Bastrop, Texas Events, News & Stories

Bastrop, Tx–Just over a year ago Emmett McKinley took the reins of The Bastrop Advertiser with the title of publisher. His accession was announced in a front page story.

McKinley’s departure from the post about two weeks ago has been widely noticed but officially ignored in the historic news organ, in business since 1853.

Company officials told employees only that Mckinley is no longer employed by Cox Newspapers, owner of The Austin American-Statesman and its suburban newspaper subsidiary, Austin Community Newspapers which include The Advertiser and The Smithville Times. ACN officials also immediately changed the locks on The Advertiser building at 908 Water St. in Bastrop.

The newspaper’s only hint of the change so far has been the disappearance of McKinley’s name from the staff box regularly printed in the twice-weekly publication.

McKinley came to The Advertiser last year after a prior career in advertising sales and marketing for newspapers, mostly in the Houston-Beaumont area. He was also formerly employed by Granite Publications, a Texas newspaper chain whose properties include the Tayor Daily Press and the Elgin Courirer.

Bastrop, Tx–At a meeting July 27 Bastrop County commissioners approved an agreement allowing the City of Manor to use some county road rights of way to construct a water pipeline to the city from northern Bastrop County.

A 12-inch pipeline could convey up to a million gallons a day to the growing and thirsty city east of Austin on US 290. “Manor needs water,” said Barry Knight, an attorney for the city. “We will need to import water in the future.”

Manor offered $25,000 for a three-year option to use the county rights of way. But the pipeline project is far from a done deal. To work, the pipeline will also need to use some state highway rights of way as well as easements from some private landowners, said Knight.

The lawyer said the water source would be wells controlled by a water development firm known as End-Op .

It has leased some water rights in the McDade area. A principal in the firm is former Wiliamson County commissioner Frankie Limmer, according to Joe Cooper, general manager of the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District.

End-Op holds permits to drill two test wells on the leases but has not sought permits to operate any wells there, said Cooper.

If Manor exercises its option, Bastrop County will be paid $300,000, said Knight.

Bastrop, Tx–On July 7 when former Bastrop school superintendent Roderick Emanuel gave up his post to take a subordinate position with the school district he did not get a pay raise, really, nor did he take any cut in pay or benefits.

Details of the arrangements between Emanuel and the school board are revealed in documents released today under a request under the Texas Public Information Act from Bastrop-News.com

An August 2007 contract between Eamnuel and the school board gives the superintendent a salary of $148,557.20 a year plus $750 a month for an “automobile allowance.” The two amounts add up to $157,557.20 a year, the amount guaranteed under a new “administrator contract” with Emanuel to take up a subordinate position with the school district beginning as soon as a new superintendent is hired. In the meantime Emanuel will act as interim superintendent.

The new agreement with Emanuel was signed July 7. He will become Director of Employee Relations, reporting to an Assistant Superintendent for personnel who earns about $98,000 a year.

Bastrop, Tx–Bastrop police seized more than five pounds of marijuana early Sunday following a traffic stop near the intersectiion of Austin and Haysel St.

Patrol officer Travis Lucas alleged he stopped a pickup truck after it ran a red light while west bound on Texas 21 about 4 a.m. When he approached the vehicle he could smell burning marijuana and could see a roach, a partially smoked marijuana cigarette, he alleged.

A subsequent search of the truck revealed some 6.5 pounds–almost three kilograms–of marijuana, according to Bastrop Police Chief David Board.

David Martinez, 27, was booked into the
Bastrop County Jail shortly after 5 a.m. July 19, according to jail records. Police said Martinez had both a Bastrop post office box and and Austin street address.

Martinez was released about 1 p.m. Monday after posting $10,000 bail, said a jail spokesman.