The verdant Hill Country spring was on full display in this moment captured on Friday, May 15. A lone longhorn took a break from chewing and locked eyes with the lens from among a field bursting with the iconic wildflowers of the Highland Lakes. This particular beast was seen from the highway on a ranch bordering Texas 71 near Horseshoe Bay. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
Over $600,000 in scholarships were awarded to 151 graduating Burnet High School students by the Hill Country Community Foundation on Thursday evening, May 14, at the annual Burnet Senior Scholarship Night. More than $1 million in scholarships were awarded to Burnet students over the school year.
Hill Country Community Foundation Director Keith McBurnett, who served for 12 years as the Burnet Consolidated Independent School District superintendent until retiring in June 2024, said that the scholarships would allow BCISD students to continue pursuing their dreams without burden.
“(These scholarships) reflect a community-wide commitment to investing in students and helping ensure that every graduating senior- whether pursuing a university degree, trade school, or certification program- has access to opportunities beyond high school,” McBurnett said. “The scholarships help remove barriers, support workforce development, and encourage students to pursue their goals while knowing their hometown believes in their future.”
An additional $90,000 in community development scholarships were gifted to recent graduates pursuing bachelor’s degrees at the event.
“The Foundation’s Community Development Scholarship provides support to Burnet High School graduates during their sophomore, junior, and senior years of college, with recipients receiving $2,500 per year,” McBurnett said. “This year, the Foundation expanded the program by doubling the number of recipients from 6 to 12 students, allowing support for even more Burnet graduates pursuing higher education.”
In conjunction with other local scholarship events, over $1 million in scholarships were awarded to BCISD students throughout the year.
The HCCF, founded in 1983 with the help of community pillars John Hoover, Cary Johnson, and Alvin Nored, awarded four scholarships totaling $2,000 in its first year of operation. It has since grown to raise more than $8.4 million for 4,886 students.
Two Marble Falls High School students medaled at the state track and field meet on Thursday, May 14. Junior Madison Cuplin and sophomore Graham Goggans took home some hardware in three events after facing off against athletes from across Texas.
The Mustangs spent a long, hot Thursday at the 2026 UIL Track and Field 4A Conference State Track and Field Meet in Austin, competing at the Mike A. Myers Stadium on the University of Texas campus.
“We are so proud of these athletes not only for their accomplishments on the track and in the sand pits this season, but also for how they represented our community while earning all the medals,” reads a statement issued by Marble Falls Independent School District following the meet.
Brenda Gonzalez is the head cross country coach, head girls track and field coach, and the primary coach for long-distance runners at Marble Falls High School. She spent Thursday alongside Cuplin and Goggans, and hit home the gravity of the athletes’ stellar performances.
“It is impressive to get a medal in Texas,” Gonzalez told DailyTrib. “No matter the division, the quality and the talent is there.”
Cuplin competed in four events and medaled in two of them. She took eighth place in the girls 100 meter dash, and ninth in the girls 200 meter dash.
Triple jump
Cuplin took first in triple jump, an event also known as the “hop, step and jump” in which the athlete must perform a technical leap using a specific hop and step before launching as far as they can over a pit of sand. The distance is measured from the edge of a wooden take-off board on the runway leading up to the pit.
She hit 40 feet and 5.75 inches on her best out of six attempts to get gold, beating out the second-place finisher’s 39 feet 10.25 inches. The 4A state record for girls triple jump is 44 feet and 2.25 inches, achieved by Ychlindria Spears in the 2000-2001 academic year.
According to Gonzalez, Cuplin has jumped even farther on other occasions, with a personal best over 43 feet.
“(This result) just shows how hard she has worked,” she said. “Her work ethic, her attitude, her drive. And she still has another year (to compete).”
Long jump
Cuplin took silver in the long jump, but nearly got gold.
She tied for first, with both she and her opponent, Chiora Enyinna-Okeigbo, landing exactly the same max jump distance of 20 feet and 2.75 inches.
Under UIL rules, in the event of a long jump tie, the win goes to the athlete with the second longest jump in their series. Each athlete is given six jump attempts, with the best result counting towards their score.
Cuplin’s second farthest leap was 20 feet and .5 inches and Enyinna-Okeigbo’s was 20 feet and 1.75 inches.
Goggans only competed in one event, but he made a big impression. The young Mustang was a wildcard pick in the boys 800 meter run, meaning he was not among the top eight qualifiers, but his silver-medal finish proved he belonged among the best in the state.
“With his commitment and his competitiveness, he knew he could medal,” Coach Gonzalez said. “We aren’t surprised.”
Goggans finished the 800 meter run in 1 minute and 55.2 seconds, about .63 seconds behind the first place time of 1 minute and 54.57 seconds.
According to Goggans’ mother, Tracy, he wrote a Bible verse on his arm for the race, Hebrews 12:1-3.
