October 16, 2008

TOM LANDRY FCA SCHOLARSHIP: On Monday, October 13, 2008, David Rhoades received the Tom Landry FCA Scholarship at Onion Creek Country Club in Austin, Texas. David was selected from students representing over 100 high schools in the Austin area. The award is presented annually to a high school senior boy and girl in the Austin area who participate in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) organization.

The Community Garden Club met last Thursday at the Johnson Settlement at the LBJ National Park. Thirty six ladies including two guests were welcomed to the settlement colorfully decorated for fall and Halloween. Our new President, Pearl Hedlund opened the meeting, she asked our program chairperson Jean Anderson to introduce our program for the day.

Things are still happening here. Last week was busy with Bingo and our Meals on Wheels program, which happens on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The Meals on Wheels is an awesome program that provides a great service here in Johnson City, Texas. If you have questions about this program, please call 868-4173 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Service flags were first displayed during World War I. Also known as Service Star Banners, Blue Star Banners or Son-in-Service Flags. They are appearing once again in windows of American homes supporting their loved ones in time of war. Originally designed by World War I Army Captain, Robert L. Queissner, 5th Ohio Infantry, in honor of his two sons who served in the war.

I will really date myself with this story but this football Saturday with nice weather reminds me of how it was back in the fifties when I went to some college games. The first college game I went to was to see A&M play. I think that first game I went with a girlfriend whose parents took us so I imagine we were maybe juniors or seniors in high school.

CALL FOR PHOTOS: LIGHTS SPECTACULAR - HILL COUNTRY STYLE. The Chamber is creating a web photo page for our Lights Spectacular Event. If you have photos you would like to provide for this, please send to info@johnsoncity texaschamber.com or if on CD, drop them off at the Visitors Center. *****I was told of two more ice houses.

What if I told you that I was going to make some rather important decisions about your life – without your opinion? I am going to decide what your neighborhood looks like. I am going to decide what kind of park your kids play in. I am going to decide whether or not I thought it was a good idea to raise your taxes to pay for things that I thought were important to you.

The state average for a gallon of gasoline has finally dropped below $3.00 for the first time in months. Gas prices have dropped 22% from their highest point and experts predict that they may drop even farther as the nation’s economy continues to struggle with its financial crisis.

Library getting ready to open its doors......... On Saturday, November 8, The Johnson City Library will move to its new location near LBJ High School. Regardless of the weather, November 8 is the moving day. How does a library get moved in a small town? You guessed it. You and your neighbors, the citizens of Johnson City, will help move the library.

Fort Worth, Texas (October 8, 2008) ~ Elliot Jacoby is just like any other average 18 year old, except he’s sitting 3rd in the World Standings after two title wins and only riding in the CBR for less than 6 months. Although he has been involved with rodeos since he was 11, he had to wait until he turned 18 on April 26 to become eligible to ride with the CBR.

How do you turn a church into an emergency shelter — and make it work? And is there a role for small churches? A regional panel on emergency shelters in local churches will be held Saturday morning in Johnson City. The panelists will cover ways to make shelters work better in churches, based on their experiences with church shelters over decades past...and as recently as last month. The panel is sponsored by the Blanco County Disaster Response Group, and will include: • Mike McEuen, ...

A great big thank you to all of you who made this sale a success. We would also like to say thank you to everyone who made the wonderful donations of items through the past year to make our sales possible . We couldn’t do it without your support, we were able to give the JOHNSON CITY VFD $5,596.05 and the North Blanco EMS $7,596.05 Giving them an extra $2,000 for the use of their building .

Cynthia Keene, trustee for Johnson City ISD, joined 31 other school board members from across Texas September 26-28 at the kickoff session of the Leadership TASB class of 2009. Selected by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), the group is participating in a yearlong education leadership study program. These trustees represent school districts of all sizes, with student populations of 543 to 82,000, and reflect a similar range of property wealth. Participants who complete all require ...

REZONING PUBLIC HEARINGS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS IN THE CITY OF JOHNSON CITY, TEXAS THAT PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BE HELD BY THE PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2008, 6:00 P.M. IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL PERTAINING TO: 1.

Each year, the women of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Blanco, Texas, challenge each other to dig deep into their closets, garages and barns in order to hold an annual rummage sale. This much anticipated annual event is part of the fabric of fall in Blanco. October 18 is the magic day for this year’s sale.

“Music in the Park” is this Saturday from 5-7 right here in Johnson City. What a great time everyone had at the last event. If you missed it you don’t want to miss this one. The park is such a great place to enjoy live music, a bite to eat along with your family and friends.

