A missing 81-year-old woman was found dead on Wednesday, May 20, at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. 

According to a media release issued by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the unnamed woman was reported missing at around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19. She reportedly had become lost near the Loop Trail at Enchanted Rock, leading to an hours-long search conducted by multiple agencies throughout the night.

The TWPD stated that the search was heavily hindered by severe weather on Tuesday night. The search continued on Wednesday morning. The missing hiker was found at around 9:30 a.m. and pronounced dead at the scene.

“Our thoughts are with the woman’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” reads a statement from the TPWD.

The Texas State Park Police are investigating the incident. 

editor@thepicayune.com

Three members of the Burnet County Commissioners Court have filed official testimony in the case of a controversial state transmission line project, and each of them expressed their explicit concern that the line could have huge impacts on the county and the plans for it may not follow the letter of the law.

Burnet County Judge Bryan Wilson, Precinct 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle, and Precinct 1 Commissioner Jim Luther all filed testimonies on May 13 as intervenors representing the county in the case of the Bell County East to Big Hill 765-kV Transmission Project. These testimonies will be used in the coming Public Utility Commission of Texas hearings in June that will determine when, how, and if the project moves forward.

The project is of special concern to Burnet County, as all proposed routes for the transmission line pass through it. If the line were approved in its current form, it would run over 200 miles between Bell and Schleicher counties, and bring 200-300 foot easements, massive eminent domain purchases, 18 story steel towers every 1,000 feet, and the highest voltage transmission lines in Texas to Burnet County and beyond. 

The proposed line would be jointly constructed by Oncor Electric Delivery and the Lower Colorado River Authority, who filed their official application with the PUCT in March to move forward with the project. Hundreds of intervenors have filed to get involved with the case in the hopes of altering or potentially stopping the project before the PUCT makes a final decision in September.

Wilson’s testimony

Judge Wilson’s testimony emphasized the potential cultural, economic, ecological, and logistical impacts that the proposed transmission line would have on Burnet County. 

You can see the judge’s full testimony at this link: Wilson testimony.

DailyTrib used select excerpts from Wilson’s testimony to compile the following:

• “If these routes are authorized, the transition from rural ranches, small businesses and private property to an industrial corridor will be irreversible.”

• “The placement of a 765kV transmission line across raw land in Burnet County represents an industrial transformation of the Texas Hill Country that extends far beyond a simple utility easement. These “electrical super-highways” require a massive physical footprint, typically necessitating a clear-cut right-of-way between 200 and 400 feet wide to accommodate double-circuit towers that stand up to 200 feet tall.” 

• “When cutting through previously undeveloped land, this project does not merely parallel existing infrastructure; it carves a permanent scar through native ecosystems, fragments wildlife habitats, and disrupts the historical continuity of heritage ranches.”

• “The towers (of the Western Regional Radio System) were funded with Federal Department of Homeland Security grants and continue to be operated and maintained by WRRS under the original Federal agreements. Oncor and LCRA have failed to produce any studies or data to demonstrate that they have protected this critical emergency management communication system. Additionally, LCRA has not included any proposed lines that operate near their competing communication towers.”

• “Several of the proposed segments pass near state-purchased land dedicated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife new Post Oak Bend State Park. This undermines the preservation of the dedicated funding purposes. ONCOR and LCRA deliberately chose these streams beds even though the PURA directs the avoidance of these types of environmentally sensitive routes. 

•  “The total disregard of the historic significance is contrary to the state and local efforts by the Texas Historical Commission, the Burnet County Historical Commission, and the Texas Department of Agriculture. 

• “The proposed lines fail to address the impacts of these lines on calving, forage production, apiary production and general health of the land that makes a significant portion of the $2.7 billion economy.”

Beierle’s testimony

Beierle’s testimony highlighted his concerns that the 765-kV project had been “fast tracked” and that it could negatively impact wildlife, private property, and the health and safety of residents.

You can see the commissioner’s full testimony at this link: Beierle testimony.

DailyTrib used select excerpts from Beierle’s testimony to compile the following:

• “One of the most troubling aspects of this proposal is the lack of clear, independently verified evidence demonstrating that a project of this scale is necessary. Rural Texans are being asked to surrender private property rights, accept long-term visual and environmental impacts, and assume unknown health and safety risks without transparent data proving the actual need for these transmission lines.”

• “I am also troubled by the lack of transparency of the process. Landowners were not involved until after the decision to build this project at a 765kV level. No input from landowners was invited or presented to the Commission before Oncor and LCRA were already selected to build the transmission lines.”

• “The citizens of Burnet County, Texas should have been included in all steps before and during the process, not after. The burden should not now fall on rural communities to absorb permanent impacts simply because transmission expansion is being broadly promoted as future planning.”

