Greenbelt parking lot is temporarily closed
City staff closed the parking lot at the Hamilton Greenbelt I trailhead March 4.
The closure is necessary to allow for construction of a new parking lot and greenbelt restroom, which is expected to be complete by mid- to late summer, a city news release said. However, the greenbelt trails will remain open to the public during the project.
“While there is never a perfect time to redirect a trail entry, historically we have seen a smaller number of trail users during the warmer summer months while many of our residents are traveling or on summer vacations,” said Andra Dearing, Lakeway Parks and Recreation Director. “We feel that these improvements will be a welcome addition to the Hamilton Greenbelt.”
The entrance to the park will be modified during construction with signage redirecting users to enter the greenbelt from the sidewalk that circles under the Lohmans Crossing bridge.
Temporary parking for the greenbelt is available at the Lakeway Justice Center, 104 Cross Creek, and Lakeway Activity Center, 105 Cross Creek.
For more information, contact the Lakeway Parks and Recreation Department at 512-314-7530.
Margaret Moore won the Democratic nomination for Travis County district attorney.[/caption]
Moore wins TravCo DA Democratic race
Margaret Moore garnered the most votes in the Democratic primary for Travis County district attorney March 1, unofficial results show.
She received 59.75 percent of the vote, or 65,441 votes, to Gary Cobb’s 34.1 percent of the vote, or 37,348 votes, and Rick Reed’s 6.15 percent of the vote, or 6,735 votes.
“This is an amazing result,” Moore said of the election. “I fully expected to be in a runoff.”
Although he could not be reached for comment, earlier in the day Reed posted on his campaign website that he was encouraging his supporters to vote for Moore. He stated it was “obvious that [he would] not receive enough votes to advance to the runoff” and Moore was “eminently qualified to serve as our next district attorney.” Reed said he voted for Moore.
“[Reed] and I met at the beginning of this race, and along the way we were often saying the same things about the changes needed in the D.A.’s office,” Moore said. “It is a real honor [to have his support].”
She said she will take a couple of days off following her March 1 victory before facing Republican challenger Maura Phelan in November.
“I am so proud of the support I received across the county,” Moore said.
All results are unofficial until canvassed.
West Lake Hills police to be issued body cameras
Aided by a $3,454 grant from the Criminal Justice Division of the Governor’s Office, the West Lake Hills Police Department will be able to issue body cameras to every officer in the field.
West Lake Hills City Council unanimously approved a resolution Feb. 24 to approve the grant and authorize matching funds for the camera purchases.
The Taser-brand cameras will be used for day-to-day traffic control and law enforcement, not necessarily for higher-ranking staff, Police Chief Scott Gerdes said. Officers will be able to take their cameras home to recharge batteries nightly, he said.
Lakeway cancels city’s May election
Following the Feb. 26 withdrawal of Lakeway City Council candidate Steve Smith, candidates Jean Hennigan, Keith Trecker and incumbent Dwight Haley are running unopposed for the council’s three open positions. As a result of Smith’s decision, Lakeway cancelled its May election.
Mayor Joe Bain said he is hopeful Smith will serve on the city’s zoning and planning commission.
“I moved here two years ago and, basically, I am looking to serve Lakeway,” Smith said. “With the opportunity opening up on [ZAPCO], I thought that would be a great place for me to serve—with all of the likely agenda items coming up from the build-out of Lakeway.”
Bee Cave Police Chief Gary Miller addresses City Council members Feb. 23.[/caption]
Bee Cave Police Department receives its second recognition for best practices
The Bee Cave Police Department was recognized Feb. 23 by the Texas Police Chiefs Association for its compliance with the Texas Law Enforcement Agency’s best practices code.
The award—created to honor a police department for its effective service, reduction of risk and protection of individual rights—was presented by Max Westbrook, Texas Police Chiefs Association Recognition Program coordinator, to Bee Cave Police Chief Gary Miller.
Bee Cave’s police department, which was previously recognized in 2012, received an on-site inspection of its headquarters and showed that it has complied with the program’s requirements in order to receive the award.
Buckingham, King to face off in state Senate GOP runoff
With 43.54 percent of the county vote, or 3,514 votes, former Lake Travis ISD trustee Dawn Buckingham won the Republican nomination for state Senate District 24 in the county. However, the district encompasses several western Texas counties, and candidate Susan King from Abilene took the overall lead with 27.22 percent, or 32,431 votes. Buckingham finished second overall with 24.76 percent of votes, or 29,501 votes.
Buckingham and King, the two top vote-getters overall will face one another in a runoff election since no candidate finished with more than 50 percent of the votes. The winner will face Democratic challenger Virginia “Jennie Lou” Leeder in November.
Jon Cobb, Ryan Downton, Brent Mayes and Reed Williams also ran for the seat. Results are unofficial until canvassed.
Texas House incumbent Workman wins Republican primary vote
State Rep. Paul Workman, R-Austin, has won the Texas House of Representatives District 47 Republican primary by receiving 16,097 votes, or 60.6 percent of total votes counted, according to March 1 unofficial results.
Incumbent Workman’s opponent, Jay Wiley, received 10,477 votes, or 39.4 percent of the total votes counted.
“I’ve been a staunch conservative in Travis County for six years now,” Workman said. “We believe the voters of Travis County also believe that.”
Workman said that his first priorities when the Legislature reconvenes in 2017 are transportation and water.
Texas House representatives serve two-year terms.
Wiley, who challenged Workman to represent parts of south and west Travis County, said he knocked on more than 7,000 doors and wrote more than 5,000 handwritten notes to voters but could not respond to the amount of money Workman had for the race.
“What you saw in this election was the power of incumbency,” Wiley said. “This was always David versus Goliath, and it looks like Goliath won.”
Workman will face Democratic candidate Ana Jordan in November.
All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Daugherty posts win in Republican Commissioners Court race
Incumbent Gerald Daugherty and Jason Nassour faced off in the Republican primary election for the Commissioners Court Precinct 3 seat.
According to March 1 unofficial voting results, Daugherty won the Republican nomination with 70.83 percent of the vote, or 20,698 votes. Nassour had 29.17 percent of the vote, or 8,524 total votes.
Daugherty, who has been the Precinct 3 commissioner for 10 of the past 14 years and serves as a member of Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, said he was “delighted” that his constituents came out to the polls and voted for him again.
“I’ve always felt like the people knew that I worked hard,” he said.
Daugherty said he is also proud of the kind of race he had with longtime business owner Nassour.
David Holmes ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and will face Daugherty in November.
All results are unofficial until canvassed.
