BURNET — Voters go to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots on state constitutional amendments, the creation of two emergency services districts and the possible incorporation of Kingsland.

The general election is 7 a.m.-7 p.m. New voter identification laws are not in effect until next year, officials said.

In Burnet County, elections are set for emergency services districts for Marble Falls and Granite Shoals.

Also, municipal incorporation for Kingsland is on ballots in parts of some voting precincts. The Kingsland incorporation vote is also on Llano County ballots.

In addition, all ballots include several state constitutional amendments.

Granite Shoals voters in parts of precincts 9 and 18 can vote on the proposed Emergency Services District No. 3.

Marble Falls voters in parts of precincts 6, 9, 18-22 can vote on the proposed ESD No. 6.

MARBLE FALLS — A registered sex offender is back behind bars after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a teen girl, police said.

Joshua Bernal, 20, who was arrested Oct. 28 by officers, is charged with sexual assault. He remained in the Burnet County Jail Nov. 3 in lieu of posting a $100,000 bond.

The case began Oct. 21 when a 14-year-old girl’s father contacted investigators to say his daughter had sex with an older man, police said.

According to an arrest affidavit, the 14-year-old girl first denied there was any sexual relationship between her and the man. Investigators told her they were collecting physical evidence.

The Marble Falls High School choir program once again hosts a Madrigal Dinner: A Feast of Carols at 7 p.m. Dec. 2-3 and Dec. 5 at the Church of Christ, 711 Broadway in Marble Falls. The event is a dinner theater set in the Middle Ages with entertainers and servers dressed in period costume. To keep the event authentic, diners will eat with their fingers. The choir — including Aaron Steward (back, left), Carolyn O’Connor, Kelsey McCasland, Megan Gonzales, Jordan Downey, Kristen Lookabaugh, Tori Gomez, Ashley Inman, Jessica Long, Mattie Cryer, Jesus Perez, Teagan Hooten (front, left) and Lupe Gomez — will perform Christmas carols. Reservations are required. Ticket prices are $30 for preferred seating and $20 for general seating. For more, call (830) 798-3664. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton

MARBLE FALLS —The Faith Academy Junior High football team made history Nov. 3 by beating Austin Hill Country 44-14.

With the victory, the Flames became the first junior high squad in the history of the private Christian school to post an undefeated record at 9-0. Other Faith squads had lost a game the last several years, but not this one.

“I knew they were good,” head coach Jason Cain said. “I knew they were dedicated to the work they put into it.”

Hill Country entered the contest undefeated as well.

Faith eighth-grader Jake Metcalf scored the game’s first touchdown thanks to a 45-yard scamper, 6-0.

After Hill Country took a 7-6 lead, seventh-grader Andy Garner broke numerous tackles to reach the end zone from 16 yards out to give the Flames a 12-7 lead in the second quarter.

The Knights answered right back for a 14-12 advantage. But those were their last points of the half.

The Flames scored on their next four possessions.

Metcalf scored on a seven-yard run for an 18-14 lead.

Garner hit paydirt again from 22 yards out to extend the advantage, 24-14.

Seventh-grader Dalton Mayberry ran in from 27 yards out, and eighth-grader Asa Ortiz caught a 35-yarder from Metcalf for a 38-14 half-time lead.

The Flames defense did the job, coaches said, forcing two consecutive turnovers on downs and a Metcalf interception to end the first half.

Garner added a touchdown with 7:18 remaining in the game, 44-14.

Cain said he knew the Flames’ biggest test of the season would be against the Knights.

“I always told them,” he said,” if they did the work I trained them to do, they would be unbeatable.”

jfierro@thepicayune.com

For more on this story, pick up a copy of the Nov. 6 River Cities Sunday Tribune.

LLANO — The Brown Santa program sponsored by the Llano County Sheriff’s Office needs help finding children in need this Christmas.

Underprivileged children ages toddler through 16 in the unincorporated area of Llano County may receive toys and gifts through the program.

Anyone who knows of a child or a family in need can call (325) 247-5050 or pick up an application at a justice of the peace office.

MEADOWLAKES — Investigators need the public’s help locating the vandals who tore about 80 divots into the 15th green and caused an estimated $1,000 damage at Hidden Falls Golf Club.

"I looked at it and I would estimate it was three or four people involved," said Jeff Wilson, the club’s general manager and director of golf. "They were using golf clubs. They did a pretty good number on us."

The incident is just the latest episode of vandalism to plague the gated community inside Marble Falls.

The vandals struck the green, located along Firestone Drive, sometime from 7 p.m. Nov. 1 to 7 a.m. Nov. 2.

The divots — or slices in the turf — range in size from small to large, Wilson said.

Crews stayed busy Nov. 2 fixing the damage and hoped to have the hole repaired soon.

