Scott & White Director of Design and Construction Justin Johnson (right) goes over the floor plan for the medical clinic under construction on Texas 71 just west of the U.S. 281 intersection while Blue Bonnet Cafe co-owner John Kemper (left), Marble Falls City Councilman Reed Norman and Marble Falls Economic Development Corp. board member Butch Kemper look on. Scott & White staff took local leaders on a tour of the future Wayne & Eileen Hurd Regional Medical Center Oct. 24. A clinic should open in June 2013, followed by a hospital in November 2014. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton
KINGSLAND — The owner of a shed destroyed in an Oct. 17 fire is offering a reward for information in that case, as well as reminding people the town has seen at least 20 suspicious — and dangerous — blazes since June.
"I am offering the reward as I believe that will keep the public’s interest and keep them talking about it," said Joe Burnes about the 9 p.m. blaze at Brown Street off RR 1431. A witness told The Tribune she thought fireworks may have been in the structure, but Burnes said that is not the case.
"The shed contained truck accessory inventory from an old business," Burnes said. "It cost $5,000 to build the shed. The inventory, both in the shed and stored under the tarps outside the shed, was worth approximately $10,000."
The Kingsland Volunteer Fire Department extinguished the fire with no injuries.
A Llano County sheriff’s deputy spotted the blaze, officials said.
Since June more than 20 suspicious fires have plagued the Kingsland area, including one that destroyed the Seton Kingsland Healthcare Center that was under construction. A new clinic is being built.
Burnes said he’s concerned about the rampant fires and the peril they pose for residents.
"The situation is getting worse as the arsonists are showing no concern for human life," he said. "The fire at our location came within 75 feet of my family’s home. Sooner or later, someone’s home will be destroyed if they are not stopped."
People with information about the Brown Street fire can contact Burnes at joeburnes@gmail.com.
An investigation into the blaze is under way by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Llano County Sheriff’s Office.
Meanwhile, a suspect in one of the earlier fires had his bond reduced during a hearing Oct. 25 in the 424th state District Court.
Deputies arrested Dane Albert Burgess, 17, Oct. 2 in connection with a suspicious fire Aug. 25 in the 100 block of Wood Forrest Drive. In that case, a woodpile was set afire.
Burgess was in the Llano County Jail on a $250,000 bond when Burnes’ shed burned down.
But this week, state District Judge Dan Mills ordered a bond reduction to $50,000 for Burgess, provided his family puts up at least $1,000 in cash as part of the bond. The teen’s attorney is Richard Davis.
Burgess has only been charged in one case, though deputies said they are looking to see if he is connected to any of the other fires.
Anyone with information on the fires is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (325) 247-5767 or the Hill Country Area Crime Stoppers at 1-866-756-TIPS (8477).
RAGLEY, La. – A 71-year-old Llano, Texas, woman died in a head-on collision Oct. 19 the same day of her 49th wedding anniversary, according to state troopers and obituary information.
Guadalupe L. Stinespring, a passenger in a Mazda 3, died at the scene about 8:30 a.m. on U.S. 190, three miles east of Ragley, according to Louisiana state troopers.
Her husband and the driver, identified as 71-year-old Robert Stinespring, suffered “moderate” injuries in the collision, the highway patrol said.
“The investigation indicated that a 2006 Honda Accord was traveling east on U.S.190 and crossed the center line, striking a 2010 Mazda 3,” the report stated.
The driver and sole occupant of the Honda, identified as George Hodges, 59, of DeQuincy, also suffered moderate injuries.
“The driver of the Honda was cited for driving left of center,” according to the report.
The cause of the collision is under investigation, investigators said. Ragley is about 23 miles north of Lake Charles in the western portion of the state.
The Stinesprings married Oct. 19, 1963, in San Angelo, according to an obituary submitted by Waldrope-Hatfield-Hawthorne Funeral Homes Inc. of Llano.
Guadalupe Stinespring, who also lived in Austin at one time, was born Dec. 11, 1940, to Rosa (Gonzales) Lopez and Cornelio Lopez in Llano.
In addition to her husband, survivors include son Kenneth Stinespring of Austin; brother Eugene Lopez of San Angelo; and sister Jovita Banks of Universal City.
She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers; and two sisters.
A rosary was recited Oct. 22 at the funeral home chapel, 307 E. Sandstone in Llano.
A funeral Mass was celebrated at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Llano with the Rev. Melvin Dornak officiating. Burial followed at the Llano City Cemetery.
Email whhfuneral1@verizon.net or visit www.whhfuneralhome.com for online condolences.
City road work continues in Horseshoe Bay, where residents may need to consider a detour off Hi Circle North. Crews have temporarily closed a section of that roadway, just off Ferguson Road to accommodate work on a drainage pipe. City officials say the section should reopen by 6 p.m. Oct. 23. The project is part of the RR 2147 North improvements. Also, adjacent Ferguson Road upgrades are complete. Those improvements include additional lanes as well as an alternative entry into the power plant construction site. Staff photo by Connie Swinney
MARBLE FALLS — When Marble Falls school district Trustee Kelly Fox described high school students’ Advanced Placement scores as “abysmal” during a recent board meeting, administrator Eric Penrod understood exactly where she was coming from.
