judge’s decision, and won the appeal in November 2024, making the charges once again eligible for prosecution.
After taking office at the beginning of 2025, DA Thomas was undecided on whether or not he would pursue the charges.
“(The charges are) back in my office’s hands at the moment, and we’re evaluating where to go from here,” Thomas told DailyTrib in March 2025. “I can’t say at the moment (what will be done). I don’t think it would be appropriate to make a comment just yet.”
Ultimately, Thomas voluntarily recused himself from the case in November 2025 due to his acquaintanceship with Oakley personally and socially.
“I believe that voluntary recusal is appropriate in this case to avoid even the appearance of impropriety arising from my previous public interactions with the defendant as a private citizen and as an attorney in the private practice of law discussing the facts and possible defenses of the case,” Thomas said in his filed motion to recuse himself.
Following Thomas’ recusal in November 2025, 452nd District Attorney Ahlschwede was appointed to prosecute the case in December 2025.
A status hearing was held for the case in February of 2026, with another hearing scheduled for May 21, but the cases were officially dismissed by the prosecution and the court on May 20 before that hearing took place.
Oakley
While three 2023 charges against Oakley were only recently dismissed, he did go to court on a fourth charge, of misuse of government property for driving a Burnet County vehicle to PEC meetings while he still served as an elected director for the cooperative.
He was found not guilty on that charge in August 2023 after a jury trial. He had been suspended from his role as Burnet County judge for about six months after his original indictments in March until he won his case in August.
Separate from the criminal charges filed against him, Oakley was publicly reprimanded by the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct in December 2024 for courthouse security violations and the sexual harassment of Burnet County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Lisa Whitehead and at least two other women.
Shortly after the commission’s reprimand, Oakley announced his resignation as Burnet County judge, and officially left office in January 2025.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
A student-made, two-story marble maze was unveiled at the Marble Falls Visitor Center on May 19, adding an interactive feature to the city’s tourism tower at 100 Avenue G.
City staff collaborated with local business partners and three Marble Falls High School engineering students –Nicolas Smith, Cameron Plumlee, and Landon Griffith– to bring the maze to life. It features a motorized lift that carries marbles to the top of a long, winding system of chutes, rails, funnels, and more that send the spheres on a twisting journey through the visitor center.
“The Marble Maze is a perfect example of what makes Marble Falls special,” said Russell Sander, Assistant City Manager for the City of Marble Falls, in a media release. “This project brought together students, educators, local businesses, City staff, and volunteers to create something truly unique. It highlights the creativity, collaboration, and community spirit that define Marble Falls and gives our visitors a memorable experience they won’t find anywhere else.”
The two-story Marble Maze was dreamed up by Marble Falls city staff, designed and built by Marble Falls High School engineering students, and had its materials donated by a local laser cutter. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
The maze was designed and assembled by the three engineering students under the guidance of MFHS teacher Lindsey Todesco. The materials for the project were donated by local business Laser Ranch.
The maze is open to the public and can be used during the visitor center’s regular business hours.
The center is open 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. on Saturday. The center is closed on Sunday.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
The city of Burnet recently approved a construction contract for a new 100,000-gallon water tank to ease water availability concerns in the Eagles Nest subdivision, about 2.5 miles west of downtown.
The project –with an estimated cost of about $700,000– was approved by Burnet City Council on Tuesday, May 26, and should be completed by late 2026 or early 2027. The deal has been in the works since 2025, when the city spent $101,000 on 2 acres in the subdivision for a tank site.
The Eagles Nest subdivision has been marred by low water pressure for years according to city officials, as the current pump station includes a single 25,000-gallon tank to provide water to its residents.
Beyond residential pressure issues, Burnet Fire Chief Mark Ingram emphasized a more critical concern over the current tank’s “fire flow” inadequacies, referring to the required water and infrastructure needed to effectively fight a fire.
“If I was to take our ladder truck up (to Eagles Nest) in those sized homes, that’s what (the truck) is designed for, I could empty that tank in five minutes,” Ingram said at the meeting. “I could start sucking the water, but I’m going to do damage to everything when I do it. The waterlines– I would destroy them.”
