A special Texas America 250 exhibit is at the Falls on the Colorado Museum until July 31. The temporary display highlights the Lone Star State’s role in American history.
See an assortment of Texas treasures from the State Archives, including historical documents, photos, and more featuring everything from the Spanish mission era to the space race.
“The Falls on the Colorado Museum is extremely proud that our museum received this traveling exhibit to share with the community as well as our many summer visitors to Marble Falls.” said Darlene Oostermeyer, Chair of the museum. “This is a great way for Texans of all ages to learn more about the state’s role in U.S. history and explore some of our most treasured documents, photographs and artifacts. Visitors will also learn some unknown facts about our state.”
Visit the museum, located at 2001 Broadway in Marble Falls, during its regular business hours:
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The Marble Falls Independent School District recently passed a 14-month budget for the 2026-27 school year at a Board of Trustees meeting on June 15. The district will approve its tax rate for the school year in August to help fund the budget.
The 14-month budget, which will shift the end of the district’s fiscal year to August 31 instead of June 30, projects a nearly 20 percent increase in expenditures compared to the district’s 2025-26 budget that spanned just 12 months.
MFISD Chief Financial Officer Bill Orr told trustees that the two months were added so the district could wait and see what the certified property values would be, which are typically set by July 25.
With the district’s current fiscal year ending on June 30, Orr added that it was difficult to properly estimate the district’s budget due to the lack of concrete tax numbers.
“We’re guessing at what the state’s going to do,” he said at the meeting. “We’re guessing what the property values are going to be, and we’re guessing at the tax rate.”
The approved budget will span July 1, 2026, to August 31, 2027, total roughly $98 million, and be distributed amongst the district’s general, child nutrition, and debt service funds. The new 14-month budget’s expenditures come in at $16.9 million, or just over 20 percent, more than the approved 12-month 2025-26 budget.
In addition to the extra two-month period on the budget, Orr explained that a steady average daily student attendance rate and projected property value increase of 4 percent played a significant role in formulating the upcoming year’s expenditures.
Budget by fund
MFISD has budgeted about $68 million for its general fund, which will support things like school maintenance and operations, staff salaries, transportation services, and more.
A total of $26 million was set aside for the debt services fund, which will cover payments on various loans taken out by the district, such as those for the 2025 $172.2 million bond package.
The district’s child nutrition fund was budgeted near $4 million, contributing to the bulk of the district’s food services.
Where’s the money?
The district expects to receive the bulk of its funding from local property taxes, among several other sources. MFISD splits property taxes into two categories – maintenance and operations, and interest and sinking.
While the tax rate for the coming year will be voted upon in August, the 2026-27 budget was calculated using an estimated M&O rate of $0.6595 and I&S rate of $0.2153, the latter of which is the same as the 2025-26 fiscal year.
A closer look at the funding sources for the budget are as follows.
Local, intermediate, and out of state sources – $72,004,000
State program revenues – $9,238,000
Federal program revenues – $3,555,000
This leaves the district with a deficiency of roughly $13 million, which will supposedly be made up for by its estimated $31 million fund balance (money leftover in the district’s general fund).
Budget breakdown
A closer look at the budgeted dollar amounts for each fund is as follows.
General fund
Instruction – $33,377,260
Instructional resources and media services – $477,768
Curriculum and professional development – $483,361
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Representatives from state agencies and the livestock industry are visiting Llano to provide insight on the New World screwworm outbreak that is spreading across Texas.
An informational question and answer session is planned for 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, at the JLK Event Center and Arena, at 2200 W. RR 152 in Llano. Officials from the Texas Animal Health Commission, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the Jordan Cattle Auction will be the featured speakers.
The event is free to attend and sponsored by the Hill Country Livestock Raisers Association.
Report suspected livestock cases to the TAHC Region Office at 512-719-0700
Report suspected wildlife cases to the TPWD at 512-389-4505
The screwworm is the larval form of the New World screwworm fly, and unlike an average maggot, it feeds on the live flesh of its host, potentially causing severe tissue damage and death if left untreated. Any warm-blooded animal with an open wound or body cavity is susceptible to infection. This includes livestock, wildlife, pets, and even people.
Graphic images: See New World screwworm infection images from the United States Department of Agriculture at this link- New World Screwworm photo gallery.
The pest wrecked havoc on the Texas livestock industry for decades before being effectively eradicated in the United States by the 1980s. In 1976 alone, the Texas economy lost about $329.59 million due to livestock deaths from a New World screwworm outbreak. Accounting for inflation, that would have been $1.8 billion in 2024. About 1.48 million cattle were reportedly infected in that outbreak.
The state and federal government are currently collaborating on combatting the screwworm outbreak using the sterile insect technique, which is done by releasing large amounts of sterilized male flies into an infection zone. When the sterile males mate with females, their eggs are not viable, and the bug’s breeding cycle is interrupted. This was the successful method used for eradication decades ago.
Some prevention methods recommended by the TAHC are:
Keeping open wounds clean and covered
Working closely with veterinarians on preventative treatments
Ensure pets and livestock are inspected when before, during, and after traveling
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A redesigned version of the Bluffview Waters development is expected to bring a mix of condominiums and villas to Cottonwood Shores, though construction is not expected to begin until 2029.
