News

By Phil Reynolds

The Highlander

Llano city council members will go behind closed doors today, Tuesday, Jan. 16, to talk with their attorney about a police force that’s been reduced by half.

Three members of the eight-person force – Chief Kevin Ratliff, Sgt. Jared Latta and Patrol Officer Aimee Shannon — are on administrative leave with pay after a complaint charging official misconduct was lodged with the Llano County District Attorney’s office, District Attorney Sonny McAfee said.

This story updated at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Burnet County offices and many others across the region will be closed tomorrow it was announced this afternoon, as the National Weather Service, the Lower Colorado River Authority and the Pedernales Electric Cooperative continue today, Monday, Jan. 15, to expect severe winter weather to arrive soon.

Marble Falls city offices will not open until 10 a.m. tomorrow.

"Confidence continues to increase our region will see the development of widespread freezing precipitation beginning late tonight, continuing through late afternoon Tuesday as arctic air spreads south behind a cold front," said Bob Rose, LCRA chief meterologist.

The filling period for candidates for May 5, 2018, municipal and school board elections officially begins Wednesday, Jan. 17, and continues through Feb. 16.

Municipalities in Burnet County which will hold elections that date include Marble Falls, Burnet, Bertram, Granite Shoals, Meadowlakes, Highland Haven and Cottonwood Shores. Horseshoe Bay holds its municipal elections in November.

Both Marble Falls Independent School District and Burnet Consolidated Independent School District will also hold their school board elections on May 5.

Marble Falls ISD

A 56-year-old Llano woman’s death is being investigated after she had to be transported from the Llano County Jail to an Austin hospital, where she died Tuesday, Jan 2.

Cindy Lou Yonker died at Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin, where she was being treated for an undisclosed medical condition.

Yonker had been arrested for public intoxication at 3:20 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 24, by a Llano police officer after the officer and a Llano County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a disturbance call at Lowe’s grocery store, 104 W. Young, Llano.

Texas a 'Top 10' flu state

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

When is being a “Red State” a bad thing?

That would be when your state is coded red on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) flu activity map.

Texas is one of the 10 states that experienced high influenza-like illness (ILI) during week 50 of the current flu season.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Reports have been steady that things have been promising on the economic front in Marble Falls this year and the long-awaited downtown hotel/conference center seems to back on track.

“By just about every economic measurement, Marble Falls had a banner year in 2017,” said Christian Fletcher, executive director of the Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation in an end-of-year report posted online this last week.

In addition he said Thursday, Dec. 28, that the city's hotel/conference team has executed a term sheet with the operator.

The National Weather Service is continuing its travel advisory just south of the Highland Lakes for in this New Year's Day communique.

...Light Wintry Precipitation Continues Today...

...Prolonged sub-freezing temperatures for much of the area through Wednesday morning...

Area of Concern:

Wintry Precipitation: Rio Grande Plains, Southern Edwards Plateau, portions of the I-35 corridor generally south of New Braunfels

Sub-Freezing Temperatures: All of south central Texas.

Threats & Impacts:

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

With only two local races contested Burnet County Republican Primary, most of the candidates who attended the primary ballot order drawing Thursday night will move straight through the General Election into office.

“We have no local candidates from the Democrats,” said Donna Wilcox, county Republican chairwoman, brightly.

The gathering at the Burnet County Courthouse had the tone of the passing of the guard. Although Burnet County Clerk Janet Parker has no opposition, she said this would be her last race. She tearfully expressed her love for her job.

“I took office in 1991, but I came to work for the county in 1983,” Parker said. “After my next term, it will have been almost 40 years and time to step down. For now I have a few more goals I want to achieve. There's work to be done.”

Shoppers began buzzing in mid-December about a Feb. 9 opening for the new Marble Falls H-E-B and now the company's home office in San Antonio has sent out a timeline that been counting down since groundbreaking for the 111,000 square-foot store in April.

The grocery story is, indeed, set to open Feb. 9, with that month through May devoted to demolition of the old store and continuation of site construction. The old H-E-B fuel station closed mid-summer and a celebration of the conclusion of the entire project will follow completion of a new gas station this coming fall.

H-E-B first opened its doors in Marble Falls on May 1, 1966. The current location opened in 1990. Over the last 20 years, H-E-B has spent nearly $7 million to improve and enhance the store, expanding it to 75,841 square feet on 5.35-acres.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Volunteer firefighters are serving three free community meals on Saturday, Dec. 30.

Since the Burnet County Hunger Alliance (BCHA) was formed last year, volunteers have been pleased with progress in bringing together organizations that focus on delivering food to those who need it, with one notable gap—the holidays.

Some food pantry and meal programs are interrupted to allow volunteers time with families and for travel.

A new effort to fill the gap is gaining some traction this year with the help of the volunteer fire departments in Marble Falls, Cottonwood Shores and Spicewood.

“The firefighters have come to the rescue,” said Pam Rogers, one of the BCHA volunteers. “On Dec. 30 they will serve pancake meal at three different locations.”

The Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department was the first to step up, Rogers said.