News

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Sporting new iPads, Horseshoe Bay City Council members added two new committees and discussed city finances at its meeting Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Committees

City council members asked for residents to consider applying for participation in one of the two “advisory, single-purpose” committees added at the meeting. A Long Range Planning Committee, which was first suggested by former councilman Tom Schmersahl, was established to formulate a vision of the city’s future.

The council also added an Information and Communication Committee to help promote the city to realtors, builders and prospective residents. 

The deadline to submit an application to participate is Feb. 10. Applications are available at the city website (www.horseshoe-bay-tx.gov) or at City Hall.

Two council members will serve as liaisons between the committees and the council.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Every Saturday – rain or shine – a van pulls into a wooded area behind Home Depot in Marble Falls and a horn honks. People from a city in the cedar make their way to Reverend George Perry’s van, where he or other volunteers offer them food.

Many people have no idea they’re there...or in the baseball dugouts across from the Helping Center on Broadway, between mattresses at the mattress store, in cars, or, most commonly, on the couches, floors and spare rooms of family and friends.

Although statistics from the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) show the prevalence of homelessness on the decline both nationally, as well as in Texas, Perry doesn’t see the problem getting better in the Highland Lakes.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Future homeowners are sweating right alongside Highland Lakes Habitat for Humanity volunteers as they work to build a grouping of four homes on Avenue M in Marble Falls.

Rafael and Estella Vila are hoping to move into their new home at the end of February or in early March. The family of five includes three young boys ranging in age from 2 to 7 years. On an unseasonably warm Saturday, Jan. 17, the two oldest youngsters spent hours happily digging in the dirt in the front yard.

“We’re pirates, digging for dinosaur bones,” agreed both boys. Estella thought they might be preparing for careers as archaeologists.

The groundbreaking for the Vila home was held back in October, 2013, and the structure is looking more like a home every day. 

“All that’s holding us up is the finishing work, which is the most difficult part,” Estella said.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

At the Cottonwood Shores City Council meeting on Thursday, Jan. 15, officials discussed just how the city will spend a $275,000 grant, decided to join the International Dark-Sky Association, dealt with fire department issues and accepted the resignation of the head of its parks and recreation commission.

Toward the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Donald Orr displayed the January check allotted for the Cottonwood Shores Volunteer Fire Department (CSVFD.) “The check is written, they’ll get the check as soon as we have the balance sheet” running through Sept. 30, 2014, he said. “It’s not that we don’t want to pay them, we just need some financial information.”

Travis Hockensmith, fire chief for the department, said Jan. 6 at the CSVFD board meeting that the city will receive a full financial audit for 2014 in mid-February, and continued to assert the city does not have a contractual right to withhold funds.

by Alexandria Randolph

A Horseshoe Bay patrol initiative led to a felony drug arrest last week, Horseshoe Bay Police said.

On Tuesday, Jan. 6, Horseshoe Bay Police stopped a vehicle for a minor traffic infraction and in result arrested two individuals. The driver was arrested on charge of driving with license invalid with a previous conviction. Marble Falls resident Matthew Scott Connors, 27, a passenger in the vehicle was arrested and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance between one and four grams, felon in possession of a firearm, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, and misdemeanor theft.

Connors remains in Burnet County Jail on bond of $28,000.

For the full story, see Tuesday's Highlander.

by Alexandria Randolph

Marble Falls Police are seeking public help in identifying eight suspects of three separate thefts from Walmart.

Police said one of the thefts occurred in the earl morning hours on Christmas Day and another on New Years Day. Seven suspects are sought in connection with the crimes, five individuals from the Christmas Day theft and two from the New Year’s Day theft.

“These people aren’t necessarily local,” said Marble Falls Sgt. Trisha Ratliff, “that’s why we’re posting these on Facebook. These acts were coordinated. They went in with a specific purpose and plan... We don’t know if they’re connected.”

The suspects of the Christmas Day theft were described as four black or Hispanic males and one possible black or Hispanic female. One of the men was of average build with an orange visor, and another wore a black hoodie with a gold chain.

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

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

On the Rocks, 4401 Cottonwood Drive in Cottonwood Shores, will host a benefit concert Saturday, Jan. 17, to help one of the restaurant's long-time employees and a veteran battling Stage 4 throat cancer.

Regulars at the restaurant and bar likely already know Horseshoe Bay resident John Nylander, 47. It’s community support that’s kept him in good spirits as he endures 30 hours of chemotherapy and radiation every week, including travel time for cancer treatments in Temple and Round Rock.

The fundraiser will be an all-day affair, with three local bands playing from noon to 6 p.m., an extensive buffet for $20, a silent auction and a prize drawing.

Save the World Brewery in Marble Falls donated two kegs for the event.

The performers volunteering their talents are John Arthur Martinez (12-1 p.m.), Southern rock ‘n’ rollers Redneck Jedi (2-4 p.m.) and blues musician Sonny Wolf (4-6 p.m.).

By Alexandria Randolph

The recovery of two victims of kidnapping and the arrest of their alleged kidnapper on Saturday, Jan. 10 was due to the work of family friends and Marble Falls Police Officers.

On Saturday, San Antonio man Bradley Michael Stanton, 26, was charged with two counts of kidnapping and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and booked into Burnet County Jail the same day.

The incident leading up to his arrest involved a nighttime call about an unusual scenario, a plea for help over social media, and the quick thinking of the victims’ friend.

“It was a domestic disturbance that went mobile. In moving the victim without their consent, it became a kidnapping,” said Marble Falls Police Capt. Glenn Hanson.

by Alexandria Randolph

The Spicewood Volunteer Fire Department and EMS will be moving forward with a new emergency medical service plan with the help of a Pedernales Electric Cooperative and Lower Colorado River Authority grant.

LCRA and PEC representatives met Spicewood Volunteer Firefighters and EMS at the fire hall Tuesday morning to present a check for $18,500 through a Community Development Partnership Program grant.

The department is replacing two ambulances with an emergency response vehicle more suited to the needs the department’s new EMS service plan.

“We are extremely appreciative of the grant that LCRA is awarding Spicewood emergency responders,” said Patsy Lester, Spicewood EMS director. “We are thankful to finally have a vehicle capable of transporting all our necessary equipment that was made possible by this grant.”

For more on the story, see Friday’s Highlander.

By James Walker

A 70-pound fourth grader and his 1,300-pound European crossbreed steer and a Marble Falls senior who showed two grand champions were the stars of the 2015 Burnet County FFA and 4H Livestock show.

Mason Hocker, whose hulking, recalcitrant steer “Johnny Football,” showed a propensity for emulating his famous namesake and freelancing his movements during the judging, was rewarded for his effort when the project animal won “Grand Champion Steer” honors Friday evening, Jan. 9.

Lacey Naumann, whose parents took her to her first Burnet County stock show when she was a month old, followed the steer competition by showing the Grand Champion Heifer Award-winning entry after earlier showing the overall best Angora goat of that show.

Naumann also won the senior showmanship award during the heifer competition and was presented the Outstanding Senior Award along with Burnet High School senior Evan Hoefelmeyer.