Former Marble Falls City Manager Mike Hodge died unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 31. Hodge had recently retired from his role with the city after nearly 12 years at the helm of Marble Falls administration.

“Mike Hodge dedicated more than a decade of leadership, vision, and service to Marble Falls, guiding the city through a period of meaningful growth and progress,” reads a statement from the city issued on Thursday, April 2. “During his tenure, he worked tirelessly to strengthen city services, enhance public safety, and invest in critical infrastructure that will benefit the community for generations.”

Hodge officially retired on Jan. 31, having served since June 2014. The cause of his death has not been shared publicly, but a notice from his church, Trinity Episcopal in Marble Falls, said that he had “passed away suddenly at his home.”

“Mike’s leadership left a lasting mark on Marble Falls,” said Mayor John Packer. “He cared deeply about this community and the people he served, and his legacy will continue to be felt for years to come.”

A memorial service for Hodge will be held starting at 10:30 a.m. on April 7 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 909 Avenue D in Marble Falls. 

Hodge was a key player in the development of the city’s One Water initiative – the largest civic project the city has ever undertaken – which is expected to bring state-of-the art water recycling and treatment to Marble Falls. He also guided the city through flood mitigation efforts following the October 2018 flooding of the Colorado and Llano rivers, made significant enhancements to downtown Marble Falls, spearheaded public park improvements and recreation programs, and established the Summer Concert Series.

“The city of Marble Falls extends its deepest condolences to Mike’s family, friends, and all who had the privilege of working alongside him,” reads the city’s closing statement.

dakota@thepicayune.com 

Atmos Energy is proposing a price hike that could raise natural gas utility rates by more than 42 percent in Burnet, and city leadership has fought back. The city suspended the effective date of the price increase as it disputes the legitimacy of the change.

On March 24, the Burnet City Council voted to delay the date of Atmos’ rate hike, originally scheduled for April 21, by 45 days. 

Per the item briefing included in the City Council’s agenda (beginning on Page 83), if the proposed changes were to be approved, monthly bills could rise from $25 to $35 for residential sales, $140 to $179 for commercial sales, and $2,100 to $2,758 for industrial and transportation sales.

Atmos’ proposed increases are part of an application filed on Feb. 20 under the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program, which allows utility companies to recover costs related to safety and reliability investments.

Under Texas law, cities have a limited degree of action in stopping utility increases as part of GRIP, but are allowed to suspend rate changes for the 45-day period to review the filing for accuracy.

As a second extension of the resolution, Burnet reaffirmed its membership in the Atmos Texas Municipalities. The ATM is a group of municipalities that work jointly to represent cities’ interests in similar Atmos rate cases.

This is not the first time in which local governments in the area have clashed with Atmos due to price hikes, as two similar cases took place in Burnet and Marble Falls at the beginning of last year. Additionally, the Marble Falls City Council has an agenda item discussing the suspension of the rate increases listed for their upcoming April 7 meeting.

caden@thepicayune.com

Granite Shoals pastor Raymond Keasler Jr. was killed in a motorcycle crash on March 27, and his family is inviting the Highland Lakes community to his memorial service.

Keasler was well-known in the area for founding the Abundant Heart Church in Granite Shoals alongside his wife Cricket over 14 years ago, and for serving as a dutiful Santa during the Christmas season in Marble Falls. 

His daughter, Tristian Poteet, reached out to DailyTrib and asked that the details of her father’s memorial service be shared with the community.

“We personally invite the community and all who loved my dad to celebrate and honor his life,” Poteet wrote. 

Services will be held starting at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 3, at LifeFamily Church, 1901 Mormon Mill Road in Marble Falls.

“He was a child at heart, always jolly and would get so excited about small things or just life itself! He taught us how to be strong. My mother Cricket, myself and my two brothers – Trey Keasler and Kersh Keasler – have the same passion and joy that he raised us with,” Poteet said. “Raymond Keasler Jr., my amazing coolest dad in the world, a true man of God mentoring 1000s, the wisest man, my true protector and my superhero.”

