February 11, 2009

He presented her with a corsage, and opened the car door for her. As they began to drive away, the young lady in the front seat turned to wave at her mother who was still standing in the doorway feverishly snapping photos with the family’s digital camera. Her mother became choked up and had a single tear roll down her cheek as her daughter drove away on her very first date… with her father. Blanco County Relay for Life Team “Night Pray-ers” will be hosting their second annual Father/Dau ...

At their February 9 meeting, trustees of the Blanco Independent School District heard a report from superintendent Dr. Buck Ford and architect Randy Fromberg on proposals submitted for the construction of six new tennis courts at the high school. Dr. Ford explained that the eight proposals received in a sealed-bid method range in cost from over $900K to $495K, not including lights.

Joe Almaraz of Blanco (right) and John Price of Johnson City raced to save their dummies’ lives with rescue breaths and chest compressions. It was part of an American Red Cross course in CPR and first aid at the First United Methodist Church in Johnson City Saturday. Joe is a physical trainer, and said he needs to stay current on life-saving techniques in case one of his clients over-does it.

Three of the seven seats on the Pedernales Electric Cooperative Board of Directors are up for election this spring. On Monday, incumbent Director Patrick Cox of Wimberley announced he will seek re-election to the District 7 seat. Since being elected last year to fill the unexpired District 7 term of former board president Bud Burnett encompassing the Kyle and Buda area, Cox has been a leader in seeking reforms at PEC.

The drought that began in 2008 in Central Texas has continued to give Blanco County residents more of the same as we begin 2009. LCRA meteorologist Bob Rose recently told local Regional Water Planning Group members that both the jet stream pattern and the mid-Pacific “La Nina” ocean temperature trends appear fairly stable and will not likely weaken for several months.

The Blanco County realtors have started the property tours for 2009. On February 6, the first tour started with Baker Survey - Amil and Carol Baker graciously hosting and giving the realtors a tour and overview of the Baker Survey building and services. Baker Survey is also the new office site for Vallone Real Estate - Debbie Vallone-Homeier and Margo Davis. Those attending the South County tour and pictured above were: Vallone Real Estate - Margo Davis and Debbie Homeier, Hill Country Real Est ...

February 12, 2009 •High School Baseball Meeting: Attention all high school baseball parents, the annual parent-coach metting is here. Please meet in the high school cafeteria on Thursday, Feby 12 at 6:00pm. February 12, 2009 •Blanco State Park - Toddler Time at the Park: Class is relaxed and inviting experience for parents & toddlers, ages 1-3, to enjoy nature together.

In the face of a questionable economy, Cummings Paving Company of Blanco, Texas has chosen a “hiring” initiative. Charles Cummings states: “We want to endeavor to diversify and enhance the types of services that we offer to the organizations that we do business with throughout the state of Texas. We strive to accomplish this simply by hiring the most highly qualified personnel available, and just plain getting involved.” Cummings Paving is the newest business member of the Blanco Cham ...

AUSTIN, Texas —The Texas College of Emergency Physicians (TCEP) announced a dramatic rise in Texans’ access to emergency medical care at a press conference held at the State Capitol. Senator Troy Fraser reported that the state’s gains in emergency physicians result directly from medical liability reforms passed in 2003. “I am thrilled that my constituents in the counties I represent now have access to board-certified emergency physicians providing critical care where previously they had ...

By Barby Harris O'Brien A large crowd of chili cookers took over Yett Memorial Park this past weekend. More than 49 teams signed up with their perfect recipes for the first Blanco Cooks for the Cure Cook-off. The top ten CASI (Chili Appreciation Society International Inc), winners were: CHILI 1st Place – Shoot-a-Mile - John Goforth, Comfort, Texas 2nd Place – Wampoo Chili - Robert Schrader, San Antonio, Texas 3rd Place – Brandy Page-Smith 4th Place – Line Shack II – Reva Weatherly, C ...

Kacie Haecker of Blanco was recently selected to participate in Nationals’ 2009 Miss Teen Austin pageant competition that will take place on March 1, 2009. Kacie learned of her acceptance into this year’s competition as Nationals, Inc. announced their selections on Monday afternoon. Kacie submitted an application and took part in an interview session that was conducted by Anna Klejonowski, this year’s Austin Pageant Coordinator. Kacie will be competing for her share of thousands of dollar ...

Economic Development is a pretty common phrase these days. Hard to imagine a political campaign where it wasn’t being tossed about as casually as promises to lower taxes, fix education, and end corruption. Everyone is for it, everyone supports it, but when it comes down to some specifics like exactly how does one promote economic development, the topic is often deflected to other, more easily addressed topics. Interestingly enough, economic development is a fairly new term having morphed out ...

