News

By Glynis Crawford Smith/The Highlander

The Cottonwood Shores City Council on Thursday, June 16, approved the steps it has been planning to bring a new $1.83 million water plant project online.

“This is the largest and most important financial obligation the council will make,” said Mayor Donald Orr. “The (current) plant produces good water but it is extremely labor intensive.”

The proposed Pall Membrane plant would boost production to a potential half-million gallons of water per day, at least double the capacity of the current 2975 water plant.

“In addition we will have 135,000 gallons per day storage,” said Orr.

The council will seek a $1.83 million loan from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), offset by a $275,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), federal money they will seek through the Texas Department of Agriculture.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Although the Cottonwood Shores City Council on Thursday approved development of a new contract with the volunteer fire department, its creation will not be coordinated with the current fire chief.

An announcement of the resignation of Travis Hockensmith as chief of the Cottonwood Shores Volunteer Fire Department (CWSVFD) went out via email Sunday, June 19.

By Lew K. Cohn

The Highlander

Managing Editor

Two Marble Falls Independent School District trustees submitted their resignations Monday to the Board of Trustees, which appointed a familiar face to fill one of the vacancies.

The board accepted the resignations of Dr. Kelly Fox and Larry “Coach” Berkman following a 78-minute executive session in which the board met with its attorney behind closed doors. The board then appointed former Trustee Mike Savage to serve in Berkman's stead for the next 11 months.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

A house fire in the Los Escondidos addition on the south shore of Lake Marble Falls Tuesday, June 14, called in support from six area fire units before it was defeated about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 15.

The walls were still standing at the home of Lawrence and Pat Burton at 1406 Burnet County Road 415.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

June 15 is U.S. Flag Day and members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10376 marked the occasion by the retiring the flag at the Marble Falls Senior Center, 1200 Seventh Street, and raising a new flag.

Post Commander D.J. Brooker and Post Auxiliary President Judy LaGault organized the presentation to Senior Center President Arnold Holen on the suggestion of Mary Gall, a member both of the auxiliary and the center.

An honor guard of seven veterans posted the colors before a small crowd of center members at 10 a.m. today, Tuesday, June 15.

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH/HIGHLAND LAKES NEWSPAPERS

Texas DPS authorities are still unsure of the cause of a two vehicle crash in Llano County Wednesday morning that claimed the life of two San Saba men and injured a teenage girl.

San Saba residents Darron Walton, 37, and Bryan Owen, 36, lost their lives in the collision that took place at 5:10 a.m. on Wednesday morning, June 8, at the intersection of TX 29 and TX 71, approximately seven miles from Llano City limits.

The two men were pronounced dead at the scene by Llano County Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 Bebe Piatt.

Texas DPS Trooper Robbie Barrera said the collision occurred when the 2005 Ford Expedition driven by Walton and headed south on TX 71 failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection, and struck a 2015 Dodge Ram pulling a Cimarron travel trailer heading west on TX 29. The impact sent both vehicles southward off the roadway.

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH/HIGHLAND LAKES NEWSPAPERS

Marble Falls authorities have arrested a man on suspicion of setting his rental home ablaze.

Adam Tijerina, a 51-year-old man with a permanent address in Temple, was arrested on Tuesday, June 7, on arson charges after his rental property at the intersection of Third Street and Avenue L in Marble Falls caught fire the day before.

Marble Falls Fire Marshall Johnny Caraway said the department has information that suggests Tijerina started the fire in the mobile home where he was living.

“Witnesses saw him leaving at the time of the fire,” Caraway said. “On the night of the fire, he asked someone for a ride and when he walked out of the door, the (driver saw) the house was on fire. They told him, but he didn't call 911. He was already intoxicated at the time.”

Until June 10, Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) members are able to vote early in the 2016 board of directors election.

This year, PEC is offering incentives for early voting. Members voting by mail or online will be entered in a random drawing for one of several prizes, including a home theater package, Nest Learning Thermostats and $100 gift cards.

Members will have a final chance to vote at the co-op’s annual meeting on Saturday, June 18, at the Dripping Springs High School Performing Arts Center.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Effective at 8:30 p.m. Monday, June 6, Lake Travis was closed to recreational boating until further notice, by order of the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA).

At the time of the announcement at 10:50 a.m. Monday, Lake Travis stood at 692.56 feet above mean sea level (msl) and was continuing to rise slowly. LCRA anticipated that Lake Travis would reach 693 feet msl Monday evening.

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH/HIGHLAND LAKES NEWSPAPERS

Burnet County residents can enjoy sunny skies this morning, but should prepare for this evening as the  National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the area.

The outlook, issued at 4:14 a.m. Sunday morning, June 5, stated that Burnet, Llano, Blanco, Williamson and surrounding counties can expect to see stormy weather Sunday evening.

“Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected near the Coastal Plains today into this evening,” the outlook stated. “Locally heavy downpours and gusty winds are possible.”