June 17, 2010

Helping a person with a disability or handicap is a challenge for most of us. What does this person need? How do I approach him? What if she doesn’t want my help? Am I being insulting just by offering? The answers are in an American Red Cross course, "Serving People with Disabilities Following a Disaster", but while the course is specific to disasters, the lessons apply at home, in business, at church, or wherever you encounter someone who may — or may not — need yo ...

For the past several weeks, Tuesday nights have slowly turned into "Guys Night Out" in Johnson City. Each Tuesday, at 7 pm, the HOME Church gym has been opened for some friendly five-on-five basketball games. Personally, I thoroughly enjoy team sports, and I saw the HOME Church gym as providing the perfect place for filling a need in the community.

Johnny Solis of Johnson City (78636) was named to the Spring Semester 2010 Dean’s List. Johnny received Second Honors, with a GPA of 3.7 or above on a 4.0 scale. "Reaching the Dean’s List at Georgetown is a distinct accomplishment, and I congratulate Johnny for this honor," said Georgetown University President John J.

Diplomas were awarded to a record 6,250 graduates Texas A&M University graduates during spring commencement ceremonies. Among those receiving degrees were: Name: Bonn, Clint A. Class: SENIOR Hometown: Johnson City, TX Zipcode: 78636-0443 Degree 1: Bachelor of Science - Petroleum Engineering Name: Felps, Jamie L. Class: SENIOR Hometown: Johnson City, TX Zipcode: 78636-0146 ...

Shayla Marie Smith, daughter of Kay M. Lusk of Johnson City and the late Donald E. Smith of Round Mountain, will wed Lucas Michael Henderson, son of Robyn L. Henderson of Johnson City and George Henderson of Cleburne Texas, on August 6, 2010. Miss Smith attends ACC where she is working on her degree in Literature with the intent to teach and Mr.

Bryant McDowell, Diane Beagle and Imelda Martinez at LBJ 2010 Graduation.

Lacy Butler, Kendyll Kohlleppel, and Savanah Woodcock, all JCISD students, select softball team. Their 16u softball team went to Southlake and played in an 18u Gold tournament last weekend and the took first place. They were one of the youngest teams at the tournament.

This Sunday, The Benini Studio and Sculpture Ranch will host a series of lively presentations beginning at 2:00. The event features the Orishic Djembe drum ~ a sculptural drum that required eight months to build, weighs 5000 pounds and has five drumming stations. It joins more than 100 other sculptures on the Benini Sculpture Ranch. "Orishic Djembe is an art piece, a drum, an artifact,"

The Community Garden Club of Johnson City has a history of giving back to the community in various ways. This year the Garden Club awards two $1000.00 scholarships to LBJ seniors Bryant McDowell and Imelda Martinez at graduation on May 28, 2010. The scholarship committee, consisting of Diane Beagle, Jan Phillips and Louise Paterson reviewed each applicant and after several hours decided on Imelda Martinez and Bryant McDowell as recipients of this year’s award.

The sixth annual Johnson City Open Championship Golf Tournament was held this past week-end at "Vaaler Creek" Golf course in Blanco. Thirty golfers from the Johnson City area participated in the event. Founders of the event felt that it would be a great way for local residents to "get to know"

We had Bingo on Monday with Girling sponsoring the game and with Karen Barksdale doing the calling. Plus we had FREE Blood Pressure checks. On Tuesday we had Catholic Charities come in and volunteer their time to help anyone that needs help to locate resources. Also, on Tuesday, we had Capitol Area Food Bank.

I have always had a problem making a slipstitch, sometimes called a blindstitch. A slipstitch joins two pieces of fabric together hiding the stitches. With your hand-sewing needle coming out of one fabric side, pierce the other fabric and run the needle under the fabric for about ¼ inch. Come out and repeat for the other fabric layer.

Recently I received the following email from Joe Garcia who reads Stargazer in the Kingsville (TX) Record: "I am a Cub Scout leader and am taking my boys camping June 11-13. I want to do an astronomy section one of these nights, something that the boys will enjoy and learn from.

The bug of the month, as you may have noticed as we surely have, is the Daddy Long Legs. We have them by the thousands on our porches. They cluster together there for whatever reason, but sometimes they rest and other times they heave and bounce and go nowhere. We have just passed the season of being bothered by those hairy caterpillars, (or worms I call them) and even before the worms we were bewildered by the multitudes of Pill bugs.

*****Rebecca Luce, granddaughter of Robert and Vanessa Luce graduated Summa Cum Laude, being number 9 in a class of over 800, from Klein High School in Houston in Commencement ceremonies last Saturday. She served as Student Council president, as a cheerleader her Freshman and Sophomore years, and played club Lacrosse.

Recently you may have noticed a new structure being built on the mountain top just south of Johnson City, along Highway 281. This project is associated with area business owners, Eric and Kathy Meyertons. The Meyertons own Lighthouse Hill Ranch, and have been around for "a few years now." According to the Lighthouse Hill Ranch website, they are situated in the beautiful Texas Hill Country on over 1,630 acres… [and they have] 3 remodeled houses available as vacation rentals." O ...

The Pedernales Electric Cooperative Board of Directors has terminated the employment contract of General Manager Juan Garza. The announcement, made by Board President Larry Landaker, astonished the audience of PEC members and staff gathered at the monthly board meeting in Johnson City on Monday afternoon. The posted agenda called for the board to meet in closed, executive session after the morning’s open session to consider an LCRA contract provision, legal issues, a real estat ...

