your Neighborhood Reporter for Gatesville and Lampasas County Texas (KXXV) — Opposition to a nearly 27-mile-long proposed rail line running through Lampasas and Burnet counties continues to grow are expressing concerns about the potential impacts on their land and communities giant ranches that feel the same way,” Bill Hinckley “With this railroad – if we don't do something Burnet will not be what our dreams of Burnet are,” a Burnet County resident said at a recent town hall who has owned land in the area since the late 1900s different stories – but the same message: opposition to the proposed rail line questions in the community are mounting about the proposed project 25 News’ Allison Hill took those questions to Lampasas County Judge Randall J A: “The stance of the county is to support the citizens of the county and we want to be able to ensure that those individuals that we can do everything in our power to support them The proposed route is going to go right through several ranches Some of the ranches have been in these families dating back into the 1800s There's also some financial impact with some of the ranches because some of them are high-fenced some of them are livestock and ranching and farming So there's a lot of implications with this proposed railroad.” Q: Is CRH planning to use eminent domain to take land from unwilling landowners A: “I want to recognize Lampasas County Commissioner Mark Rainwater and Burnet County Commissioner Damon Beierle because the proposed line goes through their precincts going back to your question about condemnation and eminent domain in conversations with Texas Materials – number one They do not have the statutory authority to condemn or to take through eminent domain that if the railroad deems that this is good for the economy and for everybody there's a good chance that could be utilized Texas Materials is saying they would much rather negotiate with the landowners for fair market value for the property the kind of long-winded answer to your question: they're saying no what we're being told is that it will not be at elevation either the road will go over the railroad track or under the railroad track my understanding is that there would not be crossings stopping the traffic there Q: What actions are local and state leaders taking as well as the Burnet County Commissioner’s Court have adopted a resolution basically in opposition to it We stated more or less a lot of the historical aspect of why and also we’ve brought up some environmental things extensive environmental studies have to come into play: What impact this rail line may or may not have on either historic or the environmental — the birds My understanding is that it could take up to 2 years The Lampasas County Commissioner’s Court has no statutory authority on this right here It's basically between the landowners and the railroad and Texas Materials.” Q: Will they publish the environmental impact assessment The Transportation Surface Board is a federal agency and they’re the ones that initiate the environmental study but that study would be published if and whenever it is completed.” Q: Anything else you want the community to know A: “The one thing that we're being told that would have the biggest impact on perhaps preventing it — I’m gonna go back to the environmental study And if people are aware of the possibility of the negative impacts on the environment The other thing is the watershed from the Lampasas and Sulfur Creeks Any type of negative impact that it might have because this rail line would be crossing both of those bodies of water.” Texas (KXXV) — A new Texas state park is on the way set to span more than 3,000 acres across Lampasas and Burnet counties The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recently completed the second phase of a land acquisition that will make the park a reality adding to the 2,020 acres already secured in Burnet County The new park will be located just across the river from Colorado Bend State Park and will feature limestone bluffs Barbara Postel has lived in Lampasas most of her life will be the first stop for many heading into the park “I love all the people that come in here and we have people that come and sit around the table and just visit I think that’s what this state park is going to do The park’s development is supported by the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund a $1 billion initiative overwhelmingly approved by Texas voters in 2023 to expand state parks across the state I’m really glad the state is doing this and keeping our land preserved,” Postel said The property includes 1.5 miles of Yancey Creek and sits about 10 miles upstream from Lake Buchanan It is expected to offer new recreational opportunities protect wildlife habitat and preserve natural springs “Everything’s a cycle and so being able to get people back into the outdoors – Texas Parks and Wildlife has given us a wonderful opportunity to really showcase what Lampasas has to offer and then provide an outlet for visitors and locals alike,” Melissa Unger Executive Director for the Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center While the name and opening date are still to be determined Texas Parks and Wildlife will seek public input as development continues “I’m really looking forward to teaching people about nature teaching people about conserving our land and all we have You know it’s a great place to come and it’s going to be really fun when they all come,” Postel said There’s something for everybody to see,” she added How to watch Texas high school baseball: Lampasas vs May 3Data SkriveWe have an intriguing high school game in TBA with Lampasas High School hosting Gatesville High School How to watch Gatesville vs. Lampasas baseballGatesville and Lampasas will hit the diamond on Friday, May 3, at 12 a.m. CT. Don't miss out on any of the action with NFHS Network The NFHS Network gives you access to live high school sports around the country Follow your favorite team and never miss a game Want to track your alma mater, local team or family member's school throughout the playoffs? NFHS Network has high school baseball streaming live plus on-demand replays and highlights of all the action from thousands of schools across America Watch Lampasas vs. Gatesville on NFHS Network! All NFHS Network events are available to watch online at NFHS Network and through the NFHS Network Mobile Apps for iOS and Android and TV Apps for ROKU Enjoy all your local news and sports for less than 7¢ per day Home » Government » Texas Parks and Wildlife » New state park taking shape between Burnet and Lampasas counties and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" 400 Services (2) 900 Rentals (1) Cloudy skies early followed by heavy thunderstorms late Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content Jholcomb@kdhnews.com | 254-501-7552 Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Sign up to receive a daily list of Obituary notifications Signup today for the Harker Heights Herald Would you like to receive sports news from all the schools we cover Would you like to receive news about the Copperas Cove Bulldawgs Would you like to receive news about the Belton Tigers Would you like to receive news about the Ellison Eagles Would you like to receive news about the Florence Buffaloes Would you like to receive news about the Gatesville Hornets Would you like to receive news about the Harker Heights knights Would you like to receive news about the Killeen Kangaroos Would you like to receive news about the Lampasas Badger Would you like to receive news about the Lometa Hornets Would you like to receive news about the Midway Panthers Would you like to receive news about the Salado Eagles Would you like to receive news about the Shoemaker Grey Wolves Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account May 1Data SkriveWe have an intriguing high school game -- Lampasas High School vs How to watch Gatesville vs. Lampasas baseballGatesville and Lampasas will hit the diamond on Thursday, May 1, at 7 p.m. CT. Don't miss out on any of the action with NFHS Network Watch Gatesville High School all season long on NFHS Network! Lampasas High School baseball scheduleMay 1 vs. Gatesville High School: 7 p.m. CT | TBA, TX | NFHS NetworkMay 3 vs. Gatesville High School: 12 a.m. CT | TBA, TX | NFHS NetworkWatch Lampasas High School all season long on NFHS Network! Team schedules reflect available data from NFHS and may not include every upcoming game Texas (KXXV) — After a deadly crash in downtown Lampasas last week questions have arisen about how officers are trained to handle high-speed chases and what factors they consider when deciding whether to pursue a suspect The Lampasas Police Department (LPD) was not involved in the chase Police Chief Jody Cummings and Patrol Lieutenant Chuck Montgomery offered insight into officers' decision-making process when initiating a pursuit “We’re starting the pursuit as a patrol officer and I start weighing: What’s the traffic like What are we chasing this person for?” Montgomery said “It’s always a sliding scale of whether the risk this person poses to the public outweighs the risk of chasing.” a 16-year-old male died after Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers attempted to pull him over for reckless driving The chase lasted nearly 11 miles before ending in downtown Lampasas when the suspect crashed into another car and damaged a local bank Cummings added that while most chases typically begin when an officer attempts to pull a vehicle over they also take preventive measures to deter high-speed pursuits “A professional command presence from many law enforcement agencies is always out and about They know their job and are ready to respond,” Cummings said he stressed that there is no clear pattern to when or why chases occur “We haven’t had a city police officer involved in a pursuit since August but I can’t tell you a rhyme or reason why,” Cumming said Central Texas communities have witnessed several high-speed chases with devastating outcomes A chase in Killeen ended in a crash inside a JCPenney and another pursuit from Woodway to Coryell County left three people dead he sees miles and miles of the Texas Hill Country is facing a new reality after the proposal of a nearly 27-mile rail line that would run through his property and others in the area Some homes could be within just a few hundred yards of the tracks “We have assembled this ranch over 30 years It would be devastating to us,” Hinckley said is designed to transport rock materials from the Burnet quarries to Lampasas County The company plans to reconstruct 12.5 miles of an old railroad and develop 14.4 miles of new rail line the company submitted a petition to the Surface Transportation Board for permission to proceed with the project the biggest concern is how the project will affect the land that has been home to their families for generations We don’t want their money; we want to be left alone it would also dramatically change Hinckley's daily life "If the railroad goes where they are proposing it would take me an hour to get to my barn Hinckley said the community was left in the dark about this project and it almost reached the point of no return they had all these reasons why they should be approved and we can hurry this up," he said they were trying to hurry this up so we wouldn’t find out about it Texas Materials Group sent the following statement to 25 News: “Texas Materials Group (TMG) recently purchased a railroad right-of-way from the Georgetown Railroad Company that runs through Burnet County Texas Materials Group submitted a proposal to the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) Office of Environmental Analysis to connect the railroad right-of-way to Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Austin Western Railroads The STB then provided notice of the proposed shortline railroad to the local residents and public officials in order to obtain public comment the STB will conduct an extensive environmental review and there will be additional time for public comment TMG is following the STB’s process to establish the shortline railroad and will be engaging with the local community as part of the STB’s approval process the shortline railroad will significantly reduce truck traffic on the local roads by approximately 700-800 trucks per day.” "I can give you a list of 200 people to talk to and they are going to parrot exactly what I’m saying about how unjust and how heavy-handed this is – so un-Texan For those impacted by the proposed rail line, comments and thoughts can be submitted to the Surface Transportation Board Texas (KXXV) — A growing concern among residents and experts alike is the increase in light pollution which is drowning out the night skies and obscuring views of celestial wonders like the Milky Way founder of Lampasas County “Friends of the Night Sky,” and volunteer Pam Butler are leading efforts to address this issue and raise awareness about its impact on communities “Everybody should be concerned about it,” Butler said “You have children and you take them out to Big Bend or the Grand Canyon and you see the magnificence of the night sky and how sad is it to think at some point that may not be available.” One of the main reasons for this push is the fear that future generations may lose the opportunity to experience night skies filled with stars For many communities across the country, that reality is already here. Alarming statistics show that 80% of Americans can no longer see the Milky Way due to light pollution We’re a lot more fortunate here in Texas because we have so much rural land you cannot see the Milky Way,” Watson said