Eagles Nest resident Dan Stewart spoke on behalf of the subdivision, echoing Chief Ingram’s sentiments as a major concern for residents.
“This tank would serve our needs from the standpoint of water pressure, as well as fire protection,” he said. “Five minutes to fight a fire is– that’s rough. To save somebody’s biggest investment in their life.”
According to City Manager David Vaughn, the root of these water worries goes back to Eagles Nest’s creation in 2004. He told the council that two tanks were originally planned for the subdivision. That never occurred.
“When Eagles Nest was originally designed, it was designed to have two (25,000-gallon) tanks,” he said. “It was meant to be done in phases so that when future phases and future developments happened, they would be added at a later date. None of the subsequent developments have occurred since 2004 when the subdivision first started.”
Vaughn recognized the weight of taking on the $700,000 project, but assured council that the city could handle the hit.
“I don’t want to represent that $700,000 is insignificant, because it’s not,” he said. “But we are in a position to handle it.”
The council-approved contract for the new tank would include any accompanying equipment and full installation, tallied around $599,441. Vaughn told council that, after all costs were tallied, the project would sit near the $700,000 mark.
Barring major delays, the selected constructors, Arguijo Corporation, provided an estimated timeline of 180 calendar days.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
Granite Shoals is undergoing a temporary free chlorine conversion from May 20 through June 20, 2026, which could affect residents’ water during the process.
The city is temporarily switching from chloramine to free chlorine as part of routine maintenance to help disinfect drinking water and remove buildup inside water lines. Chloramine, a combination of chlorine and ammonia commonly used in water systems, can contribute to buildup in pipes over time.
Cities must notify the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality at least 30 days before beginning the process and receive approval to temporarily operate using only free chlorine.
“This helps us scour the inside wall of the pipe,” Utilities Director Josh Hisey said during the May 26 Granite Shoals City Council meeting.
Residents in some areas may notice a stronger chlorine smell or slight discoloration in their water during the conversion. Areas at the far ends of the system, such as Tropical Hideaway, are more likely to experience those effects, Hisey said.
The conversion is currently ahead of schedule and could be completed up to two weeks earlier than expected, according to the utilities director..
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
Hooks Bar, a waterfront beach bar and food trailer in Buchanan Dam, has officially reopened for the summer.
The seasonal beach bar is a fully outdoor establishment offering lake views in a family-and-dog-friendly environment. Dogs must remain on leashes, and visitors may enter the water at their own risk. Customers are encouraged to follow Hooks Bar’s social media for weather updates and possible closures.
Located at 140 Pirates Point in Buchanan Dam, Hooks Bar is open Thursdays and Fridays from 4-9 p.m., Saturdays from noon-9 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.
The food truck operates Thursdays and Fridays from 4-8:30 p.m., Saturdays from noon-2 p.m. and 4-8:30 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
For more information, email hooksdambar@gmail.com.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
The Burnet Police Department recently unveiled an autism awareness vehicle to add to its fleet on Tuesday, May 26, with a wrapping designed by nearly 20 children with autism.
The newest addition to the fleet, a sergeant patrol truck, features an infinity symbol synonymous with autism awareness that houses drawings dutifully crafted by the children, along with the words “autism awareness,” and “be kind to all minds.”
Porter Thompson, one of the several kids involved in designing the truck, was present at the unveiling ceremony with his family. His father, Cory, told DailyTrib that he was proud to see the community support his son.
The families of Josiah Parker (left) and Porter Thompson (right) pose in front of the new BPD sergeant truck designed by local children with autism. Staff photo by Caden Senn
“We’re excited that we’re getting some kind of attention towards autism,” he said. “You get into these smaller towns, and a lot of times people have no idea what autism is, so just bringing some kind of awareness to it is a great start.”
Another young artist, Josiah Parker, was at the ceremony with his family and shared that he was responsible for the drawing of Darth Vader on both sides of the truck and on its hood.
BPD Chief Tony Hefferin told DailyTrib that the project was started by now-retired Chief Brian Lee, and that he was honored to continue his efforts.
