News

The Llano County ban on outdoor burning has been lifted for a week at least. The question of replacing the ban will be on the agenda of the Llano County Commissioners Court on Sept. 16 when the court convenes to act on the budget for Fiscal Year 2008-2009. “Conditions obviously have not gotten much better,” said County Judge Wayne Brascom. “It appears things have greened up considerably, but the rains have been spotty,” said Precinct 1 Commissioner Johnnie B.

An additional hour of academic assistance will become part of the Llano High School schedule beginning Wednesday, Sept. 17. Ninth period, will be from 3:50 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Thursday, will provide peer tutoring with staff supervision to all students failing two or more core classes as of three week reports.

The Llano County Hospital Authority Board of Directors welcomed the information that Scott & White’s CEO had put the new Lake of the Hills Regional Medical Center high on the list of achievements in a recent annual report. Dr. Alfred Knight was reporting on the first year of what he called “our grand Vision.” “We have initiated partnerships and alliances creating the Lake of the Hills Hospital, while also expanding our relationship with Metroplex/Rollins Brook,” he said.

A 26-year-old Austin man remains in fair condition at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin after being struck by a truck and trailer as he worked on the roadside on SH 29 Thursday afternoon. Samuel Burson was working on a litter crew for the Texas Department of Transportation contractor Spicewood Enterprises, Inc. of Burnet.

A fabulous vista of Llano and Blanco counties will be the backdrop for the 7th Annual Buckaroo Ball on Oct. 16. The Boys & Girls Club of the Highland Lakes on Thursday sponsored a press preview of “Return to Reata: a GIANT of an Evening” at the hilltop ranch home of Gary and Rhonda Turner’s Buffalo Hollow Ranch. Located 15 miles southwest of Horseshoe Bay, the pastures and stands of ancient oak of the 600-acre ranch are home to exotic animals.

Llano County’s in-coming sheriff and its newest game warden were united in an emphasis to crack down on intoxicated drivers when they spoke at the August meeting of the Lake Buchanan Conservation Corporation. Sean Reneau recently joined Rick Snitkin and Kevin Webb as Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens serving Llano County.

“The Logos Olympics” is the theme of this year’s parent’s night for the Logos Program at the Methodist Church in Llano. Some special athletes straight from Beijing will be on hand to tell us about Logos as they present a fun skit and parents are informed about the program and given an opportunity to sign up.

The Project Graduation committee will host a fajita dinner, Friday, Sept. 15 in the Junior High Cafeteria. Dinner will be served before the game from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. with cost being by donation. All proceeds will go to the Project Graduation for the Class of 2009. Show support for the Jackets against Bangs and Project Graduation.

The Llano County Commissioners Court again pared down the rate it will present to taxpayers at the public hearing on the rate and the county budget Sept. 16. With more than 95 percent of the tax roll certified, the Llano Central Appraisal District reported total taxable county property of $2,917,612,984. Commissioners, in turn on Monday, approved a rate of $0.2788 per $100 valuation rather than $0.279 proposed at their last meeting.

Everywhere he goes these days Dennis Hill gets an extra pat on the back. Selected in July as the Superintendent of the Year in Education Service Center (ESC) Region 13, he is also one of five finalists for Texas Superintendent of the Year (SOTY) to be announced Sept. 28. “It’s like having a local Olympic champion,” said Ronnie Rudd, president of the Llano Independent School District Board of Trustees.