Baylor Scott & White

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Federal and county health officials are now expanding COVID-19 prevention measures, including the wearing of surgical masks, aimed at halting the transmission of the coronavirus.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The possibility of a new Asphalt, Inc. rock crushing plant on the far southern outskirts of the city brought the largest contingent of visitors to the Marble Falls City Council on Tuesday night, Sept. 19.

In a meeting that opened with proclamations recognizing the 20th Anniversary of the Marble Falls Library's Main Street location and hunger awareness, the agenda included a proposed ordinance establishing the intent of the City of Marble Falls to annex into the city limits 1,242 acres of land that would place the proposed plant in the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) of the city.

“Annexation is not a silver bullet,” said Mayor John Packer. “But it could give us some standing.”

The plant opponents seemed gratified, nonetheless, to witness a unanimous council vote in support of the ordinance.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Scott & White Health Plan (SWHP) will pull out of the federal health care marketplace in 2017, the health insurer announced Wednesday, Aug. 17.

The Temple-based company announced it would continue to offer selected bronze off-marketplace HMO individual and family plans, and that the Insurance Company of Scott and White (ICSW) will offer selected bronze off-marketplace PPO plans.

However, neither SWHP or ICSW will offer gold, silver and selected bronze benefit marketplace plans in what is commonly referred to as “Obamacare.”

“At Scott and White Health Plan, we are committed to supporting the Affordable Care Act by offering affordable medical insurance to consumers in North and Central Texas. However, the market for our individual marketplace plans carries higher risk than other plans,” the company said Wednesday in its announcement.

By Lew K. Cohn

The Highlander

Managing Editor

Let's talk...Women 2 Women is a women's health conference taking place Saturday, March 12, and organizers are asking for a call in advance to reserve a sandwich lunch to round out visits to the event from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

The fun, educational meeting with people who provide services for women throughout this area will include subjects such as heart attack in women, vaccines for adults, incontinence and dealing with abuse and introduce the participants to Use It Or Lose It Exercise, healthy eating habits and how to get the most out of 15-minute meetings with their doctors.