July Picayune bursting with Independence Day celebrations and more

The Picayune Magazine knows where to celebrate America’s 245th birthday in the Highland Lakes. If it’s not already in your mailbox, pick up a free copy of the magazine at any of the local businesses listed below or flip through the digital version online to find locations, times, and dates for the best community celebrations. And not all of the Independent Day events are on July 4. We’ve got the scoop.

We also have the AquaBoom schedule from the Kingsland Chamber of Commerce on page 4. 

A two-page spread on pages 6-7 lists all of the community fireworks and parades along with some safety tips when shooting off your own fireworks. Remember: Sales and use of aerial fireworks have been banned in the unincorporated areas of Burnet County as well as the cities of Marble Falls, Cottonwood Shores, and Horseshoe Bay due to dry conditions.

Once you’ve marked your calendar for Fourth of July events you want to attend, check out our Short List of events on page 28 for other happenings across the Highland Lakes. We have the details on the Marble Falls Summer Concert Series, the Globe Theatre summer movies series, and a list of bands scheduled to play in a variety of venues around the area. 

A more complete — and continually updated — list can be found online on the 101HighlandLakes.com calendar.

Turn to page 8 for “Goats on the Go,” a story about renting goats to come chomp away the invasive plant species taking over your landscape or just to keep the grass down. 

Speaking of events, get ready for the Marble Falls Rodeo by reading all about rodeo announcer Ricky Bindseil on page 10. As a professional announcer, the Marble Falls resident called the Burnet County Rodeo and travels around the state and beyond, entertaining and educating the crowds on the action and athletes in the arena. He will be the voice of the Marble Falls Rodeo on July 15-16.

New businesses are popping up to clean up invasive zebra mussels plaguing the Highland Lakes. Most of the zebra mussel extraction attention in the past has been on Lake Travis, but some local entrepreneurs are scraping docks and boats from lakes Buchanan to Marble Falls. Read more about it on page 12. 

That’s My Job on page 14 features a Marble Falls gym owner who teaches mixed martial arts and other combat sports. 

This month’s Picayune People on page 16 shines the spotlight on a retiree who pioneered disaster recovery planning around the world, work that included the Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11, and a list of major fires, hurricanes, and more. 

George Strait made the Brush with Fame feature this month on page 18, pictured with a local couple from Buchanan Dam, while a Burnet librarian recommends a humorous, murderous book to read on page 20 in the Book Nook column. 

Burnet photographer Martelle Luedecke of Luedecke Photography was Out and About, snapping pictures in Johnson Park in Marble Falls during a performance of Selena tribute band Bidi Bidi Banda. She also attended the Highland Lakes Equality Fest in Marble Falls and the Summer Blast put on by Highland Lakes VFW Post 6974 in Burnet. Her photos are on pages 30-31.

If you’re wondering Where in the World the Picayune traveled, check out page 32. Several different issues showed up in Italy, Utah, the Bahamas, and Switzerland! 

Keep on turning the page, because that’s not all. The back of the book is crammed with classified ads for a variety of services for every home and business. Shop the bargains from pages 33-38.

Pick up your free issue at any of the following locations before they run out! 

HORSESHOE BAY/COTTONWOOD SHORES

• La Quinta Inn, 501 FM 2147 West
• Worldmark, 755 Rocky Road (FM 2147)
• Bob’s Drive In (Exxon) on FM 2147
• Grease Monkey, 3907 FM 2147
• Julie’s Cocina, 4319 FM 2147
• PK Nails, 7405 FM 2147 
• Subway, 4823 FM 2147
• 7-Eleven, 8000 FM 2147
• Horseshoe Bay Veterinary Clinic, 264072 Texas 71 

KINGSLAND

• Spyke’s Bar-B-Que, 14601 RR 1431 West
• Wakepoint Convenience Store, 14757 RR 1431 West
• Satellite Station, 100 W. Chamberlain St.
• Kingsland Coffee (inside The Antlers Inn), 1001 King Ct.
• Subway, 1133 RR 1431
• Valentine Lakeside Resort, 814 Euel Moore
• Kingsland Water Supply, 1422 West Drive
• Buddie’s, 1621 RR 1431
• Mr. Gatti’s, 3501 W RR 1431
• El Bracero, 1516 RR 1431
• Kingsland Health Mart Pharmacy, 306 RM 2900
• The Place Downtown, 1910 RR 1431 West
• ACE Hardware, 2607 RR 1431 West
• Kingsland Health & Fitness, 2132 RR 1431 West
• Kingsland/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce, 1309 RR 1431
• Kingsland Hills Care Center, 3727 RR 1431 West

