We are proud to announce the birth of Rylee Addison Hargrove. She was born on May 11, 2009, at the Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock, AR. Rylee weighed 7 lbs. 1 oz. and was 19 in. long. Rylee is welcomed by her parents, Shawn and Stephanie Hargrove, of Benton, AR.

Howard and Dolores Cox are enjoying their 16th grandchild, Brody Cox. Brody was born to Andy and Holli Cox on May 18, 2009. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 10 oz. and was 20 inches long.

Llano County Sheriff’s Office and Crime Stoppers are asking for the public’s help in solving 22 tires being punctAured at the Park and Sell lot across from the Dairy Queen in Kingsland. Sometime during Monday night June 4, 2009. A victim is offering an additional $1,000.00 reward. Any one with information should contact Glenn Williams with Llano County Sheriff’s Office at 325-247-5767 or Hill Country Area Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward up to $2,000.

(Fredericksburg, Texas) June 5, 2009 – Ricky Neffendorf, County Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Gillespie-Kendall-Blanco County today announced farmer and rancher candidate nominations begin June 15 for local FSA county committees. The nomination period continues through August 3, 2009. Elections take place this fall. “I encourage all producers to participate in the county committee election process by nominating candidates by the August 3rd deadline,” said Ne ...

SEGUIN – June 3, 2009 - Texas Lutheran University recently named Bradley Walker of Blanco to the Provost’s List for the spring 2009 semester. The Provost’s List is announced at the conclusion of each term to honor those students who maintained the maximum 4.0 grade point average with a minimum of 12 graded hours during the semester. Walker, an accounting major, is the son of Paul and Mary Walker.

Anthony Chad Seidel, a graduate of Blanco High School in 2003, son of Darryl and Teresa Seidel and grandson of LJ and Martha Wagner, has recently graduated from Tarleton State University with a Master’s of Science in Agriculture. Anthony started his college life at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, pursuing a degree in Animal Science with an emphasis in Veterinary Medicine.

Every summer, thousands of Texans and visitors to our state seek a reprieve from the summer heat in the cool waters of Texas rivers. From canoeing to kayaking to floating on inflatable tubes, our state’s plentiful rivers offer a refreshing escape and an enjoyable way to see the Texas countryside.

While in the office recently at LBJ High School in Johnson City, I noticed a beautiful framed portrait of George Washington leaning up against a wall. I asked Principal Julie Storer about the picture. She told me that it had been donated to the school and that they were looking for an appropriate place to display it.

Gran Torino - We’ve got pretty much two words to say about this movie – Clint Eastwood. Not many names carry the fondness and expectation that his does when connected to a movie these days. In his latter years, he has become one of the best directors ever, adding to his already famous career as an actor. This movie is a little funnier than I thought it would be and definitely a little raw and rough around the edges, but that’s what he was going for when pitting an ol’ vet with today’s ...

AUSTIN — Lawmakers left Sunset bills and other major issues unresolved in the closing days of the 81st Texas legislative session that ended on June 1. The Legislature, through the Sunset process, may tweak, overhaul or dispose of entire state agencies. Left undecided were the fates of the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Department of Insurance, the Texas Racing Commission and the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation.

Brightly colored fabrics, whirring sewing machines and smiling faces were the order of the day as Blanco County 4-H members learned the art of making Mug Rugs. Nancy Jordan, 4-H Project Leader, led five members in their selection of fabrics, pressing techniques, and sewing. Each 4-H member made two Mug Rugs to take home.

Spring Finals at Texas A&M were a little easier thanks to the efforts of the Blanco County Aggie Moms! Each semester, all of the moms prepared assorted treats for their Aggies. Some of the treats were homemade, some bought, and some fun, non-edible items! This semester was no different. Aggie Moms Nickie Cox, Tricia Hartmann, and Mary Walker took the bags to the Aggies and enjoyed seeing the big smiles and grins as the students picked up their bags.

