The Lakelander Newspaper

10/17/2025

Hill County officials are working quickly to prepare for early voting after the sudden termination of Elections Administrator Aaron Torres.

Both the Hill County Elections Commission and Commissioners Court held emergency meetings this morning and voted to terminate Torres, who County Judge Shane Brassell said had abandoned his post this week.

Brassell said that the election will move forward properly, with county officials and the Texas Secretary of State’s Office stepping in to ensure everything is ready for early voting on Monday.

The Elections Commission had been questioning Torres about unprocessed voter registrations, which he attributed to issues with the state’s system that have been causing delays for elections officials throughout the state.

Brassell said that the county was met with resistance when attempting to become more heavily involved in the November election due to questions about the preparations. As of yesterday, Torres had reportedly told county employees that he would not be back.

Brassell laid out multiple issues that the county is working to address in the elections office, but he expressed confidence that the team of county officials and outside assistants will be ready for the election by Monday.

See next week’s edition for the complete story.

10/15/2025

10/14/2025

10/14/25: Burn Ban has been put in place for the unincorporated areas of Hill County for 30 days unless extended by the Commissioners. A copy of the Burn Ban will be placed in the comments.

5) This Order does not apply to the following outdoor activities:
a. Welding, Cutting, or Grinding Operations: This order shall not apply to the outdoor burning of vegetative material caused by welding, cutting, or grinding operations if such burning is not malicious or intentional and the following provisions are followed:
i. Wind speeds must be no more than 20 miles per hour while performing welding, cutting, or grinding operations outside of approved barriers or enclosures.
ii. Each site in which the welding, cutting, or grinding operations are taking place must have the ability to call 911 for emergency response.
iii. A dedicated fire watch person must attend each welder, cutter, or grinder or any activity that causes a spark.
iv. A minimum of one (1) 2A-20BC fire extinguisher or pressurized water source is required to be on-hand per fire watch person.
v. If an emergency exists where welding must be performed outside these provisions, the County Judge, the Emergency Management Coordinator, a Peace Officer, and/or the Fire Chief may issue a temporary exception to the Order, along with any requirements necessary to reduce the hazards associated with such activities.

b. Outdoor Cooking: This Order shall not prohibit outdoor cooking activities when the following provisions are followed:
i. All outdoor cooking must be attended to at all times by a responsible party.
ii. The responsible party must have the ability to call 911 for emergency response.
iii. A minimum of one (1) 2A-20BC fire extinguisher or pressurized water source is required to be on-hand at all times.

07/05/2025

In front of Tiger Mart. $12 per lbs or Whole brisket available.

06/09/2025

05/29/2025

The Department of Public Safety investigated a fatal crash north of Whitney Wednesday, May 28, at 10:19 a.m.

Troopers responded to the scene on Farm Road 933 near Lake Whitney Drive in Huron.

The preliminary investigation determined that a Nissan Rogue traveling southbound drove onto the wrong side of the roadway and crashed into a Chevrolet Silverado traveling northbound.

The driver of the Nissan, a 56-year-old female from Brock, was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, where she was pronounced deceased.

DPS reported that the driver of the Chevrolet was transported to Baylor Scott and White - Hillcrest in Waco to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

DPS Sergeant Ryan Howard said that the investigation is still active and ongoing.

05/16/2025

We will continue accepting graduation ads throughout the day. Please contact us today!

05/09/2025

Whitney ISD will canvass the election Monday night, and the city will hold a special meeting Tuesday night to canvass the election. As of now, the latest results from Hill County Elections Administration show the mayor's race flipping from the unofficial election night results, with incumbent Janice Sanders one vote ahead of Zach Hamlin (76-75).

05/04/2025

Whitney Election Results: Unofficial Until Canvassed

CITY OF WHITNEY ELECTION

Mayor
Janice Sanders - 74
Brian Burkhart - 37
Zach Hamlin - 75*

City Council (Two Seats Available)
Sam Pierce - 75
Amy Teal - 77*
Jason Ince - 115*
Debra Gregory - 48

WHITNEY ISD ELECTION

School Board (Two Seats Available)
Larry Farmer - 52
Connie Terry - 96
Raygenna Heath - 235*
Susan Keen - 64
Amy Hoffman - 353*

05/01/2025

03/27/2025

The Hill County Courthouse and annex will close at 2:30 p.m. today due to a water outage in Hillsboro.

03/25/2025

This is only a test!!
Tomorrow, March 25, is the last Tuesday of the month. The City will test the Outdoor Warning Siren at Noon. This siren is not meant to be heard indoors.
Hill County Emergency Management sends automated texts for emergencies, but you must sign up.
https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085611238