MARBLE FALLS — City Council has approved a committee to evaluate several agencies applying to conduct a feasibility study for a future sports complex.

Also during the Dec. 20 meeting, the council tabled action on widening a road near the planned Scott & White Healthcare hospital and heard discussion about the revised Downtown Master Plan.

Meanwhile, supporters of the complex say it could bring more business to Marble Falls by attracting tournaments and competitions, with athletes spending money in local shops, hotels and restaurants.

The committee will examine the requests from companies wanting to do the feasibility study and make a recommendation to city staff.

MARBLE FALLS — Public Works Department employees expect to move into a new building five times larger than their current facility by mid-January.

There will be no shutdown of services during the transition to 1808 Second St., said Director Perry Malkemus.

PHOTO 1: Marble Falls Public Works Department officials expect to move into this larger facility on Second Street by the middle of next month. Staff photo by Raymond V. Whelan

“The new building is probably about five times larger than where we are now,” he added. “The foundation is solid. We have been waiting about 20 years to get into a new building.”

The department, which has more than 30 employees, currently is at 1001 Second St.

HORSESHOE BAY — An Internet posting of a 12-point buck killed from a residential balcony by an arrow has landed a 16-year-old boy in hot water with local and state authorities.

The deer, which was brought down Nov. 15, lived inside the city limits and was well known to officers because of its antlers, said Police Chief Bill Lane in a prepared release Dec. 19.

"The illegal killing of deer and other animals in this community will simply not be tolerated," Lane said in the release.

After an investigation, police and state game wardens determined the buck was shot with a bow and arrow from the second-story balcony of a residence in the Slick Rock area.

The teen was detained Dec. 16 under juvenile delinquency statutes related to the offenses, officials said.

The city has an ordinance prohibiting the use of a bow and arrow, firearm or blowgun inside the city limits, as well as another that outlaws hunting unless under certain conditions, Lane said.

Along with the local violations, the kill exceeds the annual bag limit on deer and hunter safety violations, according to game wardens.

If convicted, the teen could face up to a total of $5,000 in fines and an additional $4,300 in civil restitution for the deer, Lane said.

The youth also could lose future hunting privileges unless he pays the fines and restitution.

The 12-point buck was already known to police. Lane said an officer had taken a photo of the animal just a day earlier.

Officers had not seen the buck since late November and began to suspect a poacher had gotten it, Lane said.

Police joined with game wardens to determine what happened to the animal, the chief said. Investigators followed a lead to a Web posting of what appeared to be the deer’s head.

If the buck had been legally taken, it would have placed fifth in the Texas Big Game Awards for Region 4 for the 2010-2011 hunting season, Lane said.

Deer poaching inside the city limits isn’t uncommon, he added.

On Nov. 17, officers found a dead 10-point buck in a vacant lot on Lucy Lane that was killed by an arrow. Then on Nov. 20, a Deer Haven resident reported seeing two deer shot by arrows.

"Our police officers are tasked with the mission of protecting the public and our natural resources. We work very closely with other state, county and local agencies to accomplish just that," Lane said in the release.

editor@thepicayune.com

MARBLE FALLS — After a Grinch looted a local toy drive last week, some local “elves” came forward to put much-needed funds into the coffers of Highland Lakes Christmas is for Kids.

“We had two great donations come in this week,” said Robben Thompson, a leader of the nonprofit that provides gifts for children who otherwise might not have a holiday due to economic or other reasons. “It kind of restores your faith in human beings.”

After thieves or a thief made off with five boxes of diapers, two PlaySkool infant play sets and several children’s coats sometime during the night Dec. 16, Thompson was upset by the action, but said it wouldn’t keep volunteers from from spreading holiday cheer to children in need.

On Dec. 21, Dr. Gene Kirby and his wife Gerry of Marble Falls donated $500 to the organization. Then state Sen. Troy Fraser of Horseshoe Bay added another $500.

“It helps replace what was lost, but it also helps us replace some of the money we carry over into next year to purchase gifts during the summer,” Thompson said Dec. 23.

