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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

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

Martelle Luedecke/ Luedecke Photography Theodosia Schmidt received

Bertram Chamber Awards Banquet

a heartfelt . 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

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

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

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

Dezerie Skinner (left) was named Teacher of the Year at Bertram Elementary School. Skinner poses with Bertram Elementary Principal Christine Hoffman. Contributed/Betty Predmore

Top teacher no stranger to mentoring, leading

Bits of Bertram Bertram Elementary School has recognized Dezerie Skinner as the Teacher of the Year. According to Principal Christine Hoffman, Dezerie “exemplifies excellence in education through her tireless dedication to student growth, her unwavering support for colleagues, and her commitment to high expectations for herself and others.” She is no stranger to leadership, serving as a mentor to new teachers, a team leader, and an active member of both the Lighthouse Team and Leadership Action Team, where she has significantly influenced both school and district-wide initiatives. 02/12/2025 01:10 AM

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Prospective Judges Jones, Trevino and Wilson answer questions

Above, Retired 33rd District of Texas Judge Guilford “Gil” Jones appears cheerful as he answers several questions during the Burnet County Commissioners meeting Feb. 11. 02/12/2025 01:10 AM

Trevino

Alan Trevino Closing Statement

“I want to thank everybody for participating in this very important process. Thank you, judges Garret and Stubbs. Thank you for the fairness in moderating. And for our supporters. Thank you for attending. I hope our lively debate validated the reason for your support. I will take days on. I will take days off. When I became chief, I listened to my captains as a group and individually. I didn’t step on their toes. I let them do their job. My door was always open, and when they asked for help, we worked out solutions together. 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

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

Reject public money for private schools

Reject public money for private schools

Dear Editor; The Texas Senate held a hearing on SB 2 on Tuesday, Jan. 28, regarding school vouchers. 02/05/2025 03:56 AM

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Look back at Bertram’s year shows good growth pace

The Bertram Chamber of Commerce kicked off the new year with a packed luncheon on Monday. There were lots of new faces in attendance, as membership continues to grow. 01/29/2025 03:46 AM

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Local lawmakers join fight to defend waterways

When it comes to defending the values that make Texas great, few leaders stand as tall as State Representative Ellen Troxclair and State Senator Pete Flores. These two have proven themselves as champions of both our Hill Country heritage and the rights of hard-working Texans. 01/29/2025 03:46 AM

Highland Lakes Healthcare Partners host hiring event

Highland Lakes Healthcare Partners host hiring event

A new collaborative of area healthcare employers will host a hiring event to address the critical staffing shortages in Burnet, Llano, and Blanco counties. The event aims to connect available healthcare workers with immediate job opportunities in Highland Lakes’ hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, home health, and hospice agencies. 01/29/2025 03:46 AM

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$1 billion for vouchers, $5 billion for teachers?

Legislative budget writers are proposing nearly $5 billion to increase teacher pay and $1 billion to implement a school voucher program in the next biennium, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The voucher program, also referred to as school choice, would provide public money for private schooling, a key priority for Gov. 01/29/2025 03:46 AM

Photo by Martelle Luedecke/ Luedecke Photography Keith McBurnett, Earline Zimmerman, David Bennett, Cary Johnson, and Dennis Hoover accepted a $50,000 check from Matt McCracken, representing the Rotary Club of Burnet, for the Hill Country Community Foundation during a donation event at the...

Burnet Rotary donates $50K to HCCF

On Jan. 15, 2025, the Rotary Club of Burnet demonstrated its unwavering commitment to education and community support by presenting a $50,000 check to the Hill Country Community Foundation (HCCF). This generous contribution will bolster the Foundation’s scholarship fund, which supports graduating seniors from Burnet High School and Quest High School. 01/29/2025 03:46 AM

Chaplain Mark Cartwright and Warden Amanda Simpson check out the progress of the new chapel at the Ellen Halbert Women’s Prison. Contributed photo

Prison chapel project making progress

Ellen Halbert Drive has a story behind the name. It winds its way around the Airport and Burnet Rodeo grounds, cuts through cedar patches and eventually comes to an abrupt end at a place which most people in our community never see. This dead-end compound with imposing razor wire fences represents a new beginning for thousands of women across the state. 01/22/2025 03:38 AM

Fran Jones

Curious facts about the history of inauguration dates

01/21/2025 01:34 PM

Betty Predmore

Community partnerships drive Bertram Chamber networking goals

01/21/2025 01:23 PM

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