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March 11, 2009 Issue
Front Page
To overturn a trial court’s judgment, an appellant must show that the trial judge abused his discretion. On March 5, the Third Court of Appeals in Austin ruled that appellant David Allen Hall did not clear that steep hurdle.
In an interview Tuesday, Hall reflected on the court’s ruling. “I’m grateful for the support and encouragement given me by many concerned PEC members, and disappointed for their sake in the outcome at the appeals court.
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The rivers and lakes of our great state provide recreation, drinking water, agricultural irrigation and beauty. Unfortunately, many Texas waterways are polluted. Everything from cigarette butts to plastic bags and old tires contributes to substandard water quality and affects the beauty and appeal of Blanco’s waterways.
There are some positive things you can do during the drought.
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Saturday, March 14th is the official Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting day for the locally owned and operated Sears. Linda Kuykendall and Dennis Green are the owners of the newest retailer in Blanco.
The event will be held from 11:00am to 1:00pm and will offer refreshments and drawings for gift cards.
Everyone is invited to come out and take advantage of the great special grand opening sales!
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Often it is easy to forget about what is close to our homes that make the Texas Hill Country a very special place. As we go about our daily lives, we can overlook opportunities for recreation and education that are right on our doorsteps. Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park is one of those opportunities, and half of the park is located right in Blanco County.
This year is the 40th anniversary of this national park.
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Descendents of German immigrants are invited to take part in a night of celebration of their heritage March 12 at the Blanco Library by sharing family stories and photographs. This evening program, beginning at 7:00pm, is part of the One Book/One Community project which is highlighting the contributions of German immigrants to the settlement and cultural development of the Texas Hill Country.
This program will complement the month-long survey of German immigration which opened with a photo exhi ...
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March 6, 2009-The Texas Department of Public Safety has added three fugitives to the Top 10 Most Wanted list. The fugitives on the list are wanted for a wide range of crimes, including homicide, burglary and aggravated assault.
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.
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Hello, all!
After almost a year in the editor’s position, I am going to attempt to write a weekly column. I hope that I will be able to come up with something interesting every week!
First, let me introduce myself. I am a newcomer to Blanco, having been here only a year and a half.
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With Video Shak's Keith & Noel Morgan
This is filmmaking at its finest. It tells a story so compelling you feel like you’re there. This is appropriate given the fact that it's a true story and not merely based on a true story.
Screenwriter J. Michael Straczynski relied on actual articles, transcripts, and testimonies to document the story of Los Angeles native Christine Collins, whose nine-year-old son, Walter, disappeared in March of 1928.
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AUSTIN - In 1984, the 68th Texas Legislature passed HB 72, a groundbreaking attempt to increase the quality of public education with accountability standards.
HB 72 put the greatest weight in rating public schools on student academic performance and also created the no-pass no-play rule, lowered the students-to-teacher ratio, ended social promotion of students and initiated a teacher career ladder.
In the quarter century since passage of HB 72, lawmakers have reworked the school accountability ...
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March 11, 18, 25; April 1 and 8
•New Hope Lutheran invites you to come share in the peace of this season of reflection, Lent, every Wednesday evening through April 8 from 6:30pm to 7:00pm. The Sanctuary will be open for you to come and pray, or meditate, or to just "be".
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Called an “Icon of the Chili World” by the president of the Chili Appreciation Society International, Johnson City resident John Raven will be in attendance at the Texas Men’s State Chili Championship.
Raven, a 37 year veteran of the chili cook-off circuit, is the most honored man in the “Chili World”.
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The Gillespie County Republican Women (GCRW) invite all Blanco County Republicans to participate in their regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 18, 12:00pm at the Gillespie County Law Enforcement Center. The speaker will be local resident and active member, Pauline Cusack. Each meeting contains an interesting and informative presentation.
Pauline has served in several capacities as a Republican leader for residents of Gillespie County including with the Texas Federation of Republican Wome ...
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Hochheim Prairie donates a portion of the premiums residents pay back to Blanco County Organizations that help Blanco County.
The branch #157 board of directors receives requests from the various groups and gives out the donations each year.
This year those organizations were Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center, Johnson city Library Capital Fund, Blanco County Disaster Response Group, Blanco United Methodist Church for Relay for Life to American Cancer Society, Blanco County Child Welfar ...
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Keep Blanco Beautiful Trash Off and River Cleanup will be April 4, 2009. Please start collecting all of your recyclables and items to be taken to the dumpsters. This is a great opportunity to clean out your yards and carports and comply with city ordinance #332.
Ordinance #332 reads, “An ordinance regarding unsafe, unsightly or unsanitary accumulations within the City of Blanco, declaring such to be hazards to public health and sanitation, establishing fines and penalties for violators and p ...