Watson and Butler remain hopeful and believe small changes can help reverse the trend They believe that by making simple adjustments communities can reduce light pollution and help preserve the night sky for future generations and that doesn’t mean the end to what we have but it means we need to educate people and encourage them to make changes and changes are easy to be made,” Watson said For those interested in learning more about the impact of light pollution the Lampasas County “Friends of the Night Sky” will host a Star Party on Saturday Texas (KXXV) — “We love Lampasas just like it is — we don't want anything to change The best thing we can do is become involved and try to help control our growth because it's going to cover us up,” said Eddie Bowden Bowden is also part of Forward Lampasas — it’s a group of locals working together to take charge of the community’s future As bigger cities edge closer to smaller towns “The idea of the ‘Texplex,’ the ‘Texas Triangle,’ and how rapidly it's growing and how rapidly it's going to continue to grow," Bowden said The Texas Triangle covers 69 percent of the state’s population according to the Texas Demographic Center — it reaches from Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston to Austin and San Antonio “It’s inevitable — the growth of Lampasas is inevitable Austin is coming this way at bright-net speeds The group is looking at ways the community can direct that growth by making updates and improvements to parts of town and conserving the history — they said the big picture is creating job opportunities “We want to help control — all of us have lived here most of our life and so we understand Lampasas,” said Michael Irvin “We don't want some big manufacturer to come to town and just start buying up property and building stuff that is inconsistent and we want our town to stay somewhat what it is.” bringing you the latest sports coverage in your Central Texas neighborhoods Texas (KXXV) — High school softball playoffs in Central Texas are underway but the weather is forcing teams to make adjustments China Spring was scheduled to play Lampasas on Thursday both schools have adjusted their games to Friday.The new schedule is:4/25 - China Spring at Lampasas (6:30 p.m.)4/26 - Lampasas at China Spring (11:00 a.m.)Game three to follow if needed Texas (KXXV) — The city of Lampasas announced its drinking water has exceeded the maximum contaminant level for another quarter this year Residents have been dealing with a broken main line "This community needs help finding resolution," Amber Maceyra "This was an ongoing thing that had been happening for many years." 25 News did contact the city for an interview but did not hear back Trihalomethanes are chemicals that can form when chlorine is used to clean drinking water and mixed with natural materials in the water The concern is that long-term exposure can affect the liver and central nervous system and may increase cancer risk "I have not trusted our water for a long time," Maceyra said "I think it's only a matter of time before we start seeing extreme negative medical side effects if someone doesn't do something about it," Maceyra said." adding she doesn't know how long the community can go on like this tape them up – even if they include red tape because I know that was a concern – and follow through with it because I think what is following next is a class action lawsuit if not something more severe," Maceyra said "It is borderline criminal how much they are ignoring or pacifying or mandating the serious water issues in our community." Lampasas remains under a boil water notice due to the pressure fluctuations from the main line break they hope to comply with the water levels by the end of the year a Digital Content Producer with 25 News KXXV and 15 ABC KRHD Texas (KXXV) — Lampasas High School is investigating an issue involving one of its teachers The teacher has been placed on leave while the investigation is ongoing The district has not released further details about the nature of the investigation Texas (KXXV) — At Lampasa’s city council meeting last week it was announced that Finley DeGraffenried “I am excited to see what the new city manager will bring,” said a lifelong Lampasas resident “I think that if you paid attention and read through the documents but if you weren’t the kind of person who did research and followed along with that city council meeting and things like that who is no stranger to the role — she has served as City Manager of Brady Corbell says she is ready to start serving the Lampasas community getting to know the staff and the community members and learning how I can be of value to them and starting to forge those relationships because that’s an important part of what I do,” Corbell said Corbell says she intends for this transition to be as smooth as possible She added that DeGraffenried will still be a valuable asset when she takes over He has not been asked to resign or anything like that; he still has a great relationship with the council and is very active in the day-to-day activities with the city,” Corbell said 25 News contacted the city and filed an open records request for DeGraffenried’s resignation letter but has yet to receive it the community looks forward to the city of Lampasas beginning a new chapter with new leadership “If the city manager gets themselves out there and makes themselves known and what they can offer the city and the citizens and the businesses then it can help grow and prosper all of it,” Martin said City manager Finley DeGraffenried said his resignation had been discussed during the summer I communicated my intention to Council verbally and we mutually agreed to announce the resignation in the attached press release dated July 24 The council also provided input and direction on the advertised job posting beginning August 1 Corbell’s official start date is set for November 18 your Senior Neighborhood Reporter in Central Texas the Kluck family of four lost nearly everything following a house fire on the family's ranch in Lampasas Watch Ashley take 25 News' Bobby Poitevint through their home following the devastating fire: She says the family was away in Houston attending a family member's funeral at the time of the fire The Kluck family lost dozens of chickens and chicks — some of which were being temporarily housed in the garage at the time of the fire Some animals lost in the fire were for her two younger childrens' 4-H efforts and she's had her cat since she was four — it's her best friend and they slept together every night," Ashley said and so his cat was kind of an relational support piece for him." While the family has endured a lot of heartache lately there has been a lot of support from the community as the family has limited options for food or groceries at the moment Other generosities include their