Granite Shoals Fire Rescue

By Nathan Hendrix
Staff Writer

Emergency Service District 3 agreed to an increase in money for the Granite Shoals Volunteer Fire Department to fill a funding gap left by a Burnet County Commissioners' decision to reduce payments to local volunteer agencies.

In 2019, commissioners reduced payments, with the intention of eventually eliminating funding, to area volunteer departments, which left the city of Granite Shoals looking for alternatives to maintain the level of service it provides for its citizens. …

Connie Swinney/The Highlander

Granite Shoals Capt. Chris Decker and Chief Gary Boshears, kneeling, worked together to gather gifts and books for the Fill the Boat Christmas campaign at the police station, 410 Phillips Ranch Road. Fill the Boat, which benefits Christmas Outreach, goes until Dec. 22. Drop off new, unwrapped toys in the parking lot or at the Granite Shoals Fire Hall, 8410 RR 1431.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

For San Antonio physician and Granite Shoals resident Kim Koster, the Highland Lakes is an ideal place for bicycling.

From staff reports

A 66-year-old Granite Shoals man has died after being struck by a commercial trailer being towed by a pickup on Farm-to-market Road 1431.

The accident happened just after 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 3 in the 8400 block of the highway, adjacent to Quarry Park in Granite Shoals.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Burnet County authorities have arrested a suspect in an illegal dumping investigation tied to several properties in a Prairie Creek Drive neighborhood, including one on Elm Creek Drive, where a blaze threatened homes three days after the man was taken into custody in the Brazos Valley.

Levi Dakota Baay, 19, of Bernard will face a state jail felony charge of illegal dumping (less than 1,000 pounds and/or 200 cubic feet). He was booked into the Robertson County Jail on Aug. 18. Baay was released on Aug. 20 after posting a $10,000 bond, according to jail records.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Granite Shoals Firefighters kept a fire at bay which destroyed a $1.3 million lakeside home and threatened at least two other residences on Lake LBJ, investigators reported.

This story has been updated For the Tuesday, April 17, edition of The Highlander.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

A newly remodeled lakefront home in Granite Shoals went up in flames fed by high winds that had Lake LBJ covered in whitecaps on Saturday, April 14.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Demolition of the old Marble Falls H-E-B Store began Wednesday, March 14, but before it went under the wrecking ball, the landmark store since 1966 provided one more service to its community.

It was stormed Monday by 34 local firefighters in practice drills seldom available anywhere.

“I have been in this business 32 years and have never had an opportunity like this,” said Marble Falls Fire Rescue Chief Russell Sander. “It is not just every day firemen can see a sprinkler system activated in a building over 75,000 square feet, perform forcible entry into locked or damaged roll-up doors or breach cinder block walls on an actual building.”

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

National Night Out (NNO) will be celebrated in Marble Falls and Granite Shoals on Tuesday, Oct. 3.

The annual community-building campaign promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.

Locally that national goal is taken up a notch with other first responders taking part in the night of family fun.

The Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD) will conduct their event from 5-7 p.m. on the 200 block of Main Street where the police station is located.

Vendors and sidewalk sales will be found on the street, but also free food, music, bounce houses for kids and more. It is a chance families and neighbors to visit with first responders in a casual setting.

All is well at Camp Champions in Highland Haven, following a fire in counselor housing on the campus.

About 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11, staff housed in an area apart from campers put in a call to Granite Shoals Fire Rescue, housed in a station just two miles from the camp. Within a half hour the fire was contained by units from Granite Shoals, Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) and Hoover Valley VFD.

One staff member required two stitches for a cut finger but, otherwise, there were no injuries, according to Susie Baskin, camp co-owner.

"Personal items were lost, but things can be replaced," said Baskin. "We were extremely blessed."

"The fire was apart from campers," said Baskin. "We notified parents immediately, but the campers heading home from this session still don't know it happened," said Baskin. "Later in the day Tuesday, everyone was back and work."