LLANO — Country and Christmas come together at the Llano Country Opry Christmas Show on Dec. 8.
Country singer Claude Gray will headline the 7:30 p.m. show at the Lantex Theater, 113 Main St. Special guest is 10-year-old fiddler Colby Sheppard. Continue reading “Llano Opry presents country, Christmas show Dec. 8”
BURNET — A man suspected of being involved in stealing several pistols from a Lampasas County home is on the loose after leading law enforcement on a car and foot chase Dec. 2.
Burnet police Chief Paul Nelson said they called off the search for Martin David Dilworth, 24, around 9:30 p.m.
According to the Burnet Police Department, officers attempted to pull over a 2004 Ford Thunderbird around 11 a.m. on Dec. 2 for reckless driving. The vehicle raced away from police and headed north on US 281 eventually stopping near the Lampasas County line.
The driver then took off on foot.
A passenger, Melanie Goodwin Deloach, was arrested for evading arrest and possession of marijuana.
Police said the woman told them Dilworth grabbed something out of a bag and put it in the waist band of his shorts. Nelson said they believe Dilworth is connected to a home burglary in Lampasas County where several pistols were stolen.
Officers consider Dilworth to be armed.
Nelson said he believes Dilworth caught a ride somewhere along either US 281 or US 183 in northern Burnet County.
Dilworth, 24, is 5-feet-and-9-inches tall and weighs approximately 180 pounds. Nelson said the man was last seen wearing a white shirt and dark pants.
The suspect has tattoos on his neck, chest, back and arms, authorities said.
Nelson said law enforcement are still looking for Dilworth, a Marble Falls native.
Anyone with knowledge of Dilworth’s whereabouts should contact the Hill Country Crime Stoppers at 1-866-756-8477 or online at www.hcacrimestoppers.com for a potential reward.
When caught, Dilworth faces evading arrest and possible other charges.
HORSESHOE BAY — Developers of 113 acres adjacent to the city have asked the council to consider annexing the property at Horseshoe Bay’s expense.
Officials with the development are hoping the city will pick up the tab for utilities extension as well as allowing for a convenience store at RR 2147 and Texas 71.
Horseshoe Bay City Council discussed the items during a regular meeting Nov. 27.
Mid-com, LTD officials suggested voluntary annexation with the council considering a waiver or variance on required fees, approximately $6,200 per living unit, for connections and expansion of utilities to new developments in the Horseshoe Bay city limits.
"If the council thinks the timing is right to annex this project. . . we can outline a procedure to get this (the annexation process) started," said Jim Babcock, a consultant for the developers.
City officials cited charging fees for utilities expansion and connections at Summit Rock, a new development underway just off RR 2147. The city is expected to collect approximately $7.4 million, officials said.
"We charge a fee for ultimately having to expand utilities," Mayor Bob Lambert said.
One proposed business venture on the development site involves a potential "Stripes-style" convenience store.
The city currently has two such stores, a 7-11 and Texan Mart in the middle of town. A proposed store in the south end of the city would be the only store on the remote Texas 71 route between Spicewood and Llano, about 30 miles.
"It would be a convenience store and pump station, not a service station," Babcock said. "Its design would be compatible to what you see in Horseshoe Bay."
Councilman Tom Schmersal said, "It would be very attractive. I need to know more about the implications of a variance."
One of his colleagues agreed.
"It’s an exciting project which would be a good addition to the Horseshoe Bay community," Councilman Steve Jordan said.
Craig Haydon (left), Steve Jordan and David Pope appeared for their first regular meeting Nov. 27 as new councilmen for the City of Horseshoe Bay. They were sworn in during a ceremony preceding the meeting. The three men ran unopposed in the November election. Staff photo by Connie Swinney
MARBLE FALLS — There’s a not-so-new fire chief in town.
The City Council approved Nov. 20 to naming Johnny Caraway as the Marble Falls Fire Rescue chief. He had been serving as the city’s fire marshal.
“I think one of the strong points of Johnny becoming the fire chief is that he does have that experience as fire marshal,” said City Manager Ralph Hendricks. “Many fire chiefs don’t have that additional experience.”
Caraway had been serving as the interim fire chief since Larry Wright retired April 30 from the position.
Since that date, Caraway has worn both the fire marshal and fire chief hats.
Hendricks said Caraway will continue to handle the fire marshal duties for the next several months.
While the city could have hired from outside, Hendricks said he likes it when Marble Falls promotes from within.
“I really like to mentor, train and promote from within when we can because it gives both the city and the person so many advantages,” he said. “For one thing it’s much easier to transition when you already know the person and (he or she) knows the system and people in place.”
