Aquaboom returns to Kingsland July 2-5 with four days of Fourth of July festivities and the debut of its first-ever carnival.
The annual celebration features a packed lineup of events, including a patriotic dinner, barbecue cook-off, arts and crafts show, golf tournament, grand parade, car show, fireworks, and other community activities.
New this year, the AquaBoom Carnival will be open from noon to 8 p.m. July 3-4, offering unlimited rides and games for festivalgoers. Advance wristbands are available for $20 per person, per day through July 2 and may be used on either day of the carnival. Wristbands purchased at the gate are $25 per person, per day. Presale wristbands can be purchased at the AquaBoom office, 1507 RR 1431 in Kingsland.
The annual golf tournament also returns July 3 at Legends Golf Course. The event begins with a 9 a.m. shotgun start and will be played in a four-person scramble format, followed by lunch and prize presentations. Entry is $500 per team, or $125 per player, and includes green fees, cart fees, range balls, and lunch. Entry forms can be submitted to ronna@legendlbj.com.
AquaBoom 2026 Schedule of Events
Thursday, July 2
Rubber Ducky Scavenger Hunt Begins
11 a.m. – Patriotic Dinner
7 p.m. – Street Dance featuring River Rats
Friday, July 3
7:30 a.m. – BBQ Cook-Off and Arts & Crafts Check-In
Noon – Carnival Rides Open
3 p.m. – Cornhole Tournament at Wakepoint
8 p.m. – Karaoke at Wakepoint
10 p.m. – Fireworks at Wakepoint
Saturday, July 4
7:30 a.m. – Grand Parade Staging and Registration
8-8:30 a.m. – Children’s Parade Staging and Registration
9 a.m. – AquaBoom Children’s Parade
10 a.m. – AquaBoom Grand Parade
11 a.m. – Lake Area Rods & Classics Car Show
10 a.m.-2 p.m. – AquaBoom Annual Arts & Crafts Show
Noon – Carnival Rides Open
1 p.m. – Hot Dog Eating Contest
4-10 p.m. – Official AquaBoom Fireworks Show Watch Party at Boat Town
6:30 p.m. – Rubber Ducky Race
Sunday, July 5
9-10 a.m. – Wakepoint Bible Fellowship
10 a.m.-4 p.m. – AquaBoom Annual Poker Run on the River
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Marble Falls Independent School District Board of Trustees President Alex Payson just earned the title of “master trustee” after completing a rigorous, yearlong leadership program.
Payson graduated from the Leadership Texas Association of School Boards program on June 19 from a class of 32 experienced trustees from across the state. He has served on the MFISD Board of Trustees since July 2017 and is in the midst of his 2024-27 term.
“I am grateful for the support of Marble Falls ISD as I increased my knowledge of public education challenges (and solutions) in Texas,” Payson said in an MFISD media release. “We have already seen benefits from the connections made with Leadership TASB and it will continue to be a powerful resource in the years to come.”
The TASB program, founded in 1990, brings together dedicated officials in school districts from all over Texas to introduce them to effective leadership methods, state education policy, and proven strategies for managing school districts.
“On behalf of Marble Falls ISD, we congratulate Mr. Payson on this achievement of earning the Master Trustee title,” said Dr. Jeff Gasaway, Superintendent of MFISD. “We appreciate the time and commitment he has put in not just in serving on our Board of Trustees, but also completing this yearlong program in addition to his regular duties and commitments in our community, to better serve our students and district.”
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Llano County is on the edge of a spreading infection zone of the New World screwworm in Texas. Local officials have renewed a state of disaster for the county and are bracing for the potential impacts of the live flesh-eating pest.
The Llano County Commissioners Court passed its resolution renewing the disaster declaration on Monday, June 22, after County Judge Rob Hardy invoked an emergency declaration on June 15.
The declaration of a local disaster activates Llano County’s emergency response resources and gives official authorization to local leaders to pursue assistance from other agencies and government bodies at the state and federal level.
A recent outbreak of the New World screwworm in Texas was first detected on June 3 in Zavalla County, near the U.S.-Mexico border. By June 10, a confirmed case of the bug in Gillespie County put southwest Llano County in an official “Adjacent Surveillance Zone,” created by the Texas Animal Health Commission.
The screwworm is the larva 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.
Llano County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Don Moss shares an update on local response to the New World screwworm during a Monday, June 22, Commissioners Court meeting. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
“I don’t think people are panicking, but they are preparing,” Llano County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Don Moss told DailyTrib after the court reaffirmed its disaster declaration. “Right now, in Llano County, it is not serious, but it could get serious quickly. We’re trying to stay ahead of it.”
Moss represents the city of Llano and much of rural western Llano County. He explained that many locals are keeping a close eye on their animals as more cases of the screwworm are confirmed in the state.
