On Thursday, May 2 an Amber Alert was issued for 13-year-old Savannah Sloan and 15-year-old Misty Sloan after they were reported missing from a residence in Kingsland. At the time the Amber Alert was issued, 33-year-old Keith Mize was named as a person of interest. Later that evening, Llano Sheriff's Office received a tip.

For four days the skies over Willow City will be buzzing with up to 60 rockets sent upward for Rockets 13, on May 2–5, 2013. Rockets 13 is the culminating activity for students in the SystemsGo Aeroscience program at 30 Texas high schools. The STEM curriculum–originally developed at Fredericksburg High School–directs first-year students to design and build a launch vehicle that will carry a one-pound payload one mile high.

 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the San Saba County Pecan Growers Association will host the annual Pecan Field Day on May 6 at the San Saba Civic Center.  Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. with the program beginning at 9:00 a.m.  There will be a $30.00 registration for those who pre-register and $35.00 at the door.  A catfish lunch will be provided by Betty Ann Johnson.   Speakers for this year’s program are: Wade Hibler, Burnet County Extension Agent, will discuss Laws an ...

With the on-going drought, rural Texans are routinely encouraged to save water through conservation, but seldom shown how to do so. The How-to’s of Water Conservation will be the focus of a workshop this Saturday, April 20th at the Texas Tech Center in Junction. Presentations, booths, and one-on-one question and answer time with state, regional, and local experts will be available from 9 am – 1 pm at the Dining Hall.

Press Release A former Blanco County resident was found guilty by a Blanco County jury of Sexual Assault of a child and Aggravated Sexual Assault of a child and sentenced to 456 consecutive years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. On Wednesday, April 10, Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Stacy Street, and District Attorney Sonny McAfee completed the trial of James Alba, Sr.

PRESS RELEASE With the return of spring weather, Highland Lakes residents are likely to turn their attention to their lawns and landscaping. LCRA wants lakeside homeowners to remember they must have a contract to legally pump water from the Highland Lakes.  Pumping water from the lakes to water lawns or landscaping is a common practice for people who live along the lakes, and LCRA estimates more than 5,000 households do so each year.

BLANCO, Texas, March 26, 2013 – Take that drive to the Hill Country with the windows down so the wind can blow your hair, and you can fully experience the ultimate “Gal Pal” trip and party with a purpose. Diverse activities, an historic old Texas town, good food, good company, and support for the Blanco Non-profit Coalition all come together on the first weekend of April.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct the Multi-County Cattleman’s Spring Clinic from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on April 4 in the Lampasas County Farm Bureau Building, 1793 North US Highway 281 in Lampasas. We will be offering a well-rounded program for our region’s beef cattle producers with “Drought Recovery Strategies for Cattlemen” being the theme.

Llano Uplift Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution is sponsoring a Free Membership Workshop, Saturday, April 6, 1-3pm, Herman Brown Free Library, On the Square, Burnet, TX. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote patriotism, preserve American history, and support better education for our nation’s children.

MARBLE FALLS—I had been to one other demolition in my life—maybe 45 years ago in Dallas. A building was leveled. I remember two things: shaking with camera in hand as the implosion began and—much more so—the unbelievable sound for accompaniment. I warned my son-in-law, Matt, and grandson, Jack, about the very possible repetition of the liftoff of the decibels, as the iron foe descended into the lake, Sunday morning, March 17. My memory was intact.

The Highland Lakes Chapter of the Texas Democratic Women (TDW) held their monthly luncheon on February 28 at Hidden Falls Restaurant in Meadowlakes community in Marble Falls. After discussion of the TDW annual convention in Austin last month, upcoming charity events, and committee activities, the Vice President, Ann Hunter, introduced the guest speaker.

CASA for the Highland Lakes Area, a local nonprofit organization trains community volunteers in Blanco, Burnet, Lampasas, Llano, and San Saba counties to advocate on behalf of foster children’s safety and well-being and speaks directly to the court to what is in their best interest. CASA for the Highland Lakes Area is offering community members an opportunity to help in the fight against child abuse by participating in our next training class, which starts in April 2013.

According to DPS spokesperson Trooper Robbie Berrera, on Saturday, February 23 around 1:15 pm, an ambulance driven by Bryan Walker was heading north on FM 1431 when it crashed into the back of a 1991 Cadillac Fleetwood that was stopped on FM 1431 north bound waiting to turn left onto RR 3404, also known as Slab Road. Steven Pearce, 32, was the passenger EMT in the ambulance, and was taken to Seton Medical Center in Williamsom County with non life threatening injuries.

Inclusion on this list is not intended to be, and should not be, construed as an assessment of guilt or innocence. February 18, 2013 Thomas Anthony Pitcox, 35, Kingsland, Tx.; Driving W/ Lic Inc W/Prev Conv/Susp/W/O Fin; Class B Misdemeanor; $1000 Bond; Released February 19, 2013 Billy Dean Burnett III, 24, Marble Falls, Tx.; FTA Theft By Check >$20

HCM (Hill Country Memorial) was named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® by Truven Health Analytics for the second year in a row. “To be a Top 100 US hospital two years in a row clearly recognizes the efforts of the remarkable HCM team as they serve others each and every day,” said Jayne E.