Blanco High School Senior Michael Simon receives a certificate of appreciation from American Legion Texas State Commander J. G. “Lupe” Garza at the recent Department Executive Committee meetings in Austin, TX. The certificate was presented in appreciation to all the assistance Michael has provided at the American Legion Department of Texas State Baseball Tournaments over the past several years.

At its regular monthly meeting September 19 in Johnson City, Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s Board of Directors revised the Co-op’s member assistance policy to help clarify and broaden the assistance PEC provides for members needing assistance paying electric bills. The Co-op Board historically has designated $500,000 each year in Co-op funds to help assist members unable to pay their bills.

Johnson City, Texas — This October, you might notice something different about North Blanco County EMS. In an effort to support women and their families impacted by breast cancer, North Blanco County EMS is joining a national emergency responder campaign, “Cares Enough to Wear Pink.” These community first responders will be wearing pink t-shirts while on duty as a sign of their support. First responders across the United States will participate in this campaign and encourage women in the ...

Uptown Blanco hosted Kinky Friedman at the Serve & Protect Mixer on Friday, Sept. 30. Funds raised will go toward buying equipment for the police department. Uptown Blanco will give a presentation about the outcome at the next City Council meeting.

If you have driven by Blanco’s Dairy Queen after sunset recently you may have noticed something that isn’t there anymore – bright lights on the roof. Early in September, a group of Blanco area citizens teamed up with Dairy Queen management to replace the plastic surrounds on five “barn lights” that previously illuminated the building.

The Hill Country Cattle Women held their September meeting at the Farm Bureau Building, in Fredericksburg. In lieu of a guest speaker, members enjoyed visiting and catching up after their summer break. They also elected officers. Elected were: Nelda Sharringhausen, President; Dianne Staudt, 1st Vice-President; Deborah Wardlaw, 2nd Vice-President; Cindy Zenner, 3rd Vice-President; Clarice Stauble, 4th Vice-President; Peggy Matli, Recording Secretary; Mary Jane Morrison, Corresponding Secretary; ...

The relief effort for survivors of the Labor Day wildfires around Spicewood has increased both speed and effectiveness, thanks in large part to support from generous volunteers and donors from Blanco County. More than 50 homes were destroyed in the complex of fires, about half of them uninsured. Government aid has begun arriving, but was delayed by the early focus on Bastrop at the expense of smaller areas. “No matter how big the disaster, if it was your house that burned, it’s the bigges ...

The BHS Class of 1951 celebrated their 60th year class reunion on Saturday, October 1, at the Blanco United Methodist Church. Fourteen classmates were present, along with their spouses. The class has five couples who have been married 60 years: Elsie Schmidt Meurer and Jim, Nelda Haas Vogel and George, Mary Wilke Singleton and Edward, Joanne Howe Klier and Alton, and Norma Jones Felps and Buddles.

The Cemetery Association directors will meet at the cemetery on October 8 at 10 a.m. Members are welcome to attend. We need help with a death date for Josie Ludwick. She has a double tombstone with her husband and her birth date is 1885. No date is given for her death.

Are you planning to attend the 2011 The Old Blanco County Courthouse boots n’ bling Gala on October 15? If not, you may want to reconsider. The live and silent auctions are shaping up to be spectacular. One of the live auction items is a “Real Ale Beer Dinner at the Agua Verde Ranch.” Eight lucky diners will join the owners of Blanco’s own Real Ale Brewing Company for a 5-course dinner at the Agua Verde Ranch.

Kathryn Honeycutt of Spring Branch was recently selected to participate in the 2011 Miss Pre-Teen San Antonio pageant competition that will take place on October 16, 2011. Kathryn learned of her acceptance into this year’s competition when the pageant announced their selections last Monday afternoon. Kathryn submitted an application and took part in an interview session that was conducted by this year’s San Antonio Pageant Coordinator. Kathryn will be competing for her share of thousands o ...

See You at the Pole is an international day of student prayer. It's all about students meeting at their school flagpole to pray – for their school, friends, teachers, government, and nation. It all started with a group of teenagers in Burleson, Texas, in 1990. The vision was that students throughout Texas would follow their example and meet at their school flagpoles to pray simultaneously. SYATP is student-initiated, student-organized, and student-led and is always held the fourth Wednesday ...

