The Southern Drag Boat Association, the organization responsible for the high-octane LakeFest races on Lake Marble Falls, is changing hands at the end of January 2025. According to outgoing SDBA owner David Carroll, the shift leaves the popular race in limbo.
On Dec. 4, Carroll announced he would be selling the association to pro racers Cody Childress and Travis Tuttle.
“Although it is a bittersweet emotion, I say ‘good-bye’,” Carroll wrote in a Dec. 4 letter addressed to the SDBA membership and fans. “I am deeply confident (that) with your continued support of (the new owners), drag boat racing will continue well into the future.”
DailyTrib.com spoke with Carroll, a Highland Lakes resident, about what the transition means for LakeFest.
“I’m still in the negotiating part of that,” he said. “I live here. LakeFest means more to me than anybody, but this is the hardest place we race. I’m trying to talk these guys into it, but at this time, we don’t know.”
LakeFest, in some form, has been held on and off again on Lake Marble Falls since 1992. The event features races between specialized drag boats that can reach speeds of over 200 mph. The event is traditionally a partnership between the Marble Falls/Highland Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and different drag boat racing promoters. The SDBA, with Carroll at the helm, has been partnering with the chamber since 2020.
According to Carroll, the race has become increasingly difficult to hold due to a variety of reasons.
“It feels like half the town wants it and half don’t,” he told DailyTrib.com. “We’ve had boats interrupt the races, and it’s hard to race on a lake where you have as many homes as this.
He did note that the Marble Falls chamber has been consistently supportive and hopes details can be worked out among the new owners, himself, and the chamber to continue LakeFest
“I’m going to try all I can,” he said.
The chamber also hopes for a resolution, but nothing has been determined as of Dec. 9.
“I think until we have a meeting, we’ll remain in limbo,” Katie Savage, the Marble Falls chamber’s special events coordinator, told DailyTrib.com. “LakeFest is one of the biggest events we have. If we’re able to put it on, we will. It has over 30 years of history, and we don’t want to just stop.”
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A Williamson County jury on Dec. 5 found Robert Jamerson, 61, of Burnet guilty of continuous sexual assault of a child. A district judge sentenced Jamerson to life in prison without the possibility of parole following the conviction.
During the three-day trial, prosecutors presented evidence of sexual assault occurring between 2017 and 2022, starting when the victim was 9 years old. The jury deliberated for 30 minutes before delivering the guilty verdict.
According to a media release from the office of 26th Judicial District Attorney Shawn Dick, Jamerson held a position of trust for the child. The investigation began in December 2022 when the victim, then 14, told their aunt about the years of sexual abuse by Jamerson, which occurred at the victim’s homes in Liberty Hill and Hutto.
“This verdict and sentence send a strong message that the sexual abuse of children will not be tolerated in our community,” Dick wrote in the media release. “I commend the bravery of the victim for coming forward and sharing (their) story. (Their) courage has brought justice for (themself) and protection for countless other children.”
The victim detailed their experiences during an interview at the Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center, which led to charges against Jamerson in January 2023.
During the trial, assistant district attorneys Victoria Winkeler and Cari Warner called two additional victims of Jamerson to testify. Their accounts reportedly revealed decades of abuse and predatory behavior.
Judge Donna King of the 26th Judicial District Court sentenced Jamerson to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the maximum penalty allowed under Texas law. Continuous sexual assault of a child under 14 years of age is a first-degree felony that comes with a possible punishment of 25 years to life in prison.
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Agendas are posted 72 hours before a meeting so they are not always ready by the time this story is published. Check the links below for more information.
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The city of Bertram secured an amendment to its groundwater permit Nov. 20, adding 103 acre-feet of water to its annual allocation and bringing its total water rights to 895 acre-feet. However, the impact of this increase on a nearby aquifer and surrounding wells is unknown.
The Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District, which manages groundwater in Burnet County, initially requested a hydrogeological study to assess the potential impact of allowing Bertram to draw more water from the Ellenburger-San Saba Aquifer. However, the amended permit was ultimately approved without the study due to the city’s non-compliance in the matter and potential legal action against a landowner who had agreed to participate in a well-monitoring program essential to the study but later backtracked.
Without knowing the results of a study, it is unclear how the additional groundwater pumped by the city will impact the aquifer, which many wells in eastern Burnet County draw upon.
Groundwater Conservation District General Manager Mitchel Sodek told DailyTrib.com in an email that the study was initially recommended due to the aquifer having unpredictable behavior because of its fractured karst formations.
“The aquifer doesn’t always behave predictably in terms of pumping pressure and drawdown,” he wrote. “Without a hydrogeological study, we can’t fully understand how increased pumping will affect aquifer conditions or surrounding wells.”
Mitchell recommended to the GCD’s Board of Directors in May that a hydrogeological study be conducted before any more water was approved for Bertram’s use. The board agreed.
Bertram is entirely dependent on groundwater from the Ellenburger-San Saba Aquaifer that is drawn from two wells on a ranch located on County Road 340 just south of Burnet. The recently approved 13 percent increase in water rights follows a 2023 expansion that more than doubled the city’s allocation to the previous 792 acre-feet allocation, of which about 400 acre-feet was used to serve 1,100 customers inside and outside of the city limits.
