The Bexar County Master Gardeners recently named Janos Arnosky as one of their 2011-2012 scholarship recipients. For the past four years, the Bexar County Master Gardener organization has offered two $2000 scholarships each year to horticulture majors attending a Texas college or university. An important component of our educational mission, the support and encouragement of worthy students who plan to become a part of the horticulture landscape in Texas is one our most rewarding projects.

Congratulations, Amie! The Ernst Family is proud to announce the graduation of their daughter-in-law, Mrs. Amie Ernst, from Texas State University of San Marcos. Amie, with the loving support of her husband, Mr. Jeremy Ernst, made the Dean’s List twice before graduationg with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise & Sports Science and a Minor in Business.

Uptown Blanco Art Center hosted a Pet Your Pet day as part of a 'Mini Art Camp' that 3rd and 4th graders from Johnson City participated in. On Friday, August 19, the campers brought photos of their pets and rendered their likenesses on canvas. Mary Johnston, Director of Uptown Blanco Art Center, taught the painting class and said that “...the JC girls were a fantastic and creative group of young artists.”

They’ve arrived! – “Blanco State Park: A Taste of History and Tradition,” the history book/cookbook, has arrived in town. It’s available for purchase at 4th Street Market, Benson Body & Paint, Blanco Chamber of Commerce (by appointment), Brieger Pottery, Cattleman’s National Bank, Old Blanco County Courthouse, On The Square, Security State Bank & Trust, Strickland Drugs, and Uptown Blanco Restaurant. Contact the cookbook group: Jo Nell Haas, 830-833-5695 or 210-325-7494; Jennifer O ...

Thell Prueitt is called by his peers, “The Master of Fun.” He has built successful and not-so-successful businesses during the years, co-pastored a church, and now brings his entrepreneurial spirit to HillCountry Entrepreneur Co-Op, which is ready to help businesses in the area meet their greatest potential. Thell has two daughters and three grandchildren and lives in Kingsland, but comes to Blanco every day or two to mentor his clients.

The Blanco Library is very pleased to announce that we got the grant for a free one-year subscription to e-books. We will be working closely with our regional system to get everything operational by the end of October. As a side note, the e-book provider we will be working with, OverDrive, is not currently compatible to Kindles since Amazon designed them that way.

Stonewall, Texas—Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park will celebrate the 103rd anniversary of President Johnson’s birth on Saturday, August 27. Each year the sitting president sends a military honor guard to lay a wreath at President Johnson's grave. This year Colonel Richard Murphy, Commanding Officer, Randolph Air Force Base will lead the honor guard.

On Saturday night, the Blanco County Fair and Rodeo Association was proud to induct Butch Crofts, Melvin Sultemeier, and James Greenhaw as Lifetime Directors. We appreciate the over 120 years of combined service that they have contributed to making each year a success.

This week we will bring to a close our series on The Labor of Love. Keep in mind that labor means work. John said, “Let us love not in word, but in deed and in truth”. Love is not just words, but actions. True love is expressed in deeds, not just in talk.

John D. Rockefeller, the wealthiest man of his time, pursued money with a passion. By the time he was thirty-three, he had made his first million. At forty-three, he controlled the largest business on earth. At fifty-three, he was the only known billionaire in the world. In spite of having all this money, however, he was unhappy – because his money had him.

A little girl went with her father to buy carpet. As he carefully measured the carpet, stepping off heel to toe, he said, "twelve steps." His girl followed close behind and was also stepping and counting, and she looked up, and said, "no daddy, it's twenty steps." He smiled, picked her up and said, "Now, count the steps with me."

Take time for God's Word while you're still able. Tomorrow is not promised. We don't know but we could wake up in a hospital unable to read, or even hear what the doctors are saying; or, not wake up. In the book of John 9:3-5, Jesus said "3Jesus answered, It was not that this man or his parents sinned, but he was born blind in order that the workings of God should be manifested (displayed and illustrated) in him. 4We must work the works of Him Who sent Me and be busy with His business while ...

