Williamson County

Overlook Park at Lake Georgetown is shown on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 as big waves of water pound the shoreline.  For the first time in a long while, Lake Georgetown is approaching its full level of 791 feet. Sun Archive.

Overlook Park at Lake Georgetown is shown on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 as big waves of water pound the shoreline. For the first time in a long while, Lake Georgetown is approaching its full level of 791 feet. Sun Archive.

County bakes, lakes ache

Despite the recent rain relief this month, the Brazos River Authority and Williamson County are bracing for a hot, dry summer. The Farmer’s Almanac predicted this year to be a “scorcher of a summer” with Texas having a “Hot and Dry” outlook and temperature increasing, “4 degrees above normal.

Williamson County sees population boom

Georgetown has also surpassed the 100,000 population threshold, with an estimated 101,344 based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 estimates, published Thursday, May 15.  Georgetown saw 4.76 percent growth from 2023 to 2024, when data was gathered, and has grown by 47.49 percent since 2020.
 DJ Daniel, joined by Georgetown Police Chief Cory Tchida, far left, Williamson County Sheriff Matt Lindemann, center left, Sheriff Deputy Jeff Combs, center right, and Interim Jarrell Police Chief Pacer Korn on the north side of the courthouse, Monday afternoon.

DJ Daniel, joined by Georgetown Police Chief Cory Tchida, far left, Williamson County Sheriff Matt Lindemann, center left, Sheriff Deputy Jeff Combs, center right, and Interim Jarrell Police Chief Pacer Korn on the north side of the courthouse, Monday afternoon.

The boy in blue: Law enforcement initiates youth as honorary officer

Photos by Nalani NuylanTo the average pedestrian who may be having lunch on the Square Monday, May 19, the display may have been jarring, as a crowd of law enforcement personnel from across the region — with their lights flashing, K9 in position and SWAT teams ready  — swarmed the north side of the...
Fourth from the left front row: Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Angela Williams. Far right front row: Former Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Edna Staudt. Back row, middle in the judge's chair is Jasmine Wolf. Photo courtesy of Williamson County.

Fourth from the left front row: Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Angela Williams. Far right front row: Former Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Edna Staudt. Back row, middle in the judge's chair is Jasmine Wolf. Photo courtesy of Williamson County.

Teen earns scholarship for courtroom leadership

Seventy-nine student volunteers with the YMCA Teen Court program have concluded the 2024–2025 session with Williamson County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2.
Mario Villarreal, 54, of Round Rock. Photo courtesy of the Williamson County District Attorney's Office.

Mario Villarreal, 54, of Round Rock. Photo courtesy of the Williamson County District Attorney's Office.

Professor convicted of having child porn

A Williamson County jury found Mario Villarreal, 54, of Round Rock, guilty of possession of child pornography in five cases last Thursday, May 1. Following the verdict, Mr. Villarreal was sentenced to serve a total of 12 years in prison and fined $10,000.
The Leashing Hope graduate, Celes, sits with their handler in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Bartlett Innovation Unit at the Leashing Hope graduation, April 25. Photo courtesy of Williamson County.

The Leashing Hope graduate, Celes, sits with their handler in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Bartlett Innovation Unit at the Leashing Hope graduation, April 25. Photo courtesy of Williamson County.

Top Dog Grads: Animal Shelter, Bartlett Innovation Unit celebrate first Leashing Hope dog graduation

Five dogs from the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter graduated from the Leashing Hope program at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Bartlett Innovation Unit on April 25. The Bartlett Innovation Unit is a state prison located on the southwest corner of Bartlett, at 1018 Arnold Drive.
County Commissioner Terry Cook, left, reads the proclamation to designate May 5 - 9 as Air Quality Awareness Week during the May 6 commissioners court meeting. Photo by Nalani Nuylan.

County Commissioner Terry Cook, left, reads the proclamation to designate May 5 - 9 as Air Quality Awareness Week during the May 6 commissioners court meeting. Photo by Nalani Nuylan.

Air aware: County, state stride to reduce air pollution

Williamson County commissioners designated May 5-9 as Air Quality Awareness Week. Air quality in the Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area was classified as “moderate or worse” for nearly half of the days in 2024, according to the Air Quality Index.
 Bruce Clements, Wilco’s Director of the Office of Emergency Management, explains how the updated Hazard Mitigation plan can get grants to the county to improve infrastructure. Photo by Nalani Nuylan.

Bruce Clements, Wilco’s Director of the Office of Emergency Management, explains how the updated Hazard Mitigation plan can get grants to the county to improve infrastructure. Photo by Nalani Nuylan.

County debuts refashioned mitigation plan

The Williamson County Commissioners Court approved a revamped Hazard Mitigation Plan on April 29. Emergency Management Director Bruce Clements said this plan — updated every 10 years — includes a detailed risk assessment, an inventory of infrastructure and mitigation strategies.
Williamson County Sheriff Matthew Lindemann lists how many deputies patrol Williamson County, durning the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce’s Cornerstone Series at the Sheraton Hotel on Thursday, May 1. Photo by Nalani Nuylan.

Williamson County Sheriff Matthew Lindemann lists how many deputies patrol Williamson County, durning the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce’s Cornerstone Series at the Sheraton Hotel on Thursday, May 1. Photo by Nalani Nuylan.

Sheriff outlines department role during chamber luncheon

Williamson County Sheriff Matthew Lindemann shared information about the programs and units managed by the Sheriff’s Office during the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce’s Cornerstone Series at the Sheraton Hotel on Thursday, May 1.
Construction crews on April 23 set up the Atlas Ranch Phase 1 project, outside of Jarrell. Photo by Nalani Nuylan.

Construction crews on April 23 set up the Atlas Ranch Phase 1 project, outside of Jarrell. Photo by Nalani Nuylan.

4,000 homes, golf course head to Jarrell area

Nearly 4,000 homes will spring up in North Williamson County as part of the new Atlas Ranch Municipal Utility District in the coming years.Located outside of Jarrell’s extraterritorial jurisdiction on County Road 344, the MUD will be developed in eight phases over the next decade.