“I’m around these people, I talk to these people, I see them on a daily basis, and I listen to them,” he said. “Several ranchers I know of are taking precautions already. They’re keeping a good eye on their livestock.”
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, as of Monday, June 22, there have been 14 detected cases of New World screwworm infections in Texas since the outbreak was first reported on June 3.
Moss noted that it was hard to know how many infections there could actually be, as the 14 cases with the USDA came from ranchers self reporting.
This is a Texas Animal Health Commission map with updated New World screwworm infection and surveillance zones as of Monday, June 22. Llano County is right on the border of the outbreak. TAHC image
“The cases that have been confirmed are on livestock,” he told the other members of the Commissioners Court. “There is no telling how many cases there are of wildlife that nobody is ever going to see.”
Of special concern in Llano County could be the high fence hunting trade. According to Moss, prized white-tailed deer and exotic game animals from around the world are raised in Llano County for breeding and hunting operations, and the screwworm is indiscriminate when it comes to its warm-blooded hosts.
This kudu is an example of high-dollar exotic game kept all over Llano County behind high fences by breeders and ranchers. The screwworm could not only impact livestock, but hunting ranches that rely on prize white-tailed deer and warm-blooded game animals from around the world. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
“It’s not only cattle,” he said. “All the wildlife people invest in behind these high fences, it could be as serious as anything ever has been.”
A kudu – a large African antelope – can cost around $28,000 to hunt. A private white-tailed deer hunt in the area can easily cost $8,000-12,000.
Background on the worm
The screwworm is the larval form of the New World screwworm fly. It is a flesh-eating parasite that wreaked havoc on Texas livestock, pets, and wildlife for decades before being effectively eradicated in the United States by the 1980s.
A resurgence of the bug was detected in Central America in 2023, moving steadily northward, with state and federal officials warning in 2025 of a possible U.S. outbreak.
The first confirmed infection documented in the recent wave within U.S. borders was in Zavala County, TX, on June 3.
Texas has been on high alert since the Zavala County case was detected. On Monday, June 8, Governor Greg Abbott activated the Texas State Emergency Operations Center to “Level II,” mobilizing state resources and agencies to combat the screwworm outbreak.
“I have activated the full use of all state resources to respond to the New World screwworm threat,” Governor Abbott wrote in a June 8 media release. “The protection of our ranchers, livestock producers, deer breeders, and the Texas economy from this pest is a top priority.”
The New World screwworm has been detected in Gillespie County, raising the alarm for livestock producers, pet owners, and wildlife populations in the Hill Country. United States Department of Agriculture photos
Fly/worm life cycle and impacts
The concern about the worm centers on its ability to quickly harm or even kill animals if left untreated.
According to a research evaluation from the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension on the New World screwworm, female flies are attracted to fresh, open wounds on warm-blooded animals. A wound as small as a thorn scratch or a tick bite is enough to draw them in.
Of special concern are the umbilical cord attachment points on newborn livestock, castration wounds, branding wounds, shearing wounds, dehorning wounds, or other wounds caused in regular ranching or agricultural work.
Female flies lay 100-300 eggs on the perimeter of a wound and within 24 hours the eggs hatch and begin to feed on living or dead flesh in the area.
Within one to two weeks, the worms grow, feeding on their host, consuming a large amount of flesh.
“Untreated screwworm infestations can be fatal,” wrote Texas A&M Entomologist Bart Drees. “The larvae will continue to feed on the animal and will eventually eat the host alive.”
Drees wrote that treating wounds immediately was the best control measure for screwworm infestations.
“Any animal with a severe wound should not be left untreated or out in the pasture unprotected,” he said.
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Three former students of Reclaim Arts Academy in Marble Falls are back for a second consecutive summer to share an original play with the Highland Lakes community. Three performances of “The Nightingale” are scheduled for the coming weekend.
Written, produced, and directed by three Reclaim Arts Academy alumni – Hanna Chandler, Sophia Mills, and Ella Plante – “The Nightingale” tells the story of a young girl who goes on a fantastic adventure to help her ailing grandmother remember a song from her youth.
See the show at First Baptist Church Marble Falls, 901 La Ventana Drive:
Reclaim Arts Academy is a faith-based school for the arts connected to First Baptist Church Marble Falls. Chandler, Mills, and Plante are all graduates of the Reclaim program. Chandler was homeschooled in the Highland Lakes, Mills graduated from Marble Falls High School, and Plante is a Faith Academy Flame.
The trio put on an original musical in the summer of 2025 as well, “The Princess and the Shoemaker.”
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An oversized load traveling along U.S. 281 in Burnet became entangled with several utility lines on Sunday afternoon, June 21, pulling down two poles in the process.
The poles, located near the intersection of U.S. 281 and Washington streets, supported communication lines and provided electricity to a streetlight, according to City Manager David Vaughn.
While the number of affected customers was unknown, Vaughn told DailyTrib that city workers would be repairing the damage on Monday, June 22. New communication lines would follow shortly after.
