During its regular meeting on March 4, the Hutto City Council approved entering into an “outside agency funding agreement” with the Hutto 1911 Foundation. This agreement enables the city to provide $5,000 to the nonprofit foundation for the Hutto Centennial Celebration, scheduled for July 2011.

Writing a trashy 350-word essay can help Texas high school seniors earn money for college.

Taylor residents will decide if they want the city to issue $3 million in bonds to build a recreation center when they vote in the city election May 8.

Capital Metro announced today its passenger rail service will open to the public March 22. This is six years, $105 million and one contractor change since the project was approved by voters in November 2004.

Georgetown, Hutto and Taylor’s chambers of commerce celebrated the accomplishments of community members during 2009 at the annual banquets. During the ceremmonies held in the first quarter of 2010, the chambers honored outstanding businesses, organizations and citizens.

Debbie Chelf resigned from her position as Hutto city secretary Feb. 19 and accepted an offer by the City of Jarrell to serve as city secretary.

In Williamson County the early voter turnout for the gubernatorial primary elections March 2 drew more Williamson County voters to the polls this year than in 2006.

Top finishers in the Republican primaries for State Representative District 52 and State Board of Education District 10 are headed for a runoff election April 13, as no candidate garnered more than 50 percent of votes in the March 2 election.

In the Republican primary election the early voting results for County Commissioner Precinct 2 showed incumbent Cynthia Long in the lead with 1,699 votes, or about 67 percent, on March 2 as of about 10 p.m.. Opponent Jim Dillon trailed her with 841 votes, or about 33 percent.

Republican primary early voting results for State Representative District 52 revealed a close race. As of about 9:55 p.m. March 2, John Gordon was in the lead with 1,650 votes, or about 41 percent. Runner up Larry Gonzales held 38 percent with the support of 1,523 voters.

Charles Schwertner has received 5,048, or about 56 percent, of early votes in the Republican primary election for District 20 of the Texas House of Representatives as of 9:20 p.m. March 2.

Incumbent Vivian L. Wood earned 6,541, or about 60 percent of early votes, in the Republican primary election for Williamson County treasurer as of about 9:20 p.m. March 2.

Joe Baker, the incumbent, has received 6,576, or about 66 percent of early votes, in the Republican primary election for Williamson County surveyor as of 9:20 p.m. March 2.

Incumbent Steve Benton has received 4,222, or about 80 percent of early votes, in the Republican primary election for Williamson County Justice of Peace Precinct 3 as of 9:20 p.m. March 2.

Republican primary election results for state Senate District 5 on the evening of March 2 showed incumbent Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, in the lead with 67.76 percent or 13,263 votes as of about 8:45 p.m. The opposing Republican candidate, Ben Bius, was down with 32.23 percent at 6,308 votes.

In the Republican primary election March 2 as of 9:15 p.m., the early voting results for County Court at Law Judge No. 3 showed Doug Arnold in the lead with 6,342 votes or about 59 percent. Randall Pick trailed him with 4,376 votes or about 41 percent.

To improve a portion of frontage road along northbound IH 35 in Georgetown, the Texas Department of Transportation recently held an open house to gather input from the community to incorporate into the design process.

Following an executive session meeting earlier in the evening, Georgetown City Council members began their regular meeting Feb. 23 by unanimously approving the hiring of Wayne Nero as the new chief of police. Nero is currently the assistant police chief in DeSoto, located south of Dallas, where he has served for the past 16 years. Nero was selected from a pool of more than 180 candidates and is expected to start in mid-April.

Georgetown City Council confirmed Wayne Nero as police chief Feb. 23. Nero, the assistant police chief in DeSoto, will replace interim police chief Brent Schacherl, who has led the department since May 2009. Nero expects to start in his new position in April.

Whether you live in the far reaches of Cedar Park or southwest Austin—or anywhere in between—we want to showcase your photos of Tue., Feb. 23's snow. E-mail your photos to ourneighborhood@impactnews.com and include your name and your neighboorhood/city, and we'll post them on www.impactnews.com. Check back here often as more photos are filling our inbox.

Thanks for helping to capture Central Texas' snow day.

St. David’s Foundation and the Georgetown Health Foundation donated $100,000 to the nonprofit Capital IDEA Feb. 23.

[Updated to include report from Feb. 25's Austin City Council meeting.]

The weekend provided answers to Thurs., Feb. 18’s plane crash in northwest Austin. The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that one of two bodies found at the Echelon Building, 9430 Research Blvd., which houses Internal Revenue Service offices, was that of missing IRS employee Vernon Hunter, 68. Hunter lived in Cedar Park with his wife, Valerie, who also works for the IRS.

The Hutto City Council met Feb. 18 in its regular session. Three annual reports were presented to the council by the following individuals:

Officials from the City of Austin's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said this morning two bodies have been found in the Echelon Building, 9430 Research Blvd., the site of yesterday's northwest Austin plane crash. The identities have not been confirmed and more information was not released. Special agent Eric Vasys with the Federal Bureau of Investigation said the agency is continuing to investigate reported suspect Joseph Andrew Stack, who piloted the single-engine plan. The agency believes one of the bodies recovered is Stack, but a forensic investigation is ongoing to confirm its identity.

Travis County firefighters, including a crew of four from Pflugerville and an engine from Lake Travis, were the first on the scene.

Austin Police Department officials released an update this afternoon on the victims from today’s plane crash at the Echelon Building at 9430 Research Blvd.

[Updated 3:40 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 18 to include alleged suicide letter written by reported pilot Joseph Andrew Stack.]

Two people were injured and one person is unaccounted for following the crash of a small airplane into a northwest Austin building, according to the Austin Fire Department. There were no confirmed reports on the condition of the pilot.

Photos of the Georgetown Municipal Airport, surrounded by police, taken by Community Impact Newspaper General Manager Matt Painter. Read additional Community Impact Newspaper coverage at Plane crash reportedly linked to house fire at Scofield Farms.

Williamson County officials counted 1,583 voters who cast their ballots Feb.16—on the first day of early voting—for the March 2 primary election.

Travis County Commissioners are considering competing bids from Austin's two hospital systems to decide where to base the Austin–Travis County EMS System's STAR Flight helicopters. Both Seton Family of Hospitals and St. David's HealthCare have offered to pay for a new facility.

The Taylor Chamber of Commerce announced Feb. 12 that Thomas E. Martinez will take over as president of the organization.

Hutto residents have a chance to voice their concerns or questions about the city in which they live with a council member tomorrow.

Residential property listings in the Georgetown, Hutto and Taylor

Real estate market data for the Georgetown, Hutto, and Taylor Multiple Listing Service Areas

Mature trees with shaded streets, homes range in age from more than 100 years to new construction

Established neighborhood with many large oak trees, convenient access to Chandler Park, some homes have river access

Drivers who fill up at some Williamson County gas stations may have noticed the fuel they are buying contains up to 10 percent ethanol.

The Square in Georgetown is a popular downtown attraction, especially when a romantic holiday comes around.

View a list of candidates running in the Democratic and Republican primaries on March 2.

Recent news from the Williamson County Commissioners Court and Georgetown, Hutto, and Taylors city council meetings

An update on the construction on Chandler Road

Georgetown Police Department

Taylor Police Department

Chief Harold Q. Thomas

Hutto Police Department

The Austin Avenue Medical Plaza is a 95,000 sq. ft., three-story building near the intersection of South Austin Avenue and Southeast Inner Loop.

Just shy of 90 years old, the building at 507 E. University Ave.—now Williams Elementary—has been a landmark of local education for the City of Georgetown.