News

Pictured are the winners of the Open Show category at last year's Burnet Art Festival, whose artwork was displayed in the gallery at Burnet Community Center. Left to right: First place winner, Jan Frazier with “Round Top Buddies”; fifth place winner, Judi Beauford with “Eternity”; third place winner, Kim Timmons with “Burnet Train Station”; fourth place winner Dana Parkinson with “Charm on Hoover Valley Rd” (painting was sold before the photo was taken); sixth place winner Amie Gonser with “Lemon Yellow House”; and second place winner Kathleen Meador with “Dominoes.” This year's participants' artwork will again be displayed in the Burnet Community Center Saturday, Oct. 12 during the third annual Octoberfest.

Fort Croghan volunteer Judy Lively listens to a record spinning on an antique Victrola, recently donated to the museum by the Fry family. Visitors to the Fort Croghan Grounds and Museum will be able to view the Victrola and many other artifacts and take a trip back in time during Fort Croghan Day this Saturday, Oct. 12, as volunteers dressed in period clothing teach visitors about Burnet's pioneer days. The event begins at 9 a.m. with festivities and demonstrations lasting throughout the day. Fort Croghan Grounds and Museum is located at 703 Buchanan Drive, Burnet. 

Special to the Bulletin

Burnet residents and visitors will be able to enjoy triple the fun and festivities this weekend as three annual events return to town.

Octoberfest, the Burnet Art Festival, and Fort Croghan Day will give everyone something to enjoy, and the public is invited to experience every bit of what each event has to offer.

Octoberfest

The third annual Octoberfest is bringing all the craft beer, activities, food, and live music a town could want, and it will all be located in downtown Burnet.

“The excitement is growing as we approach our third Octoberfest,” said Burnet Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kim Winkler. “The event is growing, too, and this year we will have concerts both nights.”

Michele and John Smith pose for a photo with Katherine, 6, and Alexander, 5, in front of Thomas the Tank Engine during the Day Out With Thomas event at the Burnet Depot on Saturday, Sept. 28. The event is held each year with help from the Austin Steam Train Association.

By Savanna Gregg

Staff Writer

Burnet Bulletin

The city of Burnet welcomed a new business to its historic downtown square as members of the community joined Wedding Oak Winery owner Mike McHenry and City officials at the winery's ribbon cutting on Thursday, Sept. 26.

The winery opened its doors Sunday, Sept. 8, at the site of the newly renovated Badger Building and Tex Robertson Building at the corner of Jackson and Pierce Streets and has been well-received by the community in regards to its fresh new business and its respect of the town's history.

The Badger Building has been a focal point in the community since 1883, and served as a gathering place for the young men and women of early Burnet. The late Tex Robertson purchased the building in the 1960's and utilized it as a community center, but through the passing of time, the building slowly emptied and became just a snapshot of times past.

By Savanna Gregg

Staff Writer

Burnet Bulletin

The first annual Rotary Scholarship Night, held Saturday, Sept. 21, at Hidden River Ranch, welcomed hundreds of members of the community who came together to celebrate Burnet CISD students with a delicious dinner, live music, auctions, and fun and fellowship with friends and neighbors.

The Rotary Club of Burnet took over the fundraising duties for the Hill Country Community Foundation after the community attended the Suzanne Johnson Scholarship Endowment Fundraisers' Grand Finale last year.

After exceeding their goal of $1 million raised, HCCF Lifetime Director Cary Johnson and his children, who created the endowment in honor of their loving wife and mother in 2011, handed the reins to the Rotary Club, entrusting them with the philanthropic goal of raising funds to continue providing scholarships to every Burnet CISD graduate each year.

By Savanna Gregg

Staff Writer

Burnet Bulletin

As Burnet County food pantries continue to combat the hunger epidemic, officials have unveiled a new gap in the type of food needed locally and have asked for the public's help to donate more protein-rich, nonperishable items.

Although Highland Lakes food pantries receive food from the Central Texas Food Bank on a regular basis, members of the Burnet County Hunger Alliance revealed the facilities have received considerably less canned protein this year.

Officials explained that the decrease in proteins have affected operations at the pantries and ultimately the health of those who rely on them.

“All of the food banks in the area are in the same boat; we are in a crisis of needing proteins,” said Burnet's LACare Director Lottie McCorkle.

The alliance meets every month to discuss their methods of fighting hunger in their communities.

BHS Culinary Arts students Sativa Yarbrough, left, and Tessa Edwards prepare a fiery dish of Bananas Foster for the highest-bidding table at the first annual Rotary Scholarship Night Saturday, Sept. 21. The Culinary Arts students also prepared Bulldog Baked Alaska and Spirit, Pride and Honor Creme Brulee for two other tables during the event, which raised funds for the Hill Country Community Foundation, an organization which provides scholarships to every graduating Burnet CISD senior. For more photos of the fundraiser, see the Wednesday, Sept. 25 issue of the Burnet Bulletin.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

Burnet Bulletin

Burnet County employees got an early Christmas gift Tuesday, Sept. 24, in the form of another official vacation day.

Commissioners voted 4-0 to add Monday, Dec. 23, to the fiscal year 2020 holiday calendar after receiving a reconsideration request.

Last month, commissioners had adopted a holiday calendar with 14 days off, including two days for Christmas — Christmas Eve (Tuesday, Dec. 24) and Christmas Day (Wednesday, Dec. 25) — after rejecting a proposed day off for Thursday, Dec. 26.

County Clerk Janet Parker said some of her employees had expressed concern about having to travel on Christmas Day to get back home for work the next day.

“Each elected official does have the ability to establish what days their office is open,” Parker noted.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

Burnet Bulletin

The generosity of the late Ina Cooper will continue to be felt for nearly two decades after her passing after the Burnet County Historical Commission established a grant program with her final bequest to the organization.

BCHC board members Linda French and Lela Goar appeared before the Burnet County Commissioners Court Tuesday, Sept. 24, to discuss the scope and objectives of the grant program, which is being funded by an $88,000 bequeathment left behind by Cooper, a Burnet resident, who died in June 2017.

“We want to honor Ina's requests (for this money) since she was big on preservation,” Goar said.