A redesigned version of the Bluffview Waters development is expected to bring a mix of condominiums and villas to Cottonwood Shores, though construction is not expected to begin until 2029.
Cottonwood Shores City Council approved the project’s final site plan and development agreement in its June 18 meeting, authorizing a revised plan that replaces two condominium towers of 113 units and 15 villas with a single 98-unit tower and 22 villas on a hilltop site near the border of Horseshoe Bay city limits off of RM 2147.
The view atop the hill on Princess Path near the Bluffview Waters development site in Cottonwood Shores. Staff photo by Maci Cottingham
To accommodate underground parking and the site’s terrain, the building’s maximum height was increased from 80 feet to 85 feet. Short-term rentals will be permitted under city ordinances and state law.
The project’s cost was previously estimated at $75 million, but updated projections were not released following the redesign. An estimate from when the project was first pitched publicly in 2025 put the development’s completed value at around $150 million. At the time, City Manager J.C. Hughes noted that the total value of property in Cottonwood Shores was only about $200 million.
The original timeline called for a three- to five-year completion, though construction is now not expected to begin until early 2029. According to City Manager Hughes, developers are moving forward with plans for an entry roadway and detailed building design work ahead of the projected start date.
As part of the development agreement, the developer must install construction entrance signage along RM 2147 and provide directional signs for construction traffic. Heavy trucks and construction vehicles will be prohibited from using streets within the Castle Terrace subdivision or entering through the neighborhood’s main entrance.
Possible amenities include an outdoor pavilion, spa, infinity-edge pool, pickleball courts, fitness center, café and bar, dog park, hiking trails and a tennis court.
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Granite Shoals will host its annual Fourth of July Golf Cart Parade at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 4.
Participants can gather at the Granite Shoals Community Center, 1208 N. Phillips Ranch Road, at 8:15 a.m. before the parade begins and travels to Crockett Park, 702 Sherwood Forest Drive. No pre-registration is required, and only golf carts are permitted. Following the parade, attendees are invited to Crockett Park for complimentary hot dogs and refreshments, and awards will be handed out for the most patriotic golf carts.
“The Fourth of July Golf Cart Parade has become a signature community tradition, and as our nation celebrates its 250th birthday, we are honored to bring residents and visitors together to commemorate this historic milestone, celebrate our shared heritage, and strengthen the connections that make our community so special,” City Manager Sarah Novo told DailyTrib. “Events like these remind us that the strength of our nation begins with strong communities and neighbors coming together in celebration.”
The event will also feature the community’s “Christmas in July” toy drive benefiting Operation Christmas Outreach. New, unwrapped toys will be accepted at the Community Center before the parade and at Crockett Park afterward. Donations also will be collected throughout July at the Granite Shoals Fire Station.
“The generosity of Granite Shoals residents has always been one of our greatest strengths, and every toy donated helps bring hope, joy, and the magic of Christmas to local children and families,” Novo said. “Together, we make a lasting impact and help ensure that every child has something special to celebrate each holiday season.”
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Nine Burnet Consolidated Independent School District coaches have made strides off the field to earn their commercial driver’s licenses with the help of the district’s dedicated transportation staff.
After tackling a rigorous training process, coaches Marci Clanin, Brandon Cunningham, Andrew Baker, Connor McBurnett, Travis Meadows, Sonny Wilson, Mark Zeigler, Treasure Ellerbe, and Kendal Connolly all received their CDLs within the last few months.
According to BCISD Director of Transportation Jennifer Stevens, coaches in the district are required to earn their CDLs so they can drive their own buses to ease the strain on transportation staff during athletic events.
Coaches go through an intense training process, earning their learner’s permits throughout the school year, reviewing a series of safety videos, and participating in a week of summertime lessons that the transportation department has dubbed “Hell Week.”
“We started it first last year,” Stevens told DailyTrib. “We call it Hell Week because it’s hot and intense. We go from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for five days, bring in a few trainers from other districts, give coaches drive time, and instruct them on what to do.”
Once the coaches cross the goal line of Hell Week, it’s off to take their tests, which are completed in-house.
Stevens told DailyTrib that the transportation team began offering its CDL training program as an option for coaches who are bogged down with regular work during the school year. By hosting training sessions in the summer, coaches are able to focus more, ask questions, and build a comfortable relationship with their instructors.
“A lot of (coaches) like it,” Stevens said. “We have lunch and can talk about things with them while eating. And we build that rapport with them to be able to give them their expectations.”
Coach Marci Clanin poses as Michael Meyers as a jest towards the BCISD transportation team after receiving her CDL.
As a congratulations, the transportation team also made a tradition of giving coaches a souvenir based on their experience at Hell Week once they pass their exams.
“At the end of the week, we give them something that reminds us of them,” Stevens said. “When coach Clanin got into the bus, she was just saying ‘don’t die, don’t die.’ So we gave her a paper sack that said ‘don’t die’ as a joke.”
In response, Clanin came back later to poke fun at the transportation team, wearing a Michael Meyers outfit that she apparently bought for Halloween.
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The Marble Falls Police Department arrested on Sunday, June 21, the Texas Department of Public Safety’s featured fugitive of June 2026. The arrest was made thanks to a tip submitted to local law enforcement.
MFPD cuffed 19-year-old Victor Manuel Ramos Jr. on Sunday, charging him with possession of a controlled substance. Ramos Jr. was wanted for failing to comply with annual sex offender registration requirements in connection to a child sexual assault conviction in Llano County.
According to DPS reports, Ramos was captured using information submitted through Texas Crime Stoppers.
“Working off tip information, Marble Falls Police Department officers located and arrested Ramos at a business,” reads the report.
The $4,000 reward offered by Texas Crime Stoppers for information leading to Ramos’ capture was awarded to the anonymous informant.
Ramos had been wanted since August 2025 leading up to his arrest. He was known to have connections to Horseshoe Bay, Cottonwood Shores, and Marble Falls. He was noted as “transient” when booked into the Burnet County Jail on Sunday.
According to a media release issued by DPS, Ramos was convicted in April 2025 of sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by sexual contact in connection to a 2023 incident involving a 16-year-old girl, when he was 17 years old.
He reportedly failed to comply with sex offender registration requirements in Llano County and was also wanted out of Burnet County for violations of his probation.
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The Llano community is going all out for its Fourth of July celebrations, with days of events, contests, and more leading up to its big Independence Day party on the Llano River.
July 1
“Born of Rebellion: Inspired by Liberty: The Common Causes of the United States, Texas and Mexico”
5:30 p.m. at the Llano Art Gallery, Bessemer Avenue in Llano
Texas historian, author, and photographer Ben Friberg will give a lecture on his series “Born of Rebellion: Inspired by Liberty: The Common Causes of the United States, Texas and Mexico”. The event is free to attend and hosted by the Llano County Historical Commission and the Llano Fine Arts Guild.
July 2
Declaration of Independence reading
10 a.m. on the lawn of the Llano County Courthouse, 801 Ford Street in Llano
Local leaders will read the Declaration of Independence on the grounds of the historic Llano County Courthouse. Bring your own chair and enjoy complimentary hot dogs, chips, and water.
July 3
“In their own words”
7 p.m. at the Lantex Theater, 113 West Main Street in Llano
The Llano Community Theatre is putting on a free patriotic performance on July 3, featuring dramatic readings of actual letters from several of the Founding Fathers and live music from the Llano Community Children’s Choir.
July 4
America 250 on the Llano River
9 a.m.- 11 p.m. at Badu City Park, 300 Legion Drive in Llano
Llano is hosting a full day of events at Badu City Park on the Fourth of July. Games and contests will take place throughout the day, with vendors offering souvenirs, food, and drinks at the park. Below is a basic schedule of events capped off by a fireworks show.
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The district will approve its tax rate for the school year in August to fund the budget, which was passed by the BCISD Board of Trustees during its regular meeting on Monday, June 22.
The approved 2026-27 budget, totalling roughly $58.5 million, will support the district’s maintenance and operations, food service, and debt service funds. The total comes in at $312,000, or about 0.53 percent, more than BCISD’s budget for the 2025-26 school year.
BCISD Chief Financial Officer Clay Goehring explained to trustees that the budget’s slight increase was based on several factors going into next year, including somewhat stagnant enrollment, a small increase to student attendance, and a previously-approved teacher pay raise.
“We’re projecting enrollment of 3,213 (students) – that was the average enrollment for last year,” Goehring said during Monday’s meeting. “Our attendance percentage was up 0.41 percent, so we are budgeting for that to continue. And these expenditures include the 3 percent pay raise you guys approved in May.”
Goehring added that a small surplus in state revenue could bolster the district’s finances going into the next school year, allowing more flexibility in the budget.
Budget by fund
BCISD has budgeted about $45.3 million for its maintenance and operations fund, which will support things like most staff salaries, instruction, transportation services, extracurriculars, and more. This is a $229,000 increase from the district’s budget last year.
A total of $10.64 million was set aside for the debt services fund, which will cover principal, interest, and defeasance costs on loans taken out by the district. For reference, the recently-passed 2026 $135 million bond package payments will fall under this category. This total amount remains unchanged from the prior year’s budget, but will likely be updated once bond repayment begins.
