December 24, 2009

Once again our residents have provided us with some great Christmas stories this year. My thanks to our contributors and may all of you reading this make your own special memories this Christmas.

Alice and Ross Johnson were both born and raised in the Marble Falls and Burnet area. Founders of Johnson Sewell Ford, their years of dedicated service to their community earned them the 2009 Community Builder Award by the Grand Masonic Lodge of Texas. Married sixty two years, Alice and Ross met at Southwestern University in Georgetown in 1946.

Hank and Becky Peebles moved to HSB in 1996. Hank summed up their feelings for the community with “living in HSB adds years to your life.” Becky, in her smooth southern accent, said “We just love the people here.” Becky grew up in the Mississippi Delta town of Lula. As a young child, Santa filled one of her long brown cotton stockings that she wore with her high top shoes with nuts, fruit and fireworks.

County Commissioner Johnnie Heck and his wife Mary Kay celebrated their 50th anniversary on June 5, 2009. Johnnie’s work with Occidental Petroleum took them on many adventures in foreign lands, but they have enjoyed retirement in Horseshoe Bay since 2000. “Our Christmas observations for the past fifty years have always been very family oriented, at home with a traditional Christmas tree and a Christmas Eve service at the Presbyterian Church.

The Llano County Hospital Authority met a week earlier this month due to the Christmas holidays and received good news at its board meeting on Thursday, Dec. 17. “The health system had a very good month during November,” reported Charles Miffleton, Director of Finance for the Llano Memorial Healthcare System. Now halfway through its current fiscal year that began June 1, LMHS has been posting positive numbers on its profit and loss statements for the past several months.

Twas the night before Christmas and the stars at night were big and bright, especially one, as saddle weary cowpokes and little doggies gathered around once more to hear the story of a miracle birth; a promise of peace on earth and good will among men. Once again that story of long ago and far away will be told in song and scripture as Pastor Johnny White and singer composer john Arthur martinez conduct a Cowboy Christmas at The Church at Horseshoe Bay at 5 p.m.

Over 200 customers attended Arrowhead Bank’s 13th Annual Holiday Open House on December 16 at the bank’s Horseshoe Bay location. Guests enjoyed an afternoon of visiting with friends in a warm and friendly atmosphere, and were entertained by a wonderful selection of holiday music presented by the Highland Lakes Men’s Chorus.

Blasting began in Skywater Over Horseshoe Bay on Monday morning to shape portions of the Summit Rock Golf Course. The request for a blasting permit from the City of Horseshoe Bay had been under review pending safety input from the Lower Colorado River Authority since a high pressure natural gas pipeline fueling LCRA’s Ferguson Power Plant runs through the Skywater property. “We issued a blasting permit for areas located a quarter of a mile from the natural gas pipeline,&rd ...

The road system in Horseshoe Bay was front and center in public and private discussions during 2009. Who should own them? What is the best maintenance plan? Do we need to upgrade the roads or add ribbon curbs? How should improvements be funded? Ownership of HSB Property Owners’ Association road system was transferred to the city in April along with a funding commitment of 39.5% of the HSB POA’s annual maintenance fees for maintenance of the roads and the performance of cer ...

The Cottonwood Shores City Council created a Board of Adjustments and voted in the first members at their regular council meeting on Thursday, December 17. The Board of Adjustments is a quasi-judicial board that hears appeals from citizens regarding property issues. The new members of the board will be sworn in during the first city council meeting of the new year on January 7. In other business, council member Janet Taylor-Carusi announced that the Texas Historical Commission had sig ...

With the holiday season in full swing, can New Year’s resolutions to lose weight and get in shape be far behind? Get Fit, located in Cottonwood Shores, is ready to help fulfill those resolutions with its special fitness camps. Keith Kelly, Get Fit’s owner and head trainer, is making it even easier to jump on the fitness bandwagon by offering a holiday two for one special during December.

Kathy Hamilton aced Hole #15, a 142 yard par 3 at Escondido using a 5 iron on December 17, 2009. The ace was witnessed by Kay Haney.

Jess & Carolyn Claiborne celebrated their 40th Anniversary Saturday night with friends and family at their Escondido home. The Claiborne’s met in first grade and considered this to be a significant celebration! Their daughter, Jessica Bade is an interior designer like her mother Carolyn, and lives in New Braunfels. Their son, Justin, is a roping horse trainer in Llano.

The non-profit agency called ROPE (Rural Opportunities Providing Encouragement) will conduct computer classes during the month of January at the Cottonwood Shores Public Library. The classes are designed to teach basic computer skills for personal use or as entry level job skills. The series of four Tuesday afternoon classes begins January 5. Anyone interested in taking the computer classes will need to fill out some basic forms.

Thanks for last years toys. I want a qullo bar and I want a are hog. Alsow I want a rill hellacopter and I want Roodoloff. Santa wach out for my booldog Monte. Love, Garrett Carney Dear Santa, I have bin nise all yer lang. I want a psp. I want sum citins.

Pedernales Electric Cooperative will recycle natural, undecorated Christmas trees again this year. From Dec. 28 to Jan. 4, 2010, individuals may drop off their trees during regular business hours at PEC’s offices including the local office in Marble Falls at 3105 Hwy 281 North. This free service is part of PEC’s Green Works initiative and continued conservation efforts.

I knew I wanted to see him. I HAD to see him, but the escalator at Thorton’s Department Store in Abilene scared the bejeebers out of me. He was up there somewhere. I could hear the “Ho Ho-ing” and the flash-bulbs popping, but there would be no point in asking for anything if the escalator ate my feet off! Where were those steps going as they disappeared into the floor and didn’t they look sharp?

Like many people, you may make some New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps you’ve promised yourself that you’ll visit the gym more often or learn a new language or reconnect with a long-lost friend. All of these are worthy goals, of course, and if you achieve them, you may add new dimensions to your life.

NOTICE OF DRAFT FEDERAL OPERATING PERMIT AND ACID RAIN PERMIT DRAFT PERMIT NO.: O19 APPLICATION AND DRAFT PERMIT. Lower Colorado River Authority, 104 East State Highway 71 Bypass, La Grange, Texas 78945, an Electric Services facility, has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for a renewal and revision of Federal Operating Permit and Acid Rain Permit (herein referred to as Permit) No.

CITY OF HORSESHOE BAY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING ZONING CODE AMENDMENT TO ADD DEFINITIONS FOR CONVENIENCE STORE AND BAR/NIGHTCLUB The City of Horseshoe Bay Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing to receive public comment and take action on a recommendation to City Council on January 12, 2009 as part of its regular meeting agenda that will commence at 3:00 p.m.

CITY OF HORSESHOE BAY, TEXAS PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO ELIMINATE zone 3 horseshoe bay west and zone 4a horseshoe bay FROM ZONES THAT ALLOW Manufactured Homes ON LOTS in THE M-1 MOBILE HOME CLASSIFICATION and TO Add Minimum Lot Development Standards for NEW Manufactured Homes located in the m-1 Classification in Zone 4B Horseshoe Bay South The Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Horseshoe Bay will co ...