Looking for ways to stretch your budget? Have a great idea to share with other families? With today’s economy, we could all use some budget friendly advice! Send yours to editor@blanconews.com! Recipes, money saving entertainment, etc. Sausage-Cheese Balls 2 c. Bisquick 1 lb. of breakfast sausage 1 lb. cheddar cheese, grated Preheat oven to 350’. Combine all ingredients and shape into small balls.

How to find Free Tax Services The IRS provides free publications, forms and other tax material and information to help taxpayers meet their tax obligations. Free help is available on the IRS Web site, by phone, at local IRS offices and at many community locations. ·IRS.gov You can access free tax information at IRS.gov.

Body of Lies is a riveting thriller that weaves a tale of terrorism, espionage, and betrayal amid the current landscape of violence and retribution in the Middle East. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a C.I.A. agent in the middle east who is collecting intelligence information to track down a Bin Ladenesque terrorist named Al-Saleem.

AUSTIN - The Texas House's Select Committee on the Federal Economic Stabilization Funding and the House Appropriations subcommittee on the Stimulus have met day after day, getting input from state agency chiefs and staffers and others invited to testify on budgetary needs. These committees must figure out how much funding state agencies need to carry out their missions over the next two years and exactly where federal stimulus dollars may be spent. The biggest questions have to do with where fe ...

At 2:00 pm on February 28, 2009 the Blanco Cemetery Association heldd its long-awaited public meeting. Thirty-four people were in attendance. The meeting was brought to order by Bud Lawson at the request of Clifton and Joyce Knoll who had resigned from the board on the previous evening and were unable to attend.

The second annual LBJ 100 Bike Tour will be Saturday, March 28 at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park LBJ Ranch District near Stonewall. The public is invited to participate. The ride is jointly hosted by: Friends of LBJ National Historical Park, Hill Country Bicycle Tours Club, Lyndon B.

Following the resignation of the former cemetery board members, the new board members wasted no time to reorganize, assess needs and elect new officers. Meeting in the small building located on the cemetery grounds, a small group came together to discuss the most urgent needs of the cemetery. Archiving, mowing, and volunteering were among the top concerns of the group.

The Blanco Library is the proud owner of a book about the Life of Eli Clement Hinds. After 16 years of diligent research by Karen Hines and her patient husband, the story of one of Blanco’s founding fathers is now available for the citizens of Blanco to read. The two volume set was given to the library by the descendants in memory of Eli’s many contributions to Blanco County and the establishment of Pittsburgh and eventually Blanco.

March 5 , 2009 •Lenten Lunch Schedule: Each Thursday at 11:30am during Lent, join the Blanco community for lunch at this special Lenten ecumenical experience. Devotions begin at Noon and light lunches are provided by the host church. Freewill offerings received are used by the Blanco Ministerial Fellowship and their support of persons in need.

(AUSTIN) Court Appointed Special Advocates™ called on Texas lawmakers for money needed to recruit and train volunteers who will serve an additional 4,000 Texas foster children. CASA leaders says that they know money is tight, but in tough economic times, more children are abused and neglected and will enter the foster care system, increasing the need for CASA volunteers to help them.

The Bulverde/Spring Branch Library will continue to offer free classes throughout March thanks to our wonderful volunteers. The library offers computer classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2:00pm featuring various computer topics, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as Internet Basics and basic computer classes for those not familiar with computers.

The Hill Country’s German heritage will be celebrated in this year’s One Book/One Community project of the Blanco Library. “Lone Star and Eagle,” an exhibit picturing the German immigration in the 1840s and subsequent settlement of this area, opened March 1 and runs through March 28. Three titles have been selected as featured books and are now available at the library.

The Kendall County Area Democratic Women (KCADW) will meet at 10:00am on Thursday, March 12, 2009, at the Boerne Holiday Inn Express hotel. The featured guest at this month’s meeting is Elder Law attorney Carmen Samaniego. The title of her presentation is, “Are you ready to rely on others? What you need to know about finances, powers of attorney, and guardianships.” Ms.

Dear Friends, It is with heavy hearts that Clifton and I resign as officers of the Blanco Cemetery Association. We have had the pleasure to work with so many people in happy time and in sad times. Our work was not finished but it is time for new people and new ideas to help the cemetery go forward.

The annual membership meeting of the Old Blanco County Courthouse Preservation Society is scheduled for Thursday, March 12, 2009, at 7:00pm in the courtroom of the Old Blanco County Courthouse. The OBCCPS encourages all members and interested citizens to attend this annual meeting. The proposed agenda includes a review of the last year’s activities and a look forward to the long-awaited improvements to the building and grounds which we hope to start later this year.

