Shortly before the last New Year’s celebration, I went by Carrol Fuchs’ fireworks stand and picked up a few minor sparklies and noise-ies designed to entertain the young grandkids. Well, by the time 12 o’clock rolled around on New Year’s Eve, the kids were zonked—I still have the fireworks in my closet and propose to use them this Fourth of July. I suppose we use fireworks to celebrate Independence Day because of “the rocket’s red glare, the b ...

The practice of inventing constellations, those imaginary patterns among the stars, predates recorded history and has been done by people around the world. In 140 CE, astronomer Claudius Ptolemy of Alexandria, in his book, The Almagest, listed 48 constellations which came to be the accepted list throughout the Mediterranean region for the next 1,500 years. During the 16th-18th centuries, as Europeans began exploring the Southern Hemisphere, they saw new and unfamiliar regions of the n ...

AUSTIN — Former Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr., 87, died June 27 after a lengthy illness. Briscoe was Texas’ 41st governor. He defeated Frances “Sissy” Farenthold in the 1972 Democratic primary and beat Republican Hank Grover of Houston in the general election. He was inaugurated as governor in 1973, was elected to a second term, and served until 1979. The Uvalde rancher and oilman was descended from early Texas settlers.

“What a great class,” said Larry Martin. “My wife and I talked about it all the way back to Blanco.” “We would have paid money to go to it!” They didn’t pay for it, of course; the day-long class in helping people with disabilities in disasters was free, taught by the American Red Cross, in cooperation with the Blanco County Disaster Response Group and hosted by the Liberty Lighthouse Fellowship. “The course name says &lsquo ...

BRYAN --Kelya Jureczki, Blanco County 4-H'er, was awarded a 2010 Texas 4-H Opportunity Scholarship sponsored by The Richard Wallrath Education Foundation. The scholarship was one of 223 totaling almost $2.2 million awarded by the Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation during the 2010 Opportunity Awards Ceremony June 11 in Bryan’s Brazos County Exposition Center. The scholarship recipients were selected from 354 who applied, said Jim Reeves, Executive Director for the Foun ...

This DVD along with others produced by the Oral History Committee, is now available for check out at the Blanco Library. Laura Lindeman Caza and Charlene Lindeman Singleton recount growing up on the ranch their grandfather established in Blanco over 100 years ago. They lived the life of typical farm girls, helping with the harvest, milking cows, observing “wash days” on Saturday, playing games with their three siblings after church on Sunday, and at ...

The Pedernales Electric Board of Directors announced today that Luis Garcia, PEC’s General Counsel, will be the Cooperative’s interim general manager effective July 1. The appointment is subject to ratification at the July meeting of the Board. Garcia joined the PEC team in 2002 and since that time he established the Legal Department, and has acted as Human Resources Manager and I.T.

Passage John 14:1-3: John 14 1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Passage Hebrews 11:10-16: 10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. ...

"Men do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself, but because it contradicts them." Let us know the scriptures because therein is the will of God. Jesus prayed in the garden before His trials and crucifixion, "not my will but thine be done" (Matthew 26:39). When we study and meditate on the scriptures we can learn what the will of God is for our life.

Harold W. Musgrove passed away on June 23, 2010 at the age of 80. He was born on a farm on February 20, 1930 in Moscow Kansas, to Claty Musgrove and Stella (Hoskinson) Musgrove and grew up in Hugoton. He married Glenda Jean Toot of Liberal, KS in 1952 and were together over 54 years until she passed away in July 2006.

With a smile that lit up the room when he spotted family or friends, Walter Loeffler brought joy into the world for 92 years. Born April 24, 1918, in Chicago, IL, to Anna Catherine Spohr and Louis Loeffler, he slipped peacefully away in his own bed on June 11, 2010, surrounded by loving family and caregivers. Walter was raised in Oklahoma City, OK, the fourth of six children.

Dear Editor, As I read the Blanco County News last week, I saw that the Blanco I.S.D. school board considered a variance for a convenience store to be built at Hwy. 281 and 13th Street. Out of curiosity, I began to dig a little deeper to better understand just what was being proposed, especially given how close to our square this new establishment would be. The proposal is for a 4,800 sq.

Dear Editor, I just returned from a June 19 celebration at Peyton Colony. Besides the great people and food, we prayed. We were all reminded of the history of Abe Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation. We are thankful that such a man stood forward and proclaimed what our country stands for. I want to take this time to remind folks that our rights are not granted by men and government - they are given to us by our creator.

Around this time of year, roadside fireworks stands line highways as people start planning their Fourth of July celebrations. Many celebrate the holiday by providing their own “rockets’ red glare” to the night’s sky. It’s one of the staples of America’s Independence Day—picnics, friends, family and fireworks. Unfortunately, while fireworks can produce a nice visual, they can also be safety hazards.

Celebrate the Independence Day weekend in Fredericksburg on Saturday and Sunday, July 3 and 4, with live pari-mutuel horse racing at the Gillespie County Fairgrounds. Sponsored by the Gillespie County Fair and Festivals Association, the two-day July Fourth Racing Festival kicks off the eight-day 2010 summer racing season at the Fairgrounds. Featured will be thoroughbred and quarter horse racing on Saturday and Sunday on the five-eighths mile oval at the Class III track.

Volunteer Living History re-enactors at the National Museum of the Pacific War will present three shows on both Saturday and Sunday, July 3 and 4. Saturday’s 90-minute shows will begin at 10:30am, 1:00pm and 3:30pm. Shows on Sunday will start at 10:30am, 3:30pm and 6:00pm. All programs will be at the Pacific Combat Zone on E.

Your home is very important to you. There are countless hours you have put into maintaining it and making it look as good as you can. You have pampered it and tried to give it the best treatment possible so that it continues to give you pleasure or will give it to those who will own the house after you.

People often make a critical mistake when deciding on a price for their home. Rather than answering the question of what their house can fetch on the open market, they focus on what the property is worth to them. There’s a big difference. Paying attention to the correct, objective factors when determining your house’s value will yield an asking price in line with what the market will bear – and usually results in a quicker sale. So what doesn’t matter wh ...