news

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Early voting in Burnet and Llano counties has begun for the Thursday, Nov. 6, general election and will continue through Friday, Nov. 2.

By Savanna Gregg
Staff Writer

In the face of disaster, victims rely on faith to remain strong and face the adversity head-on. After the Hill Country flood on Tuesday, Oct. 16, members of the Granite Shoals Faith Alliance and the Texas Baptist Men's group stepped up to instill that faith in members of their community and help many families back on their feet.

Special to The Highlander and Burnet Bulletin

In the aftermath of Highland Lakes flood event, emergency management officials have compiled a list of general help information for the public.

Those seeking assistance with the cleanup and other cleanup resources and wanting to donate or volunteer:

• Marble Falls First Baptist Church, 901 La Ventana, 78654 830-693-4381.

Go to https://fbcmf.org/flood/ for more information.

• First United Methodist Church, 1101 Bluebonnet Dr. in Marble Falls, 830-265-0761.

• Granite Shoals First Baptist Church, 505 S Phillips Ranch Road, 512-755-5217.

• The Church at Horseshoe Bay, 600 Hi Ridge Rd., 214-636-8373.

Collection points for water/sports drinks:

• Lakeshores Church parking lot, 700 US 281 in Marble Falls, 617-291-8310.

• Granite Shoals Fire Hall, 8410 W. FM 1431, 830-596-8110.

Editor's Note: As of noon on Saturday, Oct. 20, the city of Marble Falls has rescinded the public boil water notice.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

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.”

Editor's Note: As of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16 the Marble Falls Middle School shelter has reached capacity. Marble Falls First Baptist Church, 901 La Ventana Dr., has been established as a new shelter location.

Compiled by Savanna Gregg •
Staff Writer •

As flood waters continue to plague areas of Burnet and Llano counties Oct. 16, residents – and their pets – were evacuated from their homes to area shelters.

Flood waters in the Llano River ushered in by thunderstorms in a 24-hour period have wreaked havoc in the Highland Lakes.

Area emergency first responders have assisted residents in communities including Meadowlakes and Marble Falls as well as Llano and Kingsland in getting to higher ground.

For those who do not have alternative accommodations, officials have established temporary shelters until the flood waters subside.

Connie Swinney •
Staff Writer •

Grant Dean has a message for the state of Texas and a New York-based company looking to launch a mining operation on 280 acres between two subdivisions in Spicewood in Burnet County.

“This is not just our backyard,” Dean said. “This is everybody's backyard.”

Dean, the co-founder of the Texas Environmental Protection Coalition, has rallied support from several cities in Texas with similar battles before them – rock crusher/quarry operations setting up stakes next to residential neighborhoods.

The latest proposal involves a pending air quality permit by Spicewood Crushed Stone, a company owned by Dalrymple Companies, based in New York.

If approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the company would operate on 280 acres, in the 5500 block of Texas 71, between Double Horn Estates (100 home lots) and the fledgling Spicewood Trails.

Connie Swinney •
Staff Writer •

As the surge of the Llano River subsided, Highland Lakes residents and property owners reported minimal damage Oct. 9 and 10 to lakeside structures as well as some rising water along shorelines inching onto property.

Murky floodwaters from the Llano River from the Junction area crested in Kingsland after midnight just 24 hours earlier, eventually making its way through lakes LBJ and Marble Falls – to be captured in Lake Travis, just west of Austin.

On Oct. 10, the Lower Colorado River Authority reported floodgate operations on Wirtz and Starcke dams to pass floodwaters downstream.

By Connie Swinney •
Staff Writer •

It typically prompts a double take. However, that's the point – to get those who notice to “think pink” for breast cancer awareness.

Marble Falls police officers are donning bright pink badges and patches in the place of the traditional ones for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

“We participated with the fire department last year with the Pink Out (event),” Marble Falls Police Capt. Glenn Hanson said. “We decided we would show our support for the cause.

“To that end, we ordered the pink badges and patches,” he added.

From family to co-workers, the lives of millions of women are impacted each year by the diagnosis.

The Texas Department of State Health Services reported that 108 new cases per 100,000 women are diagnosed each year.