Features

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

When officials with the Llano Chamber of Commerce found out they would be canceling all business and group networking events, the group decided to help a fellow merchant in another way.

On March 17, dozens of local residents spent much of the day helping Store Manager John Roberie of Lowe's Markets, 104 W. Young, restock his shelves due to the run on goods in the wake of the coronavirus scare.

By Nathan Hendrix
Staff Writer

For the students of Kyle Holton's ag power class at Marble Falls High School, accepting jobs from local entities is about more than just refining their welding skills.

“It feels good to help people,” said junior Ayden Humphreys.

Holton, MFHS ag science teacher, agreed to construct a barbecue pit for His Joshua House, a Kingsland-based drug and alcohol recovery house for men. …

By Nathan Hendrix
Staff Writer

From the streets of Marble Falls Market Day to the Good Morning America studio in New York City, Lerin Lockwood has made a name for herself with her invention of the Lion Latch.

Lockwood, an art teacher at Marble Falls High School, appeared on the morning variety show on Thursday, March 5 to talk about her creation. …

By Judith Shabram
Contributing Writer

“Marketing yourself as the product is a very difficult thing to do” Pauline Reese, acclaimed songwriter, performer, real estate agent, wife and most importantly, mother of two beautiful little girls mused recently.

As a woman in the highly competitive, often male-dominated, country music industry, her life is a study in making music on her own terms and surviving.

By Nathan Hendrix
Staff Writer

Under the guidance of choir director Bryce Gage, the student singers of Marble Falls High School have traveled the world and received numerous accolades for performances.

Gage – the ever-humble teacher – insists that he hasn't done it alone. …

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

At the height of the winter season, catching a glimpse of one of the largest birds of prey on Earth is not out of reach for visitors to Burnet and Llano counties.

From December to spring time, Lake Buchanan and the Colorado River which feeds into it, along both the counties have become migrating grounds to the American bald eagle and a number of their juvenile brood. …

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Tucked away on seven acres, under massive live oak trees on the grounds of a new venue described as the area's newest “Honkytonk,” as many as 20 “pickers” at a time gather on Sundays in Round Mountain.

The “pickers” are guitar players, entertainers and musicians – some local, some from Austin and San Antonio and everywhere in between.

By Nathan Hendrix
Staff Writer

Marble Falls High School construction trades students refuse to let a good lesson go to waste.

Projects in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) department typically end with a product that shouldn't be thrown away like a posterboard or Powerpoint presentation. So a partnership with Living Love Animal Rescue was the purr-fect way to ensure student-built houses found worthy residents. …

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

When he was a first grader, 15-year-old Rode Ligon knew he had discovered his calling.

“To build something like that, watch it be born, to take care of it, nurture it and watch it succeed in the world, it brings a lot of joy,” he said about showing goats. “I enjoyed it and thought it would be a fun and economical thing to pursue.”

Connie Swinney/The Highlander

A global fast-food icon's Marble Falls location will temporarily close its doors in January to make way for a new building at the same location. The last day of business at McDonald's, 1605 RR 1431, is Jan. 26. Demolition is scheduled to begin Jan. 30. “That's when the bulldozers show up,” said Teresita Arnold, area supervisor over the Marble Falls and Burnet eateries. “It will be new, bigger and more parking.” The new building is expected to be completed in 100 days.