One version of that biblical excerpt reads:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
“Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls or lose heart.”
It runs in the family
Speed might be in the Goggans genes. Graham’s older sister, Bailey, was a Marble Falls track star as well, having been ranked in the top 10 U.S. high schoolers in the girls 800 meter run as a senior, in the 2020-21 academic year.
A Marble Falls downtown lighting project is on hold after a delay pushes back the timeline.
The new 20-foot poles needed to move forward on the project are currently on back order and are not expected to arrive until June 15, delaying work beyond its original 120-day timeline that would have placed completion in May.
City Manager Caleb Kraenzel said during the May 5 Marble Falls City Council meeting that most of the work has already been completed, but crews cannot finish the final phase until the poles arrive.
The $429,429.50 project includes installing pedestrian lighting along Main Street from Second to Fourth streets, replacing existing median lights with the new poles placed on alternating sides of the street. The work also includes sidewalk and pavement restoration throughout downtown.
The new fixtures will include weather-resistant, programmable string lighting intended to better illuminate sidewalks and pedestrian areas downtown, while also improving the ambiance.
DailyTrib.com
The following people were arrested and booked into the Burnet County Jail from May 8-14, 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.
Bao Huynh, 31, of Kingsland was arrested May 8 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 or 1-B of less than 1 gram.
Juan Donesio Maldonado, 33, of Austin was arrested May 8 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.
David Alex Montoya, 47, of Granite Shoals was arrested May 8 by the Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD): aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, terroristic threat against peace officer or judge.
Ashley Megan Orsak, 30, of Marble Falls was arrested May 8 by the Bertram Police Department (BTPD): possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 or 1-B of less than 1 gram. Released on May 14 on $5,000 in bonds.
Michael Leslie Rigall, 44, of Austin was arrested May 8 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): assault causing bodily injury to a family member. Released on May 13 on $5,000 in bonds.
Randall Bryon Sankey, 57, of Marble Falls was arrested May 8 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): theft of aluminum, bronze, copper, or brass material valued less than $20,000.
Lucas Austin Slay, 19, of Meadowlakes was arrested May 8 by the Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD): unlicensed carry of a weapon.
Johnny Devan Wall, 49, of Burnet was arrested May 8 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 or 1-B of more than 4 grams but less than 200 grams, theft of property valued more than $2,500 but less than $30,000. Released on May 13 on $60,000 in bonds.
Kyley Denton Wills, 35, of Burnet was arrested May 8 by the Bertram Police Department (BTPD): possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 or 1-B of more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams, two counts, possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 3 of less than 28 grams.
Kevin Jay Black, 36, of Bertram was arrested May 9 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): aggravated sexual assault of a child. Released on May 9 on $70,000 in bonds.
Jimmy Ray Jackson, 59, of Granite Shoals was arrested May 9 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): assault of a family or household member impeding breathing or circulation. Released on May 9 on $10,000 in bonds.
Theodore Phalan Shamoun, 48, of Spicewood was arrested May 9 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): criminal trespassing. Released on May 9 on $1,500 in bonds.
Mike Lyn Cozby, 57, of Marble Falls was arrested May 10 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): driving while intoxicated, second charge. Released on May 10 on $10,000 in bonds.
Ysabel Cortez Delgado III, 37, of Burnet was arrested May 10 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Karson Wayne Gardner, 17, of Dripping Springs was arrested May 10 by the Cottonwood Shores Police Department (CTWPD): fleeing a police officer, driving while intoxicated. Released on May 10 on $3,000 in bonds.
William Garrett Goudeau, 32, of Kempner was arrested May 11 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): evading arrest or detention with a previous conviction, two counts.
Alan Campbell Hausman, 18, of Kingsland was arrested May 11 by the Bertram Police Department (BTPD): prohibited weapon, theft of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 3 of less than 28 grams, unlicensed carry of a weapon.
Joe Brian Moore, 42, of Kingsland was arrested May 11 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): driving while license invalid, suspended, or revoked. Released on May 11 on $500 in bonds.
Trey Hunter Moore, 25, of Bertram was arrested May 11 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): driving while intoxicated.
Anthony Luis Villarreal, 35, of Marble Falls was arrested May 11 by the Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD): assault causing bodily injury to a family member. Released on May 12 on $5,000 in bonds.
Anthony Luis Villarreal, 35, of Marble Falls was arrested May 11 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 or 1-B of less than 1 gram. Released on May 12 on $15,000 in bonds.
Brian Dale Stone Jr., 45, of Granite Shoals was arrested May 12 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): contempt of court.
Jordan Paige Summers, 31, of Granite Shoals was arrested May 12 by the Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD): possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 of more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams.
Troy Lane Boyer, 57, of Midland was arrested May 13 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): violation of a bond or protective order.
