I was in the eighth grade in the old American School of Monterrey, Mexico. It was located right in the heart of the city and, except for the street entrance, was closed in on all sides by high adobe walls. A little kindergarten building was located on the gravel playground apart from the main building. Next to the door on the outside of that little building was a stovepipe.

AUSTIN — A new law that went into effect Jan. 1 mandates that only “fire-safe” cigarettes — marked as FSC for “fire standard compliant” — can be sold in Texas. Fire-safe cigarettes are designed to go out when they are not being actively smoked, reducing the risk of an accidental fire. Lawmakers passed a bill in 2007 requiring that all cigarettes sold in Texas be fire-standard compliant by Jan.

Happy New Year from Blanco Verde! It’s going to be a great year and Blanco Verde is starting the year off with some very exciting events. Eco Club has changed to Wednesday this month. Together we’ll mix up a batch of Cilantro Pecan Pesto, made from all local ingredients, and give it a taste.

Choices & More is a very unique and classy boutique “filled with spectacular finds.” Owner Brenda Thomas and manager Katie Judd held a Ribbon Cutting with the Bulverde/Spring Branch Chamber of Commerce to show off the many decorative items as well as clothing and jewelry this store has to offer.

Members of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas’ Dr. Wilhelm Keidel Chapter, Fredericksburg, will meet Monday, January 11, at 3:00pm at the home of Patricia McConnell. Phyllis Hazelett Malinak will be the guest speaker talking on her ancestry, interesting family history and her DRT connection. She will also offer a session on her class “Family History Online”.

Visitors to Blanco State Park will have two opportunities to see live birds of prey up close when Save Our American Raptors comes to the park next week. The first presentation will be at 5:00pm Wednesday, January 13. The second presentation will be especially for young children and their parents.

Excitement over the Coen brothers’ choice of the Old Blanco Courthouse for courtroom scenes in their remake of the movie classic, True Grit, is mounting. A Christmas Eve KXAN TV news story by Josh Hinkle featured the Old Courthouse and its role in the film. Rebecca Doll, Courthouse Manager for the non-profit owner of the building, the Old Blanco County Courthouse Preservation Society, was interviewed concerning the history and functions of the Old Courthouse.

Saturday, January 16 is the date for the First Annual Blanco County Youth Show Salsa Contest. The winner will have year-long bragging rights as the best salsa maker in Blanco County and will receive a custom-made cutting board, made by Creative Awards in Fredericksburg. You must live in Blanco County or have a child who qualifies to show in the Blanco County Youth Show to enter.

“The Burning Bush Is “The Simple Jew” Who’s Love (Fire) For G-d Is Never Quenched...” This is a direct quote from a dear friend of mine named Shlomi. We became friends on the internet and he’s been teaching me quite a bit about Judaism. From him I am learning Yiddish culture and language, such as words.

The Kendalia Community Church is pleased to welcome as its new pastor Dr. Charles B. Kemble. Dr. Kemble is a graduate of Baylor University, holds the M.Div and Th.M in Counseling degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary.

Col 3:17, 23-24 says "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."

Have you ever planted a seed? I was taught that the size of the seed determines how deep you plant it. If a seed is half an inch then cover it with half an inch of soil. Basil seeds are nearly microscopic. You press them into the soil and cover them with fine leaf mulch and place in a sunny location, keep moist and wait on God. I was reading Luke 16 and the importance of taking extra special care of God’s Word really swelled up in my heart, so I’m sharing it. The le ...

Mwangaza, the Ugandan children’s choir, which was scheduled to sing at First Baptist Church on Wednesday, January 13, was forced to cancel this concert because of visa issues. They may try to reschedule later in the month. Their other concerts are listed on their website www.mwangazachoir.org

Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light." The story is told of expedition into the jungle in which locals were hired to carry most of the gear.

Did you close 2009 disappointed with how things worked out? Here are five daily disciplines to enable you to begin again! 1. Rise thankfully - Each morning when we rise we choose to either be grateful or grumpy; pouting over yesterday’s problems or praising God we’re alive and able to live another day. 2.

Doris Jean (Quinn) Hughes went to be with the Lord on January 9, 2010 in Gulfport, Florida, at the age of 72 after a brief battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Estelle Quinn, and her beloved husband, Ed E. Hughes, who died in July 2007.

