Burnet’s new initiative, “Mondays with the Mayor,” looks to add a jolt of jest to your Monday morning routine. At the beginning of each week, Mayor Gary Wideman will post a classic “dad joke” to the city’s Facebook page. Usually, only City Council members, city staff, and those attending council meetings are treated to his dad humor. Now, he’s sharing it with the world.
“There’s a lot going on in the world,” Wideman told DailyTrib.com. “A laugh—or even a groan—is a good way to start off the week.”
The idea for putting his jokes on Facebook came from Assistant to the City Manager Keith McBurnett.
”Nothing like starting Monday morning with a joke to kick off your week,” McBurnett said.
“I got pulled over on the way to City Hall today,” he said. “The cop asked ‘Papers?’ and so I went ‘Scissors’ and drove off. He must have been real competitive ‘cause he followed me for about an hour.”
The jokes undergo a rigorous screening process with Wideman’s wife, Suzanne, acting as chief joke editor.
“You should hear some of the ones she vetoes,” Wideman said. “But I promise, every Monday, we’ll deliver only the most dad-joke humor.”
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Plants might have been affected by a recent chemical incident at the Horseshoe Bay Central Water Plant, but homeowners have some recourse for recovery.
“We have filed a claim with Texas Municipal League insurance,” Horseshoe Bay Assistant City Manager Rick Williams told DailyTrib.com. “If someone thinks they have damage, they can contact the city at the regular number and give their information to be forwarded to the insurance claim.”
The phone number for Horseshoe Bay City Hall is 830-598-8741. During business hours, press 1 for utility billing. After-hours assistance is available by following the automated prompts.
City Manager Jeff Koska sent out a media statement on Monday, Oct. 28, with instructions for how to help save plants affected by the release of chlorine gas on Oct. 21. He included information from Sandra Nash, landscape architect, who advised residents to take swift action to help affected plants recover.
“Begin by gently rinsing all affected foliage with clean water to wash away any chlorine residue, paying close attention to the undersides of the leaves,” Nash said. “This helps reduce further damage.”
Nash also suggests monitoring plants for signs of stress, such as wilting, leaf discoloration, or browning.
“Don’t remove the trees with brown leaves just yet,” she said. “Wait for the leaves that may have turned brown to fall off and give the tree a chance for new growth.”
Also, deep watering the soil can help flush out chlorine that might have settled, but be cautious not to overwater, she said. Applying a small amount of balanced fertilizer can also aid recovery. Keep a close eye on the plants over the following days and weeks to ensure they regain their health, and consult a local nursery or arborist if symptoms persist, she said.
On Oct. 21, a delivery truck driver mistakenly added an aluminum sulfate solution to a Central Water Plant storage tank containing liquid chlorine. This created chlorine gas, which was released into the air through the tank vent.
A shelter-in-place notification was sent to about 88 residents in the affected area of South Horseshoe Bay. Law enforcement went door to door to make sure everyone was warned. An emergency alert was sent out to everyone on the Horseshoe Bay alert system.
The air was determined to be clear of the gas by 11 a.m. on the day of the incident. By 1 p.m., the water plant was declared safe. The city continued to monitor the air all day. the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality was also notified.
Eleven people, including the truck driver, were evaluated at local medical centers. Only the truck driver was kept overnight for observation.
“The water has been tested and was never unsafe to drink,” Koska said.
Horseshoe Bay residents are asked to conserve water usage as repairs to the plant are made.
“The water plant has now returned to full operational capacity thanks to the dedication of our maintenance crews and the generous assistance of our regional utility partners, particularly the Kingsland Water Supply Corp., who provided crucial replacement components,” Koska continued. “While we have restored full water production, we encourage residents to remain mindful of their water usage to ensure adequate supply for all community members as we complete our restoration work.
The city is also working with the TCEQ and the delivery company involved to prevent any similar incidents in the future.
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Sisters Coffee, formerly known as Unshakable Grounds, is holding a grand opening on Friday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 134 S. Main St. in Burnet. The celebration includes a ribbon-cutting, a 5 percent discount on all purchases, and a free brownie.
Founded in 2016 by Cindy and Michael Brown, the shop is now owned by Melinda and Alan Sivells with their daughters, Keren, Anna, Bethany, Charity, and Grace, who have been running daily operations since Aug 1.
“We’re so grateful for the foundation Michael and Cindy built here,” Bethany Sivells said. “This grand opening is a chance for us to share our vision for Sisters Coffee and welcome the community into what we hope will be a second home for them.”
The transition was smooth due to the sisters’ familiarity with the business.
“I trained four of the five Sivells sisters,” said previous owner Cindy Brown. “They had worked for me, and it was just God’s timing. My husband went back to work, and I was pretty much running things alone when their parents said they could take on the shop.”
The sisters plan on upholding the shop’s legacy, while also bringing in their own family flair.
“We will still be selling Cindy’s super-secret recipe chicken salad,” Bethany said. “But we’re also adding family recipes as well, like the hand pies from my grandparents’ old restaurant in Marble Falls.”
