Marble Falls Texas news

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Ask any travelers that frequent the uphill climb east along Broadway Street or the interchange of Mormon Mill Road and Mission Hills Drive at US 281 in Marble Falls and they will tell you a lot has been going on this spring.

The first has the biggest budget impact and the second the biggest effect on traffic and safety.

Broadway Street

The big project is a complete overhaul of Broadway—a $470,000 Capital Improvement Project begun in May—to bring one of the city's oldest residential streets into the 21st Century.

“We held several public meetings with all the people that live along Broadway, informing they of what was happening,” said City Engineer Eric Belaj. “Basically we are allowing local traffic in off-construction hours and blocking through traffic during working hours.”

The first special program Marble Falls Public Library Summer Reading Club will be Thursday, June 8, when Lucas Miller, the singing zoologist makes a visit to the library at 101 Main Street.

A favorite at schools and libraries, Miller has performed in many venues, including the Austin City Limits Music Festival and two seasons of the National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpiece Artist Tour. He earned a BA Degree in zoology at Miami University before beginning his career as an author and recording musician.

Miller will be singing his silly songs with serious science woven into laughter and learning at 3 p.m.

Registration for the club began Wednesday, May 31, at the library.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Harmony School of Creative Arts Spring Dance Recital will presented in three performances, entitled “Time Flies,” this weekend at Hill Country Community Theater in Cottonwood Shores.

The presentations will be at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 3, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 4.

The recital will include dancers from all age groups and experience levels, demonstrating their skill and artistry choreographed to delight the young and young at heart.

“Our dance faculty have been working diligently to ensure students are ready to perform,” said Kenneth Jordan, executive director of the non-profit school that serves the Highland Lakes area from its studio in Marble Falls. “This year's recital promises to be memorable as we welcome so many young dancers and bid fare well to our graduates.”

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Marble Falls will see its first-ever art walk Friday, June 2. The First Friday Art Walk will take place on historic Main Street from 5-8 p.m. to continue through September.

The idea is an opportunity to take an evening stroll through galleries to enjoy their hospitality and refreshments, but in Marble Falls it seems most of downtown was ready to join in.

“Most of the shops in Old Oak Square will be open and other up and down Main Street will be open late,” said Debbie Heatley, who opened Galleries on Pecan Creek in the square in November and now has 28 area artists on exhibit.

Across the way at 318 Main Street, Highland Lakes Art Guild Gallery will be open to exhibit the works of its members.

A mainstay of art, not only from Texas but from all over the country, is Marta Stafford Fine Art at 200 Main Street.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

The father of a man missing since September 2015 told The Highlander his only wish is to find out what has happened to his son.

“We just want our son home,” said John Johnson Sr. “We just want our son home. It's hard (to go through this), but we want him home. Whatever we have to do to do that, we are willing to walk through that.

“We don't know where else to turn now except the media. Maybe someone will know something. Someone is bound to know something. It is just a matter of coming into contact with them.”

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Marble Falls High School Class of 2017 graduated Saturday, May 2017, entering to the strains of Pomp and Circumstance onto Mustang Stadium, filled for the first time on both sides of the field.

Not only was a capacity crowd there to cheer them on, but viewers at home were welcomed to the commencement via live-stream telecast.

Valedictorian Madelyn Maples addressed the crowd as well as Salutatorian Meikala Hester.

National Honor Society (NHS) President Wolf Williams welcomed family and friends assembled for the occasion and NHS Vice PresidentStefanie King introduced guests on the podium, located for the first time on the north end of the field of Mustang Stadium. Prayers were offered up by NHS Secretary Megan Offutt and NHS Treasurer Abigail Weber.

Falls Career High School will holds its graduation ceremony tonight, Friday, May 26, at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church,901 La Ventana Drive, Marble Falls.
Marble Falls High School commencement for the class of 2017 is scheduled, rain or shine, for Saturday, May 27, at 7:30 p.m.
To make the event accessible to as many Mustang fans as possible, attendees are invited to sit in both the visitor and home stands in Mustang Stadium.
“With attendance to the commencement ceremony out-growing available home side only seating, the graduation stage this year will be located on the north end of the football
field facing toward the field house,” said assistant superintendent of operations Jeff Gasaway.
“This stage alignment will allow attendees in both the home and visitors’ stands to see the festivities and their graduates as they cross the stage.”

Travis Melton, an 11th grade student at Faith Academy of Marble Falls, has been selected to serve as a delegate of the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders (FSTL) in Lowell, Mass. June 29-July 1.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Faith Academy Class of 2017 graduated Friday, May 12, in ceremonies at Hill Country Fellowship in Burnet, ready to meet the world with diplomas in hand.

It was at the May 9 Senior Dinner that they learned the valedictorian would be Kristina Lane and salutatorian, Sophie McCannon.

They led a group of that included five other Highest Honor Graduates with grade point averages of 97 or higher: Abby Seymour, Casey Sellers, Jared Rutherford, Dean Fairleigh, and Abby Mueller. The class Honor Graduates, with grades of 93-96.4 were Addison Floyd, Laura Benac and Sydney Ward.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

At the Marble Falls High School (MFHS) Senior Scholarship Assembly Thursday night, the announcement came: Valedictorian of the Class of 2017 is Madelyn “Maddie” Maples and the Salutatorian is Meikala Hester.

The announcement by MFHS Principal Emmett Aubrey made the announcement along with the nam,e of the individual National Merit Commended Scholar, Jack Harvell-Degolier and the National Hispanic Recognition Program honoree Stefanie King.