Video: Watch it on the 3-19-10 newcast on ThePicayuneTV.com
BURNET — A grant funded by the Texas Lottery Commission could ensure that Burnet County veterans lacking transportation still get to their medical appointments.
The Burnet County Commissioners Court recently approved an application for funding from the Texas Veterans Commission to buy passenger vans and pay drivers.
Video: Watch it on
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FAIRLAND — A man who battled a fire in the kitchen of his manufactured home Friday managed to escape without injury, officials said.
Fire crews from the Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department and Granite Shoals Fire Rescue raced to the incident in the 200 block of Winding Way Road about 1 p.m. and soon had it under control.
"It was mostly contained to the kitchen," said Marble Falls Chief Terry White. "There was one man inside at the time it started, but he was able to (get out on his own)."
White said the cause of the kitchen fire was unknown.
"The homeowner was able to get some of it out by the time we arrived," White said.
Ten members of Marble Falls VFD and five from Granite Shoals rushed to the emergency, then used fire extinguishers to put out the flames once they arrived.
"We did have a hose ready just outside the home," White said.
After the fire, crews conducted a "mop up" where they removed burned materials, said Marble Falls Assistant Chief Mike Phillips.
"We want to get all the burned materials out of the house so it helps get rid of the smell," Phillips said.
White said no firefighters were injured. A Marble Falls Area EMS Inc. ambulance also responded.
Meanwhile, the firefighters stayed busy Friday.
Thirty minutes after clearing Winding Way, volunteers and paramedics were dispatched to a call in the 7400 block of RR 1431 east of Marble Falls for a possible ATV accident.
Through the months of January and February, the Marble Falls volunteers have responded to 69 calls, they said.
COTTONWOOD SHORES — Plans for an athletic park on city land off Lakeview Drive were put on hold at Thursday’s City Council meeting, after some residents sought to hang on to the property for future use.
The proposed Aspen Athletic and Recreation Park would have included a soccer practice field and open space for families to enjoy picnics and other activities, Mayor Bentley Martin said.
However, questions about the property’s value and the city’s finances led the council to refrain from dedicating three lots — valued at a combined $90,000 — as parkland.
The city already is engaged in seven grant-funded park projects, including upgrades to Noah Thompson Park, a new boat dock and a skateboarding area. The Aspen park would not have been part of the grant projects, Martin said. The fenced-in land is currently used as a storage area by city Public Works crews.
Former Councilman Roger Wayson said the Lakeview property could better serve the city as collateral for future loans.
“There is no going back once the land is dedicated,” Wayson said at the meeting. “The city has no other major (cash) reserves.”
The area previously served as parkland before the city was incorporated in 1987, and Wayson said the area later earned a reputation for “drug use and a sexual meeting place for teenagers.”
The land was also formerly used a burn site by the city, though Martin said a recent Lower Colorado River Authority environmental survey found no current danger to residents stemming from the fires.
Former councilman Donald Orr sought to have the land reappraised, adding nearby property held more than twice the value.
“The Aspen lots are undervalued at this time,” he said. “They are the last relatively liquid assets for collateral in the event of an emergency loan.”
Wayson said city leaders could still use the land as a park while keeping it on the city rolls.
“We could open it up as an open-use area during daylight hours,” Wayson said. “As a minimum, it could be used as matching funds in future grant applications.”
Public Works Manager George Perry said his crews could convert the open space to a soccer field for about $1,000 in city funds, adding a fence around the property would need to be moved to make room for parking space off Aspen Street.
Councilwoman Janet Taylor-Carusi, who was absent due to illness, said in a statement she hoped to return the land to use as a park.
Councilman Bill Plumley agreed, moving to dedicate the property for use as a park “in perpetuity.”
That motion died due to lack of a second.
Meanwhile, other parks projects are proceeding on schedule, officials said. Plans for a nature preserve off Dogwood Lane were approved at Thursday’s meeting, and grant-funded upgrades to Community Park are expected to begin later this year.
The council will meet in special session 6 p.m. March 25 to discuss proposed increases to city water rates.
That meeting will take place at the Public Library, 4111 Cottonwood Drive.
Video: Watch it in the 3/17/10 newscast on ThePicayuneTV.com
HORSESHOE BAY — City leaders are asking for public comments on a proposed $600,000 bridge to span a low-water crossing on Bay West Boulevard that floods often.
The City Council on Tuesday approved a plan to begin a study on building the bridge, which would replace a concrete slab on Bay West with a double-arched span that engineers say could withstand a 100-year flood.
Mayor Bob Lambert said the council is hoping to get input from residents before moving forward with a $1.5 million plan that would include building the bridge and resurfacing more than a mile of pavement on Bay West.
IN PHOTO: A computer-enhanced image shows a proposed bridge on Bay West Boulevard that would replace a low-water crossing that floods often. The road is a primary artery into the Bay West neighborhood. The City Council has asked residents to weigh in with their feelings on the project. Courtesy image
The bridge itself would cost $600,000 and be funded with available cash, officials said.
