PHOTO 1: A Marble Falls police officer and construction worker survey the damage after a Caterpillar loader rolled over Wednesday while working at the Marble Falls Church of Christ, 711 Broadway. Crews are completing some exterior work on the property after finishing a new building and sanctuary earlier this year. No major injuries were reported. Staff photos by Daniel Clifton
KINGSLAND — Business was brisk at Spyke’s Bar-B-Que restaurant Friday afternoon, just days after a truck plowed through the eatery to create the kind of drive-through no one really wants.
IN PHOTO: Only eight days after a truck ran into the popular Kingsland restaurant, Spyke’s cashier Ashlyn Clough says the eatery is open for business. Midland resident Danny Snelson is the first customer to visit Spyke’s since the wreck. Staff photo by Raymond V. Whelan
COTTONWOOD SHORES — A solar-powered globe in Lynn Porter’s garden stands as a reminder of her late friend Ann Butler, who died from ovarian cancer in February.
IN PHOTO: Lynn Porter of Cottonwood Shores stands on her balcony overlooking both the property of her late friend Ann Butler and a city park. Porter bought a swatch of waterfront property at the foot of the city park with the intent of building a memorial garden for her friend, who died of ovarian cancer. She is now battling city leaders who proposed using the land for waterside recreation. Photo by Daniel Clifton
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SPICEWOOD — A family narrowly escaped disaster when high winds toppled a 200-year-old oak in their front yard Thursday night, with the tree crashing down just a few feet from their home.
IN PHOTO: Burnet County maintenance crews trim the branches off a fallen post oak in Spicewood after a heavy wind toppled the tree during a rainstorm Thursday. On Friday, a volunteer firefighter reported that a small twister had touched down in the area. Staff photo by Raymond V. Whelan
HORSESHOE BAY — Topics on learning to live with diabetes are part of the “Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes” two-day course next month.
The free workshops are geared for patients with Type 2 diabetes.
LLANO — The Llano County Commissioners declared a county-wide burn ban during their meeting Monday.
Several grass fires and little rain during recent weeks prompted the ban, which will remain in effect until further notice.
No open ground fires will be allowed during the ban, officials said.
Standard exceptions to the ban include burning for a ceremony, cooking or warmth.
Violators of the ban could be charged with a Class C misdemeanor and fined up to $500.
Before burning, residents are advised to call the Llano County Sheriff’s Office at (325) 247-5050.
It was unclear whether the rains that started Monday afternoon would have any effect on the ban.
GRANITE SHOALS — Funeral services have been announced for a man whose body was recovered around noon Thursday from Lake LBJ near Robin Hood Park.
MARBLE FALLS — The Marble Falls Independent School District could land a new superintendent as early as Aug. 31 or Nov. 1, according to two search firms vying for a contract from trustees.
"But that’s really compressed," said Joe Dan Lee of the Texas Association of School Boards Executive Search Services regarding the August date. "This is something you don’t want to hurry. This is going to be the most important decision you have to make when replacing a real good superintendent."
The School Board is considering hiring Lee’s company or Horn, Smith, Wood & Preston LLC to assist in the search to find a replacement for Superintendent Ryder Warren, who has accepted the top job at Midland Independent School District.
He takes over July 1. The interim superintendent already named by the MFISD board is veteran school administrator Jim Boyle of Burnet.
James Smith of Horn and associates said it’s possible to find a viable candidate for the district by Oct. 1, but Nov. 1 is more realistic.
Representatives from both firms Monday night told the board it wouldn’t be difficult finding applicants for the permanent slot.
"People are already asking us about it," Lee said.
Smith, whose firm assisted the last time MFISD looked for a superintendent, said they received 108 applicants prior to Warren accepting the position in 2003.
That’s the most the firm has ever recorded for a superintendent spot, he said, adding most openings result in 30 to 40 applicants.
"This is a premier job," said Jenny Preston of Horn, Smith, Wood & Preston LLC. "The minute word went out that MFISD was looking, lots of (superintendents) across Texas, and the nation, looked up."
The Class 4A school district has seven campuses and about 4,000 students.
Both firms outlined their process to find good candidates if trustees hire them.
Preston said her firm would conduct a needs assessment and develop a superintendent profile with input from the community, staff, board and administration .
"We will be in your district," she said. "We’ll meet face-to-face. That face time is very important to us."
The TASB search follows a similar pattern, including holding a planning session with the board and then developing a leadership profile using suggestions from the community, staff and administrators. Lee said they also use an online survey for those who can’t make a meeting where an applicant is introduced.
"Our job is to talk to the people who are not looking for jobs," Preston said. "That’s when our recruiting starts — we look for the best of the best."
Smith said when his firm conducts a search, about half the candidates school boards end up interviewing didn’t originally apply for the position. He noted Warren was a non-applicant for the MFISD position.
"The last time (MFISD searched for a superintendent) Ryder didn’t want to apply," Smith said. The board went through the search process and named a lone finalist. But during the 21-day grace period, the candidate backed out and Ryder was contacted.
Lee said TASB has representatives are familiar with superintendents across the state, so if they know one who would make a good choice for MFISD they encourage him or her to apply.
Both firms wouldn’t hold back any applications from the board.
Lee said the search firm helps the board narrow the list of applicants to six the trustees want to interview. Three are drawn from that list for a second round of interviews, then the board names a finalist.
At that point, two or three board members visit the applicant’s current district to talk with staff, community members and administrators about the candidate’s performance.
"It’s a tough, but very thorough, process," Lee said. "The last thing we want is something to come out in those 21 days that you or we didn’t know about."
Smith said his firm takes the search both seriously and personally.
"We’re as concerned about assisting you to find a superintendent as you are," he said. "We lose sleep over (the search)."
The board could name a search firm June 21.
MARBLE FALLS — Ronn Maxwell knows appearances matter.
The CEO and founder of Ronn Motors says he’s well aware of the public perception that his company, which designs and markets hydrogen-fueled sports cars, is falling behind on promises he made last year to the Economic Development Corp.
IN PHOTO: Ronn Motors builds and markets the Scorpion HX hydrogen supercar. A prototype model was present at a company event last December. File photo
