Features

On Jan. 21 at 2 p.m., the Texas Ranger Association Foundation (TRAF), in conjunction with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the City of Horseshoe Bay are holding a ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary since the death of Texas Ranger Stan Guffey who was killed in the line of duty while rescuing a two-year-old kidnapping victim in Horseshoe Bay.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

You may think of the ukulele with a smile and memory of Arthur Godfrey (1903-1983), with a groan over “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” by Tiny Tim (1938-1996) or a mellow sigh at the memory of that 1990 medley of "Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World" by “Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (1959 – 1997).

But picture it, now, in your own hands and embrace the motto of the Highland Lakes Ukulele Club: “Changing the world, four strings at a time.”

This band of troubadours meets twice a month to practice together and draw new players into their musical fold.

When Don Crowder, an accomplished musician, began to coax Lisa Miller toward a simple instrument like the ukulele she was dubious.

“Before I could say no, he ordered one for me,” she said. “The premiere benefit of having two people is that you are having a good time.”

After 25 years of unbroken and dedicated public safety service to the citizens of the City of Burnet and Burnet County, Assistant Fire Chief Jim Luther Jr. is leaving Burnet Fire Department to take on his new role as Precinct 1 Commissioner for Burnet County.

Luther joined the Burnet Volunteer Fire Department in 1991 and served as a firefighter, captain and treasurer of that organization over the following seven years. In 1998 he attended the Austin Community College Fire Training Academy in Taylor to improve his knowledge and skills in firefighting. At 36, he was the second oldest in his class, only to fellow Burnet Firefighter Roy Hallmark who was 54.

Both Luther and Hallmark were hired by the City of Burnet in 1999 as the second and third paid firefighters for the city, filling the day time shifts working 40 hour weeks. They moved to 24--hour shifts in 2003 and Jim served as Interim Fire Chief for one year between 2005 and 2006.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Some shoppers may lay down their Thanksgiving Forks and hit the hay for distant Black Friday deals, but out in the Hill Country the finds may be right out our back doors.

Up and down US 281 from furniture at Aladdin Home Store up north to fine jewelry and fashions down south at Salem's and in between at Blair's Western Wear, hometown shopping offers variety and special savings.

“If we don't have it, you don't need it,” said Blair. “We've added lotions and perfumes besides all the small gifts for a Western home. Everybody knows about the upscale western wear, but now we even have Birkenstock sandals.”

For 70 years, Salem's Jewelry has kept Burnet County shoppers at home for fine jewelry, but when they added fashion in 1981 they broadened the field. They have a list of merchandize especially for Black Friday, but they offer something more, doing business with people they know.

In honor of our upcoming Thanksgiving edition, The Highlander would like to poll our readers on what you are most thankful for. Message us on Facebook, email us at lew@highlandernews.com or call us at 830-693-4367 and let us know what you are thankful for this year!

Ron Lynn Mitchell, vice chairman, president and CEO of Horseshoe Bay Resort, has been awarded the Texas State University Distinguished Alumni Award.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is the most prestigious honor bestowed by Texas State University and the Texas State University Alumni Association. The award recognizes graduates who have achieved prominence and distinction in their chosen business, profession or life work on a national or international level.

The first Distinguished Alumni Award was presented in 1959 to Lyndon B. Johnson. Johnson later served as the 36th president of the United States.

Mitchell, an Austin native, is embarking on his 42nd year of involvement in the development of Horseshoe Bay Resort. He has been a leader in the company overseeing its vision, growth and development almost since its conception.

Kingsland man to be honored with French Order of Legion of Honor

A Kingsland man will be honored Friday, Nov. 11, with the medal of Knight in the French Order of the Legion of Honor for his service during World War II.

Sujiro Seam, the Consul General of France in Houston, will honor Capt. Gerald Stoddard, who is unable to attend the ceremony, which will be the highlight of Austin’s Veterans Day Celebration. It will take place after the parade, on the south steps of the Texas Capitol at 11 a.m. Friday.

Stoddard, born Jan. 19, 1924, enlisted in the U.S. Army in June 1942. After graduating from flying school as a second lieutenant, he joined the 55^th Fighter Group and became a fighter pilot for P-38 and P-51 planes.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

An event billed as “food and lots of memories” will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Marble Falls Area Emergency Medical Service from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29.

It will take place at the EMS station at 609 Industrial Boulevard in Marble Falls and it will be a rare chance outside the throes of an emergency or the clamor of a community celebration to visit with paramedics and technicians.

And the memories will be many for an organization that has grown from a fledgling ambulance in Marble Falls in 1976 to a force of six MICU (Mobile Intensive Care Unit) capable ambulances and two SUV first responders housed at stations in Marble Falls, Granite Shoals, and Horseshoe Bay.

The service runs up to 4,000 calls each year in as many as 450 call per month by 9-1-1 and inter-facility transfers. They are staffed by 48 paramedics, 32 of whom are are full time.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

There is no better time for a ghost story than Halloween and there is no better ghost story than one one told first-hand.

The trail of a story shared by Michele Hart (aka “the Rug Queen), owner of La-Ti-Da & Elements in Marble Falls, led to Bonnie Estes. She lives in Dime Box today, but her ghostly encounter was in Burnet County territory.

“I'd bought this house, a 1917 Colonial in Bertram,” she said. “I was the third owner who carried the name Bonnie, which was strange enough.

“I bought the house along with its contents because the owner was moving out of state and couldn't take anything.

“I set out a box of things to keep and a box of things to throw away where all the sticky old Tupperware and trash went.

By Phil Reynolds

The Highlander

Jackie Cundieff may have taken over as director of Llano County libraries, but that doesn’t mean there’s an upheaval in the system’s future. For one thing, Cundieff thinks the system is “awesome” the way it is.

She was named director of the three-library system (Llano, Kingsland and the Lakeshore Branch at Buchanan Dam) by county commissioners, effective with the retirement of longtime director Dian Ray on Sept. 30.

She’s no stranger to Llano; she’s lived there for 27 years, her husband, Rick, is pastor at First Baptist Church of Llano, and they’ve raised two children, a boy and a girl, both grown.

However, Cundieff said she grew up in Burleson, south of Fort Worth where her mother was school and church librarian.

It’s kind of in her blood.

And after years in the education system, Cundieff went back to school herself and got a Master of Library Science degree from the University of North Texas.