KINGSLAND — Authorities are investigating a fire that destroyed a vacant house in the Comanche Rancherias subdivision over the weekend, according to fire officials.
A neighbor in the 500 block of Pecan Street heard a "bang," spotted the fire at 1:28 a.m. Nov. 17 and called 9-1-1.
PHOTO: A fire destroyed a vacant house in the Comanche Rancherias subdivision in Kingsland on Nov. 17. Authorities are investigating the cause. The home, located in the 500 block of Pecan Street, is one of more than 20 suspicious blazes Llano County deputies are looking into. Staff photo by Jared Fields
"We got there, found a fully involved structure. The roof was falling in," said Kingsland Volunteer Fire Chief Danny Stone, who added he believed the house had been unoccupied for several weeks. "(The cause is) unexplained and, with the other problems we’ve had through the summer, then it gets referred to the investigation."
The fire department has worked about 20 fires since mid-June, including one that destroyed the Seton Kingsland Healthcare Center that was under construction. A new clinic is being built.
Llano County Sheriff’s deputies and the state fire marshal launched a series of investigations. Officials charged a 17-year-old man in the case of a suspicious shed fire Oct. 2 in the 100 block of Wood Forrest Drive.
No fatalities in any of the fires have been reported.
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (325) 247-5767 or the Hill Country Area Crime Stoppers at 1-866-756-TIPS (8477).
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BURNET — Two men found little refuge from the long arm of the law in a church parking lot Nov. 15 after authorities found methamphetamines in the Ford Focus they were traveling in.
Burnet County deputies charged Paul Quinton Neely, 32, of Burnet and a 29-year-old Georgetown man with possession of a controlled substance of more than one gram but less than four grams in a drug-free zone.
PHOTO: Paul Quinton Neely, 32, of Burnet
According to a Burnet County Sheriff’s Office release, deputies identified the passenger as Neely, who was wanted on a felony warrant out of Llano County. Officials said a marked BCSO patrol car stopped the Focus in a church parking lot in the 200 block of Houston Clinton Drive after identifying the man.
Upon further investigation, deputies learned the second man had a warrant for his arrest from Burnet.
Both men were found in possession of methampthetamines at the time of their arrest, deputies said.
Neely was released Nov. 16 after posting a $25,000 bond.
If convicted, the men face up to 20 years in prison.
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BURNET — The Burnet Consolidated Independent School District board of trustees hired a Burnet Middle School principal and a director of business and finance during its regular board meeting Nov. 20.
Taking the reins at the middle school is Kevin Jones, the Bridge City Middle School principal, while Sarah Cervi is the new director of business and finance.
PHOTO: Burnet Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees President Andy Field (left) and Superintendent Keith McBurnett (right) welcome Sarah Cervi as the new director of business and finance and Kevin Jones as the new Burnet Middle School principal after the BCISD board meeting Nov. 19. Courtesy photo
Jones began his career as a teacher and coach at Jasper Junior High, then moved to his hometown of Bridge City as a teacher and coach at the middle school.
He worked his way up to being the principal, officials said.
"Kevin comes to Burnet CISD with a strong background in teaching and administration," BCISD Superintendent Keith McBurnett said. "Kevin has strong ties to the students, teachers, curriculum, and extra-curricular; and manages to infuse fun along the way."
McBurnett said the interview panel "unanimously agreed Kevin is the candidate who fit the Burnet Middle School profile."
Jones replaces Mindy Evans, who is now with the System Support Department of the Region XIII Educational Service Center in Austin.
Cervi was the executive director of finance and operations for the College of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma for 14 years and managed more than $150 million in federal and state funding, officials said.
She has spent a total of 29 years with the university.
"Not only does she understand finance well, but she brings expertise in strategic planning and long-range planning, including policy development," McBurnett said. "The interview committee was unanimous in its belief that Sarah is up to the task."
Cervi takes over because of the retirement of Preston Ingram on Dec. 21.
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BERTRAM — City Council members accepted mayor Winnette Morris’ resignation during a special meeting Nov. 19, and unanimously appointed Mayor Pro-tem Dickie Allen to fill her seat.
Morris resigned to be closer to one of her sons in Killeen after the death of her husband in August.
