Granite Shoals police monitor the shutdown of the Dollar General on RR 1431 after it was officially closed by Fire Marshal Chris Cowan for numerous violations of the International Fire Code. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey

UPDATE, DEC. 2

The Granite Shoals Dollar General reopened Friday, Dec. 2, after an inspection from Fire Marshal Chris Cowan determined the store had remedied many of the fire code violations he found during his Nov. 28 inspection.

Cowan shut down the popular discount store on Monday after finding numerous violations of the International Fire Code and said it would not be allowed to reopen until the issues were addressed.

After his Friday inspection, Cowan told DailyTrib.com the main issue of cluttered aisles had been fixed, leading to him lifting the mandated closure.

According to Cowan, staff from Dollar General stores across Central Texas worked around the clock to address the issues at the Granite Shoals location, removing truckloads of overstocked merchandise.

“All in all, they did a really great job in coming together to get this store a clean slate,” he said. “We’ve worked with them for a long time to get them to this point, but it’s unfortunate that it took a shutdown to get them to pay attention.”

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The Dollar General store at 7111 RR 1431 in Granite Shoals was shut down Monday, Nov. 28, for numerous violations of the International Fire Code. The business will not be allowed to reopen until it is in full compliance, said Granite Shoals Fire Marshal Chris Cowan.

Cowan first inspected the store on Nov. 23 and found cluttered aisles, obstructed exits, expired fire extinguishers, and unmarked chemicals, all of which violate fire code. He gave management the Thanksgiving holiday weekend to bring the store up to code. After returning the Monday after with members of the Granite Shoals police and fire departments, he found not much had been done.

Granite Shoals police have been receiving complaints about the store’s obstructed aisles for at least the past two years, according to Cowan, which was his main concern. Every aisle is designated as a “means of egress” in the fire code and must be at least 44 inches wide with no obstructions. At the time of the store’s mandated shutdown, no aisle met the minimum standards due to the excess merchandise and storage carts blocking every maneuverable corridor. 

No charges have been pressed against the store and Cowan is working with Dollar General management on a timeline for correcting violations and reopening the business. If the violations are not fixed in a reasonable amount of time, the popular discount chain store could face fines for every day of recorded violations and have its certificate of occupancy revoked by the Granite Shoals city manager.

Store manager Sarah Williams cited lack of staff and overstocking as chronic causes for the fire code violations. She told DailyTrib.com that she had been store manager for two months and was only made aware of the violations two weeks ago. 

“We’ll get it sorted out,” she said.

Cowan said he closed the store over concerns for the safety of staff and shoppers or any first responder who would have to navigate the cluttered store during a fire or medical emergency.

“It’s a clutter issue, but the clutter creates a life safety issue throughout the whole store that is going to prevent people in a panic from getting out,” Cowan said. “The citizens of Granite Shoals deserve better and deserve safer.”

While Cowan clearly takes the safety issues seriously, he also explained he is not looking to hurt the business.

“My main thing is compliance,” he said. “I want to see them succeed. I want to see the store open and do good business and be around for the people of Granite Shoals, but it’s got to be safe for everybody.”

dakota@thepicayune.com

The Club at Horseshoe Bay 2022 Mah Jongg Tournament co-chairs Jo Ellen Henderson (left) and Terri Matthews (right) present a $36,000 donation to Learn for Life coordinator Barbara King toward the program’s mission of improving and expanding educational resources at The Helping Center of Marble Falls. Courtesy photo

The Helping Center of Marble Falls received a $36,000 donation from the The Club at Horseshoe Bay Resort 2022 Mah Jongg Tournament on Tuesday, Nov. 29. The money will fund the nonprofit’s Learn for Life educational program.

“The Helping Center and Learn for Life are excited to accept this very generous donation,” Learn for Life coordinator Barbara King said in a media release. “These dollars are truly changing the lives of our clients, their families, and our community.”

Founded to expand educational resources, Learn for Life offers classes and events designed to improve wellness and promote reading among youngsters.

In 2022 alone, the program held nutritional classes, cooking demonstrations, a health fair, a children’s book giveaway, and more. 

The program also awards annual scholarships to area teens. In August, three local high school students were each awarded $2,000 scholarships through the program.

The mah jongg tournament has contributed over $125,000 to Learn for Life since the program’s inception in 2019. 

“The organizers and participants of this year’s tournament are pleased to fund the Learn for Life program, which is continuing into its third year,” said tournament co-chair Jo Ellen Henderson. “We truly believe that education and outreach, in the context of unconditional love, have the power to change lives.”

To learn more about the Learn for Life program, visit The Helping Center, 1016 Broadway in Marble Falls, or the organization’s website. 

nathan@thepicayune.com

Llano County Commissioner Peter Jones reads the official order for the formation of Emergency Services District No. 5 to a full house during the Commissioners Court’s regular meeting Nov. 28. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey

The Llano County Commissioners Court approved the official formation of Emergency Services District No. 5 during its regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 28. Precinct 108 constituents overwhelmingly voted in favor of forming the ESD in the Nov. 8 midterm election. 

Commissioners also appointed five ESD board members to staggered terms set to begin Jan. 1, 2023. Board members Jean Glass, Karl J. Wolfe, and Michael Thomas will serve two-year terms, and Mike von Wupperfeld and Andrew Spencer will serve one-year terms.

