Marble Falls Texas news

By Glynis Crawford Smith
The Highlander
The historic Marble Falls Depot will take its first breath in a life restored as a transportation hub on Friday, Jan 13.
It will reopen with a 10 a.m. ribbon cutting as a station for the Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS).
“We are excited about the privelege and opportunity to use the depot; to have it go back into the purpose it used to serve for people coming and going,” said CARTS General Manager David L. Marsh. “It is such a neat place. I just imagine people coming back from wars, meeting family there. So many things that lobby has seen.”
The depot was constructed in 1893 on land deeded to the city on Avenue N at Second Street by by the Texas Mining and Improvement Company. It began as depot for the Austin and Northwestern Railroad, but was later purchased by the Southern Pacific Railroad and served faithfully until 1968.

By Glynis Crawford Smith
The Highlander

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Members of the Marble Falls Senior Center will be dancing the night away on New Year's Eve and the public is invited to join in.

“Our New Year's Eve party will be going on from 7 p.m.-midnight,” said Louise Holden, secretary. “There will be snacks and dancing before black-eyed peas and cornbread. We'll share memories and hold hands to sing 'Auld Lang Syne' at midnight.”

Games will be going on all night—canasta, bridge, 42 and dominos.

The Marble Falls Senior Activity Center, tucked away with ample parking at 1200 7th Street in Marble Falls, holds regular meetings for potluck lunches and games from 9 a.m. until after the noon meal on Mondays and Fridays. The meetings are open to the public and anyone who cannot bring a covered dish is directed to the $5 donation jar to grab a plate and take a seat at the table.

Marble Falls Independent School District (MFISD) will be generating approximately $7.4 million in savings in bond interest during the next 20 years by refinancing the district's 2008 and 2009A bonds with new bonds issued next year.

Trustees approved issuing the new bonds during their regular board meeting Monday, Dec. 12. This will be the fourth phase of a district refunding program initated with a bond sale approved by the board at their July 21, 2014, meeting, Marble Falls ISD Superintendent Dr. Chris Allen said.

The first phase of refunding refinanced a portion of 2007A bonds, which generated $376,267 in interest cost savings to Marble Falls taxpayers. A second phase initiated in February 2015 refinanced another portion of 2007A bonds and generated another $1,808,334 in cost savings.

The curtain will go up tonight, Friday, Dec. 9, on the inaugural Thespian Showcase, an introduction to the Marble Falls High School Theatre Department.

The free public event will begin at 7 p.m. in the MFHS Auditorium, 2101 Mustang Drive.

Actors' National Qualifying performances will be presented and those who attend will have the opportunity to speak to the technical theater contestants and view their designs in the auditorium lobby.

After National Qualifying group and duet scenes, the play marathon show “Tribes”, by Nina Raine will be presented without intermission.

MFHS thespians competed in the Texas Thespian Festival last weekend in Dallas. Every student in attendance participated in either group design events, individual events or the performance of the play, “Tribes.”

Blue Santa, Christmas Market set for Saturday

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Two special Marble Falls events will be going on in the central city Saturday, Dec. 10—one for shopping and the other for giving.

Christmas Market on Main, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. will line the historic Main Street boulevard with great gift selection extras and holiday treats.

Blue Santa will be making his big appeal from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in Johnson Park on Avenue J and the event is aimed especially at enjoyment for children.

The Marble Falls Police Department is challenging the city to fill a police car with gifts and donations for families in need. But bounce houses, games and chances to meet police officers, much like National Night Out, are planned for kids who come to meet the actual Santa in Blue.

By Mark Goodson

Highlander Sports Editor

Marble Falls went 2-3 in the Marble Falls Subway Classic and displayed some up-and-down basketball.

The highlight of the tournament was back-to-back wins over San Antonio Edison and Austin McCallum.

The Mustangs showed they can compete when they get good play both inside and outside.

Sophomore Andrew Stripling had huge games against SA Edison and McCallum. The post player scored 48 points and grabbed at least 20 rebounds in the two Friday games.

The Mustangs were erratic in three of the five games, relying heavily on the outside shot.

But the worst news out of the weekend, was losing junior wing Keegan Deering to an ankle injury. Deering twisted his left ankle with 2:18 left in the game against San Antonio Edison. He torn some ligaments and is expected to miss five weeks of action, he said.

Follow the Mustangs in The Highlander.

The annual ballet performance, “Nutcracker—Gifts of Christmas,” by Harmony School of Creative Arts will take place next weekend.

Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11.

Both will be held at the Marble Falls High School Auditorium, 2101 Mustang Drive.

After 200 years, the E.T.A. Hoffmann story, “Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” endures. This special ballet includes many of the familiar dances and images from the classic tale in a briefer version than set to music by Tchaikovsky for Russian ballet dancers in 1891.

In this performance, dancers also will portray the Nativity story in celebration of Christmas.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

With 11 new works in place, the 11th Annual Sculpture on Main in Marble Falls began officially Friday, Dec. 2, with a Meet the Artists reception and the presentation of four major awards.

Best of Show was awarded to “Bull's Eye,” and 8-foot tall, 2,500-pound creation by acclaimed New Mexico granite sculptor Candyce Garrett.

“We were pleased to receive an entry by a sculptor of Candyce Garrett's stature,” said Carolyn Bates of the board of directors of Highland Lakes Creative Arts (HLCA), sponsor of Sculpture on Main. “The entry is valued at $120,000.”

The Commendation Award went to “Cache del Mar” by Marshall Cunningham and the People's Choice Award, to “Trois Jets D'eau” (Three Water Jets) by Helene Vachon and Mark Jaschke.

“We were able to add a new award this year—a Kid's Choice Award,” said Bates. “That went to the “Freshwater Cowgirl” by Anthony St. James.

The National Weather Service has issued a warning for along and East of I-35, where area-wide showers may concentrate into 2-5 inches with isolated downpours of more than 6 inches possible.

An upper level low pressure system will move slowly across northern Mexico and Texas today through Monday, with persistent rains expected through the period.

Most of the rain is expected to be light to moderate today through Sunday with some brief heavy downpours of 1 to 2 inches possible Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon. 

The storm system could produce more widespread heavy downpours Sunday night into early Monday as the upper low begins to cross Texas.  Soil moisture conditions are not expected to be conducive to flooding initially, but there is a potential for flooding by Sunday night. Areas generally east of I-35 are expected to see the heaviest rainfall and possible flooding.