MARBLE FALLS — While zebra mussels may not be larger than a fingernail, officials are concerned a possible invasion of the Highland Lakes by the tiny mollusks could pack a hefty environmental punch.

"They’ll present a major problem if they make it into the Highland Lakes," said David Cowan, a Lower Colorado River Authority aquatic scientist.

Though zebra mussels aren’t large, they can become a problem in lakes and rivers because they multiply so fast. Lower Colorado River Authority and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials are asking boaters to take precautions — such as washing water craft — to prevent the spread of them. Photos courtesy 
of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

LLANO — As water use drops more than 60 percent in the city while residents continue coping with one of hottest, driest summers on record, Llano could become a harbinger for other Central Texas towns fighting the drought.

The Highland Lakes have seen more than 25 days of temperatures constantly above the 100-degree mark, and Llano — where the flows of the Llano River have significantly decreased— has gone to Stage 3 water restrictions.

In the meantime, meteorologists say Texas is experiencing the third worst drought in recorded history, and it is one that could become the most severe if there is no significant rainfall soon.

“Water use has dropped approximately 60 percent during the last 30 days,”  City Manager Finley deGraffenreid said. “Our residents have expressed concerns and even frustration with the measures. However, they have overwhelmingly complied.”

Meanwhile, the heat goes on.

HORSESHOE BAY — After years of waiting, it looks like residents are finally getting a grocery store.

A new market is planned for the 9000 block of FM 2147, developer and businessman Mike Walsh told the City Council during a July 6 meeting.

"During the last few years we’ve struggled to get this done," he said. "But we’ve got it. All the pieces have fallen into place."

Construction on the grocery store will begin in August, he said. It will be located where the Space Center is now at 9170 FM 2147.

Walsh said he met with representatives from several chain groceries — including Brookshire Brothers and Super S — before a friend two years ago put him in contact with Jim Jamail, whose family owned and operated Jamail’s Family Market for about 80 years in Houston.

HORSESHOE BAY — Police this week plan to finish moving into a new state-of-the art headquarters that can withstand anything from a gun battle to a tornado.

The price tag of the new station is about $1.3 million, or nearly $200,000 less than the original estimate, Police Chief Bill Lane said.

"It came in about 30 percent under budget and architectural estimates," he added. "The price does not include street upgrades in front of the station, rock walls to separate the facility from the residential neighborhood, furnishings and landscaping."

City officials allocated funding from a budget surplus to pay for the station, Lane said.

MARBLE FALLS — Thanks to almost $100,000 from the Economic Development Corp., the city will be able to buy land for a new visitors center at the gateway to Marble Falls, officials said.

The city is also looking at overhauling animal ordinances, including one that would limit how many pets can live in a household and help control wild animals such as feral hogs.

As part of plans to build the new visitors center, which will be managed by the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce, the City Council July 5 agreed to transfer $99,500 from the EDC budget.

Marble Falls Mayor George Russell (left) proclaims July as Park and Recreation Month as Councilwoman Jane Marie Hurst, Parks and Recreation Volunteer Shelby Fairleigh and Councilman Richard Lewis observe during the meeting July 5. Staff photo by Raymond V. Whelan

MARBLE FALLS — Though Adam Rankin Johnson first saw the falls on the Colorado River in 1854, it would take another 33 years before he eventually founded Marble Falls.

Now the community gets ready to celebrate the city’s 124th anniversary on July 9 with the annual Founders’ Day celebration, sponsored by the Falls on the Colorado Museum.

"Marble Falls is unique in several ways," said museum board member Frances McSpadden. "One thing that really sets it apart is how it’s tied to the State Capitol. The granite for that building came from Granite Mountain (located just west of town)."

The Founders’ Day Celebration is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Lakeside Pavilion, 307 Buena Vista Drive.

The actual founding day for the city is July 12, 1887.

MARBLE FALLS — The Texas Department of State Health Services will hold vaccination clinics for children and adult immunizations in July.

Vaccinations will be given 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. July 18, 1-4 p.m. July 25 and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. July 27 at 1016 Broadway, Suite 103.

To prevent childhood diseases, children need routine vaccinations at the ages of 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15-18 months, 4 years and 11-12 years, according to a state health services news release.

As a Texas Vaccine for Children’s Provider, children may receive vaccines at low or no cost for uninsured or underinsured children, children covered by CHIP or Medicaid, or children who are Native American or Native Alaskan heritage. Walk-ins are welcome as time permits. Adult vaccinations also will be provided.

For more, call (830) 693-8424.

MARBLE FALLS — Marble Falls Elementary School teacher Debby Phillips admitted she had to take her seat during the last few up-and-down maneuvers made by the KC-135A turbojet on its reduced-gravity flight.

After all, there’s a reason NASA astronauts affectionately refer to the plane ride and its parabolic maneuvers simulating weightlessness as the "vomit comet."

"But I didn’t throw up," the educator said with a laugh.

PHOTO 1: Marble Falls High School teacher David Smith checks out what effect weightlessness has on a Slinky during a flight July 1 on a NASA KC-135A turbojet. Smith and fellow Marble Falls educators Randy Guffey, Debby Phillips and Sasha Chesnut were one of 14 teacher teams selected across the United States to participate in the  NASA program. The four teachers conducted an experiment that measured how fish dissolve oxygen in water in a reduced-gravity environment. Photo courtesy of NASA