October 23, 2008

Last Wednesday with a light rain falling, the library tour bus loaded up with passengers and headed to Austin. No one was complaining about the rain, it was a much needed added attraction. Our first stop in Austin was the Texas Military Museum at Camp Mabry, we hadn’t scheduled much time for this stop, but it was very interesting, and most agreed deserves a return trip. Next we headed for the Zilker Botanical Gardens.

Reminder...There is going to be a Senior Parents & Students meeting Sunday Nov 2nd 4-6pm at the high school to continue discussing Senior Serve and Project Graduation.

Things are still happening here. The weather has been exceptionally nice. We could still use some rain, so here goes that special prayer for rain and that special dance we all need to do. Capital Area Food Bank was here on the 21st. We actually enjoy seeing them come to us.

Well, Timmy, Chelsie and myself headed out Sunday to the quaint little town of Bandera. Why, you ask? We were going to a quilt show of course. Since none of my sisters were with us, we missed the short cut and ended up on the very, very, very, did I mention very, winding road to Medina.

In the past few weeks we have had what some call a ‘crawl’ across our television screen saying, “It is time to replace your smart CARD OR maybe it said, your smart CARD is out of date please call this number at your earliest convenience.” I had no idea what it could be and just ignored it for awhile and then it began to hang there across the screen to the point that I could not watch my favorite program. Finally Pat got aggravated when one of his football games had this crawl across it blocking his view of some really important plays and so he took down the number and called the number on the screen and gave them what for!

• A work day has been set to start putting lights on the Courthouse for Lights Spectacular. It will be Wednesday, October 22. The time will be from 7 am to 4:30 pm. PEC is helping during work hours so a weekday is the only time that a bucket and operator will be available.

The Johnson City City Council met in their regular bi-monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 21st. There were fifteen items to cover on the agenda. PEC CONTEST DEADLINE IS FRIDAY Once Mayor Pro-Tem, Rhonda Stell, opened the meeting a representative from the Pedernales Electric Cooperative was on hand to provide the council with the latest news from PEC.

Nov. 4, 2008 General Election Early Voting Commissioners Courtroom Blanco County Courthouse 101 E. Pecan Dr., Johnson City October 20, 2008 Through October 31, 2008—8:00 A.M. To 4:30 P.M. Weekend Early Voting Saturday-October 25, 2008 From 8:00 A.M. To 3:00 P.M. Commissioners Courtroom, Courthouse, Johnson City Sunday-October 26, 2008 From 11:00 A.M. To 3:00 P.M.

The Pleasant Hill - Rocky Community Club is holding its annual Smorgasbord on Saturday, November 1st, the first day of deer season. The site of this benefit feast for area residents, friends, and visiting hunters is the historic Pleasant Hill - Rocky School Building, which is located about 7 miles west of Johnson City, just off Highway 290 West, on CR 205 (Rocky Road). Serving will begin at 5:00 p.m.

The Chamber of Commerce hosted a luncheon for representatives from tourist and information centers associated with the Texas Travel Industry Association on Tuesday, October 21st. The Chamber Board and other members were invited to share a little something about Johnson City with the group in hopes of them being able to spread the word throughout Texas about Johnson City’s charm.

Warren Vilmaire and Susan Kirchman are pleased to announce the opening of their second location for Kirchman Galleries in Johnson City, Texas. Featuring art glass, one-of-a-kind jewelry and original painting, sculpture, photography and printmaking, Kirchman Gallery 2 is located at 305 Main Street (Hwy 290 W). The emphasis is on contemporary work by regional, national and international artists. The original location of Kirchman Gallery has been open for three years and is located across from the historic Blanco County Courthouse at 213 N.

Is the sky really falling? Just because you hear it from the national press, doesn’t mean it’s accurate. For example, there ARE still no and low money down loans available, contrary to what you hear. While the Bond market was closed last Monday in Observance of Columbus Day, the early part of the week wasn’t short of market-impacting news.

Blanco County realtors, sponsors, and a guest toured four properties, in Johnson City. In the downtown area we toured two commercial properties of different sizes and usage. These were followed by a home in the city limits and two homes in the county. Our touring sponsor was Lone Star Home Loans – represented by Missy Jernigan.

Those that support Relay for Life should mark TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH on their calendars. That’s when we will be having our annual Kickoff Party to start a new year. Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature event, where teams raise money and walk, while enjoying entertainment, food, fun and camaraderie.

