In answer to concerns recently voiced by Austin Bottom Community residents, the sheriff's department will increase patrols in the area through the end of the summer season.

Members of the community met with the Corps of Engineers and local officials at their fire station on Aug. 18 to try and find a solution to the problem of visitors to the Putco boat ramp, where a man was recently injured in a shooting, engaging in unlawful and undesirable activity including camping, blocking of the boat ramp, public intoxication, noise, drugs, and litter.

Center Hill Lake Resource Manager Kevin Salvilla attended to answer questions and take comments from residents. County Mayor Stribling, Sheriff Patrick Ray, County Fire Chief Donny Green, and Fourth District County Commissioners Wayne Cantrell and Jonathon Norris also attended.

"Basically what is going to happen right now is that the sheriff is going to increase patrols out in that area,” County Mayor Tim Stribling said at last week’s county commission meeting. “I have talked to Center Hill Lake Resource Manager Kevin Salvilla, and he will try to include that area next year in our law enforcement agreement to try and provide some money for that. We have in our law enforcement agreement now where the sheriff patrols the different campgrounds. He'll try to add some money there where that area can be patrolled more,"

Ray said though his deputies already officers the area, the response time is unavoidably slower than other areas because the community is isolated off from the rest of the county by the lake.