Michelle Vernell Kempf and Jesse Wayne Gremminger were united as one with Christ in marriage on Saturday, November 8, 2008 at the historic Saint Louis Catholic church in Castroville. Michelle is the daughter of Leo and Beverly Kempf of Blanco and Jesse is the son of Larry and Lois Gremminger of Richmond, Texas.

For the past 3 weeks I’ve been bothered about my past. I searched God’s Word for scriptures to help me work through it and printed some of them last Sunday. Tuesday I attended a Christian women’s get together, and we all prayed together, and I asked God to help me (and anyone else) who might be dealing with past regrets. Well, I’m shouting deliverance today!

Keys play an important part in everyday life. More than once, I have locked my house keys in the house or my car keys in the car, and had to gain access in some unusual way. We soon learn that it’s wise to have a backup plan, because we figure that sooner or later, it’s going to happen again.

It takes a monumental event like the Super Bowl to spotlight clever ads. When the TV network can sell a full regimen at $100,000 per second, creative juices at advertising agencies flow like raging rivers roaring down the mountains at spring thaw. Message sophistication is light years ahead of pioneer efforts remembered when radio was king. During our growing-up years, ads were typically jingles, punctuated by short, punchy messages.

Why Do People Have Jobs? How many of us truly live by faith? That is to say, how many of us really recognize that we really do live by faith? When we get in our car do we test the brakes to see if they work before we take off? When we turn on a light at home or office do we first say a prayer that it will come on?

Cynthia Foster passed away February 4, 2009 in San Antonio. She is survived by her husband, Gerald Dean Foster of San Antonio, two daughters: Karen Bridgewater and husband Woody of San Antonio, Debra Scogin and husband Patrick of Pleasanton, three grandchildren Taylor Scogin and wife Kristen, and Jeremy Scogin. She is also survived by her sister Patricia and husband Larry Thayne, three nieces and nephews and their spouses and children.

Marisa Grace Vargas was born November 28th, 2004 and passed away early Sunday morning on February 8th, 2009. She is survived by her parents, Juan Vargas Jr. of Blanco and Lisa Marie Barrera of San Antonio; her two siblings, Paco and Estevan Vargas; grandparents, Juan and Rosa Vargas of Blanco and Geni Barrera of San Antonio; great-grandparents, Wesley and Anita Barrera from Helotes and Leo Noriega from San Antonio; aunts and uncles, Vincent Barrera, Michael and Vanessa Conkey of San Antoino, Sa ...

Dear Editor, I would like to bring attention to the public to something that is truly a concern of many citizens. Dogs loose or tied in the beds of pick up trucks that are being driven around town and on the highways. The drivers of these trucks are being irresponsible owners and taking the chance of the lives of these dogs.

Dear Editor, Kudos to the Cat Coalition! I love cats and have since childhood, when I loved hearing my father read Kipling’s story, The Cat Who Walked Alone. My attachment to cats has always been sentimental, as well as affectionate. This was fine for 35 years when I lived in the city and had 1 or 2 indoor cats at a time.

On Friday February 20th the Junior Class of Blanco High will be hosting this once in a lifetime event to raise funds for PROM 2009. It is a tradition at Blanco High School to host the Junior Senior Prom as an event the students will remember for a lifetime. This will be the one and only chance to raise funds for the prom.

The Blanco Family, Career and Community Leaders of America have been busy for the last two weeks collecting items to donate to the Good Samaritan Center as part of their community service project. During the first week, members collected gently used clothing, shoes, coats, and accessories. The second week, they collected canned and boxed food items. Altogether, the members donated approximately 30 large bags of clothing and over 100 canned or boxed food items.

Which Blanco High School senior gent will be crowned “Fairest of them All”? On Saturday, February 21st, 6:30, in the Blanco High School Cafeteria, the BHS 2009 Senior Class plans to treat the community to an evening of hilarious role reversal. Be prepared to laugh out loud as the students change things up a bit when the girls dress up as guys to escort their “beauty queen” guy at the Mr./Miss Pageant.

Students and staff of Blanco Middle School enjoyed a very interesting presentation by Reptile expert, Bruce Shwedick. Students had the opportunity to learn about and interact with a Yellow-footed Tortoise, a four foot long Rhino Iguana, and a six foot long Anaconda. The star of the show was “Banana Boy” a 16 foot long Albino Python, whose species is native to Thailand.

SEGUIN – Feb. 4, 2009 – Texas Lutheran University student Bradley Walker received the Keith A. Russell Memorial Award for Academic Excellence on Thursday evening, Jan. 29, at a dinner on the University of Texas San Antonio campus. Walker, a junior accounting major at TLU in Seguin, is a graduate of Blanco High School and is the son of Paul and Mary Walker of Blanco. The award is given by the San Antonio chapter of Financial Executives International to the outstanding finance or accounting s ...

The Blanco Middle School Girl basketball teams finished the season as district champs, with both the 7th and the8th grade winning first place at the Comfort Tournament, to round out the season. The 8th grade team finished the year 9-1. The 7th grade team finished 8-2.

