Granite Shoals Texas news

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."

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Almost every small community in the Highland Lakes is struggling with an invasion of deer and Granite Shoals residents gathered Saturday, June 27, to hear about the their city's effort—the only archer program certified in the state by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD).

About 65 citizens came to the Town Hall Meeting on Urban Deer, where the city's Wildlife Advisory Committee (WAC) reported on the first year of the pilot program. The committee had been formed in March 2014 on the recommendation of TPWD experts on urban deer who had urged two essential elements in reducing urban deer—community education and a “no deer feeding” ordinance.

If this meeting was any indication, the education effort has begun work.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

A Granite Shoals man was arrested Monday, June 12, on 16 counts of Sexual Assault of a Child, all alleged to have been committed against a single victim.

Offenses cited in the arrest of Jackie Lee Lett, 47, are alleged to have taken place from January through May this year.

Earlier this week, officers from the Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD) received notice from the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) regarding the allegations of sexual assault that occurred at a residence in the city, according to a statement released by GSPD Chief Gary Boshears.

“With the assistance of DFPS and the Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center, investigators gained sufficient evidence to seek arrest warrants against the suspect,” said Boshears. “Upon review of the evidence, City of Granite Shoals Municipal Court Judge Frank Reilly issued arrest warrants.”

Free meals for children and students are being served in school cafeterias and from food and book busses again this summer by the Child Nutrition Services of the Marble Falls Independent School District.

“Cafeterias at Marble Falls High School (MFHS) and Marble Falls Elementary School (MFES) are open to the public for meals that are free for ages one-18,” said Elizabeth Almazan of Child Nutrition Services. “Adults can eat a breakfast for $2 and lunch for $3.50.”

The MFHS cafeteria, 2101 Mustang Drive, will be open through June 30, with breakfast from 7:15-7:45 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m.-noon.

The MFES cafeteria, 1909 Broadway Street, will be open, except for July 4, through July 28, with breakfast from 7:15-7:45 a.m. and lunch from 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Busses with free food and books to enjoy this summer will stop at two locations for lunch (no breakfast) through July 29, except for July 4.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Granite Shoals City Council on Tuesday, May 23, resolved to name the city airport after its longtime manager, the late Robert T. “Bob” Sylvester.

Now to be known as Granite Shoals Bob Sylvester Airpark, the municipal field, bounded by Forest Hills, Mystic, Green Forest and Sherwood Forest drives, is to be formally changed to a Federal Aeronautics Administration (FAA) public designation.

“That will allow pilots to land without city manager permission,” said City Manager Ken Nickel. “Pilots will be able to turn on the lights for night landings, as well as using it in the daytime.”

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Granite Shoals City Council on Tuesday, May 9, passed a single resolution, one laying to rest their position on the 2004 annexation of the Green Valley Subdivision.

Ironically, it was a meeting not attended by Roy W. “Smiley” Settlemyre who has appeared before the council regularly over the years to protest the annexation, based on population density.

The council's Resolution 533 included the supporting documentation of ta 2014 review by City Attorney Brad Young. Also included was the decision of the Burnet Central Appraisal District's Appraisal Review Board in response to Settlemyre's claims there that city property taxes were improper.

Young, who was not city attorney at the time of the annexation, listed documentation he had reviewed for an opinion. Records on property in the original Sherwood Shores development and city annexations, back to 1978, were referenced.

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.

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.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

In an investigation still ongoing in Granite Shoals, Dustin Allen Badger, 27, is facing first degree felony charges of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and Sex Abuse of a Child Continuous of a victim younger than 14.

Badger was arrested on the first charge April 12, while victim outcry interviews were still underway at the Hill Country Child Advocacy Center. The Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD) requested cooperation from the press to delay coverage as the investigation continued.

Arrest on the second charge took place Monday night, April 17, and Tuesday the GSPD issued an official press release on the investigation of the young man with no prior assaultive or sex offenses on his record and, in Burnet County, only one previous arrest for driving with an invalid license.

The Annual Granite Shoals Easter Egg Hunt is set for Saturday, April 15, at Veterans Memorial Park at the south end of Phillips Ranch Road.

The hunt is sponsored by the Granite Shoals Police Officers Association (GSPOA) and Officer Bunny, an Easter addition to the force, will arrive before the scramble for 20,000 eggs begins at 10:30 a.m.

“Families will want to arrive at the park pavilion little ahead of time,” said Police Chief Gary Boshears. “We will have one area especially for children age five and younger.”

There will be some refreshments and the GSPOA will be selling chopped barbecue sandwiches, hot dogs, chips, and drinks after the hunt. Proceeds from the associations fundraisers are contributed to community non-profit efforts and defray the costs of equipment and training for the police department.