News

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Burnet County Judge James Oakley on Wednesday, March 18, declared a state of disaster for Burnet County due to a public health emergency in an effort to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The order activates the county's emergency management plan for the next seven days unless the state of disaster is continued by the Burnet County Commissioners Court, who were to meet Thursday, March 18.

Included with the declaration were a set of recommendations by the Burnet County Health Authority and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the county was advising the public to follow:

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

In Marble Falls, Baylor Scott and White Hospital has enacted guidelines which control and limit foot traffic as well as accommodates COVID-19 testing procedures.

The protocols include:

• Temporarily limiting public entry points on the Marble Falls campus to the emergency department, main hospital entrance and specialty clinic entrance;

Dr. Chris Allen
MFISD Superintendent
Special to The Highlander

After developments in the region and new federal guidance, Marble Falls ISD has decided to suspend normal school operations until at least March 29 and will announce an update regarding school operations by 5 p.m. Thursday, March 26.

By Nathan Hendrix
Staff Writer

Marble Falls Independent School District is seeking voluntary disclosure of high-risk travel as a way to remain informed about the community during the COVID-19 spread.

The district is asking students and staff who travel out of the state or country or have family members visiting from out of the state or country during spring break to complete a travel form by Sunday, March 22. …

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Sales tax allocations for March for Marble Falls were down slightly, but Granite Shoals and Cottonwood Shores each saw large percentage increases, it was announced last week.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

The Burnet County Health Authority provided an update to the public and area emergency services entities in light of concerns about the spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus).

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

HEB grocery store officials are asking customers to quell “panic” over concerns about the coronavirus, and have implemented temporary purchase limits of certain items, according to March 13 company statements.

The statement was released after a week-long barrage of customers – including those in Burnet, Marble Falls and Kingsland – in the midst of COVID-19 scare buying items in bulk such as toilet paper, cleaning products, hand sanitizer and even some food items.

By Nathan Hendrix
Staff Writer

The city of Granite Shoals convened a group of citizens to ensure any changes to its short-term rental ordinances do not create hardships and inconveniences for the community.

At the Tuesday, March 10 regular meeting, council members appointed five residents to a newly-created short-term rental advisory committee to assess current nuisance ordinances and make recommendations. …

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Marble Falls Public Library officials decided March 11 to cancel group conference room programs and close the facility's community room for at least the rest of the month of March due to concerns about the coronavirus.

“We're busy in the month of March because Texas has spring break over three weeks. That gives us lots of foot traffic,” Head Librarian Amanda Rose told The Highlander, following the release of a public statement. “We have closed the meeting room and library programs and events. …

UPDATE: The city of Marble Falls has cancelled the spring break program in an effort to promote "social distancing" to minimize the threat of the potential spread of COVID-19, according to a press release issued at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 13.

Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Parks and recreation officials will go forward with plans for the 2020 Spring Break Program with a couple of modifications as a result of concerns by outside entities about the coronavirus.