Lampasas City Manager Finley deGraffenried was in studio this morning with updates for Ronnie and Angel. The first order of business is the new gateway sign coming to the side of 183 to welcome our guests as they head into Lampasas from Austin, which should be here just in time for the Solar Eclipse! Finley also reminded residents that construction will be coming to S 281 from the Burnet Co. line all the way to Key Ave. Though the start date keeps getting pushed, work will likely begin here in the next few months, and may unfortunately coincide with the Eclipse event as well. Stay tuned. Speaking of that Eclipse (third time’s the charm), Finley reassured residents that city staff, Chamber of Commerce stakeholders, and EMS teams are all prepping diligently for the event, run from Friday, April 5th, to Tuesday the 9th. Their efforts are focused on keeping the public safe and ensuring emergency services have the ability to respond if/when their assistance is needed. With Lampasas slated as an area with one of the longest viewing times for the totality, you can count on there being a disruption to your daily schedule, so please prepare for it! Finley moved on from Eclipse announcements to commemorate the retirement of Fire Marshal JP Harris and LPD Officer Tony Barrio. Fire Chief Jeff Smith has moved on as well, and will be sorely missed! The department will be looking to fill his position in the next 30-45 days, possibly in house. We have a preview of the upcoming City Council agenda for February 12th. Items up for discussion: additions to the 580 Sports Complex, including signs and bike path development; the year-end financial report, which will cover increases in wholesale costs for public works and the need for an updated budget to continue deliver those services efficiently. City Council application packets are also available now! And if you find yourself called to serve but not on the Council, the committees always have vacancies as well, and accept applications on a rolling basis. Remember, this is our town, and if we don’t look after it, who will? - MG
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We all get a bit of blustery pride when we talk about “our town.” The view from the Sulphur Creek Bridge, the bandstand on the square, and our 1880s courthouse and the pool and Hostess House all make us proud. Many of us will remember, and testify with pride to the story of the old “cowboy” welcome sign and how it “used to be” and was resurrected to once again welcome people to Lampasas on Hwy 281 by the airport. The obviously busiest local volunteer group, Vision Lampasas, spends a lot of time making our town even better, and making us even prouder. One of the Vision members, Kathryn Mezger, had the vision of another well-needed welcome sign on Hwy 183, one of the most traveled paths into Lampasas. Sadly, before she could see her vision through, Kathryn passed away. But the vision is to be completed. Vision Lampasas, along with Kathryn’s husband Bill, and their company Mezger Enterprises, are working on it. One of Kathryn’s friend’s and Vision member, Libby Bluntzer, is spearheading the effort. The new “Welcome to Lampasas” sign will be erected on Hwy 183 on the property of Ronnie and Sue Ellen Bumpas. It will feature Mezger stone and metal lettering provided by Chris Odum. The sign is predicted to stand about 13 ft tall and 16 ft wide and we’d expect it to be pretty special. City Manager Finley deGraffenried told us they should be doing foundation work this week. We’ll watch as Kathryn’s vision comes to fruition, and on the occasion that we drive into town on Hwy 183, we’ll all flush with a bit of pride about “our town.” RW
The Lampasas Community Gardens crew held their annual meeting last Saturday, January 27th to get ready for the upcoming spring/summer planting season. They welcomed new gardeners and reunited with gardening veterans, adding 6 new gardeners to the current roster of 12! It’s not too late to put your application in though, which you can do by reaching out to Janet Crozier for more info at lampasascommunitygardens@gmail.com. The Gardens, located at 501 E. North Ave. in Campbell Park, behind Hannah Springs Pool, are always open, so you’re welcome to come when you can! There’s not much plant growth to see now, the Gardens themselves are always evolving. The ADA compliant beds are almost ready to open, and a new peach tree was recently planted in the Remembrance Orchard, dedicated in memory of LCG Board Member Karen DeZarn’s mother. The Remembrance Orchard is open to all, not just to commemorate loved ones lost, but to celebrate any milestones or special events in the community’s lives. Janet tells us there’s even a mural coming to the building by the Orchard, to add to its splendor. So if a peaceful walk in nature is what you seek, or a way to connect to the food you eat, Lampasas Community Gardens is the place for you. And, as a reminder, it’s a great time to start planning your spring gardens, too! - MG
Take on the New Year with a new resolution - the Radiogram Reading Challenge! It’s simple: each month, pick a book from one of the categories below and settle into your easy chair for a new adventure. There’s no pressure, you can skip around on the list and read at your own pace, but of course, we’d love to hear how your reading journey is going! Send your suggestions, experiences and reviews to news@lampasasradio.com, or upload your comments to our website, lampasasradio.com.
