News

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Granite Shoals City Council on Monday, Aug. 15, changed course on a decision and now will give voters a chance in November to approve a $3 million bond issue for the restoration of the most heavily-traveled portions of its three main arteries.

To secure a potential U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for 55 percent of the cost, citizen financial support would be critical and complete restoration of the streets would almost certainly exceed $6 million.

By Lew K. Cohn, Managing Editor

The Highlander

Proposed changes to the bylaws of the Pedernales Electric Cooperative that change how directors are elected were passed Monday, Aug. 15, by the co-op's board of directors during a meeting that, at times, was very heated and tense.

The amendments to the bylaws — passed by a 5-2 supermajority vote — now create single-member districts in which only members who live within a district may vote for the director from that district. They also create a different quorum requirement for election of directors than that required for the annual PEC meeting, which is when director elections have traditionally taken place. The changes would take effect for the 2017 election cycle.

By Christi Bertelson

Highland Lakes Newspapers

Scott Lumbert is showing signs of progress after injuries sustained during the boat races at LakeFest on Sunday, Aug. 14, according to his wife Lynn.

“Scott is showing progress; it is baby steps and we still have a long road, but we are celebrating each success,” said Lynn via social media.

“Today they did a tracheotomy, hoping to wean him off the ventilator gradually over time. Scott, being the strong man he is, is breathing on his own right off the start.

“I wanted to thank everyone for all their prayers. You all are amazing, Please continue with all the prayers. Because of your prayers and support, I know Scott and I are not facing this journey alone. Thank you.”

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Scott & White Health Plan (SWHP) will pull out of the federal health care marketplace in 2017, the health insurer announced Wednesday, Aug. 17.

The Temple-based company announced it would continue to offer selected bronze off-marketplace HMO individual and family plans, and that the Insurance Company of Scott and White (ICSW) will offer selected bronze off-marketplace PPO plans.

However, neither SWHP or ICSW will offer gold, silver and selected bronze benefit marketplace plans in what is commonly referred to as “Obamacare.”

“At Scott and White Health Plan, we are committed to supporting the Affordable Care Act by offering affordable medical insurance to consumers in North and Central Texas. However, the market for our individual marketplace plans carries higher risk than other plans,” the company said Wednesday in its announcement.

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH

Two men were arrested early Wednesday morning after a theft from Puffy's pawn shop led to a police chase through Marble Falls.

Bao Huvn, 25, was charged with evading arrest with a vehicle and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, both third-degree felonies. His alleged cohort, Aaron Anthony Barron, 25, of Austin, was charged with aggravated assault against a public servant, a first-degree felony and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, a third-degree felony.

Cottonwood Shores Municipal Court later added charges of engaging in organized criminal activity, a third degree felony, and burglary of a building, a state jail felony for Barron.

The two men were arrested after an alleged police chase that began in Cottonwood Shores and ended in the eastern edge of Marble Falls.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

THE HIGHLANDER

Gary Boshears has been named chief of the Granite Shoals Police Department.

City Manager Ken Nickel made the announcement of the appointment during a budget workshop of the Granite Shoals City Council Monday night, Aug. 15. Boshears had been named interim chief to succeed J.P. Wilson in May.

“I have been pleased with Gary's leadership since taking over as interim chief,” said Nickel. “He has a professional management style and a long-range vision for the department.

“I believe these attributes will serve him well on the staff management team. We continue to work with and for the council toward making Granite Shoals the 'City on the Move' we want it to be.”

The body of a man who drowned in Lake LBJ near Sunrise Beach Village was recovered Wednesday, Aug. 10, after a two-day search.

The victim was later identified as William Thorton Jr., 74, of Harlingen.

According to a statement released by Sunrise Beach Village Police Chief Laurie Brock, the Llano County Sheriff's Department received a 911 call at about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, about a missing swimmer.

The caller reporter the male victim had gone swimming from a boat on Lake LBJ and encountered trouble in the water. The victim went under the water and did not resurface.

Sunrise Beach Village police and fire personnel responded to the scene at end of Beach Drive, where a search began for the victim. Joining SRB were personnel from the LCSO, Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife game wardens, Lake Colorado River Authority rangers and firefighters from Kingsland and Buchanan departments.

BY CHRISTI BERTELSON/HIGHLAND LAKES NEWSPAPERS

One man is in serious condition at the Austin Trauma Center following a boat accident Sunday during the Lake Fest in Marble Falls.

Scott “Scotty” Lumbert, driver of the top fuel hydro drag boat “Spirit of Texas” was racing in the final rounds against “Nitrochondiac” during Sunday’s event, when his boat crossed the finish line and began to flip, according to video footage The Highlander acquired from sources.

The boat said to be traveling at speeds of 240MPH, looked as though something malfunctioned as it crossed the finish line and began to roll down the Colorado River for several hundred feet before coming to a stop.

“I was there at Sunday’s event, watching from around the starting line,” said Captain Glenn Hanson of the Marble Falls Police Department.

by Phil Reynolds
The Highlander
Llano County commissioners started the clock ticking on final approval of the 2016-2017 budget and tax rate Monday when they unanimously approved proposed figures for both.
They have 30 days from that vote to make the decision final. Public hearings on both the tax rate and the budget are scheduled for the regular commissioner meeting at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 12, at the justice of the peace courtroom in the Llano County Law Enforcement Center, 2001 N. Bessemer St. in Llano.
The proposed budget is $14,719,664, $253,231 more than the budget County Judge Mary Cunningham originally offered commissioners and $623,554 more than the current budget.
Most of the difference between the final proposal and Cunningham’s offer came in increases for law enforcement agencies, the judge said.

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH

With heat indices reaching their highest in weeks, meteorologist have predicted that Friday cold front moving down from the north will end the recent three-digit high.

National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio issued a hazardous weather outlook for the Hill Country area due to high heat conditions on Friday, but rain is expected to follow.

While heat indices may reach 105 to 110 Friday, chances of rain are at 50 percent for Saturday.

“Elevated heat indices of 105 to 110 degrees are expected mainly near and east of I-35 as well as near and south of highway 90 this afternoon,” said National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio meteorologists in a hazardous weather outlook issued on Friday morning, Aug. 12 at 4:20 a.m. “A heat advisory is in effect for portions of the coastal prairies and brush country where heat indices will be highest – 108 to 110.”