• Texas has long recognized the importance of private property rights. Many of the affected properties in Burnet County are legacy ranches held by families for generations. These lands are not merely economic assets; they are part of the identity, history, and long-term stewardship of our region.”

• “The use of eminent domain authority for projects lacking clearly demonstrated necessity and publicly-vetted decisions undermines public confidence in the regulatory process and places disproportionate burdens on rural landowners who receive no direct benefit from the infrastructure crossing their property.”

• “Burnet County is not an industrial corridor. It is a rural landscape made up of working ranches, multi-generational family properties, critical watersheds, wildlife habitats, historical resources, and unique archaeological areas that represent the cultural and environmental heritage of Central Texas. The construction of massive 765kV transmission infrastructure through these areas would cause permanent and irreversible impacts to the land, the people who steward it, and the rural character that defines our county.” 

• “The proposed transmission corridors threaten to fragment habitat, disrupt nesting patterns, increase noise and construction disturbances, and permanently alter the open landscape these birds rely upon for nesting and hunting. Bald eagles are federally protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and other federal wildlife protections. The Commission should require comprehensive wildlife impact assessments before approving routes through known eagle habitat and migratory corridors.”

Luther’s testimony 

Luther’s testimony explicitly stated his direct concerns for the transmission line’s potential impact on landowners, public lands, and the Burnet County community’s well-being.

You can see the commissioner’s full testimony at this link: Luther testimony.

• “The installation of 160 to 200-foot (or taller) transmission towers and associated lines would impose a permanent visual and physical burden on homes, ranches, and agricultural land.”

• “Regardless of whether compensation is provided through eminent domain, these individuals would be required to live indefinitely with large-scale infrastructure that alters the character, use, and value of their properties. And for some property owners, it could have more specific harm, interfering with their houses and other buildings on the property, areas of the property that have historic, cultural and sentimental value, and fields, and/or grazing areas. Similarly, those living in the immediate area along the proposed corridor will also suffer, only without eminent domain compensation.”

• “There are significant concerns related to the potential impact on Post Oak State Park, particularly its landscape, wildlife, and natural habitat. The introduction of high-voltage transmission infrastructure could disrupt ecosystems, fragment habitats, and diminish the scenic qualities that define the park and surrounding Hill Country environment.”

• “The project raises important questions about public health and safety for both residents and visitors. The proximity of large transmission lines to homes, recreational areas, and public spaces introduces concerns that warrant careful consideration, including safety risks and the overall quality of life for those who live in or visit the area.”

• “Obviously, because this project has been planned, someone believes that these types of high-power lines are safe. However, Burnet County does not believe it should serve as the testing ground to prove or disprove this thought. Until scientific studies can be completed on the short- and long-term effects of these high voltage lines, it is reckless to place them near homeowners when there are alternative established routes available that do not interfere with private property.”

• “I fully recognize the need for the State to address power issues for the future. However, the placement of high-power transmission lines inside Burnet County will destroy the county’ s natural beauty, erode efforts to sustain and preserve the unique terrain, interfere with necessary communication systems, potentially destroy the tourism business, and place the public health at risk.”

dakota@thepicayune.com 

Some much-needed repairs to the Galloway-Hammond ballfields in Burnet have been steadily progressing for nearly 11 months following the devastating Central Texas floods of July 2025.

The ballfields, located at the Burnet YMCA at 1601 S. Water Street, suffered significant damage during the flood, washing away dugouts and leaving restrooms and concession stands in ruin.

Over nine months later, City Manager David Vaughn shared during an April 28 city council meeting that repairs on the dugouts had been progressing smoothly and that a new bathroom located at the upper-level fields had begun work. 

The city recently shared updates on the project on May 12 from Nailhead Spur, a local metal fabricator, showcasing the finished Galloway-Hammond dugouts.

Vaughn also unveiled plans for a new centralized concession stand, restroom, and elevated seating hub that was in the early stages of development.

The hub would include two awning-covered pavilions with seating to be able to view multiple fields at once, surrounding a concession stand and restrooms near the center of the complex.

“I think that (the complex) would be a huge addition,” Vaughn said. “You would walk up to the concession stand, you have two large awnings off either side, so you can sit under either awning and see two fields at one time and watch the action.”

Vaughn emphasized that the hub was in a very early planning stage, and that there were still many steps to be taken with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Texas Division of Emergency Management before the project could build steam.

Since the floods, city staff has worked closely with FEMA and TDEM to garner funding and engineering services for flood repairs, targeting fixes at Galloway-Hammond as a priority due to the fields hosting several sporting leagues.