Cottonwood Shores City Council approved the project’s final site plan and development agreement in its June 18 meeting, authorizing a revised plan that replaces two condominium towers of 113 units and 15 villas with a single 98-unit tower and 22 villas on a hilltop site near the border of Horseshoe Bay city limits off of RM 2147.
The view atop the hill on Princess Path near the Bluffview Waters development site in Cottonwood Shores. Staff photo by Maci Cottingham
To accommodate underground parking and the site’s terrain, the building’s maximum height was increased from 80 feet to 85 feet. Short-term rentals will be permitted under city ordinances and state law.
The project’s cost was previously estimated at $75 million, but updated projections were not released following the redesign. An estimate from when the project was first pitched publicly in 2025 put the development’s completed value at around $150 million. At the time, City Manager J.C. Hughes noted that the total value of property in Cottonwood Shores was only about $200 million.
The original timeline called for a three- to five-year completion, though construction is now not expected to begin until early 2029. According to City Manager Hughes, developers are moving forward with plans for an entry roadway and detailed building design work ahead of the projected start date.
As part of the development agreement, the developer must install construction entrance signage along RM 2147 and provide directional signs for construction traffic. Heavy trucks and construction vehicles will be prohibited from using streets within the Castle Terrace subdivision or entering through the neighborhood’s main entrance.
Possible amenities include an outdoor pavilion, spa, infinity-edge pool, pickleball courts, fitness center, café and bar, dog park, hiking trails and a tennis court.
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Granite Shoals will host its annual Fourth of July Golf Cart Parade at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 4.
Participants can gather at the Granite Shoals Community Center, 1208 N. Phillips Ranch Road, at 8:15 a.m. before the parade begins and travels to Crockett Park, 702 Sherwood Forest Drive. No pre-registration is required, and only golf carts are permitted. Following the parade, attendees are invited to Crockett Park for complimentary hot dogs and refreshments, and awards will be handed out for the most patriotic golf carts.
“The Fourth of July Golf Cart Parade has become a signature community tradition, and as our nation celebrates its 250th birthday, we are honored to bring residents and visitors together to commemorate this historic milestone, celebrate our shared heritage, and strengthen the connections that make our community so special,” City Manager Sarah Novo told DailyTrib. “Events like these remind us that the strength of our nation begins with strong communities and neighbors coming together in celebration.”
The event will also feature the community’s “Christmas in July” toy drive benefiting Operation Christmas Outreach. New, unwrapped toys will be accepted at the Community Center before the parade and at Crockett Park afterward. Donations also will be collected throughout July at the Granite Shoals Fire Station.
“The generosity of Granite Shoals residents has always been one of our greatest strengths, and every toy donated helps bring hope, joy, and the magic of Christmas to local children and families,” Novo said. “Together, we make a lasting impact and help ensure that every child has something special to celebrate each holiday season.”
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Nine Burnet Consolidated Independent School District coaches have made strides off the field to earn their commercial driver’s licenses with the help of the district’s dedicated transportation staff.
After tackling a rigorous training process, coaches Marci Clanin, Brandon Cunningham, Andrew Baker, Connor McBurnett, Travis Meadows, Sonny Wilson, Mark Zeigler, Treasure Ellerbe, and Kendal Connolly all received their CDLs within the last few months.
According to BCISD Director of Transportation Jennifer Stevens, coaches in the district are required to earn their CDLs so they can drive their own buses to ease the strain on transportation staff during athletic events.
Coaches go through an intense training process, earning their learner’s permits throughout the school year, reviewing a series of safety videos, and participating in a week of summertime lessons that the transportation department has dubbed “Hell Week.”
“We started it first last year,” Stevens told DailyTrib. “We call it Hell Week because it’s hot and intense. We go from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for five days, bring in a few trainers from other districts, give coaches drive time, and instruct them on what to do.”
Once the coaches cross the goal line of Hell Week, it’s off to take their tests, which are completed in-house.
Stevens told DailyTrib that the transportation team began offering its CDL training program as an option for coaches who are bogged down with regular work during the school year. By hosting training sessions in the summer, coaches are able to focus more, ask questions, and build a comfortable relationship with their instructors.
“A lot of (coaches) like it,” Stevens said. “We have lunch and can talk about things with them while eating. And we build that rapport with them to be able to give them their expectations.”
Coach Marci Clanin poses as Michael Meyers as a jest towards the BCISD transportation team after receiving her CDL.
As a congratulations, the transportation team also made a tradition of giving coaches a souvenir based on their experience at Hell Week once they pass their exams.
“At the end of the week, we give them something that reminds us of them,” Stevens said. “When coach Clanin got into the bus, she was just saying ‘don’t die, don’t die.’ So we gave her a paper sack that said ‘don’t die’ as a joke.”
In response, Clanin came back later to poke fun at the transportation team, wearing a Michael Meyers outfit that she apparently bought for Halloween.
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The Marble Falls Police Department arrested on Sunday, June 21, the Texas Department of Public Safety’s featured fugitive of June 2026. The arrest was made thanks to a tip submitted to local law enforcement.