Texas Sports Writer’s Association announced their picks for Class 2A All-State football team on January 27, 2009. Blanco running back Layton Dworaczyk was the area’s only second-team selection. Tight end Travis McClinton and defensive lineman Henry Greathouse were named on the third team. Derek Tesch, quarterback, was named honorable mention. San Antonio Express News released their fall honor teams at the end of December.

KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – Texas A&M-Kingsville head football coach Bo Atterberry announced that 22 high school seniors have submitted their National Letters of Intent today, NCAA Football National Signing Day, to continue their respective football careers with the Javelinas. “I am very excited about the class we have coming in,” said Atterberry.

True to the concept of signing day in college football, player commitments to Incarnate Word’s program began rolling in shortly after the opening bell on Wednesday (February 4). Cardinals Coach Mike Santiago and his staff were waiting by the fax machine to receive the national letters of intent and within minutes some of their anxiety began to abate when the machine delivered Rashaad Patterson’s paperwork.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine a practitioner typically looks at the person as an ecosystem. A Chinese Medicine practitioner will determine which systems of the body are most out of balance. Pain is part of a bigger picture. The same root problem may manifest in different places and in different ways throughout the body, creating a syndrome.

Things to do in February: If your roses have thrips and there are ticks in your yard, now is the time to put out Beneficial nematodes; while the insects are still on the ground. Prune peach and plum trees. Don’t let them grow with a main header, shape the tree like a bowl.

Keith - Fireproof is a great film to be reviewing this week since it’s the one week a year that focuses on relationships, at least that and chocolates. Fireproof is from the makers of Facing the Giants and Flywheel and takes on marital relationships in this film. While some may get bogged down in the inspiration from which this movie stems, I don’t believe many will.

Spotlight on ‘Blythe Spirit’ February 8, 1989 This week CAT presents Steve Snyder and Barbara Ballas, who will play Dr. and Mrs. Bradman, in their upcoming production of “Blyth Spirit.” The Bradman’s are invited to attend the séance staged by Mr. Condimine to obtain occult jargon for a new book he’s writing. Steve Snyder originally from Missouri, has lived in Johnson City for 4 years where he is a Park Ranger for the National Park Service at the LBJ Park.

AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry on Feb. 3 declared emergency items for lawmakers to focus on in the first 30 days of the legislative session, which began Jan. 13. Perry's emergency items call for legislation that would: • Provide supplemental appropriations to state agencies and institutions related to hurricane response and recovery associated with the hurricanes of 2008; • Assist public and private entities with recovery from the hurricanes of 2008; • Reform the Texas Windstorm Insurance Assoc ...

If you are doing any kind of structural remodeling work, chances are you will need a permit and an inspection. The inspection helps to ensure that the work you do on your house meets certain codes and specifications. These are in place to make sure your home is safe against electrical, fire, and plumbing hazards, and to make sure you are protected from the elements and any kind of infestation. Passing the inspection is important; if you don't, the structure can't be legally occupied and you wil ...

Llano Main Street, the Llano Chamber of Commerce and the Llano County Journal are sponsoring the fourth annual Desserts of Llano. The event will be held Saturday, February 14 from 1:00pm until 3:00pm. We have eleven participants that will be serving their specialty desserts at various business locations in town. Pick up a map and flyer at the LanTex Theater at 113 West Main between 12:00 and 1:00pm for a listings of the locations.

Pat Haberman of Dripping Springs will demonstrate oil painting with a Tuscan landscape at the Highland Arts Gallery on Thursday, February 19 at 9:30am. Haberman nurtured her “innate and latent artistic ambitions” through raising her family and at least two relocations. Moving back to Texas, she studied art and architecture at UT Austin and then had careers in construction, interior design, and real estate.

On March 19, the Mason Square Museum, on the north side of the courthouse square in Mason, Texas will present a new exhibit of rare maps of America and the lands that are now Texas. Beginning with maps as early as 1595 by Magini and Porro, the display includes early cartography showing the shores of the new world only a hundred years after its discovery. The collection includes maps by A.

Stay Awake Productions presents The Awakening Conference Series 2009: a Voice for Change, February 26-March 1st at the Embassy Suites in San Marcos Texas. America’s most sought after speakers and luminaries including New York Times best-selling authors Marianne Williamson (The Age of Miracles), don Miguel Ruiz (The Four Agreements), Dan Millman (Peaceful Warrior), as well as, Joe Vitale (The Secret), Rhonda Britten (Starting Over), Dr.

Blanco Police Reports These reports were filed between Jan 8 and Jan 14. Jan 8 • Theft. 2:50 PM. Five flags were reported missing from the front of the Old Blanco County Courthouse. Jan 9 • Minor Traffic Accident. 1:13 PM. A truck hit another truck in the Super S parking lot. No injuries occurred and there was minor damage.