SAN ANTONIO -­ A Hermann Sons fraternal insurance agent from the Blanco area is among the 34 agents who have qualified for recognition based on their performance in 2008. Grand Vice President-Marketing Howard Saathoff, FIC, Order of the Sons of Hermann in the State of Texas has announced that Gilbert Weiss, FIC, has qualified for the Million Dollar Club, one of three clubs for which agents may qualify based on premium income generated and applications written during a calendar year. The agents ...

The Lions Club will have a Health Screening Unit at the Lavender Festival, on Saturday only, in the Court House. It is FREE to everyone and anyone to come take advantage of. They will also be raffling two baskets filled with Lavender, Blanco, and Lions Club goodies. The Health Screening Unit will cover visual acuity, glaucoma, blood pressure and blood sugar (diabetes), and hearing tests.

Present through July 31, 2009 •Free Lunches and Breakfast for Kids 1-18: Breakfast served from 7:30 to 8:00am, each day at Blanco Elementary and High School. Lunch served at noon. All kids are welcome! June 10, 2009 •Summer Fun at First Baptist Church: Every Wednesday from 3:00pm to 5:00pm, all children entering Kindergarten thru 5th grade are welcome to join us for fellowship, Bible Study, swimming, bowling, camping, eating, playing, cooking, learning, laughing, singing, and much more.

PRESS RELEASE - Cattleman’s National Bank has teamed up with BancVue to bring free checking with high interest and ATM fee refunds to the Texas Hill Country area. “We are a community institution with great passion for our clients and their financial needs,” said Gary Gruben, President & CEO of Cattleman’s National Bank.

Austin (June 3, 2009) – Hill Country Alliance (HCA) board member Colleen Gardner has been appointed director of Blanco-Pedernales Groundwater Conservation District (GCD) Place 2. Gardner, Bamberger Ranch Preserve executive director, is well-known for conservation education at the ranch. With her business expertise and environmental resource management knowledge, Gardner brings both fiscal savvy and experience in water matters to the GCD appointment. “This is a critical time to be on a Groun ...

The author of the following article apologizes for last week's incorrect article on Eco-Day. Please use the following article for accurate facts and information concerning Eco-Day 2009. Mark your calendars for June 20, Saturday, when Eco-Day 2009 will be held at the Henly South Fire Station on FM 2325 at Plainview Road, across from Hill Country Ranches (the White Rabbit).

The historical name for the building is May (Mae) Morgan but the current name is Collectors Hideaway. The current owner, Laura Williamson, and her husband, Keith, are holding an open house to celebrate the receiving of the National Register Plaque for the building. A National Register designation is the highest designation a building can receive.

Stonewall—Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park invites the public to attend a free movie screening of Will Penny, a 1968 Western starring Charleton Heston, on Saturday, June 13 at 9:00pm. The movie will be projected onto an 18 by 25 foot outdoor screen that includes a professional sound system. In the event of rain, the movie will be shown on Sunday, June 14; also at 9:00pm.

Statistics indicate that foodborne illness continues to be a health issue in the United States. Each year, 1 in 4 Americans will become sick, 1 in 1,000 will become hospitalized, and 5,000 will die due to a foodborne illness. Blanco County food service establishments are under the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) jurisdiction.

The Jewish people and Judaism have always been indelibly linked with the land of Israel aka known as “Palestine”. Israel has been lamented for, longed after, prayed for and everything in between for thousands of years. But the question seems to be – what is the land of Israel? We know it’s in the Middle East, tucked in between Arab and/or Muslim lands, but let’s explore more by starting at the beginning; here’s what the dictionary states: Israel a.

There are many spheres of influence that shape and change culture and society throughout the world. Of these, seven have developed into major centers of influence. Whoever controls these “mountains” of influence shape and control what takes place throughout entire nations, continents, and even the world. In 1975, Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade, and Loren Cunningham, founder of Youth With a Mission, met for lunch.

In recent days, thousands of fans gathered in Fort Worth, eager to be present as some of the most talented players engaged in world-class competition. Onlookers, most of them envious, were in awe of the players in competitions that took on marathon status. Some of the stars challenged the toughest musical compositions in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at Bass Hall, while others pursued a trophy, plaid jacket, and big money at the annual Colonial Invitational Tournament a few mi ...

