FROM STAFF REPORTS GRANITE SHOALS — With incumbent Shirley King no longer eligible to run because of term limits, Granite Shoals voters had to pick a new face for Place 1.

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Strong winds blasted through the Highland Lakes on Feb. 25, damaging businesses and downing power lines and trees. Staff photos by Connie Swinney

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FROM STAFF REPORTS MARBLE FALLS — Some of the most important elected positions in the lives of people isn’t in Washington, D.C. or even Austin, but much closer to home. Local municipal elections scheduled for May 11 give people a chance to play a role in how their communities face the future. City councils effect [...]

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JARED FIELDS • PICAYUNE STAFF COTTONWOOD SHORES — Despite three city employees recently resigning, Cottonwood Shores residents won’t experience any change in services, officials said.

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COTTONWOOD SHORES — Officials denied former City Treasurer Chris Alvarenga’s appeal to get her old job back, but allegations she made about expenditures by the mayor are being probed. City Council members heard Alvarenga’s appeal during the Oct. 4 regular meeting, but they waited to take action until the Oct. 18 session when City Attorney [...]

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COTTONWOOD SHORES — A former municipal employee fighting her termination by the city got to have her say out in the open during a meeting this week. Former City Treasurer Chris Alvaranga, who was let go after Aug. 23, asked that her appeal be heard during an open session of the City Council Oct. 4. [...]

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COTTONWOOD SHORES — A former police chief let go last year by the City Council has filed a libel and wrongful-termination lawsuit against the city and two officials. Christopher Johnson, who served as the chief of police from Feb. 17-Nov. 17, 2011, filed the lawsuit Sept. 28 in the 33rd state District Court in Burnet.

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COTTONWOOD SHORES — Though the city has started to enforce rules on property upkeep and lot cleanup after sending out 780 letters, not everyone thinks the plan is so rosy. Councilman Roger Wayson and former Councilman Stephen Sherry both indicated during a Sept. 6 City Council meeting they felt enforcement of the cleanup rules infringes [...]

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COTTONWOOD SHORES — The city has added another veteran officer to the police force and named him as the assistant chief during the Sept. 6 council meeting. Gary Olfers, 64, was a 29-year member of the Austin Police Department before retiring in 2003 as a commander. The city hired Harold Piatt, another former APD commander, [...]

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COTTONWOOD SHORES — The city has joined several other Highland Lakes communities by moving to mandatory Stage 2 water restrictions, officials said Sept. 4. "We were waiting and trying to hold out until after Labor Day," said City Administrator Janet Taylor-Carusi. "The splash pad (water feature at community park) is closed to the public until [...]

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COTTONWOOD SHORES — Residents will see an increase in water rates by Oct. 1 after City Council this past week approved the hike — but not without some controversy. Councilman Roger Wayson during the council meeting July 19 questioned the increase and asked that a decision be moved to an August meeting, but the motion [...]

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COTTONWOOD SHORES — For the first time since Thanksgiving, the city has a full-time police chief — and he is also a veteran of the Austin Police Department. The city July 7 hired former APD Division Commander Harold Piatt. Piatt, 65, had 28 years experience with the Austin police force before retiring in 2007. In [...]

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