The German war machine produced rockets, the English the Spitfire, the Japanese the mini-sub, and the U.S. the atomic bomb – all forefathers of modern technology. The Swiss however, produced the multi-bladed pocketknife – forefather of Boy Scout preparedness and a hell of a good reason for remaining neutral. Ensuing years have seen multi-bladed knives such as the Leatherman and Gerber Multi-Tool take the outdoor world by storm, while the Swiss Army knife has been seen storming many a dirty ...

The Invasion Noel–The Invasion, starring Nicole Kidman, is definitely one of a kind; it reminds me of a combination of zombies and snake-spitting freaks. I’m not sure yet if this is a movie I would recommend or not because it was weird. Something comes out of the sky and infects humans to where they have no emotion and the infected try to spread it by spitting green slime into uninfected peoples’ faces.

RK and Priscilla Seals' daughter, Christy's architecture firm, Loop Design, was on the front page of the Austin American Statesman real estate section Sunday. She is designing a house for a writer, Geoff Leavenworth, who is writing a blog about it. Her firm is a green building firm--that's the focus of the article. My favorite hair designer (she does what she can with mine), Mysti Johnson, is back at High Maintenance Salon (next to Cilantro's).

Public records information is compiled by Charles Willgren from reports filed at the Blanco Police Department, Blanco County Sheriff’s Office, Blanco Volunteer Fire Department, Blanco County Clerk, District Clerk, and Justices of the Peace offices. Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Criminal Cases Convictions will not appear this week. Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Criminal Cases Convictions will not appear this week. Blanco Police Reports These reports were filed between Feb 6 and ...

Reflecting the importance of Texas in the political landscape, U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama opened campaign offices here on Feb. 16. Both candidates, who are competing for the Democratic presidential nomination, have begun airing campaign ads in many Texas markets. And, the two are scheduled to engage in a Feb.

The Blanco County 150 Committee is well underway on planning the March 8 celebration of the county’s founding, with presentations, storytelling, a trailride, folks in period costume, and displays of items from circa 1858 scheduled for the day. If you want to lend the Sesquicentennial Celebration an historic item from your possessions, Pat Vallone is the gal to contact.

Standing on the front porch of the Texas White House, Luci Baines Johnson asked Russ Whitlock, superintendent of LBJ National Historic Park (LBJNHP), if a Friends group could be formed. Within a week the wheels were in motion for a Friends of LBJNHP. Friends groups assist National Parks across America by providing additional educational and interpretive programs, assist with research and conservation planning and improvement projects that benefit the individual park.

Tom Benson Farm & Ranch, Johnson City, Texas, have been recognized nationally by the American Angus Association® for having 2 registered Angus cows included in the Association's 2008 Pathfinder® Report. Only 2,306 of the more than 36,000 American Angus Association members are represented in this year's report, according to John Crouch, chief executive officer of the Association with headquarters in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The Pathfinder Program identifies superior Angus cows based upon reco ...

The morning of February the fifteenth broke cold, damp and cloudy. Nine of the most ambitious and hard working full- time Blanco County Realtors met at the Texas Hills Winery and enjoyed delicious pastries and coffee provided by Kathy and Gary Gilstrap, sponsors of this month’s tour. Gary took all of us on a very interesting and informative tour of the winery.

The American Red Cross is trying to "balance" Blanco County's emergency shelters. "While we've been focused on other things, we've let our shelters in Blanco County get seriously out of whack," said Kristy Vandenberg, Executive Director of the ARC's Hill Country Chapter in Kerrville. "Now we need to get them back into whack." The shelters she's talking about aren't big, residential shelters where thousands of evacuees would live for months. "Blanco County doesn't have the resources for that, ...

Uptown Art Center director Rebecca Doll updated members of the Blanco Woman’s Club on center classes at their monthly meeting February 13 at the Blanco Library. Art Department chair Peggy Welch, wearing a Mardi Gras mask and tossing beads to the members, explained that she had created the mask at a recent Mardi Gras party at the center. Giving a little background on herself, Doll explained that she has moved to Blanco with her family and that “things have been moving into place miraculousl ...

Though carbohydrate management is the number one priority for people with diabetes, calorie management and weight loss are the next priorities for more than 80 percent of people with Type 2 diabetes. Hill Country Memorial Wellness Center will have a special class on managing calories and weight for Type 2 diabetes Tuesday, Feb.

Over the past few weeks, members of Blanco United Methodist Church, organized by Mission Committee chair Ernest Hoffman, have traveled to Luling, Texas, to help assemble Personal Energy Transportation vehicles. According to its web site (giftofmobility.org), the PET project’s mission “is to provide appropriate mobility for all of God’s children in need.

Philippians 3:8c-9 says “that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Over the last four weeks, We have discussed the subject of faith righteousness.

The Healing Rooms of Blanco, Texas, Blanco County and the Hill Country are hoping you will come and get trained for Jesus’ Healing Ministry. This training is free to all of Jesus’ disciples who are willing to come and pray for the sick. We only ask that you come and pray when you are needed.

Marriage Workshop from : 25th February– 29th February 2008. The last night will be after a weekend break: 3rd March 2008. (Whole course takes 6 nights from 7-8 PM approximately. 1 hour per session) The Water of life Church, Seventh Day Baptist will host this workshop. Location: All Faiths Chapel, Corner 9th and Elm Street, Blanco, TX.

