News

Although the Texas Department of Public Safety has not released the names of the two victims who died or the surviving drivers of two cars in the morning crash on Texas 71 near Spicewood, word of the identities of the deceased came late this afternoon, Monday, Nov. 28.

They were identified in a letter from the Lake Travis High School (LTHS) Principal Gordon Butler as high school senior Santiago Vega and his mother, Cynthia Vega.

The letter read:

Note: This story has been updated twice since first posting, each time with additional information from the Texas Department of Public Safety and University Medical Center Brackenridge.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The two victims who died in the crash on Texas 71 east of Spicewood Monday, Nov. 28, have been identified officially as Cynthia Ann Vega, age 46, and her son, Santiago Vega, age 17, both from Marble Falls.

Justino Rodriguez, age 50, a passenger with the Vegas in a 2015 Ford Focus and also from Marble Falls, along with the driver of the 2015 Subaru which struck them, Bala Chandra Sekhar Gutti, 29, of Richardson, were air lifted to University Medical Center Brackenridge. Both were reported in "Good" condition Tuesday afternoon.

The annual Victorian Christmas Open House sponsored by board members of the Falls on the Colorado Museum (FOCM) is set for Saturday, Dec. 3.

Home owner Caryl Calsyn will be on hand to talk with visitors as they tour a view into Marble Falls history.

The open house will take place at the historic Christian-Matern home, 603 Seventh Street at Avenue F, east of US 281 in Marble Falls. The community is invited to visit any time from 6-8:30 p.m. Handicap access and parking are available at the back of the house.

“Caryl Calsyn owns the old home and has hosted the museum event for several years,” said FOCM Board Chairwoman Darlene Oostermeyer. “We hold this open house every year to say 'thank you' to the community for their support of the museum.”

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Eleven sculptures will be featured in the 11th Annual Sculpture on Main event in Marble Falls, opening with fun from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2.

Highland Lakes Creative Arts, the new non-profit organization coordinating the event will add an indoor small works exhibit and sale all day at Lakeside Pavilion, 307 Buena Vista Drive. Visitors will be able to purchase table-top pieces, meet artists and watch live sculpture demonstrations.

From 6:30-9 p.m., Sculpture on Main will honor all the artists in the new year-long exhibit. Meet the Artist is a ticketed reception and awards ceremony with three live music performances, gourmet food and wine. Surrounded by the glow of the Walkway of Lights, guests will meet all the artists and peruse table-size sculptures and watch a culinary show.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

November has been bustling in the City of Marble Falls with the groundbreaking for the Avenue N Public Safety Facility on Nov. 14 and city council meetings Nov. 15 to set sewer repairs in motion and Nov. 21 to canvass the record charter amendment vote.

On Nov. 15

The $275,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) announced last month and another proposed for $300,000 in 2017-18 will be administered by Langford Community Management Services of Leander, following the decision by the Marble Falls City Council Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Langford was the only company of seven qualified service companies contacted by the city to bid for the $30,000 contracts, but it came with staff recommendation.

“I have been working with the city since 1997,” said Langford's Margaret Hardin.

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) on Thursday, Nov. 17, approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of $1,395,000 from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to the city of Cottonwood Shores.

The city will use the assistance to finance the rehabilitation and expansion of a water treatment plant. Cottonwood Shores could save approximately $212,000 over the life of the loan by using the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

The financial assistance will allow the city to finance the planning, design, and construction costs of the project. When complete, the water treatment plant will be able to treat 1 million gallons per day. The plant to provide water through 547 connections to more than 1,158 citizens is proposed to take the city far into the future with safe drinking water from Lake LBJ.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

On the eve of the annual Highland Lakes Legacy Fund Celebration of Giving Thursday, Nov. 17, it was announced that Kathy Fletcher will become the executive director of the fund, effective Jan. 1.

She will oversee donor relations, program implementation, fundraising, and community awareness from fund headquarters in Marble Falls.

The announcement came from Austin Community Foundation, the umbrella organization of which Highland Lakes Legacy Fund is a branch. The 80 different funds of Highland Lakes Legacy Fund stands now at $4 million providing scholarships and grants in the amount of $7.27 million to students pursuing educational goals and nonprofits serving the community.

Fletcher will follow former county judge Donna Klaeger, who has served as interim director since Midge Dockery left the fund last year to join the Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation (MFEDC) staff.

Alexandria Randolph
Highland Lakes Newspapers

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH

The suspect of a Llano County murder has claimed he shot a man in self defense, authorities said Tuesday.

Justin Lamb, 27, of Yuma, Ariz. was arrested on charge of murder after authorities were led to a Llano County ranch where a Mason man was slain.

Joshua Lee Jordan, 31, was found shot multiple times in the head and torso on Saturday morning, Nov. 19, while his three-year-old son slept in a nearby house.

“At about 3 a.m. Saturday morning, we had a call from the Stripes at Texas Highway 29 and Texas Highway 16,” said Llano County Sheriff Bill Blackburn.

The caller said there was a man at the location who told employees he had shot his friend on a nearby ranch.

“We went out to the ranch about nine miles west of Llano off County Road 403,” Blackburn said. “There we found a subject shot multiple times. He was deceased.”

Jordan's three-year-old son was asleep in the house nearby when the shooting occurred.

UPDATE: A correction was made to the date of the alleged assault based on information given to a Highland Lakes Newspaper reporter by the family of the victim. Readers are asked to keep in mind that what is presented here is not all of the information. See Friday's The Highlander for more details on the case. 

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH

A 21-year-old Horseshoe Bay man was arrested on charge of sexual assault of a child after he allegedly raped a teenage girl by coercion.

Nicholas Bryant Foster was arrested on Nov. 11 on the second-degree felony charge after a teenage girl under 17 years of age made an outcry to her mother, naming Foster as the offender.

According to an arrest affidavit released by the Burnet County Sheriff's Office, deputies were contacted by the victim's mother about the sexual assault of her daughter on Oct. 23. Family of the victim clarified Monday that the assault occurred in the early morning hours of Oct. 22.