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Amy Prayer

Highland Lake Newspapers

John Ballard, 48, of Burnet along with his female pit bull escaped his mobile home that caught fire Saturday, Feb. 25.

Burnet Fire Department (BFD) was alerted of the fire at 5:20 p.m., located at 101 Valley Drive in Burnet. When they arrived six minutes later Ballard's home was completely engulfed in flames and was a total loss.

“It only took three to four minutes for my house to burn from end to end,” said Ballard.

Although the fire was not out of control BFD called for assistance with water from Bertram and Cassie Volunteer Fire Departments who arrived with tankers.

With the help of 13-20 firefighters on scene firefighters were able to have the fire composed by 6:02 p.m.

During his investigation, Fire Marshal John Paul Erskine was able to find the source of the fire.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Burnet County commissioners set a historic precedent last year by selling tax notes to raise money for special road improvements in the county. On Tuesday, Feb. 28, commissioners voted how to distribute those funds, choosing a method which splits funds more closely in line with the taxable values of the four precincts, yet also allows for a little more equitable distribution of funds.

Last year, commissioners voted to approve issuance of $5.85 million in bonds to pay for road projects outside the normal scope of the work they do, based on estimates provided to the court by KC Engineering. Burnet County Judge James Oakley said the issuance of these bonds “doesn't affect the tax rate.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

The Highland Lakes Golf Club course at Inks Lake State Park has sat idle for nearly seven years since the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department opted not to continue its use in November 2010. As visitation to the park continues to grow among day users, the 60-acre lakeside tract where the golf course sat is prime real estate where improvements can be made to the park.

Park Superintendent Cory Evans met Tuesday morning with Burnet County commissioners to discuss TPWD plans for the old golf course, which are part of the park's public use plan, which should be completed later this year.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Free child car seat inspections will be going on at the Marble Falls Area Emergency Medical Service (MFAEMS) will be going on Saturday, March 4, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

The EMS station is located at 609 Industrial Boulevard in Marble Falls. The last appointment will begin at 1:30 p.m. the the child to be fitted must be present.

To schedule an appointment, call 830-693-7277.

Some assistance is available for families in need who must acquire or replace a car seat.

Every child younger than age eight and shorter than four-feet-nine-inches tall travel in a federally-approved child car seat. Fines from $25 for the first offense up to $250 for subsequent offenses are little compared to the heartache of injury or death of a child.

By Glynis Crawford Smith/The Highlander

Children have been scrambling over a new playscape in Marble Falls Johnson Park, but the maze of new playground equipment will be officially opened with a ribbon cutting at noon Saturday, March 4.

“It is wonderful to see children enjoying the new feature,” said Parks & Recreation Director Robert Moss. “We want to invite the public to share in the ribbon cutting.”

In 2016 Johnson Park was designated a Lone Star Legacy Park by the Texas Recreation and Parks Society (TRAPS), in part for its heritage of serving the whole community since 1888.

“The new playscape will continue to offer park visitors an opportunity to make memories under the iconic pecan trees,” said Moss.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The 58th annual Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet was a sold-out affair, honoring the best of chamber members and volunteers and ending with a night of casino games.

Four of the awards were for individuals or organizations in the community.

Citizen of the Year was shared by Jim and Debbie Gallagher of the Burnet County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Stuart and Rebecca Nunnally shared the Lifetime Achievement Award and Innovator of the Year Award went to Alex and Kathy Payson, owners, of Numinous Coffee Roasters.

A drill carried out Feb. 23 in the City of Horseshoe Bay simulated an "active shooter" event.

Conducted by the Horseshoe Bay Police Department (HSBPD), and Horseshoe Bay Fire Department (HSBFD), the simulation brought employees, as well as Marble Falls Area Emergency Medical Service (MFAEMS) ambulance crews into a scenario with gunmen and explosives.

“This training will allow the individual agencies to coordinate and respond with one another to a simulated active shooter situation and later evaluate their collaborative response,” said HSBPD Chief Rocky Wardlow.

“This joint training will assist our agency in reducing the risk to our firefighters by incorporating procedures, training, and protective equipment, while providing rapid stabilization, treatment, and evacuation of the wounded despite hazardous conditions that would otherwise delay treatment,” said HSBFD Chief Joe Morris.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD) will be moving to the cutting edge of technology in body cameras thanks to a donation from local citizen Robert Ruff.

At the meeting of the Marble Falls City Council Feb. 21, the formal approval of a $50,000 donation was passed with Mayor John Packer's thanks to Ruff. With the donation, budgeted money for the year and other funds designated for equipment, the MFPD should deploy the new $127,683 system before the year is out.

“We are no strangers to audio/video recording in Burnet County,” said Detective Sgt. Tom Dillard. “We have used in-car cameras since the mid-1990s.”

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

A May 30 jury trial date has been set for the former general manager of Cecil Atkission Motors in Burnet, who was indicted for theft of money from his former employer.

Kirk Edmond Hagen, 39, of Bertram, waived arraignment Wednesday, Feb. 22. A status hearing on his case has been set for March 31 with a plea deadline of May 19.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Granite Shoals City Council Member Anita Hisey summed up the situation in a special called meeting Monday night, Feb. 20: “We're in a pickel.”

The meeting was called after the council heard the report Feb. 14 that major U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding of a project to rennovate the city's three main traffic arteries is a virtual impossibility.

Lengthy pre-application consults with a USDA representative indicated the city was qualified for a 55-45 match. On the strength of those talks, the city council proposed a $6.8 million, three-road project with $3 million in city bond money as a match. The citizens voted “yes” in November.