Horseshoe Bay

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Burnet County continues to see strong gains in sales tax rebates, as almost every city has experienced an increase of more than eight percent above last year's rebate revenue, with one exception.

Marble Falls, Burnet, Granite Shoals, Cottonwood Shores and Horseshoe Bay all have seen a significant jump in sales tax allocations as the percentage exceeds that for cities in the state, as Texas cities received $439.8 million in July 2017, or eight percent more revenue than in July 2016, and are up 3.2 percent overall for the year.

Those allocations are based on sales made in May by businesses that report tax monthly, according to Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar.

An unoccupied house under renovation caught fire Thursday evening in Horseshoe Bay West.
Horseshoe Bay Fire Chief Joe Morris said his department received a call at approximately 5 p.m. Thursday of a fire at  211 Wenmohs Place. The fire apparently started in the attic of the home, which was being renovated and was fortunately unoccupied.
Firefighters from Horseshoe Bay, Marble Falls, Granite Shoals and Cottonwood Shores battled the blaze. Several firefighters entered the home to attack the fire and when debris started falling from the ceiling, Morris evacuated the house. One responder had to receive aid from EMS, but quickly recovered and went back to the fire again.
They were able to contain the fire but crews were still on scene as of 9 p.m. Thursday. Pedernales Electric Cooperative was able to cut power to the building to assist.
The blaze is still under investigation.

UPDATE: A correction was made to the date of the alleged assault based on information given to a Highland Lakes Newspaper reporter by the family of the victim. Readers are asked to keep in mind that what is presented here is not all of the information. See Friday's The Highlander for more details on the case. 

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH

A 21-year-old Horseshoe Bay man was arrested on charge of sexual assault of a child after he allegedly raped a teenage girl by coercion.

Nicholas Bryant Foster was arrested on Nov. 11 on the second-degree felony charge after a teenage girl under 17 years of age made an outcry to her mother, naming Foster as the offender.

According to an arrest affidavit released by the Burnet County Sheriff's Office, deputies were contacted by the victim's mother about the sexual assault of her daughter on Oct. 23. Family of the victim clarified Monday that the assault occurred in the early morning hours of Oct. 22.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

FirstCapital Bank of Texas (FCBT) has been named one of the Best Banks to Work For in 2016 by American Banker, ranking fourth in the United States and first in Texas.

Locally, FCB has operated a mortgage office a little over a year, but the finishing touches are being added to the outside drive-in kiosk of its office at 9891 Farm to Market Road 2147 in Horseshoe Bay, and it already is a full-service bank. Its staff of seven agrees with the ranking of Best Bank to work for by American Banker Magazine.

“It fits well with our mission statement,” said local Market President Scott Streit. “That's something we believe in. The triangle in our logo is the whole meaning. At the top is our customers and the points at the bottom are our communities and our employees.

By Alexandria Randolph

Highland Lakes Newspapers

For those going out on the town on Independence Day weekend, there are a number of local celebrations to visit for July 4th activities.

UPDATE: As of 2 p.m. Thursday, the low water crossings closed in Marble Falls are as follows;

- 1400 block of Nature Heights Drive, between US 281 and Commerce Street