Over the course of time, the house that was bought sometimes starts showing signs of needed attention. It is natural that with age comes the need to do more to maintain and update your house. Most of us do not have thousands and thousands of dollars just lying around somewhere that we can tap into in order to make these worthy improvements.

September is a month of hope. After an insufferably hot, dry summer, the first days of the month ushered in a few nights that dipped into the upper 60s and prompted the dispatch of a light blanket on the bed. The quenching rains of mid-month returned the roadsides and pastures to a spring-green.

I love the X-men Trilogy. Since we can't get enough, they decided to show us where some of the characters come from. While this movie has some good action and fighting sequences that will keep you entertained, the staple of the X-Men movies was so much deeper and meaningful than telling the story of one character and how it ties into the whole story.

AUSTIN — Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched one tenth of a point higher to 8.0 percent in August, which translates to 62,200 more people out of work. Chairman Tom Pauken of the Texas Workforce Commission on Sept. 18 said, “Despite our strong Texas economic foundation, the national recession continues to have an adverse impact on our state.” The national rate of unemployment stood at 9.7 percent for the month of August, according to U.S.

The name of the new non-profit environmental organization Blanco Verde translates from the Spanish: White/Green. They are committed to promoting local businesses, community activities, and sustainability for the Blanco River Watershed area, or help green our Hill Country home. In order to introduce this new organization, a Harvest Moon Potluck and Pie Fest is planned for Saturday, October 3, at the Old Blanco County Courthouse, starting at 6:00pm.

The General Meeting of the membership of the Blanco Chamber of Commerce will be held on Tuesday, October 13 at 9:00 a.m. at the Chamber office at 312 Pecan Street. The members will elect the 2010 president and vote to fill five 2-year Board of Director terms and one 1-year term.

The name ‘Blanco Pioneer Museum’ has been cleared for use by the group establishing a museum for Blanco. This will be in the newly restored Pat Ryan Building on Pecan Street and will be used for genealogy and historical exhibits and events. The first exhibit will be “Women’s Work - Now and Then” and will feature many items that most of us have forgotten, and many that will be of interest to school children who have not had an opportunity to learn about them.

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s... wait, what is that thing? If you have been in Blanco for any length of time, then you have probably seen the hang glider-like apparatus in the sky. But hang gliders don’t use parachutes. And then there is the sound of a motor that fills the air when it buzzes around. I, like many of you, had seen it buzzing around.

September 26, 2009 • Saturday Night Hill Country Praise will be held at the Blanco United Methodist Church featuring Gene and LaVada Triesch. Hamburgers served at 5:30pm with gathering music by The Driftwood Gospel Band. Event is free and open to the public. September 26, 2009 • First Annual “Deacon Jack Murrell” Golf Tournament will be held at at the Valler Creek Golf Club (3 miles south of Blanco) on Sept.

Pedernales Electric’s Energy Conservation and Renewable Generation Programs Committee approved at its September 11 public meeting in Johnson City the formation of a membership advisory panel on conservation and renewable energy. The six-member panel will be asked to bring members’ ideas forward and advise the committee on issues related to energy efficiency and green energy.

Someone has said, "nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity". On the lighter side someone asked, "do vegetarians eat animal crackers?" Eating and drinking, we spend a lot of time talking about it and participating in it.

All peoples of the world started out tribal and since that all was a really long time ago (for most peoples anyway) we can probably ascertain that there were long visits by the campfires and stories were told. Among the stories we'd probably find the wisdom of the elders of the clans or tribes transmitted down through the generations.

Gene Triesch and his wife, LaVada, have found more meaning in writing and performing Christian music than they ever found in their country music careers. The goal of their music is to open one’s heart to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. After a yearlong study of the Bible, Gene was inspired to write gospel songs.

Probably the most encouraging words I have heard in weeks came from a prophecy in Isaiah 42:1-3 about how Jesus will use His spiritual power. God says: I have put my Spirit upon him... A bruised reed he will not break, And a dimly burning wick he will not quench. Do you feel like a "bruised reed"—like one of those big top-heavy Easter lilies whose stem has been squashed so that the flower slops to the ground and gets no juice?

I am convinced that we will have victory in this earthly life on earth if we imitate Jesus and follow the examples given to us in our bibles; all of them! So I set out to research Scriptures that I could memorize so I’d be prepared for attacks (like Jesus was prepared when the devil tempted Him during his 40 day fast) in Matthew 4:1-11. When I turned to my bible and re-read Deuteronomy 28, I realized the Scriptures I need to speak are all those wonderful promises God gave us for obedience!

