Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 9:06 PM

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Commentary

Bill Luedecke Martelle Luedecke

Hummers are buzzing about; time to prep

Despite the chilly breaks lately, the signs of springtime are making their presence known. From the return of hummingbirds to the time for gardening preparation, you’ll be seeing more bursts of color in no time. 04/09/2025 03:18 AM

Molly and Breanna Maller were the winners of the Jigsaw Puzzle Showdown.

Mercantile store grows with the taste for nostalgia

Magpie Mercantile has been selected as the Bertram Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month for April. Open since October of 2024, Magpie Mercantile brings healthy organic foods with limited ingredients to the community of Bertram. 04/09/2025 03:18 AM

Contributed photos/ Hill Country Fellowship Travis Dieter and Karen Kelley were escorted by DeAnn Fraser to the Night to Remember event at Hill Country Fellowship April 4.

Sonrise Ministry hosts special needs prom

Seventy guests attended “A Night to Remember” April 4 giving those with special needs an opportunity to feel like super stars. The special needs prom was organized by the Sonrise Special Needs Ministry of Hill Country Fellowship in Burnet. 04/09/2025 03:18 AM

Dwindling shoreline attracting four-wheelers

Dwindling shoreline attracting four-wheelers

During current drought, driving on LCRA-owned land in the lakebed is allowed as long as vehicles don’t cause public safety hazard or environmental impact. As the drought continues, the Lower Colorado River Authority will continue its long-standing practice of using its enforcement discretion to allow vehicles to drive across parts of the dry lakebed owned by LCRA, as long as the vehicles do not cause a public safety or environmental impact at Lake Buchanan. 04/09/2025 03:18 AM

OPIC recommends TCEQ overturn quarry permit

OPIC recommends TCEQ overturn quarry permit

The Office of Public Interest Counsel (OPIC) released a response March 28 to a state legislator’s call to overturn the permit of a proposed rock crushing operation in Burnet County. OPIC issued their review following a complaint about an air quality permit granted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). 04/02/2025 03:10 AM

From providing fitness programs to youth sports, summer camps, and community outreach, the YMCA is a vital part of our community. Contributed/Burnet Chamber of Commerce

Chamber’s February member of the month

The Burnet Chamber of Commerce honors its members for growing our community and providing excellent service. Congratulations to the team at YMCA of the Highland Lakes, which has been named our February Member of the Month. 03/19/2025 02:57 AM

Tim Denton wished Vonnie Riddell Fox a happy birthday last August 29 in Burnet at the Old Historic Jail.

Vonnie Fox still smiles on all Burnet County

Many people fortunate to meet her called her Vonnie, pronounced “Voh-nee” just in case some of y’all don’t know. “Mrs. 03/19/2025 02:57 AM

Contributed/ Sue Kersey

Hummingbirds arrive on the scene

A hummingbird perched on a feeder ushers in the season for these colorful birds. Find more on Page 4. Contributed/ Sue Kersey 03/19/2025 02:57 AM

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Investment, development firm in the spotlight

Brooks Mill, Ltd. has been chosen as the Bertram Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month for March. 03/05/2025 01:39 AM

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State bound ladies

Sometimes I feel like a broken record talking about how busy the weeks are and just how many Burnet athletes are deserving of headlines. It’s a balance in the spring for sure so here goes some highlights. 03/05/2025 01:39 AM

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What’s in a name, the origin of March

We get the name of the third month of the year – March, from the Latin word, Marticus. Marticus was named after Mars, the Roman god of war. 03/05/2025 01:39 AM

Despite water restrictions, TCEQ grants permit

Despite water restrictions, TCEQ grants permit

Dear Editor We were surprised to read in the article “Groundwater district extends restrictions“ in your newspaper that the Texas Committee on Environmental Quality had approved the petition of Asphalt, Inc. of Austin Texas asking to create a rock crushing operation near Hoover Valley Park Road 4 and RR 3509 in Burnet County. I take this to mean that they found that the company would not release pollutions (dust) into the atmosphere surrounding the property and so not reduce the quality of the air in this corner of the county. 03/05/2025 01:39 AM

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Law enforcement stats offer insight into patrols

David Vaughn City Manager At the Feb. 2 Burnet City Council meeting, Police Chief Brian Lee presented the department’s 2024 Traffic Stop Report, outlining the department’s compliance with state-mandated data collection on traffic stops. 03/05/2025 01:39 AM

Groundwater district extends restrictions

Groundwater district extends restrictions

During its recent meeting, the Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District (CTGCD) board voted unanimously to maintain Stage 4 extreme drought mandatory water-use restrictions currently in force since several weeks ago. 02/26/2025 01:28 AM

LCRA: once-a-week watering schedule on the table

LCRA: once-a-week watering schedule on the table

With no significant rainfall and continued growth, the area’s reservoirs, at just over 51% capacity, have taken a hit in the last few months, officials say. This month, the combined storage of lakes Buchanan and Travis the storage reservoirs for the Highland Lakes — amounted to 1.016 million acre-feet, according to LCRA. 02/26/2025 01:28 AM

The Steel Belts entertained guests of the Bertram Chamber Awards Banquet at Twisted Ranch Feb. 20. Photos by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography

Bertram Chamber honors top businesses and leaders

The 2025 Bertram Chamber Awards Banquet was a night to remember, celebrating the individuals and businesses that contribute to the town’s vibrant and connected community. The Standard on Vaughan, a family-owned restaurant that opened on April 12, 2023, was honored as Business of the Year. 02/26/2025 01:28 AM

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Freedom of speech threatened in proposed bill

Guest Editorial Imagine being the target of a vexatious lawsuit completely without merit in which you ultimately prevail—only to find out that you not only have to pay your attorney’s fees but also the other side’s. That’s the likely outcome if the Texas Legislature passes HB 2988 this session. 02/26/2025 01:28 AM

Martelle Luedecke/ Luedecke Photography Theodosia Schmidt received

Bertram Chamber Awards Banquet

a heartfelt . 02/26/2025 01:28 AM

Gil Jones Burnet County Judge Applicant

County judge impasse raises prospect of tie-breaker

Burnet County commissioners have yet to indicate whether the court could reach a decision on a county judge selection, harkening several theories about the potential outcome. On Feb. 02/26/2025 01:28 AM

Green Thumb shares tips to save water

Green Thumb shares tips to save water

The Green Thumb Program, promoted by the local master gardeners, brings important and helpful tips and techniques about water and how to save it – on the water bill, on the plants, on water collection and irrigation and on Earthkind principles in general. With the continuing drought in Central Texas, finding ways to use water more wisely is extremely important. 02/12/2025 01:10 AM

Jones

Guilford “Gil” Jones, III Closing Statement

What does the county need? We’ve talked about this. We’ve heard this from a lot of you. We need transparency, civility. We need public access to a lot more detail – particularly on the budget, any other long-range kind of planning the county may be doing. 02/12/2025 01:10 AM