Allen’s appointment leaves a hole on the city council that must be filled. Alderman John Mandigo nominated Allen Rodgers and Alderwoman Cynthia Anderson nominated former alderman Glen Hopkins.
However, the council decided to table the matter until its Dec. 11 meeting because of Alderman Pat Turner’s absence during the meeting Nov. 19.
The council set aside funds for a financial administrator with Morris’ departure.
Allen said Morris handled much of the city’s finances and suggested using her on a contract basis until someone could be hired.
The city budgeted $18,000 for a part-time finance position. The council voted 3-0 to hire Morris at $17.31 per hour.
Alderman John Mandigo said Morris could serve on a contract basis until the first of the year when a potential part-time employee could be hired.
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MARBLE FALLS — The first span of the U.S. 281 bridge replacement project was connected in the middle of the structure Nov. 6, but officials said about a month remains until traffic will begin flowing on it.
Texas Department of Transportation project engineer Jason Cavness said work remains to be completed before moving the north bound lanes of traffic to the new bridge.
PHOTO 1: A view from the south bank underneath the first span of the U.S. 281 bridge project and the old bridge shows the contrast in the two structures. The new span (right) was connected in the middle Nov. 6. The old span will be demolished beginning in February, and a second span is scheduled to be completed in fall 2014. Photos courtesy of the Texas Department of Transportation
PHOTO 2: A view from east of the U.S. 281 bridge project and the old bridge shows the profile of the new span. Construction crews connected the new span in the middle of the structure Nov. 6.
The work includes:
• remove blue form travelers,
• place concrete and steel barrier rail,
• complete approaches to the bridge ends,
• grind and groove the bridge deck,
• and, miscellaneous work such as sidewalks and curbs.
Archer Western Contractors have scheduled mid-December for the opening of the northbound bridge, but a specific date has not been set, Cavness said.
All lanes of traffic will shift to the new bridge sometime in February so demolition of the old bridge can begin. After that, the second span will be built. Construction is set to be completed in fall 2014.
According to TxDOT, about $16.2 million has been paid so far on the $36.8 million project, with 45 percent of the work complete.
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MARBLE FALLS — A dollar bill could win a local shopper a fully-decorated 7-foot Christmas tree as well as benefit an annual fundraising effort collecting toys for children in need.
Highland Lakes Service League members decorated a Christmas tree Nov. 15 at Ace Hardware, who donated the tree, with proceeds from prize give-away tickets benefitting Highland Lakes Christmas is for Kids.
The owners of the store, located at 1400 Ninth St. in Marble Falls, host the site each year for the program which goes through Nov. 28.
PHOTO 1: Highland Lake Service League volunteers Deborah Wright (left), Cynthia Russell and Danette Hall decorate a tree Nov. 15 at Ace Hardware, located at 1400 Ninth St. in Marble Falls. Customers can donate $1 or $5 for six tickets on chances to win the fully-decorated tree with proceeds benefitting Christmas is for Kids. The winner of a tree will be announced Nov. 28. Staff photos by Connie Swinney
PHOTO 2: Ace Hardware Co-owner Lara Ford assists Highland Lakes Service League volunteer Cynthia Russell Nov. 15 to decorate a tree donated by the store. The non-profit group sells tickets ($1 and $5 for 6 tickets) on chances to win the decorated 7-foot Christmas tree. The proceeds go to Christmas is for Kids, a gift-giving program for the Marble Falls area.
PHOTO 3: Highland Lakes Service League volunteers Cynthia Russell (left), Stacy Bryant and Josie Quinlan decorate a Christmas tree Nov. 15 at Ace Hardware in Marble Falls. The fully-decorated tree is part of a fund raiser with proceeds benefitting the Highland Lakes Christmas is for Kids.
PHOTO 4: Ace Hardware Co-owner Lara Ford (left) and Highland Lakes Service League members Cynthia Russell, Deborah Wright, Josie Quinlan, Stacy Bryant and Danette Hall decorate a Christmas tree Nov. 15 which was donated by Ace Hardware, located at 1400 Ninth St. in Marble Falls. Proceeds of the raffled fully-decorated tree go to the annual Christmas is for Kids.
