BURNET — The round of layoffs announced last week by the Seton Family of Hospitals won’t affect Seton Highland Lakes, officials said Monday.
The staff at the 25-bed hospital won’t be included in the estimated 150 layoffs across the Seton system, hospital administrator Arie Dejong said.
“Seton Highland Lakes continues to be financially sound, thanks to the dedication of our hard-working team members,” Dejong said in a statement. “We are very grateful for the incredible support from our community, which has contributed to the unprecedented growth and expansion we have experienced over the past few years.”
News of the layoffs at Seton’s other 30 hospitals and clinics came last week as administrators said they hoped to trim the system’s operating budget by 5 percent.
About half of the 150 lost jobs include positions that are already vacant, according to Greg Hartman, president of Austin’s University Medical Center Brackenridge.
The other cuts involve full-time and part-time workers.
None of the cuts will compromise patient care, Hartman said.
Hospital managers were notified of the cuts Feb. 10.
Seton employs about 11,500 people in 11 counties.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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HORSESHOE BAY — Despite public concern over the city buying the Horseshoe Bay Resort airport, officials said the prospect isn’t even close to happening.
In fact, it may never take place, officials said at a City Council meeting March 20.
Residents have launched a petition drive demanding they have a say-so in large-scale acquisitions, including a potential deal to acquire the airport from the Horseshoe Bay Resort.
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MARBLE FALLS — The School Board will be asked to shift money set aside for transportation needs to buy new lights for the high school auditorium, a special-needs bus and updating a weight room.
The budget amendment request is slated for the meeting at 6 p.m. March 26, said Rob O’Connor, Marble Falls Independent School District superintendent.
“Looks like we’ll be balanced for the end of the year (and) we’ll be able to maximize our money,” O’Connor said.
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MARBLE FALLS — School officials have tapped a former state education official responsible for improving campuses as the new elementary curriculum director.
The decision to hire Lee Courville is pending approval at the March 26 Marble Falls Independent School District board meeting, Superintendent Rob O’Connor said.
Courville recently worked in the Texas Education Agency Region XIII Educational Service Center’s School Improvement Resource Center.
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MARBLE FALLS — Good attendance and coming in under budget have city officials proclaiming success for Spring Break activities.
About 300 children and their families took part in free city-sponsored events March 12-16, with the cost to the city about $1,000 less than what was budgeted, officials said.
“I have a lot of the receipts and can see we got enough balance to stay under budget,” said Robert Moss, director of the Parks and Recreation Department.
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MARBLE FALLS — Though the heavy storm that swept across the Highland Lakes March 19-20 is raising water levels in parched lakes Buchanan and Travis, it doesn’t mean the drought is over.
Far from it, said officials with the Lower Colorado River Authority.
“It was a much-needed rainfall, but even with it lakes Buchanan and Travis are still less than half full,” said Clara Tuma, an LCRA spokeswoman. “Yes, we’re still in a drought.”
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BURNET – At first, Cathy Bradley thought somebody could have been playing some sort of early April Fool’s joke when she heard fire had destroyed the apartment she shared with her seriously ill mother for several months in Burnet.
Unfortunately, it was no prank, Bradley said Wednesday night. Nearly all the belongings were destroyed.
IN PHOTO: Burnet resident Cathy Bradley takes a break while surveying fire damage to her apartment in the Creekside Townhomes. Staff photo by Raymond V. Whelan
And to make matters worse, Bradley’s mom died just a few days ago, adding to the load she is carrying.
Nobody was injured during the fire at the Creekside Townhomes, 103 N. Hill St., No. 42, according to Bradley and Jennie Jackson, her next-door neighbor.
She was visiting her sister Kerrie Kajak near Silver Creek when the blaze broke out about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, Bradley said.
A “short in the electrical wiring” may have caused the apartment to catch fire, Bradley said.
Jackson smelled smoke coming from the Bradley apartment, and she dialed 911.
“Thank God I was awake at that time,” Jackson said.