family offering them shelter and a family friend starting a GoFundMe page for the Kluck family Ashley's father-in-law also offered to help build a new home for the family through his company which uses non-combustible materials to hopefully help prevent home fires they're continuing to work with their insurance company and getting matters taken care of Ashley says they also have to check the sturdiness of their foundation following the fire "You have to decide — do you dig through it or do you just let somebody come take it all away which is hard because you always hope there's maybe one or two little things that are okay," Ashley said Fire fighters with the City of Burnett responded to the fire — officials say cause is undetermined and the fire is not under investigation the Executive Producer here with 25 News KXXV and 15 ABC KRHD Texas (KXXV) — A 3-month-old infant and woman died in a fatal crash west of Kempner Saturday State troopers responded to the scene after 9 p.m They determined that an SUV crossed into the opposing lane and crashed into a guard rail The driver and a 3-month old infant were not wearing seatbelts as well as a 2-year-old passenger in the vehicle also weren't restrained properly They were sent to Scott and White ER for their injuries State troopers say speed and rainy conditions were factors in the crash Texas (KXXV) — As water scarcity and aging infrastructure continue challenging Lampasas County local leaders are exploring a new solution A proposed regional water authority could unite multiple counties and co-ops across Central Texas to address these long-standing issues “It’s one of those things where we’ve got to do something," Lampasas County Judge Randall Hoyer said This is just one of a couple of other things the city looks at.” Lampasas County has long relied on the Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir in Bell County as a significant water source but the growing demand for water across the region has raised concerns Other municipalities and entities also depend on the same water source leading to strained resources and the need for a more coordinated approach “Water is probably the most critical issue facing Lampasas County but Lampasas County as a whole," Hoyer said "We are gravely concerned about water currently and obviously for the future." This new governmental body would work to secure larger grants and funding for water infrastructure improvements and modernizing aging systems that serve rural communities and co-ops While the authority would not have taxing power it could have the ability to issue bonds to fund significant projects aimed at bolstering water supply and ensuring sustainability the authority would require the creation of bylaws The next steps include holding meetings to discuss the formation of the water authority and working with state representatives to bring the proposal to the legislature “As Central Texas grows and more and more people are moving here the water demand will be the number one critical issue,” Hoyer said there is cautious optimism that creating this regional water authority could be a long-term solution for the area’s water needs it could also include other surrounding counties we just don’t really know for sure," Hoyer said "This could be a whole lot of effort that doesn’t really do what we were hoping it could be very positive and very beneficial Texas (KXXV) — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has completed the second phase of a major land acquisition project for the development of a new state park in Central Texas The department finalized the purchase of 1,100 acres spanning Lampasas and Burnet Counties bringing the total area of the future park to more than 3,000 acres located across the Colorado River from Colorado Bend State Park The land was purchased using a combination of sporting goods sales tax revenue and a one-time legislative appropriation with support from the voter-approved Centennial Parks Conservation Fund—a $1 billion initiative approved in 2023 to enhance and expand state parkland across Texas “This marks a major milestone with the addition of 1,100 acres to our growing portfolio of public lands,” Jeff Hildebrand chairman of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission “Together with the earlier 2,020-acre purchase this new state park will offer exciting recreation opportunities for all Texans.” The acquisition supports TPWD’s broader effort to expand access to public lands statewide Recent projects include the addition of 3,703 acres to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area and the acquisition of 500 acres for Lake Colorado City State Park TPWD Executive Director David Yoskowitz credited the department’s team and Texas voters for making the expansion possible “These land purchases are a testament to the commitment of Texans to conserve our state’s natural beauty for future generations,” he said and post oak woodlands will provide new opportunities for recreation and conservation “We are thrilled about this addition and the experiences it will bring to generations of park-goers,” Franklin said Texas (KXXV) — Lampasas Independent School District sent out a letter to parents notifying them of a contagious infection that is spreading Eight cases of whooping cough have been confirmed in schools across the district over the last few weeks “We do want to put it out there," Donna Clark the Director of Health Services with Lampasas ISD "Our intent is not to scare anybody or create panic that we let the parents and families know because it is highly contagious According to new data from the CDC, this year's spike in whooping cough cases across the county, has now reached the fastest rate seen in nearly a decade. In Texas, health officials are seeing three-times the amount of cases compared to last year The respiratory infection appears like the common cold at first but turns into coughing fits that can last for several weeks to even months Most health experts say there are only a few ways to protect someone from contracting this keeping up with those vaccination schedules – we are pretty strict on that in Lampasas ISD You do have to have your vaccinations to come to school or an affidavit of exemption." Clark said other common illnesses that start spreading this time of year are the flu This letter is to inform you that students who attend Lampasas ISD Schools have been diagnosed with whooping cough (also called pertussis) Whooping cough is a bacterial infection that can spread through the air when people cough whooping cough can spread easily to others It usually starts like a common cold but worsens over 1-2 weeks as a cough develops People with whooping cough may have coughing spells in which they can’t catch their breath between coughs As they catch their breath at the end of a coughing spell they may loudly gasp (“whoop”) and vomit or feel like they’re choking Young babies with whooping cough may not have a cough Instead they may have trouble breathing and gag There is usually no fever with whooping cough The vaccine usually protects against whooping cough; however teenagers and adults who were completely immunized before they started kindergarten can get whooping cough as protection from the vaccine wears off over time is recommended for those 11-18 years of age and for adults Check with your healthcare provider to be sure you and your children are up to date with vaccine.  