Shawn Provencal of Marble Falls kneels behind the Speed Sports Top Fuel Hydro drag boat Aug. 9 during the annual Marble Falls LakeFest Show & Shine in Johnson Park. Provencal took cell-phone video of the boat’s engine as it revved to ear-splitting levels. Staff photo by Jared Fields

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Hundreds gathered in Johnson Park for the annual Show & Shine portion of Marble Falls LakeFest on Aug. 9. Racers displayed their drag boats and revved their engines for fans to get an up-close experience.

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Scott Lumbert‘s top fuel hydro boat ‘Spirit of Texas’ demonstrates its horsepower as fans cover their ears and take cell-phone footage of the Marble Falls LakeFest Show & Shine event in Johnson Park.

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Crew members of the drag-boat racing team Whiskey River work on their top fuel hydro boat Aug. 9 during Show & Shine in Johnson Park.

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FROM STAFF REPORTS

LLANO — Officials described retired Llano Police Chief James Schilling as a committed presence in public safety  for more than two decades within the community.

Continue reading “Llano Police Chief James Schilling retires after 21 years of service”

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

MARBLE FALLS — The City Council voted Aug. 6 to keep the current property tax rate of 64.83 cents per $100 valuation for the next fiscal budget.

“Basically, by leaving the tax rate the same, if somebody’s property value didn’t increase, then their (city) tax bill won’t either,” City Manager Ralph Hendricks said.

Continue reading “Marble Falls sticks with current property tax rate; officials see economic growth”

FROM STAFF REPORTS

MARBLE FALLS — The Texas Education Agency released the latest round of school accountability ratings as the state completes the transition from the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills exams to the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness.

The TEA accountability ratings for 2013 are simply “met standard” or “improvement required” compared to the TAKS ratings of “exemplary,” “recognized,” “acceptable” and “unacceptable.”

Continue reading “Marble Falls, Burnet schools get passing grades (and honors) from state”

JARED FIELDS • PICAYUNE STAFF

BURNET — Budget cuts have put the future of the Bertram-area Meals on Wheels service in question.

But those concerns don’t worry a group of people fighting to continue helping those who need the service.

Continue reading “Barbecue benefit will help fund Bertram-area Meals on Wheels”

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

HOOVER’S VALLEY — Though a brush fire Aug. 3 only burned between four and six acres, officials continue to monitor outdoor conditions.

“As wildfires go it was rather mild in the way it behaved,” said Herb Darling, Burnet County environmental services director. “Right now (range) conditions aren’t poor, but we are continuing to monitor them. We are looking at several more days of 100 degrees or better with no rain.” Continue reading “Hoover’s Valley brush blaze reminder of fire danger”

FROM STAFF REPORTS

MARBLE FALLS — People looking to combine their appetite with a good cause can stop by the Marble Falls Pizza Hut, 1000 U.S. 281, on Aug. 8.

The local restaurant is donating 20 percent of sales from that day to the Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department. Continue reading “Marble Falls Area VFD, Pizza Hut holding fundraiser”

JARED FIELDS • PICAYUNE STAFF

BURNET — A head-on collision on Park Road 4 sent the drivers of both vehicles to area hospitals the morning of Aug. 2. Continue reading “Head-on wreck on Park Road 4 in Burnet sends drivers to area hospitals”

JARED FIELDS • PICAYUNE STAFF

MARBLE FALLS — The Rev. Jairo Lopez knows how to make large, beautiful things out of a collection of smaller individual pieces.

As pastor of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Marble Falls, Lopez works every day to turn the 800 families in his church into a community. Continue reading “Pastor’s sculpture from old U.S. 281 bridge is reflection of Marble Falls”