News

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

James D. “Jim” Davant has succeeded Eric Tanner on Place 3 of the Granite Shoals City Council and former council member Merilyn Nations has been chosen for the 2017 John Rinehart Memorial Award for Outstanding Community Service.

Davant was one of four candidates who interviewed in open session of the Council on Oct. 10, to the pleasure of the council, before their choice was made by ballot.

“If we hadn't settled on a procedure, I might recommend we throw a dart at a list,” said Mayor Pro Tem Tom Dillard, referring to the interviews with Davant, Will Skinner, Arturo Rubio and Terry G. Scott.

By Alexandria Randolph

Highland Lakes Newspapers

A Granite Shoals man suspected in an aggravated burglary in Louisiana was taken into custody by a Marble Falls Police officer during an act of kindness this week.

Xavier Tyler Haynes, 18, was arrested on Monday, Oct. 10, after a police officer spotted him walking down the road.

“He was walking in a traffic lane down (Ranch to Market Road) 1431,” said Marble Falls Police Capt. Glen Hanson, when the young man was spotted by Marble Falls Police.

“The officer offered to give him a ride, and asked him where he was going. He said he was on his way to Granite Shoals,” Hanson said.

During the trip, the officer checked Haynes' identification and dispatch reported the young man was wanted by the State of Louisiana on felony charge of aggravated burglary.

According to the Burnet County Jail database the charge was issued following an incident in that state on May 22.

by Alexandria Randolph

Highland Lakes Newspapers

Another district judge was 'hung' in the courthouse hall this week before a score of onlookers.

The portrait of former district judge Guilford Jones was hung in the hall at the Burnet Courthouse Annex on Wednesday following a ceremony honoring the local figure.

Guilford, or 'Gil' Jones, as many refer to him, practiced law for 60 years, including service as a lawyer, 16 years as District Judge for the 33^rd District Court, and most recently a legal mediator and arbitrator. He retired from the position as district judge in December 2012.

“When he made his ruling, he made his ruling on the law,” said presiding 33^rd District Judge Allan Garrett of Jones. “You knew you'd get a fair shake every time.”

Marble Falls had a solid turnout for the annual homecoming parade that started on the steps of Marble Falls MIddle School. 

The cities of Marble Falls and Granite Shoals each has been awarded a Community Development Block Grant of $275,000 to fund critical infrastructure improvements, according to an announcement from the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).

Marble Falls will make wastewater system improvements and Granite Shoals will make water system improvements.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said $2 million in block grants had been awarded to seven Central Texas communities for infrastructure improvement and $42 million in all across the state. Other area cities receiving grants include Blanco, Florence, Luling, Martindale and Uhland.

Reverand Jims in Lake Buchanan will hold its annual barbecue cookoff Saturday.

Supporters of the Hill Country Children's Advocacy Center (HCCAC) contributed more than $110,000 to the center through the Rods, Racks & Deer Tracks event Saturday, Oct. 8.

Celebrity auctioneer Ricky Smith of Storage Wars Texas presided over an auction and Lakes Area Rods & Classics made an outright $6,000 donation. Tickets for the dinner drawings, a silent auction and donations to a total that exceeded the expectations of the HCCAC board of directors.

Honorees of the event were co-founders of the center, Yvonne Evans of Shady Grove the late Deborah Jayne Keith (1952~2015) of Llano. Members of Keith's family  represented her--her father Jim Bagley Jr., sister Cheryl Bagley, brother Jim Bagley III and nephew Doug Bradshaw.

Ben Watson and the Hired Guns set the relaxed country tone for dinner and dancing at the Freedom Flyers airplane hangar in Burnet. Cody Hanson of the HCCAC board and Executive Director Kelly Forister presided over the event.

The Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce has issued a scam alert concerning bogus calls to its own members.

“It has been brought to my attention that there have been phone calls to chamber members claiming to be selling ads for a publication of some kind,” said Executive Director Patti Zinsmeyer. “In fact, one of our own employees received such a phone call. Please note: this is a scam!”

The only company selling ads and representing the chamber is Community Matters, Inc., which recently completed sales for a city/community map.

“The map is now on its way to be printed (and) we are making plans for our next directory,” said Zinsmeyer.

She promised members notice when sales for their 2017 edition begin.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Marble Falls ISD has been listed on an Instagram account of schools that comprise some vague “hit list” for alleged “creepy clown” activity.

The Instagram account “killer.clown.666” has listed under the name of the account “Killer Clown Hit list: Johnson City isd: marble falls isd, Harper isd, centerpoint isd.”

While Marble Falls ISD officials do not believe the threat may necessarily be credible, they have gotten local law enforcement involved and will be monitoring the situation, said Superintendent Dr. Chris Allen Friday.

“Like other Central Texas school districts, Marble Falls ISD has been mentioned as one of four districts noted in a 'clown' post. No specific Marble Falls campus, student, or facility has been named as part of this post,” Allen said in a statement.

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH

A suspicious person wearing a full body black and white clown costume was spotted in a residential area in Liberty Hill, police reported Thursday.

On Wednesday night, Oct. 5 at approximately 11:51 p.m., Liberty Hill Police Officers went to investigate a suspicious person call at the Carl Shipp Townhomes in the 300 block of Loop 332.

“The caller reported noises and banging on their garage door,” police said in a release.

The caller looked outside and observed a person of unknown race or gender wearing a full-body black and white stripped clown costume with white face pain and wearing a black afro style wig. The person was described as being about 5 feet, nine inches tall with a slim build.

“The subject was last seen fleeing into the wood line towards TX 29,” police said. “Officers conducted an area check and did not locate anyone or any evidence left behind.”