Members of the Blanco FFA Chapter spent this past weekend exhibiting livestock at the Hill Country District Jr. Livestock Show in Kerrville. The annual Hill District show is one of the largest livestock shows in the state with more than 5,000 livestock entries each year. Leading the way for the local exhibitors was Blanco Jr.

7th Grade A Team Loss 14-19 Cade Smith-7 Will Granberg-6 Peyton Van Dyke-1 7th Grade B Team Loss 12-14 Isaiah Delgado-4 Tristan Lopez-4 Jared Spriggs-2 Brandon Phipps-2 8th Grade A Team Win 29-16 Noah Wheeler-12 Kamron Martinez-7 Jacob Robinson-4 Garrett Seales-2 Chase Coggins-2 Jonathan Campbell-2 8th Grade B Team Win 25-11 Jake Mangold-14 Jeremy Kindla-9 Jacob Ruiz-2

The Panthers nailed strong district wins last week over the JC Lady Eagles and the Ingram Lady Warriors to remain undefeated in district play. On Tuesday, January 8, the Panthers clipped the Eagles 56-22. Leslie McClinton scorched the nets with 17 points, with Charsley Smith and Reagan Rogers adding 8 points each.

The Panthers faught hard in a district loss last week against the Ingram Warriors on Friday, January 11, but rallied for a non-district win 58-51 against the strong San Marcos Baptist Acadamy Bears. Against Ingram, Kyle Sauceda led Blanco with 13 points. Carlin Green scored 11, with David Ramirez sinking 10, Colton Childress made 8 points, while Brett Champion scored 6, Josh McCaslin added 4 with Sam Isenberg hit 3. Kyle Sauceda again led the Panthers, ripping the nets for 25 points against t ...

Prior to the Christmas holiday break, the Blanco FFA Chapter held the 16th Annual Chapter FFA Show at the high school agricultural science building. Almost 200 animals competed in four divisions at this year’s show. Friday began with the lamb show where Jr. FFA member Dalton Savanich exhibited the Grand Champion lamb with his Champion Medium Wool.

The library of Blanco High School was packed at Monday night’s BISD trustees’ meeting, not just with parents of Blanco Middle School UIL champions being honored, but with parents of elementary school students seeking answers about the safety of their children at school in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut, shootings.

Blanco hosted a junior varsity tournament on Thursday, January 3, 2013 and Saturday, January 5, 2013. Eight teams played in the junior varsity division with another eight teams competing in the freshman division. The Blanco JV “Gold” team played in the freshman brackets, defeating Poteet 41-35, falling to Johnson City 24-32, and downing Llano 41-20 to capture third place. The Blanco JV “Blue” team played in the junior varsity brackets, defeating Mason 63-10, downing San Antonio Luthe ...

Gwendolyn Stubbs and Joe Wunneburger celebrated their 50th anniversary on December 25, 2012. It’s hard to find a preacher on Christmas Day, Gwen says. They were married in Sonora, Texas, and took their honeymoon trip in their 1940 Ford (they still have it) in 1962 to New Mexico's Carlsbad Caverns. Snow was up to the running boards in West Texas and it was very cold, Gwen recalls. Joe's aunt introduced them in Oak Hill.

DeeDee Eiland with Just Stand Still Photography captured these fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

More and more people around the world and in Blanco County are discovering the advantages of a yoga practice, and there is a class right for you here in Blanco and Johnson City. Toning, stretching and lengthening every muscle in your body leave you feeling calm, patient and relaxed. Connecting breath with movement, you become more in tune with your body, benefitting you at the core level of physical functioning: cellular metabolism.

15 members of the 2012 Highland Lakes Master Gardener Certification Program were honored with certified Master Gardener badges they earned after completing their classroom training and their volunteer service requirement. The new 2013 program will be starting in February. There are only a few slots available so you will need to apply right away.

Blanco Elementary, riding a wave of strong performances, captured the District 27-AA UIL Academic meet title in competition held last Friday in Lago Vista. “UIL is an opportunity to enrich and extend learning, to build teamwork, to celebrate a sense of accomplishment, and to practice diligence and dedication,” said elementary school principal Linda Romano. “The teachers and students get to know one another on a level based upon a common bond as they practice and prepare for their event ...

The Blanco bands held their annual Christmas concert on December 13.

The Middle School Student council collected 160 toys to donate to the Toys for Tots charity. Montana and Skylar Wiseman and their mother were the chairs for the drive, and were responsible for the great turnout.

First Baptist Church of Blanco held its annual Childrens Christmas Performance on Sunday, December 16. The theme this year was Operation: Christmas Child and its mission to deliver gifts to lost children all over the world. A dinner in the fellowship hall followed and the night wrapped up with caroling around town.