News

Carlton Foods, a New Braunfels, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 25,764 pounds of fresh Boudin products, which were produced with pre-cooked rice that may have experienced temperature abuse and may contain an emetic toxin produced by Bacillus cereus, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The Boudin (sausage-like) products were produced on Aug. 22, through Oct. 17. The following products are subject to recall:

• 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages of “RICHARD’S HICKORY SMOKED BOUDIN”

• 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages of “RICHARD’S PREMIUM BOUDIN”

• 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages of “RICHARD’S ‘HOT’ PREMIUM BOUDIN”
• 16-oz. vacuum-packed packages of “RICHARD’S PREMIUM BOUDIN"

• 32-oz. vacuum-packed packages of “RICHARD’S CAJUN GRILLERS BOUDIN”

by Alexandria Randolph

When it comes to spooky sites and eerie edifices, the Highland Lakes has its fair share of fun places to visit on Halloween weekend.

One of the most notable is Grand Central Café in Kingsland, recognizable for its part in the film, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”

'Chainsaw Massacre' abode

The house was part of the movie set for the 1974 horror flick that has become a cult classic for many.

“The house was originally located in Round Rock. It was moved to Kingsland in 1998 and fully restored. It became a restaurant at that time,” said co-owner Drew Gerencer.

Grand Central Café will be showing excerpts from the movie at the bar on Friday in honor of Halloween.

Haunted 'Red Top'

Another building that may set the chill in one's bones is the supposedly haunted Old Llano County Red Top Jail, which is blanketed in local folklore.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

The Llano Uplift Archaeology Society is continuing its tradition of hosting a free, educational archaeological fair at the Nightengale Archaeological Center in Kingsland, Saturday, Nov. 1, from 1-5 p.m.

“We had a bunch of people come out last year, and everyone seemed to enjoy it,” said LUAS member Chuck Hixson.

The NAC is at a prehistoric Native American site, around 7,000 years old, which used to sit alongside the Colorado River. Part of the site was flooded by Lake LBJ, Hixson said.

Visitors to the fair will get to cruise through the on-site museum, take guided tours of the site, see how the first inhabitants made fire and processed food, learn how to throw a spear using an atlatl, paint pebbles, see how an ancient Native American drink was made, and folks can even bring artifacts to be identified by experts.

by Alexandria Randolph

Marble Falls Firefighters and police said a young man was ‘lucky’ to have been uninjured in a two-vehicle collision at the US 281, TX 71 intersection Wednesday afternoon.

Marble Falls Firefighters and Police responded to the highway intersection Wednesday, Oct. 29, at about 2 p.m., and found the driver of a red 2004 Pontiac sedan, 20-year-old Jason Pollock of Marble Falls, uninjured after his vehicle struck a dump truck hauling asphalt. Dump truck driver Ruben Silverio, 48, of Austin, was also uninjured.

Marble Falls Fire Rescue Capt. Chris Harrison said Pollock had just driven up the westbound TX 71 exit ramp when he attempted to make a left turn across the highway and struck the truck.

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

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

The $300 the Burnet County 4H Horse Club donated to the Helping Center in Marble Falls Tuesday was spent before the check was even in the director’s hands.

“I don’t have definite plans for the money yet, but I will probably spend it on rice and cereal tomorrow,” said Sam Pearce, Helping Center director. “Those are our most pressing needs right now, and we’ll get good bang for the buck.”

Needs are mounting as the Hill Country community grows.

The Helping Center helped feed 375 families in June; in September, 597 families used the charity’s services. Pearce said he’s on track to help 625 families by the end of the month.

The organization has far surpassed what it was giving during the 2008 recession, Pearce said.

Because of the continual growth, the charity needs donations of food or funds and volunteer help in the store room or garden.

by Alexandria Randolph

A Granite Shoals City employee was arrested after police investigated a report of a sexual relationship with a child.

Juan Carlos Morales, 35, of Marble Falls, was arrested on charge of sexual assault of a child. Morales is employed with the Granite Shoals Streets & Parks Department.

“We received a report from the parents of a 16-year-old that she had been talking with and having a sexual relationship with the suspect,” said Capt. Gary Boshears.

Boshears said police investigated the report and “obtained information that supported the allegations.” He added the offense is believed to have occurred in Granite Shoals, where the victim resides, in early September.

For the full story, see Friday's Highlander.

by Alexandria Randolph

With the second week of early voting just begun, county elections officials are reporting low percentages of voters turning out at the polls to cast their ballots.

Burnet County Elections Administrator Barbara Agnew cited voting totals lower than those that were reported the first week of the last general election during the early voting period.

“Through the first week of early voting, 2,929 people voted early, in person. Compare this with 3,276 that voted through the first week of early voting in November 2010. We have received 956 mail ballots with 351 ballots still out,” she said.

The county received 402 total mail ballots in 2010, Agnew added.

In Llano County, there have been 2,053 early votes cast in local polls there, as of noon on Monday, Oct. 27 – which amounts to 14.2 percent of the county's 14,325 registered voters, said Cindy Ware, Llano County elections administrator Cindy Ware. 

by Alexandria Randolph

Pedernales Electric Cooperative Board of Directors recently rescinded an amendment that made voter history available to board candidates, but some directors would like to see the issue revisited.

In a meeting Oct. 20, the board voted in favor of rescinding an amendment that would notate on a master list of members whether the member voted in last year’s election – but not which candidate they voted for or what method they used to vote. The rescinding vote passed with five approvals and two abstentions. The amendment to election policies and procedures was first passed on Sept. 15, 4-3.

James Oakley, one of the directors that initially approved of the amendment, said the notation of active voters would be more cost-effective for candidates. Oakley said since a change to policy in 2011, viable candidates can obtain mailing addresses for co-op members.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Students seemed a blur of action as they unpacked and sorted donated food before stuffing the goods in bags, getting the weekly “Blessings in a Backpack” donation ready to fill the tummies of hungry youngsters right here in the Highland Lakes region.

Last week, National Honor Society students from Faith Academy in Marble Falls participated in the Blessings in a Backpack program, which has been helping Marble Falls Independent School District elementary students since 2012.

“It’s a unique experience,” said sophomore Sydney Ward. “It feels good to help others and make a difference.”

Almost 30 students filled an assembly room at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Marble Falls ready and willing to make a difference. The non-perishable foods they pack up is meant to feed hungry students through the weekend. There are some 134 students helped each week who qualify for free and reduced meals.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Modern-day humankind is no stranger to pollution: of the air, water, land; but what about light pollution?

The leadership of two Hill Country cities expressed desire in maintaining the beauty of their night skies through participation in International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) programs, which aim to reduce the “light pollution” from wayward city lighting.

The city councils of both Cottonwood Shores and Horseshoe Bay discussed IDA programs at their meetings less than a week apart.

Cottonwood Shores Councilman Roger Wayson broached the topic at the Oct. 16 meeting; On Oct. 21, Horseshoe Bay city manager Stan Farmer proposed that Horseshoe Bay compete for the International Dark Sky Community Award.

Dripping Springs is the first, and currently only, city in Texas to have won that award.