September 1, 2010

At the regular monthly meeting of the Blanco Historic Preservation Commission on Monday night, PEC addressed the situation involving the power pole that they recently installed in front of Uptown Blanco at the corner of 3rd and Main streets. The self-supporting concrete pole came under fire from the commission and Uptown Blanco for its placement in the historic district and the lack of communication involving its installation with those groups. Jerry Wisian addressed the commis ...

At the August 26, 2010 meeting of the Blanco-Pedernales Groundwater Conservation District, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to set the District’s Ad Valorem Tax Rate at 2.31 cents per $100 valuation, down slightly from the 2.46 cents assessed during the previous two years. In addition, the Board voted to keep all administrative fees the same as the previous year. As an example, the owner of a home appraised at $200,000 will pay the District $3 less in taxes in the coming ...

Don’t miss the 11th Anniversary of the Wild Game Dinner fundraiser scheduled for October 2 in Johnson City at the Blanco County Show Barn beginning at 5:00 p.m. Game Dinner tickets are available for $15.00 per person. Included in the price will be the best wild game you have ever eaten, door prize chance, and dance until midnight to The Mike Clifford Band.

WASHINGTON – National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen today announced the deployment of 19 additional Economic Assessment and Evaluation Teams to communities affected by the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. These interagency teams will work with communities in Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Texas to help them orient to their economic situation, develop action steps, and will offer guidance geared towards spearheading post-event economic recover ...

The Pedernales Soil and Water Conservation District and the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) invite the public, and any organization or agencies with an interest in agriculture or conservation to attend a Local Work Group Meeting/Listening Session to be held at First United Methodist Church in Johnson City. This meeting will be on September 8 at 9:30 a.m. The purpose of this meeting is to receive input from a broad range of local agencies, organizations, businesses, ...

By Larry Hobson At about 11 years old, I had subscribed to “Boy’s Life” magazine and was always interested in Whittlin’ Jim’s “Neckerchief Slide of the Month”. The photos were black and white and directions were sketchy at best, but the interest was there, yet I never attempted to “whittle”. Many years passed and on a family vacation to the Santa Cruz area in California, the carving bug struck pretty hard.

On August 2, 2010, Blanco Mayor Chuck Homan received notification from TCEQ regarding an investigation conducted on July 12, 2010 of the City of Blanco Water System at 1015 Fulcher Street, Blanco. The letter stated that Lawrence King of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Austin Region Office conducted an investigation of the City of Blanco Water System facility to evaluate compliance with applicable requirements for public drinking water systems. Lawrence King compl ...

The body of Kingsland Pharmacy owner Warren Dale Freeman was found Friday morning on his ranch in Blanco County. According to Blanco County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Terry Carter, Freeman, 53, had gone out to his ranch Thursday afternoon and was using a box blade on a tractor to build a stock tank.

The September 9 meeting of the Kendall County Area Democratic Women (KCADW) will feature Texas Senator Leticia Van de Putte. The meeting starts at 10:00 a.m. and will be held at Kronkosky Place, 17 Old San Antonio Road, in Boerne. Senator Van de Putte represents a large portion of San Antonio and Bexar County.

Last Friday, the three men involved in the attempted heist of the Cattleman’s National Bank in Round Mountain last November received their sentencing. Two of the three illegal citizens were handed down 20 years in a U.S. prison for bank robbery and weapons charges – while the third man only received 17 years as part of a plea agreement. According to witnesses and court documents, the assailants jabbed a gun into the stomach of Cattleman’s National Bank Vice President ...

At a special Membership Meeting of the Blanco Historic Cemetery Association held on August 26, it was decided to allow vertical headstones in the newer sections of the Blanco cemetery. Up to now there had been a requirement for flat stones to be used in the newer sections in order to facilitate grounds maintenance.

Early last week Tex Riley announced his candidacy for Blanco County Judge, an elected position that will be voted upon in the forthcoming November 2 general election. Tex filed his formal declaration for write-in candidacy Monday. The county judge may preside over cases involving criminal, civil, probate, guardianship, juvenile, and mental health law, and Tex notes that his extensive legal background makes him well qualified to serve as Blanco county judge.

A mother was pushing a stroller through a city park. The baby was screaming and wouldn't stop. The mother could see people watching and was embarrassed. As she walked she said, "Take it easy Carroll. Just relax. No reason to get excited. Just calm down and everything will be all right."

One of my favorite prayers to recite as a Jew is the Shema. This article will be dedicated to discussing this prayer. To start with here's the text of the prayer in English: Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever. And these words that I command you today shall be in your heart. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. An ...

First Assembly of God Church in Blanco was blessed with a visit from Missionaries Joel and Marie Watson, as well as there son, Caleb recently. Set to leave for the missions field in Vietnam in August, they have been visiting churches who have financially and prayerfully supported them in the past, and Blanco was their final visit. Pastor Watson spoke on the ways to pray for guidance, as well as his experiences and plans to serve.