Jessica Robin Campbell, 49, of Granite Shoals was arrested May 13 by the Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD): criminal trespassing.
Ryan Alexander Gonzales, 33, of Austin was arrested May 13 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 or 1-B of less than 1 gram, unlicensed carry of a weapon. Released on May 14 on $40,000 in bonds.
Adam Joseph Gonzales, 40, of Burnet was arrested May 13 by the Cottonwood Shores Police Department (CTWPD): driving while license invalid with a previous conviction or suspension without financial responsibility. Released on May 14 on $1,500 in bonds.
Gayland Brent Gumbert, 54, of Burnet was arrested May 13 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): driving while intoxicated.
Chareon Lawter, 60, of Burnet was arrested May 13 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Timothy Scott Maynard, 43, of Cottonwood Shores was arrested May 13 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): driving while intoxicated, second charge. Released on May 13 on $10,000 in bonds.
Brittany Janiell McCurry, 32, of Meadowlakes was arrested May 13 by the Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD): possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 or 1-B of more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams, failure to identify as a fugitive with intent to give false information, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts, open container of alcohol.
Trey William Piehl III, 37, of Burnet was arrested May 13 by the Burnet Police Department (BPD): deadly conduct discharging a firearm, terroristic threat of a public servant causing fear or imminent serious bodily injury, tampering with identification numbers of personal property.
Roger Lewis Reeves Jr., 40, of Llano was arrested May 13 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): speeding less than 10 percent over 60 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour zone. Released on May 14, paid fine.
Douglas Earl Roberson, 43, of Round Mountain was arrested May 13 by the Burnet Police Department (BPD): parole violation.
Michael Maurice Beverly, 51, of Blanco was arrested May 14 by the Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD): driving while license invalid with a previous conviction or suspension without financial responsibility.
Audum Pasha Brown, 21, of Kingsland was arrested May 14 by the Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD): driving while license invalid with a previous conviction or suspension without financial responsibility.
Enrique Flores Jr., 47, of Kingsland was arrested May 14 by the Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD): possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sean Tyler Kirkpatrick, 33, of Marble Falls was arrested May 14 by the Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD): aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Jimmy Lee Lerma, 53, of Marble Falls was arrested May 14 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 or 1-B of less than 1 gram, bail jumping and failure to appear as a felon.
Logan Byron Luckie, 19, of Johnson City was arrested May 14 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): manslaughter, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts, aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, two counts. Released on May 14 on $65,000 in bonds.
Lance Wayne Mann, 66, of Leander was arrested May 14 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): driving while license invalid with a previous conviction or suspension without financial responsibility.
Brittany Janiell McCurry, 32, of Meadowlakes was arrested May 14 by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO): possession of marijuana of less than 2 ounces, possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 or 1-B of more than 4 grams but less than 200 grams.
Thomas Calvin Mrozovich, 38, of Marble Falls was arrested May 14 by the Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD): evading arrest or detention with a vehicle or watercraft, reckless driving. Released on May 14 on $7,500 in bonds.
James Edward Rector, 46, of Granite Shoals was arrested May 14 by the Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD): possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1 or 1-B of more than 4 grams but less than 200 grams.
Reed Waymond Summers, 32, of Houston was arrested May 14 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.
Michael Lee Tracy, 58, of Marble Falls was arrested May 14 by the Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD): public intoxication.
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.
Monday, May 18
Burnet City Council
11:30 a.m. regular meeting
Executive Conference Room, 301 E. Jackson St in Burnet
Burnet Consolidated ISD Board of Trustees
6 p.m. regular meeting
Board Room, 208 E. Brier in Burnet
Tuesday, May 19
Horseshoe Bay City Council
3 p.m. regular meeting
Council Chambers, 9101 W. FM 2147 in Horseshoe Bay
Marble Falls ISD Board of Trustees
6 p.m. regular meeting
Community Room, 1800 Colt Circle in Marble Falls
Wednesday, May 20
LCRA Board
1:15 p.m. regular meeting
Board Room, 3700 Lake Austin Boulevard in Austin
Thursday, May 21
Cottonwood Shores City Council
6 p.m. regular meeting
Civic Center, 4111 Cottonwood Dr in Cottonwood Shores
No agenda was posted at this time.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is hosting two public meetings to get community input on the development of Post Oak Ridge State Park, a new state park that will hug the borders of Burnet and Lampasas counties along the Colorado River.
The TPWD will use public input to inform decisions on recreational access, trail design, wildlife and habitat protection, and cultural storytelling.
If you are unable to attend a meeting in person, an online questionnaire will be made available starting on June 3 for 30 days.