What is it? It’s an inventory of what you or I believe about ourselves. I believe it’s important and something we should do because sometimes we keep repeating certain patterns that we can’t break. Jesus said we‘d have what we believe. Where? Read on. Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Matthew 21:22 “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receiv ...

Romans 3:9-18 says, “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God.

Dear Editor, I'm not sure what a lengthy ordinance of 39 pages will do to enhance life in Blanco. Most of what Ms. Conn says in her letters makes sense. People come to a town for all kinds of reasons. We have been here over 11 years and have owned property in the Blanco area for 13 years.

Austin -- The State of Texas’ appeal of a lower court injunction preventing House Bill 15 “relating to informed consent to an abortion” from taking effect failed to win the U.S. Supreme Court’s approval last week. The high court did the what the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans did last month: it chose not to overrule Austin U.S.

The Blanco FFA Chapter sent twelve Greenhand FFA members to take part in the Annual Hill District FFA Day Camp. The camp is conducted by the Hill District FFA Officer Team, which included Vice-President Callie Culton. The purpose of the camp is to help build leadership skills while also introducing first-year FFA members to other Greenhands from across the Hill District.

Are you looking for something to do after the Friday night football games? Meet up with your friends at one of our local churches’ Fifth Quarter Celebrations. All churches provide a full meal that includes dessert and beverages. This week’s Homecoming festivities will be sponsored and held at the Church of Christ, 102 Main Street.

After sweeping the St. Mary’s Hall Knights, 3-0, on Tuesday, September 27, the Lady Panthers captured a strong district win over the Harper Lady Horns, 3-2, on Friday, September 30. Against St. Mary’s Hall set scores were 25-20, 28-26, and 25-21. Reagan Rogers smashed ten kills, while Lindsey Jenkins made 21 assists.

The Dripping Springs Fall Baseball league is underway. For the Blanco Mighty Blue Under 12 team, it is off to an exciting start, with a record of 3-0. On Saturday the 1st, the team traveled to Lake Travis to take on the Yankees. Will Granberg nailed the first pitch of the game for a double and scored the team’s first run of the game.

The San Antonio 35+ Bombers baseball team won the city league championship. San Antonio has 38 teams and is a member of the national organization known as the Men’s Senior Baseball League/Men’s Adult Baseball League. Members include Blanco’s own Eddie Calzoncit and Coach Bryan Wyatt. Coach Wyatt coached Eddie way back in the day (1986), and now they are teammates.

Fall is really here, at least by the calendar. I have been reading and listening to the weather gurus and this is the most unusual season since I have been gardening. The past spring and summer broke many records, and not to our advantage. We received two inches of rain last week.

From April into June of 1957 north-central and northeast Texas and much of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana received 20 to 36 inches of rain, leading to widespread flooding. (How different times can be!) On May 31 of that same year, the noted film producer, Cecil B. DeMille, at Brigham Young University’s commencement exercises, spoke of the freedom that comes through obedience to God’s laws. To make his point, he said, “We have been reading about the terrible, destructive floods in Texa ...

The highlight of my week - On October 4, 2011, TD Smylie, Jr., and his wonderful wife, Leona (nee Hohenberger) will celebrate their 69th wedding anniversary. Congratulations are certainly in order. There are lots of things happening in the next few weeks. I heard the Wild Game dinner was a roaring success.

There is a hot topic going around. Do you put in a pool during a drought? There are definitely two sides to this debate, so let’s look at both of them. Here are the scenarios below: Scenario 1 is the “Yes.” I am the home/land owner and I want to put in a pool.

October 7, 1966 An open house was held at the new elementary school building. Grades one through seven were moving in to start classes. • Milton Scharnhorst and L.M. Mobley were honored by the Blanco FFA chapter by being awarded the Honorary Chapter Farmer Degree and a plaque at the Annual Award Night Banquet.

A common reason for many people to rent rather than buy is home maintenance. When the roof leaks or the air conditioner stops working, they like knowing they can call the landlord or property manager to remedy the situation. Yes, maintenance is an ongoing part of homeownership and can be expensive and frustrating.