I heard the story recently of a couple who, by their tenth anniversary, had been unable to conceive any children. Those of you who have experienced this heartbreak can readily relate to the frustration they felt, the void that remained so senselessly empty in their lives. On days when they allowed themselves to think about it, they’d ponder what they might name a child if they were ever to have one.

Government has the muscle and manpower for quick rescue in the crisis phase of a disaster, a regional panel agreed Saturday, but after that, it is our churches that have the greater power to care for people and to put them back on their feet over the long term. The regional panel on churches as disaster shelters was sponsored by the Blanco County Disaster Response Group, and met at the First United Methodist Church in Johnson City to review how church shelters worked in this and other hurricane seasons, and how they can work better. The problem, said Mike McEuen of Broadmoor United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, LA, is that no one church can do it alone.

Last Saturday, the LBJ Fighting Eagle Band traveled to Georgetown for the UIL Marching Contest. The band marched at 3:15 on the astroturf at the Georgetown High School Athletic Complex. They proudly accepted the second division award, which was a great result in their hard work out on the field, and a lot of improvement was shown since the beginning of marching season.

Defensive line holds the Cougars at the goal. #55 Wesley Outlaw, #53 Chris Eddy, #5 William Bullock, #4 Jordan Jones.

The LBJ Cross Country boys and girls competed this past Saturday, October 18 at the Comfort meet. All runners for JC competed very well and had some high placements in their races. In the varsity girls division, junior Kelya Jureczki placed 19th out of 97 runners finishing the 2 mile course in a time of 13 minutes, 19 seconds.

The Eagle football team continued district play by hosting the San Antonio Cole Cougars last Friday night, but came up short with a score of Cougars 35 – Eagles 14. The Cougars were a good team with good overall speed. The Eagles used a new 2 back offensive formation that worked well on their first drive.

Tuesday October 14th vs. Comfort The Lady Eagles played a tough 5 game match against Comfort last Tuesday night – and prevailed 25-17, 25-27, 25-22, 20-25, and 15-10. It was a “nail-biter” of a match with each team winning one – then losing one –then finalizing in an incredible fifth game which the Lady Eagles came back to win after being down 2-7.

WHEN BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR Mary Ann Edwards was signing up for door prizes during a “Think Pink Tea Party” at the Hill Country Memorial Cancer Resource Center Oct. 17, she didn’t think she would win anything, let alone the grand prize. But she did just that, a two-night stay at Cay Cay’s Cabin B&B donated by Cay Meadows.

“Government’s great,” said Amy BeVille Elder, left, Executive Director of Texas Interagency Interfaith Disaster Response in Austin, “but it’s churches that will provide the backbone of your assistance to people after a disaster.” Elder was one of the panelists discussing churches as disaster shelters at a meeting sponsored by the Blanco County Disaster Response Group.

CASA for the Highland Lakes Area suffered two significant grant cuts, totaling almost $34K as a result of federal funding cuts. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a nonprofit organization, provides an invaluable, mandated service to traumatized children that have been removed from their homes by the State due to abuse and neglect.

(AUSTIN) — The annual Unclaimed Property List in Sunday’s newspapers will bring good news to about 130,000 Texans — they have money waiting to be claimed. The Unclaimed Property List is the Comptroller’s yearly reminder to Texans that banks and businesses holding forgotten funds whose owners cannot be found are required to turn the money over to the state, where it is held until the owners or their legal heirs claim it.

Hill Country Memorial Wellness Center will offer a two-part prostate cancer screening Tuesday, Oct. 28, to facilitate early detection and potentially increase survival rates among local men. A prostate specific antigen test (PSA), physical exam and a review of lab results will be provided by three participating urologists: William A.

The Fredericksburg Chorale will present the next concert in its Dialogues and Dances series on Saturday, October 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the Zion Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall located at 426 W. Main. The concert is open to the public free of charge; donations are accepted. Call 830-997-6869 or visit www.fredericksburgchorale.com for more information. The concert will feature several new instrumental and vocal compositions as well as improvisations.

In his first inaugural address, President Ronald Reagan said, “Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon adversaries in today’s world do not have.” Though spoken at the height of the Cold War, these words resonate today as our country wages a Global War on Terror against enemies who despise the liberties we hold dear. In his two terms as Commander in Chief, President Reagan significantly expanded U.S.