BERTRAM — From water-meter violations to trash in alleyways, the City Council says it’s time to get tough on those breaking the rules.

The first step is drafting letters to warn violators of potential consequences, and then to seek enforcement, officials said during the regular council meeting July 24.

BURNET — Dry conditions and diminishing rain chances prompted Burnet County leaders to issue an outdoor burn ban July 24.

County commissioners during their regular meeting reactivated the ban for the unincorporated portions of the county. It takes effect July 25.

MARBLE FALLS — A local songwriter is creating a tribute video after his two cousins survived a gunman’s carnage-fueled rampage July 20 at a packed movie theater in Aurora, Colo. 

Musician Rick Bussey of Bertram wants to honor in song three men who gave their lives — including his cousin’s boyfriend — to save others during the mass shooting.

“It’s gut-wrenching when something like this happens,” Bussey said July 22.

James Holmes, 24, who made his first formal court appearance in Centennial, Colo., July 22, during an arraignment, has been arrested in the shootings that killed 12 and wounded 58.

Meanwhile, Bussey’s cousins Samantha Yowler and her brother Nick were in the theater during a midnight showing of a Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises,” when a gunman clad in body armor walked into the cinema, lobbed tear gas cans and opened fire.

Police said the assailant was armed with an assault rifle, a shotgun and handguns.

Among the 12 who lost their lives was Samantha Yowler’s 27-year-old boyfriend Matt McQuinn, who dived in front of her, Bussey said. According to reports, his actions shielded her from the gunfire.

Nick Yowler, who also shielded his sister from the attack, didn’t suffer any injuries, according to reports.

Samantha Yowler was shot in the leg and is still hospitalized. 

“I feel sad for Matt, but all of us are so proud of him,” Bussey said. 

Bussey grew up with the siblings’ mother Ann Massie in Ohio.

“I’ve been sending messages to their mother, but so far I haven’t heard from her. But with everything that’s going on, I don’t expect to hear from her for a couple of days or weeks,” he added.

Bussey wasn’t aware he knew anybody in the shooting until he checked his Facebook page later July 20. 

“I saw a little blurb about the shooting,” he said. “I started texting back and forth with family members and learned (Samantha and Nick) were in the theater and she’d been injured.”

Nick Yowler called his mother several hours after the shooting to tell her what had happened. Bussey said Massie soon left for Colorado and remains there.

Because Samantha and McQuinn were dating and not related, privacy laws barred officials from telling her about his condition. Bussey said it wasn’t until late July 20 she learned her boyfriend had died.

“I can’t imagine the agony she was going through — not knowing what had happened to Matt,” he said.

While Bussey watched a news report of the shooting, the story centered on three individuals who put themselves between the shooter and theater-goers. All three died, but saved other people, Bussey said.

Their actions reminded the musician of a song he and a friend wrote last year, “Fly Me Home.”

“The song starts with a line about three crosses, three days and three eagles in the sky,” Bussey said. “For me, it just symbolized those three men who gave their lives for others. My goal is to get it recorded, make a video of it, post it and make sure it’s for the people affected in this tragedy.”

Though the story focused on the three men — including McQuinn — Bussey said he sees all the innocent people in the theater as heroes.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

daniel@thepicayune.com

MARBLE FALLS — Two unrelated watercraft accidents on the Highland Lakes this past weekend sent two 14-year-old boys to an Austin hospital for treatment.

The latest accident occurred about 1 p.m. July 22 on Lake LBJ near Cottonwood Shores, officials said.

“The 14-year old was a passenger of a personal watercraft when it collided with another personal watercraft,” said Clara Tuma, a spokeswoman for the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The teen suffered “head trauma and possible other injuries,” she added.

He was flown by helicopter to Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas in Austin, where he remained July 23.

LCRA Rangers are still investigating the accident.

Each vehicle had a driver and a passenger, and all wore personal flotation devices, officials said.

“All four are believed to be family members,” Tuma said.

The injured teen rode with a 21-year old driver. The driver of the other craft was 17 with a 10-year-old passenger.

According to the initial investigation, the craft with the 14-year-old made a turn and was involved in a collision with the other craft, which was following it, Tuma said.

The 14-year-old ended up in the water.

“The drivers of both craft immediately stopped and tended to the 14-year old until medical help arrived,” Tuma said.

The second incident took place July 21 on Inks Lake on the Llano County side, investigators said.

According to a Texas Parks and Wildlife release, a 14-year old boy was on a personal watercraft when it collided with a vehicle piloted by a 16-year-old boy with a  female passenger, 16.

He also was flown by a medical transport to Dell. Game wardens did not specify his injuries.

The two teen drivers did not know each other, officials said.

While all three wore personal flotation devices, the two teen drivers had not taken a mandatory boater education course, according to TPWD officials.

Under Texas law, anyone born after Sept. 1, 1993, who operates a watercraft with a motor of more than 15 horsepower or a sailing vessel of 14 feet or longer must have completed the course or have an adult accompanying them.

Officials have not released any names in either mishap.

daniel@thepicayune.com

COTTONWOOD SHORES — Residents will see an increase in water rates by Oct. 1 after City Council this past week approved the hike — but not without some controversy.

Councilman Roger Wayson during the council meeting July 19 questioned the increase and asked that a decision be moved to an August meeting, but the motion failed.

BURNET — A former Bertram police chief found guilty of altering his son’s insurance card to avoid paying a traffic fine won’t be headed to state prison, but he still must serve 20 days in jail and two years probation.

Judge Guilford “Gil” Jones of the 33d state District Court sentenced David Caudle July 19 after the ex-lawman’s conviction May 15 on a third-degree felony charge of tampering with physical evidence.

Caudle faced up to 10 years in prison.

KINGSLAND — More than a dozen "suspicious" fires since June 25 — including five this past weekend — have Llano County officials asking for the public’s help to determine what’s sparking the string of blazes.

"It’s definitely suspicious to have this many fires in a short period of time," said Danny Stone, chief of the Kingsland Volunteer Fire Department. "Three of them were along (RR) 1431."

Though no one is saying the fires are connected, nor have any been ruled arson, state and local agencies are offering up to $5,000 in rewards for information in the episodes.

PHOTO: State Fire Marshal’s Office officials investigate a vacant home that burned July 14 in Kingsland, one of five ‘suspicious’ fires crews battled in the lakeside community during the weekend. Officials said all four structures that burned were vacant while a fifth blaze involved a woodpile at a local church. On June 25, a fire destroyed the future home of the Seton Kingsland Health Care Center between Ridgeview and Nobb Hill streets. State investigators are probing a total of 13 blazes since June 25. Staff photos by Daniel Clifton

MARBLE FALLS — Steering committee members for the first time got an idea of what a possible sports complex might someday look like, as well as hearing more about costs and where it could be located.

Two possible sites, or test fits, include proposed baseball/softball fields, tennis courts and multi-purpose fields, the committee learned during its latest meeting July 12 at Lakeside Pavilion.

Construction might come in phases, officials said.

Consultants Baker-Aicklen & Associates and Conventions, Sports & Leisure made the presentation, which included artistic renderings. Officials say any kind of approval is months down the road — and only after more discussions and scrutiny.

PHOTO: Tim Bargainer, director of planning for Baker-Aicklen & Associates, talks to the steering committee for the sports complex feasibility study July 12 at Lakeside Pavilion in Marble Falls. Staff photo by Jared Fields