News

The National Weather Service NWS does not forcast the worst of weather threats for Burnet County but strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible today and Friday with concerns shifting to primarily heavy rainfall over the weekend, possibly resulting in flash flooding. 

At least moderate threats fall along and west of the I-35 corridor, the worst of which would be hail up to 2 inches in diameter and straight line wind gusts exceeding 60 mph. Rainfall could add up to from 1-3 inches with isolated 4-5-inch amounts possible from 7 a.m. Saturday-7 a.m. Monday.

Colt Elementary's fourth grade class celebrated the school's annual soapbox derby Friday. The cars down Manzano Mile on Friday morning.

Teacher Judy Large ran the event. One of the fastest cars was Lilly Parker's car.It was complete with a blowup palm tree.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Three new businesses on their way here were welcomed on social media Monday, May 8, by the Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation (EDC).

They are Donut Crown, Koko FitClub and Little Caesars Pizza.

Donut Crown received remodel permits in April for a summer opening at 316 North US 281 in Lakeview Plaza, according to Scarlet Contreras, city planning technician.

Koko FitClub is proposed for the Bealls complex at 1400 Ranch to Market Road 1431. The application and plans for a tenant finish out have been submitted and are under review by city staff, Contreras said.

The same is true of the Little Caesars franchise proposed for 1304 North US 281 in Highland Quarry Shopping Center.

Donut Crown is a retail bakery that got its start catering to the morning pastry crowd some 16 years ago in Austin.

In the print edition of The Highlander Tuesday, May 9, space did not allow for the full text of comments from winners in city elections in south Burnet County. A couple of candidates who came in behind their opponents had comments following the elections Saturday, May 6. The following here on HighlanderNews.Com are the thoughts they all shared.

Granite Shoals Mayor Carl Brugger

"I would like to thank Granite Shoals voters for electing me to a second term as mayor,”said Carl Brugger, who will return as mayor of Granite Shoals. “These results were only possible by the effort of my friends who supported my reelection efforts. I look forward to my next two years leading the council and working for the betterment of our community."

With the Saturday, May 6, General Election, the cities of Granite Shoals and Burnet have new mayors.

Carl Brugger was re-elected mayor of Granite Shoals by 228 votes (61.68 percent) of 368 votes cast to Mike Steenbergen’s 141 votes (38.32 percent). Of those numbers, Brugger received 98 early votes and Steenbergen 54 votes.

In a closer race, Crista Goble Bromley will be mayor of Burnet. She received 268 votes (55.37 percent) of 484 votes cast to Philip Thurman’s 216 votes (44.63 percent).

Three council members were unopposed: Anita Hisey in Place 1 (266 votes), Jim Davant in Place 3 (264 votes), and Todd Holland in Place 5 (268 votes).

Burnet

In the Burnet City Council race, 1,043 votes were cast. The top three candidates, to become council members, were Tres Clinton with 323 votes (30.97 percent); Paul farmer, 314 votes (30.11 percent), and Cindia Talamantez, 207 votes (19.85 percent).

Horseshoe Bay has added two new fire engines to serve the community..

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

When Anna Alene Williams returned home Wednesday, May 3, after a night away, there was no home to return to.

Her house at 2601 Kings Circle Drive in Granite Shoals had been gutted.

“Everything I own burned, all my papers, even my ID cards,” she said Thursday, surveying the ruins of her house and outbuildings. “I’ve lived here 30 years and it’s all gone.

“I got help with two nights in a motel, but tomorrow I am out with no place to go,” she said.

Williams has children in and around Burnet County, but she says none have room for her and her little Chihuahua dog.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The early voting total for all of Burnet County reached only 762 by end of day Tuesday, May 2, the last day of early voting for the Saturday, May 6, General Election.

That was the the combined total of 340 voters at the Marble Falls Burnet County Courthouse Annex at 810 Steve Hawkins Parkway and 422 voters at the main Burnet County Courthouse at 220 South Pierce Street on the Burnet square.

The number of voters interested in local elections pales in comparison to the 2016 record-breaking early voting. More than 20 percent of the county's then 29,556 voters cast an early ballot in the presidential race.

Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Despite approving only one action, the Granite Shoals City Council met almost until 11 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, as discussion wore on about topics such as camping regulations and the most recent water report from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Approved after a public hearing was the request for a replat of five lots into one lot on on the corner of Baker and Briar Way Drives in the Mystic Castle section of the Sherwood Shores Subdivision.

Greg Mayes of Cuplin and Associates represented Weldon Davis, owner of the property where a manufactured home is to be located in the Manufactured Housing-1 (MH-1) zoning district, with no variances requested.