KINGSLAND — Customers at the Speedy Stop gas-and-convenience store received both fuel for their cars and fuel for their souls May 3 courtesy of a local Christian group. Members of Mission U-Too handed out free gasoline along with a spiritual message at the pumps.
"It was just a great opportunity for us to tell people about Jesus by giving back to the community and everybody was responsive," said Mission U-Too member Tom Slavin.
For several hours at the store, 2606 RR 1431, volunteers pumped $15 worth of fuel into every vehicle that pulled up — no questions asked.
"Everybody didn’t mind us giving them a little Jesus," Slavin said.
Slavin said the nonprofit group fueled about 150 vehicles for $2,278 worth of gasoline.
As motorists waited in line, Mission U-Too volunteers visited with them about Jesus, Slavin said.
While free gas is always good, Salvin said he also hopes customers took home the inspirational message offered by volunteers.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
MARBLE FALLS — Mayor George Russell is asking local service clubs to help promote three community projects endorsed by City Council and other local leaders — a vo-tech center, a regional sports complex and a visitors center. Russell during a workshop May 3 asked the clubs to consider what their membership could do to help get the trio of projects off the ground.
“It wouldn’t have to be much,” Russell said. “It could be very small.”
The creation of a sports complex — which could cost as much as $10 million — and a vocational-technical school have surfaced during recent months as priority projects that could help rejuvenate the city’s economy and social stability, Russell said.
Also, a new visitors center to replace a converted train depot with limited parking is also needed, officials added.
“All three of these projects have been identified as something we would like to have,” Russell said.
The projects are going through conceptual development, he added.
The mayor spoke during a conference with representatives from the Marble Falls Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, Highland Lakes Sertoma, Highland Lakes Service League, Daybreak Rotary Club of Marble Falls and the Marble Falls Noon Rotary Club.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
MARBLE FALLS — The City Council has tightened up the rules for peddlers and food and beverage vendors that increase fees and call for more regulation. The council voted to amend the ordinance for the first time in more than 10 years during a regular meeting May 3.
"It will help improve the appearance of our community," City Manager Ralph Hendricks told the council.
In other business, the council also heard about EMS fees possibly on the rise and approved a budget increase for the Fire and Police departments to handle fuel costs.
As to the peddler ordinance, the changes will increase peddler and vendor fees from $10 to $50 for one person and from $20 to $100 for two or more persons.
Other new rules require all food and beverage vendors to provide at least one trash receptacle on site.
Also, the ordinance stipulates peddlers and vendors must obtain a state health permit, carry visible permit identification at all times, submit a quarterly sales and use tax report to the city secretary and have the city manager’s approval to sell from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. or longer.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
OTTONWOOD SHORES — Fire crews May 3 battled a second house fire in as many weeks on the same street as an Easter-weekend blaze that engulfed a vacant home.
Although the fires don’t appear to be related, both are under investigation, officials said.
No injuries were reported in the latest blaze at 835 Westwood Drive, which was turned in about 1:25 p.m., officials said.
The fire at the manufactured home occurred just two doors down from the burned-out remains of another home destroyed April 23 by flames.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
MARBLE FALLS — Marble Falls High School Principal Eric Penrod is exchanging his purple and gold for Harvard University’s crimson and white this summer — but only for two weeks.
Penrod learned May 1 that Raise Your Hand Texas — a nonprofit education advocacy organization — selected him to attend a seminar June 26-July 5 at Harvard in Cambridge, Mass.
About 100 Texas principals are picked through a competitive process by RYHT to attend various seminars at Harvard, according to the nonprofit’s website.
"The program I was selected for is called Redesigning High Schools (for Improved Instruction) and features cutting edge information from the most profound minds in education today," Penrod said. "This program features education experts from Harvard and around the world."
The advocacy group foots the bill for the entire trip, which Penrod estimated costs about $15,000 for the two weeks.
"So the (Marble Falls Independent School District) benefits from it, but doesn’t have to spend a nickel," he said.
Though the title might make one think the topics revolve around rebuilding a high school, the program is actually more about encouraging leadership skills to support teachers and create "a powerful learning environment."
Penrod said the role of the high school principal has shifted from 10 years ago when the position focused on discipline to today’s emphasis on helping teachers improve the classroom experience for students.
"Instead of just passing on information to teachers, my job is about helping them use the information to transform the education experience," he said. "And it works in the classroom as well. Instead of a teacher just delivering the content, they become transformational leaders themselves and develop methods where a child who doesn’t want to come to school does acquire that desire for learning and school."
The process, he added, is a way of "helping our schools move beyond where we are right now and become more innovative."
The program is at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Penrod said one of his goals is to keep learning, and this is a perfect opportunity.
