Spicewood Volunteer Fire Department firefighters check for hot spots after extinguishing a truck fire at the intersection of Texas 71 and High Plains Trail in Spicewood about 3 p.m. June 27. Texas Department of Public Safety officials say the truck was traveling west at a high rate of speed when it left Texas 71 for an unknown reason. The vehicle then crashed through a wooden fence, struck some rocks, rolled and burst into flames. Travis County STAR Flight transported the driver, a Kingsland man, to University Medical Center Brackenride-Seton in Austin. A trooper said the man was in and out of consciousness and unable to answer questions at the time. Spicewood crews contained and extinguished the fire. The accident remains under investigation. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
LLANO — Llano County officials and the mother of a man found dead in the Llano County Jail settled a federal lawsuit June 21 before the matter headed to federal court.
The county agreed to pay $212,500 plus up to $2,000 in documented court fees to the family of Shawn Appell. On Aug. 6, 2011, Llano County Jail officials found Appell, 45, dead in his cell after he apparently beat his head against the wall. Continue reading “Llano County settles with inmate’s family for about $200,000 in wrongful death suit”
FROM STAFF REPORTS
MARBLE FALLS — Summer is really heating up June 27-29 with highs hitting the triple digits, and people should use caution when outdoors and make sure their pets are safe.
The National Weather Service is forecasting a high of 100 degrees with partly cloudy skies for Marble Falls on June 27. The high should reach 101 degrees June 28 with mostly sunny skies. On June 29, the forecasted high is 103 degrees with a slight chance of thunderstorms overnight. Continue reading “Triple digits this weekend in the Highland Lakes”
If you want to know what it takes to fly an airplane without actually leaving the ground, you can find out July 6 with the Highland Lakes Flyers. Continue reading “101 FUN THINGS TO DO: Highland Lakes Flyers share hobby at Aqua Boom”
CONNIE SWINNEY • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — A bedroom heaped with furniture, storage items and clothing turned a fire call into a close call for Marble Falls Fire Rescue firefighters Michael Strobo and Chris Harrison. Continue reading “Bedroom fire at Marble Falls home scorches firefighters; crew saves kittens”
JARED FIELDS • PICAYUNE STAFF
BERTRAM — City leaders named an interim city utility director after the June 17 termination of director Chris Walker.
Mayor Dickie Allen said Walker’s termination was related to missing city property. Continue reading “Bertram names interim city utility director after termination due to missing property”
FROM STAFF REPORTS
MARBLE FALLS — Despite some spring and early summer rains this year, officials aren’t predicting much beneficial precipitation in the next several months, only a prolonged drought. Continue reading “Highland Lakes can expect little relief from drought this summer”
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
MARBLE FALLS — A man who simply walked to a store June 22 ended up in the hospital the next day in serious condition after somebody attacked him on the street between his residence and destination.
Police are seeking assistance on locating the alleged attacker. Continue reading “Marble Falls police seek information on assault that left 70-year-old man in ‘grave’ condition”
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
MARBLE FALLS — A multi-department investigation including local and federal agencies led to the arrest of a man who allegedly used illegally obtained personal information to make financial wire transfers.Authorities first arrested Carl Wilson Gammon, 59, on June 14 after Burnet County investigators charged him with allegedly possessing and using a 92-year-old Meadowlakes widow’s identification and personal information to open several loans without her knowledge. But that may have been only the tip of the iceberg as investigators filed additional charges on the man June 20 on similar offenses. Continue reading “Burnet County deputies, FBI add more charges in Meadowlakes swindling case”