Last week we learned that corrugated metal roofing has been around for hundreds of years and has been the number one pick in the local area. Also, to choose a heavier gauge, closer to the thickness of 16 — just recall that the smaller the gauge numbers, the better. Stay away from the 29-gauge galvanized steel with no coatings.

My father was born and raised in the little town of Colonia Juarez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. After his retirement from building churches and schools all over Mexico, he and my mother returned to the little town of his birth, built a house, drilled a well, and planted 13,000 apple trees under sprinkler irrigation. Well into their nineties, they lived comfortably surrounded by good friends and neighbors.

AUSTIN --- The 82nd regular session of the Texas Legislature commenced January 11 with high spirits and rousing speeches, coupled with the gravity of a never-deeper budget deficit for the freshly sworn-in lawmakers to deal with, and an interstate call for solemn reflection. On January 10, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs delivered the biennial state revenue estimate for budget years 2012-13.

Local broker Debbie Vallone-Homeier has been installed on the 2011 Board of Directors of the Gillespie County Board of Realtors. Pictured left are: Mike Starks, Director; Anthony Smith, Vice-President; Debbie Homeier, Director; Pat Boothe, Secretary; Fred Hild, Director; Larry Boyd, President.

Look at these girls. Don’t they look strong and fit? It is because they have been meeting every week at 8:30 am on Fridays at the Gem of the Hills. They range in age from 60 to in the 90s. The original group started in 1998 with Edythe Knox, Dorothy Smith, and Dotti Warrington.

James 4:13-16 says, "Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Sunday our pastor mentioned the Sabbath in his sermon, and what he said provoked me to turn to my concordance (in the back of my King James Version bible), to read everything I could about it. There is so much to study that I’ll probably continue this topic next week! I have friends who have quit attending church on Sundays, and have begun worshipping God on Friday, and there are some who believe the Sabbath is really Saturday, and not Sunday.

A few decades ago, there was a little town in Maine called Flagstaff. As it turns out, the town had no future. Plans were in the works to build a large dam to form a lake that would cover the little town. When the plans were confirmed, things begin to change in Flagstaff.

Elsie Faye Kreger, 83, passed away January 18, 2011 in Blanco, TX. She was born in Fairland, TX to Robert Manly Turner and Annie Boucher Turner. Mrs. Kreger was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Edward William Kreger, Jr. and grandson, Joseph Manly Kreger. Elsie is survived by her daughter, Carol A.

Patricia Cullen-McClung lost her battle with breast cancer and passed away on Friday, January 21. Pat was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 14, 1958, and moved to the Blanco community in 1993. She is survived by her husband Bobby McClung and her two step-children, Raelea McClung and Tucker McClung.

Dear Editor, As I sat in this month’s City Council meeting, I was amazed to hear Councilman McClung chastise P & Z, yet again, for failing to bring the council a sign ordinance. Must he be reminded that Blanco has a sign ordinance, and has had for some time? Councilman McClung seems to believe that because individuals ask for variances to the ordinance, it must be flawed and should be changed so that no business would ever request a variance. This lo ...

The Women’s Auxiliary to the Texas Sheep and Goat Raiser’s Association, Hill Country Chapter, are once again offering scholarship opportunities to area high school seniors and current university juniors, seniors and graduate students. Deadline to apply is April 1 and no late applications will be accepted. Applications can be obtained at your local high school counselors office or by email to charlotte.kneupper@comfort.txed.net.

The Lady Panthers handed the Junction Lady Eagles a district loss Tuesday, January 11. Leading 27-17 at halftime, the Panthers doubled their 10-point lead to a 20-point lead at the final buzzer, winning 60-40. Micaela Klein blistered the nets with 19 points to lead the Panthers. Kayla Martinez fought hard for 12 points from the post position.

The Blanco Panthers out-scored the Comfort Bobcats, 43-27, Friday, January 14, in their first District 8-AA game of the season. Senior Clayton Green ripped 15 points to lead Blanco in the win. Junior Tanner Rogers drilled the nets with 13 points. Junior Zach Barnes scored 6, with Senior Austin Carrola adding 4.

January is half over and I am very behind on chores. When the weather is bad, it’s a good time to look at plant catalogues and build your dream garden. My “to do” lists become long this time of year. I’m getting questions about roses and pruning times. In a nutshell, climbing roses should not be pruned before they bloom in the early spring.

Gentle readers: Some happy and some sad. The happy — Dr. Ramsour's 100th birthday! I am just a little late with the congratulations, but they are heartfelt! Another happy — Sheryl Smith-Rodgers has a new addition to their lovely pink house (and Carol Davidson double dog dared me to put the news in here, so can't let it go by).

Case reports for December 2010 for Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Blanco County. Anne Schweppe Ashmun, speeding (83) Mirza N. Baig, speeding (85) Calvin Lee Barrington, no valid MVI certificate Carol Bowen, speeding (82) Christopher Allen Cain, speeding (87) Everardo Cantu, speeding (82) Steven Morrow Chirieleison, speeding (25 mph or more over) Elise Nicole Clarno, speeding (66) Carla Daye Clo ...

We have always heard bigger is better. This is no longer the case in a home. I recall growing up, the size of home was a sign of how much money or success one had. This is no longer the case. Baby boomers especially are leaning more to smaller, more functional homes. Some might say a large home has a lot of extra space, reflecting not only more initial cost, more raw construction materials, and more waste, but also inevitably more electricity, more gas, more water, more cleaning suppl ...

January 19, 1962 In the wee small hours of Friday, January 12, the thermometer sank to one degree above zero. The Blanco River froze over from bank to bank more solidly than in the past number of years. • Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Krause announced the engagement of their daughter, Doris Lee, to Vernon Litton.

Whew. The buyer and seller both signed the contract, so that’s it, right? The house is sold, and everyone moves on. Not so fast. There’s still a long way to go. Unfortunately, sometimes real estate transactions that start out fine unravel for any number of reasons. But when you’re aware of problems that can occur, you may be able to avoid them.