Did you know that we have to be born to die and get to heaven? The angels don’t have a soul, even though they are in heaven. God gave us a soul and a spirit, and we had to be born, and we have to be reborn, and we have to speak our faith, and believe our faith, to get to heaven. Do you believe that? Jesus had to be born, as a man, to walk this earth, be baptized, speak Himself being the Son of God, and die to be resurrected. Hallelujah!

Francisca Garcia, 93, passed at her home February 14, 2008 surrounded by her family. She was born June 6, 1914 in Hondo, Texas. She was born to Mauricio and Rita Trinidad who preceded her in death. She was married to Tomas Garcia who also preceded her in death in 1977. Francisca was also preceded in death by nine children, including her daughter, Hope Hernandez and son, Manuel Garcia.

Freddie Carroll Garnett of Dripping Springs, entered into eternal rest with his Heavenly Father on Sunday, February 10, 2008, at the age of 76 due to complications of leukemia. He passed peacefully Sunday morning with his children by his side. Fred was born in Dripping Springs, June 28, 1931. He attended school in Dripping Springs, where he graduated in 1948 at the age of 16.

Harold F. (Buddy) Eggers was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. His wife, Betty, who preceded him in death, was his childhood sweetheart. They married in 1939, raised 6 children, and were together for 67 years. He served in the Army in the North African Theater in WW II. He worked for the New York Telephone Company for 39 years.

Neva Griffin, 84, passed away February 13, 2008 at her home in Blanco. She was born November 16, 1923 in Newnan, Georgia to Jessie and Lois Gentry. Neva married Forrest L. Griffin on March 18, 1956 in San Antonio. They moved to the Blanco community in 1970. Being a Registered Nurse, she worked in various hospitals, clinics and nursing homes in this area. She was preceded in death by her husband, Forrest, on June 15, 1981.

Thanks to the sponsorship of Blanco Lions Club, Culpepper & Merriweather Circus, America’s Favorite Big Top Circus is coming to Blanco on March 7, 2008, at Yett Park, with two scheduled performances at 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. In its 21st season, C&M Circus has become internationally known for quality family entertainment.

Republican Party Primary Polling Places, March 4 • Precinct 102 Masonic Lodge, 501 11th Street, Blanco • Precinct 201-202 Johnson City Volunteer Fire Dept., 300 Liveoak, Johnson City • Precinct 302, 303, & 304 Comm. Center Bldg, City Pool, 620 N. Nugent, Johnson City • Precinct 401-402 Old Blanco County Courthouse Preservation Society Building, Upstairs, 301 Main St., Blanco Democratic Party Primary Polling Places, March 4 • Precinct 102 Masonic Lodge, 501 11th Street, Blan ...

SAN ANTONIO (February 15, 2008) – Emily Ranice Blackburn, a student at Blanco High School, has been selected as a semifinalist in the 20th anniversary class of the Coca-Cola Scholars Program. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, a joint effort of Coca-Cola Bottlers across America and The Coca-Cola Company, is one of the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship programs of its kind in the United States.

Smile Texas - Mobile Dentists are coming to Blanco ISD on February 27 and 28. About 100 students will receive exams, x-rays, cleanings, fluoride and sealants (forms were sent home with elementary and middle school students). All children are eligible regardless of financial ability. Students will be attended at all times by school selected parent volunteers while being treated in the elementary Nurse's office. Call Nurse Peggy Pepper at the Blanco ISD School if you have any questions (830-83 ...

It is time again for the Blanco Panther Baseball-Softball Camp. The Camp will be held March 17th and 18th starting at 11am and ending at 2pm. The cost is once again $25 per camper, and covers all instruction, insurance, camp T-shirt, hat, and snacks. Seventh and eighth graders come for free, but you can buy a cap and t-shirt for $8 each.

The Hoops basketball program was up and running again for 2008. Games began on Monday, January 14 and concluded on Monday, February 11. For the fifth and sixth grade girls there were approximately 25 girls competing on three teams. The Black team was coached by Roland Mancha and David Hesskew, and ended with a 2-1-1 record.

The Powerlifting teams travled to Brady to compete on Saturday, February 16. In the boys division, Ryan Feagans took second place in his weight, and Austin Deshane took fourth place in his weight. In the girls division, Jillyan Jimeniz placed third in her weight division. Others that participated were Tanner Sanchez, Brooks Wyatt, Lance Gottardy, Cory Dowlearn, Morgan Petri, Morgan Johnson, and Chelsea San Miquel.

A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose-except when it comes to pruning. Pruning requirements for different types of roses vary. The best time for roses is toward the end of the dormant season. In our area that is usually early February to early March. Basic objectives are to develop an attractive shaped plant and to encourage growth. There are a few basic guidelines for all roses; remove all dead and diseased wood; weak, twiggy and crossing branches, opening up the center for ai ...

Births February 16, 1968 Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Wilke announce the birth of a son, Anthony Jerry, who was born on February 8 in the Georgetown Hospital. The baby weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Wilke of Blanco and Mr. and Mrs. Leo Teamann of La Grane. Great-grandparents are Joe Weber of Blanco and Mr.

If you think watching the national news will give you any conclusive evidence as to the state of the Texas real estate market, think again. Texas isn’t like the rest of the country. If you live in Texas, you already know that. If you plan on moving here, then listen up.