Councilwoman Claudia Haydon said the bridge is needed to serve the growing population of Bay West.
"The population has increased substantially," she said. "Over this period of time, I’ve seen lots of incidents. I’ve seen moving vans stalled there, I’ve seen motorcycles on their side — and I don’t even live right there. It is dangerous, and the more populated we get, the more dangerous it’s going to be."
If approved, the bridge would be built primarily of prefabricated concrete, and could stand up to a 100-year flood event, Lambert said. The construction project would take about three months, which means temporarily closing Bay West, he added.
Bay West resident Dale Rodman spoke out against the proposal.
"The low-water bridge was there when everyone bought (property) over there," Rodman said. "You know it was there, but you bought anyway."
Rodman said an existing alternate route into the Bay West area off Texas 71 still provides access to the neighborhood during floods, adding he didn’t see a danger to motorists from the low-water crossing.
"It’s only dangerous if you drive into it while the water is high," he said. "Why would you ask the city to spend $600,000 if you’re not willing to drive a couple more miles?"
Lambert asked the council to survey residents to find out their feelings on the issue, including the bridge’s price tag.
"That’s what we hope to do, that’s where we are," Lambert said. "We’re going to proceed on this slowly. If we decide to do it, it can be done six months to a year from now. We’ll get this communicated and see what we hear."
Councilman Steve Spence agreed.
"We need some other opinions," Spence said. "Let’s hear from people on what they want to do."
Residents with comments on the bridge project can contact City Hall at (830) 598-8741.
At least two people were transported by ambulance just before 7 p.m. Wednesday in this St. Patrick’s Day collision involving a two-door sedan and a sport utility vehicle in the 1600 block of RR 1431, adjacent to an entryway at McDonalds in Marble Falls.
Traffic was temporarily delayed and re-routed, while emergency crews briefly worked on the patients before taking them to Seton Highland Lakes Hospital in Burnet. Staff Photo by Connie Swinney
Video: Watch it in the
3/17/10 newscast on ThePicayuneTV.com
MARBLE FALLS — Even in death, Michael Jeffrey Fluty is still sharing his generosity with others, said a minister during a memorial service Wednesday night for the traffic-accident victim.
Dozens of family and friends gathered to mourn the 19-year-old Horseshoe Bay resident, who succumbed March 12 to his injuries a day after the car he was riding in collided with a Marble Falls Independent School District bus.
"His legacy lives on because of his generosity to others," said the Rev. Doug Lindley, who noted Fluty decided to become an organ donor one month before he died.
IN PHOTO: Spicewood resident Debbie Brust (left) comforts granddaughter Jamie Ludwig after the memorial service Wednesday for Michael Jeffrey Fluty in Marble Falls. Ludwig was Fluty’s aunt, and Brust was a friend. The 19-year-old Falls Career High School student died last week from injuries suffered in a traffic accident. Staff photo by Raymond V. Whelan
Several patients have since received his donated organs, including a girl in San Antonio and another person in Wisconsin, the minister said.
"We can be consumed with the way he died, rather than the way he lived. Don’t focus on what we lost, focus on what we had," Lindley said.
In addition to Lindley, a throng of family and friends offered testimony during a service mixed with laughter, tears and several fond memories. It was held in the chapel of Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 1805 U.S. 281.
"He was a son, a friend and someone that is loved by many," the Rev. Rodney McGee said during the service in which Fluty was remembered for his wide smile and love of corn dogs, fishing, marshmallows, Shake ‘N Bake pork chops and skateboarding.
Fluty planned to graduate next month from Falls Career High School.
"Mikey was the kind of dude who could walk into a room and put a smile on everybody’s face," said classmate Dallas Harper. "I am sad to see him go. But he is in a better place now. He is in good hands."
Teacher Emily Patterson remembered as Fluty as a person who "brought joy with him."
"He was so kind of heart to all the other students," Patterson recalled. "I can only remember good things about Mikey."
Randi Born, who works for Falls Career Student Services, remembered Fluty as a "happy soul."
Fluty was born Aug. 15, 1990, in Orlando, Fla.
Survivors include his mother and stepfather Pennie (Wiysel) Ludwig and Josh Ludwig of Horseshoe Bay; his father William Fluty of Melbourne, Fla.; brother Will Fluty II of Marble Falls; sisters Krista Fluty of Marble Falls and Guyla Fluty of Melbourne, Fla.; grandparents Franklin and Cora Wiysel of Vancleave, Miss.; and grandmother Carol Wiysel of Melbourne, Fla.
He is also survived by aunts, uncles, cousins and numerous friends.
Mark Cooksey, 17, of Granite Shoals, was driving a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier east on RR 1431 when it crossed into westbound traffic and was involved in a collision with the eastbound bus, law enforcement officers said.
Fluty was the passenger, Granite Shoals police said.
The bus was carrying seven elementary students and a driver. They were not injured, according to investigators.
Both Fluty and Cooksey were flown by rescue helicopters to University Medical Center Brackenridge in Austin. Cooksey was treated and released.
