Marble Falls Texas news

Set your DVR.
The Marble Falls High School band will be participating in the National Memorial Day Parade on Monday May 29 in Washington D.C., according to announcement today by Brad Behrens, director of bands for the Marble Falls Independent School Districe.

The event will be televised, beginning at 1 p.m. Central Standard Time, so even fans going to work or Memorial Day events will have a chance to record it.

"The students have worked very hard for this event," said Behrens. "The band will debut the new marching uniforms in this parade as well. 

"We are proud to be representing our school, community and state in the National Memorial Day Parade. Please check us out."

If you can watch live or want to save the event for posterity, visit NationalMemorialDayParade.com for station listings and to set a DVR.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Marble Falls City Council members voted 4-2 to appoint William “Dee” Haddock to the Place 4 seat left vacant after the May 6 general election.

Haddock, who has served on the city's Planning & Zoning Commission since 2011, was one of three people who threw their hats into the ring for the position recently held by Rachel Austin-Cook, who did not seek re-election to her Place 4 seat.

Michele Boshears and Jim Coursey also submitted their applications for consideration prior to the May 8 deadline set by the council. No candidates had filed to run for Place 4 in the May 2017 general election, which had been canceled due to lack of opposed candidates. According to Section 3.06 of the City Charter, the City Council must appoint a qualified candidate when there is a vacancy.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The four days of Marble Falls MayFest 2017, this Wednesday-Saturday, May 10-13, promise to be packed with fun for the whole family.

Whether you love MayFest for the music, the carnival, shopping the vendors or the games, you can join in at Johnson Park, 230 Avenue J in Marble Falls.

The carnival gets the whole thing rolling and spinning and whirling, playing games of fun and chance and eating and smiling. It all goes on 5 p.m.-midnight Wednesday-Saturday.

Here is what's new on Saturday:

· Volleyball Tournament – Players 16 and older register at 9:30 a.m. to start at 10 a.m. Registration is $10, but the winning five-member team gets carnival pass wristbands.

· Kids Sack Races—free to kids age 4-12 years from 3-4 p.m.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Marble Falls City Council on Tuesday, May 2, approved a rezoning request that will pave the way for a new microbrewery and restaurant on Avenue G and reviewed action before the 85th Texas Legislature that could threaten Home Rule autonomy.

Assistant City Manager Caleb Kraenzel explained that changing the property from General Commercial Base District (C-3) to Planned Development District (PDD) with base zoning of Main Street District (MSD) would allow options such as on-street and landscaped parking such as the cafe has constructed.

JD and Blake Guidry of Rally Point Brewing Company were on hand to answer questions about their project at 207 Avenue G east and across the street from the Blue Bonnet Cafe. That would reduce impervious cover and dovetail with the Downtown Master Plan and the city's Comprehensive Plan.

Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Like a band of gypsies devoted entirely to chili and barbecue, Howdy Roo 2017 contestants will fill Johnson Park in Marble Falls Friday-Sunday, May 5-7.

The event marks the 46th Annual Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) Chili Cookoff for the regional championship and the 23rd Annual Lone Star BBQ Society State Championship.

The event is a charity fundraiser with an emphasis on “fun.” Visitors can stroll among the cooks to enjoy the aroma of some of the state's best cooking or sign up to be judges in the competition.

To enter the competition yourself or to sign up early to be a judge visit the webpage: http://www.lonestarbarbecue.com/2017/02/2017-marble-falls-howdy-roo/.

The Business Model Canvas will be the topic of the Chamber U seminar Thursday, May 4, in Marble Falls.
Bill Thompson, who specializes in business model development, feasibility analysis, financial analysis and forecasting and positioning clients for successful funding, will be the presenter from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, 100 Avenue G.
The session is designed to help business owners  build knowledge at an interactive training session designed to provide tools, best practices and ways to grow business and stay ahead.
It is free to chamber members and $25 for non-members, but a reservation is required. Email Sarah@MarbleFalls.org, register online, or call 830-693-2815.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

When Russell Buster bought his hilltop home on Via Viejo in Marble Falls it came complete with a cactus garden.

This spring, one resident of that garden has sprouted. A Century Plant is reaching for the sky.

“I don't know for sure if it's a record,” said Buster. “But I haven't found a report of one larger.

“It is at least 16 feet across and you can compare the height already to my 5-foot 8-inches,” he said peering up.

Buster takes the garden giant for Agave Azul, the blue cactus of tequila fame, although Agave Americana is somewhat more prone to his size.

Looking more like a monster asparagus stalk right now, it soon will be topped with branches of the familiar upturned yellow flowers.

“It will die when it blooms out,” said Buster. “Already, it has pups coming up around it to take its place.

The fifth annual Shake, Rattle and Crawl off-road event will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 22-23 at Hidden Falls Adventure Park, 7030 Ranch to Market Road 1431 East.

Dawn Judson of Bikini Offroad in San Antonio puts her passion for off-roading into the benefit for the Parkinson's Foundation.

Baylor Scott & White Health has named Tim Ols president of its Hill Country Region. Ols is a proven leader in the health care industry with success in growing organizations and enhancing care. In his new role, Ols will lead all operations, facilities and employees in the Hill Country area for Baylor Scott & White Health, the largest not-for-profit health system in Texas.

“We are excited to welcome Tim Ols to the Baylor Scott & White Health family,” said Pat Currie, president of Central Texas Division - Operations for Baylor Scott & White Health. “His leadership skills and engaging nature will be an asset to our facilities in the Central Texas area and to the patients we serve here. We look forward to Tim being an active, contributing member of the community.”

This year, a national star of the world of kids — Joe McDermott – will take the Johnson Park amphitheater during Children's Day Saturday, April 15.

The 17th annual Marble Falls event will be going on from 10 a.m. with opening ceremonies and the balloon release to 3 p.m. when prize drawings should be complete.

McDermott is scheduled for 11 a.m., compliments of the Marble Falls Library.

“We have tried to get him for a performance for years,” said Misty Smith, Youth Services librarian. “He is just so popular. His songs for children are catchy and funny. You can see him on YouTube and he has a fifth CD coming out with its own coloring book.”

For the unitiated, a person can tap in to a taste of McDermott's work on YouTube where the video for his all-time kid favorite, “Kitty Fight Song,” plays. That is, if you haven't heard the tune already on XM Radio where it is loved.