April 2, 2008

You may have noticed the activity along the exteriors of the west side of Main Street on the square in Blanco. Over the last three years we have been planning exterior improvements and have recently received approval from Texas Department of Transportation and Texas Historical Commission on the architectural drawings for the handicap-accessible sidewalk, safety railing, and entrances. Uptown Blanco is extremely excited about the approval and looking forward to this Main Street phase being completed before the Lavender Festival in June.

March 19th, 2008, a meeting of the Child Protection and family Advocacy Board was called to order at 12: 00 noon by Diane Beagle, Chairman. A quorum of members; one guest, Matt Herdon of Blanco; and two CPS professionals were in attendance.

Clean up Blanco from 8 AM to Noon • Blanco Trash-Off City residents may use this opportunity to get rid of old furniture, appliances, TV’s, air conditions, tin, wire and just about anything except tires, paint, batteries or anything harmful to the environment.

The Blanco County Sesquicentennial Celebration in Johnson City will be on Saturday, June 7, 2008, on and around the Courthouse Square from 10: 00 a. m.

Wildseed Farms will officially kick off its annual “Wildflower Celebration” this weekend to celebrate the arrival of spring wildflowers. The Celebration begins April 5th and continues through April 20th. As the red poppies begin to blossom in the fields adjacent to Highway 290 east of Fredericksburg, the farm staff is busy preparing for visitors with several special events this year.

The fourth Blanco Library Brown Bag program will be held on Thursday, April 3, at noon. Featured on the program are three women who are well-known to Blanco residents: Sheryl Smith-Rodgers, Jackie Hinton, and Sandra Paine.

Sadie Haas is a senior at Blanco High School this year and a member of the Tejas Art Club. She has been creating works of art since she could hold a pencil, and started selling them when she was seven.

To be sure, the Blanco County Sesquicentennial is a great milestone in Blanco’s history, but not the only anniversary of note. Recently, the Blanco Woman’s Club (BWC) celebrated 70 years of achievement and contribution to our community. The club’s motto, “The Measure of a Life is its Service,” reminds its members that the club’s foremost purpose is to serve our community.

KERRVILLE–Employees of rural lending cooperative Capital Farm Credit (CFC) have willingly adopted a cause near and dear to their hearts. Eight employees, including Sarah Cortese from the Kerrville Credit Office, participated in the 11th annual Susan G. Komen San Antonio Race for the Cure on March 29.

Saturday, April 5, you will see over 100 volunteers, in bright yellow shirts, working together to clean up litter and haul off items out of their yards to clean up the banks and waterway of the Blanco River to "Make Blanco Beautiful. " If you drive by the Blanco City Yard on Jones Ave. today, you will see that volunteer compliance with city ordinance 332 has already begun.

On March 30, 2008, Blanco area residents Ron & Sheryl Houston, Bob & Carolyn Boydston, and Tom & Tina Gourley received the coveted Knights of the Milky Way citation, signed by Mayor Jim Rodrigue, for defending the night skies of Blanco from light pollution and light trespass. These citizens were joined by Wayne & Martha Gosnell in providing four retrofit light shields to the Lavender Capital Laundry on 2nd Street to help eliminate light pollution and glare from the laundry’s wall pack security lights.

FREDERICKSBURG – Schneider’s – 72 Degrees Air Conditioning & Heating was enshrined in the Home Services Hall of Fame at a recent AirTime 500 Expo in St. Louis for being the Market Dominance Company of the Year for 2007! In addition, Brad Schneider was name #6 Home Comfort Advisor out of 500!

On Sunday, March 30, 2008, over 16,000 runners from around the world ran the 31st Capital 10,000 Race, a 6. 2 mile race in downtown Austin.

In conjunction with Earth Day, the Blanco County Master Gardeners’ Association will be sponsoring a Plant Propagation Workshop on April 22nd. The workshop will be held in Johnson City at the LBJ National Historical Park - Settlement Events Center. The workshop begins at 9:

The Blanco County Realtors viewed properties in the North County, on Friday Feb. 28. We visited five properties covering a range of prices.

If you are a Blanco County Cancer Survivor and you have not yet been contacted regarding the upcoming Relay for Life activities, please contact Trish Hartmann at 833-1431. Also, if you would like to share your experience as a cancer survivor, you may e-mail a short article to the Blanco County News. These articles will be printed on April 16th, before the Relay for Life Kick Off.

Finance Officer Donnea Simon was named the American Legion Memorial Highway Post 352 Legionnaire of the Year for 2007. F. O.

"Don't Mess With Blanco" -- Blanco River's own private "Green Lagoon. "

It was in 1984 that Dr. John Flannery offered me the story of the hospital in the old courthouse. I went to his home several times and interviewed him, but my writing style was not what he needed for the story he wanted written.

Rebecca Howerton says, "The medallion for the Blanco Historic Cemetery is here. We will unveil the medallion at 2: 00 P.

Texas Wildlife Biologist Dan Snodgrass will be making a presentation on The Nature Conservancy and the Texas Nature Conservancy’s Pedernales River Project on Tuesday, April 8, at 7: 00 p. m.

Caroline Scout Seymour came into this world on February 22, weighting 7 pounds, 11 ounces and measuring 20 inches long. She was anxiously welcomed by big sisters Addy and Catherine, who giggled because she was small enough to fit INSIDE her Easter basket!

Gerald and Margaret Wilke proudly announce the birth of their fifth grandchild, Kendall Margaret, born in the Methodist Hospital on March 13, 2008. She weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. Her parents are William and Kristin Jung, and her big brother is Tyler, all of San Antonio.