A utility truck operated by the Pedernales Electric Cooperative slipped in the mud and fell on its right side along FM 1980 Wednesday just outside Marble Falls. No one was hurt during the mishap, said PEC District Service Coordinator George Bird. Work crews arrived late in the afternoon to get the rig upright again. Staff Photo by Raymond V. Whelan
MARBLE FALLS — With the spring gardening season in full swing, a local Christian youth outreach ministry is hoping residents will "go green" and help their organization grow.
Young Life of Marble Falls hosts its first annual Spring Mulch Sale March 27-28, but orders must be placed by Sunday. The event helps the organization send high school students to camp at Sharp Top Cove in Jasper, Ga., this summer.
"We were looking for something unique for a fundraiser and this was one of the ideas that was suggested," said Young Life of Marble Falls committee member Sharon Sembera.
The mulch is Texas native hardwood, which will add a "wonderful look" around shrubs, trees, gardens and flower beds, as well as help conserve water, officials said.
Since Young Life of Marble Falls isn’t affiliated with a church and doesn’t receive outside assistance, Sembera said local donations and contributions keep the program running.
"So it’s not just about buying mulch, but helping some kids grow in Christ," she said.
Young Life is selling the bags, which contain two cubic feet of mulch, at $5 apiece, and they offer free delivery with purchases of 10 bags or more.
Smaller orders are also available for pickup March 27-28 at the Hill Country Health Store, 2304 U.S. 281.
While the funds help get kids to summer camp, Sembera said the mission of Young Life is much deeper.
"The idea is to introduce kids to Christ," she said.
Young Life, she added, depends on volunteer youth leaders, usually college-age, to reach out to teens as mentors and peers.
"A big part of (Young Life) is the leaders developing those relationships with the kids so (the teenagers) feel like they have somebody to go to for help or answers," Sembera said.
The organization is an international youth ministry started in 1941 in Gainesville by Jim Rayburn. It eventually moved its headquarters to Colorado, spreading across the country and then the world.
Sembera said Young Life isn’t about taking kids away from churches but helping them find a church home.
"My kids have gone to church all their lives, but they never really got it," she said. "A lot of kids don’t understand that no matter where you are in life, (Jesus) is there and you can turn to him at any time. But so many kids just don’t get that. My boys didn’t. Sometime they see going to church as a form of punishment."
But when her son Andrew Sembera, 19, began attending Young Life meetings, she saw a change.
"After attending Young Life, he even volunteered for work crew where you go to camp and work for five weeks," she said. "He ended up washing dishes for five weeks for 300 students and he won’t even do dishes at home."
Some members also help to create new Young Life chapters.
"We’ve had a lot of kids who didn’t ‘get it’ at first, (then) go on from here and establish or lead their own programs," she said. "So it’s not just about changing lives in Marble Falls — it changes lives everywhere."
To place an order for the mulch sales or for more information on Young Life, contact Sembera at (512) 731-8830 or ssembera@hotmail.com.
Video: Watch it on the 3-18-10 newcast on ThePicayuneTV.com
HORSESHOE BAY — A petition signed by more than 800 residents helped convince the City Council to shelve an ambitious plan to improve local streets while charging neighbors for the upgrades.
Considerable opposition from hundreds of residents led Mayor Bob Lambert at Tuesday’s council meeting to recommend suspending the measure as a way of putting the "contentious" issue to rest.
The plan would have charged homeowners for improvements to their streets, such as new gutters and pavement, based on the expected increase in property values resulting from the upgrade.
"It seems clear to me there is no consensus on upgrading and financing related to residential streets," Lambert said. "I hope the City Council can make a decision today to attempt to restore calm to this community."
Hundreds of petitioners — including former Councilman Buddy Schrader — wanted the city to use property-tax funds to make the upgrades, instead of charging residents directly for the work.
However, several residents at Tuesday’s meeting called that option unfair.
"Our streets are private," Peninsula Property Owners’ Association President Randy Pipkin said. "Our members pay for maintenance through their POA dues. It would be unfair and potentially double taxation to use ad-valorem taxes for street upgrades."
For nearly a year, leaders have sought a way to improve the streets, which were taken over by the city from the Horseshoe Bay Property Owners’ Association last April.
From the start, City Hall had considered charging residents for the upgrades, though it wasn’t until early 2010 that opposition to the plan picked up steam.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the council voted to discontinue its study of improving residential streets, though upgrades to Bay West Boulevard and Horseshoe Bay Boulevard — both considered major traffic arteries — would continue using property tax funds, Lambert said.
Councilman Steve Spence said he welcomed the end to the debate.
"I feel we need to find a way to cool off this issue in the city," he said. "I applaud the (petition) committee’s interest in city government, and I hope the interest will continue on to the November (council) election."
Regular street maintenance will continue on all city roads, Lambert said.
"We have an excellent maintenance program that can be accomplished with present funds," he said.
The next council meeting is 3 p.m. April 20 in council chambers, 1 Community Drive.
