Columns see more »

*****Christmas in July is coming. Get ready for Christmas with the Blanco County Extension Education Association. It will be on July 29, 2010 from 5:30-7:30 pm at the Johnson City First Baptist Church at 102 N. Ave F. Learn how to make quilted ornaments, pillow sham aprons, freezer paper stencils, Advent calendars, christmas card ornaments & button candles. RSVP to 830/868-7167.

*****Mae Hernlund celebrated her 90th birthday last Saturday, July 17th, with an open house at her home, Round Mountain Stage Coach Inn. Refreshments were served to the many guests welcoming Mae back home after her stay at Summit Lakeway in Austin. Happy Birthday, Mae, and we wish you many more happy times together.

*****Will the woman who left the red Scrap Book at the LBJ National Historic Park Visitor Center desk a couple of weeks ago please contact the park at 830-868-7128 ext. 239.

*****A group of special ladies honored Pat Dildine with a birthday lunch at the Texas Highway 290 Diner on Tuesday, July 20. Those attending were Donna McCormick, Jeannie Hardy, Gwen Pickett, Bernice Casparis, Ray Sultemeier, Lillian Lippe, Rosie Danz, Ola Matus, Delores Bozeman, Gertrude Whittington, Joycelyn Carter, Pearl Hedlund & Irma Sanchez.

*****Louise Baker, former Johnson City citizen, was in town last week visiting old friends. Janie Moreland, Charlotte Matthews, Kathy Wilson, & Pat Dildine surprised her with an impromptu birthday lunch at Silver K. Louise worked for former Justice of the Peace Alvie Mayfield & her husband Joe Baker was a State Trooper here. They now live in Rocksprings where Joe is the Justice of the Peace.

*****Attendees of the Vacation Bible School at the First Baptist Church traveled with Joseph to Egypt this past week. Along with many other activities and bible study, the attendees enjoyed an evening meal.

*****Busy summer for Gus & Irma Sanchez with visits from Richard & Virginia Saldana of Summerville, South Carolina, Gene & Vilma Pfeifer from Omaha, Nebraska, Angie Alaniz from Corpus Christi, Texas, and David Alaniz from Ingleside, Texas.

*****Shay Zbytovsky turned 7 years old on the 25th of July. A birthday celebration was held in her honor with tons of family and friends. Face painting, presents and cup cakes, YUM!

*****Gus Sanchez’s nephew, Lance Queton’s high school graduation and reception in Round Rock, Texas was attended by Gus as Irma was recuperating from surgery.

*****Can you believe that football and volleyball get started on Monday? The start of school is just around the corner.

*****Recently Lisa Callaway Evans (daughter of Gus & Irma Sanchez) from Del Rio came and picked up her mom & they headed to Corpus Christi for 4 days. Lisa has been working with the Ridley sea turtle program doing patrol and assisting with the release of the new hatchlings. Irma went to witness the interesting and exciting spectacle of the baby turtle release.

*****The Sanchez’ often sit with grandson Sam Jett Guidry Monger in Austin, Texas for 4-5 hours on Saturdays, while Sam’s parents, Karl & Ann work. This past Saturday, 2 year old Sam asked his grandparents to be taken to Farmer’s Market where they have live music every week. Musical Sam was mesmerized by the performance. After 2 1/2 hours of good music and food the headed to Garrison Park to play and have some fun until time for Sam’s nap. It was time for the Sanchez’ to head for Johnson City as they were expecting grandson #1, Danny Callaway, from San Antonio to arrive for a visit and to leave his 2 pet guinea pigs Pancho & Perry who will be guests of the Sanchez for a month, while Danny spends August in Nashville. As part of his last year of medical school, he’ll work at Vanderbilt Hospital at the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit. Lisa also arrived from Del Rio to spend time with her son before he leaves: Good Luck Danny!

*****The Shumakes have been busy celebrating big birthdays. Sid turned 40 in June, and Lawson just turned 16. Both Sid and Lawson are looking forward to catching the "big one" out on a fishing trip later on this month. Good Luck!!

*****The Normands went to Galveston last weekend. Matt, Misty, Justice, & Aubree along with Matt’s sister & her family enjoyed the beach and all the tourist attractions. Wonder how much seafood they ate?

