News

UPDATE: After press deadline April 2, owners of the Blue Bonnet Cafe, which is referenced in the full version of this article, announced they would be closing their doors due to the Coronavirus concerns.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Despite dining area closures, several Marble Falls area business have resolved to re-organize their operations, promote takeout service and alternative hours while keeping a smaller staff of personnel to try to weather the potential economic disaster prompted by the COVID-19 crisis.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

With the approval of the city council March 26, the Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation (EDC) approved assigning the entity's finance committee to coordinate a $100,000 small business loan program for qualified merchants devastated by safety requirements connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.

EDC, which operates on sales tax dollars, will make $88,000 available via an existing emergency fund, supplemented with an additional $12,000 potentially provided through the entity's Community Leverage Funds program.

UPDATE: On April 2, owners of the Blue Bonnet Cafe announced they would be closing their doors due to the Coronavirus concerns.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

As soon as Kate Heylman noticed the pop-up canopy in the Blue Bonnet Cafe parking lot on March 27, she did not hesitate to stop and place an order for biscuits and gravy.

“I bought a car in North Dakota two weeks ago and everything happened. I had heard about it (Bluebonnet Cafe), when I was planning my trip to Texas.”

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

The COVID-19 virus has entered into “community spread” in Burnet County and “it's a lot worse than our numbers show,” County Health Authority Dr. Juliette Madrigal warned Monday, March 30 during a special called Commissioners Court meeting.

Burnet County officials had announced this past weekend there are now three confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 originating in Burnet County and there are several tests still pending confirmation at this time.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Community spread is being called the cause of a third confirmed COVID-19 case in Llano County, Judge Ron Cunningham announced Sunday, March 29.

Local Health Authority Dr. Jack Franklin notified Cunningham and Llano Mayor Gail Lang at 10 a.m. Sunday there had been a third confirmed case of COVID-19 in Llano County and the patient's history “indicates this virus was contracted in a person-to person transmission which was not through household or known contact.”

The announcement moves Llano County into Phase 5 (Person-to-Person Spread in the Community) and Cunningham said the county “will be taking additional steps to contain and mitigate this virus in the most effective means available for Llano County.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

As of Sunday, March 29, Burnet County now has three confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the county and officials are continuing to expect more positive tests in the next few days, County Judge James Oakley said.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

A death, ruled a suicide, outside of a Horseshoe Bay pharmacy, has prompted support from the community for the owner and staff of the local business.

“We are still working with the police to determine what the suspect's motive was to choose our location for his actions,” Bay Pharmacy Owner Jason Pool said. “We have received overwhelming support from the community as this is a difficult time for us.”

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Ana Rodriguez expressed gratitude to the food services crew March 25, as she collected three curbside meals for her children March 25 at Marble Falls Middle School.

“This is very hard times right now,” she said. “It's very hard to find groceries for my kids to have healthy meals each day. It's very stressful.” …

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Although Marble Falls High School students remain at home, chemistry teacher Natalie Allen is cultivating a direct line of communication with her students and their parents – a direct connection online.

“First, all teachers either digitally or personally are at school today working on plans for school to continue virtually,” Natalie Allen said in a mass email to parents on March 25. …

By Connie Swinney and Lew K. Cohn
The Highlander

Burnet County officials, in cooperation with municipalities and the Burnet County Health Authority, opted March 25 to order “Stay in Place and Stay Safe” guidelines in response to growing concerns about minimizing the number of potential infections of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.