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*****On Sept 18, 2009 as EMS celebrated Gerry Moreau’s one year anniversary of helping, healing and preventing injury or illness to the citizens of North Blanco County, specifically Johnson City. It was marked with a lunch with my EMS colleagues and a blackberry cobbler with a candle from the folks at the HWY 290 Diner. It was fun and the best part was his speech thanking his peers for allowing him to be a big part of this wonderful community. Gerry was overheard saying “I can’t wait for my 10th anniversary in Johnson City”.

*****Family and friends celebrated Blanche Casparis 90th birthday on Sept 18th at the home of her son Bill Althaus in Austin. Also attending was her daughter Josephine Smith who was here visiting from Marietta, Georgia.

*****Dave & Pat left for Dave’s 55th high school reunion the 9th and returned on the 14th. It was a short trip to Alton, Ill. of 2l00 miles round trip. Got to see his brother Frank, class of 54 and wife Ann, as well as Dave’s class of 55. They had about 200 and some in bad health, lost a few more and most looked pretty darn good for old people. They had a great time, but had to be back for Dave to drive his afternoon route tomorrow. It gets a little harder to make short time long trips anymore, but maybe next time it will be vacation time and they can take their time. Always glad to be back home safe and sound.

*****Judy Yentzen celebrated a recent birthday one day late this past week. Cynthia Smith took her to lunch at Creek Road Cafe and they say the food was great and the Key Lime pie was delicious.

*****Delores Mobin, Robyn Henderson, and Joy Watson just returned from a fantastic trip to Branson, Missouri. There were shows, eating, a riverboat ride on the Branson Belle, eating at the famous Lambert Restaurant where they throw rolls at patrons, a scenic train trip, eating, a visit to the Titanic real size replica, a scrapbook store, quilt shops, fudge shop, eating & just hanging out.

*****Laura Wilson & children had a wonderful day on Thursday, September 17!! Only 2 1/2 weeks of home-school down and they went on their first field trip to the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum. It was really cool!!

*****There was a nice gathering at the library this past Wednesday when Mae Hernlund was featured giving a history of Round Mountain. It was an interesting presentation that she gave and she has another DVD that is available for check out at the library and that one is the history of the home she now lives in. There are about 15 audio/visual programs available at the library done by various people here in Blanco County and all are very interesting.

*****Shay Zbytovsky spent the night with her Nana, Janie Moreland, Saturday night. She would stay every night if her Nana would only let her.

*****Former Johnson City residents Gretchen and Vernon Birck were in Johnson City on Saturday visiting their 3 year old granddaughter. What a beautiful day they had! Vernon & Gretchen now live in Rocksprings.

*****Severne and Wendy Smith are excited with the birth of their third grandchild, Titus Paul James. Titus was born on September 16 weighing 7 pounds 12 ounces and 21 inches long. Titus is welcomed by his sisters Zoe and Lydia. September and Tim are their proud parents.

*****Cindy Smith’s husband, Brian Ricketts completed a 100 mile trailrun in the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. The race began Friday morning and continued through the night. More than a third of the 270 runners were not able to complete the race. Brian is a teacher and coach at Alamo Heights School in San Antonio.

*****Mary Stevenson had her 2nd angiogram on Tuesday as one of the stents they put in last year was not working. It is possible she will have had a bypass on an iliac artery. Get well wishes to Mary!

*****The Shane Buck family traveled to Arlington to watch Taylor’s Platinum team play softball on Friday. The 12 U Platinum placed 3rd in Arlington Tourney..... Great tourney for their first one. Ask them about their eventful trip on IH 35!