Before recommending Caraway, Hendricks spoke with the current MFFR captains and several fire fighters as well as community members who deal with the chief position.
“They were all very supportive of the move,” Hendricks said. “We’re all very excited about it as well.”
MARBLE FALLS — While some local merchants reported a boom on Black Friday, others had to wait until Saturday to ring up positive returns for their business.
“We didn’t do very well. Normally I feel like(Black Friday) is one of our busiest day,” said Darci White, owner of Darci’s Deli, located at 909 3rd St. “Last year it was one of our biggest days.
“This year people came in from out of town, but no locals.”
PHOTO: Darci’s Deli owner Darci White (left) rings up a meal for customer Grace McAnally on Nov. 26. The eatery, located at 909 3rd St., reported dismal returns on Black Friday but booming business on ‘Shop Local Saturday.’ Staff photo by Connie Swinney
White estimated about a 40 percent dip in sales on Black Friday, however, she experienced a 20 percent increase in customers on Saturday compared to last year.
“They advertised ‘shop local’ on Saturday, so we were busier,” said White, who has been in business at the 3rd Street location for nearly six years.
She typically relies on local residents.
“Saturday was a lot better,” she said. “I bet 95 percent were people from out of town.”
On the other hand, downtown merchant Gary Hutton of 3 White Doves said he saw better business on Black Friday and Shop Local Saturday .
“We did well. It was bigger than last year,” said Hutton, who has been in business for nine years. “I think a lot of (customers) were out of town who came here for the weekend.”
He estimated his experienced a 20 percent boost in activity.
He explained the increase has yet to match higher returns from years past, however, but believes the launch to the holiday season this year may be an indication of consumer confidence.
“October was real good,” Hutton said, “and it looks like November and December will be good.”
HORSESHOE BAY — Authorities are investigating a report of a shooting at an apartment complex in the 300 block of Out Yonder.
A 28-year-old man, with a gunshot wound to the stomach, was treated and released from Seton Hospital in Round Rock the day of the incident Nov. 26.
According to Horseshoe Bay police, a 22-year-old woman called 9-1-1 about 3:50 a.m. that day, prompting a traffic stop in Marble Falls.
Marble Falls police found the gunshot victim and a 32-year-old driver traveling in a vehicle reportedly heading to an area hospital in the 1300 block of U.S. 281.
"An investigation is currently ongoing to determine if the shooting was, in fact, accidental as reported," according to a release by Horseshoe Bay police.
The two men have since been questioned and released by police, officials said.
LLANO — With no measurable rain so far in November, the Llano County Commissioners Court issued a burn ban Nov. 26.
Individuals who violate the ban could face up to a $500 fine and be charged with a Class C misdemeanor.
The conditions in the county are dry despite cooler weather. A front entering the Highland Lakes in the evening hours Nov. 26 could bring some precipitation, but weather officials estimated it’s less than a 40 percent chance.
If the area doesn’t get any rainfall through the end of the month, November would go down as a precipitation-free 30 days.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor data from Nov. 20, Llano County is considered to be in a moderate drought stage.
Burnet County officials will discuss its burn ban status during a commissioner court meeting Nov. 27. That county does not currently have a burn ban.
MARBLE FALLS — After several months of give and take along with some controversy, the City Council passed several changes to the nuisance ordinances during its regular Nov. 20 meeting.
“The ordinance amendments we passed last night probably doesn’t make everybody happy,” Mayor George Russell said Nov. 21. “But it’s a start.”
In July, the council began wrestling with changes to various parts of the ordinances that dealt with property maintenance, vehicle parking, nuisances and even front-yard furniture. Residents voiced concerns during two public hearings leading to a town-hall meeting on the proposed amendments.
The city was considering banning anything but vehicles from being stored in car ports, but the amendments passed Nov. 20 allow for other items — if they are designed for outdoor use. The council also will allow for playground equipment and barbecue grills — if they are in safe working conditioning — to be in front yards.
One of the previous recommended changes banned such items from front yards.
Russell said though the council approved the amendments, the city won’t hit the streets anytime soon to enforce the new rules.
“We’re going to work with people for the first year,” the mayor said. “We want to help people come into compliance. And a lot of that means just going out and talking with folks. The idea behind (the changes) is to improve our community.”
Since the council started discussing the amendments, Russell said he noticed several neighborhoods have begun working together to beautify their homes and yards.
The mayor added the city will probably continue to tweak the amendments as staff and residents see the results.
