FROM STAFF REPORTS

BURNET — City officials are warning residents about a potential scam involving utility payments.

The Burnet Police Department has received calls regarding a utility bill scam in which a person calls a resident and tells him or her that his or her bill is past due and the city is on the verge of cutting off those services. The caller tells the person the only way to stop this is by going to a store and purchasing a “Green Dot Card.” Then, the resident must provide the card information to the scammer. Continue reading “Scammers targeting Burnet utility customers by phone”

FROM STAFF REPORTS 

BURNET — An investigator believes a kitchen stove used to warm a home might be to blame in a fire that destroyed the residence on Tate Street and prompted evacuations nearby, officials said.

Burnet Fire Rescue and the Burnet Volunteer Fire Department fought the blaze, which started about 9:30 p.m. Dec. 23 in a home in the 100 block of East Tate Street. Firefighters gained control of the fire in about an hour but remained on the scene for several hours overnight into Christmas Eve, investigators said. Continue reading “Stove used for heating suspected in Burnet house fire; family is displaced”

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

LLANO — While some people are happy if they catch two or three feral hogs in a trap, Osvaldo Rojas of City Trapping would probably consider that a slow day.

“In the past five months, I’ve probably caught 450 hogs in one area that’s maybe 200 acres,” he said. “Now, it’s a wildlife preserve, so people don’t hunt there, and the hogs, they kind of pack in there. But you can see what you can do with a better type of trapping.” Continue reading “Feral hog-trapping expert brings his techniques, expertise to Llano”

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

MEADOWLAKES — According to state statistics, a vehicle is burglarized every two minutes in Texas. And alleged thieves in Meadowlakes managed to bolster that statistic when they targeted at least 16 vehicles Dec. 19.

Burglaries made off with cash, credit cards and even a firearm. Continue reading “Meadowlakes experiences rash of vehicle burglaries”

FROM STAFF REPORTS

MARBLE FALLS — The Marble Falls school district tapped an experienced educator and the Early Independent School District administrator to serve as the interim Marble Falls Middle School principal until a new one is named in the spring.

Marble Falls ISD superintendent Rob O’Connor announced Brett Koch will serve as the interim. Koch (pronounced Cook) will be working alongside current middle school principal John Schumacher until he leaves in late January. Continue reading “Marble Falls ISD appoints Early school district administrator as interim middle school principal”

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

BURNET — With the holidays in full swing, people are out shopping and visiting friends, but they aren’t alone. There’s another group of people out and about hoping drivers will do the one thing that makes their “job” so much easier: leave their car doors unlocked.

“It’s probably the biggest factor in car thefts and people taking things out of cars,” said Capt. Joey Canady, commander of the Heart of Texas Auto Theft Task Force. He said if people took that one simple step as well as hiding valuables or gifts, it could substantially cut down on the number of vehicle thefts and burglaries. Continue reading “Task force offers auto-theft prevention tips”

SUZANNE WIDEMAN • SPECIAL TO THE PICAYUNE

KINGSLAND — After more than a year since a fire damaged the facility while under construction, Kingsland residents finally celebrated the opening of the new Seton Kingsland Healthcare Center.

More than 75 community leaders, residents and Seton Highland Lakes employees attended an open house and a ribbon cutting for the facility Dec. 12. The clinic is located at 525 RR 2900 between Ridgeview and Nob Hill streets in the heart of the Kingsland business community. Continue reading “Seton Kingsland Healthcare Center open for business”

FROM STAFF REPORTS 

BURNET COUNTY — Investigators believe malfunctioning heat lamps used to keep pets warm in a garage might be to blame for a fire that destroyed a home adjacent to the Stone Mountain subdivision and several vehicles in the early morning hours of Dec. 13.

At least three people were displaced and referred to the American Red Cross as a result, according to the Marble Falls Volunteer Fire Department. Continue reading “Heat lamps for pets suspected source of fire that destroyed CR 120 home, vehicles”

CONNIE SWINNEY• PICAYUNE STAFF 

MARBLE FALLS  — Economic Development Corp. officials said extending areas that allow for the sale and the consumption of alcohol on premises could coax more businesses and jobs to the community.

As a result, EDC officials are circulating a petition to gather hundreds of signatures to allow for a local option election in May.

“It doesn’t help us if there are inconsistent areas where on-premises alcohol consumption is allowed and where it’s not,” EDC Executive Director Christian Fletcher said. Continue reading “Marble Falls EDC pushing for local option election on alcohol sale, consumption”