BURNET/BUCHANAN DAM/TOW

• Canyon of the Eagles, 16942 FM 2341 in Burnet
• Delaware Springs Golf Course, 600 Delaware Springs Blvd. in Burnet
• Trailblazer’s Grille, 216 S. Main St. in Burnet
• Unshakeable Grounds, 134 S. Main St. in Burnet
• Burnet Chamber of Commerce, 101 N. Pierce St., Suite 1
• Cecil Automotive, 2601 S. Water St. (U.S. 281) in Burnet
• YMCA of the Highland Lakes at Galloway-Hammond, 1601 S. Water St. (U.S. 281) in Burnet
• Ascension Seton Highland Lakes, 3201 S. Water St. (U.S. 281) in Burnet
• Looking Good, 1001 S. Water St. (U.S. 281) in Burnet
• Crazy Gal’s Restaurant, 414 Buchanan Drive (Texas 29) in Burnet
• Reese’s Truck Pieces, 610 Buchanan Drive (Texas 29) in Burnet
• Hill Country Auto Glass, 1100 Buchanan Drive (Texas 29) in Burnet
• B Dogs Nutrition Spot, 102 E. Polk St. (Texas 29) in Burnet
• Bill’s Burgers, 306 W. Polk St. (Texas 29) in Burnet
• Storm’s, 700 N. Water St. (U.S. 281) in Burnet
• Comfort Inn, 810 S. Water St. (U.S. 281) in Burnet,
• Country Oaks Assisted Living, 407 W. Jackson St. in Burnet
• The Oaks Nursing Home, 507 W. Jackson St. in Burnet
• Quick Brakes, 16211 Texas 29 East in Buchanan Dam
• Jesse James Real Estate, 18036 Texas 29 East in Buchanan Dam
• Lake Buchanan/Inks Lake Chamber of Commerce, 19611 Texas 29 East in Buchanan Dam
• Food Mart, 2045 RR 261 in Buchanan Dam
• Lakeshore Branch Library, 7346 RR 261 in Buchanan Dam
• J&S Quick Stop, 110 Frazier in Tow
• Buchanan General Store, 10240 Texas 29
• Big Chief RV Resort, 1420 FM 690
• Hoover Valley Cafe & Store on Park Road 4 

GRANITE SHOALS

• 2 Roosters RV Park, 1315 FM 1980
• Sunset Point Resort, 2322 N. Wirtz Dam Roaqd
• Cracker Barrel Grocery, 6836 RR 1431
• Rocky Top Food Mart, 6924 RR 1431 West
• Buck’s Convenience Store, 8201 RR 1431

MARBLE FALLS/SPICEWOOD

• China Kitchen, 705 First St.
• Thread & Needle, 911 Ninth St.
• RE/MAX Marble Falls, 808 Ninth St.
• Marble Falls Visitors Center, 100 Avenue G
• Bear King Brewery, 207 Avenue G
• Holiday Inn, 714 Corazon Drive
• Mike’s Floor Coverings, 1804 RR 1431 West
• Blue Bonnet Cafe, 211 U.S. 281
• Wingman Oil Change, 2514 U.S. 281 North
• Baylor Scott & White, 800 and 810 Texas 71
• Jardin Corona, 301 Main St.
• Red box newsstand in Old Oak Square on Main Street
• Main Street Consignment, 216 Main St.
• Gateway Villa, 601 Steve Hawkins Parkway
• Hampton Inn, 704 First St.
• Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce, 916 Second St.
• Birdie’s Antiques, 706 Third St.
• Choccolatte’s, 807 Third St.
• Rae’s R-Bar Grill, 904 Third St.
• Zina & Co. Real Estate, 614 Seventh St.
• Dale Brown Properties, 206 Avenue H
• Claremont, 800 Claremont
• Poole Eye Associates, 10008 Falls Parkway
• Gateway Gardens, 605 Gateway Central 
• Highland Lakes Veterinary Clinic, 1110 RR 1431
• Margarita’s, 1205 RR 1431
• Unleashed, 1110 RR 1431
• Lone Star Capitol Bank, 1001 RR 1431
• Numinous Coffee Roasters, 175 RR 1431
• Doc’s Fish Camp & Grill, 900 RR 1431 West at U.S. 281
• Kwik Chek #52, 1003 RR 1431 West
• CK Medical Spa, 1712 RR 1431 West
• Pottery Ranch, 6000 U.S. 281
• Kwik Chek #53, 1301 U.S. 281
• Wingman BBQ, 2407 U.S. 281
• Tea Thyme Cafe, 2108 U.S. 281
• Hill Country Inn, 1101 U.S. 281
• Marble Falls Athletic Club, 2312 U.S. 281
• Texan Credit, 1514 U.S. 281
• Quality Inn, 1206 U.S. 281 North
• Wingman Carwash, 2605 U.S. 281 North
• Best Western, 1403 U.S. 281 North
• Arbor House, 1801 King Road
• Service Title, 117 Main St
• Marble Falls Florist, 214 Main St.
• ReDid, 209 Main St. 
• Highland Lakes Art Guild, 318 Main St.
• Granite Mesa, 1401 Max Copeland Drive
• Hill Country Nutrition, 1405 Mormon Mill
• Motel 6, 1400 Ollie Lane
• Louisiana Crab Shack, 602 Steve Hawkins Parkway
• Opie’s, 9504 Texas 71 East in Spicewood
• Spicewood General Store, 9418 Texas 71 East in Spicewood

ROUND MOUNTAIN/JOHNSON CITY

• Old Olie’s Outside, 10541 U.S. 281 North 
• Big’s (Valero), 10541 U.S. 281
• Whittington’s, 602 U.S. 281 South
• El Agave, 408 U.S. 281 North
• Lone Star Capital Bank, 403 U.S. 281 South
• Best Western, 107 U.S. 281 South
• Fat Boy’s Burgers, 104 U.S. 281 South
• Hill Country Cupboard, 101 U.S. 281
• JC Liquors, 100 U.S. 281 South
• Johnson City Library, 501 Nugent Ave.
• Johnson City Chamber of Commerce, 100 E. Main St.
• Pecan Street Brewery, 106 E. Pecan Drive
• Harvest House, 506 N. Nugent

LLANO

• Stripes, 901 Bessemer Ave.
• Stripes, 200 Texas 71
• Llano Chamber of Commerce, 100 Train Station Drive
• Fuel Coffee House, 106 E. Main St.
• Stonewall Pizza, 109 W. Main St.
• LanTex Theater, 113 W. Main St.
• Jesse James Real Estate, 500 W. Young St.
• Cooper’s BBQ, 604 W. Young St.
• Robinson Llano City RV Park, 101 Robinson Park Drive

editor@thepicayune.com