MEADOWLAKES — If dry weather continues into next spring, city officials could find themselves wrestling with ways to reduce water consumption.

Meadowlakes is dealing with the same issues faced by Marble Falls and Burnet, which are also water customers of the Lower Colorado River Authority. Texas is in the grip of what could become a new drought of record.

“What the LCRA has told us is there will be a 20 percent curtailment (in firm-water use),” City Manager Johnnie Thompson told the City Council Nov. 8.

LCRA says the reduction will be necessary if lakes Buchanan and Travis, the region’s two storage reservoirs, continue to drop this spring.

While the LCRA would reduce the amount of raw water it provides to its customers by 20 percent, Thompson said it’s possible the reduction wouldn’t have much of an impact on the city.

GRANITE SHOALS — After almost nine months as the city manager, Judy Miller has an assistant — which means Ken Nickel now wears two hats.

Miller recently named the city finance director as the municipality’s first assistant city manager.

But Nickel is still keeping his old job, too, the City Council heard Nov. 8 during their meeting.

"Ken is a great asset to the city and the community," Miller said. "He’ll serve as the assistant city manger/director of finance. It’s something the city needs and it’s something I need."

Miller, who was hired in January, said she has more than enough to do, so now she can delegate some tasks to Nickel.

"I found myself having to cover so many bases and oversee so many different things," Miller said. "Ken brings a tremendous amount of managerial experience with him already. One of the things I noticed about Ken when I first arrived here was his dedication to customer service. He has that down to a ‘T’ and that’s something I really value."

COTTONWOOD SHORES — An ensemble of eight women and five men have been cast for "Southern Hospitality," a down-home comedy set to open at the Hill Country Community Theatre Dec. 1.

Although it takes the form of a hilarious farce, "Southern Hospitality" presents a true testament to Southern strength and ingenuity as the Futrelle sisters try to save their beloved hometown of Fayro, Texas, from extinction, according to a news release.

The show is a sequel to theater‘s 2009 play "Christmas Belles" and is written by the same playwrights, Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten.

Playing the Futrelle sisters are Sharon Penney as Honey Raye, Julie Smith as Rhonda Lynn, Vicki Cody as Twink and Priscilla Castaneda as Frankie Futrelle Dubberly. Other female cast members include Mary Beth Madsen as Miss Geneva Musgrave, Jennifer Holland Brust as Gina Jo (G.J.) Dubberly Waverly, Gabriele Grasmick as Iney Dubberly and Leslie Spencer as D. Dayva Davidson.

Male cast members are Adam Brust as Justin Waverly, Stan Farmer as John Curtis Buntner, Steve Reily as Dub Dubberly, Anson Hahn as Raynerd Chisum and Larry Grasmick as Buck Strickland.

The play runs Dec. 1-11. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2:15 p.m. Sundays.

"Southern Hospitality" is directed by Mary Ann Fletcher. A longtime Marble Falls resident and civic leader, Fletcher was a theater teacher at Marble Falls High School for 21 years until her retirement in 2008, the release said.

She is a member of the theater’s Board of Governors, the chair pro-tem of the Texas Coalition for Quality Arts Education, a member and past secretary of the Highland Lakes Service League and a volunteer for the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce.

Jon Harshaw is stage manager for the production and Angela Harshaw is property master. The theater is producing "Southern Hospitality" by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service Inc. in New York.

Tickets will be available at the theater box office Nov. 21 for theater members and Nov. 24 for the general public. Box office hours are noon-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call (830) 798-8944.

Admission is $15 for adults and $7 for students age 16 and under. Reservations may be made at the box office, 4003 FM 2147 West; at (830) 798-8944; or at www.hcct.org.

MARBLE FALLS — The city has lifted a ban on using barbecue pits for cooking and grilling in municipal parks.

“We’ve had a little rain allowing people to cook on our grills again,” said Robert Moss, the Parks and Recreation director.

He made the announcement during the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting this week.

Marble Falls is keeping in line with Burnet County. While county officials are maintaining a burn ban, outdoor cooking is also being allowed in rural areas.

With temperatures dropping and the recent rains, more people are likely to visit city parks, Moss added.

“(Grilling) adds to the park experience,” he said.

There’s a chance the city ban will return in the spring because rainfall amounts are projected to be minimal, Moss said.

For now, residents can use existing pits or bring their own grills.

Also, Moss said Zumba Fitness classes taught by Tamara Johnson will be offered beginning Jan. 3 at Lakeside Pavilion, 307 Buena Vista Drive. Johnson also taught  classes in Pflugerville.

Cost for 10 sessions is $55 or $7 per class. For more, e-mail her at marafitness@hotmail.com.

In addition, Marble Falls Leagues is offering a free kickball tournament Nov. 10 at Johnson Park, 230 Ave. J South, from 6-9 p.m.

To register by Nov. 9, go to www.marblefallsleagues.com or call organizer Cain Grayson at (512) 553-2424.

jfierro@thepicayune.com

GRANITE SHOALS — Voters in the proposed Emergency Services District No. 3 approved the measure Nov. 8, 174-105, creating a new funding source for fire services.

"By its passing, the Burnet County commissioners can now appoint a five-member board that will oversee the district," said Austin Stanphill, chief of the Granite Shoals Fire Department. "They’ll have to get some training. But then they’ll look at what fire services they want to provide and determine the best way to provide those services."

The measure went before voters during the general election after supporters collected the required number of signatures and presented the petition to the commissioners during the summer.

