November 12, 2009

The next meeting of the Blanco County Aggie Moms will be held on Sunday, November 15th at 4 pm in the home of Club Treasurer Diana Blackburn. Plans will be finalized for fall activities, including the goody bags to be distributed to our students during fall semester finals. Please contact Diana Blackburn, Tricia Hartmann, or Nickie Cox if you would like more information about Blanco County Aggie Moms.

What a flu patient eats can have a big impact on how quickly he recovers and how good he feels during that time. How do you do that? Gretchen Sanders of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service has the answers and will give them to you in a free class on feeding the flu patient at 10 AM Monday, Nov 16, at the First United Methodist Church in Johnson City.

The Business and Arts Committee of the Hill Country Council for the Arts (formerly the Cibolo Arts Council), Sonja Howle, Chair and the Honorary Co-Chairs, Renee Benson and Susan Howard Chrane, announce the next quarterly Business Speaker Series on Friday, December 4, 2009 in Blanco. The December event will be a luncheon at The Uptown Blanco Arts and Entertainment District’s Restaurant featuring Renee Benson as one of the speakers on a three-member Blanco Forum.

Ever wonder what Great Grandma’s 100 year-old pitcher is worth? How about some really old books, jewelry, collectibles or art work you think might be valuable? If so, bring what you are curious about to the Antique Appraisal Event Saturday, November 14 at the Old Blanco County Court House beginning at 12:15pm. This is the second annual appraisal event sponsored by Friends of the Blanco Library. Certified Antique Appraiser Carolyn Rankin and Certified Gemologist Ralph Morgan and associates ...

Monday, November 30th, the LBJ High School Student Council will be sponsoring a Blood Drive in the High School Gym. Technicians will be available from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. More information about signing up for a particular time will be in next week’s paper. We want to stress, this is an invitation to all community members, staff and students.

So, is what you have the flu or just a head-cold? The go-to-bed flu or call-911-flu? How do you know, short of a trip to the doctor’s office? Like increasing numbers of questions, those can be partially answered on the internet. Let’s start by saying nothing can replace eye-to-eye contact with a medical professional and the experienced advice he or she gives that is specific to you and your case.

The first anniversary of the Library is still in full swing. If you haven’t had a chance to drop by, the celebration will be going on until Sat. the 14th. The book sale, the first fund raiser to benefit the Friends of the Library is going very well, we have sold lots of books, but we still have a great supply.

Several hundred people gathered at the historic Pleasant Hill - Rocky School last Saturday evening to enjoy the Smorgasbord, the annual benefit dinner hosted by members of the Pleasant Hill - Rocky Community Club. James Sultemeier, club president, reported that the event was “perhaps our best ever,” raising around $4,500. “On behalf of the officers and members,” Sultemeier added, “I want to thank everyone who participated in any way, including those who cleaned the building and grou ...

Bingo was on November 9th, 2009. Girling sponsored this for us and we really enjoy having that time with Karen Barksdale. On November 10th, 2009 Barbara Gourley with Texas Health Care Solutions sponsored our game day. It is so great that we have organizations that come in and see that we have some days of just pure fun.

Oh my, you know I thought I had a lot of fabric but recently Alton’s Aunt Pearl had to go to a nursing home and her family members are cleaning through her home in order for someone to live there. She was a quilter.... When I first opened a quilt shop several years ago, she sent me a quilting frame.

It’s the season, that’s the reason for hearing shots ringing out in the county. Deer season is that time of the year in early November when all the guys and some gals go nuts getting their gear together and head for the deer camp. For the gals that don’t attend this mostly male march to the deer camp, it means a few days to shop, not cook, and pretty much do as they please.

*****The Elves, June and Will Dahmann have been making Christmas happen at the park for about two weeks, they’ve had help from family and friends and still its a huge effort. It took a whole day just to transport ‘Christmas’ from its storage to the park, back and forth, back and forth.

Sponsored by the 20th Annual Lights Spectacular, all students in Kingdergarten through 4th grade at a Johnson City School are eligible. Entry forms are available at the following locations: Suzy Q’s, City Hall, Elementary School Office, as well as a printable version on the Chamber of Commerce Website. Entry forms must be turned in to the City Office by November 16th, 2009.

Angie and Wesley Wright receive award.

