MARBLE FALLS — A kayak and paddle-board company wants to keep its contract afloat with the city for another year.

Go Paddle Down, which has been operating in Lakeside Park over the summer, wants to sign a year contract, said Robert Moss, director of the Parks and Recreation Department.

Erika Burnham enjoys a morning of stand-up paddle boarding on Lake Marble Falls. Her business, Go Paddle Down, plans to extend its contract with the city of Marble Falls. FILE PHOTO

Owner Erika Burnham’s current contract with the city expires at the end of the month.

“We’re going to grant that to her,” Moss added. “She’s actually interested in leasing or purchasing our equipment.”

MARBLE FALLS — A new bus service now offers public transportation from the Highland Lakes to Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown and beyond.

The Capital Area Rural Transportation System recently started rolling buses in Burnet County.

The service, which is open to the public, transports passengers on fixed routes to specific stops Monday through Friday.

“We are just getting off the ground,” County Commissioner Ronny Hibler said during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the regional bus service Oct. 10 at City Hall.

Hibler is also the CARTS board chairman.

The CARTS buses offer rides from Marble Falls to Burnet, Bertram, Liberty Hill and Austin along U.S. 183, also from Burnet to Marble Falls and Spicewood to Austin along U.S. 71.

Also, Burnet County passengers can ride the CARTS bus to Round Rock and Georgetown when they arrive at the bus station in Austin, 2010 E. Sixth St., Coordinator Karen Short said.

Passengers can then connect to the Austin Capital Metro bus service, as well as other cites through Greyhound buses, she added.

“They can travel on CARTS buses to any of the nine counties surrounding Austin,” Short said. “They can go into Austin and go anywhere in Austin. They can go anywhere in the country if they need to.”

Each bus seats 18 passengers, and has bicycle racks and space for wheelchair patrons.

Bus fares range from $2 to $6, depending on the length of travel. Reduced fares are available for disabled riders. Veterans traveling for rehabilitation or a doctor’s appointment can ride free.

“With the economy the way it is, and gas prices they way they are, it is so much more cheaper and efficient to ride a bus,” Short said.

CARTS is an independent agency funded through fares and by federal, state, county and local governments, she added.

“This is a much-needed service,” Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce Interim Director Jan Hatfield told Short.

Visit RideCARTS.com or call (512) 478-7433 for schedules and other information.

raymond@thepicayune.com

LLANO — A 37-year-old man convicted by a Llano County jury on three counts of indecency with a child will spend up to 50 years behind bars, the district attorney said Friday.

Kenneth Dale Wooten was accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl multiple times in November 2009.

“This is a case where the punishment definitely fits the crime,” District Attorney Sam Oatman said. “The jury had four charges to consider — aggravated sexual assault of a child, which is a first-degree felony and three indecency (with a child) charges which are second-degree felonies. They convicted him on the three indecency charges and gave him 15 (years), 15 (years) and 20 (years) on each conviction.”

The jury returned the verdict Wednesday during a trial in 424th state District Judge Dan Mills’ court.

In previous years, Wooten’s sentences would have run concurrently — at the same time — so the most he would have spent behind bars is 20 years, Oatman said. However, changes in the law by the Legislature in 2007 now allow district attorneys to ask a judge to “stack” the prison sentences in situations such as Wooten’s cases.

Wooten pleaded not guilty Monday when the trial began before a jury of 10 men and two women.

HORSESHOE BAY — A fire that apparently started in the kitchen of the Cap Rock golf clubhouse at the Horseshoe Bay Resort caused an estimated $1 million in damage early Oct. 6, officials said.

No injuries were reported and resort golf courses are not affected, officials said. No employee layoffs are expected, either, according to a spokesman.

Three Marble Falls firefighters in the ‘bucket’ of an extended ladder prepare to get an overhead view of the damaged Cap Rock golf clubhouse (below the ladder) at the Horseshoe Bay Resort Thursday. A fire that possibly started in the kitchen caused an estimated $1 million in damage. No injuries were reported. Staff photo by Raymond V. Whelan

An alert police officer discovered the fire a few minutes past midnight at the bar and grill, 2622 Bay West Blvd., officials said.

LLANO — The first of October means two of the most popular residents are back home.

That’s the American bald eagle couple, which lives off Texas 29.

"They’ll start working on the nest and adjusting to it," said Dale Schmidt, the wildlife technician for Llano and San Saba counties. "They’ll keep the same mate. It’s the same pair coming back to the same nest every year. If another bald eagle flies by, they’ll chase it down."