Hamilton Creek was one of several waterways throughout the Hill Country which overflowed and wreaked havoc on nearby structures, and it runs right through Galloway-Hammond and splits its upper and lower-level ballfields. When the floods hit, the creek overflowed and damaged a significant amount of the complex.

caden@thepicayune.com

Several Burnet Bulldogs will go on to play at the next level after graduation, with nine student athletes signing to continue their journeys in college.

Throughout the year, three football stars, two softball strikers, and phenoms from tennis, baseball, track, and cheer were able to pen their names into the rosters of eight schools across the country.

These athletes and their schools include:

• Adler Goehring – Howard Payne Football
• Josiah Coronado – Howard Payne Football
• Peyton Lopez – Schreiner Football
• Journey Denton – Tarleton University Softball
• Kendall Winkley – Concordia Softball
• Nick Dietrich – University of Dallas Tennis
• Charles Edwards – Mountain View College Baseball
• Asah Roy – Harding University Track/Cross Country
• Callie Juergens – East Texas Baptist University Cheer

The Burnet Consolidated Independent School District held several signing days throughout the year, including its most recent on April 30, to give each player a moment in the spotlight and to congratulate them on elevating their game.

caden@thepicayune.com

The Marble Falls Independent School District Board of Trustees swore in incumbent board members Mandy McCary, Place 3, and Larry Berkman, Place 4, during its May 19 meeting.

McCary and Berkman both ran unopposed in the May 2 election and will each serve another three-year term on the board through 2029.

“We appreciate your role in helping lead this district,” Board President Alex Payson said during the meeting.

McCary, the board’s vice president, is an attorney and partner at McCary & McCary, P.C. She has served on the board since 2020 and has been involved with several local organizations and committees, including the Marble Falls Rotary Club and the Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center.

Berkman was first elected to the board in 2014 after a longtime career with MFISD, where he served as head basketball coach for 21 years and helped establish several district and community programs. He later opened a small business and served on the Highland Lakes/Marble Falls Chamber of Commerce Advisory Board.

maci@thepicayune.com

Horseshoe Bay is backing Llano County’s move toward countywide voting, a change that would allow residents to cast ballots at any polling location in the county on Election Day instead of being limited to their assigned precinct.

The Horseshoe Bay City Council approved the city’s inclusion in the Countywide Polling Place Program during its May 19 meeting, supporting a plan already approved by the Llano County Commissioners Court in February.

The program is currently used in 96 Texas counties, including neighboring Burnet County, and it allows voters to cast ballots at any polling site within the county rather than having to vote in a designated voting precinct based on the location of your residence.

The current application applies only to the Nov. 3 general election. Under the existing system, voters must cast ballots at their designated precinct polling location on Election Day. The countywide program would remove that restriction, allowing voters to vote at any polling place in Llano County.

After the election, county officials will evaluate voter experience and determine whether to make the program permanent.

maci@thepicayune.com

Mormon Mill Nature Park is the newest addition to the public park system of Marble Falls. The city held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 12-acre green getaway on May 1 amid a torrential downpour, but DailyTrib staff returned during clearer skies to inspect the unique outdoor space.

The new park lies at 2600 Parkview Drive, at the intersection of Parkview and Park Ridge Drive, about a quarter mile from its namesake Mormon Mill Road. It includes a large playground, a half-mile nature trail, bird watching stations, restrooms, a wetlands preserve, picnic areas, open fields, and untouched wild spaces. It was designed with nature, and meeting the wants of the community, in mind.

“I hope the park does exactly what we heard from citizens during the public meetings for the project — enhance people’s ability to enjoy the natural elements of the space while also adding convenient amenities and fun elements for kids,” said Marble Falls Parks and Recreation Director Lacey Dingman in a written response to questions from DailyTrib.com.

Dingman explained that the park had been in the works since at least 2016, with a solid vision forming between 2022 and 2024 as the city held community stakeholder meetings that informed the end-result design of the park. 

“We received feedback through two dedicated public design meetings, surveys, Parks and Recreation Commission meetings, and additional joint Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council meetings,” Dingman said. “The community provided thoughtful input on everything from playground equipment and trail materials to parking and accessibility.”

In the end, the park was built for around $1.5 million, with $726,207 coming from a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant and the remainder coming from city funds.

The Playscape

While Mormon Mill Nature Park has a standard playground and swings, it also has other unique equipment. 

The most striking feature of the park’s playscape is the cluster of large, green, gourd-shaped structures suspended above the ground. They are hollow and have ropes hanging from inside, offering a challenging climbing experience for kids.

Meadowlakes resident Corey Unrein was visiting the park with her young sons when DailyTrib visited on May 13. Her seven-year-old and two-year-old were hard at work, climbing in and out of the gourds on the day.

