News

By Savanna Gregg

Staff Writer

Burnet Bulletin

Honoring America's heroes is done in many ways. Communities gather every Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, and Fourth of July to remember the fallen and pray for those out fighting to maintain our freedoms, and heroes are memorialized with plaques and statues planted throughout the country.

At the Burnet Municipal Airport, one of the ways heroes are honored is through the static plane displays placed outside the facility.

Brought to the City of Burnet in 1996 by the late Commemorative Air Force founder Harold Smith, these planes — a T-38, T-37, A-7, and F-100 — have stood proud, welcoming residents and visitors for over two decades.

It’s time again for the Literacy Highland Lakes Rubber Ducky Race, the group’s annual fundraising event.

This year’s race will be held on Saturday, April 13, immediately following the Blue Bonnet Parade on the Square.

The ducks will be racing at Hamilton Creek at approximately 12:30 p.m. Bring the whole family out to watch the ducks cross the finish line.

Individual tickets are $5. For $20, a 5-ticket “Quack Pack” can be purchased. Sponsorships are noted on Literacy Highland Lakes website and in a thank you ad in local newspapers.

Through the community’s generosity with sponsorships and ticket purchases, the volunteers at LHL provide free classes in high school equivalency and free citizenship preparation.

As the demand rises, there is a growing need for computers, study materials, calculators and other basic supplies, and the Rubber Ducky Race is key to providing the tools needed for continued success.

Burnet Fire Department staff gathered to sell t-shirts to help raise funds for Corden Fidler and his father, former firefighter Mathew Fidler, at Corden's Cause, a fundraiser organized to help the family cover medical expenses following a shooting which seriously injured Corden and killed his mother and grandmother in December. Barbecue plates were also served at the fundraiser, and guests enjoyed live music, auctions, and bounce houses in support of Corden.

The Burnet High School Lady Dawgs were praised at the State of the Community Address Wednesday, March 6, for this basketball season's accomplishments which led to their history-making trip to the UIL State Basketball semi-finals earlier this month.

Special to The Highlander

On Friday, March 1, 2019, Judge Evan Stubbs sentenced Lucio Roy Atkinson, 47, to 80 years in prison for possessing 244 tablets of clonazepam with the intent to deliver the pills to others.

Clonazepam is a drug used to treat anxiety among other medical uses. Atkinson had 11 prior felony convictions and 16 prior misdemeanor convictions.

Atkinson’s jury trial began on Feb. 19. Assistant District Attorney Erin Toolan and District Attorney Sonny McAfee prosecuted the case, and Atkinson was represented by Terrence Marsh of Georgetown.

Evidence presented at trial showed that a DPS trooper stopped Atkinson for a traffic violation in the Spicewood area in January 2017.

After conducting an investigation, the trooper found 244 tablets of Clonazepam, many other illegal prescription pills, injectable steroids, and approximately an ounce of marijuana in Atkinson’s vehicle.

Amber Jones and Eric Lemming dance the Chicken Dance during the Night to Remember Special Needs Prom held Friday sponsored by the Hill Country Fellowship Church in Burnet. Hundreds of Special Needs guests, Buddy Partners, church members, photographers, family and friends cheered the guests' red carpet arrival, enjoyed refreshments donated by area restaurants, sang karaoke and danced the night away.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer
Burnet Bulletin

When an unresponsive patient comes into the emergency room, minutes matter for health care workers.

“It's a guessing game. Is it a problem with their blood pressure? Is it blood thinners?” said Vickie Spaw, Emergency Department manager for Seton Highland Lakes.

Hospital staff have partnered with the Hill Country 100 Club in a campaign to take some of the guess work out of such a critical situation.

The RefrigeratorCard program encourages the public to accept free, bright yellow information cards which include spaces for medications, dosaging and schedule details.

“If they have it on their refrigerator, EMS or the family will bring it to us,” Spaw said. “If a patient is unconscious, it's imperative because we can know what medications they use.”

By Connie Swinney

Staff Writer

Burnet Bulletin

Volunteering for the community takes a committed person, but dedicating time for abused and neglected children takes a superhero.

Court-appointed Special Advocates for the Highland Lakes – which services Burnet, Blanco, Llano, Lampasas and San Saba counties – not only trumpets the value of their child advocate volunteers but has sent out a clarion call for more.

You’ve likely seen the TV commercials for reverse mortgages, with the late Fred Thompson, Henry Winkler and, lately Tom Selleck.  Do you really understand how a reverse mortgage works? If not, don’t feel bad – in a March 2017 National Council on Aging survey, 66% of older homeowners said they’d need to do more research to understand a reverse mortgage line of credit.

Tim Gristy with All House Loans Mortgage Company will offer some assistance to help us understand What is a reverse mortgage?  Is it right for me? What is the difference between a reverse mortgage and a home equity loan? How does a reverse mortgage work?  and much more on Monday, March 11 at 1 pm at First Baptist Church Marble Falls located at 901 LaVentana Drive.

Fort Croghan Grounds and Museum will be open for Spring Break starting Saturday, March 9th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.! The grounds and museum will be open through the week, Monday, March 11 through Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Come visit the cabins, tour the grounds and listen to the Fort's knowledgeable docents tell the stories about the many artifacts in the museum.

For more information, visit fortcroghan.org.

Fort Croghan Grounds and Museum is located at 703 Buchanan Drive, Burnet.