The case began after volunteers gathered at Marble Falls Middle School, 1511 Pony Circle, Dec. 16 to sort and prepare for next-day distribution of the presents, said police Capt. Glenn Hanson.

When the organizers arrived the following morning for the delivery, several items were gone.

“We would have given them (thieves) what they needed,” she said Dec. 19. “To have them steal it is beyond words.”

The theft astonished Thompson because the organization would have helped anyone who needed assistance — all they had to do is ask.

“I cannot tolerate (the items) being stolen from the system we are using to help so many other people,” she said.

Hanson said there was no sign of forced entry, but investigators are pursuing some leads.

When organizers realized the items were missing, they went out and purchased replacements.

While they met this year’s needs, the thefts will have an impact on the Christmas effort in 2012.

The organization tries to set aside funds every Christmas to use during the coming year for buying gifts.

Even with the two “generous” donations, Thompson said the organization’s coffers are still extremely low. While the program is a Christmas event, volunteers and organizers shop for toys and children’s clothing throughout the year.

Thompson said this year, the program served 253 families with 653 children.

Donations and checks can be sent to the Highland Lakes Christmas is for Kids, P.O. Box 1750 Marble Falls, TX 78654.

Anybody with information on the theft can contact Hill Country Crime Stoppers at 1-866-756-TIPS (8477) or police at (830) 693-3611.

Staff Writer Connie Swinney contributed to this story.

daniel@thepicayune.com

MEADOWLAKES — City leaders have rejected a proposal to automate the community’s garbage-collection service after residents raised concerns about larger containers.

But the decision not to change will come with a price hike, said trash company officials.

During the meeting Dec. 13, the City Council voted to extend the existing contract with Allied Waste Services, instead of an upgrade to automated collection.

Though the service remains the same, residents will see immediate rate hikes, raising the monthly rate for standard service from $16.92 to $18.13.

HORSESHOE BAY — City Council likely will appoint someone next month to fill the slot left by an outgoing councilwoman who is taking over as the top educator in a South Texas school district.

The Pleasanton Independent School District board hired Cynthia Clinesmith as the next superintendent, which means she is moving away from Horseshoe Bay to start her new job in January.

Mayor Bill Lambert during the council meeting Dec. 13 asked that residents interested in the  vacancy contact Teresa Moore, the city secretary

MARBLE FALLS — The city is giving new life to old tires that has nothing to do with landfills, tree swings or an obstacle course.

Instead, the rubber is being chopped, chipped and shredded into hundreds of rust-colored bits used for eco-friendly mulch around tree beds on city property.

“It is the latest example of how recycling can benefit a community,” City Manager Ralph Hendricks said.

Several trees on city property along Main Street in Marble Falls now have mulch made from rust-colored recycled rubber tires, including (above) the tree near the Police Department and parking lot on the west side of City Hall. The sculpture ‘Texas Scorpion’ by Cassandra Franks is planted near the tree. Staff photo by Raymond V. Whelan

City crews recently spread the mulch under the trees along Main Street between Second and Third streets.

GRANITE SHOALS — Complaints about controlling wild animals is prompting a new look at city laws, but the police chief is warning his department isn’t a pest-control service.

"(In the past) we were getting calls from people with rats in their homes — and cockroaches," said Chief J.P. Wilson during a sometimes heated City Council meeting Dec. 13. "We can’t become the Granite Shoals pest control."

Any substantive changes could spell extra costs for certification and licensing of animal-control personnel, City Manager Judy Miller added.

BURNET — The race for the Republican nomination for the 33rd/424th District Attorney’s seat grew to three after state Assistant Attorney General Steven Todd announced Dec. 13 that he also is running.

He faces contenders Wiley B. “Sonny” McAfee Jr. and former 33rd/424th Assistant District Attorney Angela Dowdle in the hunt to replace Sam Oatman, who decided not to run again after 25 years in office.

“I moved my family to this area in 2000 and I love this community,” said Todd, a prosecutor in the state Attorney General’s Office.