Layne’s Chicken Fingers is opening a Marble Falls location at 2711 U.S. 281 North, across from Walmart. The old Jack-in-the-Box building was recently the site of a prank involving another chicken joint, but the Layne’s announcement is no joke.

Austin-area Layne’s franchisee Shahroz Khan said the restaurant should open around mid-May or early June, if everything goes according to plan.

Layne’s, founded in 1994 in College Station near Texas A&M University with the slogan “Soon to be famous chicken fingers,” is pecking out a string of locations across Texas, with Marble Falls being the latest.

“I fell in love with Marble Falls when I first drove through it,” Khan told DailyTrib.com on Wednesday, March 12. “The great views and the culture and the feel and the people sealed the deal.”

Khan scouted out the city in December 2024 and thought the U.S. 281 location would be a prime spot for Layne’s due to the thru-traffic. He and his business partners signed a lease in February and recently joined the Marble Falls/Highland Lakes Chamber of Commerce.

Khan said he was not familiar with a prank last summer at the 281 site by two local teens, who teased a “coming soon” sign for Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers.

Cane’s and Layne’s have similar offerings of fried chicken tenders with a special sauce, but Layne’s is slightly older. Cane’s debuted in 1996 in another college town: Baton Rouge, home of Louisiana State University. 

dakota@thepicayune.com

The growing Kingsland/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce has hired Traci Miller as its executive director, a position that has been vacant for nine years.

The Sunrise Beach Village resident is tasked with increasing membership and engagement through dedicated programs and more modern technology and communication. The chamber currently has 265 members from the lake area.

“As we’ve grown, we’ve just needed more help,” chamber board Director Susan Patten, who served on the hiring committee that selected Miller, told DailyTrib.com. “The job outgrew a single person.”

That “single person” is Darlene Zubkus, who, as the chamber’s sole employee, was a catch-all for the past nine years. She will now be the operations director, working alongside Miller. 

Miller has 20 years of experience in corporate leadership and a background in nutrition, according to a chamber media release announcing her hiring.

“In many ways, helping the Kingsland Chamber in its next chapter is the same as a startup,” Miller is quoted in the release. “I look forward to working with the board and existing staff to identify clear goals and deliver tangible benefits to our members.”

dakota@thepicayune.com

Former Kingsland head librarian Barbara Suzette Baker and Llano County have tentatively reached a settlement agreement in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by Baker after she was fired in 2022. 

A “notice of tentative settlement” filed March 6 with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division, reads:

“The Parties hereby notify the Court that all parties have tentatively reached material terms of settlement that will fully resolve all claims in this action. Once the parties execute a final signed agreement, Plaintiff will file a notice of dismissal.”

Iris Halpern, an attorney with the Rathod Mohamedbhai law firm in Colorado, represents Baker in the civil suit. She told DailyTrib.com the terms of the settlement had been agreed upon and the details are nearly finalized and will soon be made publicly available.

“For us, it’s really important that justice is done for our client,” she said.

Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham told DailyTrib.com the county is ready to move beyond the suit.

“We’ve reached a settlement, we stand by the arguments that we have, and we’re looking to put it behind us and move forward,” he said. 

Baker was fired from her job at the Kingsland Branch Library, part of the Llano County Library System, in March 2022 after accusations of insubordination. This took place during a slew of controversies surrounding the dissolution and reorganization of the Llano County Library Advisory Board and the removal of 17 books from library shelves, which led to a First Amendment lawsuit by different plaintiffs against the county and several advisory board members in April 2022. 

Specifically, Baker refused to remove a “banned books display” when ordered to, attended advisory board meetings against the wishes of its members and Llano County Library System Director Amber Milum, and refused to remove books from the library’s collection that contained racial and LGBTQ+ themes when told to.

Baker filed a wrongful termination complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against the county and several members of the advisory board in November 2022 and then filed an official suit in March 2024, believing her First Amendment and civil rights had been violated in the ordeal.

She received national attention after her firing, including receiving the Authors Guild’s first-ever Champion of Writers Award in June 2024. Her story was also featured in a documentary, “The Librarians,” which premiered at the popular media festival SXSW in Austin on March 7.

dakota@thepicayune.com

Burnet County commissioners unanimously appointed former state official Bryan Wilson as the new Burnet County judge Tuesday, March 11. Wilson fills the vacancy left by James Oakley, who resigned as judge in December following a reprimand for sexual harassment from the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Wilson was one of three candidates who applied for the position; Chief Deputy Alan Trevino of the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office and former 33rd Judicial District Judge Gil Jones being the other two. 

