Marble Falls Texas news

Hill Country residents are joining together in Marble Falls today to raise money to fight cancer as the annual Relay for Life fundraiser that kicks off at 2 p.m. today, Saturday, Sept. 16, at Johnson Park, 230 Ave. J.

Relay for Life will continue until midnight. It is a team fundraising event where team members take turns walking around a track or designated path. At least one participant keeps on the track at all times to fulfill pledges for funds for the American Cancer Society made in the months leading up to the event.

A Cottonwood Shores man accused of striking and killing a pedestrian with his truck at Lakeside Park after the Fourth of July fireworks has been indicted on second-degree charges of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle as well as manslaughter and accident involving death.

Thomas Joseph Pfeifer Jr., 33, was indicted by a Burnet County grand jury on Wednesday, Sept. 5, and was taken into custody on Sunday, Sept. 10. He is set to be arraigned before Judge Allan Garrett at 9 a.m. Oct. 27. Pfeifer has hired local defense attorney Eddie Shell to represent him.

The Marble Falls High School Student Council and National Honor Society students have adopted families attending schools in Bay City Independent School District (ISD), following news that many of Bay City ISD’s families lost their homes following a mandatory evacuation order during the Harvey flooding and devastation this week.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Ceremonies were solemn for First Responder Recognition Day Monday, Sept. 11, when Highland Lakes residents took time to remember those who fell while responding to the attack on the World Trade Center and their fellows who continue today to respond to emergencies.

At the Sandy Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, a bell cast from remains of the Twin Towers was toned at 9:46 a.m.

The bell was donated by a supporter of the SHVFD whose cousin, a New York firefighter, lost is life in the towers' collapse.

"As first responders, our volunteers want to recognize the many sacrifices made by emergency personnel and so many others on this tragic day," said Douglas Hindelang of the department.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Construction on the Pedernales Electric Cooperative's new Northwest Operations Center in Marble Falls is about 65 percent complete, and barring any major delays, should be ready to move in by late January, PEC officials said Thursday.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Burnet County residents are invited to “Remember Our Fallen” at a traveling exhibit on display at Lakeside Pavilion through Monday, Sept. 11.

The Texas-specific version of the “Remember Our Fallen” memorial, created by non-profit Patriotic Productions in conjunction with Bellevue University, is being brought to Marble Falls by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home and the Texas Funeral Directors Association.

The exhibit arrived in town Thursday, Sept. 7, with an escort from local first responders from the intersection of US 281 and Texas 71 south of town to Lakeside Pavilion. It will open  for viewing through the local recognitions of the 16th  anniversary of the 9-11 terror attacks on New York and Washington, D.C.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

H-E-B partners (employees) in Marble Falls served up a homemade lunch for the firefighters and emergency medical personnel at the Marble Falls fire station on Friday, Sept. 8, as part of H-E-B’s company-wide Helping Heroes program.

Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

According to a notice published in The Highlander Friday, Sept. 1, the southernmost edge of the City of Marble Falls is to be the site of a new rock and concrete crushing plant.

Asphalt, Inc., the company against which the Spicewood Community was unsuccessful in its attempts to block a hot mix plant, has applied for an air permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Citizens have just 30 days to submit comments in the process.

The notice comes just as Central Texas-Gateway to the Hill Country Beautification Project has set Saturday, Sept. 9 as the seeding of the intersection of US 281 and Texas 71. Members of that non-profit organization have been working closely with the new Gregg Ranch development.

Both of them are expressing concern already.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The driver of a car stolen in Dallas died in a four-car crash he caused at 4:39 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, on Ranch to Market Road 1431 in Marble Falls.

Clearing a four-car crash on the major east-west thoroughfare at rush hour led to 15-45-minute traffic jams on every alternate route—all exacerbated by lines of cars at fuel stops responding to rumors of a gas shortage Thursday.

“The 2017 four-door sedan was stolen in June,” said Capt. Glenn Hanson of the Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD). “He rear-ended a truck and, we assume, he didn't want to stay on the scene and did a U-turn into oncoming traffic.

“Four vehicles were involved and someone was injured in each vehicle. One seriously-injured woman was transported to Dell-Seton Hospital, I understand.”

By Richard Zowie

The Highlander

A new tax rate that Marble Falls High School board approved at an Aug. 21 meeting will be the lowest rate the district has paid in several years.

The trustees also approved renovations to the Mustang baseball field, which should be completed in time for the 2018 baseball season.

2017-2018 tax rate adoption

Lisa LeMon, MFISD executive director of finance, presented to the trustees tax rate approvals for the 2017-2018 school year.