MARBLE FALLS — A brief storm system passed through the area Wednesday evening, pummeling the Highland Lakes with hail and howling winds.
Officials with sheriff’s offices in Burnet and Llano counties said no initial damage was reported, however.
A National Weather Service forecast indicated showers and thunderstorms will continue until 4 a.m. Thursday — with chances of precipitation at 90 percent.
The rain is not predicted for the day or evening on Thursday — a high of 72 is expected, with a northwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, and gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday’s forecast will be available during the Highland Lakes Headlines newscast at www.ThePicayuneTV.com.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
MARBLE FALLS — From new songs by local crooner john Arthur martinez to a Caribbean cruise for two, the First Baptist Christian School benefit Friday promises a good time for all, organizers said.
"It’s a casual evening with a lot of fun," said Ed Necker of the First Baptist Church of Marble Falls.
The event will raise money for the private Christian school located at the church.
The fundraiser will be held at FBC’s property at 901 La Ventana, located south of Lake Marble Falls off U.S. off of 281.
It starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are $35 apiece or a table of eight for $500.
"The main focus this year is to raise money for our scholarship fund," Necker said. "There are so many families struggling right now because of the economy that we want to help as many as we can."
The church and school are at 501 Twelfth St.
The FBC School offers programs for infants through fourth-graders this year, but there are plans to someday include grades up to the 12th. Necker said the school will add a fifth grade next year.
Though the private school has offered infant and preschool programs for more than 25 years, Necker said the school only added the elementary classes five years ago.
Interest has quickly grown, and more than 200 students are enrolled now through the fourth grade.
"We want to continue to provide a learning experience and programs for families who are looking for a private, Christian five-day-a-week school," he said.
Necker said Pappasito’s is catering the event and there will be an "el mercado," or market.
"It’s really a silent and live auction," he said.
Visitors can bid on a wide spectrum of prizes, including a seven-night Caribbean cruise for two.
"But it’s not just big items," Necker said. "There’s something for every budget. We’ll have sports memorabilia and several prints by local artists."
Some of the most popular auction items last year, Necker said, actually came from some of the humblest "artists."
"The things that really went over well were the handmade items from our students," he said. "There were abstract paintings and other things they made in class. And people just loved them."
The evening includes a performance by Martinez, a popular singer in the Americana genre who recently released a new CD, "Purgatory Road." Martinez, of Cottonwood Shores, was a finalist on "Nashville Star" in 2003.
"He’s going to perform some new songs off his new album, which is a Christian one," Necker said. "The event is outside at our new facility in La Ventana, so I think it’s going to be a wonderful setting for a wonderful cause."
For more, contact event chairwoman Deanna Nail at (830) 596-3630 or dmarienail@gmail.com.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
SMITHWICK — Firefighters from Burnet and Travis counties battled a blaze at a local Christian camp that destroyed the facility’s main building and sent up a towering plume of smoke that could be seen for miles.
Investigators are unsure what caused the fire that destroyed the office and meeting hall of Camp of the Hills, a faith-based summer camp that caters to inner-city teens from across the state.
No injuries were reported, according to officials with Marble Falls Area EMS Inc., which responded to the scene.
IN PHOTOS: Firefighters from across the Highland Lakes battled an intense blaze at Camp of the Hills off CR 344 near Smithwick. Though no one was injured in the fire, the faith-based camp’s main office building and meeting hall were destroyed. Staff photo by Chris Porter
The blaze broke out just before 4 p.m. at the camp off CR 344 near Smithwick.
Camp of the Hills board member Raymond Whitman said the blaze couldn’t have come at a worse time for the camp, which is preparing for an influx of campers this summer.
"We’re going to have 150 people a week that will need to be fed three times a day," Whitman told The Daily Tribune. "We’re going to have to set up some type of temporary facility, but first we’ll have to determine where to set it up."
Camp Director Mel Bowman said the fire claimed all of the camp’s office equipment, first-aid supplies, kitchen equipment and more.
"We have a fireproof safe, and I guess we’re going to find out if it really is fireproof," he said.
Fire crews poured water onto the burning building, which was lined with cedar siding that made the blaze difficult to extinguish, officials said. Tanker trucks were driven to the shores of nearby Lake Travis, where they filled up with water from the lake to help fight the blaze.
