FROM STAFF REPORTS
Vanessa Escamilla (left), Brailey Hall and Hannah Smith, all of Burnet, visited little Jordan Johnson at Dell Children’s Hospital in Austin on Sept. 14, 2014, after they revived her by using CPR in a Burnet convenience store parking lot. The 5-year-old Victoria resident was diagnosed with a heart murmur, according to her mother. Courtesy photo
MARBLE FALLS — Launching the new year offers an opportunity to reflect on the year gone by. For DailyTrib.com readers, the stories that captured their attention included a heroic rescue of a child by Burnet teens, a sassy-talking reality TV star from Johnson City, a double-murder investigation in Burnet and a former Cottonwood Shores fire official charged with child pornography.
The top 10 most viewed stories by readers were as follows:
10. Meet the Bulldogs cancelled in response to student homicide investigation
Burnet Independent School District school officials cancelled the Meet the Bulldogs event in August after an alleged double-murder in August. One of the victims was a BCISD student. The school district released a statement citing “unforeseen circumstances” for the cancellation. At the time, Superintendent Keith McBurnett said, “Our first priority is to take care of the emotional needs of our students, and we are working with district counselors and local pastors to offer needed support.”
Read more here.
The Carnes family of Johnson City — Bill (left), Dade, Jake, Mary Ann, Rochelle, Trenton, Tate, Luke and Kristan — are the stars of a A&E reality series called ‘Lone Star Lady.’ Photo by Karolina Wojtasik
9. Burnet man charged with intoxication manslaughter in Marble Falls crash
Marble Falls investigators charged 26-year-old Matthew Lewallen of Burnet with intoxication manslaughter in October in a collision that killed a Granite Shoals woman after tests determined the suspect’s blood-alcohol content was three times more than the legal limit. The charge stemmed from a deadly accident in September in on U.S. 281 about 2:20 a.m. in Marble Falls. Police said a 2003 Chevy Silverado pickup heading north on the highway crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with a Ford Explorer driven by 47-year-old Sandra Hart.
Read more here.
8. Marble Falls ISD employee, ex-fire chief arrested in child porn case
Former Marble Falls High School quarterback Mike Richardson made news when he decided to leave Texas Tech University. File photo
Texas Rangers charged former Cottonwood Shores Volunteer Fire Department chief and Marble Falls school employee Deavon DeLancey, 30, with possession of child pornography and aggravated sexual assault of a child in June. Investigators and school officials confirmed the alleged incidents did not happen on school grounds. Evidence of the alleged incident involving a small child occurred at a private residence, according to arrest records. The investigation is ongoing with additional accusations regarding possible inappropriate photos taken on school property.
Read more here.
7. Ex-Mustang QB Mike Richardson says he’s leaving Texas Tech
In April, former Marble Falls High School quarterback Mike Richardson made the decision to transfer from Texas Tech University. The 2013 graduate arrived at the Lubbock school mid-term as a freshman after spending the fall working out on his own. He cited lack of reps for his move. TTU’s quarterback Davis Webb led the Red Raiders to victory in the 2013 Holiday Bowl and was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player. During the three spring scrimmages, Webb completed 70.4 percent of his passes for 959 yards, 13 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Read more here.
Llano County sheriff’s deputies investigated an alleged murder at a residence in the River Oaks neighborhood of Kingsland on Aug. 26. Kathryn Louise Preston, 46, was charged with murder in connection with the death of Jose Mario Hernandez, 23. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton
6. Two dead in separate accidents on Kingsland, Burnet roadways
A woman in Kingsland died while crossing the roadway adjacent to a bridge on RR 1431 about 8 p.m. Oct. 8. A Llano man was driving the vehicle that struck the woman. On the same day, just three hours earlier, a 26-year-old Marble Falls man died after his 1995 BMW left the roadway and struck a tree about a mile south of Burnet on U.S. 281.
Read more here.
5. Kingsland woman charged with murder in death of 23-year-old man
Llano County authorities charged 46-year-old Kathryn Louise Preston with murder in connection with the death of 23-year-old Jose Mario Hernandez after a homicide investigation at a private residence in the River Oaks neighborhood in Kingsland.
Authorities say they responded to a 9-1-1 call the morning of Aug. 26 and found Hernandez dead inside a bedroom. Investigators say the couple had been seeing each other for two to three years.
Read more here.
Garrett James Ballard was charged with capital murder of multiple persons in connection with the shooting deaths of Elijah Adam Benson and Travis Leslie Fox in August. Courtesy photo
4. Officials identify Burnet couple killed in three-car collision
Joseph Wicker, 70, and his wife, Bonnie Wicker, 69, of Burnet died in June after a three-vehicle collision on U.S. 281 between Burnet and Marble Falls near the intersection of Park Road 4. According to a DPS report, Joseph Wicker, driving a 2010 Chevrolet pickup, pulled into traffic on 281 from Park Road 4 and collided with a Dodge pickup, which then struck a Volkswagon passenger car.
Read more here.
3. Johnson City family starring in A&E show ‘Lone Star Lady’
A reality show on A&E put the Hill Country on the map with “Lone Star Lady” about a Johnson City family. The show focused on mother Rochelle Carnes as she balanced being a wife, a daughter, a sister and a mother to four boys after recently striking oil. While the family has enjoyed the perks of their newfound wealth, Carnes works to maintain their humble roots while raising four boys. Episodes premiered in July.
Read more here.
2. Burnet teens save 5-year-old’s life in store parking lot
Fourteen-year-old Brailey Hall and 16-year-olds Hannah Smith and Vanessa Escamilla, a trio of Burnet Consolidated Independent School District students, were credited with saving the life of 5-year-old Jordan Johnson in September. The teens revived the child at a local convenience store when the little girl’s mother pulled into the parking lot during the health emergency. The girls visited the family in the hospital the day after the incident. The child’s mother burst into tears and referred to the teens as her “three angels.”
Read more here.
1.Burnet County investigators charge 21-year-old man with double murder
Burnet County authorities charged Garrett James Ballard with capital murder of multiple persons in regard to the alleged shooting deaths of Elijah Adam Benson and Travis Leslie Fox in August at a residence. According to the report, the three men were allegedly high on LSD. According to the Burnet County Sheriff’s investigation, the victims had been shot with a rifle belonging to Ballard’s father, a Burnet County constable, who was not at the residence at the time of the incident.
Read more here.
The next most read articles were:
11. VIDEO: Marble Falls police Taser knife-throwing suspect
Read more here.
12. Medical emergency call leads to felony drug arrest in Marble Falls
Read more here.
13. Affidavits describe alleged abuse, ‘water boarding’ in Burnet case
Read more here.
14. Report: Llano home invasion suspect spotted on deer lease camera
Read more here.
15. Kingsland murder suspect claims man hit head on rock
Read more here.
16. Burnet capital murder suspect released on $500,000 bond
Read more here.
17. Longhorns AD Steve Patterson at Horseshoe Bay Sports Club
Read more here.
18. Llano County bald eagles will have to find new home
Read more here.
19. Two fatal accidents over weekend on same stretch of Texas 29
Read more here.
20. Kingsland man wanted after skipping out on child sexual abuse plea
Read more here.
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