Tessa Fields of Cypress Mill, took her first deer ever, during the Texas Special Youth Hunt. Tessa, age eleven, took her eight pointer on the family property near Cypress Mill.

The District 10 4-H Gold Star Banquet was held Saturday, October 17, at the Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde. This event honors the outstanding 4-H members from the 21 counties in District 10 who have been selected to receive 4-H’s highest honor. The 4-H member from Blanco County who was recognized was Elizabeth O’Day of the Hill Country Spurs 4-H Club. This event also recognizes outstanding volunteers from the 21 counties in District 10 who have gone above and beyond to provide t ...

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has declared the Trans-Texas Corridor I-35 “dead” once again, but Gov. Perry’s massive transportation project can still be resurrected as long as statutes authorizing its construction are on the books, said Blanco County Farm Bureau S & T Adrian Schulze. “It seems like TTC-35 has more lives than a cat,” Schulze said.

By Keith J. McClellan At their regular meeting held at the County Courthouse in Johnson City on November 10, County Commissioners received a report from County Extension Agent, Todd Swift. With him were more than a dozen animated Master Gardeners from Blanco County. Mr. Swift reported on the Drought Decisions Program, the Fall Range Field Day, the Wildlife Management Program and the Private Applicator License Training. He reported on 4-H students’ participation in the Wild Game Dinner; ...

James William Bible, 84, passed away Tuesday, November 3, 2009 in Austin. James was born in Johnson City, TX to James Martin Bible and Ella Withers Bible. Mr. Bible was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, John Bible. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Ann Bible; four sons, John Bible and wife Vickie of Burnet, Robert Bible and wife Marie of Burnet, James Bible and wife Karen of Austin, and Ray Bible and wife Rayette of Johnson City; four daughters, Mary Baker of Austin, Carol ...

Kathy McCarty, 60, of Dripping Springs, passed away on Sunday, November 8, 2009 at Brownwood Regional Medical Center. She was born September 26, 1949 in Beaumont, the daughter of Charlie Barton Draper and Ida Durdin Draper. Kathy Draper and Ronnie Clyde McCarty were married in Dripping Springs in September on 1969.

Ralph J. “Dusty” Smith passed away October 26, 2009 in Hamlin, Texas after a brief illness. He was born June 20, 1938 in Rockford, Illinois, the son of the late Manuel and Marie Smith Gaminde. Dusty attended San Antonio College, Texas A & I of Kingsville, Texas A & M, and served in the U.S.

The November school board meeting on Monday, November 9th began with a tour of the LBJ Middle School. Cammie Ockman, middle school Principal, guided board members through the 8th grade annex and briefed them on the school’s efforts to make the campus an Exemplary district. The board then moved back to the board room to continue their regular meeting. Nobody signed up to speak during open forum and the consent agenda passed unanimously.

Six LBJ Middle School students took part in the Prejudice Awareness Summit at the State Capital on Tuesday, October 27. The PAS is an intensive daylong workshop to increase ethnic and cultural awareness among middle school students at a critical time in their personal and social development. The Jewish Women International has organized the PAS in Austin for over the past ten years.

Last Friday night the Johnson City Eagles finished their season with a loss to the Comfort Bobcats by a score of 71 to 14. Both of the Eagle scores came on touchdown passes from Junior Cody Smith. The first was a 6 yard pass to Junior Jacob Sisson and a 26 yard pass to Junior Kris McDonald.

LBJ High School senior, Kelya Jureczki closed out her brilliant career this past Saturday, November 7 by competing in the Region IV-2A cross country meet held in San Antonio at Brooks City Base. Jureczki ran very well against a highly tough and competitive field, consisting of the top runners from throughout south and southeast Texas.

Veterans Day is a day we set aside as a nation to honor those who have served their nation in war and peace. It is a day to reflect on the deeds of these heroes and stand united in gratitude for their service and sacrifice. We also take this opportunity to honor the enduring service of our active soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen.

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs says the state collected $1.52 billion in sales tax revenue in October, down 12.8 percent compared to October 2008. “Declining sales tax collections, which began in February, have continued with October’s collections,” Combs said. “Tax collections are down in major sectors of the economy, including retail trade, oil and natural gas and construction.” Today, Combs distributed $500.7 million in November sales tax rebates to cities, counties, transit sys ...