Pedernales Electric Cooperative crews also were called to the scene to cut power to a sparking electric wire that had fallen to the ground.
It took units from Marble Falls, Granite Shoals, North Lake Travis, Bertram and Cottonwood Shores more than an hour to contain the blaze, which consumed most of the wooden structure.
Whitman said the fire left camp officials struggling to determine where to put their campers when summer session begins in a few weeks.
"It may be a true camp experience for them," he said. "They could be eating out of a tent."
Camp of the Hills was started in 1990 to minister to inner-city teens, Whitman said.
"The mission was to get them outside and in a surrounding where they could look at something besides concrete," he said.
Since 1991, the camp has accommodated almost 6,000 boys and girls, according to the camp’s Web site, campofthehills.org. It encompasses 105 acres of land, where activities include swimming, fishing, canoeing, sports, crafts, singing, reading, skits and Bible study, according to the Web site.
During camping season, the facility employes several counselors in addition to regular staff and dozens of volunteers, Whitman said. In addition to the camp’s main office and meeting and dining hall, Wednesday’s fire also destroyed quarters for the counselors and the nurse’s office, he said.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
MARBLE FALLS — A local granite supplier is involved in a multimillion-dollar project to help build a jetty at the mouth of the Colorado River.
About $21 million in federal stimulus funds is financing the project, which is expected to be finished by June, officials have said.
All materials for the Matagorda Project are being supplied by the Cold Spring Texas Granite Co., based in Marble Falls.
"The jetty blocks are 10 to 14 tons or 14 to 16 tons per specification," said Sharon Jensen, a Cold Spring spokeswoman.
Subcontractors include Gulf Coast Limestone based in Seabrook and Target Construction in Nevada, Jensen added.
According to various sources, the 862-mile Colorado River is the 18th largest river in the country and the longest river with both its source and mouth in Texas.
It originates south of Lubbock and flows from Dawson County through Marble Falls, Austin, Bastrop, Smithville, La Grange, Columbus, Wharton and Bay City before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico at Matagorda Bay, according to Wikipedia.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
MARBLE FALLS — If applause is any indication, students at Colt Elementary School had a blast Tuesday.
Members of the Highland Lakes Flyers brought more than a dozen remote-controlled airplanes to the school for a morning demonstration as part of the school’s science-themed Flight Week.
Students watched in awe and excitement as the planes — which were powered by electric motors — dipped and zoomed over a playground.
PHOTO 1: Colt Elementary School students get a hands-on look at a radio-controlled airplane during a demonstration at the school Tuesday. The event was part of the weeklong Flight Week, which includes a presentation from a former NASA engineer, a balloon release and more. Staff photos by Chris Porter
PHOTO 2: Highland Lakes Flyers member Ed Bullock prepares a model airplane for takeoff during a flight demonstration at Colt Elementary School in Marble Falls Tuesday. Hundreds of students lined up to watch the planes swoop across the school’s playground as part of Flight Week.
PHOTO 3: Highland Lakes Flyers member Ed Bullock takes the controls of an electric-powered model airplane during a flight demonstration at Colt Elementary School in Marble Falls Tuesday. Students were able to learn about the hobby, the speed of the planes and how to get started. The demonstration was part of Flight Week.
PHOTO 4: Colt Elementary School students gaze skyward as a pair of model airplanes twist and turn during a demonstration from the Highland Lakes Flyers Tuesday. The aerial exhibition was part of the Marble Falls’ school’s science-centered Flight Week.
"It’s been wonderful," Highland Lakes Flyers President Mike McDougall said. "The kids have been very enthusiastic. I think they’re having a good time."
The Flyers practice their piloting skills nearly every day at Hank Nilson field off RR 2545, a scaled-down airfield near Kingsland built specifically for model planes.
McDougall said the Flyers frequently give demonstrations for young aviation enthusiasts.
"We’ve got such good questions from the students today, a lot of them are going to be engineers and scientists, I can tell," he said. "It’s very important that they see something like this when they’re young and give them an opportunity to experience this. You can watch it, or you can come out and fly."
Tuesday’s demonstration was part of a weeklong event planned by school administrators to let students learn more about aviation.
Other events include a balloon release Wednesday afternoon, and a presentation by former NASA engineer and Bertram resident Jerry Bostick.
