News

Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

A suspect has been identified in six car burglaries that took place in Marble Falls from March 14-15.

Surveillance camera footage captured an image of the burglar, but the image was as much use in tracking down the suspected perpetrator as working leads in the case, according to Sgt. Investigator Barry Greer.

“We hope to have arrest warrants sworn out today,” he said just before the department reported in force to Mormon Mill Road where a suspicious package had been found Monday, March 19.

Then, Tuesday, MFPD Capt. Glenn Hanson confirmed at least one warrant had been issued and apprehension of the suspect is in progress.

“The burglaries happened in five or six different areas of town,” said Greer. “In every case, the vehicles were unlocked.”

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

A pair of separate pursuits involving the Marble Falls Police Department this past weekend landed two individuals in the Burnet County Jail on assorted charges.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

UPDATE: In addition to finding the package not a threat, the investigation determined it was not left with malicious intent, only the remains of a school egg drop project left in the cleaning of an automobile.

An investigation continues by the Marble Falls Police Department into a suspicious package found at the car wash in the 1600 block of Mormon Mill Road about 11:45 a.m. Monday.

The package was cleared by explosive ordinance technicians from the Austin Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety, who were transported quickly to the scene via APD helicopter.

“It was determined this was not an explosive, but it still is a suspicious package to be left where it was,” said Criminal Investigations Capt. Glenn Hanson. “We don't know if it was placed there intentionally to cause a reaction by law enforcement or if it is something innocent.

The emergency has been declared "all clear." See the new story here on HighlanderNews.com.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Mormon Mill Road traffic in Marble Falls was blocked Monday due to the report of a suspicious package at the car wash on that street that turned out to be nothing harmful.

The Marble Falls Police Department kept traffic cordoned off for the arrival of a Austin PD bomb disposal unit, which determined the “package” was not a bomb.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The inquest into the October death of Sherry Kay Lesley, founder of GG Ganache in Marble Falls, has been closed with a finding of “accidental drowning,” according to a press release late Thursday, March 8, from Horseshoe Bay Chief of Police Rocky Wardlow.

Autopsies are frequent in cases of unattended deaths, and the HSBPD investigation had to remain open, pending a final determination by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office. That finding was “death by accidental drowning” and Wardlow said his department had found nothing to contradict it.

Lesley's husband Kent discovered her body in a bathtub in their home at 288 La Serena Loop on Oct. 22 last year. The HSBPD responded to his 9-1-1 call at 7:15 a.m.

According to a statement from the chief later in the investigation, the couple had attended a social function together on Saturday night, Oct. 21.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Jury selection begins Monday, March 19, for the trial of Charles N. Linzey in the 2016 traffic collision that led to the death of Nancy Parrish, 77, a former Burnet County administrative assistant.

Parrish was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision on Oct. 18, 2016 on US 281, just past the entrance to Delaware Springs Golf Course. Michael Peyton, traveling with Linzey in an F-150 pickup, was transported by AirEvac with serious injuries.

Parrish's granddaughter, Michelle Light, then 34, was assessed at the time to be less seriously injured. She was the driver of the Chevy Tahoe in which the two were traveling.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The City of Meadowlakes has joined the ranks of cities that will not have to hold an election, leaving only Granite Shoals and Bertram with May 5 balloting.

Mike Scott, who had announced he would run against incumbent Mike Barry, withdrawn from the race last week.

Since James Woods had stepped out when Mary Ann Raesener announced her intention to run again, the council make up is settled. Incumbents Reasener, Barry and Jerry Drummond will continue to serve.

Granite Shoals

In Granite Shoals, The Highlander will sponsor a forum for candidates in the two contested races.

The forum will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 21, at the fire hall, 8410 West Ranch to Market Road 1431.

The withdrawal Feb. 22 of Michael Steenbergen from the race for Place 4 on the city council has left Terry Scott and Ryan Wolters to the contest.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Demolition of the old Marble Falls H-E-B Store began Wednesday, March 14, but before it went under the wrecking ball, the landmark store since 1966 provided one more service to its community.

It was stormed Monday by 34 local firefighters in practice drills seldom available anywhere.

“I have been in this business 32 years and have never had an opportunity like this,” said Marble Falls Fire Rescue Chief Russell Sander. “It is not just every day firemen can see a sprinkler system activated in a building over 75,000 square feet, perform forcible entry into locked or damaged roll-up doors or breach cinder block walls on an actual building.”

By Richard Zowie

The Highlander

Anyone driving on the road behind the Marble Falls High School Auditorium on March 14 might have mistaken Dan Kramer, of the Marble Falls Area Fire Department, for an eager shopper trying to get ahead for the 2018 Christmas Tree season.

Working with several men with power tools and other devices used for trimming brush and shrubbery, Kramer carried a freshly-cut tall green shrub towards the road.

But instead of strapping it to the top of a vehicle or into a truck bed and taking it home to decorate, Kramer took the shrub to a wood chipper.

Soon, machine reduced the dark green shrub into mulch.

Kramer and the rest of those with him, including members of the Marble Falls Fire and Rescue, were creating a “defensible space” at the high school that will help protect the school from any future wild fires.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Anyone interested in joining the Granite Shoals Senior Citizens Program is invited to a meet-and-greet event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20.

It will take place at the Granite Shoals Community Center, 1208 North Phillips Ranch Road.

Seniors age 55 and older are invited to share morning coffee and pastries and bring a brown bag lunch to stay for four hours or drop in any time.

There will be games of your own choosing, door prizes and a chance to weigh in on future weekly events or add to a fledgling lending library.

Although the program is not officially operated by the city, the moving forces behind its organization have been Fran Rubin of the Parks Committee and her husband Richard of the Street and Water Advisory Group.