The district’s food service fund was budgeted near $2.48 million, covering a bulk of the district’s meal preparation costs and any associated employment costs. This is a $83,000 increase from the district’s budget last year. Of note, student meal prices will stay the same as they were last year, which include free breakfast, free elementary school lunch, $2.60 middle school lunch, and $2.85 high school lunch.
Where’s the money?
The district expects to receive the bulk of its revenue from local property taxes. BCISD splits property taxes into two categories – maintenance and operations, and interest and sinking.
While the tax rate for the coming year will be set in August, the district provided expected revenue numbers at its Monday meeting using a projected I&S tax rate of 0.195, which is the same rate as the current year.
M&O property taxes, which can be used only for day-to-day operations, are expected to pull in roughly $37.5 million in revenue.
I&S taxes, which can only be used to pay down debt, are expected to draw $10.64 million in revenue.
BCISD expects to garner several million additional dollars from state and federal sources to round out its revenue.
Budget breakdown
A closer look at the budgeted dollar amounts for each fund is as follows.
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Aquaboom returns to Kingsland July 2-5 with four days of Fourth of July festivities and the debut of its first-ever carnival.
The annual celebration features a packed lineup of events, including a patriotic dinner, barbecue cook-off, arts and crafts show, golf tournament, grand parade, car show, fireworks, and other community activities.
New this year, the AquaBoom Carnival will be open from noon to 8 p.m. July 3-4, offering unlimited rides and games for festivalgoers. Advance wristbands are available for $20 per person, per day through July 2 and may be used on either day of the carnival. Wristbands purchased at the gate are $25 per person, per day. Presale wristbands can be purchased at the AquaBoom office, 1507 RR 1431 in Kingsland.
The annual golf tournament also returns July 3 at Legends Golf Course. The event begins with a 9 a.m. shotgun start and will be played in a four-person scramble format, followed by lunch and prize presentations. Entry is $500 per team, or $125 per player, and includes green fees, cart fees, range balls, and lunch. Entry forms can be submitted to ronna@legendlbj.com.
AquaBoom 2026 Schedule of Events
Thursday, July 2
Rubber Ducky Scavenger Hunt Begins
11 a.m. – Patriotic Dinner
7 p.m. – Street Dance featuring River Rats
Friday, July 3
7:30 a.m. – BBQ Cook-Off and Arts & Crafts Check-In
Noon – Carnival Rides Open
3 p.m. – Cornhole Tournament at Wakepoint
8 p.m. – Karaoke at Wakepoint
10 p.m. – Fireworks at Wakepoint
Saturday, July 4
7:30 a.m. – Grand Parade Staging and Registration
8-8:30 a.m. – Children’s Parade Staging and Registration
9 a.m. – AquaBoom Children’s Parade
10 a.m. – AquaBoom Grand Parade
11 a.m. – Lake Area Rods & Classics Car Show
10 a.m.-2 p.m. – AquaBoom Annual Arts & Crafts Show
Noon – Carnival Rides Open
1 p.m. – Hot Dog Eating Contest
4-10 p.m. – Official AquaBoom Fireworks Show Watch Party at Boat Town
6:30 p.m. – Rubber Ducky Race
Sunday, July 5
9-10 a.m. – Wakepoint Bible Fellowship
10 a.m.-4 p.m. – AquaBoom Annual Poker Run on the River
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Marble Falls Independent School District Board of Trustees President Alex Payson just earned the title of “master trustee” after completing a rigorous, yearlong leadership program.
Payson graduated from the Leadership Texas Association of School Boards program on June 19 from a class of 32 experienced trustees from across the state. He has served on the MFISD Board of Trustees since July 2017 and is in the midst of his 2024-27 term.
“I am grateful for the support of Marble Falls ISD as I increased my knowledge of public education challenges (and solutions) in Texas,” Payson said in an MFISD media release. “We have already seen benefits from the connections made with Leadership TASB and it will continue to be a powerful resource in the years to come.”
The TASB program, founded in 1990, brings together dedicated officials in school districts from all over Texas to introduce them to effective leadership methods, state education policy, and proven strategies for managing school districts.
“On behalf of Marble Falls ISD, we congratulate Mr. Payson on this achievement of earning the Master Trustee title,” said Dr. Jeff Gasaway, Superintendent of MFISD. “We appreciate the time and commitment he has put in not just in serving on our Board of Trustees, but also completing this yearlong program in addition to his regular duties and commitments in our community, to better serve our students and district.”
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Llano County is on the edge of a spreading infection zone of the New World screwworm in Texas. Local officials have renewed a state of disaster for the county and are bracing for the potential impacts of the live flesh-eating pest.
The Llano County Commissioners Court passed its resolution renewing the disaster declaration on Monday, June 22, after County Judge Rob Hardy invoked an emergency declaration on June 15.
The declaration of a local disaster activates Llano County’s emergency response resources and gives official authorization to local leaders to pursue assistance from other agencies and government bodies at the state and federal level.
