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Emergency management, fire officials and local advocates urged Central Texas residents to prepare for the 2019 wildfire season, which started in May, by staying aware of their wildfire risk, actively mitigating dangers, and being prepared to act. Residents can accomplish these tasks by becoming a Firewise USA Community and registering at WarnCentralTexas.org to get emergency alerts from local public safety personnel by text message, cellphone call, or email. “We like to say that wildfires ...

With just ten days left in the 86th Legislative session, the Senate approved legislation last week that would end two traffic enforcement programs that are unpopular with both citizens and lawmakers. The first would repeal the Drivers' Responsibility Program (DRP), created in 2003 as a way to help fund trauma care in Texas.

The Fredericksburg Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas invites all members of the community to hear the free presentation, “Rain-scaping— Water-Wise Landscaping”, by Shannon Brown. Shannon Brown, owner of Ecosystem Regenerative Artisans (ERA) in San Marcos, designs resilient native plant gardens and landscapes that not only conserve water during dry spells, but mitigate flooding during downpours.

AUSTIN– On May 8, 2019, the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) approved grant awards supporting 102 veterans assistance programs, totaling $23,340,000 from the TVC’s Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (FVA) 2019-2020 grant program. “The organizations awarded today provide a range of important services to our Texas veterans,” said Commission Chair Eliseo “Al” Cantu, Jr.

National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced this year’s National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners. The 2,500 Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding finalists in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program. Llano High School’s outstanding student who won the 2019 scholarship is Heath Buttery. His probably career field is listed as mechanical engineering. National Merit $2500 Scholarship winners are the finalists in each state ...

At the School Board Meeting on Monday, May 13, the first item on the agenda was to canvass the recent bond election. The bond was passed by 56.66% of the vote. Since there were no opponents running against the board members up for election, those men were declared elected. Officers of the new board are as followed: President Rick Tisdale, Vice President Cody Fly, and Secretary Jeff Kuykendall. Superintendent Mac Edwards presented the Prevailing Wage Schedule as Presented for Llano County.

The Llano County Commissioners discussed the plans for re-opening the 2900 bridge that was washed out on October 16, 2018 when the big flood hit Llano County. Ribbon cutting day is Friday, May 24. Commissioner Mike Sandoval said that he and Commissioner Peter Jones were content to ride in on a couple of fire trucks, cut the ribbon and let the people start crossing the bridge.

According to the Lower Colorado River Authority, the Burnet area has received 5.28” of rain in the past two weeks. Furthermore, KXAN Weather states, “In a pattern eerily similar to spring 2015, a weak El Niño Ocean pattern is likely contributing to unusually heavy rainfall across Central Texas, including 7.28 inches of rain last month--the 9th wettest April on record in Austin since 1897, and the wettest since 1976.” I think we all remember 2015 when the Memorial Day floods ravaged ...

The Flood Through a Child’s Eyes In the early morning hours of October 16, 2018, the Llano River hit its next highest level ever recorded at 39.8 feet, causing widespread damage to many along its banks. After returning to school, Packsaddle Elementary fourth grade teacher, Tammy Barrack, asked her students in two different classes to recall their experiences.

The first (soon to be annual) Back to Basics Fair and Plant Swap at the Llano Library was quite the success everyone hoped it would be. Inspired by a visit to the Mother Earth News Fair (sponsored by said magazine) they attended in Belton, Librarian Tommi Myers and fellow gardener Jannie Vaught decided they needed to bring such a fair to Llano.  And who better to host it that the Llano Library—  the tried and true traditional source of hands on learning! For the past five months, th ...