Births March 29, 1968 Mr.

A recent survey by the Home Safety Council (HSC) reveals that the majority of Americans report feeling safest in their homes. But, as we all know, accidents can happen. Statistics show that home-injuries cause nearly 21,000 deaths and 21 million medical visit each year!

Dan in Real Life Keith–I'm not a big fan of the TV show "The Office", and I don't always like Steve Carell, but none of those things kept me from thoroughly enjoying Dan in Real Life. This is a great romantic, dramatic comedy that has many facets to the story line, like what happens during annual family get togethers, how a guy adjusts to raising 3 girls when something happens to their mom, and can love come between two brothers.

On Friday, March 28, Charlotte and Crystal Thomas drove to Houston and then back to Blanco. While in Houston they take a tour of Houston Baptist University, where Crystal will be attending college in the fall.

AUSTIN — A plan to put a string of 200 video surveillance cameras along the 1,200-mile border Texas shares with Mexico appears to be moving forward. On behalf of the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management, the Texas Department of Public Safety is soliciting bids from contractors who can install and maintain the cameras and do related work.

George Byars knew the rules of good health care and maintenance. When you are in your fifties, you should begin the basic screenings for colon cancer. This meant routine check-ups, colonoscopies and such.

The Blanco United Methodist Church Relay For Life teams (Keystone Kops and Cancer Cops) presented an exceptional variety show on March 25 in conjunction with the regular Tuesday night dinner that raised over $1000 to aid in the fight against cancer. Performances of solos, duets, skits, country dancing, poetry readings, harmonica, accordion, and piano presentations, along with a magic act followed a meal of lasagna, salad, French bread, brownies and ice cream.

Tommy Brandt, of Sebring, FL, labeled as the “Heart of Christian Country Music,” will hold a free concert Sunday, April 13, at 6: 00 PM, in the Fellowship Hall of Trinity Lutheran Church, 703 Main Street, in Blanco, TX.

Abundant Grace Fellowship Church, Blanco, TX Mar 9: 33-35 And he came to Capernaum:

Jesus said “21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ” Matthew 7: 21 KJV

Johnny Neil passed away at home on March 27 after a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his common-law wife, Betty Jo Clark, a daughter, Micayla Neil, his mother and stepfather, Peggy and Presley Wright, his father and stepmother, Jay and Margaret Hanes, one brother and sister-in-law, Ray and Cindy Neil, one sister and brother-in-law, Cozzette and Matt, and many nieces and nephews. Services were held, Saturday, March 29, 2008.

Riley W. Tatum, Sr. went home to be with our Lord on March 31, 2008 at the age of 74.

I love my Uncle Johnny. He was a good uncle to me. He died March 27 in Blanco.

Hi All, First of all I would like to ask the editor if I may speak on the behalf of my brother-in-law who died March 27, 2008, Johnny Neil. You see, I am in Georgia and can’t be there to be with the family, so I thought I would show my support here.

What can I say about him except that he was a great man and my uncle. Gosh, I can remember when he taught my little brother how to release his anger by making arrow heads. I will always be grateful what he did for my cousin and my aunt.

Blanco Middle School Proud Panthers for March are (L to R): Carlin G. (6th grade), Donald M.

The 2008-2009 Blanco Panther Varsity Cheerleaders Hillary Calzoncit, Morgan Johnson, Yvette Guerrero, Sydni Kipp, Briar Koehl, Kayln Massey, Carla Martinez, Morgan Petri, Kaitlyn Walla and Alyssa Warner. The mascot is Alicia Immel.

On Saturday, March 29, Blanco's Major League Girls Team, The Angels with Attitude, played against the Wimberley #1 team following Wimberley's Opening ceremony. The Angels consist of girls in the 5th-7th grade and are coached by Roland Mancha and Michael Seales Although Wimberley scored first, the Blanco girls came back in the second inning to take the lead and continued to be the leader for the remainder of the game.

Austin Carrola is congratulated by Superintendent Cliff Gardner after he wins the March Gran Prix Tennis Tournament in San Antonio for the boys 18 division.

See how the 4x100 varsity boys relay team did in next week’s Blanco County News.

Blanco 15 Sonora 1 The Panthers traveled to Sonora and came away with a 15-1 victory to go 2-0 in district play.

The Blanco Panther Softball team faced the Brady Bulldogs last Friday. The Panthers defeated the Bulldogs 14-2 in five innings of play.

The Tiger Cubs from Pack 497 from Blanco held their first Pinewood Derby trials earlier this month. The Tiger Cub group consist of local first grade boys and their leader is Kirk Felps.

From the Blanco County Democratic Party Blanco County Democrats assembled for the County Democratic Convention on Saturday morning at the LBJ Middle School Cafeteria in Johnson City. More than 100 enthusiastic Democrats participated, making this the largest County Convention in many years.

Austin, Texas – Any resident who has taken a picture of a field of bluebonnets knows the special beauty of the Texas Hill Country was meant to be photographed. Now the Hill Country Alliance 2008 Photo Contest adds incentive to the simple pleasure, offering cash prizes up to $1,500 and inclusion in the HCA’s popular annual Hill Country calendar for winning images.

Marble Falls Police Department and Hill Country Area Crime Stoppers are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Joseph Bishop (white male, DOB 06/27/1979) who should be considered armed and dangerous. The Marble Falls Police Department has a Felony warrant for Burglary of Habitation/Intend Other Felony for the home invasion which occurred at 813 Lacey Oaks Circle in Marble Falls on Monday March 17, 2008.

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.