Three criminal charges against former Burnet County Judge James Oakley are back in local district court following a final ruling from the Third Court of Appeals in Texas. What happens next is now up to 33rd/424th District Attorney Perry Thomas.
“(The charges are) back in my office’s hands at the moment, and we’re evaluating where to go from here,” Thomas told DailyTrib.com. “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.”
According to Thomas, Oakley’s case will be added to the district court’s docket at a yet-to-be-determined date, at which point, he will decide how to proceed.
The Court of Appeals issued a “mandate,” or official order/command, on Wednesday, March 26, which solidified the reversal of three “quashings,” or dismissals, of three out of four charges brought against Oakley in March 2023.
The charges come from Oakley’s involvement in a vehicle accident in 2021. He was accused of manipulating evidence and attempting to intimidate the other party involved, and also for a perceived conflict of interest in serving as both county judge and a board director for the Pedernales Electric Cooperative.
Of the four charges, three were quashed in July 2023 by visiting District Judge Dib Waldrip due to a failure to “properly allege or state an offense.” Waldrip stepped in after 33rd District Judge Allan Garrett recused himself from the proceedings.
One charge did go to court. It concerned Oakley using his Burnet County-owned truck to drive to PEC board meetings. He was found not guilty in August 2023.
Former 33rd/424th District Attorney Wiley “Sonny” McAfee appealed Waldrip’s decision to quash the other three charges in July 2023. The appeals court sided with McAfee, reversing the quashings in November 2024.
Oakley and his legal defense requested a rehearing of the case following the appeals court’s decision, but that was denied in January of this year.
“Having reviewed the record and the parties’ arguments, the Court holds that there was reversible error in the district court’s order,” reads the mandate. “Therefore, the Court reverses the district court’s order and remands the case for further proceedings consistent with this Court’s opinion.”
The charges and proceeding legal battle took place while Oakley was still serving as Burnet County judge between 2021 and 2024. He officially resigned from the position in January after a public reprimand for sexual harassment and other controversies.
Now, Oakley could face the following charges in district court:
tampering with/fabricating physical evidence with the intent to impair, a third-degree felony;
official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor;
and abuse of official capacity, a Class B misdemeanor.
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The Lower Colorado River Authority is publicly clarifying its rules and regulations for driving on dry lakebeds, particularly at Lake Buchanan. While disturbing the peace or the environment is always prohibited, taking a vehicle onto an LCRA-owned lakebed is allowed at the authority’s discretion.
“We’ve heard a fair amount of chatter on social media that LCRA is changing its practices regarding driving in the lakebed, but that is not so,” said Tom Oney, LCRA’s executive vice president of External Affairs, in a March 24 media release. “We are continuing to use enforcement discretion, meaning that during the ongoing drought, our LCRA Rangers will not ticket vehicles for driving on LCRA land in the lakebed—as long as the vehicle is not impacting public safety or causing water quality issues, and the occupants are not disturbing the peace.”
Lake Buchanan is currently at 1,000.71 feet above mean sea level (msl), about 20 feet down from full, meaning the water is far from many access points and often only accessible by driving across the dry bed.
“We understand people are using vehicles to reach the lake when the lake level is low, and that’s OK as long as water quality and public safety are protected,” Oney said. “We don’t want to issue warnings or formal citations, but we will if we encounter repeat violators causing safety or water quality issues.”
Oney is referring to the ability of LCRA rangers to use their own discretion when deciding whether or not to issue citations. He explained that this has been the LCRA’s policy during past droughts.
“We want visitors to know the rules ahead of time,” he said. “This is not a new rule and not a change in our activity. This is a fact of life on the Highland Lakes.”
The river authority still warns against crossing private property lines when going in and out of the lakebed. The LCRA owns much of the lakebed below 1,020 feet msl, but most of the land surrounding Lake Buchanan is privately owned.
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Burnet County is in talks with Williamson County to potentially join forces and form the Central Texas Spaceport Development Corp., which would nurture the growth of the aerospace industry that has already taken root in both counties in the form of Firefly Aerospace. If formed, the corporation could bring millions of state and federal dollars into the region to support the space business and pave the way for more development.
