News

By Nathan Hendrix
Staff Writer

The Marble Falls Independent School District school board last week weighed the benefits and drawbacks of relocating the newly-founded STEAM Academy to Marble Falls Middle School for the 2019-2020 school year.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

The name Dorothy Crockett became synonymous with Horseshoe Bay, thanks in large part to her tireless chronicles of the comings and goings of local residents through her weekly “Horseshoe Bay Happenings” column in The Highlander.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

A Waco company will be making upgrades to the Burnet County Jail security system that will have the jail using manual controls for about a week during the installation.

After hearing a quick presentation from Sydaptic Inc., the Burnet County commissioners on Wednesday, Jan. 23, approved contracting with the company for $695,137 to install new hardware and software controls at the jail on Polk Avenue (Texas 29).

Sypdatic did not submit the lowest overall bid, but did submit what officials believed to be the best bid overall. Jail Capt. Matt Kimbler told commissioners a committee which studied bids submitted for the work recommended going with Sydaptic because of the amount of time the system would be down.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Llano County investigators believe a man suspected in the stabbing death of a 49-year-old Kingsland woman may have caused his own life-threatening injuries.

A neighbor in the 200 block of Ridgeway called 9-1-1 around 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19 in Kingsland, according to a press release from the Llano County Sheriff's Office.

“The caller claimed a man showed up at his door with injuries. Deputies were dispatched to the scene and through an initial investigation and talking to the injured man, determined that a homicide occurred at a residence in the 300 block Ridgeway Street,” the release stated. “A female victim was found at that residence.”

The victim was identified as 49-year-old Rachel Mansell.

Investigators were dispatched to the scene and determined the case to be a “homicide.”

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

From water and infrastructure provisions to public health and safety response, an upcoming Marble Falls Town Hall Meeting will examine the municipality's response and community's recovery in the wake of the October flood event.

The Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for 6 pm. on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at the Marble Falls Public Safety Facility (police station/municipal court building), 606 Avenue N in Marble Falls.

“We'll discuss the incident, the response and the recovery,” Assistant City Manager Caleb Kraenzel said. “How did the city do? What feedback? How we can do better?”

On Oct. 16, flood waters from the Llano River rushed into the Highland Lakes submerging lakeside homes and damaging private property as well as some public roadways and city infrastructure. Along with the city of Marble Falls, community's impacted by flood waters included Cottonwood Shores, Granite Shoals, Horseshoe Bay and Kingsland.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

After nearly a week of being in-service Marble Falls Fire Rescue personnel noticed the benefit of the entity's new squad response SUV.

“It's a better use of resources,” Marble Falls Fire Capt. Sam Stacks said. “It's going to improve our customer service.”

Crews placed the response vehicle in service the morning of Jan. 15.

“So far, it's working great,” Marble Falls Fire Engineer Randy Rankin said. “It's putting less wear and tear on the engine.

“It's also much easier to maneuver.”

Along with the new SUV, the department received a $553,968 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant.

The grant increases the number of firefighters within the agency, adding one to each shift. Each shift will staff five firefighters. The new crew members were sworn in on the same day the vehicle went into service.

From staff reports

Two individuals have filed for election so far to the Marble Falls City Council, according to City Secretary Christina McDonald.

The filing period for the Saturday, May 4, city and school board elections began Wednesday, Jan. 16, and continues through Feb. 15.

By Nathan Hendrix
Staff Writer

In the Boys & Girls Club of the Highland Lakes' time of need, the community of Marble Falls stepped up to the plate and put food on it, but there is work that still needs to be done.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Marble Falls High School choir director Bryce Gage came home from his appearance on CNBC's “Deal or No Deal” with an additional $69,000 and a new 55-inch flat-screen TV he won on the hit game show — a nice haul for his time with host Howie Mandel. He also can say he tied an NBA basketball player in a shooting contest.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Burnet County commissioners will hold a public hearing at 5:05 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, about applying for a $350,000 Community Development Block Grant for removal of October 2018 flood debris.

Commissioners voted Tuesday, Jan. 15, to contract with Langford Community Management Services, a Leander-based firm, to administer and provide project-related management services for the county's grant application. Langford has provided grant administration services to a number of local entities, including several block grants for the City of Marble Falls.

The Jan. 22 public hearing will allow citizens the opportunity to discuss all aspects of the Texas Community Development Block Grant program, which is part of the Texas Department of Agriculture. Discussion topics include citizen participation, past CDBG fund use, eligible CDBG activities and amount of funding available.