March 19, 2009

March 21-22, 10 am to 5 pm Bunkhouse Fine Art and Jewelry Show – One More Weekend! Bunkhouse Gallery at Wenmohs Ranch, Old Spicewood Road, Cypress Mill More than 300 pieces of art and many artists’ styles Directions at www.wenmohsranch.com dena@hillcountrytx.net 830-825-3465

March 21 - Blanco State Park Fish School: Fishing Basics for Children and Families Children and families will learn the basics of fishing safety, fish identification, knot tying, and casting through hands on practice and fun with park staff. Children can earn a “Basic Angler” pin and certificate as well as win fishing gear.

The Blanco County Child Welfare and Family Advocacy Board is proud to announce the addition of two new members, Carolyn Alley of Round Mountain and Connie Russell of Blanco. The non-profit Board provides support to Blanco County children in protective custody and to other disadvantaged children of the county. Some of the programs run by the Board include winter coats, school clothing and supplies, summer camps and education programs.

The Community Garden Club met last Thursday at the Methodist Church Activity Center. We were to meet at the new home of Donna Sultemeier, but due to the rain that we all prayed for, we had to move to town, and thanked God for answering our prayers! Our program this month was presented by Susan Kirchman.

Good Shepherd Catholic Church hosted their traditional Mexican dinner, raffle and bake sale on Sunday, March 9th. Good Shepherd thanks the community for their participation for a successful fundraiser. The raffle prizes and winners are as follows: 1. Two Nights Stay at Super 8 in Fredericksburg, Stephanie Marx; 2. $100 EE Rated Savings Bond, Carolyn Gieringer; 3.

The lineup for March ARTS Encounters at the Benini Galleries and Sculpture Ranch features favorites in the world of music, art, wine and cuisine. Everyone is welcome, free of charge to the social, cultural weekend at the fine arts project Saturday, March 28th and Sunday, March 29th. Events begin at 1:30 p.m. John Arthur Martinez, songwriter and singer, now gaining international fame for his Texas-soul sounds returns to ARTS Encounters, planning to sing some selections from his new CD coming o ...

Things are still going on here on the porch. We had rain last week and a little over the weekend. It already has made a difference in how things look and I am sure the Fire Department appreciated the rain also. We are hoping for some more rain as our creeks and tanks have been dry.

Parents throughout Texas take pride in two of our nation’s most iconic youth leadership organizations. In February, the Boy Scouts celebrated their 99th anniversary. In early March, the Girl Scouts celebrated “National Girl Scout Week” in honor of their own 97th year. Whether we led a local Boy Scout camping trip or purchased Girl Scout cookies from a neighbor, we are confident that the values Scouting instills are ones that will serve our children well throughout their lives. The Girl ...

The Lampasas Quilt Show was in their courthouse on the square. Actually, theirs was a NeedleArt and Quilt Show. They had some very pretty quilts along with crocheted and embroidered items. Beading is also a big thing there. We explored the bottom floor and went upstairs to view the rest of them.

By Cynthia Smith From all the hype the last few days from the weather people I was afraid they’d talk the rain out of the forecast. It seems like every time they begin to go on and on over what the weather may do, be it a freak snowstorm or a cold front, it fizzles out before it gets here and we are left with the same old same old. But not this time by golly, they said we’d get rain and we got it.

*****Skiing and Bible study – that’s what the Youth groups of local churches are doing this week during Spring Break. Ruidoso, New Mexico was the destination of the group from the First United Methodist Church while the youth from the First Baptist Church and First Christian Church went to Glorietta, New Mexico. *****The Blanco County 4H Shooting Sports Club participated in the State BB Shooting Competition on Saturday, March 14.

The Texas Men’s State Chili and Barbecue Championships will proudly host a special musical performance by Dean Strickland on Saturday, March 28 from 2:00 to 4:00 at the Blanco County Fairground Showbarn. Dean Strickland also known as The Hitchhiking Guitarman takes his musical career one ride at a time. Through his hard work, talent and admitted “good fortune,” he has safely traversed across Texas, Tennessee and California via the rides of more than 1000 generous strangers, picking up f ...

On Monday, March 16th the North Blanco County Emergency Service District (ESD) held their regularly scheduled meeting at 7:00. The agenda items were few in number, however one particular item on the agenda garnered the attention of a number of people – and the meeting was full with folks who had a lot of questions for the Round Mountain Volunteer Fire Department. The meeting began with business as usual: roll call, disposition of the minutes and a review of spreadsheets from the service org ...

“This year, about 565,650 Americans are expected to die of cancer, more than 1,500 people a day. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the US, exceeded only by heart disease. In the US, cancer accounts for 1 of every 4 deaths” (American Cancer Society 2008 Survey). But there is hope.

The City of Johnson City has added a new pavillion to the City Park by the pool. It is still under construction, but will be available to use by the end of the month. All those late spring and summer birthday parties will have the pavillion to provide shelter from the elements.

Due to overwhelming response last spring, Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park announces the second annual LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour on Saturday, March 28 on the LBJ Ranch near Stonewall. Luci Baines Johnson, younger daughter of Lyndon and “Lady Bird” Johnson, will officially start the 32, 45, and 62-mile (100 kilometer) rides at 9:00 a.m.

Sally Armstrong of Donkey-Oaties exhibited three of her Miniature Donkeys at the San Antonio Livestock Exposition held as part of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo in February. Bond, a three-year-old gelding, won Champion High Point in the Green Division. He was presented an embroidered hay bale carrier and Armstrong received a boot bag for their win. Max, a five-year-old gelding, was in the Open Division and placed third overall, after eight classes encompassing halter, in-hand trail, jum ...