Gerald Franklin Ward, Sr., age 64, passed away on January 5, 2010, at his home in Twin Sisters Estates, Spring Branch, TX. He was born April 13, 1945, in Frostburg, Maryland, to Howard Franklin Ward and Doris Emily (Stilwell) Ward. He was a public school teacher for many years. He is survived by one son, Gerry Ward, Jr.

Rowena Laura Armke Voges, born December 1, 1918, died January 8, 2010. Rowena was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbert Voges. She is survived by her brother, Freddy Armke of Hye, TX, her children, Jeanette Heimer, of El Paso, TX, and Erich Voges, of Leander, TX, as well as six grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. Rowena and her late husband, Wilbert, raised their family in San Antonio, TX.

Betty Helen Rhodes, age 83, passed away on January 3, 2010 at her home in Blanco. She was born on July 6, 1926 in Alamo, Texas to Leonard and Helen Davis. Betty worked as a secretary for a construction company, she worked at Head Start for 10 years and she worked with her daughter, Donna, at Better Days Consignment Shop in Blanco. Betty is survived by her husband, Malcolm Rhodes and four daughters, Marie Anderson of Alma, Arkansas, Barbara Gaiser of Garner, North Carolina, Mary Alice ...

Kimberly Maria Price-Stephenson, 52, formerly of Arlington, passed from this life Friday, January 1, 2010. Funeral: 3:30pm, Wednesday in Greenwood Chapel. Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8pm Tuesday at Greenwood Funeral Home. Memorials: Kim cared deeply about the Earth and requested that in lieu of flowers, friends and family plant a tree.

Sterling B. Harwell was born in San Antonio on October 9,1917 and passed gently on to be with his Lord on Sunday, January 3, 2010. He was a much-beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Sterling Harwell’s military career began as an Army Lieutenant in the last fully mobile Army Calvary unit stationed at Ft.

Dear Editor, The Obama administration continually refers to the mess they inherited, never mentioning the legacy of eight years with no terrorist attacks on the USA. In the eleven months of their administration, this country has suffered three attacks. This is the beginning of a trend. Each crisis will mask, as this one has masked, a political power grab (Nationalized Health Care) and will result in a call for a new law rather than an enforcement of existing laws.

Dear Editor, I'd like to clarify an article that appeared about me on the front page of the Dec. 23, 2009, issue, "20 Years Later, Group Still Honors Christmas Tradition." This was actually a story idea that I submitted to the newspaper. I thought it was community news that my article, "Angel Biscuits: The ingredients are only half the story,"

The Varsity Lady Panthers improved their district record to 2-0 with a strong 46-23 victory over the Randolph RoHawks. Lacee Hunter pumped in 23 points, while Alyssa Warner added 6 points and Leslie McClinton scored 5. Abbey Weaver and Justine Cooley each made 4 points; Lindsey Jenkins and Kayla Martinez added 2 points each. The JV Girls soundly defeated Randolph 47-21.

The Panther basketball team faced the RoHawks in their first district match-up on Saturday, January 2. The RoHawks jumped out to a quick 2-14 first quarter lead and finished the game defeating the Panthers 30-49. Blanco struggled against the Randolph defense in the first half; the RoHawks were all over the players, stopping the inside game for the Panthers.

Happy New Year! If the rain keeps up it’s regular pattern, we will have wildflowers this year. The bluebonnets are looking healthy and thick. It should be a lovely Spring. January is a busy month. If we have enough dry and warm days to be outside, we need to: 1.

Want to build a Concrete Home? What do you know about ICF homes and ICF construction? First off, ICF stands for insulated Concrete Forms. Insulating Concrete Forms - ICF Insulated Concrete Forms, or ICFs, are stay-in-place forms used to build a superior concrete home. Benefits of building with ICFs include energy savings, fire resistance, superior structural integrity, and an ecologically sound building process, just to name a few.

Our Servicemen January 9, 1970 Navy Ensign Jerry L. McKown, husband of the former Miss Marilyn E.. Ebeling of EE Ranch, Round Mountain, graduated from the Basic Jet Navigation Course at the U.S. Air Technical Training Center, Glynco, Georgia. The course taught him the basics of low altitude and high altitude aircraft naviation.