Somehow I’ve always been connected with cows. My father married a dairyman’s daughter. Dad was born and raised in Mexico. Mom was a child of the Rocky Mountains in the good ole U.S.A. Dad had planned to make a life in Mexico. Her mother had other ideas: “You’re not taking my daughter to that forsaken country to live!” she declared. So, they settled in the States and Dad’s father-in-law set him up in the dairy business.

AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry, Attorney General Greg Abbott and Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples on Feb. 16 announced the state had filed legal papers to challenge the EPA’s endangerment finding. The issue for Texas, the three officials said, is that tighter regulations would be damaging to energy-sector industries, farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and to the economy at large. In December, the U.S.

The Blanco County Democratic Party will hold precinct conventions beginning 7:00 pm at the conclusion of voting on Tuesday, March 2, 2010. The locations are as follows: Precinct 102: Blanco ISD Building (former home of Doris Cox located behind Masonic Lodge) 1015 Elm Street, Blanco, Texas Precincts 201-202: Johnson City Volunteer Fire Department, 300 Liveoak, Johnson City, TX Precincts 302, 303 and 304: Community Park Building (Swimming Pool), 620 N.

Hye, Texas – Garrison Brothers Distillery the first and only pure bourbon whiskey distillery in Texas, is pleased to announce the pre-release of 1,000 bottles of the finest bourbon whiskey ever made! This unique bourbon is composed of small batch bourbon from a few superior barrels that were personally selected by the proprietor from the distillery’s growing inventory of aging barrels.

On Saturday, March 6, Blanco Verde will get back on the bus to tour the Bamberger Ranch Preserve. Located just north of Blanco, the ranch was bought by David Bamberger in 1969 with the specific intention of restoring to functional health the worst piece of land in the Hill Country. Thirty-seven years later, the 5,500 acre ranch is one of the largest habitat restoration projects in the state. The tour will demonstrate some of the projects, methods and innovations used in ...

Blanco’s Pioneer Museum will celebrate its opening February 27 with a party from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. at its location on 418 Pecan Street. Nelson Broyal, Lawrence and Patty Coffee, the Dry River Gang and Gospel Singers are among the local musicians who will be entertaining attendees. Maggie Goodman and Skip Brasher will tell stories of pioneers and cowboys.

Are you tired of politics and tired of hearing about politics? Then, you should plan to attend your party’s precinct convention and be a part of the political process rather than only a disgruntled citizen. As I am the Republican County Chair, I can only tell you specifics about Republican meetings; however, I am certain that the notice of the Democrat precinct meetings will be posted at the polls on March, 2nd. What is a precinct convention?

The Wimberley Valley Art League is pleased to announce the second annual Arts Fest. Sixty artists from a dozen Central Texas art leagues will be displaying and selling fine art in media of all types in Wimberley Square on Sat., April 24, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., rain or shine.

I encountered an individual this past week who caused me to really take a look at what my thoughts are regarding people who are born Jewish but decide to follow Christianity. I was visiting with the technician who installed our satellite dish last week and found him to be interesting because he was born to Jewish parents who were descendants of Holocaust survivors.

Don’t miss your opportunity to attend the Walk Thru the Bible – The Old Testament seminar on Saturday, March 6, 9:00am - 4:00pm. This fun-filled seminar will help attendees to reconnect with the biblical characters, geographical movements in history, and the message and meaning of scripture – scripture that is as relevant today as when it was written.

We have had a three week study of the nature of “truth.”[1] Truth is the most sought after quest in the world. Truth lies in one of two places. Secular Humanists elevate humanity to the pinnacle of “truth” and believe that humanity can solve all its own problems. If that is true then why were there more wars in the 20th Century than the rest of history put together.

Do you trust in God? (really?) Do you lean on His Word? Some people may want to, but are just not sure. We should pray and ask God to give us understanding when we read our bibles. The more we read, the more we’ll want to, and God will cause us to understand, and we’ll be much wiser, and not make so many dumb decisions that we could end up regretting for years to come. Deuteronomy 4:10 “10Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the ...

1Corinthians 3:1-3 say, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” As Christians, we should desire to be spiritual.

At a funeral a preacher was exceeding the time for the service. His assistant leaned over and said, "It's getting late sir!" The preacher said, "I know, but this doctrine of the resurrection is important." The assistant responded, "But we've got to get the body over to the cemetery in time for it." The gospel of Christ saves.

Dear Editor, On February 17, 2010, I went to the Blanco City Office to be placed on the next City Council Meeting Agenda on March 9, 2010. My purpose is to ask City Council once again to reconsider the Blanco Avenue name change. This has nothing to do with my respect for Ron Houston and the citizens wanting to honor him.

