News

By Nathan Hendrix
Staff Writer

After months of uncertainty surrounding the fate of graduation, Marble Falls Independent School District seniors heard their names called and walked the stage to receive their diplomas.

In-person graduation ceremonies were held for Falls Career High School and Marble Falls High School seniors at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively, on Friday, May 29. …

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Baylor Scott & White Health announced last week it will lay off approximately 3 percent of its total workforce — about 1,200 employees, including some in the Hill Country Region — due to financial hardship caused by COVID-19.

The largest not-for-profit hospital system in the state also said it plans temporarily to cut the pay of more than 250 executives, modify its physician compensation models and to flex and furlough an undisclosed amount of workers while leaving open positions unfilled to achieve cuts through attrition. …

Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation (EDC) board members will review a partnership agreement with a company tasked with helping the entity bring a hotel and conference center project to fruition planned near the shoreline of Lake Marble Falls.

The meeting to discuss amending the “memorandum of understanding” (MOU) with the Phoenix Hospitality Group is scheduled for noon on Wednesday, June 3 at Lakeside Pavilion.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Two more Burnet County area food banks will now receive $5,000 each in money from the Capital Area Housing Finance Corporation (CAHFC) after Burnet County reallocated a donation during their Tuesday, May 26, meeting.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

A 57-year-old woman who was a resident of Bertram Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center has become Burnet County's first COVID-19 fatality, County Judge James Oakley announced Thursday, referring to information provided by the Burnet County Health Authority.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

The old adage – “Everything is bigger in Texas” – lives up to its phrasing as far as motorists are concerned who attempt to navigate frequent loads of monster wind turbine blades blowing through town in the past few weeks.

In Marble Falls, the 240-foot long blades have made at least half a dozen trips in the month of May around the corner of RR 2147 onto U.S. 281, temporarily halting traffic as trailers negotiate the intersection. …

Contributed/Alexandria Randolph

Thunderstorms which swept through the area on the morning of Tuesday, May 26, brought lightning, rain, flash flooding and hail, as pictured here in Round Mountain at the Southwest Center on U.S. 281 in Blanco County. Other reports included pea-sized hail in parts of Kingsland. Coming up for the rest of the week, expect highs in the mid-to-high 80s on Wednesday and Thursday with a 60 percent chance of storms on Wednesday and a 20 percent chance of rain on Thursday and a 10 percent on Friday. Lows will be in the mid to upper 60s through the weekend.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Amber Westerman's travels have taken her to Iowa, Hawaii and her current home of Nashville, Tennessee, but the singer-songwriter's roots remain firmly grounded in her Marble Falls upbringing.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

As the temperatures heat up, Marble Falls city staff have created a program to help youngsters cool off this summer, while adhering to COVID-19 protocols from the state.

“We are planning to have pool hours as far as June and then also July,” City Manager Mike Hodge told city council members May 22. “We will be complying to the governor's order.

“We'll shoot for 25 percent (occupancy),” he added.

By Nathan Hendrix
Staff Writer

Granite Shoals council members appointed Libby Edwards to the city council to replace Todd Holland, who resigned on April 21 after moving outside of the city.

The council interviewed four applicants for the vacant seat at a special meeting on May 19 held via video teleconference. In accordance with the city charter, the council must appoint a replacement to a vacated place within 30 days. …

As the re-opening unfolds, he and his staff are relying on cooperation from members as well. …