July 2, 2009

The Horseshoe Bay Property Owners’ Association has a full morning and early afternoon of fun activities for the entire community to enjoy on Saturday, the 4th of July, and area residents can enjoy the city and Resort’s fireworks display Saturday night. The Marble Falls Chamber of Commerce opted not to sponsor a fireworks display this year, but if you want to squeeze in a little more holiday fun, both Kingsland and the City of Llano will be hopping all day and night on Friday and Saturday.

Members accustomed to surprising developments at Pedernales Electric Cooperative meetings were not disappointed at the special organizational meeting held July 29 to seat newly elected directors and elect officers for the upcoming year. Since being elected to serve out the unexpired one year term of former board president Bud Burnett, Director Patrick Cox of Wimberley has been an outspoken voice for change at the cooperative.

At the open house held at Horseshoe Bay Fire Station #2 this past Friday and Saturday, residents got acquainted with the air ambulance service now available. On view was the helicopter that is used for air evacuation to Burnet, Austin or San Antonio hospitals, along with information about the service.

The Enclave Open House this past Saturday drew a large, enthusiastic turn-out. The event was hosted by developer Bill Bush, and Horseshoe Bay Resort Realty representatives Trey Franklin, Kim Parten and David Poelzl. The grill was sizzling at the poolside pavilion, and residents and visitors stopped by for food and refreshments, to cool off in the pool, and view the different floorplans and learn about the new price incentives.

Fireworks go hand in hand with celebrating the 4th of July, but in the City of Horseshoe Bay, it is unlawful to possess or discharge fireworks without a permit. Two fireworks permits have been issued this year, and the deadline for filing for additional permits has passed. The city and the Horseshoe Bay Resort have a permit for a public fireworks display Saturday night, July 4 near the lighthouse.

Men’s Flight Winners First Flight 1st Place - Robert Speetzen and Steve Wash 2nd Place - Dan Holitzke and Buddy Hurst Second Flight 1st Place - Jim Watts and Robert Rowan 2nd Place - David Tapp and Bruce Wilson Third Flight 1st Place - Ed Ayers and Lewis Varese (Sudden Death Playoff) 2nd Place (Tie) - Roy Clements and Gary Snyder Peter Kozlak and Peter Potts Fourth Flight 1st Place - Chuck Strasburg and Jerry Johnson 2nd Place - Ted Hume and Rob Celedonia Fifth Flight ...

The Horseshoe Bay Resort Nine Hole Ladies’ Golf Group hosted 20 Lakeway ladies at Apple Rock Golf Course on June 25. It was a day of Apples, Apples, and more Apples. Fresh apples and apples shaped cookies started the round. Apples, Apples,and more Apples! The lady golfers played apple turnovers and little green apples, dodging some apple sauce (sand) and apple cider (water), all to improve scores and forget the heat. Play ended with an apple cobbler, of course, after a fantastic lunch by th ...

Another funeral; another family grieving with broken hearts. Whenever we sustain a significant loss, it is only natural that we experience this visceral response of emotional pain. The loss could be almost anything that really matters to us: the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, the diagnosis of an incurable disease, or the retirement fund sinking into an abyss.

PART A: Golf Course Care Originally written in the 1980’s, this article has been updated by the author to conform to current golf course conditions and situations. The article covers some of the most important and common conditions encountered by the golfer on today’s golf courses. For presentation in The Beacon, the article has been condensed from an original three parts.

At its meeting on June 25, the Board of Directors of the Llano County Hospital Authority adopted an operating budget for the Llano Memorial Healthcare System fiscal year 2010 showing a bottom line profit of $393,000, compared to a preaudit year end loss for fiscal 2009 which ended May 31 of $1,160,000. The board’s Finance Committee, chaired by board member Trudy Kelly, based its budget recommendations on two key assumptions. First, although the healthcare system anticipates only a slight gr ...

