Sadie Haas was chosen to receive a $500 scholarship from the 2008 Austin Mayors Committee for people with disabilities to further her education. She was honored at a banquet in Austin. She was also chosen to spend a day with a mentor in her education field. Sadie spent the day with a fashion designer in Austin.

October 15, 2008 (FHTNC) - Navy Seaman Recruit Benjamin C. Cleary, a 2005 graduate of Blanco High School, Blanco, Texas, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. During the eight-week program, Cleary completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety.

Charles and Josie Simpson of Marfa, TX are proud to announce the engagement of their daughter, Crystal Simpson to Chris Bibb, son of Tommy and Vickie Bibb of Blanco, TX. The bride to be is a graduate of Marfa High School. She then earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas-Permian Basin before receiving a Master of Education degree at Sul Ross University.

Bob Riley and Sheri Hefley are pleased to announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. They will be married on November 22, 2008 in Anhalt, Texas with the Rev. Dr. Bobby W. Leggett performing the ceremony.

There’s a lot of talk nowadays as to what is the best means of growing your retirement portfolio. Is it stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate? Let’s look at not just the avenue, but also the vehicle that gets you there! So maybe you’ve heard real estate is a great way to prepare for retirement.

Noel- I recently caught up on the entire Indiana Jones trilogy so that I could watch this newest Indiana Jones. I enjoyed the first three; they seemed to be timeless adventure classics even though there were, of course, some silly and childish moments in the movies, but all in all I enjoyed watching them.

AUSTIN - Is there anything that can be done before Texas gets hit with a market-driven wave of home foreclosures like Florida, California, Nevada and other states? Maybe so, if state lawmakers approve. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott on Oct. 23 proposed the Texas Foreclosure Deferment Act, legislation to help Texas homeowners stay in their homes. Under Abbott’s proposed act, a mortgage loan servicer would be required to provide a homeowner with a certified letter stating that the debtor ...

On October 11th the American Legion Memorial Highway Post 352 of Blanco, Texas hosted the American Legion 10th District Fall Convention at the Gem of the Hills Community Center. Twelve posts sent delegates to the convention representing the Legion, the Ladies Auxiliary, the Sons of the American Legion, and Junior Auxiliary.

The Blanco High School Class of 1951 held their 57th class reunion on Saturday, October 18th at the Windcrest Club House in Fredericksburg. The reunion was hosted by Nelda and George Vogel and Joanne and Alton Klier. Thirteen of the original class in attendance were: Ruby Pehl Duecker, June Byler Baird, Allen Heimer, Norma Jones Felps, Bob and Donna Johnson, Alton and Joanne Howe Klier, Fritz Kuebel, Glenn and Betty Page, Barron Schlamues, Mary Wilke Singleton, Morrie and Joellen Greebon Stern ...

The Blanco County realtors and 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.

Are you age 60 years or older and feeling a financial pinch due to the rising costs of groceries and energy bills? One answer may be the Senior Nutrition Program at the Blanco Senior Center, located in the Gem of the Hills Community Center. Anyone aged 60+ years of age may become a participant of the program, regardless of income.

October 31, 2008 •Light Night: Oct 31 from 6 to 8pm at First Baptist Church. Puppets for Christ at 7pm. Games & Prizes, Cake Walk, Dart Throw, Bounce, Face Painting, Ring Toss, and more! For more info, contact the church office at 833-4632 or Debbie at 210-710-3144. November 1, 2008 •Kendalia Volunteer Fire Dept: 26th Annual Mexican Supper, raffle, & live auction.

Friday, November 7, is your chance to beat the flu this season! That’s when the Texas Department of State Health Services teams with the Blanco County Disaster Response Group to offer flu shots in the Activity Building of the First United Methodist Church in Johnson City. The clinic will be open from 10:30am to 1:30pm, but no one in line will be turned away at closing time. The flu vaccine will cost $10 per dose, and Medicare patients can receive theirs free and file their claim on the spo ...

Adult Grief Support Group No one needs to suffer grief alone; everyone can benefit from care and support. CTMC Hospice Care provides a safe and comfortable environment through its grief support groups to express the feelings you may experience due to the death of a loved one. These services are available at no cost.

The Blanco Rug Hookers, a group of 25 local women, will exhibit their craft at the Blanco Library November 3rd through the 15th during Library hours. An Open House and demonstrations will be held on Saturday, November 8th from 10 AM to 4PM and will give the public an opportunity to view the techniques of this art form first hand. Traditional rug hooking has existed for nearly 300 years, originating in the United States out of necessity.

Come join us for our November Art class at the Blanco Senior Citizen’s Center, located in the Gem of the Hills Community Center, HWY 281 North, Blanco, TX on November 6, 2008 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Our guest artist is Omce Depew. At the age of 19, she was given a set of oil paints and she was hooked!

At its board meeting on Oct. 22, the Texland Electric Cooperative board released a summary of deposits and transactions for a bank account held in Texland’s name at Johnson City Bank from May 1980 to January 1986. “We believe this is (now) a full accounting of the entire history of Texland, to the best of our knowledge,” said Texland board President Kathryn Scanlon.

