News

By Richard Zowie

The Highlander

Some make visits out to Los Angeles, California to try to make it in show business. Others go because they want to visit the Pacific Ocean or go to Disneyland.

David Vaughn, a police officer with the Horseshoe Bay Police Department, went to fulfill a longtime dream of competing on the television game show “Wheel of Fortune.”

“I started watching it when I was about seven,” said Vaughn, who worked as a police officer in Houston prior to moving to the Hill Country. “I’ve always been a fan of the show and liked trying to figure out puzzles. They reminded me of the Hangman kind of games we’d play as kids. People would come over and watch with me and tell me I was good and should try to get on.”

Vaughn spent five years filling out forms online and even submitted an audition tape two years ago.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The final Town Hall Meeting for Road Bond Confirmation Education will be held in Granite Shoals from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 14 at the fire hall on Ranch to Market Road 1431.

At the Granite Shoals City Council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 10, one citizen, Arturo Rubio, made it clear he still wants to know about studies and plans pertaining to the use of the money proposed for the project. That is the purpose of the Saturday meeting being conducted by Granite Shoals Road Bond Education Committee.

In the November General Election, citizens will be asked to reaffirm money already voted for the work.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

This has been Fire Prevention Week in the Highland Lakes and events of the observance will continue into coming days at Marble Falls and Granite Shoals elementary schools.

A proclamation by mayor John Packer at the Tuesday, Oct. 3,  meeting of the Marble Falls City council  drove home the theme: “Every Second Counts, Plan Two Ways Out!”

Fire Chief Russell Sander and Fire Marshal Tommy Crane were on hand for the proclamation.

“We will be in the schools with a Fire Safety House during the week,” said Crane. “Children can practice exiting drills in simulation.”

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

A representative of the Tobyville Community northwest of Marble Falls attended the Marble Falls City Council meeting Tuesday night, Oct. 3, to make it clear that health and economic threats from rock and gravel mining and processing are not limited to the southern borders of the city.

The window of opportunity for comments on an air quality permit application from Collier Materials, Inc. for the Tobyville area is more narrow as for the Asphalt, Inc. permit being considered near Baylor Scott & White Hospital.

A public information and comment meeting on Collier Materials, Inc.'s Proposed New Air Quality Permit No. 146397L001 will be conducted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24 at Holiday Inn Express, 714 Corazone Drive, in Marble Falls. Comments are due by that day.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Cottonwood Shores City Council threw their support into opposition to a gravel and concrete crusher operation in South Burnet County but again set aside a contentious debate in a meeting Oct. 5.

The council was in accord Sept. 21 when members approved the proposed property tax rate of $0.5438 per $100 valuation. That will be divided 33.21 cents for maintenance and operation (M&0) and 21.17 cents for the interest and sinking fund (I&S).

Also approved in that meeting was the 2017-2018 budget--$898,728 in general fund expenditures and $837,686 in utility fund expenditures—totaling $1,736,414.

The council has been divided over the need for an ordinance banning the feeding of deer and has looked at program proposed as an alternative that would educate residents on the need. That was set aside Sept. 21 and did not reappear on the agenda of the first meeting in October.

By Phil Reynolds

The Highlander

Watch out for the guy on the other side of the aisle, but also keep an eye on your friend from the city.

That was the advice from State Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, to about 50 constituents at the Kingsland Library on Wednesday, Oct. 4.

Murr, in his second term as a representative, led a lively conversation that ranged from problems with school funding to campaigning for Speaker of the House in the town hall-style meeting that ran from 4-:30 p.m.

A problem rural representatives like him face is that urban legislators far outnumber them, Murr said. He noted that of the 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives, 100 are from only 15 counties. That leaves the remaining 50 members to cover the rest of the state.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Public comment deadline for a proposed Air Quality Standard permit for a proposed rock crushing plant south of Marble Falls has been extended by three weeks until Oct. 31, state Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-Lakeway, said Friday.

Meanwhile, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will hold a 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, informational meeting about the Asphalt Inc. permit application at Lakeside Pavilion, 307 Buena Vista, Marble Falls, Buckingham said.

“To my constituents in Senate District 24 I hear you,” Buckingham said. “Many of you in the Marble Falls and surrounding areas have voiced your concerns and frustrations about a proposed rock crushing permit request and an inability, in some cases, to get your questions answered. That's why I reached out to the regulatory agency involved on your behalf demanding more transparency.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

Burnet Bulletin

Burnet County Precinct 2 Commissioner Russell Graeter stunned his colleagues Tuesday morning, Sept. 26, when he announced he would not seek re-election to a fifth term next year.

Graeter made his announcement during public comments at the regular Commissioners Court meeting.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Burnet County commissioners voted unanimously to accept $1.82 million from the Capital Area Council of Governments to upgrade the CAPCOG Western Counties Radio Interoperable Communications System used by Burnet, Blanco and Llano counties.

Also in their Tuesday, Sept. 26 meeting, commissioners also unanimously approved a contract with Motorola for upgrades to the 11 towers in the Western Counties system.