The Marble Falls Area Hospitality and Lodging Association (MFAHLA) held its second meeting on Tuesday at the River City Grille. During that meeting, officers were elected for the coming term. Elected as President was James “Rocky” Reese of Live Oak Lodging, owner of the Hampton Inn on the Lake, Vice President Riyaz Bhaiwala from Best Western Marble Falls, and Secretary/Treasurer is Linda Gutierrez of the La Quinta. “In just the last couple of years, Marble Falls has lost quite a number ...

Horseshoe Bay Resort has appointed Tracy Harper as spa director of the Bayside Spa & Fitness Center.  In her new post, Harper will oversee the full-service spa’s team and all aspects of the 8,000-square-foot facility. “Tracy brings a wealth of knowledge to Horseshoe Bay Resort and I am confident in her abilities to ensure our guests have the best, and most relaxing, experience possible,” said Stan Barnes, director of recreational business at the Resort.  “She has a proven track reco ...

Pete Kozlak made a hole in one June 25 on the par-3 8th hole of the Ram Rock Golf Course. Kozlak used a 28 degree hybrid from 157 yards. Witnessing the event were Norm Long, Bob McFarland and Tom Stromgren.

The Llano County Republican Club will feature Peggy Venable, Director of Americans for Prosperity, at their December 2 dinner meeting at Quail Point Lodge.   Venable has worked in public policy and grassroots campaigns in government, the political arena, and in the private sector for over thirty years. She spent fifteen years in Washington, D.C working for three administrations. Venable has participated in political and issue campaigns at the national, state and locals levels.  It is this e ...

Officials from the Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) will speak at a meeting on wind energy and transmission at 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 15 at the Gillespie County Farm Bureau building at 237 Equestrian Way in Fredericksburg. TWA Secretary Glen Webb will discuss fundamentals and background in his “Wind Energy and Transmission 101” presentation.

Today is a period of grave concern among financial circles at all levels - the individual, family, employer, city, state, nation and world. And just as a forest can be “hidden” by the trees, a variety of conflicting opinions can mask the obvious. Smart decisions are critically important among today’s uncertainties. History affords a myriad of go-bys for reference.

Demolition Order of the City of Horseshoe Bay The City Council of the City of Horseshoe Bay issued Demolition Orders for the following properties at a Public Hearing held on June 16, 2009. The Orders call for the owner to demolish the houses on the properties within 30 days, as required by Ordinance No.

How do you pronounce? “We’re going to Hico tomorrow,” I said to my friend. “Hico?” she laughed, emphasizing the “ick” sound a tad too gleefully. “Don’t you mean Hico?” Well, I didn’t think I meant Hico. Dan and I had always pronounced it with a short i and never thought anything about it.

First, on this holiday on which we celebrate the pleasures of the table more than at any other time of the year, I would like to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. Now, once you have stowed the leftovers and cleared away the dishes, it is time to think of Christmas and, more to the point, Christmas shopping. I realize that some of your homes are already sparkling with Christmas décor, you have long since completed most of your shopping, and your Christmas cards are ready to go in the mai ...

Saturday, November 29 and Sunday, November 30 ARTS Encounters at the Benini Sculpture Ranch— Presentations begin at 1:30. Enjoy refreshments while you view beautiful art and hear speakers and musicians who are experts in their various fields. For details on featured speakers, call 830-868-5244 or go to ARTSEncountersatBeninis.com. Everyone is welcome, free of charge.

Tom Pfiffner of Horseshoe Bay, Texas passed away at home on Monday, June 29 at the age of 76. He was born on July 19, 1932 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Joseph and Hilda Pfiffner. Tom is survived by his wife, Rene; daughters, Tari Bulmer and husband Bill; Traci Lyons and husband Chris; 6 grandchildren: Tom, Jacob, Daniel and John Michael Bulmer, Ella and Ike Lyons; two brothers Jim and Dick Pfiffner and one sister Rosemary Fandell.