"It’s going to take about 20-man hours to fix, not including supplies," Wilson said. "I estimate the damage to be at least $1,000. It’s hard to say if we’ll lose any revenue from it. Most people understand things like this happen."

Wilson said the damage won’t be completely repaired until spring.

"We’re entering the non-growing season, so it’s not going to mend over all the way," he said. "It’s something we’ll have to live with over the winter."

Meadowlakes has had its issues with criminal mischief, vandalism and even vehicle burglaries in the past. In 2009, the city adopted a juvenile curfew in response to a wave of mischief in June that year.

In April 2010, city officials urged residents to lock their car doors after people reported a string of vehicle burglaries. Meadowlakes increased its law enforcement patrols this year in response to concerns over crime, including vandalism.

The community even created a neighborhood watch program.

Wilson said Meadowlakes homeowners have a tendency to look out for each other and the community.

"So, we’re hoping somebody may have seen something and will report it," he said.

Anyone with information can call the golf club at (830) 693-3300; the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office at (512) 756-8080; or the Hill Country Crime Stoppers at 1-888-765-TIPS.

MARBLE FALLS — If the drought that has left Texas parched for more than a year continues this spring, it could drain as much as $400,000 from city coffers, the EDC heard Nov. 2.

“That is not good, but it is something we are planning on now,” City Manager Ralph Hendricks told the Economic Development Corp. board Nov. 2.

The lack of rain, which is causing the worst drought in a single year since 1895, is swiftly draining the region’s two storage reservoirs, Travis and Buchanan lakes.

The Lower Colorado River Authority can order the city to reduce its water use by 20 percent if the drought persists this spring. The agency could impose fines and fees on the city if Marble Falls fails to comply.

Hendricks is confident the city can reduce its water use under mandatory restrictions.

However, less water use means less revenue for the city from water utility bills, he added. The revenue loss could equal as much as $400,000, he said.

Indeed, LCRA could raise their rates on water contracts to Marble Falls and other cities if the drought causes the authority to suffer financial losses, he added.

“There is a kind of domino effect,” Hendricks said.

The board listened without comment.

In other business, the board directed EDC attorney Monte Akers and Executive Director Christian Fletcher to respond to the most recent performance agreement proposal submitted by Ronn Motor Co.

Board members declined to reveal details. They discussed the issue during a closed-door session.

Basically, the performance agreement is an outline of and objectives for job growth at Ronn Motors.

During previous negotiations, the auto company indicated they would create 100 jobs for local workers. Recently, EDC officials said the company reduced the number to 16.

Ronn Motors plans to assemble a fleet of cars fueled by hydrogen at 1707 Colt Circle, where the environment-conscious car manufacturer rents a 66,000 square-foot building owned by EDC.

In other business related to the company, the board directed Fletcher to review and approve proposals to ensure the Colt Circle building complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

A recent inspection indicated four areas at the building fail to comply with ADA standards. The cost probably won’t exceed $8,000, officials said.

raymond@thepicayune.com

For more on this story, pick up a copy of the Nov. 6 River Cities Sunday Tribune.

MARBLE FALLS — Texas Housing Foundation president and CEO Mark Mayfield is the City Council’s unanimous choice for the vacant spot on the Economic Development Corp. board.

With little debate, the council confirmed Mayfield as the newest member of the EDC board during a meeting Nov. 1.

“I look forward to it,” Mayfield said. “I think the future is promising. I feel we haven’t come close to tapping our full potential.”

Mayfield will serve out the unexpired term of Director Karen Carter, who resigned from the board last month for “business reasons.” Her term would have ended May 31, 2012.

The appointment of Mayfield marks the first time a non-Marble Falls resident will serve on the board. Although Mayfield lives in Meadowlakes, he has helped promote affordable housing in Marble Falls for years.

Recently, the council approved allowing non-residents to serve on the board if they live within 10 miles of the Marble Falls city limits.

MARBLE FALLS  — The city could face a serious water shortage by early spring triggered by the drought, shrinking lakes and restrictions ordered by the Lower Colorado River Authority.

That was the gist of sobering messages delivered Nov. 1 to the City Council by both City Manager Ralph Hendricks and Burnet County Judge Donna Klaeger.

“I don’t have much good news,” Hendricks said.

“Water reuse is a big deal,” Klaeger added. “The council has to start thinking about it.”

The council listened with much concern.

“It is kind of depressing,” said Councilwoman Jane Marie Hurst said. “We have to be mindful about the future.”

LCRA estimates  lakes Travis and Buchanan — the area’s principal reservoirs — are drying at an alarming rate. The state climatologist earlier this week told lawmakers in Austin the worst single-year drought since 1895 could extend another year.