Marble Falls Fire Rescue

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Marble Falls city and emergency management officials provided an update on coronavirus statistics, protocols and recommendations April 7 during a regular city council meeting.

Fire Chief Russell Sander, who is also the municipality's emergency management coordinator, shared that Burnet County has posted its sixth confirmed COVID-19 positive test since mid-March. …

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

A crew, on behalf of a boat owner, towed a vessel Feb. 5 from the shoreline of Lake Marble Falls, after a weekend mishap on the waterway near the waterside of a restaurant, officials said.

The incident occurred during the day Feb. 2 adjacent to Lakeside Park.

“The boat caught fire and sank behind Chili's over the weekend,” Marble Falls Police Capt. Trisha Ratliff said. “Marble Falls Fire Rescue extinguished the fire. …

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

As Marble Falls Independent School District Superintendent Chris Allen explains, giving students an opportunity for an up-close look at their chosen field – if only for a day – can prove to be an invaluable and potentially life-changing experience.

“These experiences confirm occupational goals for students and inspire continued efforts toward the educational attainment needed for success in those fields,” Allen said. “If the student has an experience which discourages him or her, this allows the student to consider other pursuits earlier in the course of their educational path.” . . .

Connie Swinney/The Highlander

Special to The Highlander

Marble Falls Fire Rescue is asking the community to help fight for funds, education and awareness for those in the community who have been affected by all forms of cancer.

This year all proceeds will benefit Fighting for Gold, a local non-profit organization within our community that helps family's that have a child who has cancer.

This year's event will feature a Mr./Ms Pink Out 2019 competition, the best Pinked Out business contest and live music by the Queen of Texas Country Music Pauline Reese.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Marble Falls Fire Rescue unveiled the state of local fire service with several new personnel, facility upgrades and training features during the entity's annual report to city leaders.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

After nearly a week of being in-service Marble Falls Fire Rescue personnel noticed the benefit of the entity's new squad response SUV.

“It's a better use of resources,” Marble Falls Fire Capt. Sam Stacks said. “It's going to improve our customer service.”

Crews placed the response vehicle in service the morning of Jan. 15.

“So far, it's working great,” Marble Falls Fire Engineer Randy Rankin said. “It's putting less wear and tear on the engine.

“It's also much easier to maneuver.”

Along with the new SUV, the department received a $553,968 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant.

The grant increases the number of firefighters within the agency, adding one to each shift. Each shift will staff five firefighters. The new crew members were sworn in on the same day the vehicle went into service.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Marble Falls City Council got reassurance of the city's financial health in a report Tuesday, March 20, from the auditing company Pattillo, Brown and Hill.

“Marble Falls has receive an unqualified opinion,” said Angela Verduzco, C.P.A. in her report on the review of financial operations in the year that ended Sept. 30, 2017. “That is the highest pinion that can be rendered.”

Notably, she reminded the council the city had ended the fiscal year with an additional $146,000 in its fund balance. She praised finance director Margie Cardenas and city staff for superior accounting practices and efficient help with questions and expressed confidence that any minor adjustments would be easily done.

The audit will be submitted to the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for

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.”