The GCD board approved the increase to Bertram’s permit during its Nov. 20 meeting at the recommendation of Sodek, who stated a hydrogeological study was not completely required under the district’s rules at the time and that the city was unable to conduct the test anyway due to non-participation by landowners surrounding Bertram’s wells.
An excerpt from Sodek’s recommendation to the board hints that Bertram might have had a hand in pushing at least one landowner to not participate in the study:
“One landowner volunteered the use of his well but later withdrew permission after the City threatened to sue the landowner for violating the terms of an existing settlement agreement that provided, among other things, that the landowner would not interfere with the City’s groundwater production.”
Sodek later withdrew the use of the term “threatened.”
Richard Matthews, the landowner in question, initially agreed to allow monitoring equipment on his well but later backtracked after receiving a letter from the city of Bertram’s legal counsel reminding him of a 2012 settlement agreement.
The agreement required that Matthews not interfere with the city’s groundwater operations in exchange for being connected to the municipal water system.
An excerpt from the city’s letter to Matthews reads:
“The City demands that you provide written notice to the District that you are withdrawing your request for the Test and any other related obligation of the City on or before noon on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. … If we have not received confirmation of delivery to the District of your withdrawal of the request (by that date) the City will have no choice but take further action to enforce the Agreement.”
Bertram City Attorney Michael Guevara clarified the city’s actions.
“This wasn’t a threat. It was a reminder of his obligations under the agreement,” Guevara said. “The agreement specifically states that the landowner would not hinder the city’s groundwater operations.”
Matthews subsequently withdrew his offer to participate in the study on Oct. 13.
Bertram City Administrator Georgina Hernandez told DailyTrib.com that the city pursued an amendment to its groundwater permit to accommodate anticipated growth from new developments, including Bertram Oaks and Grand Estates, which will add about 500 homes.
“This isn’t water we need today, but it’s a step toward preparing for tomorrow’s developments,” she said.
Hernandez said another large development is in the early stages of planning and could build anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 new houses.
“Nothing has been submitted for that yet,” she said. “(The developer is) starting to talk and get serious about numbers, and that’s when we say, ‘Hey, we need to see about getting these permanent water rights.’” A hydrogeological study by Bertram faced both logistical and financial challenges. Hernandez said the study would have cost around $41,015 plus additional expenses for retrofitting monitoring equipment into wells. “It’s frustrating because we followed the district’s guidance, purchased adjacent water rights, and complied with their rules, yet we still faced these hurdles,” she said.
The Groundwater Conservation District offered to cover $14,000 of the study’s costs, but General Manager Sodek said the city never provided a final estimate.
“They shared some initial estimates, which were highly variable depending on how many wells would be part of the study,” he said. “I think they were talking about $30,000 or more as a ballpark figure.”
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The Granite Shoals City Hall/Quarry Park complex at 2221 N. Phillips Ranch Road is filled with Christmas cheer after the city’s parade and lighting ceremony Nov. 30. Walk the winter wonderland every evening through the season. Admission is free. St. Nick is coming to town several times in December, including once a week for Merry Mondays, and Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 14. Click the link for a full Christmas in Granite Shoals schedule. Photos by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
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A mother and her 2-year-old child were killed in a four-vehicle collision on Texas 29 in the Bertram city limits Dec. 3.
Patricia Torres-Jimenez, 31, of Bertram was waiting to make a left turn into a laudromat in the 1400 block of Texas 29 at around 8:20 p.m. Tuesday when her 2007 Toyota Yaris was rear-ended and pushed into oncoming traffic by a 2019 Dodge Charger. The Yaris was struck by an 18-wheeler truck and trailer and then collided with a BMW, according to the Bertram Police Department.
Torres-Jimenez and her 2-year-old child, who was a passenger, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the Charger, who is from Burnet, sustained minor injuries. The drivers of the 18-wheeler and BMW were reportedly unharmed.
According to the Bertram Police Department, the collision is thought to be an accident, with no driving under the influence involved, but an investigation is ongoing.
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The Marble Falls City Council on Dec. 3 approved an interlocal agreement with the Hill Country Humane Society to manage animal intake, signaling a shift in how the city handles its animal control responsibilities. The partnership aims to improve services for stray and homeless dogs and cats in Marble Falls while addressing infrastructure and capacity challenges faced by the Buchanan Dam-based shelter.
The nonprofit Hill Country Humane Society, 9150 RR 1431 West, has deals with Llano and Burnet counties and multiple cities in the Highland Lakes. Marble Falls was the final major local government to contract with the organization for animal intakes.
“We’re really excited for all the community togetherness,” Hill Country Humane Society Executive Director Paighton Corley told DailyTrib.com. “With all of our cities and counties working together on the same page, we can focus on community education, access to care, and addressing the overwhelming number of strays in our area.”
Under the new agreement, Marble Falls will contribute $140,000 to the HCHS—$80,000 at the time of signing and $60,000 by March 2025. This upfront investment will support the expansion of the shelter’s facilities, including additional kennels and infrastructure improvements like septic system upgrades, to accommodate an estimated 130 animals accepted annually from Marble Falls.
