LONDON — The realization of a dream. From the outside, it only took 3 minutes and 34.79 seconds for Leonel Manzano to sprint to a silver medal in the men’s 1,500 meters of the London 2012 Summer Olympics on Aug. 7.

But to those who know the former Granite Shoals resident well, the truth is it took years of dedication, hard work and determination to secure the silver medal in an event few people outside of Burnet County gave Manzano, a 2004 graduate of Marble Falls High School, a chance.

PHOTO 1: Former Granite Shoals resident and Marble Falls High School graduate Leonel Manzano holds up the U.S. and Mexican flags after winning silver in the 1,500-meter race at the London 2012 Summer Olympics on Aug. 7. The Olympian was born in Mexico and moved to Texas with his family in 1988 at the age of 4. Courtesy photo

PHOTO 2: Dozens of fans crowded into the R-Bar & Grill at Third and Main streets in Marble Falls Aug. 7 during a watch party to view Leonel Manzano, a two-time Olympian and former Granite Shoals resident, win a silver medal in the men’s 1,500-meter race at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He is a 2004 graduate of Marble Falls High School. Staff photos by Connie Swinney

PHOTO 3: Eunice Monzon (left) and Edgar Munoz wave the Stars and Stripes during a watch party in downtown Marble Falls Aug. 7 for runner Leonel Manzano Aug. 7. The former Granite Shoals resident won the men’s 1,500-meter race in 3 minutes and 34.79 seconds for a silver medal during the London 2012 Summer Olympics. Manzano also ran in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“I am honored and excited to represent both the United States and Mexico by earning this silver,” Manzano said in a statement. The long-distance runner was born in Mexico and moved to Texas with his family in 1988 at the age of 4. “Standing on the podium has been a dream of mine, and I share it proudly with my family, friends, coaches and all my supporters from Austin, Marble Falls and Granite Shoals, Texas as well as Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico.”

His finish in the Aug. 7 race was his season’s best.

“I think it’s great when you see a young man go through the hardships and stay with it and end up with the silver medal,” Marble Falls Mayor George Russell said. “It’s a tribute to him and his family.”

“Hallejuah,” said former Marble Falls Independent School District Board President Martin McLean about the finish. “That’s the best news I’ve had today. I wasn’t feeling very well earlier. Now I feel great.”

The former Mustang began the race fourth from last and was third from last after the first lap. While some were sweating about whether he could make a comeback, Manzano didn’t waiver, not even when Algeria’s Taoufik Makhloufi began a sprint in the final 400 meters.

Manzano began making his move to the middle of the pack and was fourth by the start of the final 100 meters.

From there, he sprinted past Abdalaati Iguider of Morocco and American teammate Matthew Centrowitz for second place and a silver medal.

“I’m almost at a loss for words,” McLean said. “He’s a very deserving young man and great athlete. Marble Falls is really proud of him. He’s a strong finisher. This is just fantastic.”

Russell said the city of Marble Falls hasn’t ruled out honoring Manzano, adding he was on his way to city hall to prepare for the Aug. 7 meeting.

“I think this is going to be celebrated beyond today,” he said.

Makhloufi, who won the gold medal in 3:34.08, had been disqualified from the games after track-and-field officials ruled he didn’t try hard enough during a heat in the 800 meters. He had already qualified for the 1,500-meter final at that stage.

But the disqualification was overturned after a medical officer reviewed the evidence, and Makhloufi made his second chance count.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

jfierro@thepicayune.com

MARBLE FALLS — A company that owns communication towers has slapped the city with a lawsuit after Marble Falls officials denied their request to erect an electronic billboard on U.S. 281 north of town.

The city maintains the billboard violates an ordinance that says signs on a company’s property can’t advertise for goods or services other than what’s offered at the location — in this case, an office building also owned by the company.

Munbilla Towers-Llano Ltd. July 18 had asked for a variance, which was allowed under an earlier ordinance, but the city turned down their request.

