Juno Keith–Juno comes out this week on DVD and it’s a great movie. Juno (Ellen Page) is a funny, sarcastic teenager who takes a nine month detour into adulthood when she's faced with an unplanned pregnancy and sets out to find the perfect parents for her baby. With the help of her charmingly unassuming boyfriend, supportive dad, and no-nonsense step mom, Juno sets her sights on an affluent couple longing to adopt their first child.

Who among us fails to remember the finger-like bodies of water called the “Great Lakes” way up high on the U.S. map? I have always conjured lake-like thoughts about them, not knowing until now how wrong I’ve been. As of March 21, I can provide first-hand experience suggesting that “Lake Michigan” should be called “Ocean Michigan.”… * * * * * More than 300 miles long and 100+ miles wide, it accommodates sea-faring craft.

The Blanco County Cat Coalition has been busy so far in 2008. They have been Trapping, Neutering and Returning cats in a program known as TNR. TNR is a proven procedure in which entire colonies of stray and feral cats are humanely trapped, then evaluated, vaccinated, and spayed/neutered by veterinarians.

One hundred twenty five years ago, concerned citizens of Blanco and surrounding communities met in the pecan bottom of Blanco and formed a joint stock company to finance the building of the first Blanco High School. The result was a two-story building that stood where the Mission Revival-style building now stands.

April 17 • UpDate Blanco: What is Going On?, a town hall meeting sponsored by the Blanco Woman's Club will be held from 7:00 p.m. To 9:00 p.m. at the Old Blanco County Courthouse. Featured at this meeting, open to the public for no charge, will be presentations from eight community projects that have a significant impact on our community.

"One problem with thunderstorms is people see them the way they see snakes," said Troy Kimmel, who teaches weather and climate at the University of Texas. "Most people see a snake and assume it's dangerous, when only a small fraction of snakes in Blanco County are a threat to humans. Most are beneficial, eating mice and rats. "Thunderstorms are the same way.

The directors of the Pedernales Electric Cooperative have agreed to reach into PEC coffers to help pay the proposed $4 million settlement of the class action law suit filed against them and the cooperative last summer. Because the PEC carries a Directors and Officers Insurance Policy with AIG with a $15 million limit, many members and observers assumed that AIG would pay the $4 million settlement less the $125,000 deductible. PEC in-house attorney Kimberly Paffe confirmed that the insurer wil ...

At the April meeting of the Blanco Woman’s Club at the Ryan Ranch, Russ Whitlock, superintendent of the LBJ National Historical Park, updated members on the opening of the “Western White House” to the public for many interesting events in 2008, the centennial celebration of Johnson’s birth. Calling the national parks “a ribbon that runs through our society,” Whitlock pointed out that American Presidents are a part of that ribbon, and that the LBJ park is unique in that it is the onl ...

The Texas Society of CPAs (TSCPA) recently announced the recipients of the organization’s Accounting Excellence Awards. Every year, TSCPA’s Accounting Education Foundation recognizes one outstanding senior accounting student from each of the 52 participating Texas universities. Blanco student Christina McKinney received the 2008 TSCPA Accounting Excellence Award from Texas State University.

Trisha was given a wrought iron cat clock in appreciation of her dedication in providing food and care to several colonies of cats totaling over 50 cats. A colony is a group of cats that have banded together. These particular cats had been abandoned by their owners and would have starved without Trisha’s help.

By Pastor J.D. Link Abundant Grace Fellowship Church, Blanco, TX Mk 11:22-24 “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

When Reinnie Barth was appointed a missionary to Germany, following World War Two, he knew he was going to serve in a difficult place during a tough time. But this dedicated man had no idea just how draining his task would be until he arrived and began counseling those whose world had collapsed around them.

Jesus said – “44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” When I read this I was so drawn to learn all that was written in the law of Moses, the prophets and psalms, so I’ve been reading!

In ancient Egypt, more than three thousand years ago, ruled the Pharaoh Ramses II. Under him the land of Egypt prospered, for he was a strong and powerful ruler. One of Pharaoh's closest friends and advisers was Moses, a foundling, who had been brought up in the royal court by one of the princesses as her own son.

Frankie M. West, 67, of Martindale passed away April 11 in his home. Frank was born in Lubbock, January 13, 1941 to Marvin and Frankie (Bell) West. He was a Navy Veteran of Viet Nam and a Master Mason. He was a millwright in industrial construction. Frankie is survived by a son, Jonathan West of Austin, a daughter, Frankie Hidrago of Ft.

The Blanco chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America “Made Their Mark” on the State Conference held in Galveston, Texas on April 3-5, 2008. The chapter members were among 3,000 delegates attending the three-day conference. The youth developed theme, “Save the Day with FCCLA” was carried out through tracks featuring a series of specialized workshops and general sessions in which members discovered ways to become actively involved in issues facing today’s youth. STAR ...

As this year’s livestock show season has come to an end, several local FFA members closed out the year with high placing animals at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. Leading the way would be Senior Blanco FFA member Alisa Guler, who closed out her show career with a 2nd place AOB steer.

The Blanco Family, Career and Community Leaders of America sponsored a book drive for the Christus Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital during the month of March. The members gathered gently used and new books from fellow classmates, teachers, and staff members for two weeks. Dino’s Restaurant located in Spring Branch, TX, sponsored a BBQ fundraiser to support the BHS FCCLA chapter in their effort to reach out to the patients.

The Blanco Major Leauge girls, the Angels with Attitude, met the Johnson City team #2 for their Opening Day game on April 5th. The Blanco girls made several key errors to allow the JC team to score five runs in the first inning. The Angels seemed to get their act together to finally put the innings behind them.

On Saturday, April 12, the Blanco White Sox coach pitch team played against the Johnson City Mets. The score is not officially kept because this division is still instructional. This year "coach pitch" has changed to "machine pitch". The boys and girls are still learning how to hit balls being thrown to them from a machine rather than a person. It appears that first grader, Hunter Toler, has mastered the art of hitting.

The area Pinewood Derby was held in Marble Falls on Saturday, March 29. Two local Tiger Cub Scouts represented Blanco in this race. Joshua Neil and Jeremy Cloud are both first graders from Blanco Pack 497. They had their preliminary races in early March to determine who the top racers would be.

The middle school boys’ track teams took to the track on Thursday, April 3. The seventh grade boys placed second over all with a team point total of 127.5 points. In the field events, the Panthers did well as Ray took third place with a throw of 31’ 4 1/2”, followed by Ruiz who threw for 30” to take fifth place.

Twenty Blanco Panther Tennis participants played in the district meet, which was held in Mason on Tuesday, April 1. Alicia Immel and Morgan Johnson were both in the JV girls singles. Immel lost her first game to Sharee Johnson from Sonora; she then had to play Bea Scott from Brady. Immel was eliminated.

The 9th annual Trash Off and 2nd annual Blanco River Cleanup was a big success. Six 30 yd roll off dumpsters were filled to the brims, a pile of metal and appliances as high as a 1 1/2 story building, and a very high pile of wood was all collected at the City Yard on Jones Road.

8th Annual Water Festival April 14, 1978 Scouters, leaders. Families and friends from all over the state are invited to participate in the 8th Annual Blanco Scout Water Festival to be held at the Blanco State Park, Blanco, Texas, May 5, 6, and 7th, 1978. The annual event is sponsored by the Blanco Scout Water Festival Association, assisted by the Blanco Boy Scout. Ellen White honored April 13, 1988 The Texas Agriculture Extension Services recognizes Ellen White of White Ranch in Blan ...