News

By Alexandria Randolph

Forecasts show more rain for the area after the Highland Lakes received on Wednesday, Sept. 17, just under four inches and the Austin area a total of 6.01 inches, creating high-water incidents in which a law enforcement officer has gone missing.

A Travis County deputy remains missing after heavy rains caused flash flooding in the Austin area. The deputy was reported to have been checking a low water crossing in the 3400 block of Fritz Hughes Park Road when she made a call to dispatch at 1:52 a.m. to say that she and her vehicle were being swept away in high water.

As of Thursday afternoon, Sept. 18, Travis County authorities have located her vehicle, a patrol sedan but not the deputy, who has not been named.

Southbound lanes on the US 281 bridge in Marble Falls were temporarily closed at about 1 p.m. this afternoon due to an accident at the First Street intersection.

Northbound traffic was backed up on the bridge for about 15 minutes. Marble Falls Police and EMS responded to the scene. At 1:30 p.m., authorities began allowing southbound traffic through.

Emily Hilley Sierzchula/Staff

Kinky Friedman, musician, author and former Texas gubernatorial candidate, visits with fellow Democrats and signs autographs at the Kingsland Library Saturday, Sept. 13. “I’ll sign anything but bad legislation,” he said. Friedman was in the area on an invitation from the Llano County Democrats.

by Alexandria Randolph

Friends and family members are rallying around a Round Mountain teen who was critically injured in an accident on US 281 last week.

Kelsey Spillman, 18, remains in an Austin area hospital after being injured in a vehicle accident on Friday, Aug. 29, when rainy conditions are being blamed for the hydroplaning that led to the crash.

Friends of Spillman are having a garage sale this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20-21, at 616 Pecan Lane in Cottonwood Shores starting at 8 a.m. All proceeds are going into a “Kelsey Spillman” benefit account at the American Bank of Texas in Marble Falls.

Donations can be sent directly to the account at American Bank C/O Lisa Martz - 418 Main Street/PO Box 888, Marble Falls TX 78654.

The group is also taking garage sale donations and will pick up items. To donate items, contact Kimberlee Kohutek at 214-236-3813.

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

by Alexandria Randolph

Marble Falls officially became the home of the Save The World Brewing Company with a grand opening and ribbon cutting of the brewery facilities and tasting room Saturday, Sept. 13.

The brewery not only produces Belgian style beers, but also donates funds to charities, including Food for the Hungry, Meals on Wheels Association of America and the Highland Lakes Habitat for Humanity.

Quynh Rathkamp, who co-owns the company with husband, David, said the grand opening celebration as “the culmination of everything we’ve worked so hard for. We’ve completed the building, completed the tasting room, and gotten the proposition passed,” she said. “We’re now fully loaded and ready to run. We’re thankful for the support of family, friends and the community. We hope this gives back to the community by bringing people here. We hope to be a contributing member of the community.”

For the full story, see Tuesday's Highlander.

by Alexandria Randolph

The First Annual Marble Falls Antique Crawl will take place Saturday, Sept. 20, with 22 local stores participating and few spaces left available.

An anonymous group organized the event to offer shopping experience to residents and visitors, and participants will see discounts from 10 to 50 percent off on antiques, unique art and oriental rugs. Tickets are already sold out for this inaugural event, but organizers can squeeze a few more in.

“This is the cream of Marble Falls shopping,” said Peyton Wolcott, event organizer. “Nobody has ever done anything this large before.”

by Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

After almost six months of negotiations, the Cottonwood Shores Volunteer Fire Department (CSVFD) chief and the Cottonwood Shores mayor are attempting to iron out contractual differences.

The current fire department/city contract will expire Sept. 30, leaving little time left for fine-tuning on the agreement.

The Cottonwood Shores City Council is expected to address the issue at a regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, Sept. 18, while the CSVFD board of directors will discuss it tonight, Tuesday, Sept. 16, at a special meeting.

“We’re in a state of flux as far as the contract goes,” Mayor Donald Orr said Monday, Sept. 15.

Back during the council’s Aug. 21 meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Sherry had presented the contract to citizens and Judy Pace, president of the CSVFD board of directors, as a final product awaiting signatures from the department.

For the full story, see Tuesday's Highlander.

by Alexandria Randolph

While the tribulations of those who nearly escaped the grasp of Hurricane Katrina are long behind, a local church recently celebrated the ninth anniversary of its transplant from the urban hub of New Orleans to the quiet countryside of Burnet County.

For Pastor Willie Monnet, the plan that God had for Smoking For Jesus Ministries was nothing short of miraculous.

“We only took clothes for three days,” he said, remembering their evacuation. Hurricanes had affected the Louisiana coastline regularly in the past, and residents had become accustomed to the storm warnings and evacuations.

“The previous year we ran from a storm that didn’t produce anything,” Monnet said.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Children of veterans who have died on active duty since 9/11 will benefit from the second annual Thunder on the Dam event Saturday, Sept. 20. Organizers expect more than 100 motorcycle riders from all over the state to participate in the ride around the Hill Country.

“Last year it was 99 miles, but this year it will be 80-something miles,” said Sean O’Brien, assistant road captain for the American Legion Riders and event organizer. “It’s not that it was too far, for a motorcycle rider -- 99 miles is nothing. But, it got kind of long because we stop along the way to support local businesses.”

This year, the American Legion has raised $1 million nationwide for the Legacy Scholarship Fund. Altogether, $30,000 has been raised locally since the program began, O’Brien said.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Tucked away in a strip mall in Cottonwood Shores is a gem of a new business -- a nail salon and spa with an enthusiastic owner who is seeking new customers while continuing to work hard to keep existing customers happy.

Thi Nails & Spa Salon, which opened its doors at the end of June, is named after the owner’s one-year-old daughter, and also a historical person in Vietnam who is known for being beautiful, said owner Linh Tran.

“I liked the name,” she said.

After 10 years of working for her uncle at a nail salon in Marble Falls, Tran knew she was taking a chance as a new small business owner. “People told me I might spend money [to get the business started] and lose,” she said. Undeterred, she called her father in Vietnam and he encouraged her, saying: “It’s time for you.”

Getting her business started was a whirlwind: “In 10 days we had the place set up and bought all my supplies,” she said.