"I’m always looking for ways to improve myself both personally and professionally," he said. "I’m very excited about this program and what I will bring back from it."
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
MARBLE FALLS — The Sandbox Project — the creation of a sandy beach near Lake Marble Falls — is gaining popularity and needs to be a top priority, the Parks and Recreation Commission heard May 2.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
COTTONWOOD SHORES — A story of pirates and fair maidens, of honor and deception, all of it wrapped up in a comedic opera, is coming to the Hill Country Community Theatre May 7-8.
IN PHOTO: The year’s pirates in the Harmony School of Creative Arts production of ‘Pirates of Penzance Jr.’ at the Hill Country Community Theatre include Anna Herrington (left), McKenzey Fox, Shelby Bettin, Emma Levine, Crystal Marroquin, Matthew Weagant, Lance Cox, Chance Cox and Henry Rowland. Courtesy photo
Once again, the theater and the Harmony School of Creative Arts are joining forces to present a student version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s "Pirates of Penzance."
This production is "Pirates of Penzance Jr."
Two performances are at the theatre, 4003 FM 2147 — 7 p.m. May 7 and 2:15 p.m. May 8.
The play centers around the honorable Frederic, who plans to quit pirating on his 21st birthday. Desperate for a wife, he falls in love with young Mabel, one of several daughters of the Major-General.
Indeed, the Pirate King intends for all the pirates to marry daughters, to their fathers’ grief. Enter some bumbling police and new information about the terms of Frederic’s indenture to the pirates, and the fray begins.
The 15-member cast, ages 9-14, has been rehearsing weekly at Harmony School in Marble Falls since early February, under the direction of David Bend and with vocal coaching from Robert Schneider.
Chandra Irvin is the choreographer.
Tickets are available at the theater box office, (830) 798-8944, and at Harmony School, (830) 693-1791, 1503 Mormon Mill Road in Marble Falls.
Adult admission is $10 and students $5.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
MARBLE FALLS — Thanks to a Marble Falls High School senior’s summer geocaching adventure, local leaders are looking at linking the high-tech world with Marble Falls’ historic past.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
MARBLE FALLS — When a state district judge recently gave an eight-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting a teen girl to a former coach who worked with Marble Falls youth, it closed this particular incident but may have left many parents questioning their children’s safety.
News stories, staff photos, and other online content are copyrighted property of Victory Media. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.
This Content Submission and License Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between Victory Media Marketing LLC (“Company,” “we,” or “us”) and you (“User,” “you,” or “Submitter”) upon your submission of content through our websites’ See it, Share It form.
Submitted Content “Submitted Content” means any news tips, text, descriptions, images, photographs, videos, audio files, recordings, or other materials you upload, submit, or provide to us via the news tips forms on DailyTrib.com, KBEYfm.com, 101highlandlakes.com, or any other websites owned or operated by Victory Media Marketing LLC.
License Grant By submitting any Submitted Content, you hereby grant to Company a worldwide, non- exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, display, and otherwise exploit the Submitted Content in any form or medium (now known or hereafter developed), including but not limited to:
Publishing on DailyTrib.com, KBEYfm.com, 101highlandlakes.com, other Company websites, apps, newsletters, and social media platforms (such as Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, etc.).
Editing, formatting, or combining with other content for news, promotional, archival, or commercial purposes.
Allowing third parties (e.g., affiliates, syndication partners) to use it under the same terms. You retain ownership of the copyright in your Submitted Content, subject to the license granted above.
User Representations and Warranties You represent and warrant that:
You are at least 18 years old and have the full right and authority to grant the rights in this Agreement.
The Submitted Content is your original work or you have obtained all necessary permissions, consents, and releases (including from any individuals appearing in photos/videos or owners of any third-party materials).
The Submitted Content does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights, privacy rights, publicity rights, or defame any person.
It complies with all applicable laws and does not contain viruses, malware, or prohibited content.
You will not submit false, misleading, or confidential information.
No Compensation You understand and agree that you will receive no compensation for the submission or use of your Submitted Content.
Indemnification You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Company, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, liabilities, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from your breach of this Agreement or any third-party claims related to your Submitted Content.
Moral Rights and Publicity You waive any moral rights or rights of attribution in the Submitted Content to the extent permitted by law. Company may use your name, username, or likeness in connection with the Submitted Content if applicable.
Termination and Removal Company may, in its sole discretion, edit, refuse to post, or remove any Submitted Content at any time without notice. This Agreement survives any termination.
Governing Law This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict of laws principles. Any disputes shall be resolved exclusively in the courts located in Burnet County, Texas.
Entire Agreement This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements. Modifications must be in writing. By submitting content, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Agreement.