The city will pay approximately $32,500 a year for animal intakes at a rate of $250 per dog/cat for sheltering, which covers basic care such as feeding and housing. This fee does not include additional expenses for spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, or medical treatments, which are offset by donations and contributions from other partner cities. A $300 fee will be charged for each animal exceeding the initial projected number of 130.
The city’s aging and under-staffed animal control facility was struggling to provide consistent services, according to Marble Falls Police Chief Glen Hanson.
“Every time we have a flood, our facility gets damaged,” he said. “This agreement streamlines our process and elevates the level of service for the community.”
Mayor Dave Rhodes emphasized the value of reallocating funds from the city’s facility to the Hill Country Humane Society, which specializes in animal care and rehoming.
“We had budgeted $100,000 this year for upgrades and maintenance, but this agreement provides a much better long-term solution,” he said.
The partnership will also benefit the HCHS, enabling it to increase intake and expand its services.
“This partnership will allow us to take in more animals and provide essential care, such as vaccinations and spay/neuter services,” Corley said.
Additionally, the agreement could unlock opportunities for the animal organization to apply for federal grant funding through the office of U.S. Rep. John Carter. These funds would support the construction of a larger, more centralized facility to serve the Highland Lakes region, with Marble Falls’ support playing a critical role in strengthening the application.
For residents looking to support the Hill Country Humane Society, opportunities include adoption, fostering, volunteering at events or clinics, and making donations. Apply online, visit in person, or contact 512-793-5463 or info@hchstexas.com for more information.
“Every bit of support we get goes back to the community and its animals,” Corley said.
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A Marble Falls city councilor was awarded an estimated $540,000 contract to oversee the construction of the city’s new $80 million wastewater treatment plant. The City Council voted 3-1 on Tuesday, Dec. 3, to give the professional services bid to its fellow member, Place 6 Councilor and Mayor Pro-tem Craig Magerkurth, who abstained from the vote. He was selected among four candidates for the job.
The One Water treatment plant should break ground in the first quarter of 2025, and construction should span about three years. Magerkurth will represent the city in major and minor decisions as the plant is built.
Marble Falls Mayor Dave Rhodes said the contract was awarded based on Magerkurth’s three decades of experience in large-scale construction projects and his reasonable bid.
“From a qualification standpoint, he is more qualified than anybody else we saw,” Rhodes told DailyTrib.com following the council’s decision. “To me, it was an easy choice.”
Magerkurth has extensive experience in large-scale construction through his service in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and oversight of massive infrastructure projects in Chicago and Anchorage, Alaska.
His bid for professional services was the lowest of the four received by the city at $110 per hour. The other bids were $125 per hour from Spire Consulting Group, $145 per hour from Plus Six Engineering, and $175 per hour from SpawGlass.
The contract ultimately approved by the City Council amounted to $175,000 for the first year of work with a 3 percent increase in the subsequent two years of the project, which totals $540,907.50.
Rhodes understood potential concerns about a conflict of interest with Magerkurth being an elected city official but reinforced his and the council’s decision.
“All of us, as elected officials, have skill sets as well as things we do on a regular basis for the city,” the mayor said. “When you live in a smaller town, this happens all the time. Would you rather have us spend that money somewhere else?”
Magerkurth told DailyTrib.com he took measures to ensure transparency throughout the process. He filed his intention to go out for bid and represent the city with the Texas Ethics Commission at the recommendation of Marble Falls City Attorney Josh Brockman-Weber and agreed to abstain from any council vote concerning the job.
“I want this to be done correctly, and I look forward to talking to anybody who thinks that it’s wrong,” he said. “I am very confident that there is no conflict of interest here, both with the attorney and my own personal ethics. My one goal here is to complete a fantastic project for the city. I’m local, I have skin in the game, and I’ve raised my kids here.”
Magerkurth also told DailyTrib.com he intends to step down as mayor pro-tem to remove further possibilities of conflict of interest in city decision-making, as he would serve as the mayor in Rhodes’ absence.
Councilor Bryan Walker was the only “no” vote against Magerkurth.
“Craig is hands down the most qualified. I have zero issues with his qualifications,” he told DailyTrib.com. “(My vote) is because it is such a high-level administrative position. I’d just prefer that it wasn’t awarded to a member of council while they’re still serving.”
Councilors Griff Morris and Richard Westerman voted in favor of awarding Magerkurth the contract along with Mayor Rhodes. Councilors Lauren Haltom and Karlee Cauble were absent for the vote.
Marble Falls City Manager Mike Hodge weighed in on the decision, stating he had seen council members awarded city contracts in other municipalities for which he has worked.
“As long as they’re qualified and they go through the process, I have no problem,” Hodge said.
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The lighting of the courthouse square on Nov. 30 ushered in the holiday season in Burnet. Crowds gathered to watch performances by the Burnet High School choir, cheerleaders, and Highlandettes dance team. Mrs. Claus entertained children leading up to the lighting, and the city’s Christmas tree became a prime photo spot after the ceremony. Photos by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
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