The Burnet Police Department is urging residents and travelers to maintain safe driving practices along the corridor of Texas 29 between Burnet and Bertram while significant portions of the road undergo construction.
The road work, expected to continue well into 2027, has caused increased traffic congestion along a roughly 5-mile stretch of Texas 29, creating an increase in “concerning” behavior from drivers.
“What we are seeing is concerning,” Police Chief Tony Hefferin said in a statement to the community. “Some vehicles continue to exceed posted speed limits in the zone, creating unnecessary dangers for everyone. We have also received several reports of drivers using the center median to pass slower traffic.”
Hefferin told DailyTrib that, since he took command of the department at the beginning of the year, he tallied seven traffic collisions and 33 traffic violations within the construction zone. He added that he had witnessed the violations firsthand, having patrolled the area for roughly an hour on two separate occasions, one which resulted in a traffic violation.
“We’ve put (the Texas 29 corridor) as a traffic assignment on multiple occasions. Even I’ve been up there a couple of times,” Hefferin told DailyTrib. “I’ve sat there twice and at least did one traffic stop over one hour.”
As the construction is expected to continue for at least another year, Chief Hefferin said that his department will remain a steady presence in the area to ensure the safety of drivers and workers.
“You will see more officers in the construction zone,” Hefferin said in the statement. “Our priority is making sure everyone, including workers, residents, and visitors, gets home safely every day.”
Work to expand the roadway began in November of 2025 and has continued to shift as crews inch along the roadway accompanied by traffic barriers and cones. Chief Hefferin acknowledged the strain that the changing patterns put on travelers, but reaffirmed that smart driving practices should be followed for everyone to stay safe.
“It’s tough to maneuver over there. It’s awkward for us, it’s awkward for the drivers, it’s awkward all the way around,” Hefferin told DailyTrib. “I get that it’s a construction zone and it slows you down, but it’s done for safety.”
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A major pipe break at a key wastewater lift station in Cottonwood Shores has prompted emergency repairs after the system was taken completely out of operation. The system is expected to be back online by May 15.
City Council approved $23,500 in emergency repairs for Lift Station No. 5 during its May 7 meeting following a major break in the main discharge pipe servicing the station. The city’s entire wastewater system flows into Lift Station No. 5 before being transferred to Horseshoe Bay for treatment under an existing agreement between the two cities.
A lift station is a facility that pumps wastewater from lower elevations to higher ground so it can continue moving through the sewer system to a treatment plant.
According to City Manager J.C. Hughes, the pipe may have been weakened during a recent freeze. Hughes said the pipe warranty had expired.
The city is temporarily bypassing the lift station through its valving system while repairs are completed. The station is required to use a “chopper” type pump before wastewater is discharged and sent to Horseshoe Bay for treatment under the existing agreement.
The city plans to file an insurance claim, though council approved the full repair amount to allow work to move forward immediately.
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Law enforcement agencies across the Highland Lakes plan on bolstering their presence and patrols ahead of Memorial Day weekend, May 22-25, in an effort to enforce safe driving.
The Texas Department of Public Safety announced on Friday, May 8, that patrols would be increased statewide from May 11-25 as part of its annual All-American Enforcement Campaign to ensure safe driving practices ramping up towards the holiday.
“The Texas Highway Patrol (THP) will focus on enforcing seat belt laws and promoting safe driving behaviors to reduce crashes and save lives,” reads the announcement.
Burnet County Sheriff’s Office Captain Mike Sorenson told DailyTrib that BCSO would not be increasing their patrols ahead of the holiday season like DPS would be, but that enforcement vehicles would be stationed more visibly along major roadways.
While neither agency provided specific reasons for the increased enforcement during Memorial Day weekend, Texas Department of Transportation data from 2024 cited the weekend as the second most deadly of all holiday weekends in the state, behind the Fourth of July, with 46 fatal crashes and 55 fatalities.
Memorial Day remains one of the larger travel holidays for Texans, with a total of 3.2 million residents expected to travel by car throughout the weekend.
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The Marble Falls Public Library is gearing up for a summer filled with activities for kids, teens, and adults, with workshops, magic shows, summer reading, concerts, and more in the line up.
All activities are free and open to the public. Visit the library at 101 Main Street in Marble Falls and learn more on the facility’s website.
Register for summer reading programs by May 15 on the Beanstack website.
Event schedule
June 3, Wednesday, 2 p.m.: Texas prehistory presentation, ages 15 years and up
June 4, Thursday, 10:30 a.m.: Live animals with Wildlife on the Move
June 5, Friday, 4 p.m.: Live music, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, all ages
June 11, Thursday, 10:30 a.m.: Mad science show with Andrea
June 18, Thursday, 10:30 a.m.: Little Red Riding Hood Theater
June 25, Thursday, 10:30 a.m.: Magic show with Richard Blake
July 2, Thursday, 4 p.m.: Independence Day concert with the Hill Country Community Band, all ages
July 8, Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.: Author talk with Cindi Collins on paleontology, ages 15 years and up
July 9, Thursday, 10:30 a.m.: Archaeology class, ages 5 years and up
July 16, Thursday, 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.: Dino camp, ages 5 years and up
July 22, Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.: Texas Tech presentation on giant salamanders, ages 15 years and up
July 24, Friday, 3 p.m.: Hot Toast Dance Party and pizza party
August 14, Thursday: Summer reading art contest submissions due, apply at the library
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Local law enforcement is honoring fallen officers for National Police Week, May 10-16. The week of remembrance is underway with officers, agencies, and communities participating across the country.
