News

Richard Zowie/The Highlander

After receiving their diplomas and switching their tassels from left to right, the Marble Falls High School Class of 2018 send their mortarboards through the air to celebrate their high school graduation on June 1. For more pictures of this event, turn to page 5A of the print version of the June 5 Highlander. 

Horseshoe Bay Fire Department rescue hearts in Ace Hardware with Puff the dog. Those present are, from left, Engineer Keith Payne, Firefighter Chase Higginbotham, Firefighter Jonathan Lewis (holding Puff), Captain Josh Nail and Lt. Kyle Schmidt.

The first of four weeks of free concerts will soon arrive in Marble Falls, in the form of Boogie at the Bay 2018.

The events will be at the Horseshoe Bay Property Owners grounds at Quail Point.

Each performance will be on Wednesdays, starting tomorrow, at 6 p.m.

Bring your blanket, beverage and buddies to enjoy the fun,” said Francie Dix, one of the event organizers.

Among those performing will be:

June 6: BRutherz Band. Burrel and Ross Rutherford now live in the Hill Country after growing up in southwestern Kansas. Their music focuses on traditional country. They are releasing a new album this year.

BRutherz are singer/songwriters.

June 13: Courtney Reed Band. Based in Llano, this band combines country with blues and acoustic rock.

June 20: Sonny Wolf Blues Band. This band is based out of Austin.

June 27: Geri Hat Trix.

A Llano County man convicted on two charges of crimes against children will spend the rest of his life in prison.

A jury in Llano convicted 69-year-old Billy Rousch of two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Each charge carried a possible sentence of five to 99 years or life in prison.

It took the jury approximately an hour to reach the decision that Roush should serve life in prison for each of two offenses charged in the Llano indictment.

Judge Evan Stubbs then sentenced Roush to two life sentences which were then “stacked” sentences so they must be served consecutively, plus Rousch was assessed two $10,000 fines.

The minimum time before he could be eligible for parole would be in the year 2077, 59 years from now, when Rousch would be 128.

Assistant District Attorney Stacy Burke and District Attorney Sonny McAfee prosecuted the case. Roush was represented by Austin Shell and Michael Williams, of the Shell and Shell law firm.

Richard Zowie/The Highlander

Pushed by Gael Gonzalez, Avrie Wallace in the red car takes on Alysia Knight in the green car (pushed by Payton Dunk). These were among the many races on Manzano Mile May 25 as Colt Elementary School students competed in soapbox car races. For more pictures of this race, go to Page A6.

A Burn Ban has been issued effective immediately by Fire Marshal Crane for the City of Marble Falls.

According to officials, the Burn Ban will remain in effect until the area receives significant rain.

Accuweather is reporting Marble Falls for most of June and July to be hot and dry, with some showers tentatively predicted for late July.

Drought.gov reports that “abnormal dryness” or “drought” are currently affecting around 59 percent of the Texas state population.

Most of Burnet County is currently classified as being under no drought.

Chicago, Illinois—Government Finance Officers Association has announced the City of Marble Falls, Texas, has received GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its budget.

Officials say the award represents “a significant achievement by the entity. It reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation.”

These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity's budget serves as:

A policy document;

A financial plan;

An operations guide;

A communications device.

Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories, and in the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.

Richard Zowie/The Highlander

Sarah Cauble received a $2,500 Priest Holmes Foundation Scholarship. Former Houston Oiler Gary Cutsinger and his wife, Pam, presented her with the the scholarship.

Llano County Precinct 3 Commissioner Mike Sandoval hopes by June 25 to have started a process to make a Kingsland intersection safer.

Sandoval explained the process to a crowd of around 60 at a precinct town hall meeting on Tiesdau, May 29. He’s referring to where Ranch Road 1431, Altman Street and Chamberlain Street all come together, making what he calls an extremely dangerous intersection.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander