News

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

City officials debated the possible merits Jan. 15 of passing proposed fees for the public using two city-maintained boat launch locations to access Lake Marble Falls.

Within the city limits, boaters can access Lake Marble Falls using a ramp on Lakeshore Drive in the Hays Addition and a boat ramp in Johnson Park on Backbone Creek.

The city, opting to expand the two existing ramps, has closed a third ramp in Lakeside Park, to help clear the way for a planned hotel/conference center on Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation property adjacent to the park at Buena Vista Drive and Yett Street.

Councilman Dave Rhodes said the city's parks improvements efforts which are underway and the potential for “user wear and tear” of the amenities prompted him to request consideration of fees.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

One thing is for certain: no one watching Wednesday's upcoming 8 p.m. episode of the hit CNBC game show “Deal or No Deal” will forget Marble Falls High School choir teacher Bryce Gage anytime soon.

By Savanna Gregg
Staff Writer

Area high school students are invited to apply for Government-in-Action Youth Tour, a 10-day trip to Washington, D.C. in June sponsored by the Central Texas Electric Cooperative, on which students have the opportunity to learn about the government, explore the historical Capitol city, and meet new friends.

The CTEC covers airfare, hotel stay, meals and attractions on the trip, which gives students the chance to build leadership skills through social interaction and educational experiences.

Students will tour memorials, monuments, and museums in Washington, D.C., as well as participate in a dinner and dancing cruise on the Potomac River, attend a performance at the Kennedy Center, and explore many parts of the important city.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Authorities are searching for suspected ATM machine thieves, who stole 10s of thousands of dollars in cash using “cloned” gift cards in a two-night period at the same Horseshoe Bay bank, according to the police report.

“We found out that it happened two nights in a row,” Horseshoe Bay Police Chief Rocky Wardlow said. “We have a vehicle description. There's more than one of them.”

The case unfolded around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 9., as an officer drove past the First Capital Bank of Texas, in the 6900 block of Ranch Road 2147.

“He saw a vehicle at the ATM there at bank. He went back to check it,” Wardlow said. “He didn't have probable cause to stop them but followed them.”

The officer reported the vehicle left the city and headed east on Texas 71.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Flooding, fire and the loss of the beloved Bluebonnet Belle topped headlines in The Highlander for 2018.

Historic flood event

Special to The Highlander
Marble Falls ISD has introduced STEAM Academy for the 2018/19 school year. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.

The first program consists of approximately 75 6th-grade students, with the program coordinated out of Spicewood Elementary School. 

Each year school officials plan to add another grade of students until the program includes 8th grade students.  The goal of the STEAM Academy is "to offer integrated learning of the core academics through the lens of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math." 

Coordinators believe that learning should be engaging and cross-curricular while focusing on real-world learning opportunities. 

The daily schedule will offer combined academic classes, art, music theater, pe, technology, Project Lead the Way, as well as a specific PBL (problem based learning) class. 

From staff reports

The City of Bertram amended requirements for a reserve police officer position and approved the separatation agreement with former police chief JJ Wilson at their Dec. 18 City Council meeting.

By Richard Zowie
Staff Writer

Lucio “Roy” Atkinson arrived at Estes Audiology on Dec. 26 to receive a belated Christmas gift.

Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

From the 2016 drama “Shotgun Honey” to the biographical disaster flick “Jon,” Marble Falls city officials want to try to coax more filmmakers to the area for the economic benefits and to potentially cultivate a new industry to the community.

To that end, the city recently earned the designation as a Certified Film Friendly Community (CFFC) by the Texas Film Commission (TFC), a division of the Texas Office of the Governor.

To gain certification, city representatives attended a day-long workshop in 2016 to learn about the production process and best practices for working with the film industry and developed TFC-approved film policy which the city has adapted into an ordinance.

“It's general exposure to Marble Falls as a destination,” Assistant City Manager Caleb Kraenzel said. “Marble Falls is now a very browsable community that pre-production can go into.”

From Staff Reports

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is warning New Year's Eve revelers to stay sober and following traffic laws or face starting the new year with jail time and fines.

DPS troopers will be out in force on Texas 71, Texas 29, U.S. 281 and FM 1431 throughout the Highland Lakes area Dec. 31 and Jan 1.

The agency is targeting drunk drivers, speeders, seat belt violators and other dangerous drivers.

"The holidays are a wonderful time of year, and it's up to each and every Texan to be responsible behind the wheel so that everyone makes it home safely to their family during the holidays," said DPS Director Steven McCraw. "Along with other law enforcement partners across the state, DPS will be out in force to identify and remove dangerous drivers from Texas roadways this holiday season."