March 5, 2009

A snapshot of charitable contributions and community assistance funded by rate payers of the Pedernales Electric Cooperative shows the utility contributes over $1 million each year to a wide variety of recipients, including high school students, public schools, public service organizations, volunteer service groups and financially strapped customers. In addition, PEC contributes an un-quantified amount of “in kind” service throughout its service area. The money for these donations comes fr ...

When it comes to real estate, Horseshoe Bay continues to be where the action is in the Texas Hill Country. Whether the question is which area accounts for the highest sales prices for single family homes or the highest number of foreclosure notices, the answer is Horseshoe Bay, but there is action in all areas of Llano and Burnet Counties.

Tuesday’s scheduled foreclosure on a $25 million debt secured by Skywater Over Horseshoe Bay property was stayed by an involuntary bankruptcy filing by construction creditors of the project. Two Horseshoe Bay based companies were the largest construction creditors filing the bankruptcy petition Feb. 27 and amended March 2. General contractor Ri-Con Construction, Inc.

The Bunkhouse Fine Art and Jewelry Show on March 14-15 will again help support the Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center.  The last Bunkhouse show in May 2008, netted a contribution of more than $1,000 for the center which provides shelter and services to victims of family violence and sexual assault.  Last year’s donation, according to the Center Director, Alma Lahmon, was used to purchase essential items for the shelter families like diapers and hygiene products. The money was also used to ...

No one was hurt in this Monday afternoon parking error at the Teeple Building on 2147, home of The Beacon, but it’s good to know our first responders are always on the job.

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church has another addition to its chapel that they are very proud of.   Father Jairo Lopez, pastor of St. John’s Catholic Church in Marble Falls, has once again produced a beautiful work of art — this time for the dome of the chapel. Father Lopez is indeed a talented artist who studies and then determines what path he should follow.  He felt that the original architects of the chapel designed it to reflect the environment.  Since the dome was opened to th ...

After Henry Wilson retired from the Bureau of Land Management, he and his wife, Peggy, retired to Horseshoe Bay in 2005. Last Sunday, Wilson shared his amazing adventures of mountain climbing at the International Club lunch meeting. Pursuing a personal goal of climbing a mountain over 20,000 feet high, Wilson set out to climb the 22,000 foot high Mount Ojos Del Salado in Chile with five other hearty souls.

Fred Van Osten hit his first Hole-in-One on #2 at Slick Rock Golf Course, Tuesday, February 24, in spite of recent hand surgery. Fred and his wife Barbara are originally from New Jersey but spent several years in Alaska during his career with Conoco. They now enjoy sunny HSB and spend several months a year at their condo in Hawaii.

There is a new name and face in the healthcare communities of Llano and Marble Falls. Peter Davenport, MD opened his practice in family medicine at the Hoerster Clinic in Marble Falls recently. According to Kevin Leeper, LMHS CEO, “Dr. Davenport, whose specialty is Family Practice with obstetric privileges is a welcome addition to our Marble Falls Clinic.

On Monday, a Llano County grand jury returned a second indictment against Tommy Oakes relating to a shooting incident in a Kingsland neighborhood on July 30, 2008. This grand jury returned an indictment for deadly conduct, a state jail felony that carries a potential sentence of 180 days to 2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. A prior special grand jury indicted Oakes for criminally negligent homicide in the shooting death of Casey Rowe as he and two others drove away from an alleged burglary ...

Calli Marie Harris, baby girl born February 17, 2009, 8 pounds, 13 ounces born to proud parents: Eddie and Lindy Harris, of 107 Duncan Avenue, Johnson City. Welcoming her are Siblings, Katie & Kandi Harris, both of Dallas, Maternal Grandparents: Sim & Kara Moreno, & Errol “Boysie” Maenius of Johnson City, Paternal Grandparents: Edith Pelts of Odessa, & Glen & Margaret Harris of Snyder.

MEADOWLAKES (March 2, 2009) — Registration is now open for women who wish to play in the annual “For Ladies Only” charity golf tournament on Apr. 25, hosted by the Highland Lakes Service League (HLSL). “You don’t have to be an expert golfer to play in the tournament,” says this year’s tourney chair, Sharon Cleverley.

Early last month, Marty and I had the privilege of attending the enshrinement ceremony for the 2009 class of athletes being inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. It was a splendid affair. Living legends from the NFL and Major League Baseball were in attendance, as were high school and college coaches and players of lesser renown.

The accompanying chart is a must see.  It comes from an article appearing in Forbes’ March 2, 2009 issue, entitled: “Matt Simmons - Crude Cassandra,” which examines whether the prophet of $500 oil is “fated to never be believed.”  Let’s take a look for ourselves. The chart is dominated by a red line - part solid and part dotted.  The solid portion plots world oil supply dating back to 1907 - showing supply increased steadily for a century, peaking in 2007.  Check out the line

When you’re working, you have a financial strategy that is largely based on one goal: saving money for a comfortable retirement. You’ll likely have to make many adjustments over several decades to ensure that you stay on track saving and investing. But once you retire, a new goal arises — investing so you can remain retired.

Friday March 6 Treadworks Tire & Auto grand opening 12:00-2:00 p.m. BBQ, Give-a-ways and a special drawing at 2:00 p.m. in Cottonwood Shores Saturday, March 7 Rotary Club of Marble Falls 26th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament—12 p.m., Applerock Golf Course in HSB. Registration for the four person scramble competition begins at noon and the shotgun start begins at 1 p.m.