Lillian Gertrude Schaefer Gipson, 78, passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2009 in Fredericksburg, TX. Mrs. Gipson was born November 9, 1930 near Johnson City, Blanco County, Texas to Richard and Marie Hitzfeld Schaefer. She attended school from first through the sixth grades at the Junction School which is now in the Lyndon B.

Dear Editor, My children and I have enjoyed Blanco as our home for many years. We moved from Blanco to Canada about nine years ago. From time to time, I pull up the Blanco newspaper online and catch up on all the news. I just finished reading an article in the Opinion section about how great it would be if everyone had health coverage.

Dear Editor, Want to know what is going on in Blanco? Read the local paper, join the Chamber, or attend a Council meeting. In attending this past council meeting, I was blown away by Interim Police Chief Carl Bragg’s report. I truly believe this man serves Blanco with skill, education, and heart.

Five members of the Blanco FFA and Blanco Jr. FFA traveled to Hondo to take part in the Annual Medina County Fair Prospect Steer Show. Annually, this show proves to be one of the largest and most competitive prospect shows in the state. This year alone, more than 320 head of cattle were exhibited.

Two students at Blanco High School have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP Exams. The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) provides motivated and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performances on the AP Exams.

Blanco FFA Greenhands spent this past Wednesday taking part in the Hill District FFA Day Camp at Ingram High School. The camp is designed to develop leadership skills in freshmen and first year FFA members. One of this year’s presenters was Blanco FFA member Mindy Dechert, who serves as the President for the Hill District FFA.

The Lucky Leaf 4-H Club of Blanco had their first meeting of the year on September 15, 2009. Among the main topics discussed were the upcoming Wild Game Dinner on October 3 and fund raisers the club will hold to raise money. Members signed up to volunteer at the Wild Game Dinner, where they will be serving food and selling raffle tickets.

Jacob Troublefield, a graduate of Blanco High School, has been awarded a scholarship by the Texas Interscholastic League Foundation. Troublefield received The Mike A. Myers Foundation Scholarship in the amount of $2,000, payable for the first year of higher education. The Myers Foundation Scholarship is awarded to students who have competed at the University Interscholastic League Academic State Meet and who has compiled and outstanding record of academic and extracurricular achievement. This y ...

The 8th graders followed suit in their game, receiving the kick off and marching right down the field behind Alex Palos, gaining 34 yards on two carries, a pass from Kyle Sauceda to Dakota Perkins, and David Ramirez scoring on a fifteen yard run. The PAT was no good, leaving Blanco up 6-0.

The Lady Panther Volleyball coaches encourage their players to use the word “TEAM” as they break out of their circle during games. This emphasis on team play has really made a positive difference in the outcome of this past weeks games. The Varsity girls are 2-0 in district play, defeating Brooks Academy in three quick games on Tuesday, September 15.

This past Friday, the Blanco Panthers put together their most dominant and complete performance of the season so far as they defeated the visiting Jarrell Cougars 46 to 7 for their third win of the year. The Panthers’ stellar performance could not have come at a better time with district play opening this Friday. The Panthers opened the game by completing a season long 82 yard drive that ended with a Corey Dowlearn one yard TD run.

In their home opener, the Panthers lit up the scoreboard and displayed tenacious defense. After receiving the kickoff, Aikman Elrod dashed 61 yards for the first TD. The PAT failed, and Blanco was up 6-0. After yielding one first down, Hunter Goodman made a QB sack for a six yard loss, and Alex Juarez blocked the punt attempt.

There’s nothing like a south Texas Fall. After the rain last week, the flowers and plants are smiling, and so are the gardeners. We had such a hot summer that many of the local plants and trees have died. I had an education on plants that made it through the heat with very little water.

Dick Knoll, a former Blanco school trustee and city council member, celebrated his 90th birthday last Friday. More than 50 family members, friends and residents gathered at the Live Oak Medical Center Friday afternoon to honor Knoll at a party hosted by his three sons and grandchildren. Pictured with Knoll is his wife, Monta. Don’t forget all the things that will be going on around Blanco and its environs from now until Christmas!

Our Servicemen September 19, 1969 U.S. Air Forces Technical Sergeant Heriberto S. Perales, son of Mrs. Auroa Garcia of Laredo, is on duty at Cam Ranh Bay AB, Vietnam. Sgt. Perales, a medical technician, is assigned to a unit of the Pacific Air Forces. He previously served at Brooks AFB, San Antonio. The sergeant is a 1955 graduate of Martin High School.

For many consumers, getting involved in any sort of real estate transaction is a lot like riding a roller coaster. You get on, and then it's one wild ride toward closing day: securing financing, locking in the best rate, finding the home that works for your needs, making an offer and the flurry of activity on closing day – the process can leave all parties exhilarated and exhausted. Buying or selling real estate can indeed be a crazy journey – and one that can try even the calmest homebuyer ...