Blanco Cowboy Church hosted their Members Invitational Saddle Team Roping on a perfect fall day, Sunday, October 19th. Invited Team Ropers and their families rode in from the North, South, East and West to attend the 10 a.m. Worship Service as their Entry Fee. Cowgirl, Rene Krause, and her son, Hesston Krause opened the worship service with Cowboy Praise Music.

In May, 1859, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Silliman moved to Blanco from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Almost immediately Mrs. Silliman began to organize a Baptist church. Mr. Silliman was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, but he soon became a Baptist and helped his wife with the organization of the new church.

In his article, “Keeping Calm,” World Magazine editor, Marvin Olasky asks a question that may be on your mind: “Is the current financial storm a cold fall rain that will soon pass by or a 100-year flood that will inundate a decade?” Then he states this unchanging truth about the projected end of any crisis: “God knows but we do not.” In view of this settled fact, he correctly concludes that all of us have good reasons to refrain from panic during any financial crises.

Grandparents’ master plans for their kids’ kids, to be effective, must be “tweaked” regularly, often multiple times between sunrises. Sometimes, it is ours to shield grandchildren from information overload--stuff that falls squarely into the “master unplanned” bin. Usually, it is material grandparents expect to deal with a few years up the road.

An uncommon man who lived simply and honestly passed away. Emilio Carlos Tamayo, born on August 11, 1939 to Emil and Celia in San Antonio, left behind a tradition in stalwartness and true loving kindness. He entrusted these ideals to those he left to walk the journey here on earth; Helen his wife, son Jon, daughter Kathy, six grandchildren, and sisters Celia and Margaret.

Lyle Grant Reeser slipped the surly bonds of Earth on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, at the age of 89. Lyle was born in Weldon, Illinois, on December 24, 1918, to Carl and Mabel Rittenhouse Reeser. He and his three brothers were raised on the family farm. Lyle attended the University of Illinois at Urbana.

Onie Marie Veitch, age 64, of Valley Springs, Texas passed away on October 25, 2008. She was born in Henly, Texas on February 3, 1944 the daughter of Bill and Viona Dotson. Onie enjoyed and worked many years at the Brady ISD School District. She enjoyed gardening, fishing and loved being with her family and being involved in her grandchildren’s activities.

John McCain believes that the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is a fundamental, individual Constitutional right that we have a sacred duty to protect. We have a responsibility to ensure that criminals who violate the law are prosecuted to the fullest, rather than restricting the rights of law abiding citizens.

Now that I have your attention, read the rest of the story: That is an order that will never be given by a Democratic government. Democrats will protect Americans’ Second Amendment right to own firearms, and will keep guns out of the hands of criminals and terrorists by fighting gun crime, reauthorizing the assault weapons ban, and closing the gun show loophole, as President Bush proposed and failed to do.

Question: Should your faith in God, and your love for God, influence your politics? Separation of Church and State! Separation of Church and State! I can hear it already. Exactly what official document is that found in? The Constitution? The Bill of Rights? The Declaration of Independence? No. It is phrase taken from a letter!

AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today urged Texans to learn more about identity theft prevention – and use that knowledge to avoid becoming victims of identity theft. Identity theft occurs when a criminal illegally uses another person’s personally identifying information, including names, addresses, driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or other financial information to commit fraud or other crimes.

Burnet TX – Grab your boots and don your cowboy hat on Saturday, November 8 for the Second Annual Cowboy Up for Kids event, benefiting the Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center and child victims in the Center’s seven county service area. Cowboy Up for Kids will be held from 6-10pm at Boulder Creek Farms, located seven miles east of Marble Falls on FM 1431.

The Texas Department of Public Safety has released the new Top 10 Most Wanted list. The fugitives on the list are wanted for a wide range of crimes, including homicide, burglary, aggravated assault and indecency with a child by contact. Texas Crime Stoppers will give a $1,000 cash reward to any person who provides information that leads to the arrest of one of these fugitives.

University of Texas football legends, Johnny “Lam” Jones and Johnny “Ham” Jones, unite to “Speak Up for Kids” at CASA for the Highland Lakes Area “Speak Up for Kids” 5K Run & Fun Day at the Park to be held Saturday, November 22, 2008, at Johnson Park in Marble Falls, TX.

Five Blanco FFA and Blanco Junior FFA members spent this past weekend exhibiting livestock at the Third Annual Hays County Bobcat Classic Prospect Show in San Marcos. Over 500 entries competed in this year’s lamb, goat, steer, and hog shows. In the hog show, freshman Cody Perez took home a third place ribbon with his Hampshire barrow and a fourth place ribbon with his Duroc gilt.

The BYFL Varsity team faced the #1 seed and undefeated Marble Falls Mustangs in the North division semi-finals on Saturday. The Panthers kicked off to start the game, and the Mustangs wasted no time in easily driving 45 yards for the first score on a 30 yard run. The extra point kick failed, leaving the Mustangs up 6-0.

When you decide to build in a subdivision, you might want to ask a few questions. Or even when you buy land, occasionally the owner or prior owners will have a stipulation on what you can build. When you buy in a subdivision, you need to look at the restrictions for building.

Our Servicemen October 25, 1968 Army Private Glenn L. Lawhon, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Lawhorn, Blanco, has completed a cooking course at Ft. Ors, California. During the 8 week course he was trained in meat and cutting plus cake and pastry baking. He also learned how to prepare and serve food in Army mess halls and in the field. Voltmeters seek St.