Attorney Michael Falick filed the lawsuit July 27 in the 33rd state District Court requesting a reversal of the City Council’s action.

“We’ve received the lawsuit and forwarded it to our attorney,” City Manger Ralph Hendricks said.

Munbilla had asked for the variance to convert a four-panel, stacked billboard in the 5000 block of 281 to a shorter, two-panel electronic one. Officials contend they made the request in March, four days before a new sign ordinance was adopted.

The council that month adopted rules that banned some forms of electronic signs.

Caleb Kraenzel, city director of Development Services, recommended the council deny the variance because the request also would switch the sign from on-premise advertising to off-premise advertising, which is prohibited under the current and previous ordinances.

In the lawsuit, Munbilla Towers contends that city staff incorrectly stated the tower had been used for on-premise advertising.

“The billboard has been continuously used for off-premise advertising since early 2005,” the lawsuit stated.

Munbilla Towers claimed in the lawsuit it built the tower in 2004 and began using it for off-premise advertising in 2005 before the city extended its extraterritorial jurisdiction to the area.

The company owns and leases towers in Central Texas for broadcast, cellular, wireless Internet, microwave relay, two-way radio and other telecommunications needs, according to a Munbilla Towers website.

The new tower proposed by the company would be about 20 feet shorter than the current one, officials said in July.

Munbilla Towers falls under the umbrella of Munbilla Broadcasting Properties Ltd., 5526 U.S. 281 North.

An agenda for the council’s Aug. 7 meeting indicated the lawsuit is a topic of discussion during a closed-door session.

daniel@thepicayune.com

MARBLE FALLS — The City Council is considering a tax increase for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, with some blaming the hike on a homestead exemption that froze seniors’ taxes a few years ago.

The council voted 3-2 during its Aug. 7 meeting to consider a proposed rate of .6483 cents per $100 valuation for the upcoming fiscal year. The current rate is set at .6435 cents per $100 valuation.

A $50,000 homestead-tax exemption approved a few years ago by voters for disabled residents and seniors  65 and older that froze their taxes is the reason for the increase, said Mayor George Russell.

“We had enough people qualify for that major exemption over new businesses coming in to cause this,” he said. “It puts a burden on the rest of the population.”

Because the new figure affects the effective tax rate — what the city has to bring in to equal the 2011-2012 rate — and isn’t an increase under state law, the council doesn’t have to hold public hearings before adopting it, officials said.

“If you go with the effective tax rate, it wouldn’t be considered a tax rate increase,” said Margie Cardenas, city director of finance.

The council will hold two more readings on the adoption of the effective rate, then vote on the measure Sept. 18.

Under the proposed tax rate, a home valued at $200,000 would see a tax bill increase of about $10 over the 2011-2012 rate, while a home valued at $100,000 would see the tax bill increase about $5.

The proposed rate under consideration by the council is equal to the city’s effective rate.

The effective rate typically actually comes in slightly lower than the current rate.

“But our effective rate is slightly higher than our current tax rate,” she said. “One reason for this is our valuations have decreased.”

Cardenas said the 65-and-older exemptions cut $600,000 off the city’s valuation.

“This is going to look like a tax increase, but we didn’t do it,” said Russell, who is over 65. “The exemption that was voted in forced the rate up.”

Russell and council members John Packer and Sharon Pittard voted for the proposed rate while council members Reed Norman and Jane Marie Hurst opposed it.

Norman indicated he preferred carrying the 2011-2012 rate into next year.

Councilman Ryan Nash and Richard Lewis were not at the meeting.

Voters in May 2010 overwhelmingly approved a $50,000 homestead tax exemption for those 65 and older, as well as the disabled.