“TPWD invites you to help us plan the development of Post Oak Ridge State Park – a new 3,000-plus-acre park located along the Colorado River in Burnet and Lampasas counties,” reads a park development notice. “On this rugged, ecologically diverse landscape, we will provide outdoor access, protect sensitive habitats, and celebrate the area’s culture and heritage.”
The development plan includes:
The Marble Falls City Council saw several leadership changes following a Wednesday, May 13, special meeting, including new members, a resignation, and a mayor pro tem appointment.
New councilors Dave Rhodes and Mark Mayfield, along with incumbent Richard Westerman, were sworn in during the meeting. Councilor Craig Magerkurth was reappointed mayor pro tem, a position that fills in for mayoral duties when needed.
Rhodes defeated incumbent councilor Lauren Haltom for Place 3.
Mayfield was elected to Place 1, defeating opponent Rhonda Brown.
Westerman was reelected unopposed for Place 5.
Mayfield, Rhodes, and Westerman have all consistently served the city in various capacities and held council positions for the last several years.
Resignation
Following the meeting, Karlee Hubble announced on Thursday, May 14, that she was resigning from her Place 4 seat, which was not up for reelection this cycle, creating a vacancy on the council. She had served since 2023 and was in the midst of her second term in office.
The council is expected to vote on an appointment to fill the vacant seat in June.
“At this point in my life, my growing family and my full-time career need my full attention,” Hubble said in her resignation announcement. “While this decision was not easy, I know it is the right one for me and my family.”
New, old leaders
Rhodes, Mayfield, and Westerman have all had stints on Marble Falls City Council stretching back to the 1990s.
Most recently, Rhodes served two terms as councilor and one as mayor before terming out in 2025. While away from the council, he has served on the Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors.
“I feel I have a calling for this,” Rhodes told DailyTrib. “I can’t say I don’t enjoy (serving on the council), because I do. To me it is an investment in the future of the city.”
Mayfield spent decades running the Texas Housing Foundation before retiring in 2024. Recently, he too has served as a director for the Marble Falls EDC.
“It’s great (being back on the council), I think I’m going to be able to contribute a lot more at this stage of my life now that I’m retired,” Mayfield told DailyTrib.
Westerman has served on the city council on and off since 1991. He helped establish the city’s Industrial Development Corporation, which eventually evolved into the Marble Falls EDC. Most recently, he was elected to his Place 5 council seat in 2024, following up a reelection run for mayor that he lost to Rhodes in 2023.
“I’m absolutely beside myself that the citizens of Marble Falls trust me to represent them,” Westerman told DailyTrib. “We try to be good stewards of the taxpayers’ money and make sure that everything we do serves the city.”
All three men shared that the completion of the city’s One Water Treatment Plant was a top priority for them, along with effectively managing growth and development.
“This (water treatment) project is probably one of the most important in the next 50 years for Marble Falls,” Westerman said.
Parting words
Haltom ran on a platform emphasizing parental and family representation on the council. She served two terms and lost her bid for a third against Rhodes.
“Families are such a huge part of what makes Marble Falls special, and having leaders who understand the day-to-day realities of raising kids, balancing careers, and investing in the community brings valuable perspective to local government,” Haltom told DailyTrib. “The gents on council now have all led before. Sad to lose a powerful young representative and voice with Karlee leaving as well.”
She also encouraged continued civic involvement among younger residents.
“More than anything, I hope people, especially in my generation, continue stepping up to be involved in our community in whatever capacity they can. Marble Falls is fortunate to have so many people who care deeply about this town, and that’s what will continue to make it thrive,” Haltom said.
Burnet recognized the efforts of two diligent employees at its last two city council meetings, awarding them with the city’s annual City Manager Award of Excellence and Employee of the Year Award.
Burnet Police Officer Justin Ornelas was named the recipient of the City Manager Award on April 28, and city equipment operator Matt Feild was named the recipient of the Employee of the Year Award on May 12.
City Manager David Vaughn spoke highly of Officer Ornelas’ service to the city, which he has patrolled since 2023. Beginning as a non-certified officer, Ornelas worked his way through the police academy, graduating six months later in October, and later became a K-9 officer alongside his partner, Enzo, in January 2026.
“Every year we give out an award to an employee who has shown an outstanding dedication to serving our community,” Vaughn said at the April 28 meeting. “I think nobody epitomizes that more than Justin. Even though you’re (addressing Ornelas) one of the newer officers to the force, I think you’ve set an incredible example for everybody.”
At the May 12 council meeting, Vaughn also touted Feild’s dedication to the city, which he joined in 2023, especially in times of need like the July floods and the brief ice storm in January.
“When you’re sitting with the leaders that run this city, and they say ‘this person is an outstanding employee,’ and they recognize it, it says a lot,” Vaughn said of Feild’s nomination. “Often people think (their work) is going unnoticed, and people are not seeing the effort. They absolutely see it.”