My first pick? A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers, given to me by my loving mother (option #8 on the list). Happy reading, everyone! 1. A popular book you’ve never read 2. A book published in the year you were born 3. A book set in a city starting with the letter “L” 4. A book featuring another culture 5. A book told in non-chronological order 6. A book with the word “secret” in the title 7. A book written from the villain’s point-of-view 8. A friend or family member’s favorite book 9. A book whose title matches the lyrics from a song 10. A book with an ugly cover 11. A memoir by a person you admire 12. A book published in 2024 After doing some research, Lampasas Radio has an update for you on the events that unfolded in last week’s multi-county pursuit. In a preliminary report provided by Sgt. Cockrell of the Texas Highway Patrol, Region 6, the following events took place during last week’s chase:
On, December 15th, 2023, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers assisted the Burnet Co. Sheriff’s Office with a vehicle attempting to evade law enforcement. Burnet Co. deputies attempted to stop a U-Haul box truck that was involved in a hit-and-run crash. The evading vehicle was observed driving on the wrong side of the road endangering the motoring public. The suspect nearly collided with a Lampasas Co. law enforcement vehicle and attempted to strike a DPS patrol unit multiple times. In an attempt to stop the suspect vehicle, a DPS Trooper fired his weapon at the rear tire of the U-Haul, taking out the back right tire. This action effectively disabled the vehicle and allowed the suspect to be taken into custody without incident. The suspect was identified as 39-yr-old Brandon Turner. Our records show that Turner’s place of residence is Liberty Hill. Turner was found to have an active warrant in Lampasas Co. for evading arrest with a motor vehicle. In addition, Turner was charged with aggravated assault on a public servant, aggravated assault of a person, deadly conduct, and evading arrest with a motor vehicle. Taken together with the call log from Lampasas Police Dept., a better picture of the chaos is beginning to reveal itself. Thankfully there were no injuries involved in this incident, but the story is a great reminder of the danger our law enforcement officers place themselves in on a day-to-day basis, just in showing up to work. Please keep them all in your prayers this Christmas season and beyond, and thank you, for all you do. The Texas Highway Patrol provided us with this preliminary report regarding the plane crash in Burnet Sunday afternoon:
On December 17th, 2023 at approximately 2:14PM, a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Trooper responded to an airplane crash on US 281 S of Delaware Springs Rd. in Burnet. The Aircraft had taken off from the Burnet airport before striking a power line along 281 and crashing in the southbound lanes of US 281. The aircraft struck a passenger car during the crash. The driver of the vehicle was transported to a medical facility and released shortly after, but the pilot and passenger were transported to a medical facility in Austin with burn injuries. The FAA was notified and the aircraft was towed from the highway to the Burnet airport. Though DPS Troopers were called to the scene to help secure the site, the public should know the formal investigation will be handled by the federal government from here on out. Please keep both families in your prayers. On the side of the highway, just before Kempner proper, is a small white sign with a big piece of history behind it. Idle Creek Farms may seem to the untrained eye like it popped up out of nowhere one day, but a handful of Lampasans know it’s roots run deep. The 65 acres Idle Creek sits upon belongs to one Bobby Henderson, and has supported 4 generations of the Henderson family since 1943, from Bobby’s father on down to his granddaughters. Born in Copperas Cove, in a little house over the railroad tracks from today’s Ace Hardware store, Mr. Henderson spent his early years with his grandparents in a tiny place called “OK” Texas. Don’t spend too much time searching for it though, because the Killeen Regional Airport now occupies the area where OK once was, with the control tower sitting in the spot where their house used to be. In a nutshell, that’s how the Henderson’s found themselves in Lampasas County. Fast forward a couple decades and Idle Creek Farms was born, a labor of love on the part of Caitlin Blakely, Bobby’s grand-daughter, her mother Sheila Burton, his daughter, and Samuel Blakely, Caitlin’s husband - two of Bobby’s great-grandkids even work there. Caitlin joined us in the studio yesterday morning to set the record straight on all the Christmas festivities the Farm is offering this season, which aren’t just for children, by the way! Though your kids may drag you there to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, pet the zebus and sip some hot chocolate, parents and young adults alike will stay for the axe-throwing, snowball fights, hay rides and cozy fire pit, a perfect setting for date night (or proposal..just sayin’). And if you’re good boys and girls, the beer “sleigh” might just pull through. Caitlin had this to say about the Farm’s journey so far, “You can tell you’re doing the right thing in life when things line up for you,” referring to the way, like a divine puzzle, all the pieces fell into place to bring Idle Creek into existence. The folks over at the Farm are forever grateful for the support they’ve received from the community – Jimmy and Donna Horrell, for designing the hay ride attractions and wearing “all the hats”; Brown’s Feed, for providing the material for the corn pit; C&J Equipment, for the tractors and trailers used for the hay ride; Centex Cars and Trucks, for donating the tires placed around the “trike” track; every single one of the Farm’s guests; and of course, Grandpa Bobby, for saying yes. To hear the full interview, click the Facebook icon at the bottom of this page. A hand-painted reproduction of a photo of the Henderson’s ancestral home, courtesy of the family