The Burnet County Commissioners Court discussed and considered the corporation’s formation on Tuesday, March 25, but took no action. Commissioners plan to tweak the proposed bylaws that would govern the organization and continue negotiations with Williamson County to ensure Burnet County has a fair deal, before anything is approved.
Williamson County approved its side of the deal on March 11, but changes are still on the table as Burnet County assesses the agreement.
“Instead of just sitting there, watching the parade go by, we can have a seat at the parade,” Burnet County Precinct 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle said during Tuesday’s meeting. “We’re growing, (the aerospace) industry is growing. Firefly, they’re here, and because of that, they’re going to grow.”
Beierle’s Precinct 2 contains the prime driver for the spaceport corporation talks: Firefly Aerospace. The space firm has a 200-acre manufacturing and testing facility in northeast Burnet County in the community of Briggs and its headquarters in Cedar Park in Williamson County. The company, which formed in 2017, has reportedly invested $500 million at its U.S. facilities, has 300-plus employees in Burnet County, and recently made international (and local) headlines when its Blue Ghost lunar lander completed the first fully successful moon landing by a private company.
SDCs EXPLAINED
A spaceport development corporation is a nonprofit organization—public, private, or public-private partnership—that is dedicated to supporting the growth of the space industry in a region. If formed, the Central Texas Spaceport Development Corp. would be only the sixth SDC in Texas.
Overseeing the local corporation would be a volunteer board of seven directors, with representatives appointed by the commissioners courts in Burnet and Williamson counties, who would pursue grant funding for infrastructure development, talent development and acquisition, and possibly to attract other space firms or peripheral businesses.
The corporation would not take funds from either county but function using state and federal grant money. An example would be the $150 million being distributed by the Texas Space Commission, which is expected to be re-upped by the current Texas Legislature.
CONCERNS
One of the main concerns of Burnet County commissioners was that Williamson County was given four of the seven board appointments, creating an imbalance. A potential neutral member would solve that, they said. Commissioners also want to include in the bylaws protections against acts of eminent domain, or the seizure of private property for public use.
“I want to make sure that we are protecting the land in Burnet County,” said Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Don Dockery. “It sounds to me like we have some unanswered questions.”
Commissioner Beierle acknowledged community concerns about Firefly’s presence in Briggs. While no actual rocket launches happen, engine and thruster testing gets noisy and traffic through the small town has increased.
“I’m always honest with Firefly when I tell them that a lot of folks out there don’t like what they’re doing, but Firefly puts a lot of effort into being a good neighbor,” he said.
Firefly Chief Operating Officer Dan Fermon was present at Tuesday’s meeting and recognized those concerns but strongly advocated for the SDC’s formation.
“It’s been an exciting ride for us at Firefly Aerospace, and we’re honored to be part of your community,” he said. “I understand the concerns that were brought up, and they’re fair, and my only ask is that we try to (incorporate) in a timely manner.”
Another visitor to the court, Scott Smith, assistant director of Economic Development for Cedar Park, also strongly advocated for incorporation.
“There has been no time like today for the competition for key economic development investments, both in the state of Texas but also nationally and internationally,” he said. “The growth in this particular sector is phenomenal.”
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Texas House District 19 Rep. Ellen Troxclair is calling for the “highest-possible level of environmental review” for a proposed 26.9-mile railway line in Burnet County that has sparked opposition from residents.
In a letter submitted Monday, March 24, to the federal Surface Transportation Board, Troxclair, who represents Burnet County, urged officials to fully examine the line’s possible environmental consequences on the area. Aggregate company Texas Materials Group Inc. wants the railway to haul construction materials, such as crushed rock and gravel, from four quarries in Burnet County.
“There are too many possible environmental impacts to list in particular, and we therefore request the highest-possible level of environmental review your office may provide,” Troxclair wrote. “The further context of long-term drought, population explosion, wildfire risk, and impacts of noise or other types of pollution on people and animals in the area further elevate the concerns.”
The line would reconstruct 12.5 miles of previously abandoned railroad and add 14.4 miles of new track, connecting with the BNSF Railway near Lampasas and the Austin Western Railroad near Burnet. If approved, it would carry approximately 1.64 trains a day, each train stretching up to 120 railcars.
The project is currently being reviewed by the STB’s Office of Environmental Analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic Preservation Act. Federal, state, and local agencies, as well as tribal nations and school districts, have until April 3 to submit comments on the scope of that review.