The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) has begun site cleanup of the property that it recently acquired for a park in Blanco County. Now named Pedernales River Nature Park, LCRA’s newest park is being prepared for limited public recreational day use, such as fishing and picnicking, beginning in late May 2009. With community assistance from Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC), the City of Johnson City, and Blanco County, LCRA is readying the park for visitors this summer.

I’m a child of God, so I have bragging rights. I can brag about the Lord God, and all He’s done for me. Have I mentioned that He healed my youngest son from a terrible vehicle accident, and helped my oldest son come out of a very bad incident in Colorado? Did I tell you how He has healed me from hot flashes and allergies, and keeps me healthy and whole?

A little boy was being restless in the worship service, so the mother leaned over and said, “You know why I ask you to be quiet during the service, don’t you?” The little boy looked around and then up at his mother and said, “Is it because people are sleeping?” Perhaps the little boy was right, but I think his mother had another reason in mind. In Isaiah’s time, the people of God had departed from the way of God and were being called back by this great prophet.

How blessed have you been by the movies produced by Sherwood Pictures in Albany, Georgia. Their three movies Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fire Proof have a wonderful Biblical World View that continues to bless with each showing. Let us support Christian movie makers with our money by purchasing these family movies and strengthen our marriages by taking the "Love Dare."

On February 1, 2009, ground was broken for a second building at North Shore United Methodist Church located at Rt. 306 and North Cranes Mill Rd. at Canyon Lake. The church recently celebrated its first year in its present multipurpose building and finds its needs require a second building to serve the growing church and area.

Pastor Jackie and his wife Tammy Thomison assumed their roles as the new head pastors of the First Assembly of God church Sunday morning. The pair were unanimously voted in and blessed with a potluck dinner and the prayers of the congregation and the Austin area Presbyter Kenneth Womack the previous Sunday. The Thomisons hail from Burnet where Jackie works as a chaplain for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, TDCJ, in Burnet and his wife works in Cedar Park as a Court Clerk for Williamson ...

Clifford Allie (Bud) Benson, Jr. passed on peacefully to be with the Lord and join his family and friends on March 3, 2009. He is preceded in death by his parents Clifford Allie, Sr. and Naomi Benson as well as his sister, Jackie Webb. He is survived by his wife of 53 years Katherine Benson, daughter Becky Heinsohn, (Tommy), Buda, sons Clayton Benson of Rock-port, and Dobie Benson (Judy) of Blanco and four grandsons Nathan and Matthew Heinsohn of Austin and Robin and Clifford Benson of Blanco, ...

Lila Gene Hobbs was born February 7, 1928 in Cypress Mill, TX to Herman F. and Esther Reed Wedekind Reiner. She went home to be with our Lord and Savior on February 27, 2009. Lila Gene graduated from Johnson City High School in 1945 and went on to attend Tarleton State College in Stephenville, TX.

Lt. Col. James Russell Larson, USAF Ret., passed away in Blanco, Texas, on Monday, February 23, 2009, four days short of his 89th birthday. He will be buried on Friday, March 6, in Ft. Snelling Military Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN, with full military honors, with his wife, Alice (0wen). Known as “Russ,” he was born on a farm seven miles south of Kanawha, Iowa on February 27, 1920, to Joseph and Ruth (Richardson) Larson, and graduated from Belmond Township 4 Country School and Belmond High S ...

Mary Jo Carson was the only child of Wayne Park Reese and Joseph Reddin Andrews, born September 6, 1927 in Houston, Texas. She was a fifth generation Texan, whose family fought in the Battles of Texas Independence. Mary Jo graduated from Mirabeau B. Lamar High School in Houston (1944) at 16, then from the University of Texas at 19.

Dear Editor, Following your publication of my letter last week, I was questioned by some of my friends about Acorn, specifically Acorn indictments for voter fraud. I confirmed on Google that there have been indictments and convictions in Wisconsin and Colorado. This is the outfit that has been given 4.19 billion dollars in Obama’s Recovery Plan. In his speech on Tuesday, Obama hailed his Energy Plan.

Saturday, 6:00pm - Local and national news teams congregated on this small Texas town after locals described a “mile long” spaceship had landed near the high school baseball field and several tall blue-hued anthropoids emerged to walk among the startled townspeople. Local student Ima Starr exclaimed, “The aliens walked around the field and circled around the bicycle rack.

The Blanco High School Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America Chapter recently participated in a special opportunity—the chance to be part of the 3rd Annual Spurs FCCLA Career Day at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. The Career Day Seminar is designed to highlight some of the many off-the-court careers in pro sports, including those in health care, hospitality, nutrition and fitness.