Like a game of telephone, you probably heard the story about the Uhaul that came barreling into town from Burnet last Friday. Lampasas Police Department assisted Texas HWY Patrolmen in the pursuit. Here’s the story from LPD’s call card for that day:
At 12:30PM, December 15th, State Troopers chased a Uhaul pulling a small trailer into Lampasas from Burnet Co. The Uhaul, travelling N on 183/Key Ave, took a right onto FM 580 E on the other side of town, a right onto Hackberry St, headed S, and then turned East onto 3rd street, travelling a couple blocks before going off the road and coming to a stop. The male driver then bailed out of the vehicle and headed W on 3rd towards the Square. Troopers followed suit and caught the man in a vacant lot next to McGregor Glass, near Hackberry and 3rd. LPD assisted in getting him into custody, but he did not book him here in Lampasas Co. And there you have it! Keep your eyes on the Radiogram for any details to come. The Farmers’ and Craft Market was crawling with Badgers this past Saturday, up bright and early to raise money for their team. Dressed in Badger blue warm-ups, hoodies, and Letterman jackets, these students hit the pavement instead of hitting the mats, due to unfortunate budget restraints that cost them a tournament trip to Bryan, TX.
You wouldn’t know by looking at them, however, that their weekend plans had been spoiled - wrestler Charlie Freese greeted shoppers warmly as they approached, kindly asking for their support with the same confidence she has surely channeled into her multiple wins this season. According to the team, they typically compete in 10 tournaments and 15 meets each season, but, like everything else, inflation has wreaked havoc on the school’s transportation costs, and only 5 of the 10 tournaments are fully funded as of now. Though there are many willing and able adults who could drive the Badgers to their out-of-town events, LISD is required to bus them, according to booster club founder and president, Dawn Fernandez. While the wrestling team is in its 7th season, the booster club just came into existence this year, not a minute too soon. And they are not the only group doing so - the fire department rode down to the Square in style to pose for a photo op with the Badgers, and the Hill Country Wildcats Wrestling Club donated half the proceeds from their "Sunday Scrap" to the wrestlers. There truly could not be a team more deserving of your support. After posing flawlessly for a group photo in front of the LFD fire truck, every wrestler clambered around, eager to have their story told, not for their own individual glories, but for the sake of a team that has trained hard enough to earn a place at every tournament. Varsity Team Captain Daemien Rivas proudly, though humbly, informed us, “This is the best talent we’ve ever had.” If you'd like to help the Badgers make it to their next tournament, you can donate directly to the LHS Wrestling Booster Club by contacting them at lampasaswrestlingboosterclub.com. And gear up for Badger Wrestling’s last home match of the season Wednesday, January 17th! This match will be a Tri (3 teams competing against each other) with competitors Leander Rouse and Chaparral (Killeen). Be sure to come out and support the home team. Let’s Go Badgers!! This past Saturday, the LHS Law Enforcement Team competed at a Regional Competition in San Antonio. The class competed in 4 separate events, in teams of 4 and 6 as well as individually. Last year’s group, led by Coach Michael Tatum, did well enough at Regionals to drive on to the State finals - we are happy to report they repeated that success this year! What’s more, this is the team’s first time competing in 3 of the 4 events, and they were still able to pull out the W’s!
A team of 4 Badgers placed 1st in the Felony Traffic Stop event. Congratulations to Srs. Jason Brock and Bryce Neely, Jr. Lena Jefferies, and Soph. Lilian Stephens! This was the team’s second year in a row coming in 1st. In the Cell Extraction event, a 6-person team scored 2nd place. Congratulations to Srs. Connor Ferreira and Jason Brock, and Jrs. Loreily Mejia, Johnathan Harris, Willow Collins and Lena Jefferies! In the Intoxicated Driver event, Badgers competed individually. Congratulations to Sr. Connor Ferreira, who placed 2nd, and Jr. Lilian Stephens who came in 3rd! And finally, in the Fingerprinting event, congratulations to Jr. Loreily Mejia for placing 1st and Brice Miller, who followed with a 2nd place win! Coach Tatum is very impressed with these two Badgers for placing so highly in an event with 31 competitors. Let’s Go Badgers, we’ll see you in January for State! |