The Commissioner Court’s decision came after a 2-2 tie vote Feb. 11, with commissioners Jim Luther and Joe Don Dockery supporting Jones and commissioners Damon Beierle and Chad Collier backing Trevino. 

Ultimately, all four changed their votes to Wilson.

“I’m very pleased,” Wilson said Tuesday. “I’m excited to do the work, to get back into the budget, and to start right away.”

Commissioner Luther, who nominated Wilson, explained his vote. 

“Since the court had not been able to come to a consensus before today, I felt strongly that it was time to consider an alternative solution in the appointment of Mr. Wilson,” he told DailyTrib.com. “His resume is impressive, and I believe he has the skills necessary to lead Burnet County through the current term of office.”

Luther added that he originally did not vote for Wilson due to his constituents aligning with Jones. 

“The contacts I had received leaned heavily towards Judge Jones,” he said. “The total number of contacts received by the court via the prescribed process was less than one percent of the Burnet County population, so while I value and appreciate the citizen input, I did not feel I had received a mandate for any candidate.”

Commissioner Collier also explained his change of heart.

“Time mainly, looking deeper into (Wilson’s) application, having conversations on his plans and conversations with the people of Burnet County,” he said. 

Commissioner Dockery added that Wilson was a viable choice moving forward.

“He was presented to me as a third option. He was an option that I was hoping we could come to a consensus on, and, obviously, we did,” Dockery said. “I think highly of Bryan, and I think he’ll do a good job.” 

Commissioner Beierle also spoke well of Wilson. 

“Bryan Wilson is obviously a qualified candidate,” he said. “(He) has proved through his application and the workshops we had that he is qualified for the job. I think that he’s going to do a great job, and I look forward to working with him.” 

Beierle took issue with allegations made during the public comments portion of Tuesday’s meeting that intimidation and coercion were used by some parties during the appointment process.

“My biggest fear is that if we don’t take action on (appointing a judge), (the allegations are) going to get worse in this courtroom,” Beierle said at the meeting. He later added: “Our court is not supposed to be a political platform for attacks and accusations.”

WILSON’S BACKGROUND AND PRIORITIES

Wilson has experience in government administration, grant management, and policy development. From 2014-22, he was the director of the Texas Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, overseeing grant funding for law enforcement programs. He previously worked as a grant administrator for the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, where he helped establish state-funded legal defense programs, and as a grant manager with the Texas Supreme Court’s Permanent Judicial Commission on Children, Youth, and Families. His experience also includes positions with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, where he was involved in litigation and policy management.

As he begins his new role, Wilson outlined a 100-day plan with three key priorities: public safety, budget reform, and assisting people in crisis.

He said a comprehensive public safety review will be one of his first initiatives. 

“Number one, we’re going to look at public safety,” he said. “Working with the Commissioners Court, sheriff, emergency management, and local ESDs (emergency services districts) to identify the needs of Burnet County.” 

Budget reform is another central focus for Wilson.

“I’ve actually written a performance-based budget system that I forwarded individually to each of the commissioners about a week ago so they can see what kind of system that looks like and how we can hold our departments and elected officials accountable for the money they spend,” he said. 

Addressing the needs of people in crisis—including those requiring indigent healthcare, indigent defense, and mental health services—is also a priority. Wilson used the county jail system as an example to describe the need for closer attention. 

“We really need to look at how our county is serving people in crisis,” he said. “There are individuals in our jails for offenses like criminal trespass simply because they are seriously mentally ill. We need to ensure we’re addressing those issues appropriately.”

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026

Wilson has not yet decided whether he will run for a full term as county judge in 2026, saying he and his family will take time to consider the decision before the filing period opens this November.

“For now, I’m focused on helping Burnet County and serving in the capacity I was appointed to,” he said.

elizabeth@thepicayune.com

The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is forming a 20-plus-year plan to improve the safety of Burnet County’s roadways, including two concerning intersections, and wants to hear from residents before moving forward.

