News

by Alexandria Randolph

UPDATE: Marble Falls Police have confirmed the injured officer is Capt. Ted Young. 

A boat wreck on Lake Marble Falls Saturday sent a Marble Falls Police Officer to an area hospital.

Authorities confirmed Monday that a Marble Falls Police Officer sustained serious injuries after a civilian boat and the Marble Falls Police patrol boat collided on Lake Marble Falls shortly after the annual July 4^th firework show on Saturday night. Another man was taken into custody during the incident.

Burnet County authorities are investigating a suspicious death that occurred on Thursday evening in Scenic Hills RV Park.

According to a Burnet County press release, at approximately 8:45 p.m. on the evening of July 2, Burnet County Sheriff's Deputies received a report of an unresponsive female in the RV park, located near Kingsland. EMS personnel responded to the scene with deputies.

A 48-year-old woman identified as Taitia Luke was found dead.

“Due to the timeline of events, the death is being considered suspicious in nature, pending autopsy results,” said Chief Deputy Joey Canady in the release.

Texas DPS Troopers are still investigating a rollover wreck in eastern Llano County that led to the death of a Buchanan Dam woman Thursday.

Deserae Beth Becknell, 31, was pronounced dead by Llano County Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Linda Ballard a little after midnight on the morning of Thursday, June 25.

Texas DPS Trooper Joey Van Gundy said Becknell ran off the road and was ejected from her 2004 BMW, a four-door model, at about 12:10 a.m.  

For the full story, see Wednesday's Llano County Journal and Friday's Highlander. 

Cristi Clement narrowly defeated Mark Axford in the Pedernales Electric Cooperative Board of Directors District 1 race and  Burnet County Judge James Oakley was elected  president of the  co-op’s board Saturday.

Clement, of Meadowlakes, who has been on the PEC board since 2010, got 11,500 votes to 11,228 for Axford, who lives in Hoover Valley, to win a third two-year term.

In the other directors races, Paul Graf of Spring Branch defeated incumbent Larry Landaker of Wimberley  and Max Hosford of Fisher to win the District 6 position and Amy S. J. Akers defeated Jeff Barton and Douglas Kadjar for the open District 7 position.

After the results of the board  of directors  races were announced  Saturday at the PEC annual meeting in Cedar Park, the new board members elected Oakley president, Emily Pataki of Cedar Park vice president and Graf secretarfy-treasurer.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Thanks to a prolonged rain bomb throughout the month of May, the Horseshoe Bay city council voted unanimously, Tuesday, June 16, to reduce restrictions on its customer’s water use by going from Stage III to Stage II in its drought contingency plan, until Sept. 30.

Residents may now water their lawns twice a week under Stage II; under Stage III it was once a week.

The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) lifted its 2013 restrictions on outdoor watering for firm water customers, although voluntary water conservation measures are encouraged, explained Jeff Koska, community services director. The trigger for LCRA lifting restrictions was reaching 1.1 million acre-feet of combined storage in Lakes Travis and Buchanan.

“We’ll need 1.4 million acre-feet [in Lakes Travis and Buchanan] before all restrictions are lifted,” Koska said.

By Alexandria Randolph

As south Texas is ravaged by Tropical Storm Bill, Central Texas residents brace for more rainfall and possible flooding.

The National Weather Service flash flood watch was issued for Burnet, Llano, Blanco, Williamson, Travis and surrounding counties effective until midday Thursday. The watch stated the remnants of Tropical Storm Bill, which made landfall near Matagorda Bay Tuesday morning, will move northwest across south central Texas Tuesday afternoon, generating “bands of showers and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall today (Tuesday) through Thursday morning” across the I-35 corridor.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Going into the summer, Marble Falls Independent School District (MFISD) officials were searching for three principals, along with multiple senior positions in central administration, including superintendent.

The district will be holding a special meeting Tuesday, June 16, and Wednesday, June 17, to interview 6 candidates for MFISD superintendent. Dr. Robert O’Connor announced in April his intention to become the next superintendent at Sharyland ISD in South Texas.

“The Board plans to have second round of interviews Monday,” June 22, said MFISD spokesman Bruce Peckover. 

Every MFISD campus officially has a principal since the last slot was filled at the district’s Board of Trustees meeting Monday, June 15. Roger Barr will be the next Marble Falls Middle School principal

Barr was assistant principal at Prosper High School, according to the Prosper ISD website. Prosper is near Dallas.

by Alexandria Randolph

After a week of sunshine, Highland Lakes residents can prepare for more light rains over the weekend.

The National Weather Service predicts temperatures in the low 90s on Saturday and Sunday, with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms Saturday and Saturday night and a 30 percent chance on Sunday. The likelihood of storms rises to 40 percent on Monday, which will be mostly cloudy.

Lower Colorado River Authority meteorologist Bob Rose wrote in his weather blog that “the weather pattern does look to change beginning Friday as a weak, non-tropical area of low pressure over the central Gulf of Mexico tracks west, pushing tropical moisture into southeast Texas.”

Much of Central Texas will be electing a new state senator as Sen. Troy Fraser, R, representing Burnet and Llano counties, announced Tuesday, June 2, he will not be seeking re-election.

Fraser has represented the 17 counties of District 24 since 1996. He served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives from 1988-1992.

Local Republicans have reacted to the news. 

“He’s been a great representative for Burnet County, especially what he’s done to protect our water situation,” said Burnet County Judge James Oakley. “He’s dedicated to Texas-- it’s in his heart. He’s served humbly and responsibly.”

Fraser is chairman of the Natural Resources & Economic Development Committee.

Oakley mentioned Fraser’s work in authoring and passing Texas’ voter identification law, SB 14, which Fraser considers “his greatest accomplishment,” according to his June 2 letter to colleagues and friends.

by Alexandria Randolph

The owner of a car dealership local to Marble Falls for over a decade has announced he's selling – and starting a new venture. 

Lee Hoffpauir of Hoffpauir Chevrolet Buick Incorporated said he will be selling his Marble Falls dealership to an experienced automotive sales manager after a successful 15-year run.  

Hoffpauir has owned the dealership since 2000 when he purchased it with his sister, Sue Hardin, and bought her portion in 2005. He has owned several car dealerships in central Texas for 50 years.

“I wasn't looking to sell, but someone approached me and asked how much I would be willing to sell it for. We made a deal that was suitable for both of us,” Hoffpauir said. “He's got a good car background.”

For more on the story, see Tuesday's Highlander.