Granite Shoals Texas news

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

A mobile forgery operation and drug contraband were confiscated by the Granite Shoals Police Department (GSPD) Friday, Dec. 2, when officers arrested a Longview woman and her female transient companion.

“We see lots of forgeries and credit card fraud, but this is the first time we have seen a whole mobile operation going on,” said GSPD Chief Gary Boshears.

“The Dollar General store staff called us Thursday night,” said the chief. “The two women had tried to make a purchase with a check the store declined and reported as a possible fraudulent check The two suspects left, but the staff provided a description of them and their vehicle.”

Officers quickly located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on Ranch to Market Road 1431 near the intersection with Farm to Market Road 1980.

Predictions of possible rain have the City of Granite Shoals cancelling the lighting ceremony for Christmas by the Highway tonight, Friday, Dec. 2.

A “light brigade” of volunteers assembled and appied finishing touches to its annual light display and set tonight for the ceremony at 6 p.m. That will not take place, according to City Manager Ken Nickel.

Work that began Monday, Nov. 28, went on each day to erect displays on Ranch to Market Road 1431.

“We worked from 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. every day until the displays are complete,” said Donna Maier, chairwoman of the Granite Shoals Beautification Advisory Group.

Work went on for some time behind the scene, but the first visible sign went up Monday, Nov. 21, when three Pedernales Electric Cooperative bucket trucks arrived to install the tall light trees that punctuate the ensemble of thousands of lights.

Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The annual Joseph's Pantry Feast of Thanksgiving expects to serve more than 300 families, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19.

The event will be held at Highland Lakes Elementary School on H.A. Barnett Drive at Ranch to Market Road 1431.

“We will be Serving a hot plate of turkey with side dishes and also distributing a shopping cart of food items to any family that needs help with a holiday dinner,” said Roy Guerrero of Joseph's Pantry. “The cart will include bread, pastries, canned foods, produce items, dairy products, eggs, drinks and other items.”

No application is necessary, Guerrero said. Volunteers will be outside the school cafeteria ready to help load the holiday food.

“We invite everyone to come out and enjoy fellowship and the praise and worship music by Smoking for Jesus Ministries,” Guerrero said. “It is all sponsored by God, Joseph's Food Pantry, local churches and H-E-B.”

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Citizens of Granite Shoals said “yes” Tuesday, Nov. 8, to a $3 million bond issue for major roadway refurbishment but defeated a No Deer Feed Ordinance by a scant seven votes.

The vote of 1,170 citizens was 66.92 percent in favor of the road bond—783, “yes” to 387, “no.”

It is the strong possibility of qualifying for a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant in a 45-55 match, boosting the project from a single road to all three north-south arteries in a $6.8 million project.

“I will be meeting with the USDA next week to develop a road map to move forward,” said City Manager Ken Nickel on Wednesday.

Curiously, 11 of the road bond voters took no stand on a deer feeding ban, a question that failed with 583 voting, “no,” to the ordinance and 576, “yes” votes. Although the council had approved the ordinance, a petition to go to the ballot intervened its implementation and it will not go into effect.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Veterans from every branch of the service and from all up and down the Highland Lakes are invited to the 11th Annual Veterans Day Celebration of the City of Granite Shoals.

Citizens are invited to show their support for area veterans by attending the program that will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Veterans Memorial Park at the south end of Phillips Ranch Road.

The Highland Lakes Honor Guard will conduct the flag ceremony and children from Highland Lakes Elementary School will perform patriotic songs.

“We invite everyone, and especially our veterans, to join us for a free lunch after the brief ceremony,” said Seth Smith, chairman of the Granite Shoals Parks Committee, which sponsors the event.

Family fun festivals set for Sunday, Monday

Two events are being sponsored by the Highland Lakes religious community this Halloween but the emphasis is not on Halloween; instead on the bywords “free,” “family,” “fun” and “safe.”

Sunday

The first Family Fun Fest of the Granite Shoals Faith Alliance will take place Sunday, Oct. 30, at Veterans Memorial Park, located on the south end of Phillips Ranch Road in Granite Shoals.

An all-city worship service will be held at 11 a.m. at the park pavilion.

From 1-5 p.m. activities for the whole family will be sponsored by the Granite Shoals police and fire departments. In addition to food, music, door prizes and giveaways, activities for children are planned to include a petting zoo, games and contests.

Monday

On Monday night, Oct. 31, the First Assembly of God Church of Marble Falls will hold its FUNFEST from 6-8 p.m.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Granite Shoals City Council pursued a brief agenda Tuesday night, Oct. 25, punctuated by a reception for Eric Tanner and an executive session regarding former police chief J.P. Wilson.

Wilson left city employ in May and has since been succeeded by Chief Gary Boshears, however his departure apparently has not been without some disagreement.

Wilson is on the December schedule of the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) for a hearing he requested regarding his exit rating. A Petition to Correct The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TECOLE) Separation of Licensee Report (an F-5 report) will be heard.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

When early voting begins Monday, Oct. 24, citizens of Granite Shoals will have two local issues on their ballots—issuance of $3 million in funds for major road reconstruction and whether or not to let a “No Deer Feeding” ordinance stand.

Both topics have been the subject of city surveys, forums and long council debate and strong opinions have been voiced on both along the way.

Road bond

The proposal of bond money for improvements to Phillips Ranch Road, Prairie Creek Road and Valley View Lane was based more that endless complaints about potholes and long years of experience in blacktop and patch deteriorating without solid base work.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The 15th annual Granite Shoals Christmas Outreach Barbecue Benefit will be sponsored jointly by the Granite Shoals Police Officers Association (POA) and Granite Shoals Fire Department Auxiliary on Saturday, Oct. 22.

Barbecue will be served 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Ryder's Grill & Dance Hall building, 7911 West Ranch to Market Road 1431.

Police Chief Gary Boshears, Officer John Ortis, Assistant Fire Chief Tim Campbell and others will be cooking 20 briskets and 12 cases of sausage to go with all the trimmings and one brisket will be give over as a drawing prize.

Anyone bringing a new, unwrapped toy for Christmas Outreach will receive a free desert.

A bake sale will be going on. Any additions to that selection will be welcomed at the Ryder's building after 9 a.m., said Anita Hisey.

This year, Danny Philpott and his band will perform live music.

The cities of Marble Falls and Granite Shoals each has been awarded a Community Development Block Grant of $275,000 to fund critical infrastructure improvements, according to an announcement from the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).

Marble Falls will make wastewater system improvements and Granite Shoals will make water system improvements.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said $2 million in block grants had been awarded to seven Central Texas communities for infrastructure improvement and $42 million in all across the state. Other area cities receiving grants include Blanco, Florence, Luling, Martindale and Uhland.