The shop was initially a tribute to Michael and Cindy’s late son, Joshua Brown, who died in 2011. He envisioned a community gathering place for those to share faith outside of a church.
“He always wanted a place where people could build community,” Cindy said. “At the time, there was no place like this.”
With a background rooted in faith, the Sivells sisters are committed to making the shop a comforting space for everyone.
“We’re a church family,” Bethany said. “Our goal is to be a blessing to everyone around us. We want to offer a relaxed, sit-down environment where people feel at home. They say a bartender is also a therapist, and for us, barista means the same thing. We’re here for everybody.”
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A spark from a saw started a fire that burned 31 acres of pasture southeast of Marble Falls at around 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27. The plume could be seen from Avenue U as the Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department was en route.
“We immediately called the South End Task Force,” VFD Chief Michael Phillips told DailyTrib.com. “Fire departments from Spicewood, Horseshoe Bay, Marble Falls Fire Rescue, Granite Shoals, Hoover’s Valley, and Cottonwood Shores all pitched in and helped.”
The South End Task Force includes all fire departments in southern Burnet County.
Firefighters saved three buildings threatened by the flames in the three hours it took to douse the fire.
Both Llano and Burnet counties have burn bans due to dry grasses, low humidity, and lack of rain. The dry grass is especially high because early season rains spurred growth, which became fire fuel.
Although rain is predicted for the coming week, Phillips said it won’t be enough to lessen the fire risk.
Along with following burn bans, people should be extra cautious when working in these conditions with tools that can generate sparks, especially in the afternoons.
“Put the saw on concrete and have water on hand when working with tools,” Phillips said. “You think that’s just dirt, and it’s good, but it’s not. Once it catches fire, no matter how tall, with the wind, it gets pushed out faster.”
Phillips said the fire moved 25 feet in less than 25 seconds as crews battled the blaze.
“This was dizzying firefighting,” he said. “You had to be quick.”
The fire hazard increases in the afternoons because, in current Central Texas conditions, any humidity in the morning burns off by early afternoon.
“The area is notorious for having the most active grass fires after 1 p.m.,” Phillips continued. “If you’re going to work after 1 p.m.—after the humidity is gone—have a water source nearby. If you don’t, there’s only one way to describe it: the race is on.”
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The Falls on the Colorado Museum in Marble Falls recently received a $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Pedernales Electric Cooperative that will go toward a major renovation project.
The LCRA Community Development Partnership Program grant will be combined with more than $216,000 in matching funds from the museum to restore its historic home, the Old Granite School, including renovating and opening the second floor to exhibits on local history and culture.
“We’re restoring the original look of the building, so it’s going to look more like the original building, in addition to being more functional,” said museum Chair Amanda Seim in an LCRA media release announcing the grant. “At the same time, this is not just about preserving the building, it’s about expanding our capacity. There are so many people that come through and say they went to school here or taught here, and it’s wonderful that the building is put to use in such a meaningful way. This renovation is going to help us enrich the lives of the people in Marble Falls.”
In the past, The Falls on the Colorado has only been able to use the building’s first floor because of the poor condition of the second floor. The renovation project will make the second floor safe and usable as well as replace 29 upstairs windows with historically accurate versions and refurbish 28 downstairs windows to improve the building’s energy efficiency. Many of the museum’s windows were damaged during an April hailstorm.
Project plans also include upstairs space for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs and hands-on exhibits for youth, repairs to both sets of interior stairs, carpet replacement, and an accessible toilet.
In the media release, LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said the planned renovations will help The Falls on the Colorado preserve the history of Marble Falls as well as promote lifelong learning through its new programs.
“Preserving local heritage is an important part of a vibrant community,” he said. “Recognizing and understanding your community’s past can play a vital role in helping determine where you go moving forward. LCRA is honored to be able to assist Falls on the Colorado Museum in these significant renovations.”
Museum Chair Seim said the LCRA/PEC grant will help push the renovation project across the finish line.
“The community has really come together for donations, but the contributions and support from LCRA and PEC are crucial to finishing this project,” she said in the media release. “Without them, we would be waiting a very long time to complete these important renovations.”
The community grant to the museum is one of 37 grants recently awarded through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders, and nonprofit organizations fund eligible capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. PEC is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.
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The city of Burnet is set to launch a street maintenance initiative that will seal 62,000 square-yards of roadway across 16 streets. Work is tentatively set to being as early as the week of Oct. 28. Street closures are expected.
Approved at a recent City Council meeting, the project will be completed by Holbrook Asphalt at a total cost of $349,838.28, funded by the city’s 2022 bond.
Crews will use a special type of fog seal, a high-density mineral bond that offers enhanced resistance to weather conditions, applied in two layers to improve road longevity.
“This material was chosen based on its performance and durability,” City Engineer Eric Belaj said. “Some of the cheaper sealants you see just kind of sit on top of the road. This fog seal really penetrates and binds with the asphalt to extend the life of the pavement.”