“City crews are replacing the two poles that were damaged today,” Vaughn said. “It is our understanding the communication providers will repair their lines as soon as the poles have been set.”
At least one new pole had already been installed by around 10:30 a.m. on Monday.
DailyTrib reached out to several businesses in the immediate area of the entanglement and confirmed with three – Rogers RV, The Draft, and the Burnet County Elections Office – that their communication services had not been interrupted to the best of their knowledge.
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The 250th birthday of the United States of America is fast approaching, and Bertram plans on celebrating with a boom.
Hosted by the Bertram Volunteer Fire Department, the city’s Independence Day event promises an evening of games, music, and fireworks will burst into action beginning at 8 p.m. on July 4 at the Bertram Baseball Fields, located at 549 E. FM 243.
“Please join us for a fun, family evening of spectacular fireworks,” reads the event’s Facebook promotion. “Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for the firework display that will begin at dark. We look forward to seeing you and your family and friends on the 4th of July!!”
Bertram has hosted a Fourth of July fireworks show each year for more than a decade, with a brief hiatus in 2024 due to construction at the baseball fields. The event has historically been backed by dozens of local businesses and by donations from community members to help bring the patriotic party to life.
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The Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department is dedicating its new fire station to former Fire Chief Michael E. Phillips, who went missing while responding to emergency calls during the July 2025 floods.
A dedication ceremony for Burnet County Emergency Services District No. 6 Station No. 2 will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, at 6423 CR 120 in Marble Falls. The celebration is open to the public and doubles as a cookout, with hot dogs, hamburgers, cookies, chips, and cold drinks to be served.
Phillips went missing July 5, 2025, while responding to an emergency call during catastrophic flooding in the Highland Lakes. Despite extensive search efforts involving multiple agencies, he was not found, and his End of Watch was announced July 15, 2025.
The dedication honors Phillips’ service and sacrifice to the Marble Falls community and the fire department.
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The sheriff’s offices of Burnet and Llano counties are still looking for information on a Highland Lakes area man who has been missing for over two months.
Freddie Paul Ledet, 59, was last seen on March 31 in Tow. Investigators say they are concerned for his safety due to the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
Ledet is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing around 140 pounds, with brown and gray hair, and hazel eyes.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts or possible sightings is asked to contact the Llano County Sheriff’s Office at 325-247-5767 or the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office at 512-756-8080. Anonymous tips are welcome. The case is listed as: Burnet County Missing Person Report #BC26-0363.
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A person of interest in a recent Bexar County homicide investigation is reportedly dead in Burnet County as of Wednesday, June 17.
“The Texas Rangers are investigating the death of an individual in Burnet County,” reads a statement issued to DailyTrib by the Texas Department of Public Safety on Thursday, June 18. “The investigation is related to an ongoing homicide investigation originating in Bexar County.”
The person of interest, believed to be 65-year-old Anthony Wayne Neasham, was wanted for questioning by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office for his possible connection to the murder of a 22-year-old man at a residence in San Antonio that was reported on Tuesday, June 16.
According to the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office, its officers provided support on Wednesday, June 17, for a Texas Department of Public Safety tactical team that executed a search warrant at a residence in Burnet County in connection to the homicide investigation.
“DPS had control of the entire scene, we only assisted with outer perimeter security,” BCSO Captain Mike Sorenson told DailyTrib.
He explained that, to his understanding, Neasham had likely fled from San Antonio to “his family’s place in Burnet County.”
While the investigation is ongoing, Sorenson stated that it seemed that Neasham had taken his own life during the DPS operation.
What we know
6:32 p.m. on June 16- Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar held a media conference regarding the murder of a 22-year-old man that occurred at a home in the 7000 block of Cactus Plum Drive on the far west side of San Antonio. An older woman, believed to be the victim’s mother, was also reportedly found badly injured at the residence as well. Sheriff Salazar also shared that they were looking for a person of interest in the case, a 65-year-old man presumed to be a resident and a boyfriend of the older woman.
7:15 p.m. on June 16- The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office shared a “person of interest” post, asking for any information on 65-year-old Anthony Wayne Neasham, who was believed to have information relevant to an investigation. Neasham’s vehicle and description matched the 65-year-old subject mentioned in Sheriff Salazar’s media conference earlier that day.
Unknown time between June 17 and June 18- The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office updated its search for Neasham, stating that he “has been found and accounted for,” and “We are no longer looking for Anthony.”
9:35 a.m. on June 18- The Burnet County Sheriff’s Office confirms with DailyTrib that DPS executed a search warrant on June 17 at a Burnet County property with Neasham present. He was confirmed dead following the incident.
3:47 p.m. on June 18- A DPS spokesperson tells DailyTrib that the Texas Rangers are investigating the death of an individual in Burnet County related to an ongoing homicide investigation originating in Bexar County.
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