The Burnet Fire Department responded quickly to the alarm at Creekside, Jackson added.
“They were right here,” Jackson said.
Other than a telephone and power outage, the fire caused no damage to her home, nor did the flames harm any other units, Jackson added.
Bradley said lived with her mother Betty Edwards at the apartment until Edwards died of cancer at 81 March 27.
Bradley and her husband Lenon Bradley were soiled in black soot as they sorted out their belongings after the fire Wednesday night.
Her mother had insurance to cover some of the damaged belongings, said Cathy Bradley.
“I don’t know how much, but she had it,” Bradley added. “She had antique furniture and thousands of dollars of clothes in her closet. It is all gone.”
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BURNET — Friends and family are showing their support with a fundraiser March 20 for a Burnet family who lost their 4-day-old daughter to a rare genetic disorder.
The benefit is planned for Cristi and Jonny Simons, whose daughter Makynli died of Trisomy 18 at a Temple hospital in January.
The event is 6 p.m. at the Burnet Community Center, 401 E. Jackson St.
“Cristi had to have an emergency C-section, and the baby was stillborn,” family friend Melanie Gomez said. “They got the baby breathing, then they flew her to Temple.”
Gomez said Jonny Simons stayed with his daughter in Temple while Cristi Simons recovered from her surgery. She was reunited with her daughter Jan. 21, one day before the infant died.
Trisomy 18, or Edwards Syndrome, is a disorder resulting from the presence of an extra 18th chromosome, which causes defects in the heart, lungs and other organs. The condition occurs in one in 6,000 live births, and has a low survival rate.
Gomez said the parents are still grieving over the loss of Makynli, their first child.
“They’re doing reasonably well,” she said. “There’s been a tremendous outpouring of community support.”
The family still needs help covering medical and funeral expenses, Gomez added.
“They’re not rich or anything like that,” she said. “They had health insurance, but they still have medical bills left over.”
Cristi Simons is the owner of Trendz Salon in Burnet. Jonny Simons is an employee in Burnet’s street department.
Gomez said the fundraiser will include live music and barbecue.
“We’ll have the Hired Guns band playing music with barbecue plates and a silent auction,” she said.
Tickets for the fundraiser are $15 each with plates at $8. For information, call (512) 755-6811.
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BURNET — Elections for City Council on May 8 have been canceled now that one of four candidates running for three seats has dropped out of the race.
The council during a special meeting Tuesday certified the three remaining candidates as officially elected.
They are incumbents Pat Riddell, an insurance agent and William DeLeon, a retiree, as well as insurance agent Gary Wideman.
Bill Flynn, who holds the third at-large seat, declined to run for re-election.
Business owner Gary Vaughan dropped out of the race, City Manager Michael Steele said.
The candidates will take office in May, Steele said.
In other news, Mayor Alan Smith is scheduled to hold a State of the City Address 11:30 a.m. March 24 at the Burnet Community Center, 401 E. Jackson St.
Steele said the mayor will discuss infrastructure.
“Mostly, the last year has been a lot of infrastructure improvements,” Steele said.
He added: “Last year, it was all strategy … this year, it will be stuff that we’ve accomplished that you can tangibly see or feel or know about.”
Also, the city recently completed its part of a statewide warrant roundup.
Steele said the city recovered $16,304 in owed money and closed out 81 warrants.
Meanwhile, the City Wide Spring Clean Up is 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. March 27 in the parking lot behind the old football stadium on Northington Street.
Household junk, brush, tree trimmings, debris, old appliances and old tires (four per household) will be accepted, officials said.
Items not allowed will include wet paint, batteries, appliances with Freon, asbestos, hazardous chemicals (such as insecticides and herbicides) and construction debris. Participants must show proof of Burnet residency, such as a driver’s license or utility bill. For more on the cleanup, call Cindy Young at (512) 715-3215.
The council next meets 6:30 p.m. March 23 in council chambers, 2402 S. Water St., which also is the air museum at the Burnet Municipal Airport on U.S. 281.
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