Organizers who collected enough signatures for a petition to put the issue on the ballot said the exemption was needed after the council raised property taxes by 28 percent in 2008.

daniel@thepicayune.com

LONDON — The realization of a dream. From the outside, it only took 3 minutes and 34.79 seconds for Leonel Manzano to sprint to a silver medal in the men’s 1,500 meters of the London 2012 Summer Olympics on Aug. 7.

But to those who know the former Granite Shoals resident well, the truth is it took years of dedication, hard work and determination to secure the silver medal in an event few people outside of Burnet County gave Manzano, a 2004 graduate of Marble Falls High School, a chance.

PHOTO 1: Former Granite Shoals resident and Marble Falls High School graduate Leonel Manzano holds up the U.S. and Mexican flags after winning silver in the 1,500-meter race at the London 2012 Summer Olympics on Aug. 7. The Olympian was born in Mexico and moved to Texas with his family in 1988 at the age of 4. Courtesy photo

PHOTO 2: Dozens of fans crowded into the R-Bar & Grill at Third and Main streets in Marble Falls Aug. 7 during a watch party to view Leonel Manzano, a two-time Olympian and former Granite Shoals resident, win a silver medal in the men’s 1,500-meter race at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He is a 2004 graduate of Marble Falls High School. Staff photos by Connie Swinney

PHOTO 3: Eunice Monzon (left) and Edgar Munoz wave the Stars and Stripes during a watch party in downtown Marble Falls Aug. 7 for runner Leonel Manzano Aug. 7. The former Granite Shoals resident won the men’s 1,500-meter race in 3 minutes and 34.79 seconds for a silver medal during the London 2012 Summer Olympics. Manzano also ran in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"I am honored and excited to represent both the United States and Mexico by earning this silver," Manzano said in a statement. The long-distance runner was born in Mexico and moved to Texas with his family in 1988 at the age of 4. "Standing on the podium has been a dream of mine, and I share it proudly with my family, friends, coaches and all my supporters from Austin, Marble Falls and Granite Shoals, Texas as well as Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico."

His finish in the Aug. 7 race was his season’s best.

"I think it’s great when you see a young man go through the hardships and stay with it and end up with the silver medal," Marble Falls Mayor George Russell said. "It’s a tribute to him and his family."

"Hallejuah," said former Marble Falls Independent School District Board President Martin McLean about the finish. "That’s the best news I’ve had today. I wasn’t feeling very well earlier. Now I feel great."

The former Mustang began the race fourth from last and was third from last after the first lap. While some were sweating about whether he could make a comeback, Manzano didn’t waiver, not even when Algeria’s Taoufik Makhloufi began a sprint in the final 400 meters.

Manzano began making his move to the middle of the pack and was fourth by the start of the final 100 meters.

From there, he sprinted past Abdalaati Iguider of Morocco and American teammate Matthew Centrowitz for second place and a silver medal.

"I’m almost at a loss for words," McLean said. "He’s a very deserving young man and great athlete. Marble Falls is really proud of him. He’s a strong finisher. This is just fantastic."

Russell said the city of Marble Falls hasn’t ruled out honoring Manzano, adding he was on his way to city hall to prepare for the Aug. 7 meeting.

"I think this is going to be celebrated beyond today," he said.

Makhloufi, who won the gold medal in 3:34.08, had been disqualified from the games after track-and-field officials ruled he didn’t try hard enough during a heat in the 800 meters. He had already qualified for the 1,500-meter final at that stage.

But the disqualification was overturned after a medical officer reviewed the evidence, and Makhloufi made his second chance count.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

HORSESHOE BAY — Living next door to the Horseshoe Bay Resort Airport has its advantages.

That’s according to aviator J.T. McMahon, who does, indeed, reside by the airport — with his airplane parked right there.

“I just take my plane out of the hangar (attached to his residence), go around the corner and put it in on the taxiway,” he said. “People ask me if it gets noisy living so close. I like the sound of planes taking off.”

