News

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Marble Falls City Council on Tuesday night, March 1, received a solid report from Pattillo, Brown & Hill, the company that audited city finances for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2015.

"We are very glad to havereceived an unqualified opinion," said Margie Cardenas, city financial director.

"The city's net assets exceeded liabilities by $24.7 million for Fiscal Year 2015 (FY 2015)," said Chris Pruitt, C.P.A. for the auditing firm. "Your general fund is up $220,591. The increase was due mainly to an increase in sales taxes and property taxes for FY 2015."

"The city's largest source of revenue in the general fund is sales tax," Pruitt said. "The city realized an increase of six perdent from the prior year's revenue--from $5,399,759 to $5,577124. The 2016 estimate is conservatively projected at $5,744,437."

NOTE: The following results are for how BURNET COUNTY voters cast their ballots. They may or may not line up with state outcomes. For a graphic that shows how county and state results compared, see Friday's edition of The Highlander.

After all the polling locations closed Super Tuesday evening, March 1, and the votes were tallied, it became apparent that Burnet County voters mirrored the rest of Texas in favoring Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz over Donald J. Trump, 4,026 votes to 3,145.

In locally-contested races, there were many clear-cut winners, as well as several expected runoff situations (if the top candidates did not gather at least 50.1% or more of the votes for that position):

* Indicates anticipated runoffs.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

Plans are shaping up for the Granite Shoals 50th Year Bash to be held April 23-24 at Quarry Park and now is the time to make plans to participate.

Leo Manzano is scheduled to lead the 5K fun run/walk around the Leonel Manzano Hike, Bike and Run Trail in the park. John Arthur Martinez and a line up of performers will add music to a day of celebration with vendors and activities for the whole family. A giant piñata and a city birthday cake, vendors for arts, crafts and food will be part of the event.

The Granite Shoals 50th Anniversary Committee is collecting memorabilia and recollections of the early days of the city, incorporated as a city May 9, 1966. Everyone is invited to add to the archive.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Three candidates will be competing for votes May 7 as they vie for Place 1 on the Marble Falls Independent School District (MFISD) Board of Trustees. The other seat up for election on the staggered board, Place 2, is uncontested and will continue to be held by Karl Westerman.

Gary Boshears, captain with the Granite Shoals Police Department, Jim Coursey, a pastor, and Lenwood Nelson filed their candidate packets by the Feb. 19 deadline. The current trustee for Place 1, Mike Savage, decided to not run for re-election after 3 terms on the board.

Trustees serve 3-year terms.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Many folks have cherished memories from the Uptown Theatre, which has been a staple on Marble Falls’ Main Street for more than 70 years. Four business partners have opened the Uptown Sound Studio in that unique space, after spending the last few months revitalizing the interior of the historic building.

The goal is to keep Uptown’s history fresh while forming a vision for the future they hope will become integral to the city’s new Main Street.

“Everybody has some kind of story about the place,” said Corey Whitaker, business partner.

Today is Primary Election Day and the polls are open until 7 p.m. 

More than 2,000 Burnet County residents voted during early voting but today is one more chance to weigh in on Republican and Democratic candidates in national and state races in the November election.

Barring a run-off, county offices will be decided today, as candidates for the local offices all filed as Republicans.

Polling places for Burnet County today are listed by voting precinct, not county commissioner precincts: 

·         Precinct 1 — First Lutheran Church, 133 Apollo Drive, Burnet

·         Precinct 2 — Burnet County Courthouse, 220 South Pierce, Burnet

·         Precinct 3 — Grace United Methodist Church, 4007 Valley View, Granite Shoals

·         Precinct 4 — Spicewood Community Center, 7901 County Road 404, Spicewood

·         Precinct 5 — Silver Creek Community Center, 101 County Road 128, Silver Creek

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Granite Shoals City Council continued grantsmanship efforts Tuesdeay, Feb. 25, in a meeting that touched on Quarry Park, street improvements and the airport.

All city council candidates for the May election, except Mayor Pro Tem Shirley King (unopposed for Place 2) and the final filer Michael Lee Steenbergen for Place 6 were on hand for the ballot order drawing before the meeting began. They are incumbent Tom Dillard and Arturo Rubio, who drew first and second place on the ballot for Place 4, and Will Skinner and incumbent Mark Morren, who drew first and third places on the ballot for Place 6.

For the full story, see the Friday, Feb. 26, edition of The Highlander.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Operatioin Dream Catcher scooped up one of 15 suspects under federal indictment for methamphetamine distribution in Granite Shoals Wednesday.

Aaron Bravo, 39, was arrested in an operation that began about 6 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26. Granite Shoals Chief of Police J.P. Wilson issued an alert for citizens to avoid the 400 block of East Castlelake Drive, where the arrest was made, and the department emphasized in a press release Thursday that residents were in no danger at any time and that the entire department with other local and federal officers were in control of the scene.