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Blanco Lucky Leaf 4-H Club wildlife team traveled to the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Kendalia and was given an educational tour of the facility by Lori Hinton, Director of Educational and Volunteer Services.
As a community service, members donated items to the center and gave a monetary donation.
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Pedernales Electric Cooperative invites members to attend a presentation regarding PEC rates. Representatives from C.H. Guernsey & Company will present initial recommendations based on their analysis of PEC’s rates. After the presentation, members will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. The forum will take place Monday, March 23, at 6:30pm, at PEC’s E.
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By Todd Swift, The Texas AgriLIFE Extension Service
The Pedernales Wildlife management association and the Texas AgriLIFE Extension Service are sponsoring an educational program with Mr. Robert Linder presenting information on the Rio Grande Turkey. If you are interested in learning more about this interesting and beautiful bird that is native to Texas make plans to attend this program.
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By Jim Raby, Trinity Lutheran Church Youth Fellowship
The Youth of Trinity Lutheran Church would like to recognize the community of Blanco for its generous donations to The Good Samaritan Food Bank. Because of the contributions, we were able to deliver 272 pounds of food.
As you know, needy families and individuals in our community go without proper food, shelter, and essential medical care every day due to a variety of factors including low wages, job loss, injuries, illness, age, domestic violence, or divorce.
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One hundred and fifty-three years ago the first residents were interred on Farm Lot 37, now known as the Blanco Historical Cemetery. Since those days, the Old Cemetery has continued to fill up with those we love.
Many entire families lie within the perimeters of the Old Cemetery. Over three hundred veterans dating back to the very early days of Texas rest in peace.
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By John Kinslow, Minister, Blanco Church of Christ
Three men were asked what they wished people would say about them when they died and people passed by as they were lying in their casket. One said, “I hope they say he was a great doctor, he helped a lot of people.” One said, “I hope they say he was a great family man and neighbor.” The third said, “I hope they say, ‘Look, he’s alive!’”
When Jesus began His ministry, He said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).
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1 Corinthians 1:2 - “2 I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
Romans 5:6-11 - "When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.
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Every Wednesday evening during Lent (March 4, 11, 18, 25; April 1 and 8), New Hope Lutheran invites you to come share in the peace of this season of reflection, Lent.
From 6:30pm until 7:00pm, the Sanctuary will be open for you to come and pray, or meditate, or to just "be".
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Are any of you noticing an increase in the amount and level of anger in your environment?
James 4:1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain.
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Efforts to write a tribute to Paul Harvey, a hero to millions, are akin to firing air rifles at the sun—both will fall miserably short.
He was without peers in his field, and we give thanks that his marvelous voice graced radio air waves for more than 75 years.
Fascinated by the medium of radio since boyhood, he built his own crystal set receiver as a lad.
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Solomon’s poetic portrayal of spring is about to be reenacted: “The winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land” (Song of Solomon 2:11-12).
Spring is an annual celebration of creation and resurrection.
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Bertrand Joseph Rossignol, age 81, passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2009, in San Antonio, Texas. He was born in Frenchville, Maine, on May 14, 1927, to Leo and Yvonne Cyr Rossignol. He grew up on the family farm during the difficult years of the Depression. He entered the U.S.
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Betty V. Stobaugh went to be with our Lord on March 9, 2009 at the age of ninety. She was born December 1, 1918 in Saginaw, Michigan to Edward and Julie Zauel. Betty was preceded in death by Maurice, her husband of 59 years, and brother, Ed Zauel of Holly, Michigan.
Betty taught in Saginaw and in Blanco in the areas of English in middle school and first grade.
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Donal Lavon Culpepper went home to be with her Lord on March 8, 2009. She was born in Madison, Wisconsin on March 3, 1922, grew up in New Orleans and met her beloved husband, Charles Culpepper Jr., at Southwestern Baptist Seminary. After marriage in 1944 they moved to China as Baptist missionaries, but had to leave in 1949 when the communist government won the civil war.
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Jasper Ray McClellan passed away in Blanco, Texas, the morning of Monday, March 9 at age 98. He was the father of Blanco resident Keith J. McClellan who is married to Barbara Gail Moore McClellan. Jasper was born to Samuel Edwin McClellan and Bertha Maria Lewis in the little Mormon settlement of Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, on January 19, 1911.
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Margaret Campbell Bamberger passed away quietly in her sleep on the morning of Friday, March 6, 2009. Early Wednesday, shortly after completing an exhausting month of cancer treatments, she fell asleep, never to awaken. A green burial will soon take place on the ranch that she loved so well. Attendance will be limited to immediate family and the ranch family.
