July 22, 2010

Rowdy and Mackenzie Topper, son and daughter of Rodney Topper, put on a good show at the Marble Falls Annual Youth Rodeo. Rowdy, 4 years old, won the All Around Cowboy in the 8 and under age group. He was awarded his very first buckle. Mackenzie, 5 years old placed 6th in the All Around for the 8 and under girls division.

Texas AgriLIFE Extension in partnership with Blanco County Extension Education Association presents "Christmas in July" on Thursday, July 29 at the Johnson City Baptist Church located at 102 N. Ave F. The event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 and is guaranteed to help you find the Christmas spirit and inspiration for gift giving. Speakers from around the county will be offering many Christmas ideas including: pillow sham aprons, freezer paper stencils, quilted ornaments, and food gift ...

Today when I stopped at the local flower shop, A. J.’s, to pick up a bouquet for Mae Hernlund, who was celebrating her birthday and homecoming from rehab at her home in Round Mountain, a rooster menaced me! Yes, a wandering, strutting and crowing rooster sporting some fair sized spurs was declaring the lawn of the flower shop his territory.

We have started our week blessed with having Catholic Charities and Capitol Area Food Bank here once again. It is so hard to express all of our gratitude for the wonderful services we have. However, we say thank you and we want everyone in the county to know that these services are here for them also and they are FREE. Our community looks awesome right now.

Well, we are working on our upcoming Quilt Show. Ladies are busy finishing up those quilts and projects to put in the quilt show. We can’t wait for you to see them. Our show is the 3rd Saturday in September and we hope it will be cooling off some by then. I have had my Garden Gate Embroidery Quilt quilted by one of the best and just need to get the binding on it and it will be ready for the show.

Living in the country brings a person closer to the fact of living and dying. Caring for animals shows us how things can turn in the blink of an eye. We have raised a few baby animals that show up at our home. Some turn out great, others don’t make it. Michala, the middle child, is not ok with the ones that don’t make it.

*****Sherry Jenkins hosted a "cousins get-together" this past weekend. They had not all been together in over five years. It was her mom’s family - the Brown side. They arrived on Thursday, stayed Friday and departed on Saturday. Tales, food, bingo, food, chicken foot and a lot of memories were shared and made.

While you were eating supper last Friday night, so were families of flood evacuees in Mexico, thanks to the supplies collected in Blanco County and delivered to the border that day. The first truckload of food, water and diapers left the First United Methodist Church in Johnson City early Friday morning and arrived in Eagle Pass, on the border, at noon.

Braxton Birck, son of Kaiser and Suree Birck, is not going to take his eyes off of that fish tail. Every once in a while it moves and it’s kind of scary for a little guy. This 25 pound yellow catfish was caught on a trotline set out by Braxton and his parents.

The Johnson City community is rallying to help one of its own — 37 year-old Shannon Beal, who was diagnosed with inoperable, stage four, pancreatic cancer. Shannon and her family, husband Bobby and their children Trevor and Brooke, are in need of our help to offset mounting medical bills. Mark your calendar for Saturday, July 24 for the Shannon Beal Benefit at the Blanco County Fair Grounds in Johnson City.

The Youth Community Assistance Program (YCAP) is marching forward in their quest to provide a Community Recreation Center for area youth. Here is a look at the first coat of paint applied on Saturday, July 17th by several kids in the community. YCAP has work days every Saturday starting at 10:00 a.m.

Mother Nature’s pollinator, the bee, is creating a buzz without even being present. Scientists and beekeepers nationwide continue to lament the disappearance of whole colonies to a befuddling enemy called Colony Collapse Disorder. It’s confusing because no one can say exactly what it is, although it has been taking a toll on beehives since 2006. The USDA reports 33.8 percent of total honey bee colony losses nationwide from October 2009 to April, with 28 percent of ...

Working on farms during the summer break or after school has been a way for high school students, especially in rural areas, to earn money and valuable experience while doing what they love. But those opportunities would come to an end if a bill passes in Congress. The Children’s Act for Responsible Employment (H.R.

Donkey-Oaties Miniature Donkeys from Johnson City competed in the 19th Annual Great Celebration Mule & Donkey Show held in Shelbyville, Tennessee, on July 8th - 10th. This show is one of the most prestigious donkey and mule shows in the country. This is where owners and trainers show their best animals in hopes of a title from this particular show. Sally Armstrong exhibited her six-year-old Miniature Donkey gelding, Stock Market’s Maximum Cash ("Max").

Summer is here and most people seem to flock toward water whether it be the swimming pool out back or the beach. These activities go hand and hand with the importance to stay hydrated with clean and fresh water. Our dogs however, don’t know the difference between a Dasani and a toilet bowl. Many people like to include their dogs when swimming in the pool and as long as you keep an eye on them, this can be a joy for both you and your K9 friend.

On Tuesday evening, July 27th, the Fredericksburg Chapter of the NPSOT is hosting John Ahrns, Texas Naturalist and one of the founding fathers of the Westcave Preserve. This 75-acre, non-profit education center near Round Mountain is where 2 ecosystems meet creating a unique opportunity to see grasslands and wildflower meadows that border a sheltered limestone canyon which are home to rare plants and cypress trees.

Barbara Elaine Hurt, 86, passed away July 15, 2010. She was born in Farmington, Kentucky to Merrit Sims and Martha Elizabeth Gay Sims. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Robert James "R.J." Oliver; and two brothers, Ralph and Joe Sims. She is survived by her husband, Randolph D.

Best-selling author, Charlie Shedd, who had struggled with obesity for years, was one of the first to write on Bible based weight loss. In his book, "The Fat is in Your Head" he says he dropped to his knees one day and prayed, "Lord I’ve tried for years to whip this problem of obesity.

For the future security posture of U.S. military forces and for the fiscal health of our nation, our military construction agenda should be guided by these words: Build in America. At the end of the Cold War, the U.S. military determined that our armed forces would be best trained and equipped for service when stationed at installations on U.S.

H-E-B Dripping Springs Opening for Customers July 23, 2010 After months of eagerness from Dripping Springs’ residents, H-E-B is excited to open the city’s first made-to-order grocery store on Friday, July 23, 2010, lending customers a world-class shopping experience. Conveniently located at 598 E HWY US 290, at the southeast corner of Highway 290 and Rob Shelton Boulevard intersection, the store will offer both H-E-B and Central Market products requested by resid ...

Hill Country Memorial’s Cancer Resource Center (CRC) will present a free educational program Tuesday, Aug. 3, for caregivers on managing a patient’s pain. The class will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the CRC’s first-floor conference room in the Brune Professional Building, 808 Reuben Street in Fredericksburg. Melanie Cole, RN, MSN, HCM Hospice clinical supervisor, will discuss barriers to pain control, types of pain and pain interventions.