News

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Today and tomorrow, May 2-3, are the final days for early voting in Burnet County school and municipal Joint Local Elections set for Saturday, May 7.

Voters from any precinct may vote in either location until 7 p.m. today, May 2, and from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. tomorrow at the Burnet County Courthouse at 220 South Pierce Street (on the square) and the Marble Falls South Courthouse Annex, 810 Steve Hawkins Parkway.

Granite Shoals City Manager Ken Nickel has confirmed the city has placed Police Chief J.P. Wilson on administrative leave, but has no further comment on the nature of the leave.

Nickel and other city officials have told The Highlander several times during the past two weeks that Wilson is still the chief of police in Granite Shoals and has not been terminated by the city and remains a paid employee. In his absence, command of the city's police force has shifted to Capt. Gary Boshears.

Wilson has served as the police chief of Granite Shoals for 13 years. He recently ran for sheriff of Burnet County, but failed to make the runoff election.

The Texas Tech University Regional Teaching Site at Highland Lakes will host a community meet-and-greet for Texas Tech University System Chancellor Robert L. Duncan and Interim President John Opperman.

The event is set to take place from 2:30-3:15 p.m. on Friday, May 6 at the Frank Fickett Educational Center at 806 Steve Hawkins Parkway in Marble Falls.

The Chancellor and President are visiting the regional site to learn about programs and initiatives and to meet community stakeholders who work to advance and enhance opportunities for students who attend Texas Tech University locally. Both Chancellor Duncan and Dr. Opperman are focused on providing the regional site with the resources needed to achieve its mission.

Granite Shoals candidates address issues

By Glynis Crawford Smith

Granite Shoals voters have two city council choices and a two options on assignment of existing sales tax waiting for them on election day.

Mayor Pro Tem Shirley King is unopposed for Place 2, but incumbent Tom Dillard will face newcomer Arturo Rubio for Place 4 and Place 6 incumbent Mark Morren has been challenged by Michael Steenbergen, making his second bid for a place on the council, and newcomer Will Skinner.

Anonymous and no-questions asked disposal of unused medications will be going on Saturday, April 30, at the Marble Falls Police Department.

In conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Drug Take-Back program, the Marble Falls Police Department will host a site where people can anonymously dispose of outdated and unused prescription drugs. No questions or requests for identification will be made, and medication labels will not be read. Syringes/needles, "sharps," and scalpels will not be accepted.

By Alexandria Randolph

Highland Lakes Newspapers

When an American internship fell through for two Swiss EMTs while they were sitting at the New York airport, it was just good fortune that they had an international community of first responders to fall back on.

Ken Schwake, a Marble Falls Firefighter and wife Michelle, a Marble Falls Area EMS Paramedic, have made several trips to Switzerland in past years and built relationships there with other first responders.

While Dominick Imhof and Rebecca Schaer were stranded at the airport, Ken Schwake got a phone call.

The Hill Country, including Burnet and Llano counties, is at risk for some severe storms this afternoon and evening. As you can see on the attached map, this includes areas across the eastern Hill Countgry as well as along and east of I-35, including Austin and San Antonio.

Threats include hail up to 2 inches in diameter as well as wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph and rainfall of between half an inch to 2 inches. Isolated pockets east of I-35 could see up to 4 inches of rain and an isolated tornado or two is possible.

Isolated to scattered showers will develop this morning with scattered thunderstorms developing in the afternoon and evening. Environmental conditions are favorable for some storms to become strong to severe and the severe threat may diminish after midnight.  

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH/HIGHLAND LAKES NEWSPAPERS

Two area women were injured when their vehicles collided at the intersection of Ranch Road 1431 and Highland Drive on Thursday, April 28 at 3:10 p.m.

Law enforcement on scene said the wreck occurred when the driver of a Ford SUV stopped at the stop sign on Highland Drive and proceeded to cross to County Road 120.

“She failed to yield right-of-way to the Nissan pickup,” said Texas DPS Trooper Frank Randolph.

Randolph said the pickup struck the Ford on the driver's door.

The driver of the Ford, a 72 year-old Highland Haven resident, was airlifted by Air Evac 49 to University Medical Center Brackenridge in Austin. The driver of the Nissan was also transported with minor injuries.

For the full story, see the upcoming edition of the Highlander.  

By Lew K. Cohn

The Highlander

Managing Editor

If you've never been to a Howdy Roo Chili Cookoff, well, as they say on one infamous commercial, “Neighbor, well that's too long.”