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than 97% of the state is currently experiencing some level of drought. “Much of those areas experiencing drought are somewhat manageable at this point, but other areas are seeing exceptional, level D4 on the drought intensity scale that hasn’t been around since the 1950’s,” said Blanco County Farm Bureau S & T Adrian Schulze. The lack of rainfall is crippling cattle herds and leaving many row crop producers left to wonder if a crop will ac ...

Barbara Milloway Ellis, 67, passed away Tuesday, March 10, 2009 in Austin, Texas. Barbara was born in Prescott, Arkansas on April 10, 1941 to Onnie Homer Milloway and Mary Sue Rutherford Milloway Corder. She spent the first ten years of her life in Gurdon, Arkansas and grew up in Camden, Arkansas, where she graduated from Camden High School and maintained close friendships with her classmates.

Boyd Ray Freitag, 61, of Johnson City, Texas, passed away Monday morning after losing the last battle of the many he fought since an accident left him in a wheelchair 43 years ago. Boyd Ray was raised in Bee Cave and graduated from Dripping Springs High School in 1965.

Jean Caroline Blaylock Leidy, 88, passed away March 16, 2009 in Fredericksburg, TX. She was born in Cameron, TX to George Truett Blaylock and Lucinda Brock Blaylock. Jean was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Capt. Delmar M. Leidy; daughter, Smokie Dickerson; brother, George Blaylock; sisters, Joan Robertson and June Joseph; and granddaughter, Heather Leidy.

Dear Editor, I am writing to ask for your help in getting the word out about the Third Marine Division Association annual reunion. The Association is made up of anyone who is now, or ever has been, in the Third Marine Division or attached to the Third Marine Division. Our Marines have served bravely wherever and whenever asked, from WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, Persian Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan and Peacetime.

My soul is greatly dismayed; but You, O LORD—how long? Psalm 6:3 Barbara shared yesterday about some events that occurred during one of the most challenging seasons of our marriage. On top of the crises she mentioned, our one-year-old son, Benjamin, had to be rushed into emergency surgery; we were cheated out of a substantial amount of money on a home we had just bought; and after returning to southwest Missouri to temporarily run my deceased father’s propane business, I had a medical e ...

Johnson City ISD is conducting a Pre-kindergarten Round-Up March 23-31, 2009. Students must meet specific eligibility requirements for enrollment. The number of eligible students and the availability of facilities will determine if Johnson City ISD holds Pre-kindergarten classes during the 2009-2010 school year. Please contact LBJ Elementary School at 830-868-4028 for more information. El Distrito Escolar de Johnson City (JCISD) está dirigiendo un Conteo de Pre-kinder del 23-31 de marzo, 200 ...

Quick…here’s your chance to get a cash award for involving yourself in a very worthy cause. Blanco County Child Protection & Family Advocacy Board (BCCP&FAB) is sponsoring Poster and Essay contests with a total of $350 in Cash Prizes to be awarded based around bringing awareness to April being National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The Johnson City baseball team obtained their 5th victory of the year with a 15-0 win over the Evant Elks. Johnson City split up the pitching duties with each pitcher being limited to around 30 pitches in preparation for the scheduled San Saba tourney later that week. Kris McDonald started out on the mound and went 2 strong innings.

The LBJ Eagle varsity boys basketball team placed 3 players on the 27-2A All District basketball team for the 2008-09 season. Kris McDonald, a sophomore point guard for the Eagles was selected to the 1st Team while senior wing Blake Simpson and senior post Michael Redman were selected to the 2nd Team. Congratulations to all 3 young men for this outstanding achievement.

A fast-pitch pitcher performs almost 85% of the work on the defensive side of play. Without a good pitcher and competent back up pitchers a team cannot hope to compete. Fast-pitching softball is a very precise and rigorous task. If improperly performed, it can cause serious injury. A long time girls softball pitching instructor from Llano, Rex Wootan, has now stepped forward to offer training to Johnson City girls who are interested in the most important position on the field, the pitcher s ...

Consultants hired by the Pedernales Electric Cooperative unveiled a proposed new rate design plan at the PEC Board of Directors meeting in Marble Falls on Monday afternoon. David Hedrick, Vice President of C.H. Guernsey & Company said their proposal “balances conflicting concerns” and like any change in business philosophy, it will “create winners and losers.” Hedrick and two other Guernsey representatives explained two major changes proposed in the report that would help meet PEC’s ...

For a half-century or so, chili-cooking competitions — known as cook-offs — have been a part of the American and world scene. The premise is simple: people get together and compete to see who can make the best pot of chili — that day. The first modern-day chili cook-off was held in October of 1952 at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas.

13th Annual Susan C. Cranford Memorial Hill Country Community Justice Golf Tournament to benefit Hill Country Area Crime Stoppers March 27, 2009 12:30p.m. Friday at Delaware Springs Golf Course The 33rd and 424th Judicial District CSCD, Intermediate Sanction Facility, the Community Justice Assistance Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and other community corrections agencies are proud to host the Thirteenth annual Susan C.

HIGHLAND LAKES – Recent rains were welcome relief from the ongoing drought conditions, but had little effect on the levels of lakes Travis and Buchanan. Since the rains began on March 10, Lake Travis has risen less than one foot. As of March 16, the level of Lake Travis was 654.37 feet above mean level (msl).