ESD No. 5 will manage and fund fire protection services for Sunrise Beach Village, Bridgepoint, Lakewood Forest 1, and Comanche Rancherias. According to Llano County Commissioner Peter Jones, who represents the precinct, the district’s formation took at about 16 months, culminating this summer in a petition drive and a vote to put it on the November ballot. 

The district will collect a maximum of 10 cents per $100 property evaluation from district residents to fund fire protection services. Funds will go toward contracting with area volunteer fire departments, which have traditionally relied on fundraising and charitable donations to function. The funding will allow for better equipment and maintenance, the hiring of professional firefighters, and improved fire protection services.

“It’s a reliable way of getting revenue to pay for services,” Jones told DailyTrib.com after the meeting. “It’s also a fair way because everybody wins, so it’s a big plus and a big win for everyone.”

Sunrise Beach Village Mayor Chellie Stewart voiced her support for the district’s formation and complimented her city’s volunteer fire department.

“We’ve had a lot of citizens and current council members that have worked hard on this, so we’re excited to be a big part of Precinct 108 and to have consistent high-level funding for a fire department that has consistently performed for this county,” she said. “This fire department is really recognized in this county as a top-performing fire department, so I know they’ll do good things with this investment and I know the citizens will benefit from that.”

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly said ESD No. 5 will collect a maximum of one-tenth of a cent per $100 property evaluation. It will actually collect a maximum of 10 cents per $100 property evaluation. DailyTrib.com apologizes for the error.

dakota@thepicayune.com

Zachary David Williams, 34, pleaded guilty Monday, Nov. 28, to numerous felonies stemming from a high-speed chase in March and probation violations from 2021. Courtesy photo  

Zachary David Williams, 34, pleaded guilty Monday, Nov. 28, in the 33rd District Court to a dozen felony charges, including attempted capital murder of a peace officer. Many of the charges stem from a high-speed chase in March that left him paralyzed after a shootout with law enforcement. He will serve a maximum 30-year sentence with eligibility for parole after 15 years. District Judge J. Allan Garrett presided over the case.

Williams’ collective sentencing amounted to more than 200 years, which he will serve concurrently. His passenger, 24-year-old Brianna Denise Cagely, faces similar charges and awaits a 2023 trial.

Along with attempted capital murder, Williams was charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a public servant after he fired on law enforcement during the March 27 chase, which started on RR 1431 in Kingsland in Llano County and ended on U.S. 281 in Blanco County.

The chase eventually ended after Marble Falls police set up spikes on Texas 71 that damaged and slowed Williams’ vehicle. He continued onto 281, pulling into a driveway before exiting the vehicle and firing at a Llano County Sheriff’s Office deputy. The deputy returned fire, striking Williams one time, according to an LCSO statement at the time.

Williams also pleaded guilty to other charges linked to probation violations in 2021, including obstruction/retaliation, evading arrest/detention in a motor vehicle, and three counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Cagely faces all of the felonies associated with the March chase, being considered complicit in the crimes according to the Texas Law of Parties. Her status hearing is set for January.

“I’m grateful that the officers who were involved in this case were safe and able to go home to their families,” said Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Clark, who prosecuted the case. “Zach Williams has proved to be a danger to this community, and to law enforcement, and I’m glad he is going to be held accountable for his actions.”

Clark also will prosecute Cagely’s case.

“I think, given the seriousness of the injuries (Williams) suffered, that it was a just outcome,” said North Hill Country Chief Public Defender Michelle Moore, who acted as Williams’ attorney. “He has a life sentence in many ways.”

dakota@thepicayune.com

Highland Lakes Crisis Network volunteers roll, cook, and wrap tamales for the 2020 fundraiser. The 2022 sale is Dec. 3. File photo

Get your holiday tamales and help the Highland Lakes Crisis Network. The nonprofit’s annual fundraising sale is from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at First United Methodist Church, 1101 Bluebonnet Drive in Marble Falls. It also will have a booth set up at the Christmas Market Day on Main Street, which is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the same day.

“We try to engage people in ways that they like to give back,” said Kevin Naumann, the network’s president. “A lot of people enjoy tamales during the holiday season, so we decided to provide an opportunity for people to get a good meal but also contribute to what we’re working on at the Crisis Network.”

Volunteers are cooking and packaging over 600 dozen tamales this week in preparation for the sale. The tamales come in three flavors — chicken, pork, and chili pepper pork — for $20 a dozen.

“We did 500 dozen last year, which was a big production,” Naumann said. “This year, we’re partnering with someone who does this as a business. She was able to do all the pre-work, so we should be able to squeeze in a few more dozen this time.”

The network is also selling jars of homemade salsa, spicy or regular, for $12 each. Only cash or cards will be accepted.

Unlike years past, the Saturday fundraiser is first-come, first-served and will not take pre-orders.

“We’ve done pre-orders in the past, but it turned into a nightmare having to manage pickups,” Naumann said.

Money raised will go toward HLCN’s mission of providing support to people in need following a disaster or other emergency.

To find out more about the Highland Lake Crisis Network’s services or to volunteer, visit its website or call 325-423-3662.

nathan@thepicayune.com