News

First responders may have been the honorees at the the Marble Falls Rotary Club's 15th Annual 9/11 Day of Remembrance, but they still were on duty.

One fire rescue team was called out during the ceremony and as the final notes of closing music were sounding a call for help was shouted from the back of the crowd.

Emergency medical technicians and fire rescue members rush to the aid of the senior member of the color guard from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10376. Lloyd Crippen's condition was assessed and he was rushed to Seton Highland Lakes Hospital.

VFW District Commander Bob Hanson said Crippen he was revived in short order and was released when responded within a few hours to treatment for dehydration.

The City of Marble Falls announced Monday, Sept. 12, that it has launched its Citizen Request Tracker system.

From code enforcement concerns to street light outages, individuals can make a variety of requests online. Located on the city's website, www.marblefallstx.gov, this tool gives citizens the opportunity to report issues, wherever and whenever they like, eliminating a trip or call to the city offices.

To enter a request from the website, click the link to “How Do I...Report a Concern/Violation.”

Once submitted, the item goes directly to the appropriate city staff member, who can work to meet the needs of the specific request. The progress of the item then can be tracked online by the individual submitting the request.

The City of Marble Falls has announced a change in the date in the first of a series of Coffee with the Mayor events. They will begin Friday morning, Sept. 16, bright and early--7-8 a.m.--with still more to be announced.

The public is invited to "have a cup of coffee" with Marble Falls Mayor John Packer at Numinous Coffee Roasters, 714 Ranch to Market Road 1431 in Marble Falls.

The city announced the free come-and-go event and more to come on Friday, Sept. 9 as an opportunity to: "come share your thoughts and ideas about your community and hear about some of the new projects in the city."

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to meet one-on-one with our residents and learn about the issues that are important to them,” said Packer.

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH

HIGHLAND LAKES NEWSPAPERS

The 2016 Miss Bluebonnet was safe Thursday, Sept. 8, during an active shooter threat at Sul Ross State University Alpine Campus.

Sierra Armentrout reported to family and friends on social media that she was off campus during an active shooter threat.

“We were rushed off campus to go elsewhere,” Armentrout reported, adding that there is “SWAT everywhere and law enforcement on every corner.”

Sul Ross State University reported an active shooter threat Thursday morning, and campus-wide lockdown was in place on the Alpine Campus as of 10:30 a.m.

“Earlier today a shooting incident was reported at Alpine High School. The high school facilities are currently in lockdown mode and law enforcement officials are on the scene,” Sul Ross State officials reported.

Armentrout, ov Burnet High School Class of 2016 and BHS cheerleader of the year, currently attends the college.

By Christi Bertelson

Highland Lakes Newspapers

A woman and her oldest son—Roselee Rodriguez and West Adair Jr.—were pronounced dead on scene in north Burnet County after a four-car collision ended in tragedy Saturday morning, Sept. 3, around 9:25 a.m.

Rodriguez, 26, was traveling with her two sons Adair Jr., 6, and Isreal Rodriguez, 3, when their 2003 Ford Expedition was struck by a 2014 Dodge pickup, driven by Lacy Pearson, 51.

Pearson and his passengers—Rhonda Pearson, 53, Callie Pearson, 22, Angel Dodd, 14, and Natalie Robertson, 2—all of Burnet, were traveling north on US 281 when a 1998 Lexus reportedly forced them into oncoming traffic, colliding with Rodriguez head on.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), will hold its kick-off event for the fall semester classes on Friday, Sept. 9.

The Texas Tech University (TTU) program offers opportunities for local citizens 50 years of age and older who have a common interest in continuing their learning experiences and intellectual stimulation in an organization of like-minded people who value the joy of learning.

The OLLI kick-off event will be held in coordination with the first class of the semester entitled, “Pop Music of the 1950s.” The instructor Larry Hess, a professional musician, will teach a class about the rhythm and blues and early rock and roll of the 1950’s. A toe-tapping time is guaranteed. Poodle skirts and duck tails are optional.

The event is free of charge and set to take place from 2-5 p.m. Sept. 9 at Quail Point Community Center, located at 107 Twilight Lane, (off Red Sails) in Horseshoe Bay..

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

More than 60 Texas A&M University College of Architecture students and faculty members will come to Marble Falls on Monday, Sept. 12, to tour a potential site for a new Phoenix Center facility and to help produce schematic architectural and site master planning concepts for the non-profit organization.

Phoenix Center Executive Director and founder Sarah Garrett said the partnership is being made possible by a $25,000 grant from the Texas A&M College of Architecture’s High-Impact Learning Vertical Interdisciplinary Studio.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

FirstCapital Bank of Texas (FCBT) has been named one of the Best Banks to Work For in 2016 by American Banker, ranking fourth in the United States and first in Texas.

Locally, FCB has operated a mortgage office a little over a year, but the finishing touches are being added to the outside drive-in kiosk of its office at 9891 Farm to Market Road 2147 in Horseshoe Bay, and it already is a full-service bank. Its staff of seven agrees with the ranking of Best Bank to work for by American Banker Magazine.

“It fits well with our mission statement,” said local Market President Scott Streit. “That's something we believe in. The triangle in our logo is the whole meaning. At the top is our customers and the points at the bottom are our communities and our employees.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

Highland Lakes Newspapers

A Labor Day weekend death on Saturday, Sept. 3,  is under investigation by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD).

The identity of victim is confirmed as 19-year-old Dominiq Amir Castillo Porterfield, but the cause of death is unconfirmed.

News outlets have published varying accounts of the event, but TPWD will say only “the investigation is still on going as to cause of death and other details."

“The call came in to the Llano County Sheriff's Department at 3:20 p.m.,” said LCSO Chief Deputy John Neff. “The boaters were not sure where they were on the lake.”

By Carol Robinson

Alabama Media Group/AL.com

A retired Texas cattle rancher has been identified as the man found shot to death early Friday, Sept. 2, under a Birmingham, Alabama, interstate.

The Jefferson County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Jerald Douglas Wade. He was 64.

Birmingham police received a call just after 1:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 2, of a person down in the 1900 block of Ninth Avenue North. Officers and Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service responded to the scene at 1:38 a.m. and tried to revive him, but their efforts were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at 1:47 a.m.

The adult white male was found at 1:38 a.m. under the interstate in the 1900 block of Ninth Avenue North.

Birmingham police spokesman Lt. Sean Edwards said the victim had been shot multiple times. He said it appeared the victim was transient, but at least one friend said he had an apartment.