September 4, 2008

The 11th Annual Empty Bowls event, benefiting the food pantry and related social services of Dripping Springs Helping Hands, is one of the most outstanding examples of neighbors helping neighbors in our community. This popular event will be held Sunday, October 12, at Sunset Canyon Pottery, 4002 E. Highway 290 in Dripping Springs from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Things are still happening here. It has been a nice weekend. The days got a little warm, but the evenings were absolutely awesome. It is green here, but you can see how some of the leaves are just beginning to turn for autumn. I got to go to Mexico last week.

Johnson City Quilter’s Guild met this past Thursday and made some of the final plans for their upcoming show on September 20th. Since they did not quiet get finished with things, they will meet on Thursday, September 18th at Not Too Shabby around 11:30 and bring a sack lunch. Drinks will be available.

It seems like quilt shows are the thing for September and October. There have been quiet a few lately and there are several coming up. This past weekend was the Quilt Show in Fredericksburg. This was a three-day show with lots of things going on. I was not able to go until Sunday afternoon and what a treat it was.

Question: I applied for disability benefits, but my claim was denied. The 60 days I have to appeal are almost up. What is the fastest way for me to appeal the decision? Answer: Some people know that when you apply for disability benefits from Social Security, you have the right to appeal the decision you do not agree with.

And this time the green is not behind my ears from faux gold earrings. No I haven’t thrown them away but I did polish them up a bit. Just this last week before the cool weather came I had been sweating from my head on down and as it passed my earrings the sweat interacted with the faux gold (brass) earrings.

• Happy Birthday to Eddie Holt and Cameron Ortiz on September 7th! Cameron will be 7 years old! He and his Papaw share the same birthday! *****Joy Watson, Bernice Casparis and Jerry Ann Buck were seen lunching at Dairy Queen last week, Ask them how they liked the fried jalapenos’? *****The Lone Star Red Hatters met on Tuesday at the Texas Highway 290 Diner.

The Llano County Hospital Authority Board of Directors welcomed the information that Scott & White’s CEO had put the new Lake of the Hills Regional Medical Center high on the list of achievements in a recent annual report. Dr. Alfred Knight was reporting on the first year of what he called “our grand Vision.” “We have initiated partnerships and alliances creating the Lake of the Hills Hospital, while also expanding our relationship with Metroplex/Rollins Brook,” he said.

Stonewall, TX —Visitors to Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park’s LBJ Ranch will have the opportunity to see a unique exhibit of Vietnam-era aircraft and meet with the pilots who flew them on Saturday, September 6 when the International Bird Dog Association (IBDA) teams up with the Johnson family and the National Park Service to coordinate an invitational fly in and viewing.

It’s that time of year when singers across Blanco County come together to begin rehearsals for the annual Community Choir Christmas program. Since 1974 Beverly Voron has been assembling singers for a performance to bring a musical Christmas expression to our community. This year the Blanco County Community Choir will perform The Christmas Messiah by Handel.

We will be hosting the Sept Republican Club meeting with Guest Speaker – Matt Young. Matt Young is running for State Representative, District 45. The Meeting is scheduled for 7:00 PM at the PEC Auditorium, 201 S. Ave. F, in Johnson City on Sep 9th. We are inviting all interested residents to come and hear Matt Young speak.

The Johnson City Chamber of Commerce TownScape Task Force awarded two Hometown Hero Awards this week as part of the “Catch the Spirit” Campaign. Co-chairs Suzanne Milner and Norma Honeycutt presented Pat Hartman with an award for improvements made at Bella Gifts, a shop located on Highway 290. “Pat stepped in and bought the shop from former owner Carol Sorenson,” said Milner.

Blanco County Farm Bureau S&T Adrian Schulze urges all Blanco County farmers ranchers to visit with the local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices to make sure they are in compliance with the new rules regarding disaster assistance eligibility. The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 requires producers who wish to participate in the new disaster programs to have crop insurance or non-insured crop disaster assistance (NAP) coverage for the land for which assistance is being requested. The FSA will allow producers who would be otherwise ineligible for the new disaster assistance programs to become eligible by paying a “buy-in” fee for the program, as authorized by the new farm policy. “Our members need to be aware of the Sept.