Troxclair’s letter also requests the public comment period be extended “to the fullest permissible length,” that a public hearing be held, and that the STB participate in any forthcoming site visit.
“My understanding is that the environmental review … may result in your office’s legally delimited recommendation to proceed with such projects,” she wrote. “I therefore ask that you recommend … the longest possible environmental review, any possible mitigation conceivable, and that every constituent requested accommodation, that may reasonably exist, be granted.”
A Facebook discussion group dedicated to the “quarry train” has also grown to more than 860 members.
To submit comments or learn more about the proposed project, visit the Surface Transportation Board’s website and reference Docket No. FD-36815. Contact Rep. Troxclair’s office at 512-463-0490 or online.
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Renovations are nearing completion at The Falls on the Colorado Museum in Marble Falls, leaving most of the 138-year-old granite building strong, solid, and in full use. The second floor is due to open for the first time since 2010. What doesn’t look so good or stable are the front and back entryways, including the doors and the massive frames around them.
“The Old Granite School is being returned to almost its full glory, which makes the cracks and wood rot on the doors and their surrounding frames more visible, detracting from the beauty of the building,” said Darlene Oostermeyer, chair of the museum’s Board of Directors, in a recent media release about the renovations.
Donations are needed to put the finishing touches on the museum, which recently had a $500,000 facelift. The Marble Falls Independent School District, which owns the building, provided $250,000 to shore up the museum. This will allow the second floor to open for exhibits soon.
The Falls on the Colorado raised an additional $250,000 to replace all of the windows on both floors and return the upstairs windows to their original look.
“The donations we have received show how much this building means to this community,” Oostermeyer said. “It’s amazing the amount of support it has received so far.”
As work continued on the rest of the building, the entryways began to show their age.
“The front and back doorways are the very face of the building,” Oostermeyer said. “They are the entrance and a first impression on visitors. When you try to open them and they stick and shake, that’s not a good first impression.”
The north- and south-facing double doors have weathered over decades of holding back the elements. Poor drainage has rotted away some of the wood in the doors and frames.
This photo shows a small bit of the water damage sustained by the front entrance to The Falls on the Colorado Museum.
“Whenever it rains, the doors swell up and we have to kick them to get them open,” said Robyn Richter, one of the many docents who volunteer to staff the museum during open hours.
A recent renovation fixed the leaking problem, but the work to strengthen and realign the walls compromised the door frames.
“The entire units on both the front and back need to be replaced,” Oostermeyer said. “The integrity of the frames and thresholds have been negatively affected through the years.”
The museum board is asking for donations to help replace both the front and back entrances to the building. Checks may be mailed to The Falls on the Colorado Museum, P.O. Box 1333, Marble Falls, TX 78654.
“Or, you can drop a donation off at the museum,” Oostermeyer said. “Please help us fund the final piece of this magnificent renovation that the school district so generously started. Help save Marble Falls history.”
The Falls on the Colorado Museum is located at 2001 Broadway in Marble Falls. Hours are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Admission is free. For more information, visit fallsmuseum.org or email focmuseumchair@gmail.com.
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Planned power outages are underway as Pedernales Electric Cooperative work crews make upgrades to lines in the area.
On Wednesday, March 26, hundreds of meters might be affected by the planned outages in the northeast portion of Marble Falls. As of 10 a.m., 628 meters were affected and four outages were detected on the PEC outage map.
Another outage is planned in the Marble Falls area Thursday, March 27, that could affect up to 271 meters.
Work should be completed and power should be restored by 4 p.m. on both days, or likely sooner. If your power is not back by 4:30 p.m., call PEC at 888-883-3379.
According to PEC Media Relations Specialist Kendra Acosta, co-op members in the planned outage areas had been notified of the work multiple times in the two months leading up to the outage by letter, email, text, and phone calls.
“Every effort will be made to restore service as quickly as possible, as the safety and comfort of our members are foremost in our minds,” reads a March 11 letter sent to those in the planned outage areas across Marble Falls.
The power line work is necessary to up their voltage capacity to “better serve the growing community of Marble Falls,” Acosta said.
