August 5, 2010

Uptown Blanco Art Center is proud to announce its new art gallery. Located inside the art center, the gallery will present local artists and their work at reasonable prices. Opening the gallery is "Common Beauty", the multi-media and layering artwork of Suzette Connell. Ms. Connell has exhibited throughout Central Texas and her photographs are currently displayed locally at the Redbud Café.

Army Pvt. D.C. Theriot has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system ...

Johnson City Athletic Boosters are hosting a softball tournament on August 28th to help raise funds for the purchase of a tunnel run-through. The tournament will follow ASA rules and has a team entry fee of $125. Please contact Misty Martinez at 868-7111 for more information on the tournament. It is the responsibility of the community members and alumni to support our students and to keep our traditions alive.

The Johnson City Quilters Guild meet on July 22, 2010 at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church located on County Road 213. Sue Carter from Honeybees Quilt Shop in Austin gave a demonstration titled "How to draft a Pattern – How to Miniaturize a Pattern". We were furnished with graph paper, colored pencils and an information sheet.

Hi folks. Has it been hot enough for you? It sure has been hot for me. I am ready for rain. And I so hope that everyone remembers the Food Pantry at the Annex. We are so thankful to have such great people operate this and to take on all of us that come there.

A few years ago two friends asked me if they could watch me make jelly and I have been jinxed ever since. I know they didn’t do it but somehow it has happened because for the two years following those lessons, I have either spilled, burned, undercooked or messed up the recipe that I have been using for 40 years, at least on the first batch. That is what happens when you think you know more than you actually do.

A couple of months ago Jackie told me she was coming thru Llano and saw a sign on a car parked at the Courthouse square stating "Quilt Shop—2 miles CR something". Of course, I was interested to hear about a quilt shop, but it slipped my mind until this past week. I called the Llano Chamber Office to inquire about the shop and the lady there was very excited to tell me about it.

*****Did you see KXAN Channel 36 on Wednesday night the 28th? They came out and did a story on the collection for the border towns that has been happening at the First United Methodist Church. Making Pastor Sid famous again! *****Diane Beagle has been in Las Vegas since Tuesday (July 20).

The Johnson City City Council met in regular session Tuesday, August 3rd. Several citizens registered to speak regarding the possible closure of the Johnson City recycling facility. All spoke in support of keeping the facility open and functional. One speaker who resides in Pedernales Estates, outside Johnson City city limits, suggested that those who are not city residents but who utilize the facility could purchase a permit or in some way pay for the use of the facility.

Club members: How can you remind your neighbors that your club is an important part of the JC social landscape in the 21st century? Your group can easily purchase a paver for the library patio, and help pay for the well utilized new building. The Johnson City Woman’s Civic Club is eagerly seeking organizations such as churches, clubs and businesses, as well as families to purchase pavers for the second phase of the Paver Project for the Library.

Blanco County received public praise in a news story on KXAN-TV, Channel 36 in Austin, last week when reporter Jackie Ingles shot and broadcast her story about the county’s great response to the needs of evacuees from the flooding on the Rio Grande. Pastor Sid Spiller of First United Methodist Church in Johnson City, one of those interviewed for the story, told Ingles what he learned from his trip to Eagle Pass with a truckload of relief supplies. "Poverty that I didn&r ...

"Where words fail, music speaks."Hans Christian Andersen With its vision to present stellar performances, enhancing the enjoyment of the cultural arts for the enrichment of the residents of Blanco and its environs, Blanco Performing Arts will unveil its inaugural season on Sunday August 8 at the Uptown Blanco Ballroom, 317 Main Street in downtown Blanco from 2:00-4:00pm. Everyone will be warmly welcomed to learn about the three planned chamber music concer ...

Mr. Louis Sparkman passed away July 30th, at the age of 94. He is survived by his wife, Donnie Mae Hunt Sparkman of Johnson City; 2 sons, Gary Sparkman and wife Sharon of Pflugerville; Roger Sparkman and wife Lois of Victoria and Johnson City; 6 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Per his request, his body will be cremated, with no services planned at this time. Memorial contributions may be made to New Hope Lutheran Church of Blanco ...

Luis Roberto Hernandez, 47, passed away Friday, July 30, 2010 in Austin, TX. He was born in Mexico to Celestino Hernandez Ahumada and Paula Martinez Hinojosa. Luis was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Brenda Jeanette Hernandez. Luis is survived by his fiancée, Irma Alcantara; sons, Luis Hernandez, Jr.

Dear Editor: I read with interest the plight that Aurelia Dominguez and her children Myra and Maricel find themselves. Not only did the house that Mrs. Dominguez owned burned to the ground but the debris that is left has to be moved. Already one daughter Myra Hernandez has paid almost $1000 in trying to comply with whatever the city or whomever says must be done but as you read someone took advantage of the empty dumpster and decided to make use of it for themselve ...

Dear Editor, I have been a member of the Johnson City community for the past five years. I love working here, I love this town and I also love that I can leisurely take a walk, go for a run or a bike ride with my family. Over the past year I have noticed more and more unrestrained dogs when we are trying to enjoy these events.

Blanco County Sheriff’s Office Reports These reports were filed between Jun. 18 and Jun. 24. Jun. 18 • 290 East Heading West Bound. 8:25 AM. Reckless Driver • 3232 1/4 Mile Off 290 East. 9:08 AM. Loose Livestock • 2039 Pedernales Hills Rd. 10:22 AM. Close Patrol • CT House. 10:28 AM. Civil Process • 921 Cherry St.

Christian Powell longed to become an attorney. He had set this ambitious goal early in life but was then afflicted by two dreaded diseases: tuberculosis and polio; both of which caused him to be hospitalized for long periods of time and the latter of these paralyzed most of the major muscles in the lower part of his body. When he was discharged from the hospital at the age of nineteen, there seemed little hope Christian could achieve his goal but he refused to concede defe ...

In about 18 days, the bells will ring yet again to mark the start of the 2010-2011 school year for the Johnson City ISD. However, the school district has already received some exciting news from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). On Friday, July 30th the TEA released their 2010 school ratings for the state.

Seniors don’t forget this Saturday you will need to have your senior pictures taken at the high school commons area. If you have not been notified by Lifetouch of when your appointment time is, please call the high school office and find out. Remember you need to come and have your picture taken even if you do not intend to purchase any packages so you will be included in the yearbook. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to call the office.

Lacy Butler, Savanah Woodcock, and Kendyll Kohlleppel went to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma to compete in the ASA Nationals with their Austin Freeze team. The girls played 6 games back to back in 100 degree heat with the heat index of 115. They started playing at 11 a.m. and won the championship game at 11 p.m.

One of the 15 historic country schools in Gillespie County will be open Saturday, August 7th. The Willow City School, 2501 Ranch Road, is located on Highway 16 north of Fredericksburg. Turn right on Ranch Road 1323 for about 2 ½ miles you will see the hickory sandstone two-story, three room school building on your left.