CAMPO is accepting public comments through Friday, March 14, on its developing Regional Safety Action Plan, which addresses major safety concerns on roads and highways in the six capital area counties.

The RSAP lays out a multi-decade roadmap that is updated every five years, and community input is crucial to that process, according to CAMPO.

“The plan aims to reduce and eventually eliminate fatal and serious-injury crashes while improving transportation systems for all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, public transportation users, and drivers,” reads a CAMPO report on the RSAP.

The plan’s exact goals are to reduce the number of those crashes by half by 2035 and completely eliminate them by 2050.

The current RSAP identified the Texas 29-U.S. 281 intersection and RR 1431-U.S. 281 intersection as disproportionately responsible for serious accidents in Burnet County. The stretch of U.S. 281 between Burnet and Marble Falls as well as several sections of Texas 29, RR 1431, and U.S. 183 within county limits are also points of concern.

Learn more about Burnet County’s portion of the RSAP in an online open house presentation from CAMPO. Provide feedback via the CAMPO RSAP online survey or email comments@campo-rsap.com.

dakota@thepicayune.com

Llano County will now manage Llano Hospital following a recently inked separation agreement with the facility’s former operator, Mid Coast Health System. 

The Llano County Commissioners Court signed the agreement with Mid Coast during its regular meeting Monday, March 10, after over three months of negotiations. Mid Coast wanted out of its management deal due to “the challenge to maintain profitability” at the hospital. 

Now, the county-owned hospital will be operated by the Llano County Hospital Authority Board, a group of seven appointed volunteers who formerly served in an oversight capacity for the hospital’s operations on the county’s behalf.

“It’s daunting, the amount of work we’ve got to do, but we’re excited,” board President Pat McDowell told the Commissioners Court on Monday. “Now that we’ve gotten over that big hump, we’ve got a program to manage.”

The hospital, 200 W. Ollie St. in Llano, has been managed by private entities for the past 15 years, with Mid Coast in the driver’s seat since 2020 and Baylor Scott & White running things prior to that. 

One of the first moves the Hospital Authority Board made was to bring in Hatch Smith as the facility’s head administrator. Smith served as Llano Hospital’s CEO with Mid Coast, but the healthcare provider furloughed him along with 11 other employees in December 2024 to save on staff costs. He volunteered to continue working for free after the furlough but will now receive a partial salary as the transition of operations takes place. Most of the other furloughed employees also will be brought back, according to McDowell.

“The Hospital Authority Board has taken the hospital back. We are going to operate it independently. We are going to try and restore as much of the services we’ve had in the past,” said County Judge Ron Cunningham said at Monday’s meeting. “It’s been a struggle to get this done, but we’re grateful for the work that the Hospital Authority Board has done on this and the attorneys have done on this.”

According to Cunningham, the exact cost of operating the hospital is still unknown, but it will now be a budgeted item moving forward. He explained that the county never got a clear picture of what it took to run the hospital from Mid Coast, which played a part in the separation.

“We don’t know what that number (cost) is right now, but that is one of the things that we’re looking at,” he told DailyTrib.com. “One of the reasons we wanted to get separated was to see the true financial impact of the hospital.”

While no comprehensive budget for Llano Hospital has been developed, the county did approve spending up to $450,000 on Jan. 27 exclusively for its operations in the current fiscal year.

The facility will maintain its federal “critical access hospital” designation, which makes it eligible for reimbursements for treatment of Medicare patients. This designation comes with the requirement of providing 24-hour emergency care services and serving as a primary care facility in rural communities with limited access to hospitals, including Llano, Mason, and San Saba counties.

“I know it’s been a difficult task and lots of sleepless nights for people,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Linda Raschke said Monday, addressing the members of the Hospital Authority Board, county attorneys, and Judge Cunningham. “Thank you. The hospital needed to stay open. I appreciate the work that you all have done.”

dakota@thepicayune.com

Burnet Police Department Investigator Joshua Day was recognized for outstanding service to the community with the Wallace Riddell Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award. He received the honor during the Burnet Chamber of Commerce banquet March 1. 

The award is named after longtime Burnet County Sheriff Wallace Riddell, who served from 1939-78.

Day has only been with the BPD since 2023 but has already made a big impact. His duties extend beyond traditional investigations by incorporating digital forensics, drone operations, and assistance to neighboring law enforcement agencies.

