News

by Alexandria Randolph

Few coworkers or friends who see her today would believe that “Charlie,” a successful, independent, single woman, had ever been the victim of a repetitive pattern of domestic abuse.

Nowadays, she is all about healing, but the road to recovery has been long, she admits. Thankfully, she said, it was lined with local organizations willing to help.

Charlie has spent several months in Open Door Recovery, a county drug and alcohol court program, extensive outpatient addiction treatment and counseling with Highland Lakes Crisis Center staff.

When asked if she's recovered, she said, “A little more every day. It’s all about the healing.”

For Charlie, that means breaking the cycle.

She actually suffered through three abusie relationships, each different from the previous.

Her first husband grew abusive only after they were married.

by Alexandria Randolph

Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21, Marble Falls City Council tabled consideration of two agreements related to the development of a 300-acre subdivision just south of the US 281 intersection with TX 71.

In a unanimous vote during Tuesday’s meeting, Oct. 21, councilmen granted a two-week extension to Harvard Investments Inc. as they finalize their end of developmental agreements for a parcel of land within the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

“There are a lot of moving parts to get these two development agreements to line up,” said Ty Embrey, attorney with Lloyd Gosselink Attorneys at Law.

Broker Doug Moss of Moss Real Estate Partners said his client, Harvard Investments, feels the tract, currently known as the Gregg Ranch, is an ideal tract as far as the development they have in mind – a subdivision with 830 home sites. “They’ve worked in and around Austin for many years,” Moss said.

by Alexandria Randolph

The City of Marble Falls is moving forward with its Master Plan to expand water and wastewater services in the coming years -- starting with construction of a new water tank and the design for a new wastewater treatment pant.

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, Marble Falls City Council approved a design services contract with HDR, Inc. in the amount of $330,000 for future wastewater treatment plant improvements. City Engineer Eric Belaj said the plant is nearing its capacity.

“Our treatment plant is approved to treat .9 million gallons a day. Right now we are treating 90 percent of that,” he said.

Belaj said at the current wastewater treatment plant site, the city is limited to an expansion that would treat 1.5 million gallons per day.

“Going beyond 1.5 million would be cost prohibitive,” he said. “Our designers will be going to a look to see if we can go beyond 1.5, but, at this point, it doesn’t seem likely.”

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

One of the organizers of the Castlerock Market & Art Bazaar knows the timing is right for an outdoor marketplace along FM 2147 in Cottonwood Shores.

“You can’t miss it, especially when the sign goes up,” said Mark Love, a “semi-retired” Horseshoe Bay resident running the venture with partners. “Everyone is excited about it. People say we should have had something like this a long time ago.”

Love felt the time was right to get dealers and artisans together to sell their often handmade items as Christmas gifts.

Sure, it’s not even Halloween yet, but Christmas will be here before you know it.

Around 10,000 cars pass through Cottonwood Shores on any given day, which makes it a good place to have an outdoor market, Love said. The market will also be able to take advantage of the turn lane that the Texas Department of Transportation will be starting in January.

by Alexandria Randolph

Two men died in separate fatal collisions on Saturday, Oct. 18.

A two-vehicle collision four miles west of Spicewood at 1 a.m. Saturday morning took the life of Bradley Tchiebe, 32, of Columbiaville, Mich.

Texas DPS reports said the collision occurred when a 1997 Saturn, traveling westbound in the inside lane of TX 71, crossed the center-line.

A second man, Bryan Pitney, 33, of Harker Heights, died in a single vehicle wreck on US 183. Pitney was an enlisted member of the US Military. Pitney passed away at the Metroplex Hospital in Killeen.

For the full story, see Tuesday's Highlander.

by Alexandria Randolph

An iconic figure of Burnet County history will be honored Saturday, Oct. 25, for his service in the Texas Rangers of old, only a few days from the 104th anniversary of his death.

Christian Dorbandt, born Dec. 12, 1818 and deceased Oct. 28, 1910, will be recognized in a Texas Ranger Memorial Cross Service at South San Gabriel Cemetery on CR 322 on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 11 a.m.

The service is open to the public.

Dorbandt came to America at age 34 from Denmark and served in the US Army during the Mexican War in the 1840s before being stationed at Fort Croghan in Burnet County.

Dorbandt built the rock house that shares his name in Backbone Valley, which is now along US 281 in Marble Falls.

by Alexandria Randolph

A Burnet man was arrested Friday, Oct. 17 in what authorities said was a drug bust.

Burnet County Sheriff's Deputies arrested Bobby Earl McGraw, 41, on charges of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance between 200 and 400 grams, and six counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

He was booked in Burnet County Jail and released Sunday, Oct. 19 on bond of $190,000.

Burnet County Sheriff W.T. Smith said authorities also recovered stolen property during the bust.

For more on the story, see Tuesday's Highlander or Wednesday's Burnet Bulletin.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney made a brief stop at the Burnet Municipal Airport Friday afternoon, where he spoke with several of his Republican supporters. James Oakley, candidate for Burnet County Judge, and W.T. Smith, Burnet County Sheriff, were on hand to greet Romney. Only a few other supporters were there because it was meant to be a low-key affair.

Romney was flying from Houston on his way to Utah. Romney participated in a Republican fundraiser, along with one of his supporters from the area. The supporter offered Romney the use of his Lear jet. The supporter did not want to be identified.

Neither Oakley nor Smith had met Romney before. “I was honored to meet him, I supported him when he ran for president,” Oakley said, adding that he was proud Romney “carried Texas.”

“I admire what he stands for and I hope he stays involved,” he said.

Smith reiterated Oakley’s sentiments.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Cottonwood Shores administrators are in the process of combing through around 40 applications for police chief to replace Chief Harold Piatt, who has turned in his resignation, according to council discussions at a Thursday, Oct. 16, meeting.

The job posting closed Friday, said Cottonwood Shores city secretary and administrator Sheila Moore. “We’re in the application review process, and we’ve had a good response to our posting and good applicants,” she said.

The council will convene in executive session to discuss the final three candidates once other applications are eliminated.

“It’s a staff decision, between me and Sheila [Moore],” said Mayor Donald Orr, explaining that the city council will not choose the next chief but will have input.