Chester Harry William Goehmann Chester Harry William Goehmann beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and friend was born on May 28, 1926 in the Cave Creek Community in Gillespie County, Texas. He passed away on October 12, 2008 at the age of 82, in Blanco County, Texas. He married Beatrice Clara “Pat” Birck on June 9, 1950.

Dear Editor: Kudos to Marion Hoy for her line article, “The Bullies Among Us.” It takes courage to face a problem like this and not just sweep it under the carpet. My grandson had fears about entering middle school because of the stories about how older kids would beat up the younger ones, stealing their lunch money, backpacks, and self-esteem.

Blanco Police Reports These reports were filed between Sep 25 and Oct 1. Sep 25 • Animal Complaint. 12:15 PM. A dog killed the caller’s chickens and roosters and the caller now had the dog trapped in a pen. • Stranded Motorist. 3:50 PM. A vehicle with a flat tire was reported on US 281. Sep 26 • Information.

On Monday, October 13th, the Johnson City Independent School District held their regularly scheduled monthly meeting at 6:00 pm. TOUR OF LBJ MIDDLE SCHOOL The school board went on a short tour of the LBJ Middle School Campus led by Principal Cammie Ockman. The board had an opportunity to see many of the classrooms and computer labs at the Middle School and they were greatly impressed. “It’s just great to see all of the wonderful things that our teachers are doing,” stated JCISD ...

2nd Grade A Honor Roll Ana Alvarez, Sierra Anderson, MaKayla Arvesen, Gabriel Barrientes, Hunter Barrientes, Laina Deleon, Bryan Evers, Willow Fowler, Bryce Fry, Carly Gravell, Chance Haley, Cheyenne Haynes, Claire Hedlund, Ethan Kubala, Johnny Hernandez, Lance Hobbs, Avery Hubenak, Colton Hurlbut, David Jordan, Wren Liesmann, Dylan Lorenz, Valerie Menchaca, Skyler Roberts, Paige Rutherford, Katelyn Splude, Addisyn Stueler, Braden Stueler, Isabella Swafford, Avery Voron, Rylee Weirich, Aleigh ...

The 7th grade football team won 28-0 over Harper last Thursday in Johnson City. Oscar Alvarado scored three touchdowns and Preston Workman scored one touchdown. Jacob Wagner, Garrett DeLeon, and Tyler Conlon had good defensive games for the Eagles. Written by Eduardo Martinez and Jacob Wagner The 8th grade football team sealed another win against the Harper Longhorns.

They “Did It Again” !! The LBJ Fighting Eagle Band traveled to San Antonio this past Saturday, October 11 to participate in the Rough Rider 25th Annual Marching Contest at Blossom Athletic Center in San Antonio. The Stadium was large, but when the Fighting Eagle Band took the field at 10:00 am they commanded attention in their impressive maroon and black uniforms against a bright green background. When called to attention with “Hey Band” they replied in unison “What” with such ...

The Lady Eagles came out strong last Tuesday night and won easily against the Randolph Lady Ro-Hawks, 25-11, 25-16, and 25-18. The Lady Eagles came out and played a very solid match. On-target serving by Milan Weeks and Seleste Mills helped the Lady Eagles get ahead early in each of the games.

Congress has passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which extends for 2008 and 2009 an expired provision permitting IRA owners age 70 1/2 and older to make distributions to qualified organizations of up to $100,000 per year. Sandy Goff, executive director of Hill Country Memorial Hospital Foundation and a certified fund raising executive, said no income tax deductions are available for IRA “qualified charitable distributions,” but donors may save taxes anyway where gifts ...

Thomas Jefferson once said, “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” Unfortunately, in the U.S. Congress, the business of the day is too often left unfinished. Throughout 2008, progress in the Senate was hindered by partisanship and counterproductive procedural moves to stall legislation. As a result, during the brief working session this fall, the Senate had a lengthy to-do list.

Press Release provided by the Blanco County Democratic Party In no other policy area are the American people offered a clearer choice between the starkly different tax programs of Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain. Sen. Obama ‘s tax plan delivers broad–based tax relief to middle class families and cuts taxes for small businesses and companies that create jobs in America, while restoring fairness to our tax code and returning to fiscal responsibility.

For many living in the beautiful Hill Country, October means the entry of fall with cooler nights and the abundance of harvest colors associated with pumpkins, deer corn, and dropping leaves. Some view October as the official end of summer and the beginning of the harvest season. For those involved with the Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center (HLFCC), October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) for Burnet, Blanco, Llano and Lampasas counties, throughout Texas and across the nation.

Question: I know Social Security has Direct Deposit, but what if I do not have an existing bank account? Answer: You can sign up for the new Direct Express card. The Direct Express card is a debit card you can use to access your benefits. If you do not have a bank account and you wait anxiously every month for the mail carrier to deliver your check from Social Security, the Direct Express card is for you.