He wondered if the eagles would return because of the low water level of the Llano River. But the flow is back, which means the eagles will have food and water for the next several months.

"Parts of the river dried up," he said. "There were dead fish in the river. There’s always going to be dead fish left in a hole."

The river also will draw fowl, turtles and other food sources for the eagles, Schmidt said.

HORSESHOE BAY — Despite two bouts with foreclosure, portions of the 1,600-acre residential golf community known as Skywater Over Horseshoe Bay are springing to life.

City officials said the development’s current owner, International Bank of Commerce in San Antonio, has deeded the project’s 18-hole, 200-acre Jack Nicklaus signature golf course called Summit Rock to Horseshoe Bay Resort.

“Summit Rock is very important to Horseshoe Bay, and all indications are it will be a great golf course,” said Mayor Bob Lambert. “We look forward to it opening at the end of October.”

Skywater began in 2006 under local developers Armand and Molly Biglari with partner Sam Martin. The plan was to create a high-end, environmentally friendly community in the Highland Lakes.

Developers planned to build about 1,000 residences with lots priced from $140,000 to $490,000.

Since that time, the property has experienced several ups and downs before being sold through foreclosure to IBC, a lien-holder, at auction in June at the Llano County Courthouse for $29 million.

MARBLE FALLS — And a good time was had by all during Marble Falls High School’s 2011 Homecoming Parade.

The Mustangs athletic teams, cheer squads, teachers, band members and fans took part in the annual event Sept. 29, which kicked off at Marble Falls Middle School and wound its way to the Central Administration Office.

A pep rally followed, though the traditional bonfire was cancelled out of fears about possible wildfires due to the drought.

All photos by Diana Cox

MARBLE FALLS — A town hall meeting Sept. 27 will offer residents advice on how to protect their homes from wildfires.

The free meeting is 7 p.m. at the Marble Falls Church of Christ, 711 Broadway.

Representatives from the Texas Forest Service and the Marble Falls Volunteer Fire Department will present the Ready, Set, Go! personal wildfire action plan and discuss how people can protect their homes, property and family, according to a news release.

The plan provides a checklist for families to follow during a wildfire and outlines ways to protect structures, according to the release.

For more, visit www.texasfirestorm.org and www.texasfirewise.org.

MEADOWLAKES — The City Council approved a slightly higher property tax rate Sept. 13 during a regular meeting in support of the 2011-2012 budget.

"It’s a good budget," Mayor Don Williams said. "It gives us the opportunity to build our reserves a bit. But we didn’t pad the budget."

Also, officials this week in an email alert announced the city is going to Stage 2 water restrictions because of the continuing drought.

Meanwhile, many property owners will see an increase in their ad valorem tax rate during the new fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1.

The council adopted a tax rate of 30.45 cents per $100 valuation compared to the previous payment of 29.9 cents during the 2010-2011 budget cycle.

"We raised the taxes by a minimal level," the mayor said. "We worked hard on keeping the budget rather neutral, but with everything being like it is, some costs did go up."

The council accepted a budget that includes operating expenses of $1.9 million. That figure includes maintenance and operation, public works, recreation and country club and debt service.

The revenues covering city expenses will come from a variety of methods including utilities (water and wastewater), property taxes, contract services, solid-waste collection fees, franchise fees and other sources.

Utilities income is estimated to bring in $778,500 for the upcoming fiscal year.

Property taxes will generate an estimated $589,280.

Along with the increase in property taxes, another factor in the residential ad valorem bill is property values.

According to the Burnet County Appraisal District, the average Meadowlakes residence increased in value from $223,099 to $225,000.

Using the new tax rate, the owner of an average home in Meadowlakes will pay $685.13 compared to last year’s $667.07.

Williams said city staff and the council put a lot of time and effort into the new budget.

"It’s very complicated, but I think everybody worked extremely hard at it," he said.

Meanwhile, they city’s weekly newsletter said the golf community is going to tighter watering restrictions for residential use. The golf course is watered by treated effluent.

City leaders recently approved moving to Stage 2 restrictions by Oct. 1 to help curb water use by 20 percent. Several other Highland Lakes cities that get their water from the Lower Colorado River Authority have already moved to Stage 2 as Texas enters one of the worst droughts on record.

Watering is based on addresses and is limited to Thursdays and Sundays. For more, visit www.meadowlakestexas.org.

daniel@thepicayune.com