Organizers also have planned a hot-air balloon demonstration Friday, leading into the school’s science night 6-8 p.m. at the campus, 2200 The Manzano Mile.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
MARBLE FALLS — A "catastrophic cable break" in the Hill Country area shut down Internet and phone service across the Highland Lakes for more than eight hours Tuesday.
The outage began around 1 p.m., cutting off all Internet service and many phone lines, according to Marble Falls City Secretary Christina Laine.
"There were rumors it started after the city cut a (cable) line, but that isn’t the case," Laine said. "It was actually a catastrophic cable break."
Area law enforcement and emergency dispatchers said the 911 system was tested and hasn’t been affected.
City officials are keeping in touch with cellular network officials.
In the meantime, residents and businesses are dealing with the outage, using cell phones, texting and satellite services to circumvent the lack of long-distance phone service.
Heaver-than-usual use of the cell phone network led to some calls being dropped, officials said.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
GRANITE SHOALS — A Granite Shoals man wounded in a weekend knife attack remains in stable condition at an Austin hospital, police said Monday
The attack occurred about 11 p.m. Friday on Prairie Creek Road. No arrests have been reported.
The victim drove to a neighbor’s house for help, police Capt. Royce Graeter said Monday.
"He didn’t know the people, he just stopped at the first house he saw for help," Graeter said.
The victim, who suffered at least three wounds to his left side and upper thigh, couldn’t identify his attacker, Graeter added.
The victim’s identity wasn’t released pending notification of his family.
"He couldn’t give us a really good description," the captain added. "He couldn’t even really tell us where he’d been attacked. He just said it was down the road. I didn’t really have a crime scene to investigate."
Graeter said the man was flown by rescue helicopter to University Medical Center Brackenridge.
Anyone with information is asked to call Granite Shoals police at (830) 598-4818.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
MARBLE FALLS — Though some folks are glum Monday mornings, Sue Kennedy was all smiles as she walked out of the Helping Center and saw the bags of groceries piled in the bed of Al Pawlik’s pickup.
"Oh my, that looks so good," the Helping Center director said with a big grin. She clapped Pawlik on the back. "I’m so grateful for you all."
Pawlik, his wife Marian Pawlik and Bob DeChene dropped off another load of groceries for the food pantry donated by parishioners of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.
PHOTO 1: Al Pawlik (left) of the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church’s Knights of Columbus hands over one of several bags of groceries to Sue Kennedy and J.D. Medlock of the Marble Falls Helping Center. The Marble Falls parish collects 70-80 bags of groceries every month and donates them to the food pantry. They visited the facility Monday morning. Staff photos by Daniel Clifton
PHOTO 2: Al Pawlik (left) of the Knights of Columbus from St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Marble Falls, Marian Pawlik of the Lady Knights and J.D. Medlock of the Marble Falls Helping Center unload a pickup laden with groceries Monday morning at the food pantry. The St. John’s parishioners collect an average of $800 worth of groceries every month for the center. The Knights of Columbus serve as the point group for the food drive and make the monthly delivery.
"This is the third year we’ve been doing this," DeChene said.
The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic service organization, helps spearhead the food drive, but Al Pawlik said the church members deserve all the credit.
"It’s a parishwide effort," he said.
DeChene said the Knights and Lady Knights pass out grocery bags the second Sunday of the month to the congregation. Then the parishioners return them the third Sunday filled with groceries. Pawlik or other Knights then deliver the full bags to the Helping Center the third Monday of each month.
"We’re averaging about $850 worth of groceries every month," DeChene said. "Everybody (at St. John’s) chips in. Even the kids help out with this. It’s something we see really helps our community."
The Helping Center, 1315 Broadway, provides food for local residents who are struggling financially.
Officials said the demand on the food pantry has increased over the past year as families ride out the country’s economic crisis. While a lot of attention is focused on holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, officials say food is needed all year.
For more information on the center or to help, call (830) 693-5689.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
MARBLE FALLS — Long-awaited changes to the city’s sign ordinance could be in the cards after a vote by the City Council at Monday’s meeting.
City Manager Ralph Hendricks proposed the formation of a new working group devoted to sign-rule changes at the meeting, where officials also signed off on the purchase of a new mobile-command unit for the Police Department.
The current sign rules don’t cover many types of signs, Hendricks said, adding that lack of oversight has contributed to a confusing corridor for motorists traveling through Marble Falls.