*****Susan Kirchman and Warren Villmare are vacationing in his homeland of Hawaii.

*****The Stevens’ gang from Magnolia, Scott, Laurie, Evan, Luke, and Claire, (Cody was in Dallas for a simulated UN discussion) were here for the weekend to visit Laurie’s parents, Jim and Kay Odiorne. Scott and the kids enjoyed Saturday with Jim while Laurie went shopping at the Trade Days with Kay, Katie Odiorne, and Malyn Johnson. Of course by kick-off they were all rootin’ for the Longhorns. They made a stop at Scott’s parents, Harry and Patty Carpenter’s for a couple of quick games of “hide and seek”! They were also able to visit with Grandpa Mike!

*****The Women’s Bible Study at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church has resumed meeting @ 9:30 on Tuesdays. It is a free and open study of the bible, led by the best biblical scholars in the area. It welcomes anyone interested in knowing more about the bible and life. They would also welcome people of any faith (or lack thereof) who are searching for knowledge.

*****Anjanette Jackson was honored with a baby shower at the First Baptist Church on Sunday afternoon. She is expecting a little baby girl. According to Anjanette her two year old twin boys, Walker and Marshall, have been practicing their daiper changing techniques in preperation for the new arrival.

*****Last Friday evening (9/18) Lucia and Conrad Carbary along with Cristol Corpus and the kids Caylee and Collin went to Round Rock to meet Camey and Justin Marks and their son Coleton to celebrate Camey’s 25th birthday. After dinner at Carino’s they all headed over to Hutto to watch Andrew’s football game. The Del Valle Cardinals defeated the Hutto Hippos in overtime and won 16-10. They are now 3-1 for the season. Camey had a great jumpstart to her birthday which was actually on Saturday the 19th.

*****Don’t forget the Emergency Services Auxiliary huge Garage Sale to benefit the Johnson City Volunteer Fire Department and the North Blanco County Emergency Medical Services. It will be on October 1, 2, & 3 at the EMS station on Bill Watson Drive.

*****Mark your calendars for the Good Shepherd Catholic Church’s Mexican Dinner coming up on October 4th beginning at 11 am.

*****The Denton family – Leonard, Doris, Zachary & Johnnie were seen at Mamacita’s in Fredericksburg Sunday enjoying the Mexican food. Joy Watson & Pat Dildine were the sleuths who saw them!

*****Don’t forget the Homecoming festivities on Friday, September 25th at Shockley Field beginning at 6:45 pm.

*****The North Blanco Emergency Services District held their monthly meeting on Monday, September 21 at the EMS station. The tax rate was set at $.0905 per hundred dollars evaluation, budgets for all entities (Johnson City Volunteer Fire Department, Round Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, North Blanco Emergency Medical Services & the ESD themselves) were finalized. The final contract was signed, so everything is in place for the departments to provide excellent coverage for the citizens of North Blanco County. The next meeting is scheduled for October 19th at the JCVFD.

*****You might be a Johnson City native if you can remember when Paul & Grace Duecker operated a liquor store on Highway 281 S where the t-shirt shop is now located.

*****Happy Birthday wishes to: September 25th – Sarah Starr, Leland Corley, Randy Schultz, Barbara Corley & Lance Hobbs; September 26th – James Dildine, Steve Koennecke, Michael Axtell, Brett Bray, & Evan Mendiola; September 27th - Jason LaForgey, Marilyn Walston; September 28th – Joannie Topper, Bill Hyatt, Laci Gumbert & Marcus Storer; September 29th – Lisa Batchelor, Dianne Beagle, Alex Houston, Jerry Martin, Reid Weirich, Tamara Martell & Matt Pletcher; September 30th – Curtis Klimple, & Hank Lynn; & on October 1st – Gary Polvado, Megan Brown, Cullen Haley & Charles Matus.

*****Anniversary congratulations to Bill & Debbie Elsbury on September 25th; to Margie & Tim Vasquez and Adrian & Christine Schultz on September 26th; to Randy & Jake Brodbeck on September 27th; and to Paul & Kris Axtell on September 30th.

*****Tip for the week: Heat up leftover pizza in a non-stick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza.

*****I’ll see you again when there’s more news! Speaking of news, you can email to imasnoop01@gmail.com.