MFPD cuffed 19-year-old Victor Manuel Ramos Jr. on Sunday, charging him with possession of a controlled substance. Ramos Jr. was wanted for failing to comply with annual sex offender registration requirements in connection to a child sexual assault conviction in Llano County.
According to DPS reports, Ramos was captured using information submitted through Texas Crime Stoppers.
“Working off tip information, Marble Falls Police Department officers located and arrested Ramos at a business,” reads the report.
The $4,000 reward offered by Texas Crime Stoppers for information leading to Ramos’ capture was awarded to the anonymous informant.
Ramos had been wanted since August 2025 leading up to his arrest. He was known to have connections to Horseshoe Bay, Cottonwood Shores, and Marble Falls. He was noted as “transient” when booked into the Burnet County Jail on Sunday.
According to a media release issued by DPS, Ramos was convicted in April 2025 of sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by sexual contact in connection to a 2023 incident involving a 16-year-old girl, when he was 17 years old.
He reportedly failed to comply with sex offender registration requirements in Llano County and was also wanted out of Burnet County for violations of his probation.
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The Llano community is going all out for its Fourth of July celebrations, with days of events, contests, and more leading up to its big Independence Day party on the Llano River.
July 1
“Born of Rebellion: Inspired by Liberty: The Common Causes of the United States, Texas and Mexico”
5:30 p.m. at the Llano Art Gallery, Bessemer Avenue in Llano
Texas historian, author, and photographer Ben Friberg will give a lecture on his series “Born of Rebellion: Inspired by Liberty: The Common Causes of the United States, Texas and Mexico”. The event is free to attend and hosted by the Llano County Historical Commission and the Llano Fine Arts Guild.
July 2
Declaration of Independence reading
10 a.m. on the lawn of the Llano County Courthouse, 801 Ford Street in Llano
Local leaders will read the Declaration of Independence on the grounds of the historic Llano County Courthouse. Bring your own chair and enjoy complimentary hot dogs, chips, and water.
July 3
“In their own words”
7 p.m. at the Lantex Theater, 113 West Main Street in Llano
The Llano Community Theatre is putting on a free patriotic performance on July 3, featuring dramatic readings of actual letters from several of the Founding Fathers and live music from the Llano Community Children’s Choir.
July 4
America 250 on the Llano River
9 a.m.- 11 p.m. at Badu City Park, 300 Legion Drive in Llano
Llano is hosting a full day of events at Badu City Park on the Fourth of July. Games and contests will take place throughout the day, with vendors offering souvenirs, food, and drinks at the park. Below is a basic schedule of events capped off by a fireworks show.
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The district will approve its tax rate for the school year in August to fund the budget, which was passed by the BCISD Board of Trustees during its regular meeting on Monday, June 22.
The approved 2026-27 budget, totalling roughly $58.5 million, will support the district’s maintenance and operations, food service, and debt service funds. The total comes in at $312,000, or about 0.53 percent, more than BCISD’s budget for the 2025-26 school year.
BCISD Chief Financial Officer Clay Goehring explained to trustees that the budget’s slight increase was based on several factors going into next year, including somewhat stagnant enrollment, a small increase to student attendance, and a previously-approved teacher pay raise.
“We’re projecting enrollment of 3,213 (students) – that was the average enrollment for last year,” Goehring said during Monday’s meeting. “Our attendance percentage was up 0.41 percent, so we are budgeting for that to continue. And these expenditures include the 3 percent pay raise you guys approved in May.”
Goehring added that a small surplus in state revenue could bolster the district’s finances going into the next school year, allowing more flexibility in the budget.
Budget by fund
BCISD has budgeted about $45.3 million for its maintenance and operations fund, which will support things like most staff salaries, instruction, transportation services, extracurriculars, and more. This is a $229,000 increase from the district’s budget last year.
A total of $10.64 million was set aside for the debt services fund, which will cover principal, interest, and defeasance costs on loans taken out by the district. For reference, the recently-passed 2026 $135 million bond package payments will fall under this category. This total amount remains unchanged from the prior year’s budget, but will likely be updated once bond repayment begins.
The district’s food service fund was budgeted near $2.48 million, covering a bulk of the district’s meal preparation costs and any associated employment costs. This is a $83,000 increase from the district’s budget last year. Of note, student meal prices will stay the same as they were last year, which include free breakfast, free elementary school lunch, $2.60 middle school lunch, and $2.85 high school lunch.
Where’s the money?
The district expects to receive the bulk of its revenue from local property taxes. BCISD splits property taxes into two categories – maintenance and operations, and interest and sinking.
While the tax rate for the coming year will be set in August, the district provided expected revenue numbers at its Monday meeting using a projected I&S tax rate of 0.195, which is the same rate as the current year.
M&O property taxes, which can be used only for day-to-day operations, are expected to pull in roughly $37.5 million in revenue.
I&S taxes, which can only be used to pay down debt, are expected to draw $10.64 million in revenue.
BCISD expects to garner several million additional dollars from state and federal sources to round out its revenue.
Budget breakdown
A closer look at the budgeted dollar amounts for each fund is as follows.
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