For those who wish to support Keasler’s family, mission, and memory, donations can be made through the money-sharing application Venmo at this link. 

dakota@thepicayune.com 

Granite Shoals will host its third annual Let’s Go Fly a Kite event on April 18 at the Granite Shoals Bob Sylvester Airport, where the runway will be closed to air traffic to give families space to fly kites.

The event begins at 10 a.m. at the airport, 710 Forest Hills Drive, and is held in partnership with the Airport Advisory Committee. Residents and visitors are encouraged to bring their own kites or purchase one at the event, where a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles will be available.

“Hosting our third annual ‘Let’s Go Fly a Kite’ event at our own airport provides families with a unique place to gather, enjoy the open skies, and spend quality time together. For this special event, the runway will be closed to air traffic, giving participants plenty of space to find the perfect spot to fly their kite,” Chair of the Airport Advisory Committee Robin Ruff told DailyTrib. “For many, kite flying is more than just a fun activity; it can spark a lifelong interest in aviation and the outdoors.”

maci@thepicayune.com

The April Home & Garden issue of the Picayune magazine is out now, and in mailboxes around the Highland Lakes. Go behind the scenes of the area, where a sewing ministry quilts for good, a pastor shares parables, and a Lego club sparks young builders’ creativity.

Take a stroll through the Home and Garden section for tips and tricks for building a plant haven, spicing up the outdoors, and more.

Check your mailbox for your free copy, or grab one at local newsstands, businesses, and popular spots throughout the area. You can also pick up a copy at the Victory Media offices, next door to Pottery Ranch at 6000 N. U.S. 281 in Marble Falls.

Featured in the article are stories on:

Home and Garden

Discover the natural history of the Texas Lantana, a native bloom that thrives in tough conditions, and explore the corn and tomato clubs that came before high school 4-H.

Get hands-on with a naturalist club from our local program listings, or create your own adventure by building a national park right in your backyard.

Plus, get some fresh tips on beneficial bugs for your garden, outdoor upgrades, and a checklist for the cleanest of kitchens.

“Stitch perfect: Creative Hearts Sewing Ministry distributes handmade comfort in the Highland Lakes and around the world”

“Sew like the wind” may be the only way to describe this group of around 25 women who join needles and thread to stitch pillowcases, quilts, stuffed animals, and glasses cases for those in need.

“Sew it began: Mojo Cornelius stitches local sewing circle with worldwide impact”

The mastermind behind the Creative Hearts Ministry began her destined mission decades ago after a trip to Kenya left her mind focused on sewing for a better tomorrow. Using her skills to provide necessities to people all over the world, like Kenyans and Hondurans, Mojo Cornelius’ story is woven together with generosity.

“A telling story: Pastor pens children’s parable of a little fish looking for trouble”

Preaching and praying aren’t the only tricks this pastor has up his sleeve, recording award-winning Christian music and writing a new children’s book are also in Randy Phillips line of work. Jesus was a storyteller, and so too is Phillips.

“Brick by brick: Marble Falls Library provides the Legos, young members the creative genius”

These little geniuses meet each month to build a creative solution for a Lego-sized challenge presented by the Marble Falls Library. The Lego Club is free and open to kids of all ages, and welcomes members who want a challenge, or who just want to build to their heart’s content.

editor@thepicayune.com

The Marble Falls High School boys soccer team hit a monumental milestone on Tuesday, March 31, winning its regional playoff game and advancing to the state semifinals for the first time in the program’s history. 

The Mustangs beat the Davenport Wolves 2-1 on Tuesday night in a neutral territory game at Antler Stadium in Kerrville. While Marble Falls has made it to the regional round in the past, the team has reportedly never made it beyond that to the state semifinals. Now, the Mustangs are in the top four teams of 2026 4A Division 1 soccer. 

The state semifinals game pits the Mustangs (18-3-5 overall, 10-1-1 district) against the La Vega Pirates (26-2 overall, 15-1 district) at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 3 at Waco Independent School District Stadium 1401 S. New Road in Waco. Tickets will be $8 at the gate.

dakota@thepicayune.com 

A $243 million overhaul to the U.S. 281-Texas 71 interchange in Marble Falls is in the works, and the Texas Department of Transportation is hosting a public hearing on the project on April 9.