"Yeah, 'cause we're dumb!" said Lawrence, as he shot off another round of his double barrel shotgun. That was the day I uncovered a snake down at the barn. The Lord does protect us, I'm telling you, even as today I still have red streaks on my right calf and right index finger, because I got stung by scorpions three times, within three days last week.

Because of my frequent writings about Christian liberty, proper use of the Law, and condemnation of Pharisaical attitudes; some may make the mistake of thinking I am against the Law of Moses, the nation of Israel, and the Jews. Nothing could be further from the truth. After all, in the New Testament, Jesus is called “The Lion of the tribe of Judah”.

Six words changed Martin Luther’s life and gave him a special place in history: “The just shall live by faith.” Biblical writers repeated these words four times, underscoring their importance. Luther learned that the life that pleases God not only begins but continues in faith. His discovery of this principle, appearing in his writings, later brought faith to John Wesley, who birthed the Methodist church, and through him to millions of others.

Marie O. Conley, 87, of Austin passed away August 22, 2010 in Austin, Texas. She was born January 25, 1923 in Dripping Springs, Texas. She had lived in Austin since 1961 and retired as a supervisor for the State School in Austin. She was a member of Highland Village Church of Christ. Marie was preceded in death by her son and a grandson.

Dear Editor, Regarding the cement pole on 3rd and 281, I don’t know why the “Art” building and its members don’t paint the pole with Lavender or something that will advertise Blanco. It would be a whole lot cheaper than removing it and putting in another pole, which will not be as nice as this one with no wires to stabilize it on the ground!

Dear Editor, Senator Troy Fraser and Representative Patrick Rose have really been cranking up the volume in their attack on the PEC. At the August PEC Board meeting, they denounced the Board – one which, for the first time, was elected by PEC owners (that is, its members). During his comments, Fraser threatened to dissolve or “break-up” the co-op.

PEC Press Release - Six high school students in Pedernales Electric’s service area will win a trip to Washington, D.C., as part of PEC’s 2011 Youth Tour Contest. Students on the annual Youth Tour learn about electric cooperatives, American history and U.S. government; participate in National Youth Day; visit with their House and Senate representatives; and explore historic sites around Washington, D.C. This year, students will write 700-word essays that respond to the ques ...

The 2010 football season started with a bang for the Blanco Panthers, who took the season’s opening kick-off and drove 77 yards for their first score of the year. However, it would not be until their final drive of the night that Blanco would score again, as their game with the visiting Canyon Lake Hawks turned into a defensive battle. On the game’s opening drive, Blanco took over four minutes off the clock before Kyle Holmes bulled his way into the end zone from 17 yards ...

Team VIP competed in Corpus Christi at Mary Jane’s Gymnastics Center on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23. VIP Teams included Level 4 Achievement (Haley Chappell, Lexus Carton, Miranda Bosquez, Anna Johnson, Morgan Haby, Amalie Mills, Skylar Maurer and Hannah Ford). Level 4 Placement (Zoey Madigan, Meghan Cleveland and Jordan White).

With one week of practice behind them, the 7th and 8th Grade Panthers have moved up to the next level; it’s time to put on the pads. The rituals of drills, sprints, and plays will now include the onslaught of percussion, that invigorating sensation mandatory in football. Many of these players have evolved from other youth football programs and are familiar with these intense and brutal collisions; this may be an initiation for others...

How does your garden grow? By Judy Dorsett August didn’t break records like last year, but it seemed hotter. September will have several weeks of hot weather. Take precautions and water plants regularly, wear sunscreen and a hat, and drink lots of water. There is much to do before fall planting. Clean the areas around fruit trees.

Bobby Bindseil asked us if we had any animals that could graze down the overgrowth on a piece of land next to his house. We put a few goats on the place and I go by with some regularity to check on them. One evening as I was finishing up with the goats, Bobby and his wife, Clara Jo, came out and engaged me in some pleasant conversation.

Men’s softball team gains 14th trophy September 4, 1980 The Blanco men’s softball team recently celebrated their fourteenth team trophy win after two years of play. Sponsored by the hillside Inn in the spring of 1979, the team began playing in games and tournaments around the Hill Country after two practices. The team played a number of single games during the first year and ended the season by entering four tournaments and s ...

AUSTIN — Bullets from a gun battle in Juarez, Mexico, struck a building on the campus of the University of Texas-El Paso over the weekend of Aug. 21-22. “For the second time in two months, bullets from a gun battle in the escalating drug war in Juarez have struck a building in El Paso, and I’d like to commend the swift action taken by local and state law enforcement in the area, Gov.

Apple Fest 2010 is upon us. This Saturday, September 4, Apple Fest revelers will be descending on the Mason County Court house lawn. Families are expected from all over Texas! Last year as many as 3000 people spent the day in and around Mason to enjoy all that Apple Fest and Mason country have to offer.