Margaret was born December 13, 1938 in New Orleans.
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(AUSTIN) — Nearly 13,000 children enrolled in the Texas Tuition Promise Fund during its first annual enrollment period, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs announced today. More than $239 million in prepaid college tuition contracts were sold from Sept. 1, 2008, to Feb. 28, 2009.
“The first enrollment period for the new Texas Tuition Promise Fund has ended, and it was a tremendous success,” Combs said.
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Fraudulent companies cheat Texans out of the American Dream of homeownership
Tough economic times bring out criminals seeking to take advantage of the desperate or unwary. The current financial environment, especially woes within the housing industry, has spurred a rise in the numbers of foreclosures – and the number of bad actors looking to illegally profit from struggling homeowners.
With this week’s announcement of a new federal plan to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, Texans should e ...
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SAN MARCOS, TX— The third annual Springs Fest at Rio Vista Park will bring together paddling enthusiasts, competitors and the City of San Marcos to celebrate the springs and paddling in the Texas Hill Country.
The whitewater rapids at Rio Vista Falls continue to be a popular hot spot for kayakers and canoeists around the country and serves as a perfect location for this high-energy, three-day water recreation festival.
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Blanco High School will present scenes from Into the Woods, this year’s entry in the University Interscholastic League one-act play contest, at 7:30 p.m. on March 12 at the high school. The public is invited.
In February, cast and crew members participated in the Wimberley One-Act Play Festival and won several individual awards including best actress—Sydni Kipp, all-star cast—Jaeger Shoemaker and Garrett Shipman, and honorable-mention all-star cast—Letitia Smith and Kristen Mancha.
The ...
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Members of the Blanco FFA Livestock Judging Team placed first in the San Antonio Livestock Show Livestock Judging Contest. Blanco’s team beat out 218 other teams to win the use of a D&D trailer for a year.
Keaton Dodd placed first high individual overall in the contest with over 720 individuals competing.
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Congratulations to speech and debate team members on their fourth place sweepstakes finish in a field of 58 schools at the Round Rock Westwood UIL Speech and Debate Tournament on February 28.
Taylor Holden - 1st place in Lincoln Douglas debate, Angelica Avila - 3rd place in poetry interpretation and 4th in informative speaking, Briar Koehl and Allen Strandtman - 5th place in CX debate, Ecce Bradfute - semifinals in persuasive speaking, Sydni Kipp - semifinals in prose interpretation
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The Panthers opened up with TMI last Friday and lost in the last inning 5-4. Lance Gottardy went the distance giving up 10 hits and striking out 4. Ethan Evans was 2 for 3. Lance Gottardy and Austin Deshane each had a hit. Blanco committed 6 errors and could only manage 4 hits.
Blanco loses to Fredericksburg 10-0.
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This past Tuesday, the 3rd, was busy and productive. Armando Pena, Ruby Duecker, Pat Vallone and Barbara Dowdy were kept busy watering, trimming, cleaning sidewalks and hauling tree branches that Sam Castillo cut from the large trees. The City guys dug the large hole and planted the (24 inch box) Monterrey Oak.
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Vicky Kilmer and Wendy Smith, employees of Pedernales Electric Coop. visited the Kendalia Volunteer Fire Department Wednesday evening. Through PEC’s Light the Way Project, David Moore, fire chief, accepted a check and a plaque in behalf of the fire department. Windy and Vicky gave a brief message from the Coop.
Frank and Joy Brussel recently made a trip to New Zealand, Tasmania and Australia.
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By Debbie Vallone-Homeier, Paragon C&D Builders / Vallone Real Estate
Why Go Green? Better health; greater comfort; lower utility bills; less maintenance; lasting value! Health concerns have increased in prominence as buildings have become tighter and more energy-efficient.
Energy affects all facets of building design, construction, and operation, from drawing the initial plans to installing light bulbs, equipment, and appliances. Energy use over the lifespan of a building may be the single most important environmental and economic issue to address in building ow ...
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Births
March 7, 1969
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Edmondson of Austin are the proud parents of an 8 pound 3 ½ ounce son, Boyd Stephen, born February 26 at St. David’s Hospital in Austin.
Mr. and Mrs. Orville Hill of Blanco are maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Morris Edmondson of Kendalia.
Hill Country Artists present Paul Kime
March 9, 1979
Blanco - - Paul Kime will demonstrate a Hill Country scene with bluebonnets for the Hill Country Artists at the March 12 paint along.
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Do you know how much the stuff in your home is worth? Not the building, but your personal property. I'm talking about furniture, appliances, electronics, clothes—everything. Although personal property is only one piece of coverage offered by most homeowners policies in Texas, it's an area where many consumers undervalue the amount of coverage they need.
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