PHOTO: J.T. McMahon, an aviator, who lives adjacent to the privately owned Horseshoe Bay Resort Airport, serves on a committee considering whether the city should buy the facility. He and other Horseshoe Bay Airport Committee members —  John Bird, Jim Long, Ken Lindgren, Bob Mark, Evan Roberts and Jim Thorne — recommended the city wait on research by the resort on the feasibility of converting the facility for public use. Staff photo by Connie Swinney

But while McMahon loves flying, he doesn’t allow his passion to color the decisions he makes on a committee at the center of a debate over a proposed sale of the privately owned Horseshoe Bay Resort Airport to the city.

MARBLE FALLS —A 14-year-old boy is at a Kerrville juvenile facility after two young girls told police he inappropriately touched them at the city swimming pool.

The teenager was charged Aug. 3 with juvenile delinquency with the underlying offense listed as two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, according to police. He was transported to the Kerr County Juvenile Facility in Kerrville, officers said Aug. 6.

None of the principals in the case are being identified because they are minors.

Police Capt. Glenn Hanson said the two girls in the offenses are 7 and 11 years old.

“One of the incidents happened at the start of summer while the other occurred last week,” Hanson said.

The pool is located at 305 Buena Vista Drive.

On Aug. 4, another girl aged 13 also came forward claiming the boy touched her inappropriately, Hanson said. That case remains under investigation and no charges have been filed.

Because the victims in the first two cases are under 13, the charge is carried as aggravated sexual assault of a child.

Hanson said parents and children should discuss what constitutes inappropriate touching, even though the subject can be difficult.

“One of the easiest ways to describe it to a child is if their bathing suit covers it, then nobody should touch it,” he said. “And always stress to children that if somebody touches you or does something to you inappropriately, to report it to an adult.”

Parents or caregivers who hear their child make an outcry should immediately contact law enforcement, he added.

Hanson said investigators also are looking into the background of the juvenile suspect.

He said many youths who victimize others have often been victims themselves.

“We understand that a young person committing something like this was a victim at some point, too, and we need to get that young person help as well,” Hanson said. “That way we can break the cycle.”

daniel@thepicayune.com

LONDON — With his signature kick carrying him past several competitors during the Olympic men’s 1,500-meter semi-finals Aug. 5, Marble Falls High School graduate Leonel “Leo” Manzano launched himself into the finals.

Manzano earned his spot in the race coming Aug. 7 by posting a time of 3 minutes and 42.94 seconds for fourth place in his semi-final heat. The finals are scheduled for 3:15 p.m. CST.

“I am thrilled to have achieved this first goal I set for myself at these games,” said Manzano from London. “I am grateful for all the support from family, friends and fans who helped me succeed.”

Manzano, who is from Granite Shoals, graduated from Marble Falls High in 2004, then attended the University of Texas at Austin.

The field of runners stayed close during most of the race Aug. 5. Kenyan Asbel Kiprop began to take over the competition after the 800-meter mark, but he couldn’t shake the rest of the runners. As the final lap bell rang, Algerian Taoufik Makhloufi established himself and moved out front.

As the runners began making their way around the final turn, Makhloufi stretched out his lead. With the top five finishers guaranteed of advancing to the finals, the runners trailing behind Makhloufi began battling for the next four spots.

Manzano came around the turn outside the top five, but he quickly turned up it a notch and ran down several other competitors.

He caught up with Kiprop and Ethiopian Mekonnen Gebremedhin at the line in a photo finish.

Kiprop’s time was 3 minutes and 42.92 seconds for second. Gebremedhin finished between the Kenyan and Manzano with a time of 3 minutes and 42.93 seconds.

Makhloufi finished first in the semi-final heat in 3 minutes and 42.24 seconds.

In the second semi-final heat, Morocco’s Abdalaati Iguider finished in 3 minutes and 33.99 seconds for first.

American Matt Centrowitz earned a spot in the finals with a fifth-place finish in the second heat of the semi-finals with a time of 3 minutes and 34.9 seconds.