A recent outbreak of the New World screwworm in Texas was first detected on June 3 in Zavalla County, near the U.S.-Mexico border. By June 10, a confirmed case of the bug in Gillespie County put southwest Llano County in an official “Adjacent Surveillance Zone,” created by the Texas Animal Health Commission.
The screwworm is the larva of the New World screwworm fly, and unlike an average maggot, it feeds on the live flesh of its host, potentially causing severe tissue damage and death if left untreated. Any warm-blooded animal with an open wound or body cavity is susceptible to infection.
Llano County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Don Moss shares an update on local response to the New World screwworm during a Monday, June 22, Commissioners Court meeting. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
“I don’t think people are panicking, but they are preparing,” Llano County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Don Moss told DailyTrib after the court reaffirmed its disaster declaration. “Right now, in Llano County, it is not serious, but it could get serious quickly. We’re trying to stay ahead of it.”
Moss represents the city of Llano and much of rural western Llano County. He explained that many locals are keeping a close eye on their animals as more cases of the screwworm are confirmed in the state.
“I’m around these people, I talk to these people, I see them on a daily basis, and I listen to them,” he said. “Several ranchers I know of are taking precautions already. They’re keeping a good eye on their livestock.”
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, as of Monday, June 22, there have been 14 detected cases of New World screwworm infections in Texas since the outbreak was first reported on June 3.
Moss noted that it was hard to know how many infections there could actually be, as the 14 cases with the USDA came from ranchers self reporting.
This is a Texas Animal Health Commission map with updated New World screwworm infection and surveillance zones as of Monday, June 22. Llano County is right on the border of the outbreak. TAHC image
“The cases that have been confirmed are on livestock,” he told the other members of the Commissioners Court. “There is no telling how many cases there are of wildlife that nobody is ever going to see.”
Of special concern in Llano County could be the high fence hunting trade. According to Moss, prized white-tailed deer and exotic game animals from around the world are raised in Llano County for breeding and hunting operations, and the screwworm is indiscriminate when it comes to its warm-blooded hosts.
This kudu is an example of high-dollar exotic game kept all over Llano County behind high fences by breeders and ranchers. The screwworm could not only impact livestock, but hunting ranches that rely on prize white-tailed deer and warm-blooded game animals from around the world. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
“It’s not only cattle,” he said. “All the wildlife people invest in behind these high fences, it could be as serious as anything ever has been.”
A kudu – a large African antelope – can cost around $28,000 to hunt. A private white-tailed deer hunt in the area can easily cost $8,000-12,000.
Background on the worm
The screwworm is the larval form of the New World screwworm fly. It is a flesh-eating parasite that wreaked havoc on Texas livestock, pets, and wildlife for decades before being effectively eradicated in the United States by the 1980s.
A resurgence of the bug was detected in Central America in 2023, moving steadily northward, with state and federal officials warning in 2025 of a possible U.S. outbreak.
The first confirmed infection documented in the recent wave within U.S. borders was in Zavala County, TX, on June 3.
Texas has been on high alert since the Zavala County case was detected. On Monday, June 8, Governor Greg Abbott activated the Texas State Emergency Operations Center to “Level II,” mobilizing state resources and agencies to combat the screwworm outbreak.
“I have activated the full use of all state resources to respond to the New World screwworm threat,” Governor Abbott wrote in a June 8 media release. “The protection of our ranchers, livestock producers, deer breeders, and the Texas economy from this pest is a top priority.”
The New World screwworm has been detected in Gillespie County, raising the alarm for livestock producers, pet owners, and wildlife populations in the Hill Country. United States Department of Agriculture photos
Fly/worm life cycle and impacts
The concern about the worm centers on its ability to quickly harm or even kill animals if left untreated.
According to a research evaluation from the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension on the New World screwworm, female flies are attracted to fresh, open wounds on warm-blooded animals. A wound as small as a thorn scratch or a tick bite is enough to draw them in.
Of special concern are the umbilical cord attachment points on newborn livestock, castration wounds, branding wounds, shearing wounds, dehorning wounds, or other wounds caused in regular ranching or agricultural work.
Female flies lay 100-300 eggs on the perimeter of a wound and within 24 hours the eggs hatch and begin to feed on living or dead flesh in the area.
Within one to two weeks, the worms grow, feeding on their host, consuming a large amount of flesh.
“Untreated screwworm infestations can be fatal,” wrote Texas A&M Entomologist Bart Drees. “The larvae will continue to feed on the animal and will eventually eat the host alive.”
Drees wrote that treating wounds immediately was the best control measure for screwworm infestations.
“Any animal with a severe wound should not be left untreated or out in the pasture unprotected,” he said.
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