Columbus
LATEST NEWS
Tuff Shed brings 5th Central Texas retail spot to Bastrop County
In addition to ordering a customized structure through Tuff Shed's website, customers can buy an already-made building from nearly two dozen Home Depot locations throughout the Central Texas area. (Jarrett Whitener/Community Impact) Founder and CEO Tom Saurey opened the fifth Central Texas retail location for Tuff Shed in mid-April. "We...
Bastrop County plans $4.5M warehouse and office project to address limited space
Bastrop County is building a new service facility. (Sierra Martin/Community Impact) Bastrop County is gearing up for the construction of a new warehouse and office space to support its operations. The details. The county is set to begin work on the construction of a new combined services facility south of...
Central Texas Film Industry Is Booming
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. New production studios are under construction across Central Texas from San Marcos to Bastrop. This exciting development coincides with the Golden Globe-nominated series “1923” choosing Austin as its production base while filming throughout the state. Economic Impact of...
How lemonade stands are supporting local children, families experiencing foster care
The Growing the Village is Sweet raises money that goes toward supplies foster familes and children need in addition to therapeutic care. (Courtesy Foster Village) This June, a lemonade stand near you could be offering something sweeter than just a drink—the chance to support foster families and children in crisis.
Frontier Bank to open new location in Smithville
The bank will be located at 107 NW Loop 230 in Smithville. (Rendering courtesy of Frontier Bank) A new Frontier Bank location is coming soon to southern Bastrop County. The Smithville location will feature a walk-in banking center, night deposit and ATM, according to a news release. “We have wanted...
Investigation underway after train slams into big rig in Bastrop County
BASTROP COUNTY, Texas — An investigation is underway following a collision between a Union Pacific train and an 18-wheeler in Bastrop County. Union Pacific said at around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, a southbound train collided with a tractor-trailer truck about two miles north of Elgin, near County Line Road and State Highway 95.
Boil water notice lifted for portions of Bastrop County
BASTROP COUNTY, Texas — A boil notice that went into effect on Tuesday in parts of Bastrop County, which was the second boil water notice to be issued in the county in less than a week, was lifted Wednesday afternoon. On Tuesday, a water main line broke, resulting in...
Two arrested on felony charges after early morning traffic stop in Central Texas
FAYETTE, Texas — Two men were arrested on felony charges following a traffic stop early Tuesday morning in Bastrop County, authorities said.At approximately 12:49 a.m. on June 11, 2024, Sgt. Ryan Meagher conducted a traffic stop on a 2004 Ford F-150 for a traffic violation in the Kirtley area. Meagher observed a pipe used to smoke methamphetamine in plain view and asked the passenger to exit the vehicle. When the passenger refused, Meagher assisted him out of the vehicle.Inside the vehicle, Meagher located a loaded AR-15 style rifle. Both the driver and passenger, identified as convicted felons, are prohibited from possessing firearms. Methamphetamine was also found in the passenger's underwear.The driver, identified as 61-year-old Randolph Simon of Smithville, Texas, was arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. The passenger, identified as 56-year-old Melvin Johnson of Smithville, Texas, was arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 >=4G<400G, Tampering/Fabricating Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair, Interference with Public Duties, and Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 (Bastrop County Warrant).
ACC Elgin reopening Wednesday after water main break; boil water notice issued for part of Bastrop Co.
Read more https://www.kxan.com/news/local/bastrop-county/acc-elgin-closed-due-to-water-main-break-boil-water-notice-issued-for-part-of-bastrop-co/ Austin Community College Elgin is closed on Tuesday due to a water main break, according to its social media.
Recovery efforts underway as Bastrop County first responders search for missing swimmer in Colorado River
BASTROP COUNTY, Texas — Recovery efforts are underway in the search for a swimmer who went missing in the Colorado River in Bastrop County on Monday. Bastrop County Emergency Services District (ESD) No. 2 said Monday at around 8:30 p.m. that it was working with multiple agencies to locate a missing swimmer in the 400 block of Riverside Drive. ESD No. 2 asked people to avoid the area and watch out for responding units.
Kellar Farms gated residential community opens in Bastrop County
Kellar Farms is located at 687 Hwy. 71 W. in Smithville. (Courtesy Kellar Farms) Kellar Farms, a gated residential community, celebrated its "opening of the gates" on April 26. The development consists of single-family homes with a "ranch style flair," according to the community's website. Kellar Farms also features a...
St. David’s Foundation announces new funding opportunities
AUSTIN -- St. David's Foundation announced two new funding opportunities to support organizations engaging in fostering healthier communities and increasing access to health care in Central Texas. The Community Driven Change and We All Benefit open calls will provide one-time, unrestricted grants to eligible organizations, including previous, current and new grantees. The Community Driven Change open call, awarding up to $10 million, is focused on elevating organizations engaging community members in decision making and leadership to foster healthier communities in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties. This call is centered in the foundation’s belief that addressing social and environmental conditions for generational change in historically marginalized communities requires those closest to the issues to help create and implement solutions, according to a news release. Eligible organizations must have an annual operating budget of at least $250,000 and demonstrate evidence in engaging community members to effectively support individuals and families to improve their health and wellness. The We All Benefit open call, awarding up to $8 million, will seek to increase access to quality, responsive care by supporting organizations or collaboratives currently enrolling eligible Central Texans in health insurance benefits (e.g. Medicaid, CHIP, ACA) or otherwise supporting individuals, the community, or organizations in the eligibility determination and enrollment process through outreach, education, or training. This open call is in response to the recent Medicaid disenrollment, which has resulted in the loss of health insurance for hundreds of thousands of Central Texans, many of whom are children, the release continued. “These open calls align with our 2024-2030 strategic plan, Pathways to Health Equity, and have been informed by conversations with our community and grant partners to address our region’s needs,” said Edward Burger, Ph.D., president and CEO of St. David’s Foundation. "These funding opportunities demonstrate the evolution of our grantmaking efforts to ensure that our investments are impactful and offer a more equitable process as we expand and deepen our working relationships to advance health equity.” Organizations interested in applying for either funding opportunity are invited to submit an initial Letter of Intent (LOI) by June 28. Organizations meeting funding requirements will be invited to participate in a streamlined application process. Applications are due on Aug. 9. To learn more about the Community Driven Change and We All Benefit funding opportunities, please visit the St. David's Foundation website .
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.