The Blanco chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America attended the Region V Meeting held in Corpus Christi, Texas on January 29 – 30, 2010. The chapter members were among 1,200 delegates attending the two-day conference. The youth developed theme, “Beyond the Limits” was carried out through tracks featuring a series of specialized workshops and general sessions in which members discovered ways to become actively involved in issues facing today’s youth.

The Blanco PTO met for its monthly meeting in February. Several items were on the agenda. The PTO once again held Chocolate Covered Strawberry and Pretzel Sales for Valentine’s Day, and the group made over $1800 in sales. The group discussed and voted to provide playground balls and jump ropes, etc that are grade level appropriate at the elementary school at a cost of about $1000. Purchasing picnic tables for the elementary and middle school campuses was discussed; ...

MaryAnn Weaver of the Blanco ISD school board joined more than 800 school board and state school boards association leaders to ask Congress to support public schoolchildren this year. School board advocates were in Washington, D.C., to take part in the National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) 37th annual Federal Relations Network Conference, held Jan.

The Texas Water Symposium, a joint initiative of Schreiner University, Texas Tech University, Texas Public Radio and the Hill Country Alliance, has announced its first student essay contest for elementary school (grades 3-5), middle school and high school students. School districts can enter up to three essays from each school in the district on the subject of “Kids, Water and Science: Perspectives from Our Future.” Winners from each category will be recognized at this year&rsquo ...

Three members of the Blanco FFA traveled to Ft. Worth to compete in the Southwestern Livestock Exposition. Blanco Jr. FFA member Brenna Wallace would lead the way, placing 8th in the Duroc division of the market barrow show. Other local FFA members competing included Kaleigh Anderson and Quaid Haack, as each participated in the market steer show. These students, as well as many others, will now begin preparations for the final three major livestock shows in the state at San Ant ...

The Blanco Panther JV Baseball Team showed a lot of promise in their season opener this past Monday. However, their overall inexperience also showed resulting in a final score of 8 to 8 against the visiting San Antonio Wolverines. Due to time, the Panthers were unable to continue into extra innings but picked up the win as a result of more total runners reaching second base. On the mound, freshman Sam Isenberg scattered 11 hits while striking out 8 and allowing just 1 earned run throu ...

On Tuesday, February 16, the Blanco Lady Panthers lost their bi-district match-up against the Navarro Lady Panthers with a final score of 66-75. It was a rough game filled with many fouls and technical fouls. The Blanco team led 20-17 at the end of the first quarter and 58-52 at the end of the third quarter.

The Blanco Panther Varsity Baseball Team wasted little time in collecting the season’s first win as they scored in every inning to pick up a 15 to 1 victory over the visiting San Antonio Wolverines. Jr. Clint Dreyer would go the distance on the mound picking up his first win of the year as he scattered 5 singles while striking out 5 and walking just 2 batters.

On February 16, the varsity softball team captured a 16-1 victory in their season opener against Keystone of San Antonio. Catcher Alex Gustafson went 3 for 3 batting with 1 RBI. Angel Williams, Callie Culton, Kelsey Schwind and Hayley Fishbeck each batted 2 for 3. On February 19, the Lady Panthers faced a tough 4A opponent, the Hays Lady Rebels.

Get ready for the 11th Annual Keep Blanco Beautiful City Wide Trade Off Day, Saturday, April 10 from 9am to noon. It is a great time to get all of the items out of your house and out of your yards that you want to be rid of. You can take your ‘junk’ to the city yard on Jones Road between 8am and noon.

Be sure to wish Cheryl Eckenrode a happy birthday if you happen to stop in the Johnson City Sign Shop (it was last week), and wish Curt Knutson happy birthday Wednesday. Love is in the air in Blanco - keep your eyes open! Don't forget the annual Chamber banquet with Joaquin Jackson as the speaker on Thursday, February 25, at 5:30 at the courthouse.

Buying a home can be one of the most aggravating, yet exciting experiences in your life. Looking for a home that you can call your own can take a long time. If you don't want the headache of searching the MLS system for weeks or months, there are several home building advantages over buying existing homes.

State FFA President Gives Talk Here February 20, 1970 Murray Edwards, President of the Texas Association of the Future Farmers of America, addressed the Blanco High School assembly on Thursday morning, February 5. Young Edwards spoke on “Youth’s Concern for the Government of the United States of America.” He expressed the need for Youth Leadership, Citizenship, Patriotism and Good Government in the United States. As president ...

If you're thinking about selling your home, you might be considering the for-sale-by-owner, or FSBO, route. But before you commit to going it alone, make sure you're not wearing rose-colored glasses. It's not an easy process, and you may not save the money you think you will. Marketing your home is hard work Marketing your home takes time and money.