If you work in an occupation where tips are part of your total compensation, you need to be aware of several facts relating to your federal income taxes. Here are four things the IRS wants you to know about tip income: 1. Tips are taxable. Tips are subject to federal income, Social Security and Medicare taxes.

As Director of Fine Arts for a large El Paso school district, I was often given free tickets to performances of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra. All of my children were musicians of sorts. Derek played baritone and piano, Shane was a UIL state qualifier twice in percussion, Tara played piano and tenor sax, while Jillian played piano and French horn.

Blanco’s Historic Preservation Commission recommendation is to preserve and maintain the character of the historic buildings and homes in Blanco that should include a metal roof. On the history side, metal was popularized for roofing after sheet metal production was expanded around 1840-1865, and can be found on primary buildings as well as agricultural structures and outbuildings.

AUSTIN — Governor Rick Perry spoke of Texas with suitable pomp and glowing terms at his inauguration on Jan. 18, and afterwards sat down to a barbecue meal served on the Capitol grounds for an estimated 14,000 well-wishers and officials. San Antonio businessman Red McCombs saved the state some cash by sponsoring the catered meal, offered free of charge to those who reserved tickets online, via the inaugural committee’s web site. Perry, who in his speech referred to ...

The 2011 Blanco County Youth Exhibit Hall Show was held Thursday, January 13 and Friday, January 14 during the Youth Stock Show. Students competed against others in their age group in six classes: Food, Home Canning, Sewing, Hobbies, and Fine Arts. The winners are as follows: Class 1 – Foods Junior Cookies: 1st Place, Jordan Wheeler 2nd Place, Dooley Smith 3rd Place, Amber Bray 4th Place, Ellie Park 5th Place, Brenna Wallace Senio ...

“My heart has often been solaced and refreshed by music when sick and weary.” Martin Luther Under the auspices of Blanco Performing Arts, Trio Copine, three women with degrees in flute, viola, and harp from Boston University, Rice University, and Indiana University, will flood the Uptown Blanco Ballroom on Main Street on February 5th at 7:30 pm with a program of amazing variety of musical sound and style by French composers and those inspired by great Fre ...

One reason we celebrate the Sabbath on the first day of the week is because Jesus arose from the dead on the first day of the week and Matthew 28:1 describes Sunday as the first day of the week. Matthew 28:1 (Amplified Bible) “1Now after the Sabbath, near dawn of the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to take a look at the tomb.” Mark 16:9 (Amplified Bible) “9Now Jesus, having risen [[b]from death] early on the first day of the week ...

Serving as a hospital chaplain, I approached the bed of a man who appeared to be nearing the end of his life. Asking permission to read the Bible to him, I discovered he was in no mood to listen. “I’m going to tell you what I once told a young minister back home,” he said.

Acts 15:1, 5 says, "And going down from Judea, some taught the brothers, saying, If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, that it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” As the preacher says in Ecclesiastes, there is nothing new under the sun.

A little boy was supposed to be busy about his chores but instead was just looking out the window at other children at play. When his mother came in the room, she said, "Why aren't you working?" The boy said, "I didn't know you were coming!" He might have been caught off guard, but at least he was honest. Several times in the scriptures Jesus introduces Himself as the "I Am".

Perry Stockman, 76, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Saturday, January 22, 2011. Perry was born May 31, 1934, in Monticello, Arkansas, to Pearl and Hubert Stockman. Because of his father’s job requirements, the family lived in numerous towns and settlements, mostly in Texas. Perry attended many schools growing up, and was even home-schooled for a year or so.

Lela Mae “Jake” Wagner Kruckemeyer, 91, resident of Live Oak Medical Center in Blanco, Texas, passed away on Saturday, January 22, 2011. She was born on May 14, 1919 in Blanco, Texas to Solomon James Wagner and Ethel Mae Brooks Wagner. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Kruckemeyer, and son, Leroy Kruckemeyer, her parents, Solomon and Ethel Wagner, brother, A.J.

Ralph Rubin Weiershausen passed away, Thursday, January 20, at the age of 81. Ralph Weiershausen is survived by a son, Marsh Weiershausen and wife Lisa of Weatherford; granddaughter Megan Weiershausen; two sisters: Irene Brewter of Kerrville; Nola Von Amburg of Katy; brother, Erwin Weiershausen and wife Carolyn of San Angelo; and sister-in-law, Dora Weiershausen of Zephyr. Ralph was born July 20, 1929, in Gillespie County, to Walter and Minka Scharnhorst Weiershausen.

Robert Eugene Fickle of Blanco passed away peacefully on January 27, 2011 . He is survived by his wife, Erika Hermean Jurgens Fickle, his children Erich Brent Fickle and wife Luella Martin Fickle, Bobbi Jean Fickle and Susan Victoria Fickle Jones and husband Charles Michael Jones, his grandchildren Justin Rodney Jones and wife Veronica Salazar Jones, Travis Dale Jones, Victoria Ann Jones and Robert Michael Jones, and great-grandchildren Grant Jones and Scout Justin Jones, sons of Justin and ...

Dear Editor, While driving up Highway 281 the other day on my way to Johnson City, I was struck by what wasn’t there. Roadside trash. Someone – maybe the county, maybe community service people, maybe volunteers, it doesn’t matter, but somebody had picked up all the trash! It had been gathered up and put in big plastic bags by the road for removal. I don’t know who performed this public service, but we all owe whoever it was a big thanks ...

The 7th Grade Panthers A-Team claimed their first, and well earned, victory last Thursday. The Panthers battled hard during every period and made every opportunity count. The Panthers trailed during most of the game (down by as much as 8 points at one time… maybe more). With a little more than a minute left in the game, the Panthers went ahead for the first time 28 – 26; however, Blanco lost their short-lived lead when the Warriors came back with a 3-pointer, putting them ...

In an exciting district clash between the Blanco Panthers and Harper Longhorns, the score could not have been closer. At the halftime break, the score was tied at 35-35. Then Blanco and Harper scored 35 points each in the second half to tie at 70-70 at the end of regulation.

The Lady Panthers lost a heartbreaker to the Harper Lady Horns on Tuesday, January 18; 48-49 in overtime. Blanco led 28-20 at halftime, but the game ended in regulation time with a 45-45 tie. The foul-ridden game ended in overtime with a one point loss for the Panthers. Kayla Martinez scored 12 points to lead the Panthers.

...that is what a small group of us are trying to do. We can certainly use more help! I hope you enjoyed Bindseil Park during the holidays. The lights, the lighted trees and candles and the wooden scenes. We really worked hard to make it beautiful. It takes analysis, planning and then performing the work.

January 25, 1963 The Blanco community was within sight of the goals set by the bonding company for the number of sewer connections necessary to assure the construction of the sewer system in the community. A total of 208 applications were received in the city office, 171 of those residential.