Marble Falls Texas news

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Ask anywhere in the state of Texas where the next road project needs to be and drivers will tell you it needs to be on the road they travel.

Regular travelers on Ranch to Market Road 1431 should be pleased to learn one of their “most needed” projects is moving to the front of the line—slow moving traffic turnouts.

Check the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Project Tracker and you now will find them scheduled between Lago Vista and Marble Falls as Tier 2 Projects.

The safety measure as been for more than seven years a campaign of Al Schwerman of Lago Vista, a resident who travels frequently between Lago Vista and Marble Falls.

“People are always asking me about it because they know I've been interested, so I was pleased when I called TxDOT recently and they said it was on track for July 2019 and maybe sooner,” said Schwerman.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Reports have been steady that things have been promising on the economic front in Marble Falls this year and the long-awaited downtown hotel/conference center seems to back on track.

“By just about every economic measurement, Marble Falls had a banner year in 2017,” said Christian Fletcher, executive director of the Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation in an end-of-year report posted online this last week.

In addition he said Thursday, Dec. 28, that the city's hotel/conference team has executed a term sheet with the operator.

Shoppers began buzzing in mid-December about a Feb. 9 opening for the new Marble Falls H-E-B and now the company's home office in San Antonio has sent out a timeline that been counting down since groundbreaking for the 111,000 square-foot store in April.

The grocery story is, indeed, set to open Feb. 9, with that month through May devoted to demolition of the old store and continuation of site construction. The old H-E-B fuel station closed mid-summer and a celebration of the conclusion of the entire project will follow completion of a new gas station this coming fall.

H-E-B first opened its doors in Marble Falls on May 1, 1966. The current location opened in 1990. Over the last 20 years, H-E-B has spent nearly $7 million to improve and enhance the store, expanding it to 75,841 square feet on 5.35-acres.

By Richard Zowie

The Highlander

A financial gift from a benefactor will help Faith Academy begin the first phase of the school’s athletic complex project.

A gift from Ray and Rebeca Britton of Horseshoe Bay will serve as a “cornerstone” lead gift that will fund the first phase of the $5.9 million athletic complex expansion program.

“We are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for Ray and Rebeca sharing their resources and making such a significant investment in Christian education for our community,” said Stuart Nunnally, Faith Academy trustee and board chairman.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

A motorist passing through Marble Falls Thursday morning, Dec. 21, had a bad start to his holiday when he drifted into the wall of the US 281 bridge.

North and southbound traffic was delayed for about 45 minutes while Marble Falls police and fire personnel cleared the wreckage of the 2017 Camry from the inside lane.

“He was driving through Marble Falls from San Antonio to pick up his kids for the holiday,” said Patrol Sgt. Jimmy Cole. “He was tired and just drifted to the left.

“No one hit him from behind and he had just a few minor injuries. That is a reason it is so important to observe that 35 mph speed limit approaching and crossing the bridge.”

“We felt bad for him,” added Cole. “We gave him a lift to rent a car.”

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

They may be plowing new legal ground, but the City of Marble Falls appears set to make a court challenge to the proposed Asphalt Inc. rock crushing plant south of Texas 71.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

As tempting as it may be to clear up every bill from 2017, don't feel tempted to respond to an email asking you to clear a debt with the Marble Falls Library Thrift Store.

Someone is “spoofing” the local thrift store and using that ID as bait for “phishing,” the term for cyber ne'er-do-wells out to capture your username, passwords and account information or money for their own gain.

Thrift store manager Virginia Cervantez says that twice recently customers have reported received email notices headed: Purchases 2017 that instruct the receiver to remit a Thrift Store balance by PayPal to atlantaprecisionpianotuning.com/Invoices-Overdue/.

The Walkway of Lights in Marble Falls is continuing each night from 6-10 p.m. through Jan. 1 with two million lights organized into 400 sculptures in Lakeside Park on Buena Vista Drive.

The long range forecast is clear for today, Wednesday, Dec. 11, with the possibility of showers not expected again Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec 26-27.

Weather permitting, Santa will be there through Christmas Eve, Dec. 21-24.

Visitors can enjoy a cup of hot cocoa with friends and family if there is a chill in the air and store up photos for Christmas memories.

Visitors do need to remember, because this is an outdoor event, if the ground is wet, the Walkway will be closed as a safety measure. For updates on the Walkway's status, call 844-635-4448. For more information, visit walkwayoflightstx.com.

Admission is always free, but donations are welcome and concessions benefit non-profit organizations.

The annual Marble Falls Christmas Market on Main Street will be held this Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. to the strains of live holiday music up and down the downtown boulevard of vendors.

In addition to crafts and fine art, shoppers will find an array of goods and goodies.

Children will find activities just for them.

Living Love Animal Rescue will sponsor “Santa Paws,” photos of pets with Santa for a $10 donation.

The Highland Lakes Service League will be selling tickets to their “Chow Down” Chuck Wagon Dinner and auction on Jan. 25. A $25 ticket give admission to the scholarship fundraiser at hidden Falls Restaurant in Meadowlakes.

The sunny weather, with highs expected in the 60s will be just right for a visit at the end of the day to the Walkway of Lights.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

A brief Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD) ceremony at city hall Tuesday, Dec. 5, began with solemnity.

Chief Mark Whitacre asked for a moment of silence for San Marcos Police Department Officer Kenneth Copeland. The 19-year veteran was shot Monday while serving an arrest warrant. He was 58 years old.

“The event reminds us of the dangers officers face every day...but we are here to serve as the 'Blue Line,'” said Whitacre, referring to the role of law enforcement to stand between the public and those dangers.