TxDOT has long been planning an upgrade for the interchange, intending to replace the current cloverleaf design with a “turbine” design that would include adding elevated structures to improve mobility, adding frontage roads to separate high-speed traffic from local traffic, and adding a shared-use path to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians.

An in-person information session, combined with a public hearing, is planned for 5:30-7:30 p.m. on April 9 at Marble Falls High School, 2101 Mustang Drive. This will be a come-and-go meeting with project details and experts available for questions.

TxDOT will take public comments on the project until April 24. Comments can be made in person at the public hearing or emailed to AUS_US281atSH71@txdot.gov. Comments can also be made by leaving a voicemail at 512-553-2821.

The interchange upgrade is needed, according to TxDOT, because the current structure is “inadequate to meet current and future traffic volumes, resulting in congestion and reduced mobility.”

Making the switch from a cloverleaf to a turbine interchange will cost an estimated $243 million and take about 96 acres of right-of-ways and easements.

• Read more about the project and its background at this link.

• Read the official public hearing notice at this link. 

dakota@thepicayune.com 

Art Dlugach died at 82 years old on March 26, 2026. He was an Emmy Award-winning sports producer with decades of experience across the country in journalism, but locally he was known as a diehard fan of Llano High School sports, having spent over 25 years reporting on Yellowjackets athletics.

Dlugach had lived in the Highland Lakes area since 1998, when he moved to Marble Falls to pursue his dream of calling games. He gained a reputation for “bleeding orange and black” in his support of Llano sports. He wrote for The Llano News, called Llano football games, gave commentary on Stinger-FM Radio and KBEY 103.9 FM, and tried to make as many Yellowjacket games as possible.

According to his obituary, he was a devout Baylor Bears fan, but his heart belonged to the Yellowjackets. This was confirmed by KBEY 103.9 FM Operations Manager Ben Shields, who worked alongside Dlugach for over four years and saw him as a mentor.

“Art’s love affair with Llano was truly amazing,” Shields told DailyTrib. “He was one of a kind. There will never be another person like him.”

His love for the Yellowjackets was reciprocated and he earned the honorary title of “Jacket for Life.”

Dlugach was born on July 2, 1943 in Mississippi and raised between that state and Tennessee. He attended Baylor University and began his career in journalism in Waco and Dallas in the mid-1960s. He then took a job in San Francisco in 1969, where he worked for a CBS affiliate KPIX-TV. He spent 25 years with the station as a film editor, news producer, and sports producer, earning Emmys for his sports work and the title of Sports Producer of the Year.

He had been battling lymphatic leukemia for 20 years leading up to his death, but reportedly worried more about missing Llano football games than his own health when he had to make conflicting medical appointments.

He is survived by daughters Kim, and husband John Crabb, and April, and husband Matt Paine; his grandchildren Jack, Rob, Reagan, and Jess; his sister Jane Lettes; niece Jan and her husband Bob Zauzmer; nephew Louis and his wife Amy Lettes; and families. 

Dlugach’s family asked that any support be given to the Llano Athletic Booster Club in his memory. A funeral service will be held at the Llano High School Auditorium, 2509 TX-16 in Llano on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 2 p.m.

dakota@thepicayune.com 

Mustang Stadium could get a facelift if the school board approves a near $400,000 replacement of aging seating at the stadium.

The project, addressed at a March 23 Marble Falls Independent School District Board of Trustee meeting, would remove the 1,377 reserved seating chairs at Mustang Stadium and replace them with brand-new multicolor seats.

According to MFISD Director of Maintenance Eric Humiston, the existing reserved seating is over 19 years old and has been in dire need of replacement, made worse by being heavily damaged in a severe hail storm in 2024. 

Humiston told the board that the project would cost approximately $399,450, which includes all materials and labor. If approved, the replacement would likely occur after the 2026-27 football season, however no exact timeline was given.

The Board of Trustees decided to hold off on any action and push the item to a further meeting, where they could view and present physical examples of the seats to decide on colors. Humiston clarified that the color selection would not change the total cost of the project.

One of the current designs includes purple seats spelling “MFH,” with gold seats as a trim around those letters, similar to the current reserved seating design. A mockup of the design can be found on the second page of the item brief here.

caden@thepicayune.com