Antibiotics can prevent the spread of whooping cough and are recommended for those with whooping cough Antibiotics are also recommended for people determined by the health department to have had close contact with a pertussis patient Contacts who are at high risk of becoming very sick with whooping cough (e.g. babies) or who could infect someone at high risk should receive antibiotics to prevent whooping cough (e.g. pregnant women or people who have contact with infants).   contact your healthcare provider for evaluation and possible antibiotic treatment Let the provider know your child was exposed to pertussis your child will need to stay home from school until five days of antibiotics have been completed.  and especially those under six months of age are most likely to get very sick if they develop whooping cough Babies should be kept away from people with a cough if at all possible Babies with any trouble breathing or with a coughing illness should be checked by a doctor right away please call the Texas Department of State Health Services at (254) 778-6744.” Rain will be heavy at times in some storms Students from Lampasas High School work on this tiny house in the Creating Badger Builders program A number of Lampasas ISD students with an interest in construction have joined an endeavor called Creating Badger Builders a partnership between both entities with a mission to help high school students with real-world experience in the construction industry under the guidance of industry professionals and educators students have designed and built a tiny home janak@kdhnews.com | 254-501-7551 there are no recent results for popular commented articles Texas (KXXV) — Jess Ramos never imagined he would one day become a sheriff he was appointed sheriff of Lampasas County she had never been to Lampasas – I knew Lampasas one day you’re going to be sheriff of this county.’ I’m like I don’t want to be a sheriff,’ and she goes ‘I can see you being sheriff,’ and that was the end of the conversation Ramos' dedication to law enforcement and to the Lampasas County community goes far beyond his current role and I worked in 83 different counties," Ramos said Ramos’ law enforcement career has spanned several positions From a young Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper to a narcotics sergeant and later a Texas Ranger his journey ultimately brought him to the position of sheriff which he said has been the most fulfilling “I am very confident that I have served this county to the best of my abilities and I know I’ve done well for this county," Ramos said "I’m very proud of my job and what I’ve done the Lampasas County Sheriff’s Department has significantly improved accountability and transparency One of the major accomplishments during his tenure was advocating for the construction of a new jail and law enforcement center more trusting relationship between law enforcement and the community “I would like to thank the citizens of Lampasas County for trusting in me Texas (KXXV) — In the May General Election five out of the seven seats on the Lampasas City Council will be on the ballot and making those hard decisions as a group believes in the power of collective decision-making and strong community leadership Pearce hopes to see the progress made under his council continue for years to come “It’s to provide that leadership with our council I don’t want to be the guy that’s this ceremonial mayor I want to be the guy that – I think we got a great team with our council and I see them as a team including the hiring of a new city manager the funding of key infrastructure projects Pearce emphasized that success isn't just about tangible accomplishments but also about fostering a supportive that put us in the position that we’re at right now We made a difference for the next 20 years.’ I think having that long-term outlook is of huge importance,” Pearce said The upcoming May General Election will feature races for mayor and multiple city council seats The filing period for candidates runs from January 15 to February 14 Positions up for election include mayor and council members for Places 1 Early voting will take place from April 21 to April 29 at the Elections Administrator's Office The deadline to register to vote is April 3 Pearce has not yet decided if he will seek reelection Texas (KXXV) — In smaller communities like Lampasas forcing residents to travel long distances for essential screenings Laura Baker was able to receive her first mammogram at 64-years-old after Rollins Brook Hospital brought in a 3-D mammogram system a mammogram technician at Rollins Brook Hospital has worked at the local hospital since her teenage years which takes 300 images compared to older models that only captured four Hardeman showed 25 News’ Allison Hill how the 3-D mammogram works I go back here and make sure she’s on my machine Though the actual mammogram only takes a few minutes Hardeman emphasized the importance of early detection in potentially saving women from the lifelong battle of breast cancer – like Laura Baker I just want to deal with the surprise of it if it ended up being cancer but I think I’m lucky enough where I don’t have to worry about it – fingers crossed,” Baker said The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends women aged 50 to 74 get mammograms every two years Women aged 40 to 49 are urged to talk with their doctors about when to start screening LAMPASAS COUNTY, Texas (KXXV) — A proposed rail line stretching 26.9 miles from Burnet to Lampasas County is drawing strong opposition from local landowners and residents community members voiced concerns about how the project could affect their properties and with this railroad – if we don't do something Burnet will not be what our dreams of Burnet are,” one resident said during the meeting and they are treating these easements like nothing has changed,” another resident said “Your life is over as you know it once they get that track in,” another said The rail line would transport aggregate and pass through more than 60 properties coming within a few hundred feet of some homes but many said it poses risks to the environment rural communities and the character of the area David Love and Joe Abel have owned land in the area since the late 1900s The proposed