“I won’t make excuses, we have some places where we definitely need a lot of work,” said Penrod, who is director of secondary curriculum. “We’ve been pretty flatlined in our AP scores and even participation. But we’re making changes and we’re doing them at incremental steps.”
Students at Marble Falls High School take AP subjects to better prepare themselves for college and to pick up more credit for their coursework. The courses are considered more challenging than the regular curriculum.
Despite the board admonitions in regard to AP performance at the high school, the student achievement hasn’t been without stars. In fact, the same night the board criticized the AP scores and participation trustees also recognized several students for their performance in the program.
MARBLE FALLS — Lakes LBJ and Marble Falls have been selected as the sites of the 2013 and 2014 Texas High School Fishing State Championship, according to The Bass Federation.
“We’re shocked, elated,” Lorna Ellis, sponsor of the club located at Marble Falls High School, said Oct. 22. “I can’t even describe it. We started this in January of 2011. I feel like we reeled it out there and planted the seed through the grace of God and the generosity of the community.”
Marble Falls — one of the many cities on the banks of the Highland Lakes — is home to the largest high school club in the state with more than 30 anglers, officials said.
But Ellis said the event wouldn’t have come without the backing of the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director Bill Rives, as well as the Economic Development Corp. and Executive Director Christian Fletcher.
That’s because local officials had to guarantee $6,000 for the Bass Federation travel trailer and several hotel rooms for the staff, Ellis said.
She also praised local business owners for pitching in.
River City Grille owner Paul Brady will host a dinner buffet on the first night. The student anglers will compete the next day and enjoy a barbecue at Johnson Park. The weekend will end with a boat captain Texas shootout tournament and Sunday brunch.
The state championship drew 21 boats in 2011 and 42 in May 2012. Each boat has two student anglers and a boat captain.
“We anticipate this easily will bring 60 boats,” Ellis said.
The state championship was conducted on Lake Lavon outside of Allen the last two years. But Ellis said it made more sense to have the championship in a central location, so that most teams don’t have to travel quite so far.
Her son, Austin, is a junior at Faith Academy and a member of the high school team.
“I’m just overwhelmed, still at the pinch-me stage,” Lorna Ellis said. “This couldn’t be more perfect. We have pulled off a major coup.”
GRANITE SHOALS— Grants, fundraisers and sheer elbow grease are helping supporters take financing to the next level for the Andy Roddick Foundation International Tennis Center, they say.
"We hope to have it all done within five years," said steering committee member Frank Reilly. "We will build the complex as quickly as we can. There are no requirements on spending."
The burgeoning facility, located near City Hall at North Phillips Ranch Road and RR 1431, has two QuickStart courts, and Olympian Leonel Manzano — who is from Granite Shoals — recently dedicated a hike-and-bike trail named after him.
But there is so much more coming, say proponents. The vision for the facility, named after the retired professional tennis player who lives in the Austin area, always included multiple courts.
Now members of the steering committee say that dream could take a step closer to becoming reality thanks to a fundraiser, Vegas by the River, on Nov. 30 at Lakeside Pavilion, 307 Buena Vista Drive in Marble Falls.
The goal is to raise enough money to build two regulation-sized courts that will eventually become 16 at the complex, said Reilly, the former mayor of Granite Shoals .
The estimated cost of each court is $55,00-$60,000, said Dave Holder, Andy Roddick Youth Tennis Program representative.
The committee hopes 300 people attend the fundraiser, which costs $100 per person.
Entertainment will be provided by john Arthur martinez.
Auction items will include a hat Roddick wore during the 2003 U.S. Open, a tennis racket used by former world No. 1 Pete Sampras, a signed tennis racket from current standout Rafael Nadal, a Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls jersey, and a 2-year-old bass boat donated by Sam and Drew Parham.
In addition to the fundraising, officials have also been busy seeking grants.
The city already has been granted a $100,000 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant, city officials have said.
Reilly said the city applied for a second grant of $50,000. The Roddick Foundation has agreed to match at least $64,000, he said.
"That would include a contribution for the tennis center," he said. "We want to raise enough funds to make sure the foundation can match the city."
The other courts will be built as funds become available, Reilly said.
Once the tennis complex is complete, which will be open for public use, Reilly said he believes it will be the home of many tennis tournaments that will draw plenty of out-of-area visitors.
"People will be staying in Marble Falls, Burnet, Kingsland," he said.
COTTONWOOD SHORES — Officials denied former City Treasurer Chris Alvarenga’s appeal to get her old job back, but allegations she made about expenditures by the mayor are being probed.
City Council members heard Alvarenga’s appeal during the Oct. 4 regular meeting, but they waited to take action until the Oct. 18 session when City Attorney Alan Petrov could attend.
KINGSLAND — The rockets’ red glare — and a few other colors as well — lit up the township’s night sky Oct. 17 after a blaze apparently set off fireworks stored in a large shed, witnesses said.
Rhonda Bridges, who lives three-quarters of a mile from where the fire erupted about 9 p.m. just off of RR 1431 at Brown Street, said it sounded like several explosions going off at once.
PHOTO: There was plenty of booming and banging in the skies of Kingsland after a blaze broke out about 9 p.m. Oct. 17 at a storage shed that held fireworks, a witness said. Photo by Rhonda Bridges