The Hill Country Spurs 4-H Horse Judging Teams traveled to San Angelo February 27, 2009 for their second contest of the year. The San Angelo Stock Show Horse Judging Contest was held Saturday, February 28, and although it was a three and a half hour trip, it was a blast, and everyone did a great job! Our top scorer, Shelbi Haynes of Johnson City, won first place in the junior division for the second time at San Angelo.

(Austin) – MaryAnn Weaver of Blanco ISD was among a group of school board members gathering in Corpus Christi February 19-21 to learn the latest on brain research and futurist studies and how those trends have implications for educators. Session theme for this, the third of five training sessions of Leadership TASB (LTASB), was “Where Leadership Happens through Becoming an Agent for Change.” Trustees began activities Thursday by attending sessions at the Winter Governance and Legal Semina ...

It was not an evening of pomp and circumstance at Blanco High School. Instead, the audience of the hilarious Mr./Miss Blanco Pageant enjoyed a full evening’s entertainment of farce and outrageousness as the participants of the fake “beauty pageant” poked good natured fun at each other and themselves. “What fun it was!” said Steve Tamez, the evening’s emcee, (who did an outstanding job according to spectators Sarah and Jimmy Connell).

Be sure to tune your television to Austin’s Fox News Edge in the Morning on Tuesday, March 10th from 7:00 to 8:00am. Our very own Blanco Elementary 4th grader, Mark Kuebel, has been selected as the guest meteorologist. Every Tuesday, they select a kid to help Zack with his weather forecast.

The two day camp will be held on March 16th and 17th. The cost will be $35 per camper. Two campers from the same family will be $60. Camp cost covers all instruction, insurance, camp t-shirt, hat , and snacks. 7th and 8th graders are free; cap and t-shirts cost is $8 each. Members of the Coaching staff will teach a systematic and organized approach to learning the fundamental skills and techniques that are required to play the games of baseball and softball. Get your applications from your cam ...

The Blanco Panther JV Baseball Team got off to a rough start for the 2009 season competing in the Annual Blanco Panther Varsity Baseball Tournament. The JV team was facing some stiff competition as they were filling in for a late cancelation. In the JV’s first game, they fell 11 to 0 to Blanco’s varsity.

Texas Heat, a local 12 and under select baseball team with players from Blanco and Johnson City have been selected to compete at Cooperstown Dreams Park in the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame Invitational Tournament during the week of July 18. This is a golden opportunity for these young men to be able to play in a week long tournament.

The Ingram Warriors defeated Llano JV in the finals. Texas Military Institute defeated Blanco in the 3rd place game. Blanco defeated the Blanco JV team 11-0 Ethan Evans got the win for the Varsity, he went 2 innings. Brooks Wyatt and Travis McClinton each went an inning. John Pepper provided the punch on offense as he went 3 for 4 with 2 home runs and knocked in 6 runs.

Keep Blanco Beautiful and the City of Blanco will join together for the tenth annual citywide "Trash Off" and the third annual "Blanco River Cleanup" on April 4, 2009 from 8:00am to 11:00am. There will be dumpsters at the city yard on Jones Road, behind the cemetery. Bring your city water bill or stub.

Blanco Police Department Reports These reports were filed between Feb. 13 and Feb. 19. Feb. 13 • Theft Report. 8:03 AM. Trailer reported stolen. • Reckless Driver. 6:28 PM. Reckless driver reported on RR 165. Unable to locate. • Intoxicated Person. 8:08 PM. Intoxicated subject reported at Dairy Queen. Subject got a ride home.

Get a home inspection for all homes, even new ones. They give the buyers & sellers head’s up on the problem areas. In the long run, it could save the buyer thousands of dollars. The buyer can also use this report to negotiate on the purchase price. Just like a builder or realtor, the buyer will want to select the inspector carefully.

Blanco Open House Thursday March 2, 1979 In conjunction with Public School Week March 5-9, Blanco High School Principal Bob Bendele and Elementary Principal B.R. Gloor invite parents of all students to Open House during the P.T.O. meeting Thursday, March 8 at 7:45 p.m. Parents will have an opportunity to go through a shortened version of their son or daughter’s daily schedule. Teachers will present a short overview of each class. Births March 1, 1989 Bethany Helen Wagner Mr.

Would you like a green home? I'm not talking about a residence painted the shade of a lime. I mean green as in environmentally friendly. These days, many people consider the environment when making purchases. Just look at the popularity of hybrid vehicles, alternative fuels, locally grown produce, and a host of other products designed to use fewer resources and reduce pollution and waste.