John 1 – 1-3, “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” We continue reading in verse 14, “14 So the Word became human and made his home among us.

“They’re the salt of the earth,” we often say of people we hold in high regard. Why? What’s the origin of this complimentary comment? Our Lord called His disciples the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13) because salt preserves and purifies. He wanted them to know they were responsible for preserving certain values and exerting a purifying influence on others.

Allen Anthony Chapman passed away on June 5, 2009 at the age of 42. He is survived by his sisters, Lisa and Donna; brother, Michael; his wife, Connie; and his children, Angel, Alex, Wolfgang, Sophia and Meghan. The family will receive friends at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home located at 3125 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX on Friday June 12 from 6:00 to 8:00pm. Graveside Service will be held at Capitol Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville on Saturday, June 13 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please send donati ...

Ethel Cribbs Hunt, 92, known as “Honey” to all, was born April 2, 1917, in Coalgate, Oklahoma, and passed away on May 23, 2009, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Honey graduated from high school in Coalgate, Oklahoma, married her love, Bill Hunt, in 1934, and moved to Dickinson, Texas.

Dear Editor, I thank the Lord that you don’t get many letters like this one. Friday, June 5, we were at Dairy Queen and left in a hurry to go to the high school graduation and I forgot my purse on the bench. We went back immediately after graduation, but someone, instead of turning it in, kept it, therefore it was stolen. In the purse was drivers license, Medicare card and seven hundred dollars to be put in the bank.

Dear Editor, On July 4th there will be another protest meeting similar to the April 15th protest of spending and taxes by the federal government. There will be no political speeches as is customary on Independence Day, but it will be a peaceful meeting of concerned citizens, who, by their presence are demonstrating that they will take action at the polls against any elected politician who supports the current spending epidemic in Washington, D.C. The program will be patriotic music interspersed ...

The Blanco FFA Chapter hosted its annual end of year awards banquet for parents, members and guests on May 27. Over 130 people attended this year’s banquet, where local FFA members were recognized for their achievements during the 2008-2009 school year. Overall, the Blanco FFA won 12 Hill District Championships and 4 Area VII titles, while qualifying 7 teams for state competition.

The 5th annual Lavender Festival is only 3 days away. Our Beautification volunteers have been working to help make the Downtown Historic Square clean and full of flowers. The lack of rain has really worked against us but it still looks great. Our Environmental volunteers have also been working to help educate property owners on environmental laws and to encourage voluntary compliance.

Dear Readers: Just wanted quick to say “hello” to Barbara Dowdy, Ada Cooley, and Judy Brewer - miss them all and hope to see them SOON! Don’t forget the lavender festival (even though it is going to be HOT) - the courthouse is cool inside, there are great speakers, and wonderful craftsmen and women, with lots of different things to offer.

All builders and remodelers in Texas are required to register with the commission if they build new homes or work on an interior remodeling job that either costs $10,000 or more or that — regardless of cost — changes the square footage of the home’s living space. Registration includes a criminal background check and requires builders and remodelers to provide a set of minimum warranties for their work. Before hiring a builder or remodeler, consumers should ask for proof of registration or ...

Coyote Trapped June 6, 1969 Blanco County Predatory Animal Control Trapper D.E. Fries reported to Secretary-Treasurer Harold Schroeter that he caught a coyote on the George Pearce Ranch, Friday, May 23. This makes eleven coyote that have been caught this year. If you wish to pay year dues and are unable to at this time, please drop a postcard to Harold Schroeter, P.O.

There's an old adage that what you don't know won't hurt you, but when it comes to buying real estate, that's not the case. After all, wouldn't you want to know if the dream house you're buying had flooding problems in the past or has a defective roof? That's why full disclosure - a seller's obligation to disclose facts about properties for sale (such as conditions like occurrence of past floods or structural problems) - is critical when it comes to buying or selling a home.