Dakota Morrissiey

While there are no local contested races on the ballot for Burnet County voters, residents still have big decisions to make at the state and federal levels during the upcoming midterm elections.

The Marble Falls High School football team takes on its cross town rival, Burnet High School, for a home game on Friday, Oct. 16. In this week’s episode of Before the Lights, the Mustangs’ captains shared their thoughts on what it would take to win the Battle of Burnet County.

Harmony Park was packed on Thursday, Oct. 15, for the 9th annual Pink Out Marble Falls. The community block party is thrown by Marble Falls Fire Rescue every October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month to show support for Highland Lakes locals and their families that have been impacted by cancer.

A motor vehicle accident involving a propane truck shutdown traffic on U.S. 281 north of Marble Falls on the afternoon of Friday, Oct. 16. As of 3:30 p.m., the highway was still shutdown and drivers are being instructed to seek alternate routes.

Early voting for the midterm elections began on Monday, Oct. 19, and runs until Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 3.

A fire severely damaged a Granite Shoals residence on the evening of Friday, Oct. 23. The cause of the fire is still being investigated. Nobody was harmed in the blaze, but at least two people fled the structure when they saw smoke according to Granite Shoals Fire Department Assistant Chief Joshua Nugent, who served as the incident commander during the fire.

Ex-Burnet County judge James Oakley has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Burnet County government, Burnet County Sheriff Calvin Boyd, and former 33rd and 424th Judicial District Attorney Wiley “Sonny” McAfee. The lawsuit alleges that the county, Boyd, and McAfee persecuted Oakley through years of “baseless criminal prosecutions,” and that his constitutional rights were violated in the process.

A bald eagle was rescued in Llano County after an auto accident. Photo by Wei-Wei Lin

A bald eagle was rescued on Sunday, Oct. 25, in Llano County after it was struck by a vehicle.

The 127-room boutique hotel and conference center, The Ophelia, could be opening its doors this winter. The future hospitality hotspot has been under construction since early 2025 and was originally expected to open in October of this year.