This is Manzano’s second trip to the Olympics. He competed in the 1,500-meter race in the 2008 Beijing games, where he qualified for the semi-final round but didn’t advance to the finals.

daniel@thepicayune.com

WATCH LEO RACE

The R-Bar and Grill, 904 Third St. in Marble Falls, will hold a viewing party 3 p.m. Aug. 7 for Leonel Manzano’s attempt to win a medal in the finals of the 1,500 meters at the London 2012 Summer Olympics.

MARBLE FALLS – Fire crews battled a 2-acre pasture fire Aug. 5 that destroyed two outbuildings south of the city just off FM 2147 East.

At least two people were evacuated from a residence near the outbuildings in the 400 block of Graham Road, officials said.

The call came in shortly before 3:45 p.m.

“They were at home, but the fire didn’t get in the residence,” said Terry White, chief of the Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department. “(The fire destroyed) a pump house and a storage shed.”

Crews from the Cottonwood Shores and Spicewood volunteer fire departments also helped get the runaway blaze under control in about 30 minutes, White said.

“The heat combined with the wind, it made the fire go so much faster,” he added.

White said investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire.

No injuries were reported.

editor@thepicayune.com

MARBLE FALLS — Police searching for a missing motorcyclist Aug. 4 found the man’s lifeless body after spotting a torn fence where Manzano Mile comes to a dead end.

He was identified as Arlen Jacob Chavez, 25, of Marble Falls.

The case began when a woman contacted police about 11:40 p.m. and said her boyfriend hadn’t returned from a motorcycle ride more than four hours earlier, said police Capt. Glenn Hanson.

She told police the man may have driven down Manzano Mile off RR 1431 East.

“Officers checked the area going up and down it several times, but they didn’t see anybody,” Hanson said.

They also contacted other local police agencies as well as hospitals in Burnet, Llano, Williamson and Travis counties, but didn’t hear anything.

Officers returned to Manzano Mile with a thermal-imaging unit that can detect heat emanating from a human body or a vehicle. The road stretches for about two miles north of 1431, with Colt Elementary School at the far end just before the road stops at a fence and a wooded area.

As police searched the 2200 block of Manzano Mile about 1 a.m., the officers noticed a broken fence at the end of the road, Hanson said.

The officers found the man’s body and a 2010 Triumph Daytona motorcycle at the north of the end of Manzano Mile past the school, the captain said. Police said he was not found wearing a helmet.

The cause of the mishap remains under investigation, officials said.

This is the third single-vehicle accident on Manzano Mile in the past several weeks, Hanson said, but the only one marked by death or serious injury.

Previous accidents involved a pickup traveling at a high speed south on Manzano Mile, failing to stop at the 1431 intersection and crashing through a fence.

Another involved a car traveling north on Manzano Mile and plowing through the fence  at the end of the road. The vehicle traveled 115 feet into the wooded area before coming to a stop, Hanson said.

Meanwhile, relatives Aug. 6 said Chavez  was born March 27, 1987, in Silver City, N.M., to  Steven Mike Chavez and Vonita Faye Strain.

The motorcyclist worked in the construction business.

Survivors include his father and wife Yvonne of Silver City, N.M.; mother Vonita Madrid of Marble Falls; significant other Kristie Crowell; son Aiden Chavez of Marble Falls; grandmothers Nita Chavez and Patricia Bice, both of Silver City, N.M.; brothers, Christopher Chavez of Kyle, Ronnie Madrid and Jeremie Madrid, both of Marble Falls, and Anthony Chavez of Silver City, N.M.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 6:30 p.m. Aug. 8 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 105 RR 1431 East in Marble Falls, with the Rev. Jairo Lopez officiating.

An online guest book can be found at www.edgarfh.com.

Cremation arrangements under the direction of Edgar Funeral Home, 2105 U.S. 281 North in Marble Falls, (83) 693-5808.

daniel@thepicayune.com