Chief Hefferin shared on Facebook that the project began in 2025 with local families coming together and creating various artworks that formulated three designs. Once Hefferin took over the department in January 2026, the designs were narrowed down and eventually turned into a reality by design partner Onsite Decals.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
A transformer failure at a Lower Colorado River Authority substation in Llano left thousands of the city’s residents without power for about nine hours during a severe storm on the night of Tuesday, May 26. Llano city crews, LCRA technicians, and Central Texas Electric Cooperative staff worked through the night to restore electricity to the area.
According to the LCRA, the substation failed at around 5:50 p.m. on Tuesday and it was determined that “the equipment could not be restored.” A mobile transformer was brought in and power was eventually back on by around 3:04 a.m. on Wednesday after hours of labor from a joint team of Llano, LCRA, and CTEC personnel.
“The cause of the equipment failure is still under investigation,” reads a statement issued to DailyTrib by the LCRA.
The LCRA substation in Llano is north of the city, on Birmingham Avenue. Llano pulls its power from the substation using its own transformer and transmission lines.
The outage was all encompassing, leaving traffic lights out, storefronts dark, city facilities closed, residences powerless, and internet absent late into the night.
“People are used to having very reliable service. These types of outages happen,” Llano City Manager Finley deGraffenried. “At this point we’re just happy that our services are restored.”
According to deGraffenried, the power outage passed without major incident for the city. Generators were used to maintain water and wastewater services and a coalition of Llano police, Llano volunteer fire fighters, and Llano County Sheriff’s deputies managed the town’s larger intersections and checked low water crossings until electricity was restored.
“We are thankful for this LCRA crew who were away from their families last night getting everything back up and running for us here in Llano,” reads a statement issued by the Llano Volunteer Fire Department on Wednesday.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
The spring season brought in more rainy weather to pummel the Highland Lakes area on Tuesday evening, May 26, overflowing several low-water crossings, washing out roads, knocking out power, and tallying up as much as 3.56 inches of rainfall over a 24-hour period.
Local emergency service crews reported several road closures, two washouts, and one swiftwater rescue in the wake of the storm.
The city of Llano was without power for about nine hours after critical infrastructure was severely damaged by lightning, requiring extensive repairs lasting until around 3 a.m. on May 27.
Burnet County Emergency Management Coordinator Derek Marchio told DailyTrib that up to 200 residents experienced fluctuating power outages at one time throughout the evening.
Though the rain has let up for now, more wet weather is ahead next week. Marchio emphasized staying aware and prepared in the wake of continued rainfall.
“As a point of safety, people need to be extremely cautious and can not drive over roads with water over them,” Marchio said. “Always be aware of the forecast and plan accordingly. Remember, turn around, don’t drown.”
The same low-water crossing at Fairland Road on Wednesday morning, May 27, after rainwater had cleared. Staff photo by Jennifer Greenwell
Burnet County ESD 9 and LVPD later indicated that all roads affected had been reopened. At around 8:40 a.m. on May 27, the HVVFD shared that some roads, namely CR 116, remained closed.
In addition to these road closures, Burnet County EMC Marchio told DailyTrib that two low-water crossings– one at Mormon Mill Road near Hairston Creek and one at CR 219 in Briggs– had been washed out and were in the process of being repaired as of Wednesday.
Rain accumulation
As per the Lower Colorado River Authority Hydromet, the total rain accumulation throughout cities in the area over the last 24 hours (from 11:30 a.m. on May 26 to 11:30 a.m. on May 27) ranged between 1.5-3.5 inches.
For reference, Hairston Creek near Burnet experienced the second-largest accumulation of rainfall in the Lower Colorado River Basin over the last day at 3.56 inches. Florence, about 11 miles from Briggs, received the most rainfall at 4.51 inches.
City rain gauges throughout the area:
Horseshoe Bay–3.2 inches
Kingsland–3.1 inches
Marble Falls–2.5 inches
Burnet–2.56 inches
Buchanan Dam–1.77 inches
Llano–1.63 inches
Floodgate operations
The LCRA reportedly opened the floodgates of Starcke Dam late Tuesday evening, releasing storm runoff downstream until 7:45 a.m. the next day. According to the LCRA flood webpage, no further gate operations were expected to occur as of May 27.
