About every 76 years, Halley's Comet becomes visible in our night sky for several weeks, and like surely many of you, I vividly recall its most recent return in 1986. Having heard of the famous comet from my 81-year old stargazing mentor, Margaret Willits, in 1954, I was thrilled to finally see it after a three-decade wait. It was Ms.

AUSTIN — Now available for all with Internet access to read is the new “Texas Homeland Security Strategic Plan 2010-2015.” Gov. Rick Perry called his plan “a high-level road map to allow for adaptation to evolving situations in an ever-changing threat environment.” Perry said the plan builds on what the state has done over the last five years, a period during which more than $230 million was committed to fund border security operations.

Members of the Blanco County 4-H Clubs, put on your Saturday evening best and gather up at the Blanco County Showbarn for a good ‘ole country and western dance. Saturday evening May 22, 2010 is the date for the first Summer’s Coming 4-H Dance. Every member of the Blanco County 4-H is encouraged to attend as well as bring a guest (non member is okay). The dance will begin at 7:00 pm and end at 10:00 pm.

Austin (May 17, 2010) – Enjoy an evening of star gazing and a presentation on what you can do to preserve the night skies starting 7:30 pm, Wednesday, June 2, at the LBJ Ranch. The event is hosted by Hill Country Alliance, Hill Country Land Trust and Green Living for the Hill Country. Once it was the stars and the moon that lit up the skies at night in the Hill Country.

The Blanco High School graduating class of 1960, along with some former classmates, celebrated its 50th anniversary on Saturday, May 15, at the Uptown Restaurant. There was a lot of chatter as well as hugs, as the classmates met to discuss where their lives had taken them over the past 50 years.

Don’t forget about the Lions Club; we are out working hard for you! Lion Rebecca Howerton and Paul Granberg are pictured in the photo reporting to the Lions Club on Blanco’s Annual Trash-Off. It is always nice to live in a clean town and knowing that there are many people helping to make that possible is refreshing.

Memorial Day is coming and Gretchen Sanders Texas AgriLife Extension Service Blanco County Extension agent, wants to remind drivers and passengers that it is almost time for the annual Click It or Ticket campaign. This year, the campaign has new seat belt and child safety seat laws to back it up. The new seat belt law requires ALL passengers in both the front and back seat to buckle up.

“Letting Go” is a necessary part of life. In fact, life is a series of “Letting Go’s.” That is to say, we seem to be “letting go” on a regular basis. Friends are made then we must “Let go” as they move away or we move away. We often leave our home towns; churches; schools; and even family.

Luke 6:46-49 says, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

A kindergarten teacher asked a boy what he was drawing. Without pausing to look up, he said, "A picture of God." The teacher smiled and responded, "But nobody knows what God looks like." The boy carefully put down his crayon, looked her squarely in the eye, and declared, "They will when I'm finished." The disciples of Jesus once asked Him to show them the Father.

This summer Blanco United Methodist Church will become Hero HeadQuarters— where kids join forces with God, the Biggest Hero of all! At Hero Headquarters, kids will meet Bible heroes who are often overlooked. In fact, you might not know a single one of their names. These heroes were not famous leaders, and they did not perform amazing miracles — yet their small acts were used by God to do wonderful things! Blanco UMC wants to help kids discover that if they’re willing ...

I don’t know if anyone else is interested, but I find it most profound to see in black and white, that God walked the earth, back in Noah’s days and Adam and Eve’s days, and even in Abraham’s days, and He walked in a physical body, or at least to the human eye, because He even ate!

On May 11, Jews observed what’s known as Yom Yerushalayim, which translates into Jerusalem Day. It’s a national holiday in Israel, celebrating the reunification of Jerusalem and Israel’s control of the city in June 1967. This is a significant day for a city that is sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. A beautiful scripture from the book of Psalms communicates the love of Jerusalem well: If I forget you, O Jerusalem let my right hand wither, l ...

Dr. Charles James Tesar died Friday, May 14, 2010, in Austin, Texas after a very brief illness. He was an iconic, larger than life personality with a huge laugh, broad shoulders, and a kind heart. He had a way of accepting and appreciating everyone he met. Charlie was among the first group of Peace Corps volunteers President John F.

On Friday, May 7, the entire Blanco ISD third grade spent the day at Blanco State Park. The bus arrived at 9:00 a.m., taking 72 excited kids, along with their teachers and parent volunteers, to begin a full day of fun and learning. Teachers had already divided the students into groups with animal names like “bats” and “foxes” to set the stage for wildlife exploration.

For the 10th consecutive year, the Blanco FFA Chapter was recognized as the Hill District FFA Association’s Leadership and Career Development Events Sweepstakes Award winners for the 2009-10 school year. The Blanco FFA was recognized at the annual Hill District FFA Banquet held in Comfort on Thursday, May 6. For the year, Blanco FFA won 10 different district championships, while qualifying 13 teams for area and 7 teams for state. In addition to winning the district sweepstakes a ...

Blanco General Feed Store, a Cargill dealer, is proud to announce four $1,000.00 college scholarships have been awarded to Keaton Dodd, Brian Roche, Corey Dowlearn, and Kaleigh Anderson of Blanco, all 2010 graduates of Blanco High School. As part of the Cargill Community Scholarship Program, the high school will receive $200 from Cargill in Dodd, Roche, Dowlearn, and Anderson’s honor to support the school’s library. “We are pleased to recognize Keaton, Brian, Corey, ...

Local supporters of the Blanco Youth Football League, led by Paul Elrod and Danny Breeding, recently completed construction of a new field at the high school on May 8. A 9-zone sprinkler system with 45 heads was installed, and the goal posts were straightened, stripped, and painted. After tilling the field, 1500 lbs of milorganite and 60,000 earthworm eggs were spread, followed by Yukon Bermuda seed.

Abbey Weaver, sophomore at Blanco High School, took third in Pole Vault at the UIL State Track Meet held this past weekend in Austin at Mike A. Meyers Stadium at the University of Texas. Weaver’s qualifying jump was 11’ 3”. Also traveling to Austin to compete were freshman Abby Beard, who came in 7th in the 800 M Run and Senior Lacee Hunter who placed 7th in the 100 M Hurdles.