February 13, 2008

At the time Lt. Lynn Hicks of the Blanco Volunteer Fire Department was scheduled to begin a presentation on wildfires to the Blanco County Disaster Response Group Saturday morning, he was nowhere to be found. The group waiting at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Blanco could hardly complain; Hicks had arrived early to set up his projector, but almost immediately was called away...to a fire! "It was only a small grass fire along US 281,"

Wheeling around the dining area of his restaurant on Main St., Gaspar Enriquez is back doing what he loves--working at Cilantro's Restaurtant. Gaspar was critically injured in an accident on US Highway 281 back on September 19. He had to be airlifted from the scene and spent time in the Intensive Care Unit at Wilford Hall Medical Center on Lackland Air Force Base. Gaspar's wife, Margarita, re-opened Cilantro's for breakfast and lunch after the accident.

Once again the Friends of the Blanco Library will host four diverse Texas writers at its annual Celebration of Texas Authors. This year’s celebration will be held on Saturday, March 8, at the Gem of the Hills Community Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Each author will speak on her latest work, then be available to sell books and chat with attendees.

It’s Bingo time again! Johnson City Civic Women’s Club Bingo benefit for the library is on the horizon. Please save March 1 on your calendars for this annual event that has been part of the community fabric of Johnson City for over twenty years. Every spring the JCC WC goes into high gear to round up silent auction items and to select outstanding bingo prizes to award for the bingo games that will be played. Johnson City citizens, their families and friends will fill the First Methodist Church Activity Center at 5:45 PM for a classic spaghetti dinner complete with signature salad, garlic bread, tea, coffee, and a piece of some homemade dessert. Once the tables are cleared, the bingo fun will begin when JCC WC’s famous mistress of ceremonies and infamous bingo caller, Ingrid Moursund, will launch into an entertaining evening of fun.

On Tuesday, March 4, the Texas Democratic Party will hold its Presidential Primary. This is the first time since 1988 that the votes of Texans will help decide who will be the presidential nominee for the Democratic Party for the November 4 General Election. The competition for the nomination has been hard fought in the 29 states which have already voted.

The County Clerk’s office is currently accepting applications to vote by mail. Individuals who will be absent from the county on the day of the election or are over the age of 65 or disabled are eligible to vote by mail and may contact the County Clerk’s office at 830-868-7357 about obtaining an application to vote by mail. The last day to apply for a ballot by mail is February 26, 2008. Early voting in person will start February 19, 2008 in the Blanco County Commissioner’s Courtroom and will run through February 29, 2008.

The members of the Ranch Hiway Club of the Blanco County EEA met February 5 in the Fellowship Hall of the First Baptist Church, with President Linda Baylis presiding. Both of the hostesses had an opening reading for the club; Bea Ellison's was a humorous "Tater People" and Earnestine Kincaid's was an inspirational "Predictions for 2008".

During the 1925 Lion’s Club International annual convention Helen Keller challenged Lions to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.” Today, Lions are recognized worldwide for their service to the blind and visually impaired. SightFirst is Lions’ most ambitious and most successful initiative ever. Thanks to SightFirst, Lions have restored sight to 7.3 million people through cataract surgeries, prevented serious vision loss for 20 million people and improved eye care services for hundreds of millions worldwide.

Marisa Vargas, three year old daughter of Juan and Lisa Vargas, will undergo a bone marrow transplant on February 19th. She will be hospitalized for about two months. Please keep Marisa and the Vargas family in your prayers. The fund account for Marisa remains open at the Blanco National Bank.

Few events happen in the life of a military family that is quite as heart stopping. There is the fear of the Army Chaplain pulling up in front of your house, and then there is that other fear. With the ring of a telephone and one look at Lynn Miller’s face – laughter around the Miller dining table ceased.

Pedernales Electric representatives visited Blanco organizations recently as part of their Light the Way program. To the left, Blanco Chamber of Commerce President Jon Brieger, Chamber director Julie Dill accept the donation from PEC employees Virginia Palos and Heather Richardson. Pictured below, librarian Trish Campbell, PEC employee Coby Harber, Library board president Don Gaines, and PEC employee Fran Smith hold up the donation. Representatives from Pedernales Electric, Mark Bell and Shirley Runyon, presented the Blanco Volunteer Fire Department a check in the amount of $1,000.00 and a certificate. Pedernales Electric is recognizing and supporting service organizations throughout its 8,100-square-mile distribution area with contributions of $1,000 each through its annual Light the Way program.

Relay For Life Blanco County held a Father/Daughter dance in both Blanco and Johnson City to raise awareness about, and funds for, the American Cancer Society’s event in April. The “Night Pray-ers” team held the fundraiser at the Gem of the Hills in Blanco on Saturday night and the PEC auditorium in Johnson City on Sunday.

The Blanco County Youth Council invites all members and other interested persons to attend their Annual Meeting set for Wednesday, February 27, 2008 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Blanco County Show Barn in Johnson City. This is the annual meeting where items may be brought before the Board of Directors for consideration of a rule or policy change.

For 10 years the Keep Blanco Beautiful directors, officers and volunteers have diligently worked to make the citizens of Blanco aware of environmental issues such as voluntary compliance, violations and penalties to Ordinance No. 332: Public Safety - Unsafe, Unsightly Or Unsanitary Conditions An Ordinance Regarding Unsafe, Unsightly Or Unsanitary Accumulations Within The City Of Blanco, Declaring Such To Be Hazards To Public Health And Sanitation, Establishing Fines And Penalties For Violators And Providing For Enforcement Thereof. This ordinance was revised, passed and approved on the 13th day of May, 2003 to protect more effectively the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Blanco, and to promote this aim by incorporating the provisions of the laws of the State of Texas.