Work is tentatively scheduled to begin as early as next week, with crews aiming to complete the project by the end of November. The city will give residents a 72-hour notice of each street closure via door-to-door visits, door tags, social media, emails to key organizations, and website updates.
“This project is really important for us to get done before the winter weather sets in,” Belaj said. “The fog-seal treatment will preserve and prevent further deterioration that can happen during the colder months.”
Each affected street will close for about 24 hours to allow the seal to cure, with the potential for a second-day application depending on weather conditions. To minimize inconvenience, the city will arrange for residents to park their cars in designated areas away from the work zones. Additionally, the contractor will have golf carts available to transport residents to their vehicles upon request.
Trash collection will be coordinated to ensure pickup before streets are shut down at 7 a.m. each day.
The following roads and areas will be affected:
North Main Street
North Vanderveer Street
Sherrard Street
Third Street
Oak Street
Seventh Street
Sixth Street
Fifth Street
Hamilton Street
Corder Lane
Evergreen Circle
North Boundary Street
Tanner Court
Tami Drive
Wranglers Way
Round up Circle
For more details and to stay informed about road closures and shuttle services, residents should visit the city of Burnet’s website.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
The Burnet Police Department is changing its officers’ duty guns to address safety concerns surrounding the current model. The switch will cost the city $44,450 to cover the new firearms, essential training, and the necessary corresponding equipment.
Police Chief Brian Lee explained the department’s decision to replace the SIG Sauer P320 with the Staccato 2011 as its duty gun during the Burnet City Council meeting Tuesday, Oct. 22.
A key factor is the SIG Sauer P320’s known tendency to unintentionally discharge without a trigger pull. Instances of this malfunction have been reported nationwide and just recently in Marble Falls.
“Considering recent events, we’ve looked at transitioning to another platform,” Chief Lee said. “We had the Marble falls incident, and then in (Tampa) Florida and La Grange (Texas) have had similar issues with the same firearm platform. So erring on the safe side, we decided to go out and look at what other options are out there that could better serve our needs.”
On Sept. 20, a Marble Falls Independent School District school resource officer was shot in the leg by their own gun, a SIG Sauer P320, that reportedly fired while still holstered. The Marble Falls Police Department recalled all SIG Sauer P320 sidearms in the aftermath.
BPD’s new handgun, the Staccato 2011, was recommended by the department’s firearms instructors based on its ergonomics and ease of use.
“The firearms instructors fired over 1,500 rounds on (testing day),” Lee said. “They provided us with pros and cons, and they made the decision that the Staccato 2011 would be the best option for us.”
Burnet officers will need to learn how to manipulate the Staccato’s external safety features, which differ from the SIG Sauer P320. Lee told the council that officers will go through a comprehensive training to “ensure a smooth transition.”
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The Third Court of Appeals, Texas Judicial Branch, will begin deliberations Nov. 12 in three cases of quashed charges against Burnet County Judge James Oakley, including official oppression and tampering with evidence. On Tuesday, justices denied an appeal from both sides to hear oral arguments.
Instead of a public hearing, Chief Justice Darlene Byrne and Justices Edward Smith and Rosa Lopez Theofanis will consult already submitted briefs to make a decision in the State of Texas vs. James Oakley. This practice is common in busy courts.
The court is considering an appeal of three orders to quash three charges against Oakley, which were granted during a pre-trial hearing in the 33rd District Court in July 2023. Visiting District Judge Dib Waldrip quashed three of four charges brought against Oakley on March 7 by 33rd/424th District Attorney Wiley “Sonny” McAfee following a grand jury indictment.
To quash a charge is to set it aside or void it.
Two of the charges are for tampering with evidence and official oppression related to an April 2021 vehicle collision in Spicewood in which Oakley was involved. A third charge involves his dual position as a public servant (Burnet County judge) and a board member of a nonprofit corporation (Pedernales Electric Cooperative).
The State Commission on Judicial Conduct suspended Oakley without pay on March 10, 2023, for a fourth charge, abuse of official capacity, which went to trial. He was found not guilty of the misdemeanor charge in August 2023. That case was tried before a Blanco County jury in a district court and involved Oakley’s use of a county-owned vehicle to drive to PEC Board of Directors meetings.
The not guilty verdict was enough to lift Oakley’s suspension within hours of the jury being dismissed.
If the Third Court of Appeals overturns the quashed charges, rather than uphold Judge Waldrip’s decision, Oakley could face multiple jury trials and a possible second suspension by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
The three cases still pending before the Court of Appeals include:
Cause No. 55029, a third-degree felony—Oakley is accused of tampering with evidence by moving a bumper at the scene of the 2021 accident with the “intent to impair its verity and availability as evidence in the investigation.”
Cause No. 55154, a misdemeanor—Oakley is accused of official oppression by subjecting one of the people involved in the accident “to mistreatment that the Defendant knew was unlawful” by moving the bumper.
Cause No. 55344, a misdemeanor, which involves Oakley’s dual service as county judge and PEC director.
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