ESD No. 3 is a taxing entity that can levy up to 10 cents per $100 valuation of a property to support fire protection. The district includes a swath of southwest Burnet County outside the incorporated portions of Granite Shoals and Highland Haven.

Most of the area had previously been served by the Fire Department.

Earlier this fall, the City Council approved a measure that would require subdivisions and property owner associations outside the city limits to contract with the city for fire services.

Officials said the move was needed to recoup costs associated with responding to emergencies outside the city where property owners didn’t pay taxes to Granite Shoals.

Stanphill said those contracts will continue until ESD No. 3 is operational.

At that time, the emergency services district board can determine how it wants to offer fire protection to the residents, the chief said.

"We hope they’ll look at us (GSFD) to contract with," he said. "But the decision will be theirs. And they’ll be the ones setting the tax rate within the district."

ESD No. 3 doesn’t include the cities of Granite Shoals or Highland Haven — but it does cover their extraterritorial jurisdictions, officials said.

Voters also approved an ESD for the Marble Falls area, which means Burnet County now has eight such districts.

MARBLE FALLS — A struggling economy, border cartels and a highway through the Highland Lakes used for smuggling help fuel a steady flow of criminal activity by people entering the country illegally, according to law enforcement.

Still, in spite of headline-grabbing cases, illegal detainees only make up 3 percent of the Burnet County Jail population.

In fact, the majority of cases connected to illegal aliens are considered non- or minimally violent in nature and typically involve driving while intoxicated, illegal drugs, unpaid citations and domestic assault.

But as border violence linked to drug gangs continues to grow, there is a chance it eventually could reach the Highland Lakes, especially since U.S. 281 is major north-south conduit for cargo and contraband, lawmen said.

“The way it’s going with Mexico and cartels, we’re going to be seeing it eventually,” said District Attorney Sam Oatman, whose office handles cases in Blanco, Burnet, Llano and San Saba counties. “We’re looking at a possibility. We need to be prepared for it.”

Veteran investigators echoed the sentiment.

“Not a month goes by when we’re not running people back to INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) who come from south of the border,” said Blanco County sheriff’s Investigator Bob Shelton, who has seen his share of such cases.

MARBLE FALLS — Colt Elementary School students and staff want to recognize area veterans with a free lunch and a special ceremony Friday.

“We wanted to do something on Veterans Day to thank all the people who have served this country,” said Assistant Principal Mark Richert. “It’s also a great chance for our students to connect with these heroes.”

The Veterans Day Ceremony starts with a complimentary lunch at 12:30 p.m. for past and current members of the armed services. Other visitors can eat as well, but it’s $3 for adults and $1.25 for children.

“If possible, we’d like to know how many people plan to eat lunch with us so we can plan ahead,” Richert said. “And this is our turkey dinner day.”

Many of the teachers and staff are making desserts.

The ceremony is 2-3 p.m. on the campus, 2200 Manzano Mile.

“The (Veterans of Foreign Wars) post will be helping us present the colors,” Richert said. “The Highland Lakes Men’s Chorus is going to perform. And the (Marble Falls Middle School) choir is coming over to sing. We’re trying to make it a very special event and give the students a chance to honor the men and women who have served — and continue — to serve our country.”

For more or to RSVP, call Richert at (830) 693-3474 or by e-mail at mrichert@mfisd.txed.net.

daniel@thepicayune.com

MARBLE FALLS — The high cost of repairing some railroad tracks has put plans on hold for a tourist train to Marble Falls.

Capital Metro Transit recently estimated it would cost more than $860,000 to upgrade the entire span for a proposed tourist train. The Austin-based agency owns the tracks.

“At first, they (Cap Metro officials) told us the cost would be significantly less than the recent estimate,” City Manager Ralph Hendricks said Nov. 7. “They will not pay for it. They are leaving it up to us to decide if we want to pay for it or not.”

However, the city budget is barely balanced and its reserve funds are low, officials said.

Passenger rail service to Marble Falls is one of several proposals — most of them still on a wish list — to make the city more of a tourist destination. Others include an observation area for a bat cave and a regional sports complex.

For several months, city officials have considered upgrades to local rail lines for passenger trains to bring more visitors to the Historic Main Street District downtown.

MARBLE FALLS — The Texas Department of Transportation has given the green light to replace Gridiron bridge on CR 404 for an estimated $336,000 later this month.

“It is a bridge replacement project I have been working on for three years,” Burnet County Commissioner Joe Don Dockery said Nov. 7. “We are excited to work with TxDOT on this significant road improvement project.”

Traffic through 404 will shut down about two miles south of FM 2147 East during construction of the new bridge at the Gridiron Branch of Double Horn Creek.

Motorists can use Texas 71 south of 404 as an alternate route to Spicewood during the construction, Dockery added.

TxDOT plans to pay for the work, which may cost about $336,000.

As the project proceeds, Burnet County maintenance crews will transport the existing bridge to Marble Falls where it will be installed as pedestrian bridge in a city park, Dockery said.

The project to replace the bridge is expected to about Nov. 21, he added.

“We are notifying local authorities and emergency responders regarding the road closure,” Dockery said.

TxDOT officials said it could take four months to complete the bridge.

“When the project is complete, it will allow much safer travel along CR 404,” the commissioner said.

Acme Bridge of New Braunfels is the main contractor for the job, according to officials.

raymond@thepicayune.com