Bill Lindemann, area naturalist, will present a program, “300 Million Years of Predation: Dragonflies and Damselflies,” on Tuesday September 9th at the Gillespie County Agricultural Extension Service Building, 95 Frederick Road in Fredericksburg, beginning at 7:00PM. This presentation is sponsored by the Friends of the Fredericksburg Nature Center as part of their nature series; the nature series begins its ninth year of programs on all topics related to nature on the second Tuesday of the month throughout the school year. Lindemann, a retired exploration geologist, helped organize the Friends of the Fredericksburg Nature Center and serves as its president.

P T Ranch Ltd, Round Mountain, Texas, is a new member of the American Angus Association®, reports Bryce Schumann, chief executive officer of the national breed registry organization in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The American Angus Association, with more than 36,000 active adult and junior members, is the largest beef cattle registry Association in the world.

Statistics indicate that foodborne illness continues to be a health issue in the United States. Each year, 1 in 4 Americans will become sick. 1 in 1,000 will become hospitalized and 5,000 will die due to a foodborne illness. If under the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) jurisdiction each food establishment is required to have one certified food manager on site.

Matthew Bennett Gastring, age 49, of Adger, AL, formerly of Texas, passed away on Monday, August 11, 2008. He was preceded in death by Parents, Lucy Gastring, Dr. J.B. Gastring, Bernice Gastring; brother, Martin Andrew Gastring. Survivors: daughter, Lauren Gastring; son, Kyle Gastring; brother Joe B. Gastring, Jr. and wife, Debra; sister, Maggie (Gastring) Wilke; niece, Sara Gastring; nephews, Joe B.

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Criminal Cases Convictions will not appear this week. Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Criminal Cases • Dustin James Weber, of Blanco, was fined $279.50 for issued inspection certificate for vehicle with knowledge that vehicle has not been repaired on Apr 7, 2005 (DPS). • Jeremiah Cleo Wooten, of Mason, was fined $186.00 for speeding on Oct 28, 2007 (DPS). • Terri Lavon Lesher, of Blanco, was fined $180.00 for possession of drug paraphernalia on Jul 6 (DPS). • Admir Redzemarvic, of Greenfield, MA, was fined $196.00 for speeding on Aug 9 (DPS). • Admir Redzemarvic, of Greenfield, MA, was fined $327.00 for no proof of financial responsibility on Aug 9 (DPS). • Javier Rubio, of Blanco, was fined $148.00 for failure to control speed on Aug 4 (CVE). • Corey Wayne Koewers, of Blanco, was fined $148.00 for driving while not secured by a safety belt on Jul 11 (DPS). • Patricia P.

When our children were in their teens, a high school senior friend (a daughter of a local pastor) was involved in a serious auto accident that threatened her ability to ever walk normally. Doctors predicted her chances to recover completely were only about one percent. Undaunted by these precarious percentages, our youngest daughter gave this unforgettable response: “God can do a lot with one percent.” What about this kind of faith? Is it sensible to pray about situations that seem impossible or is the risk of loss of faith too great to pray about things that call for trust in God when answers to our prayers demand miracles? Perhaps a better question is about what kind of praying pleases God. In his book, “Getting Things From God,” Charles Blanchard, a former president of Wheaton College, wrote that there is not one record in the Bible of God rebuking praying people for asking too frequently or too largely, pointing out that the opposite has often been true.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Stonewall is extending an invitation to the public to join in their annual Rally Day and Barbecue celebration this Sunday, September 7, 2008. Activities begin at 9:00 a.m. with Sunday School for children as well as adults. The classrooms will be open and the new study materials will be on display. Worship is scheduled for 10:10 a.m.

By Dennis Rainey Every so often—through an aspect of His grace that feels much more like a punch in the stomach—God will crash His way into a pity party and spoil all the fun we get from sulking. That’s exactly what happened on the night I was telling you about yesterday.

