News

Hill Country Children's Advocacy Center workers light blue pieces of tissue paper, each with a wish from an adult for a child written on it, during a rally at the Burnet County Courthouse Tuesday. The charred remains of paper float up like a wish going to heaven. This replaces the traditional April balloon launch as it is more environmentally friendly.

Burnet County Commissioners welcomed representatives from CASA, Hill Country Children's Advocacy Center and the Burnet County Child Welfare Board to the Courthouse for a proclamation recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Pedernales Electric Cooperative members in districts 4 and 5 will elect directors to serve a three-year term in the 2019 election, which culminates at the annual meeting in June at Horseshoe Bay Resort.

Incumbent District 4 director James Oakley is seeking re-election and will face a challenge from three opponents: Lisa Ivie Miller, Kenneth Reneau and John A. Watson. Incumbent District 5 director Jim Power is seeking re-election and will face a challenge from two opponents: Joe Pool Jr. and Kathi Thomas.

The candidates will introduce themselves to the cooperative membership at a candidate forum on Thursday, April 18, at the PEC office in Johnson City.

Only members living within a geographic district may vote for the directors who represent them. District directors are determined by the location of a member's primary account.

John W. Hoover, his family, and City of Burnet employees, Burnet County officials, and citizens celebrated the ribbon cutting of the newly-reconstructed John W. Hoover Parkway, the former County Road 340A, on Wednesday, April 3. The road was named after Hoover in honor of his dedication to the City of Burnet and its development for many years.

2019 Bluebonnet Festival Schedule of Events

April 11, Thursday

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Mighty Thomas Carnival Wrist Band/Family Night

Corner of Boundary & League

April 12, Friday

6:00 am - 1:00 pm Kiwanis All You Can Eat Pancakes

Masonic Lodge, 311 S. Main

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Show

Herman Brown Free Library -- Corner of Washington & Main Street

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm Arts & Crafts Vendors

Burnet’s Historic Square & Jackson Street

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm Seton Home Care Food Court

Jackson Street

3:00 pm - 8:00 pm XLR8 & Co. Biergarten

Jackson Street

4:30 pm - 6:30 pm KBEY Radio 103.9 Live Remote

By Savanna Gregg

Staff Writer

Burnet Bulletin

The Bluebonnet Festival will be in full swing this Friday, April 12 around Burnet’s Historic Square, bringing three days of entertainment for residents and visitors to the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas for its 36th year.

The Bluebonnet Festival has welcomed approximately 30,000 visitors per year, and Burnet Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kim Winkler expects an even bigger turn out for 2019.

“I think this year we will have more visitors than ever,” Winkler said. “With the projection of the wildflowers and the festival being around for 36 years, I think it will bring more people in.”

By Savanna Gregg

Staff Writer

The Highlander

The Bluebonnet Festival has been bringing good times and entertainment to Burnet residents and visitors for 36 years around the Burnet Courthouse square and throughout other areas of town. This year, the Bluebonnet Festival will take place Friday, April 12 through Sunday, April 14.

Bluebonnet Festival weekend will be packed with food, crafts, live music, and the Mighty Thomas Carnival, the primary source of squeals and giggles from kids of all ages.

“There is so much excitement going in to this year's Bluebonnet Festival,” said Burnet Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kim Winkler. “With bluebonnets in abundance and our concert headliners generating so much buzz, it's easy to understand why.”

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer
Burnet Bulletin

Texas Rangers are reviewing body camera footage to piece together clues about an officer-involved shooting which resulted in the death of a 25-year-old Bertram man, behind the wheel of a car at a noise complaint call.

Brandon Michael Jacque, a 25-year-old father of one, died Wednesday, March 27, after being shot by three-year Burnet Police Sgt. Russell Butler.

According to the report, the incident unfolded around 1:35 a.m. that morning in the 300 block of South McNeil Street.

Burnet Police Chief Paul Nelson said the investigation is being handled by the Texas Rangers in cooperation with the 33rd/424th Judicial District Attorney's Office.

“At this time we're trying to view the body camera that was on the officer to review step by step what was going on,” Nelson said. “That's what the Rangers will be doing in the investigation.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Burnet County commissioners on Wednesday, March 20, discussed a wish list of infrastructure projects the county will submit to a state representative whose bill would create a new grant program using the state's “Rainy Day Fund.”

State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, the chairman of the House County Affairs Committee, has suggested using some of the Texas Economic Stabilization Fund — currently at $11.8 billion and growing — to create a grant program for county's to fund needed infrastructure improvement projects.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar has predicted the Economic Stabilization Fund will grow by more than $3 billion over the next budget cycle and would reach a total of $15 billion if untouched during the next two years.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

Burnet Bulletin

A project to restore the static airplane display at Burnet Municipal Airport got a big boost Tuesday, March 27, when the Burnet County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to fund $40,000 of the project through unclaimed Pedernales Electric Cooperative capital credits.

Texas Local Government Code Section 381.004 and Texas Property Code Section 74.602 authorize the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to allocate a portion of unclaimed electric cooperative capital credits back to the counties in the cooperative's service area. Funds may used for one of a limited number of purposes, including to promote or advertise the county and its vicinity or conduct a solicitation program to attract conventions, visitors and businesses. For 2019, the county can apply for up to $330,000 in capital credits from the Comptroller's Office.