Any changes to the rules would need to come before the economy swings upward, he added.
"That way, when the building does start back up again, we can cover more in a customer-friendly way," Hendricks said.
The current sign ordinance doesn’t cover flags, balloons, inflatable displays or signs for subdivisions, he added.
"What we would like to do is have a group to bring clarity to some very specific areas," Hendricks said. "We’d like to have them look at banners, new signs in newly annexed areas and requirements for replacements of signs when a business is sold or purchased."
Mayor Pro-tem Mike Pilley — who owns a concrete-construction business — said some aspects of the current rules are too restrictive.
"When a person spends $500,000 or $5 million to put a business here, they need to let someone know that they’re there," Pilley said. "(The sign ordinance) shouldn’t be so restrictive, or else why would they come here?"
The committee — composed of local business owners, residents and council members — will likely hold a series of open workshops with council members, Hendricks said.
The work could take several months, Mayor George Russell said.
"We need to get a group to start working on this thing," he said. "Sign ordinances are probably the worst thing a city council touches."
In other action, the council approved spending $125,000 in federal seized funds for a new mobile command center for the Police Department.
Funding for the purchase comes from money seized during investigations and won’t affect the city’s general fund, Police Chief Mark Whitacre said.
According to federal law, the seized money may only be used to purchase law-enforcement equipment, he said. Additional seized funds left over in the account could go toward a new firing range for officers, Whitacre added.
The command unit — purchased from the Round Rock Police Department — will help officers communicate with multiple agencies during emergencies.
"Any operation lasting longer than two hours, it could be utilized for that," Whitacre said.
Finally, the council voted 4-2 against a measure to move the council’s regular monthly meetings to the first and third Tuesday of each month.
Hendricks said the change was needed to give City Hall staffers more time to prepare for the meetings, which are held the second and fourth Mondays of the month.
However, the council voted instead to move meetings to 6 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays due to scheduling conflicts.
The next meeting is 6 p.m. April 12 in council chambers, 800 Third St.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
This Content Submission and License Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between Victory Media Marketing LLC (“Company,” “we,” or “us”) and you (“User,” “you,” or “Submitter”) upon your submission of content through our websites’ See it, Share It form.
Submitted Content “Submitted Content” means any news tips, text, descriptions, images, photographs, videos, audio files, recordings, or other materials you upload, submit, or provide to us via the news tips forms on DailyTrib.com, KBEYfm.com, 101highlandlakes.com, or any other websites owned or operated by Victory Media Marketing LLC.
License Grant By submitting any Submitted Content, you hereby grant to Company a worldwide, non- exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, display, and otherwise exploit the Submitted Content in any form or medium (now known or hereafter developed), including but not limited to:
Publishing on DailyTrib.com, KBEYfm.com, 101highlandlakes.com, other Company websites, apps, newsletters, and social media platforms (such as Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, etc.).
Editing, formatting, or combining with other content for news, promotional, archival, or commercial purposes.
Allowing third parties (e.g., affiliates, syndication partners) to use it under the same terms. You retain ownership of the copyright in your Submitted Content, subject to the license granted above.
User Representations and Warranties You represent and warrant that:
You are at least 18 years old and have the full right and authority to grant the rights in this Agreement.
The Submitted Content is your original work or you have obtained all necessary permissions, consents, and releases (including from any individuals appearing in photos/videos or owners of any third-party materials).
The Submitted Content does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights, privacy rights, publicity rights, or defame any person.
It complies with all applicable laws and does not contain viruses, malware, or prohibited content.
You will not submit false, misleading, or confidential information.
No Compensation You understand and agree that you will receive no compensation for the submission or use of your Submitted Content.
Indemnification You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Company, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, liabilities, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from your breach of this Agreement or any third-party claims related to your Submitted Content.
Moral Rights and Publicity You waive any moral rights or rights of attribution in the Submitted Content to the extent permitted by law. Company may use your name, username, or likeness in connection with the Submitted Content if applicable.
Termination and Removal Company may, in its sole discretion, edit, refuse to post, or remove any Submitted Content at any time without notice. This Agreement survives any termination.
Governing Law This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict of laws principles. Any disputes shall be resolved exclusively in the courts located in Burnet County, Texas.
Entire Agreement This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements. Modifications must be in writing. By submitting content, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Agreement.