Dear Editor, Many exciting things are happening in this corner of the world that we call home, Blanco, TX. We continue to see new business growth arriving in town, new “faces” of people choosing to come to Blanco and raise their families. An exciting new project will be getting under way soon as renovations and new classrooms will be added to the old Blanco school building, bringing back the delightful sounds of children walking the halls that so many did before. Change is never easy and ...

AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry was out of state a few days last week campaigning in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina in efforts to become the Republican Party’s nominee in the 2012 presidential race. He has until the March primaries to make his case to GOP voters, so he will be on the road a lot. When Perry goes out of the state, Lt.

It’s back to school again, as teachers reported this week in preparation for the upcoming 2011—2012 school year. On Monday morning, teachers gathered for their annual convocation at the high school cafeteria. Ida Mae Fudpucker, aka Sally Baskey, returned to Blanco ISD to get things started off on a positive note as the session’s keynote speaker. The opening session followed with a technology update by Tom Cozzi, confidentiality and bullying training by Kathryn Rutherford, a presentation ...

The Blanco Panther Band concluded their Summer Band Camp with a Sunset Concert and Marching Contest on Tuesday, August 16, on the grounds of the Old Blanco County Courthouse. The band played all the musical pieces they have practiced, beginning with the "Star-Spangled Banner", the school song, fight song, marching show songs, and concluding with "Thriller". The band then moved to the street for a march-off that involved responding to marching instructions given by Band Director Brian Hecomovi ...

The Panthers played their second scrimmage at Mason on August 18. They will play their season opener at Canyon Lake this Friday, August 26. The game will start at 7:30pm at Canyon Lake High School. Come out and show your support!

After a tough 0-3 loss on the road against Lago Vista on August 16, the Lady Panthers demonstrated smooth, efficient teamwork in their 3-0 victory on August 19 over the Manor Lady Mustangs. The Varsity fell to Lago Vista with scores of 15-25, 11-25, and 20-25. The Junior Varsity battled, but lost the match in three games, 14-25, 25-22, and 12-25.

The Blanco All Sports Booster Club hosted the 6th annual Meet the Panther Night on Wednesday, August 17. The Booster Club appreciates all of the students, parents and volunteers who attended and helped at the event. A special thank you is extended to Jay Tope, sasports.com announcer, for driving out to Blanco and announcing throughout the event.

Breaking records isn’t always good, especially when the sun scorches the earth and rain is nowhere in sight. Thank goodness August is nearing the end of the month. The heat makes us think about water conservation and installing a rain collection system for future water saving. This is the time to take a walk around your yard and garden area.

After viewing a black and white science fiction movie about the first men to the moon, I asked my oldest brother if he thought man would ever really set foot there. He quickly responded that he believed we would get there some day. I was nine years old and very skeptical. Later, while watching the television program, “The Wonderful World of Disney,” Walt Disney himself, in a segment called the “World of Tomorrow”, showed us how a three-stage rocket was being considered that might be ca ...

Love is in the air in Blanco. Keep your eyes and ears open! Reverend Wally Hiller was feted for his 90th birthday yesterday at Blanco United Methodist Church. I know for a fact he got lots of kisses (because I was one of the kissers) and was given a birthday party, after church, in the social hall.

Ready to remodel? The first question, are you doing it yourself or hiring a contractor? The second question, are you supplying some of the materials or allowing the contractor to do the full turn key project? You’ve decided that you don’t want to do the job yourself, but you might want to supply some of the materials.

August 23, 1963 Miss Sandra Crofts of Johnson City was crowned queen of the 1963 Blanco County Fair and Rodeo. The 17 year old, brown-haired, vivacious high school senior received the crown from Mary Ann Deering, 1962 queen. James Lamar Wittliff of Blanco was among 675 graduates at Louisiana State University’s annual summer commencement ceremony.

You’ve finally found a house that’s just right for you and your family. But before you invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in that “perfect” home, find out what’s not so perfect about it. Houses include many complicated components, such as heating and cooling systems, electrical wiring, plumbing, a roof, siding, windows… you get the idea.