Swiftwater rescue
Burnet County EMC Marchio told DailyTrib that one swiftwater rescue took place during the downpour, along with a separate non-rescue incident involving a stuck vehicle.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
Horseshoe Bay City Council postponed a decision on a proposed amendment to the Silver Rock development following debate over requested changes that they believe could open the door for unwanted construction and land use in the future.
The amendment, discussed during the May 19 council meeting, combines requests from two sections of the planned Silver Rock development, Stillwater and Falcon Senior Living Center. The council’s discussion centered on concerns over how future residents could interpret or potentially misuse the amended regulations, particularly regarding animals, accessory structures and the number of casitas and pool houses allowed.
Council voted to continue the public hearing on zoning changes for Silver Rock until its June 21 meeting to allow for further discussion and additional information.
“I know the original owners will probably be awesome, but down the road we are concerned about who does what,” Mayor Jeff Jones said during the meeting.
The proposed changes for Stillwater, an eight-lot section made up of five-acre tracts, would expand permitted accessory structures to include casitas, pool houses, barns and animal enclosures while prohibiting breeding, kenneling and exotic animals.
An additional change would allow accessory structure size from a minimum of 1,000 square feet to a maximum of 5,000 square feet, with a total aggregate of 10,000 square feet. It would also allow detached garages or barns for tractors and RVs if screened from neighboring properties and roadways. It also prohibits subdivision of the single-family lots.
“Staff feels that this is actually appropriate. On a one acre lot, you don’t have all the room to do this. But on a 5 acre lot, you’ve got room for a barn and some horses. You’ve got room for some accessory structures,” Senior Planner Sandra Nash said.
Requests from Falcon Senior Living Center drew little discussion. The development requested covered parking structures and a taller entryway structure to accommodate emergency vehicles.
Residents also raised concerns about the Texas 71 entrances to the development, traffic impacts and the timeline for planned highway improvements tied to the project.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
This Content Submission and License Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between Victory Media Marketing LLC (“Company,” “we,” or “us”) and you (“User,” “you,” or “Submitter”) upon your submission of content through our websites’ See it, Share It form.
Submitted Content “Submitted Content” means any news tips, text, descriptions, images, photographs, videos, audio files, recordings, or other materials you upload, submit, or provide to us via the news tips forms on DailyTrib.com, KBEYfm.com, 101highlandlakes.com, or any other websites owned or operated by Victory Media Marketing LLC.
License Grant By submitting any Submitted Content, you hereby grant to Company a worldwide, non- exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, display, and otherwise exploit the Submitted Content in any form or medium (now known or hereafter developed), including but not limited to:
Publishing on DailyTrib.com, KBEYfm.com, 101highlandlakes.com, other Company websites, apps, newsletters, and social media platforms (such as Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, etc.).
Editing, formatting, or combining with other content for news, promotional, archival, or commercial purposes.
Allowing third parties (e.g., affiliates, syndication partners) to use it under the same terms. You retain ownership of the copyright in your Submitted Content, subject to the license granted above.
User Representations and Warranties You represent and warrant that:
You are at least 18 years old and have the full right and authority to grant the rights in this Agreement.
The Submitted Content is your original work or you have obtained all necessary permissions, consents, and releases (including from any individuals appearing in photos/videos or owners of any third-party materials).
The Submitted Content does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights, privacy rights, publicity rights, or defame any person.
It complies with all applicable laws and does not contain viruses, malware, or prohibited content.
You will not submit false, misleading, or confidential information.
No Compensation You understand and agree that you will receive no compensation for the submission or use of your Submitted Content.
Indemnification You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Company, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, liabilities, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from your breach of this Agreement or any third-party claims related to your Submitted Content.
Moral Rights and Publicity You waive any moral rights or rights of attribution in the Submitted Content to the extent permitted by law. Company may use your name, username, or likeness in connection with the Submitted Content if applicable.
Termination and Removal Company may, in its sole discretion, edit, refuse to post, or remove any Submitted Content at any time without notice. This Agreement survives any termination.
Governing Law This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict of laws principles. Any disputes shall be resolved exclusively in the courts located in Burnet County, Texas.
Entire Agreement This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements. Modifications must be in writing. By submitting content, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Agreement.