He said his job as an investigator is fulfilling in its completeness.

“When I was on patrol, there were cases where I knew they would go somewhere, but my role had a stopping point,” Day told DailyTrib.com. “Now, as an investigator, I get to take cases from the beginning and see them all the way through, whether that’s through the courts or an arrest.”

Day plays a key role in the department’s drone operations team, using aerial technology in search-and-rescue efforts, major fire responses, and public safety at large events.

“We’ve had times where (a drone has) assisted greatly, especially with large crowds during medical calls,” he said. “We’re able to get up in the air, get eyes on the situation, and lead responders directly to the person in need. It makes for a much quicker response.”

Day also specializes in digital forensics. He uses Cellebrite forensic software to extract and analyze mobile phone data, a service that extends beyond the BPD to other agencies during major investigations.

He shares the chamber recognition with his colleagues and the community.

“I really do feel proud individually, but I wouldn’t be receiving this if I didn’t have the support of my direct supervisor, the chief of police, and the citizens we serve,” Day said. “We’re a small agency, but we’re very fortunate to have a supportive City Council and community.”

elizabeth@thepicayune.com

Marble Falls recently hired an architect to redesign the old Commercial National Bank building into the new City Hall, at least temporarily. The City Council approved a $76,000 contract with Seaux Pierce Architecture on March 4 in a 4-2 vote.

The split decision was due to a difference of opinion on how long the building at 110 Avenue H would serve as City Hall.

Marble Falls purchased the old bank building for $2.5 million in January with the intention of moving most of the city’s cramped and scattered offices into a central location. 

A new City Hall has been in the comprehensive plan since 2009, according to Deputy City Manager Caleb Kraenzel. At 7,000 square-feet, the current City Hall on Third Street in the downtown district is too small to house all of the departments and staff.

While much bigger, the 12,000-square-foot Avenue H building was always supposed to be a temporary City Hall, with a permanent location to be built in the future. However, the redesign plans for the bank building include a potential addition to accomodate a new council chambers and meeting space.

“I’m not recommending that we do any additions,” said Mayor Dave Rhodes, who voted against the contract. “It’s expensive real estate to have just for council meetings and a few other meetings. 

Rhodes and Place 4 Councilor Bryan Walker, who also voted no, expressed concern about spending time and resources on designing a major improvement to a temporary site.

Place 6 Councilor Craig Magerkurth agreed with Rhodes and Walker about the interim nature of the new City Hall but had reservations about totally rejecting the idea of an addition. He advocated for at least seeing what the redesign would look like with its inclusion, which the City Council ultimately voted for during the March 4 meeting.

“I agree with Dave. I’d like to have a new City Hall built, but I just don’t know what that is yet,” Magerkurth told DailyTrib.com. “I just want more options.”

Even with the approved redesign, nothing is set in stone and the additional structure being drafted by Seaux Pierce can be phased out if the council desires.

dakota@thepicayune.com

The Burnet County Commissioners Court could modify the process of appointing a new county judge or even make a decision March 11. It meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the the second-floor courtroom of the county courthouse, 220 S. Pierce St. in Burnet.

Burnet County commissioners are two months in to finding a replacement for former Judge James Oakley, who resigned his elected position in January. With no local, state, or federal policies in place for appointing a county judge, they created their own process. 

The Commissioners Court accepted applications for the position throughout January and, on Feb. 6, held a public forum with the three applicants: Chief Deputy Alan Trevino of the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office, retired district Judge Gil Jones, and retired state administrator Bryan Wilson. 

Following a tie vote by the commissioners between Trevino and Jones on Feb. 11 and no action at the court’s Feb. 25 meeting, Precinct 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle put a discussion and possible action on the judge selection on Tuesday’s agenda. He told DailyTrib.com that, while a final decision is not guaranteed, a discussion is necessary to determine the next steps.

“I can’t set an expectation that we are going to select a county judge, but I put it on the agenda because I felt it was my duty to address it,” Beierle said. “We’re going to talk openly about what might be the next step in breaking the tie.”

The court may enter executive session under Texas Government Code Section 551.071, which allows legal consultation regarding the judge selection process, and Section 551.074, which permits private deliberations on personnel matters related to the appointment. But any decisions must be made in open court.

The meeting is open to the public and will be broadcast on YouTube.

elizabeth@thepicayune.com