*****Tim and Patty Elliott’s grandchildren, Kendall, Connor and Mackenzie need to go where there are lots of good books to read, while they are visiting in Johnson City.

*****It was just birthday all week for Pat Dildine! Delores Mobin, Rhonda Stell, & Rhonda Stell helped her celebrate at Pappadeaux Seafood Restaurant in Austin on Friday. More seafood! Is there a theme to this column?

*****There is an update from former Johnson City resident Kay Tiff who is temporarily still in Fredericksburg. On September 10th Kay will be moving to Windsor, Colorado. She has bought a condo there which is near Ft. Collins where her sister lives. Best of luck to Kay in her new adventures!

*****Chris and Tammy Liesmann went camping this past weekend with their boys, Wythe and Wren. A majority of the Liesmann family showed up at some time or other to spend time together.

*****Monty & Shanna Braun & family packed up their last load on Saturday to move to Yoakum. Good luck Braun family!

*****Get well wishes to Amanda Wessels. Amanda had heart surgery at St. Davids Hospital last week.

*****Coy, Michala, and Shay Zbytovksy are spending the week in Justin with Tokpa’s mom and step-dad.

*****As a result of Coy Zbytovsky being out of town, cousin Dawson Moreland, Steven’s oldest son, has come to replace him as Papaw’s (Alton Moreland) helper. Dawson is a lot younger than Coy and we are all hoping that Papaw doesn’t leave him anywhere to go on a fire call.

*****Johnson City cheerleaders have been at cheer camp this past week. Our Johnson City cheerleaders did their thing on the football field of Darrel K. Royal Stadium (yes, where the Longhorns play!) last Saturday night starting at 6:00 and Sunday starting at 8 a.m.!!! It really was an experience for the cheerleaders and fans alike! Congratulations to Olivia Anderson!! After tryouts on Saturday, she was chosen as an All American cheerleader and has the opportunity to travel to London for the New Year’s parade there!!

*****Shay Smith, bride-elect of Lucas Henderson, was honored with a wedding shower at the home of her grandmother Delores Mobin on Saturday afternoon. Lots of ladies & babies had a great time!

*****Mary and Donnie Garrett made a quick trip to Dallas and Flower Mound to see Mary’s son, Ryan and his girlfriend Kelli Felderhoff. While there Ryan treated his mom to a makeover complete with a new haircut and color at Kelli’s salon in downtown Dallas. Cooper and Simba stayed home to keep the boogeymen away.

*****The Hacker twins, Katie and Maddy are in Maryland with their grandparents to be joined later by their mom, Carrie. While there have been taking ballet and tap lessons. When Carrie gets there they will all take off to the shores for some sun and sand with the family.

*****Children from the First Baptist Church are attending day camp at Camp Peniel near Marble Falls this week.

*****John & Norma Kinchen are back home in Johnson City after an RV trip to Colorado recently.

*****You might be a Johnson City native if you can remember even further back than when Furrs Café was in the building that houses Adams Insurance – when Hoyt Walker ran a café there.

*****Happy Birthday wishes to: July 30th – Joshua Vasquez, Maxine Sultemeier, Leanne Haley, & Amy Anderson; July 31st – Jason Crawford, Luke Whittington, Mary Ledbetter, & Jacqueline Stubbs Lewis; August 1st – Mary Moreland, Kyle Moreland & Joann Trevino; August 2nd – Susie Kneese, Joe Casparis, Pat Rumpf, Tammy Metcalf, Joshua McKennis, & Jayne Sparkman; August 3rd – Vera Liesmann; August 4th – Tommy Batchelor, Max Ebeling, Ralph Ebeling, Ray Kunkel, Kenny Moore, Louise Gravenor, David Moreland & Chris Stokes; and on August 5th – Hunter Lawson, Kelly Ahrns & Jennifer Bacon.

*****Anniversary congratulations to Craig & Carrie Stark on August 1st; to Ray & Rayette Bible and Bryan & Tressy Gumbert on August 3rd.

*****A light hearted Tip for the week: A mouse trap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

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