railroad would cut straight through their properties “They just need to take into account the rural people and the small towns they are really affecting some of them in different ways and some in the same way,” Love said The town hall provided a space for neighbors to share input and write statements to send to the Surface Transportation Board “Getting something organized that we can really show a cohesive front against this will be really good on that,” Love said The question is whether residents can stop the project before it’s too late “I hope that we move forward in our opposition Residents impacted by the proposed rail line still have time to submit comments to the Surface Transportation Board Texas (KXXV) — The Lampasas Independent School District says a staff member The district's superintendent tells 25 News' Allison Hill the employee was put on administrative leave after the district learned of allegations against the staff member last week The employee has since submitted a resignation letter and is no longer with the district as of Monday The district shared the below notice with families which says the investigation involves allegations of inappropriate conduct involving a staff member and student The superintendent says the TEA is also aware of the situation Texas (KXXV) — The Lampasas Municipal Airport has been serving the community since 1966 but new plans could soon bring significant upgrades – potentially boosting the local economy and expanding the area's growth The proposed “Airport Layout Plan” outlines improvements that could attract more aviation activity to the area including better infrastructure to support a wider variety of aircraft The proposed changes include a longer runway and Lampasas Airport Board member emphasized these upgrades' significance an expression we often hear in Lampasas is that ‘Austin is coming',’” Watson said “With all the growth of Austin and the I-35 corridor we’re seeing more and more people moving here for the lifestyle and business Knox said that improving the airport would open new doors for economic growth by accommodating more planes and offering better facilities for businesses that rely on air travel “This little airport – it does support what we like to do,” Knox said “This airport is strategically important to the growth of business so we are going to see some good things happen so that we can support any industry that might want to move here the Lampasas Airport is classified as a municipal airport It’s just below the classification of a regional airport which can handle larger planes and more flights The nearest regional airport is located in Killeen the airport could accommodate planes up to mid-size jets aligning Lampasas with nearby regional airports and opening new possibilities for the community’s continued expansion Texas (KXXV) — The Lampasas City Council and the Lampasas Economic Development Corporation (EDC) recently held a joint meeting to address the future of the Lampasas Business Park which has been sitting empty and accruing costs of nearly $7 million The meeting brought together local leaders and residents offering an opportunity for community involvement in the decision-making process “Pretty much everyone in that room weighed in that night and it’s one of the best meetings I’ve ever seen for getting community involvement and participation,” Eddie Bowden “The people that were there were business folks and they have had interested parties that need property in the Lampasas area so they kind of gave their opinion and it showed us that there was needs for different kinds of use of that property,” Martha Noell The EDC has focused on the business park for nearly two decades but has not yet reached its potential the local leaders are considering reducing its size and possibly selling off portions of the land that have been unsuccessful in attracting development “Some of the things they’re going to consider is maybe reducing the size of the park to get some of the land appraised and possibly sold,” Bowden said the workshop set the stage for further collaboration between local leaders and the community realistic solution for the business park’s development but I think the meeting was a result of everyone coming together and saying let's talk about this It brought consensus with our elected officials which would also give us an opportunity to prepare for additional growth,” Noell said The Lampasas Business Park spans more than 140 acres with 46 of those acres already built on and connected to water the two entities have agreed to seek appraisals for Lot 4 of the park to help determine its viability for future development A motor vehicle is engulfed in flames during a structure fire at 778 County Road 4804 on Tuesday afternoon The incident led to the death of a 71-year-old woman A structure fire on County Road 4804 in Kempner city limits led to the death of a 71-year-old female and the complete loss of a home on Tuesday afternoon.  The State Fire Marshal’s Office is handling the investigation into the cause of the fire.  Kempner Volunteer Fire Department Chief Alan Mainville said the windy conditions Tuesday afternoon played a role in the blaze.   “We had what we called a wind-driven fire,” Mainville said “It was coming from the charlie [back] side of the building and going through the alpha [front of the structure] KVFD Deputy Chief Justin Martin said Kempner volunteers arrived on the scene around 3:35 p.m after receiving the report of a structure fire at 778 County Road 4804.  Other agencies that assisted on the scene included the Lampasas Fire Department Lampasas County Sheriff’s Office and Hamilton EMS.  Firefighters battled the flames for hours due to the strong winds that whipped through the area Sheriff David Parker said it wasn’t until about 6:30 p.m that firefighters were able to enter the structure to recover the deceased 71-year-old.  Martin said first responders remained on the scene until all hotspots were cleared around 9:30 p.m Lampasas County Precinct 1 crews assisted in the cleanup of the debris left from the destruction of the one-story home.  A news release from the city of Kempner offered condolences to the family involved.  “Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones affected in this tragic loss,” city officials said “We extend our deepest sympathies and prayers to those involved.” © 2025 Lampasas Dispatch Record Texas (KXXV) — Water is an essential part of daily life but residents in Kempner and Lampasas are currently dealing with discolored and smelly water How much longer do we need to be concerned about our children?” Amber Maceyra Both cities recently transitioned from chloramine to free chlorine in an effort to eliminate manganese and organic materials found in Stillhouse Hollow Lake and the high levels of chlorine have led to discoloration and odor in the water “The water does have very high chlorine content and it smells like you're in an enclosed hot tub at a hotel it actually smelled like a lake,” Maceyra said the City of Lampasas had to flush out the pipes 25 News went out with the public works team to observe the process Flushing pipes is one of the final efforts to clean out the sediment and remove the remaining manganese affecting the water system Although this situation has been challenging for residents the city said water quality will significantly improve once the work is completed I don’t want to shine a bad light on our community There are so many wonderful things about Lampasas but this one could use a little help,” Maceyra said “I don’t know what that looks like or what is going to have to happen for this to be addressed This cannot go on for even three or four more months The City of Lampasas is not under a water boil notice Kempner has been under a water boil notice since August 14 West Plains quarterback Reid Macon celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Lampasas during a Class 4A Division I regional semifinal Friday night in Sweetwater [James Abel/ Press Pass Sports]SWEETWATER – They’re not a storied program by any means yet but the West Plains Wolves are developing the kind of postseason reputation far more established programs would love to have That reputation reached its apex in Friday night’s Class 4A Division I regional semifinal round game against Lampasas at the Mustang Bowl In a matchup between offensive juggernauts who refused to be stopped as the Wolves cruised to a 63-35 victory with a huge second half which left no doubt West Plains (10-3) now faces arguably its biggest test in its three-year history next week when the Wolves face historically powerful Stephenville (12-1) in a state quarterfinal game tentatively scheduled for next Friday in Midland Stephenville advanced by routing West Plains’ Canyon ISD rival Randall 47-7 What Friday’s result against Lampasas (10-3) means next week remains to be seen for celebrating a night in which they had probably the best offensive half in school history in dominating the second half “We thought it could be a shootout,” West Plains coach Adam Cummings said “It’s just a credit to our kids and coaches for putting a good game plan together and executing it at a high level If you had told me we were going to put 63 on Lampasas I wouldn’t have believed it Our kids just continue to get better and keep believing in themselves A huge offensive game was necessary for the Wolves considering their opponent Both teams lived up to their billing offensively West Plains quarterback Reid Macon totaled six touchdowns Friday night [James Abel/ Press Pass Sports]Quarterback Reed Jerome carried Lampasas offensively Jerome was responsible for a huge chunk of that completing 21-of-35 passes for 383 yards and three touchdowns while leading Lampasas on the ground with 16 carries for 111 yards and a touchdown he wasn’t even the most successful quarterback in the game with his first name Reid Macon answered Jerome in just about every category for West Plains completing 19-of-29 passes for 364 yards and four touchdowns while running for 54 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries “Our motto’s been ‘Prove ’em wrong’ all year long and we did a pretty good job of that again tonight,” Macon said “Kudos to the O-line because they were blocking their tails off all night long Our goal every drive is to get in the end zone regardless of what our game plan is It was definitely a scoring matchup between two great offenses.” West Plains just happened to have then greater offense of either team on this night It was necessary in a game where neither team forced to other to punt Both teams lived up to their offensive reputations in the first half as both put together long scoring drives to force a 14-14 tie at halftime That was a mere prelude to the second half Macon threw three touchdown passes in the third quarter alone Macon hit Lawson Betancourt on an inside receiver screen and he took it 70 yards for a score as the Wolves never trailed again After the Wolves stopped the Badgers on their next possession when Tryston Hernandez recovered K.J only with Kane Whjite-Tinsley on the receiving end Tinsley took it 42 yards for a score to make it 28-14 and give the Wolves a much-needed cushion “It was a little jailbreak,” said White-Tinsley referring to the team’s name for the play and we know if we get the ball in our hands great things can happen We’ve had that play in since the first year.” West Plains receiver Kane White-Tinsley sprints toward the endzone during a win over Lampasas on Friday [James Abel/ Press Pass Sports]White-Tinsley had four catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns while Betancourt had three catches for 114 yards Lampsas wouldn’t work go away and the Badgers cut it to 35-28 on an 11-yard scoring pass from Jerome to Heagan Oucken on the last play of the third quarter They then appeared to recovered an onside kick to start the fourth quarter and seize back momentum Lampasas was ruled offside and had to rekick and the Badgers never seemed to get back in it Macon and sophomore Slade Russell both ran for two touchdowns to put the exclamation point on the game who ran for a game-high 187 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries “At halftime we just talked about keeping the motor going and keep having faith in everyone,” Russell said “The ball just kind of finds me and I’ve got to do my job Any game we play we kind of take it personally each and every week.” West Plains running back Slade Russell hurdles Lampasas defenders Friday night [James Abel/ Press Pass Sports]It wasn’t the kind of defensive performance which will likely win raves from the coaching staff when the Wolves break down film early next week and White-Tinsley and Boston Ladd both had fourth quarter interceptions to help seal it “This was a really quality win for our program,” Cummings said “Anytime you can get turnovers on defense they’re momentum shifters and the way our offense was scoring that’s really what broke open the game After the Wolves stopped Lampasas on a fourth-and-two on the game’s first possession they wasted no time when they got the ball back setting up Russell’s 2-yard scoring run for a 7-0 lead Lampasas answered back with a 4-yard scoring run by Jerome early in the second quarter to tie it 7-7 West Plains then put together a five-minute drive to retake the lead concluding the drive with Macon’s 11-yard scoring pass to White-Tinsley to go up 14-7 Jerome then decided he could do the same thing with his own 11-yard scoring pass Johnson was Jerome’s favorite target with a game-high 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns Press Pass Sports will provide fans a passionate and informed look at high school college and