“We were really excited for another outdoor park and a new space for kids to play,” she told DailyTrib. “I think it’s great, it’s a different style of park than we have in Marble Falls. My kids love to climb and jump and this gives them ample opportunities to do that.”

There is also a large climbing net, artificial turf, and a series of platforms that emit different musical tones as they are stepped on.

Nature

The park sits on 12 acres, and most of that is undeveloped, but that means that there is an abundance of wildlife, wildflowers, and green space that are all relatively accessible to visitors.

Dingman said that one of her favorite aspects of the park was the half-mile walking trail system that blends in with the natural character of the land. 

The partially-paved walking trail winds around a wide open patch of wetlands that was left intact throughout construction, with the intention of inviting birds and other animals to the site while retaining soil moisture for the landscape. It then weaves through a thicket of native trees, shrubs, and flowers before remerging on the other side of the park.

Informative signage lines the trail system, helping visitors identify birds, flowers, trees, and more that they may see on the jaunt. 

dakota@thepicayune.com 

The Burnet Consolidated Independent School District seated a new board trustee and reaffirmed an incumbent trustee during its Monday, May 18, meeting. The district also swore in the chief of its own newly-established police department.

The board’s new trustee, Amber Cardenas, was elected to replace outgoing Place 3 trustee Suzanne Brown. Place 7 incumbent Mark Kincaid was similarly elected to serve another term in his seat. Both candidates ran unopposed on the May 2 ballot, and were subsequently elected to their respective positions immediately following the election.

The new board also reappointed Earl Foster, Angela Moore, and Kincaid to their positions as president, vice president, and secretary respectively.

Prior to the certification of the trustees, Superintendent Dr. Aaron Peña recognized outgoing trustee Brown’s service to the district, which she joined in 2017.

“Suzanne joined the BCISD Board of Trustees in May 2017, bringing not only professional experience and leadership, but also the perspective of a deeply-invested parent and community member,” Dr. Peña said. “She consistently kept students at the center of every conversation and decision.”

At the same meeting, Dewayne Kyle was sworn in as the district’s first-ever chief of police. BCISD began laying the groundwork for its own police department in March 2025 and hired Kyle as its chief of security at the time.

Chief Kyle is the former chief of police for the city of Bertram, and brings 40 years of law enforcement experience to the district.

caden@thepicayune.com

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles (TBPP) is reviewing two tampering with evidence convictions given to Kyler Nathaniel Allen, one of two suspects arrested in the 2023 Tow shooting deaths of a father and his son, for the possibility of serving his sentence under parole.

The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to two tampering charges, one which stemmed from the 2023 double homicide, on April 30 after accepting a plea deal. As part of that deal, Allen was given two eight-year sentences to be served concurrently.

Upon reviewing the case, the TBPP will decide whether or not to allow Allen to serve the remainder of his sentence in the community under supervision from a parole officer.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice sent notice to DailyTrib of the TBPP’s review and noted that these case reviews are typically completed within two to six months from the date of notification (May 18), but could take longer.

The notice also stated that those affected by the crime were welcome to submit letters to the TBPP to better inform its decision on granting parole. Letters may be emailed to victim.svc@tdcj.texas.gov or mailed to TDCJ Victim Services Division, and should include the case number (SID# 19666963).

Another condition of Allen’s plea deal permanently opened the door for the court to refile charges against Allen for his suspected role in the 2023 homicides. He was initially charged with two counts of capital murder in that case, but, according to 33rd/424th District Attorney Perry Thomas, those charges were dropped on April 30 based on current evidence.

The second suspect

On March 26, a Llano County jury sentenced Jordan Eric Ostrander, 23, the second of the two suspects, to a total of 145 years in prison for two counts of murder.

The jury assessed a sentence of 75 years for the murder of 14-year-old Evan Wessling, and a sentence of 70 years for the murder of 38-year-old Preston Wessling. These sentences will run concurrently, which means that Ostrander will serve up to 75 years, as both sentences will be served at the same time.

Background

Ostrander and Allen were each charged with capital murder of multiple persons for their alleged involvement in the Jan. 14, 2023, shooting deaths of Wessling and his son, Evan, at a home on Airport Road in Tow.

Llano County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a 911 call at 4:49 a.m. on Jan. 14 about multiple gunshot victims at a home on Airport Road in Tow. The father and son were found lying in the driveway with gunshot wounds and were declared dead at the scene.

Ostrander and Allen were arrested by Texas Rangers, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, and Guadalupe County sheriff’s deputies two days later and were held in multiple county jails without bond while awaiting trial.

caden@thepicayune.com