By Dennis Rainey Every so often—through an aspect of His grace that feels much more like a punch in the stomach—God will crash His way into a pity party and spoil all the fun we get from sulking. That’s exactly what happened on the night I was telling you about yesterday.

The LBJHS staff invites parents to come “Meet the Teachers” on Friday, September 5th, 2008 from 5:00 to 6:30pm before heading to Shockley Field for the Varsity Eagles home Football opener at 7:30pm. Copies of student schedules will be available and teachers will be in their classrooms ready to greet parents during the “come-and-go” program, which will also include a Hamburger Plate Supper by the Eagle Athletic Boosters in the cafeteria.

The first 20 adults through the gate will receive a free coozie and the first 20 kids through the gate will also receive an Eagle spirit item. THERE IS A CATCH......you have to be wearing your Eagle Pride. Anything Eagle, Anything Maroon. See you at the game!

Kennedy Bynum, Dana Bushnell, and Haylee Jernigan head up this year Lady Eagle Volleyball team. These Seniors lead the way as the Lady Eagles head into district play. The Lady Eagles will be facing Randolph, Comfort, Cole, Brooks, Blanco, and Harper in their new 2A District. More Lady Eagle volleyball inside along with complete schedule, so you can come out and support them.

This past Friday night the Eagles traveled to Granger to play the Lions. The Eagles took the opening kick-off and Junior Cody Atwood returned it to the Lion 20 yard line. After three running plays the Eagles faced fourth down. Tight end Senior William Bullock cut across the middle of the field to catch a touchdown pass from Quarterback Sophomore Cody Smith.

The Lady Eagles hosted Manor on Friday night and captured an exciting 5-game win against Manor 22-25, 25-15,23-25,25-22, and 15-11. It was an up and down match that saw the Lady Eagles winning the final game 15-11. Dana Bushnell led offensively with 12 kills and 6 aces. Haylee Jernigan was strong defensively with 10 perfect digs.

The 2008 Presidential Election is just over nine weeks away, and as we near Election Day our local party chairmen will prsent each candidates veiw onthe following issues. Economic Stimulus Sept.1 Education Sept. 8 Immigration Sept. 15 Energy Sept. 22 Health Care Sept. 29 Social Security Oct. 6 Taxes Oct.13 Iraq Oct. 20 Guns Oct. 27 Blanco County Republican Party Ann Hall, Chairman Today the U.S.

Now is a good time for evening stargazers to view four of the five naked-eye planets. The easiest is Jupiter which dominates the southern sky in the early evening. Far outshining all stars, Jupiter is the third brightest night sky object behind only the Moon and Venus. While Jupiter appears as a bright star to the naked eye, most binoculars can reveal its disc-like shape.

The Blanco County Extension Office will sponsor a Private Applicator License training and testing program on Tuesday September 23rd in Johnson City. The program will be held at the Exhibit Hall beginning at 8:00am. The training portion will conclude at 12:00 noon and resume at 1:00pm with the testing. The test usually takes about an hour to complete.

With words like “elegance and power,” “dazzling” and “magnificent versatility,” sportswriters lavished their praise on Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin of Texas. But when she won the gold medal in all-around women’s gymnastics, the headline “Golden Grace” seemed to say it best. Nastia was one of nearly 100 athletes on the 2008 U.S.

Texas boasts 28 seaports, dispersed along our Gulf Coast from Houston and Galveston down to Brownsville, including three of the busiest ports in the United States. Our state’s economy depends on the viability of our port system, which serves as a gateway to markets around the world. To bolster our prosperity, we must ensure that Texas’ ports remain secure, competitive, and operationally sound. Each year, over 500 million tons of cargo move through Texas seaports.

Pedernales Electric is now accepting entries in the 2009 Youth Tour Contest. All participants will receive a 64-megabyte flash drive just for entering. PEC’s Green Works initiative and the 100th birthday of Lyndon B. Johnson are the inspiration for this year’s contest. During his presidency, LBJ signed into law almost 300 pieces of environmental legislation.