News

by Alexandria Randolph

Llano County authorities are on their second manhunt in a week after a convicted felon allegedly drove a car into a building, stole another vehicle and assaulted two elderly Llano residents on Thursday, Sept. 25.

The Llano County Sheriff’s Office and City of Llano Police are searching for Edward Levi Adamson, 47, after authorities said he drove a white Chevrolet pickup through a garage at a home at the intersection of West Ellis Street and Ames Avenue near Llano Park in efforts to evade a traffic stop at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday night.

“A Llano City Officer was trying to make a traffic stop, and the pickup ran. The officer chased it to Badu Park where he crashed into a house. There was a female subject in the car. She was detained,” said Llano County Sheriff Bill Blackburn.

Brittany Trevino, reportedly a girlfriend of Adamson, was arrested on the scene for public intoxication.

by Alexandria Randolph

In honor of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Farm House Restaurant, owner Pat Heinecke said she is breathing life back to the Granite Shoals restaurant.

She has made several changes, including a refreshed menu, improvements to staffing and the addition of a new boutique.

“January will be my 20th year here,” she said. “Since it’s been here so long, a lot of people don’t know about it.”

The restaurant that sits at the corner of RR 1431 and Phillips Ranch Road has seen its share of celebrities, including patronage by Tommy Lee Jones, musicians Tammy Wynette and Chad Austin, and sports figure Drew Pearson, several of whom left signed memorabilia on the Farm House walls.

For the full story, see Friday's Highlander.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Highland Haven residents held an inaugural birthday party on Friday, Sept. 19, for William Fowler, a citizen who touches his small community every day.

City administration announced the party on its digital sign in front of city hall. Laura Bearden described her cousin’s reaction when he saw it.

“He said, ‘My name’s in lights!’”

William, 30, who is mildly mentally disabled, has lived in Highland Haven for at least 15 years. He is as good a citizen as his namesake, his grandfather William, who was loved by the community.

The Ladies’ Club has come to depend on him to set up tables for their annual rummage sale.

Bearden has known William since he was born. “He’s a hard worker, enthusiastic about everything he does,” she said, describing howWilliam helps residents and makes a few bucks too, by dog-and-cat sitting, watering flowers and helping to maintain Dove Park.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Factions of city leadership have varied viewpoints regarding funding to keep a functioning Horseshoe Bay Lighthouse, which one organization calls an “iconic symbol of the community.”

The Friends of the Horseshoe Bay Lighthouse committee and the Horseshoe Bay Property Owner’s Association board of directors first requested help from city leadership this spring. A fundraising gala is also planned for next month.

At the most recent meeting Tuesday, Sept. 16, Dianne Jones addressed a full council in public commentary, addressing the need for help funding repairs to the lighthouse.

“The lighthouse is a symbol of Horseshoe Bay that you have featured on the city’s website,” Jones said. “It’s there for citizens to enjoy.”

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

The leaders of small-town historical museums sometimes have to learn from each other to survive and flourish. In this spirit, Falls on the Colorado Museum board members hosted representatives from the San Saba County Historical Museum (SSCHM) on Tuesday, Sept. 23, to discuss the “Traveling Trunks” program and the possibility of launching one at the Marble Falls museum.

The Traveling Trunks program originated with the SSCHM, and proceeded through a partnership with its local library and funding from a Tocker Foundation grant.

And, although the two museums are different in size and their locations, both survive on donations of artifacts, time and money.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

It’s a niche hobby, but collecting unique buttons from historic times into the modern day is fascinating to some folks with an eye for beauty and appreciation of history. The eleven members of the Bluebonnet Button Club are hosting a regional meeting of aficionados and button dealers Saturday, Sept. 27.

“It’s a time for button friends to get together and buy buttons, trade and talk,” said Janet Graves, club member and event organizer from Marble Falls. Button collectors have both a state and nationwide organization, along with an official blue book of values.

by Alexandria Randolph

The Llano County Sheriff’s Office has identified the suspect wanted in a vehicular assault incident that occurred on Sunday, Sept. 21.

Rocky Drew McIntosh, 36, is wanted on charge of aggravated assault of a peace officer after allegedly backing a stolen truck into Sunrise Beach Police Chief Laurie Brock during a traffic stop.

McIntosh has been described by authorities as a white male, approximately six feet tall, and 200 pounds. He has brown hair and was last seen wearing black shorts, a baseball cap and carrying a dark colored backpack.

He has a history of resisting arrest and assault of a police officer, but does not appear to have any local connections, said a Llano County Sheriff’s Office news release.

For more on the story, see Wednesday's Llano County Journal or Friday's Highlander.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Even as the Marble Falls Independent School District added two new buses to its fleet last week, the department is still confronting equipment that is becoming outdated and in need of repair or replacement, according to discussions at the MFISD board of trustees meeting Monday, Sept. 15.

“I’m tickled to death about the new buses,” said George Hamilton, director of transportation. He said that a few routes are nearing their maximum capacity of students.

“Our bus fleet is aging: the fleet drives between 550,000-600,000 miles each year,” he added. The bus fleet has 53 buses that carry between 1,700 and 1,800 students each day, in addition to events and field trips. “We cover 265 square miles a day,” he said.

A new bus costs around $90,000, and buying refurbished buses is not a viable option, Hamilton said.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

At the Horseshoe Bay City Council meeting Tuesday, Sept. 16, a city budget was passed with the same property tax rate as last year, members discussed the FEMA floodplain study, extended the deadline for a proposed strip mall and focused on the possibility of a long-range planning committee.

“It took six months to put the budget together, now it’s up to staff to stay on budget,” said Mayor Steve Jordan. Residents will continue paying $0.25 per $100,000 property valuation. City officials expect more than $18.9 million in expenditures and more than $12.9 million in revenue, according to the budget, which is posted on the city's website.

The 2015 Fiscal Year plan includes more money for a technology initiative, for health insurance for city employees and $70,000 more for the ongoing water reuse effluent project, according to council discussions.