Marble Falls

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

When Frank Hosea noticed the fuel sign at the Walmart gas station, he did not hesitate to stop.

“I usually come here for gas because it's always the cheapest. Now it's under $2,” he said. “It's really good. It doesn't cost me $50 to fill it up.”

The Horseshoe Bay resident was among motorists in line Nov. 27 to buy gasoline at the Murphy USA fueling station.

In the past week, Market observers have noticed the same scenarios around the country as fuel prices have dropped a weekly average of a few pennies per gallon to as much as 11 cents less per gallon, depending on the state.

As of Nov. 28, crude oil averaged about $59 per barrel compared to about $80 per barrel three months ago.

According to AAA Texas, the average price per gallon is $2.19 per gallon.

From Staff Reports

Due to motorist complaints, Texas Department of Transportation halted contractor work Nov. 5 on sidewalk improvements from the north end of the U.S. 281 Bridge to Broadway Avenue in Marble Falls.

The work began on Friday, Nov. 2 but was halted that day due to several issues including a vehicle rollover near the south city limits on U.S. 281, traffic congestion possibly connected to weekend travel, a music festival and opening weekend of the rifle season.

As crews started work again in the right-of-way along businesses just north of the bridge, one of the bridge lanes was reduced to a single lane causing backed up traffic as far as the south side of the bridge. TXDOT honored another city request to suspend the construction.

The city of Marble Falls has requested TXDOT consider dispatching night-time crews to do the right-of-way construction work to avoid day-time traffic congestion.

Editor's Note: As of noon on Saturday, Oct. 20, the city of Marble Falls has rescinded the public boil water notice.

Connie Swinney •
Staff Writer •

About 72 hours after flooding, Marble Falls city officials have lifted recommended limits on showering and washing dishes after crews repaired the city's sewer plant. However, as of Oct. 19 residents remained in mandatory stage 5 water restrictions and a boil water notice as workers waited for parts for the city's flood-damaged water plant.

On Oct. 16, flood waters from the Llano River rushed into the Highland Lakes submerging lakeside homes and damaging private property as well as some public roadways and city infrastructure.

The event was also marked by temporary evacuations due to concerns about swift water, flooded low-water crossings and low-lying areas.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer
 

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has ordered the city of Marble Falls to alert all residents today (Oct. 17) to boil water for consumption, following flooding of several neighborhoods due to stormwater runoff making its way into the Highland Lakes from the Llano River in the last 24 hours.

The Marble Falls Police Department Emergency Operations Center (EOC) issued the alert, “Due to conditions which indicate that the potability of the drinking water supply has been compromised as a result of recent flooding.”

Connie Swinney •
Staff Writer •

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has ordered the city of Marble Falls to alert all residents today (Oct. 17) to boil water for consumption, following flooding of several neighborhoods due to stormwater runoff making its way into the Highland Lakes from the Llano River in the last 24 hours.

The Marble Falls Police Department Emergency Operations Center (EOC) issued the alert, “Due to conditions which indicate that the potability of the drinking water supply has been compromised as a result of recent flooding.”

From staff reports •

Storm runoff caused a scare among some Pecan Valley and Meadowlakes residents Sept.8 and 9, as motorists were temporarily blocked from leaving their neighborhoods to avoid a flooded low-water crossing on Avenue N and a rain-swollen Backbone Creek crossing in Johnson Park in Marble Falls.

Residents reported the rise of the creek starting Saturday and subsiding throughout the day until another round of of storms swept through the area on Sunday.

“Avenue N on Saturday and Sunday was closed for some time because of water over the road,” Marble Falls Fire Rescue Chief Russell Sander said. “Johnson Park did have water over the bridge on Sunday.

Everything was temporary,” he added.

From more than 5 inches of rain in Marble Falls to nearly 4 inches in Spicewood were reported due to torrential thunderstorms and steady rain.

From staff reports

The Burnet County burn ban has been lifted as of Thursday, Sept. 6, Burnet County Judge James Oakley said.

Soaking rains fell throughout Burnet County this week, with some areas reporting up to three inches of precipitation within a 24-hour period ending at 6 a.m. Thursday. The rain caused the county's Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) average to drop 32 points from 523 to 491, with a high of 703 (just north of Burnet) and a low of 320 (near Marble Falls).

The KBDI is used to determine forest fire potential. The drought index is based on daily water balance, where a drought factor is balanced with precipitation and soil moisture (assumed to have a maximum storage capacity of eight inches) and is expressed in hundredths of an inch of soil moisture depletion.

Connie Swinney
Staff Writer •

Did you hear “the newslady” works for The Highlander again? How cliché!

It's such a cliché but there's no other way to describe it. I've come full circle. Twenty years ago, I wrote for the paper-of-record overlooking a lake in a charming little town nestled in the hills.

Now in 2018, I again work for the paper-of-record in a charming “little” town . . . er . . . but not so little anymore.

Because several thousand more people.

Because a hotel now blocks much of the lake view.

Because one big bridge over Lake Marble Falls has turned into two.

Not-to-mention more stop lights than you can shake a stick at.

I digress.

For those who have lived here all their lives or at least for the last couple of decades, you may recall my tour of duty as a staff writer with The Highlander in 1998 and 1999.

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer •

In spring 2017, Virginia Baskin embarked on an effort to improve the lives of children by offering volunteer help after school at the Boys and Girls Club of the Highland Lakes in Marble Falls.

“When I first started, I was just simply helping out kids with homework, being there if they needed someone to watch the kids while they were outside,” said Baskin, who is a Marble Falls High School senior and president of the Interact Club. “I was just an extra person . . . If you have one more person, they can help out.”

Now, during the fall 2018 semester, she has expanded her vision to include her classmates and fellow Interact Club members.

Interact is a Rotary International service club for young people ages 12 to 18, sponsored by the non-profit organization and aimed at inspiring self-governance and civic involvement.

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor •

Christopher Raymon “Chaz” White, 30, loved to ride fast and turned his passion for racing into success on dirt bike tracks across the country when he was young.