“We’ve been involved with this as long as we owned the store, about 12 years,” Ace Hardware co-owner Lara Ford said. “By donating the tree and the Service League members picking the ornaments, business and service organizations are coming together.”
Tickets are $1 each or $5 for six tickets on chances to win the tree. Last year, the program raised about $2,500 for the local gift-giving program. Christmas is for Kids volunteers purchase and wrap presents for children who might otherwise go without due to their family’s financial struggles.
“Christmas is for Kids is a great organization,” Service League Volunteer Stacy Bryant said. “They’re helping kids in our local community who really need it.”
About half a dozen members decorated the tree which dons a red and green color scheme, including multi-themed Santas, wooden ornaments which read “Believe,” shiny, red icicles, reindeer and glittery holly leaves and berries; all topped with a sequin Santa hat.
“It’s our way of giving back, and hosting a place for the Service League to have this annual program,” Ford said. “Our customers know its coming up every year. It puts them in the Christmas spirit.”
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BERTRAM — Disputes over Bertram Police Department offices have led to the council seeking a number of solutions.
The police department office is currently housed in the Bertram Volunteer Fire Department building, located across the street from City Hall on West Vaughan Street.
Alderman Pat Turner and Mayor Pro-tem Dickie Allen have negotiated with the volunteer fire department, which owns the building, to continue leasing offices there for $14,175 a year, according to city secretary Evan Milliorn.
The city currently pays no rent for the space, but subsidizes costs such as utilities and insurance.
"The intent of the whole process is to cease subsidizing and just get to where we pay a straight rent to utilize that space," Milliorn said.
In the meantime, alderman John Mandigo’s plans for a possible building that could have police and municipal court offices in an empty lot next to City Hall were tabled until the next regular meeting on Dec. 11.
The council voted to cancel the regular meetings scheduled for Nov. 27 and Dec. 25 due to the holidays.
Also during the meeting, council took no action on an agenda item concerning Police Chief Ron Hall, who lost Nov. 6 in a Hays County constable election.
Hall said he plans continuing in his current position "for the foreseeable future" while he continues to commute from his home in Hays County.
The city employees two full-time officers in the police department plus Hall.
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MARBLE FALLS — With Christmas fast approaching and hundreds of area children facing a present-less holiday, organizers of a local toy drive are hoping residents show up Nov. 16 to the Walkway of Lights “Light Up Parade” with gifts in hand.
“We’re going to be at the end of the parade on a flat-bed trailer collecting toys,” said Christmas Is For Kids organizer Robben Thompson. “This is the second year that we’ve participated in the parade. We’re hoping more people know we’ll be there and will bring toys.”
PHOTO: Volunteers sort through donated toys for the Christmas Is For Kids program in 2011 in Marble Falls. Organizers will be accepting toy donations during the Light Up Parade, starting at 5:45 p.m. Nov. 16 on Main Street in Marble Falls. The parade launches the annual Walkway of Lights at Lakeside Park, 307 Buena Vista Drive. File photo
Christmas Is For Kids started 22 years ago as a way to help financially struggling families get presents for their children. Last year, Thompson said, the organization served about 300 Marble Falls-area families.
During the parade, people can hand gifts to the volunteers on the trailer or to cheerleaders walking alongside, she said.
“This year, the Marble Falls High School cheerleaders will be helping by walking with the trailer,” Thompson said. “That way, if parents don’t want their child running up to the trailer to give a gift, he or she can hand it to a cheerleader.”
The parade starts at 5:45 p.m. Nov. 16 on the north end of Main Street and continues south to Lakeside Park, 307 Buena Vista Drive, for the official opening of the 2012 Walkway of Lights.
Patrons of R-Bar & Grill, 904 3rd St., can help out the program as well. Thompson said the restaurant has pledged 10 percent of its sales Nov. 16 to Christmas Is For Kids.
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The City of Burnet’s new wastewater plant is currently under construction near the existing facility at 1600 Mormon Mill Road. According to Burnet officials, the nearly $14 million plant is about 5 percent complete. Project contractor Gracon Construction is renovating existing holding ponds. The project is scheduled to be complete within two years. Courtesy photo.
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