professional sports impacting the Texas Panhandle © 2022 All Rights Reserved. Press Pass Sports is a division of jpegJoe Licensing, LLC Construction crews are now working to excavate the dam by removing rock and soil to create a new foundation (Courtesy Austin Capital Delivery Services Department) How to watch Texas high school playoff boys basketball: Lampasas vs Lampasas High School will face Gatesville High School in TBA How to watch Gatesville vs. Lampasas playoff high school boys basketballGatesville and Lampasas will hit the court on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. CT. Don't miss out on any of the action with NFHS Network Watch Lampasas vs. Gatesville on NFHS! All NFHS Network events are available to watch online at www.NFHSnetwork.com and through the NFHS Network Mobile Apps for iOS and Android and TV Apps for ROKU Texas (KXXV) — Governor Greg Abbott congratulated the City of Lampasas on being named a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community by Travel Texas This recognition highlights the city's commitment to leveraging tourism as a key driver of local economic growth The designation recognizes the Lampasas Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center for completing the multi-step certification process and promoting tourism to attract more visitors and support job creation “Tourism is critical to both our local and state economies,” said Governor Abbott “I congratulate Lampasas on earning this distinction and encourage communities across Texas to pursue this opportunity to grow tourism and local jobs.” Travel Texas Director Tim Fennell echoed the praise “Whether strolling through downtown or soaking in spring-fed pools travelers will find a destination eager to share its stories and traditions,” he said The announcement also drew praise from state leaders including Senator Pete Flores and Representative David Spiller Lampasas Mayor Herb Pearce welcomed the recognition inviting visitors to discover the city’s charm “Lampasas is a hidden gem in the Texas Hill Country,” Pearce said and you may just find yourself wanting to call Lampasas home.” and we look forward to welcoming visitors with open arms.” The Tourism Friendly Texas Community program is open to local governments and nonprofits that lead tourism development Certification benefits include enhanced collaboration Texas (KXXV) — Lampasas Middle School is on heightened alert after two separate threats were made at the school within the same week My first thoughts were about the care and welfare of our staff and students we ensure that we're investigating them as quickly as possible,” Wes Graham The first incident occurred on September 12 when administration was alerted to a gun threat made by a student after classes had ended for the day but I also know that students can say things out of emotion We always take these matters seriously and investigate,” Graham said Lampasas Police Chief Jody Cummings said while most school threats are not carried out “Our school year has looked like it has for a lot of schools in our country “It is more prevalent over the last years and decade but it's also brought out a lot of threats Words matter and charges have to be filed.” Cummings said that the severity of charges can vary He added these charges can have lasting impacts on students long after they leave school “It just has to be known that this is very serious and can't be taken lightly It can affect them greatly for the rest of their life for just a few seconds of popping off at the mouth with not even any intentions of carrying through,” Cummings said Both Cummings and Graham agreed that all threats — big or small — will be thoroughly investigated There is currently no official count of how many threats have been reported locally during the fall semester similar threats have been reported in the Temple Home » News » News By Town » Burnet » Proposed Burnet-Lampasas railway draws community backlash Can it be worked so that a passenger train service can run on those tracks If passenger service can be worked into it residents should have a right to have a say I’d prefer to discourage the quarries from taking over and making our beautiful hill country ugly The $14.9 million project will modernize the dam to reduce the risk of downstream flooding (Rendering courtesy Austin Capital Delivery Services Department) Gennifer Gass sold her homemade shelf-stored butter at the Lampasas Farmer’s Market notifying her that she was removed as a vendor This letter is to notify you that you have been permanently removed from the Lampasas County Farmers Market and Crafts as a vendor This decision was made after a couple of complaints about your butters and your behavior and interaction with other vendors at another market When I first approached you about your butter I have had to do some extensive research on this and found there is such a thing The major issue here is whether or not this met the DHSH standards I got 2 complaints of mold being in the butter when the customers opened their jars This tells me these butters are not shelf stable and do not meet the standards set by DSHS.” Gass said many are mistaking the truffle seasoning as mold Gass said she was not able to give her side of the story They knew they had nothing – that's what is crazy,” Gass said One other concern was that shelf-stored butter is not safe to eat 25 News spoke with a food expert who said there is such a thing but it all depends on the composition and storage of it The Lampasas Farmer’s Market said it simply comes down to the law the Lampasas Farmer’s Market Food Coordinator We have to make sure our vendors are federally compliant with federal regulations We are here to help guide and ensure our consumers are getting the best possible product.” Gass was not the only vendor removed — two other vendors were also removed for “disruptive behavior.” This has started controversy in the community — some believe this situation should have been handled better because it's been here for about five years — I've been a supporter of it this whole time The Lampasas Farmer’s Market said they have to focus on the bigger picture and keep the market going “We have the vendors as a whole in our hearts and minds the community that we have to serve and look out for,” Collier said Gass said her business and income has taken a hit but added no one can stop her from her dreams A lot of people in this town know me better than that Gatesville will have three opportunities to propel itself into the state meet this weekend Bullard High School will play host to the two-day Region III-4A meet beginning Friday bringing together elite athletes from 59 schools across eight districts View the future stars columns provided by the players coaches there are no recent results for popular images there are no recent results for popular videos