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The city of Granite Shoals launched a new website to host its agendas and public announcements, a precursor to an expected full shift later this year to a more user-friendly online presence.
“The CivicPlus platform is fresh, updated, and more user-friendly for both the citizens and us on the back end,” Granite Shoals City Secretary Dawn Wright told DailyTrib.com. “Everything is going digital, and it’s allowing us to accommodate that.”
According to Wright, the new system will allow for streamlined online payments, form filings, and notification alerts, which, she said, are all challenges for residents and city staff under the Granicus website platform currently in use.
Wright estimated the city could have a new website by May or June 2025.
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The city of Granite Shoals is hosting a town hall Saturday, March 29, to inform residents about its deer harvesting program, which will start this fall during the 2025-26 white-tailed deer hunting season. The city has been collecting data on its over-abundant deer population for more than two years to help form the harvesting program and reduce the animal’s numbers.
The town hall is from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Granite Shoals Fire Station, 8410 RR 1431 West. A mock harvest site will be set up so visitors can see how the process will work. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist Erin Wehland and city officials will be present to answer questions and hear concerns.
“There appears to be a severe overpopulation of deer,” Granite Shoals Wildlife Advisory Committee Chairman Peter Hutnick told DailyTrib.com.
According to Hutnick, the TPWD recommended the city harvest over 700 deer based on survey results obtained in 2024. More surveys will be held this summer before a hard number is determined prior to the coming hunting season.
The harvesting program would consist of volunteer bowhunters setting up at predetermined sites across the city and shooting deer throughout the 2025-26 season, which will likely run from September 2025 through January 2026. The harvesters will collect the meat themselves or pass it on to the Wildlife Advisory Committee, which will distribute the meat to the community as needed.
Harvesters are needed for the program. They must be 18 years or older and qualify through an archery/hunting test. Get information on joining at the town hall or by emailing the city at citysecretary@graniteshoals.org.
Hutnick explained that the advisory committee had put together a plan for a harvesting program in response to residents’ concerns about the numerous deer in the city destroying landscaping and causing a general nuisance. He acknowledged that some residents are concerned about the program because they enjoy having the deer in their yards.
“The vast majority of the members of the Wildlife Advisory Committee are not bowhunters,” he said. “This is not a self-serving thing; it is out of concern over the overpopulation of deer in Granite Shoals.”
City Secretary Dawn Wright also spoke on the issue, saying she often receives complaints about the abundant deer.
“Yes, I receive emails, I get phone calls, and honestly, it’s hard because I have to say there is nothing I can do,” she said. “It’s a concern.”
Typically, deer can only be hunted or killed within the constraints of TPWD regulations, but the department has worked extensively with Granite Shoals to make an exception to tackle the city’s large deer population.
The Wildlife Advisory Committee previously had a deer harvesting program in place in 2015, but the committee and the program died off in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was revitalized in 2023 to readdress the ongoing deer problem.
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The Democratic Women welcome guest speaker Suzette Baker when they meet at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 27, at the Marble Falls Senior Activity Center, 618 Avenue L.
Baker is the former head librarian of the Kingsland Branch Library who is currently setting a wrongful termination lawsuit against Llano County after she was fired in 2022 for refusing to remove certain books from library shelves as well as take down a “banned books” display. She is featured in the documentary “The Librarians,” which follows librarians in Texas, Florida, and other states in their fight against book bans. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and was screened at Austin’s SXSW film festival in early March.
With more than 12 years of volunteering and employment in a library, Baker has had the joy of watching books change lives and build strong communities. As an Army veteran, she has a strong belief protecting the U.S. Constitution.
The Thursday meeting is open to the public. Arrive early and bring a sack lunch for social hour. No RSVP is required.
BCDC meeting
The Burnet County Democratic Club welcomes guest speaker Carla Schoonover Porter to its meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 30, at Wedding Oak Winery on the courthouse square in Burnet. The community is invited.
Porter is a co-founder and county services director for The 134 PAC, which supports and promotes Democratic candidates in rural communities. She has successfully helped provide filing fee grants and billboard grants to local candidates, ensuring they have the necessary resources to effectively campaign.
Porter is a lifelong resident of Palo Pinto; her family settled in the area in 1875. She has served as the chair of the Democratic Party in Palo Pinto County for seven years.
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