Former officers and current PEC directors R.B. Felps (left) and O.C. Harmon attended their last regular board meeting on Monday in Johnson City. Neither man opted to seek re-election to the PEC Board of Directors this year. Harmon, a rancher and businessman from Dripping Springs, has represented District 4 since 1975.

On Thursday morning Blane Wier was out pushing cedar at his place on N. Hwy. 281, across from the Exotic Zoo. As he was pushing a tree down he saw, what appeared to be a snake hanging in the tree. He backed off, and sure enough, it was a rattlesnake.

what good neighbors do. At PEC, many of the employees are also members of the Cooperative – they are neighbors and friends to the people they serve – and they are committed to their communities. Wendy Smith, a PEC accounting clerk, volunteers with two organizations making a difference in Blanco County.

On Thursday, June 10, Shelby Cole Moore, 19, was arrested at the Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office in Fredericksburg. Early in the following morning, on June 11, Brandon Louis Harber, also 19, was arrested at his home in Blanco. According to Gillespie Sheriff Buddy Mills, the two have been charged with the murder of Trey Noah.

Ricky Neffendorf, County Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Gillespie-Kendall-Blanco County today announced farmer and rancher candidate nominations begins June 15, 2010 for local FSA county committees. The nomination period continues through Aug. 2, 2010. Elections take place this fall. "I encourage all producers to participate in the county committee election process by nominating candidates by the August 2nd deadline,"

Arlene Mavis Gardner Lemons passed away Wednesday, June 9, 2010 in San Antonio, Texas. She was born March 7, 1920, to Thomas Jefferson and Nina Winn Gardner in Swenson, Texas. She attended Texas Tech University where she met the handsome William H. Lemons, Jr. They were married April 1, 1939, in Clovis NM. After traveling with the military service the Lemons’ settled down in San Antonio, and later in Tyler and Houston, raising their four children.

Betty Jean Evans of Blanco, Texas, was carried away on the wings of Angels Wednesday, June 9, 2010. She was born in Blanco on February 7, 1928, to Alex Baxter Evans and Pearl Elizabeth Massey Evans, who predeceased her. She is also predeceased by brothers Ray Evans and Holmes Evans and sisters Frances Wagner, Virgil Williams and Venita Beall. Jean graduated from Blanco High School and received her BA and MA Degrees from St.

Herman Richard Bergman, Jr. passed away on June 13, 2010, in Marble Falls, Texas. He was born on April 22, 1923, in Johnson City, to Herman Richard Bergman, Sr. and Meta Ann (Hitzfeld) Bergman. He was the youngest of ten children. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church. He married Dorothy Edwards Wuneburger on December 26, 1942.

Blanco County Sheriff’s Office Reports These reports were filed between May 28 and May 31. May 28 • N. US 281. 2:35 AM. Suspicious Circumstances • 3 Encinitas Dr. 6:17 AM. 911 Misdial • 692 Esperanza Trl. 9:08 AM. Alarm • Rocking J. 10:02 AM. Arrest/Warrant • Hill Country Inn. 11:36 AM. Traffic Stop • Hill Country Inn.

Everybody say, "AAARGH, mateys!" These children are ready to welcome their friends (ages 4-5th grade), to the Vacation Bible School at the First United Methodist Church. The free VBS program is every night, Monday through Friday, June 21-25, in the Activity Building. The activities begin at 5:30 with a light supper and conclude at 8:00.

The arrival of Father’s Day reminds me of our Lord’s parable of the prodigal son: the story of the younger of a father’s two sons who boldly requested and surprisingly received his portion of the family inheritance. Upon receiving it, he headed to a distant country where he wasted all of his money.

As newly installed pastor of Community Church of the Hills, Michael Meek brings both experience and enthusiasm. He says: "I believe God has called me as pastor of Community Church of the Hills to Johnson City in order to help grow the Body of Christ. I look forward to getting to know the community and helping to make Johnson City a more wonderful place — a place to raise families, to enjoy life, and to retire.

On Monday, June 14 the Johnson City Independent School District held their regular monthly meeting. The meeting began promptly at 6:00 pm with a call to order and open forum. After the consent agenda was approved, the board discussed the evenings various action items. During the action item portion of the board meeting, they approved the Appraisal District’s Budget unanimously.

Do you have a habit of taking things apart to see how they work? If so, The Eagle Engineering Camp hosted by LBJ High School is the place for you! The Eagle Engineering Camp will provide fun and challenging hands-on, high-tech projects that include a look at alternative energy, homemade water powered bottle rockets that launch a hundred feet in the air or more, and create a spEGGtacular vehicle.

Writers note: The Johnson City Community Education Foundation is attempting to follow up on all five of the 2009 JCCEF scholarship recipients to provide a "Where are they now?" update for the Johnson City community. Last year’s recipients were Kennedy Bynum, Michael Zurovec, Virginia Smith, Jessica Moore, and Avry Stolzman. The past year has been an exciting one for Avry Stolzman.

Leslie A. Saxton, a resident of Johnson City (78636), has been named to the Spring 2010 Dean’s List at Texas State University-San Marcos. To be named to the Dean’s List at Texas State, a student must earn a minimum grade-point average of 3.50 while carrying a class load of at least 12 semester hours. Texas State is a doctoral granting university located in the Austin-San Antonio corridor on the edge of the Texas Hill Country.

Johnson City Little League hosted their 5th annual machine pitch tournament this past Friday and Saturday, June 11th and 12th. Participating teams included Johnson City, Center Point, Fredericksburg Red, Fredericksburg Gray, Wimberley, Mason, Llano and Comfort. Johnson City Eagles fought through the heat with true grit and determination to capture their first championship!