Burnet Police Chief Tony Hefferin shared a statement on the city’s Facebook page on the importance of honoring fallen officers and supporting their families throughout the week, highlighting his personal experience with the loss of officers and friends.
“During my time at the Bellaire Police Department, we lost two officers in the line of duty—Sergeant Jimmie Norman and Officer Marco Zarate,” Chief Hefferin said. “Police Week matters to me, and to so many of us, because it reminds us of these officers and they are never just names carved into stone.”
Hefferin also spoke on the impactful loss of Burnet’s own Officer Jose Meza in 2019, which still affects the community to this day.
“Here in Burnet, we continue to remember Officer Jose Humberto Meza, who gave his life in the line of duty on December 20th, 2019,” Chief Hefferin said. “We continue to honor Jose, not just by reading his name each year, but by making sure his sacrifice, and his family, are never forgotten. They will always have our support, respect, and a place in this department”
Officer Meza died from a heart attack on Dec. 20 following an hours-long training session with his K-9 partner, Kuso. Meza had begun to feel unwell after the training and was taken to the hospital, where he passed away later that day.
Chief Hefferin reminded residents to keep Meza and his family in their thoughts as the week of remembrance progresses.
“This week, especially May 15th (during the National Peace Officers Memorial Service), is about remembrance,” he said. “Behind each name is a family whose world has forever changed. We can’t bring them back, but we can make sure their memory endures.”
As part of National Police Week, several memorial events will take place in D.C. to honor the fallen heroes, including the Candlelight Vigil, National Survivors Conference, and the main event of the week, National Peace Officers Memorial Service, on May 15 at the U.S. Capitol.
Deputy Taylor
The Llano community came together on May 9 to honor Llano County Sheriff’s deputy Andy Taylor, who was killed in the line of duty 21 years ago on that same day.
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The Llano community came together on May 9 to honor Llano County Sheriff’s deputy Andy Taylor, who was killed in the line of duty 21 years ago on that same day.
“Today, the Llano County Sheriff’s Office, along with deputy Andy Taylor’s family and friends, gathered to honor and remember his service and the sacrifice he made for Llano County,” reads a statement from the Sheriff’s Office. “It was a beautiful day spent sharing stories, reflecting on his impact, and ensuring his legacy lives on.”
A crowd gathered at the Llano County Law Enforcement Center on May 9, which lies at 752 Andy Taylor Drive, an address and street named after the fallen deputy and his badge number. The Llano County Commissioners Court officially renamed the street and changed the address in 2025 in honor of Taylor. The ceremony was punctuated by a moment of silence in person and over the radio at noon, and by a live bagpipe performance.
The 27-year-old deputy died on May 9, 2005, following a traffic stop he made in Kingsland. According to Taylor’s Officer Down memorial page, he pulled a vehicle over at around 11:10 p.m. on May 8 near the intersection of Skyline Drive and Dilley Street. He called in a description of the vehicle and ran a license check, but was not heard from again. Soon after the traffic stop, somebody reported seeing the deputy lying in the road. When police arrived, they found that Taylor had been shot once in the head. He died in the hospital the next day.
The suspect in the shooting, identified as Eric Richard Wolfe in Taylor’s obituary, was found after an 11-hour manhunt that ended with Wolfe reportedly shooting himself as authorities closed in. He later died from the wound.
Wolfe was on parole for a previous robbery conviction and had violated the terms of his parole leading up to the fateful traffic stop.
Taylor had served with the LCSO for three years before he died. He was a Llano High School graduate and also served with the Llano Volunteer Fire Department.
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Marble Falls High School senior Joaquin Aguilar, on Monday, May 11, signed a commitment letter with the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor to play division III football starting next year. The Mustangs running back has been a consistent star on the squad over the last four years, and the community turned out in force to congratulate him and his family on the signing. Courtesy photo Joaquin Aguilar Sr.
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A man was stabbed on Friday, May 8, at a gas station in Granite Shoals. The victim suffered significant injuries and the suspect in the incident is in custody.
Granite Shoals police responded to a call at around 2:59 p.m. regarding a disturbance at Buck’s Food and Fuel, located at 8201 W. RR 1431. On the scene, officers discovered an unidentified 55-year-old man with significant injuries sustained from an apparent stabbing. He was transported by Air Evac 49 to Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin.
A 47-year-old Granite Shoals resident, David Alex Montoya, was taken into custody following the incident and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and terroristic threat against a peace officer or judge. He was still on the scene when officers arrived.
Montoya’s bonds were set at $500,000 for the aggravated assault charge and $50,000 for the terroristic threat charge. As of Friday, he had not bonded out of jail.
The investigation is ongoing, and no additional information has been released as of the publication of this article. Montoya is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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One driver was killed in a head-on collision on Thursday, May 7, in the 12000 block of West RR 1431 in Burnet County, near the east side of Lookout Mountain.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a westbound Jaguar SUV crossed into the eastbound lane and struck a Honda passenger car head-on.
The driver of the Honda was pronounced dead at the scene and has not yet been identified. The driver of the Jaguar was injured and transported to a local hospital, according to DPS.
The crash remains under investigation, and no additional information was available.
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.
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