The Brave One Noel–The first 30 minutes of this move were very difficult to watch. Jodie’s character is supposed to be in love with her fiance when they are brutally attacked in a tunnel in New York. Now, I don’t know if Jodie Foster has ever been in love before, but if she has been in love, she was not able to portray that emotion in this movie.

Send your Potpourri to Deb potpourri@blanco countynews.com or call 830-833-1218 Sarah Isenberg celebrated her 18th birthday at Dick’s Last Resort in San Antonio on the Riverwalk after the practice playoff game at Ft. Sam Houston against Cole on Friday, February 8. Joining her was her father, Sid Isenberg along with Alisa Guler, Tim Guler, Claire Klepec, Charlotte Thomas, Crystal Thomas and Alyssa Warner.

Public records information is compiled by Charles Willgren from reports filed at the Blanco Police Department, Blanco County Sheriff’s Office, Blanco Volunteer Fire Department, Blanco County Clerk, District Clerk, and Justices of the Peace offices. Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Criminal Cases Convictions will not appear this week. Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Criminal Cases • John Charles Mason, of Crosby, was fined $184.00 for speeding on Jan 18 (DPS). • Paul Minnick, of Castroville, was fined $152.00 for tire less than 2/32 of an inch on Dec 5, 2007 (CVE). • Paul Minnick, of Castroville, was fined $144.00 for expired CMV inspection certificate on Dec 5, 2007 (CVE). • Kennard D.

Gerald Dechert Gets BS Degree February 9, 1968 Gerald Dechert of Blanco completed graduation requirements at Southwest Texas State College in January. He received a BS Degree in Agriculture from the School of Applied Arts at the San Marcos College. Official graduation will be on May 29. AARP to meet February 18, 1988 The regular monthly meeting of the local AARP members will be held at noon next Tuesday, February 16, at the First Baptist Church, with President Beatrice Ellison presiding. Don Warrington is in charge of the program and he will show the color slides he made on his recent trip to China. These pictures are really beautiful and interesting. All members are urged to attend and bring a guest, and enjoy this program and the delicious covered dish dinner. Blanco River 4-H meets February 10, 1978 The Blanco River 4-H met on Wednesday, February 1, in the Grange Hall.

Senate committees question TxDOT over finances Higher-ups at the Texas Department of Transportation sat in front of two state Senate committees for about three hours and tried to answer questions about how the agency got to where it is, in a financial sinkhole. At a Feb. 4 meeting, lawmakers in a joint meeting of the Senate Finance and Transportation Committees questioned TxDOT Executive Director Amadeo Saenz Jr., interim chair of the Texas Transportation Commission Esperanza "Hope"

The Water of Life Church, Seventh Day Baptist will host a Marriage Workshop at All Faiths Chapel, located at the corner of 9th and Elm Street, in Blanco, TX. It will take place February 25-29, 2008, and will end on March 3, 2008. The course takes six nights and is from 7-8 PM. What a real Valentine gift to each other! Pre- Registration is necessary.

Psalm 1- “1Blessed (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. 2But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. 3And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]. 4Not so the wicked [those disobedient and living without God are not so].

In his widely read book, “None of these Diseases,” Dr. S.I. McMillan shares a personal experience about emotional distress and how he conquered it, writing: “The stresses of living are not nearly as responsible for a host of debilitating diseases as are our faulty reactions to these stresses. The office of a physician is filled with people suffering from nearly every disease in the book because their minds are beset by a thousand worries about their finances, their health or their children. “Sometimes it is the doctor who suffers.

Is war always wrong? Should Christians never fight, and always turn the other cheek? Didn’t God command, “Thou shalt not kill”? These are legitimate questions for a Christian to ask; and God’s Word is where you will find the answers. In answering these questions, I believe it’s important that one looks at the whole of Scripture.

Once again concerned parent Christine McGinnis voiced concerns over deteriorating facilities to the trustees of the Blanco Independent School District at their regular meeting on February 11. In Open Forum she questioned what progress has been made on upgrading facilities at Blanco Elementary School, adding concerns about insulation falling from the ceiling of the Blanco Middle School gym. She also reiterated what she called “the community’s desire” to continue the pre-Kindergarten program.

According to a press release from Blanco Independent School District Superintendent Cliff Gardner, a local high school English teacher and girls’ coach was placed on administrative leave on Friday, November 30, 2007. She was hired on July 9, 2007. Kylie Neighbors’ resignation became effective December 13, 2007. Blanco ISD says that it will continue to move forward with providing the best educational programs and services possible to our students, and our parents and students can be assured that they always strive to maintain a safe and positive learning environment.

The 2008 Blanco County Youth Exhibit Hall Show was held Thursday and Friday during the Youth Stock Show. Students competed against others in their age group in 6 classes: Food, Home Canning, Sewing, Hobbies, Fine Arts and Educational Exhibits. The winners are as follows: Food Junior Cookies: 1st Place, Kendra Smith 2nd Place, Christy Gillis 3rd Place, Kendra Smith Senior Cookies: 1st Place, Sarah St.

People throughout the area couldn't contact the outside world for about 9 hours this past Saturday, February 9. Cell phones for most providers were looking for service, long distance calls in and out of the area resulted in beeping or static, dial-up from internet service providers like Momentum stopped working, and credit card transactions at restaurants and grocery stores didn't go through.