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*****Wendy Smith is working on the final details for this year’s Father/Daughter dance to be held on February 13th. The Gem of the Hills in Blanco has generously donated their facility for the Blanco County Relay for Life fundraiser. Ronnie Batchelor will once again furnish the music and entertainment for the family fun event. Circle your calendar and watch the local newspaper for more information.

*****Blanco County Child Protection & Family Advocacy Board is sponsoring the Yello Dyno program in the schools in Johnson City, Blanco, and at Stonewall Headstart. School counselors and volunteers were trained by Mikey Betancourt, Forensic Interviewer with the Hill Country Advocacy Center and will be teaching our children how to protect themselves from people who mean them harm, such as bullies, abductors, violent kids, drug pushers, child abusers, sexual predators and internet predators. This program is musically driven and very "G" rated which makes this the #1 program selected by educators. Its main goal is "Protecting Children From Child Predators". The program will begin in some Pre-K through 3rd grade classes in early 2010.

*****Shane Buck’s parents Ruby and Curtis Buck visited the Buck’s on Christmas day and stayed for the weekend. Haley went home to Victoria with them and spent time with her Aunt Sissy, Uncle Jason, and Lexie and Ryan. Jerry Ann and Shane went Tuesday to Port O’Connor to see friends Joanne and Bill Zimmerman and then to Victoria to pick up Haley and visit Shane’s family all while Taylor stayed in JC and enjoyed PaPa time with her grandpa Jerry Casparis. Shane is recovering well from his back surgery and is ready to return to work.

*****Congratulations to Jeff Turner & Thu Phen! As of New Year’s Eve they are officially engaged. You should see her ring. Jeff is employed by North Blanco Emergency Medical Services (NBCEMS) as an Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate (EMTI).

*****Eight year old Dylan Hunt, grandson of Pat & Lawrence Dildine, shot his first deer on Saturday while visiting his grandparents. Way to go, Dylan! Dylan & his mom Kecia went back home on Sunday to get ready for school & work on Monday.

*****Big changes at Tillie Lindeman’s house – the wind blew part of her roof off & the huge cactus on the south side is gone! We won’t recognize that corner! Especially after the big trees came down across the street at Sally Wells’ house!

*****Sally Armstrong, of Donkey-Oaties, was in Dallas over the New Year’s Holiday. She joined a group of friends with the American Donkey & Mule Society and they participated in the Cotton Bowl parade with their animals. According to Sally, it was a total blast! They tailgated in the parking lot beforehand. There were thousands and thousands of people and all the Miniature Donkeys were petted so much she was surprised they had any fur left. There will be pictures of the longears all over the internet. Everyone wanted their picture taken with them.

*****More tales or tall tales from Ronnie’s BBQ -According to Rodney Hartmann, Ronnie Weiershausen’s wife Cindy gave him a big travel trailer for Christmas. Looks like they will be traveling some this summer.

*****There were New Year’s Eve parties everywhere. One was at the First Baptist Church with plenty of fun, food, & games.

*****Another New Year’s Eve party was at the North Blanco Emergency Medical Services (NBCEMS) building. It also had plenty of food and fellowship. Great way to greet the New Year!

*****Get well wishes to Marlene Edwards who is recovering from back surgery.

*****Keep Ralph Moss in your thoughts & prayers as he is having some health issues right now also. He spent a few days in the hospital last week.

*****You might be a Johnson City native if you can remember when the Hill Country Cupboard was Uncle Bob’s. It was owned by Bob & Joyce Penick. Ask Robbie Penick or Holly Penick Lawson how diversified Uncle Bob’s was!

*****Happy Birthday wishes to: January 7th – Elizabeth Matthews, JoAnn Routh, Barbara Monkhouse, Colleen Hulburt, Jacob Brodbeck, Charlotte Matthews, & Amber Bray; & on January 8th - Stella Bruns, David White & Chris Liesmann; January 9th – Melanie Anderson, Ashley Sultemeier, Leslie Sultemeier, & Edith Treece; January 10th – Pete Ulrich, Michael Lane & Clifton Lovejoy; January 11th – Zach Beattie; January 12th – Jaycee DeBusk; and on January 13th – Dwayne Hoppe & Patsy Simpson.

*****Anniversary Congratulations to Otto & Maxine Sultemeier on January 12th; and to Mr. & Mrs. Greg Hubenak and Ralph & Diann Ebeling on January 13th.

*****Tip for the week: Throughout the year, collect free samples from companies and websites. Store these items in a container in your closet. At Christmastime, use the samples as stocking stuffers for your family. It could be perfume, toothbrushes, pens and highlighters, stickers, small bottles of sauces, cosmetics, lip glosses, and more. You could even add coupons for their favorite personal items. The kids & adults love digging through all the wonderful goodies.

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