The Blanco Cub Scout Pack visited the Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls on Saturday, November 12. We experienced the four-acre Texas-shaped hay maze. The maze has 12 city markers located inside that you have to find. At each marker there is a different shaped hole punch that you are to use to mark your card; if you succeed, you will get a free soda.

The Second Mile Recreation Center located on the corner of 5th and Pecan is open on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:30-5:30pm. All middle school and high school-aged students are invited to attend each week, free of charge. It is the intent of the Recreation Center to provide a safe, fun environment for students to hang out with their friends, listen to music, play games, play basketball, get tutoring help, lift weights, learn how to sew, and much more.

Not only was there a great turnout and countywide support, but we were given an absolutely beautiful day for this event. We were greeted by fire trucks and firefighters from all three cities, Blanco, Johnson City and Round Mountain, along with our fabulous emcee, Johnson City Police Chief Randy Holland.

Sears Hometown Stores is pleased to announce their annual Holiday Food Drive for 2011. Stores across the nation will collect non-perishable food items until Saturday, December 31. The Blanco Sears Hometown Store is partnering with Blanco Good Samaritan as part of the national event. As a thank you, Sears Hometown Stores is giving people who donate $5 off any $75 purchase*.

The National Association of Realtors invited local broker, Stan Barron of Stan Barron Properties, to speak at its annual convention in Anaheim, California. Over nineteen thousand agents and brokers from around the country came to hear speakers and stay up to date on real estate practices and market conditions. Stan’s presentation, “How to Apply Madison Avenue Methods to Real Estate Advertising” gave agents the tools they need to write cutting edge ads for properties they have listed.

My name is Patricia Hendricks. I was born in Roseburg, Oregon, and grew up in the country riding horses and spending time with family and friends. My artistic efforts emerged after I was grown and married and my four children were mostly grown and gone. Twenty-five years before we moved to Blanco, my husband and I, along with our youngest daughter Paula, traveled around the country in a motorhome.

People come to the Hill Country for the trees, and one tree can add more than $10,000 to the value of a piece of property. The continuing drought, though, has them all in jeopardy. The bad news is some won’t survive, no matter what you do for them. The good news is most of the large, valuable trees will make it through...and you can improve their chances. Robert Edmonson, an arborist with the Texas Forest Service, told an audience at the First United Methodist Church in Johnson City there ...

On Monday nights, starting at roughly 7:30 p.m., a fresh wind of relief, joy, and excitement blows through the hearts of many Blanco County teens; vibrations from energetic music dance through town; and it all radiates from the Second Mile teen rec. center. The very same thing happens for pre and early teenagers, every other Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. YoungLife and WyldLife leaders such as Stephen Mackey have dedicated their lives to this very event that changes lives week by week.

Avery Walla with her first buck, an eight pointer she bagged on their place on RR1623. Avery is 9 years old and is in Mrs. Marshall’s 3rd grade class. She is the daughter of Todd and Laura Walla.

Hanna Garrett with her first whitetail buck .She patiently hunted last year through this season and practiced good management skills, passing up 11 other bucks to harvest this trophy. Shooting her trusty .223 “Black Momba” with her #1 guide at her side, she delivered the lethal shot at 75 yards.

Students participated in an art play directed by their art teacher, Ms. Davis.

It may be 80 degrees outside, but sleigh bells will be jingling soon, and Tots Need Toys (TNT) has been making plans for the annual distribution of toys to families in need of assistance. Through the generosity of the citizens of Blanco, local businesses, organizations and churches and some not-so-local businesses, we provided Christmas gifts for 192 children in 2010.

The Veterans Day celebrations have come and gone but we will continue to celebrate our veterans of all ages. When you visit the Blanco Pioneer Museum, you will see pictures and names of so many WWII veterans from right here in Blanco. If you have not visited the museum, you are missing an amazing experience.

Okay, it is the day before Thanksgiving and we can already see signs of it everywhere. Yes, the weather gives folks a slight hint. Is it just me or does the sights and sounds of that most special day of the year begin one day earlier each year? Well, maybe it is just me.

As we were driving around Sunday, enjoying Blanco's wonderful weekend weather, we came upon a curious scene. Some visiting families (the Statton family from Austin and the Rogers family from Boerne) had gathered together and were picnicking on the drought dry riverbed near Lindeman Lane. We had to investigate this mystery.

Thinking about Christmas gifts? Well, we have solutions. Stop by the library and pick up Library Salsa for your friends and family! For only $7 each, you can buy your friends and family pre-wrapped tasty salsa and it supports your community library. If you want to show your caring side, come in and donate to put an angel on our tree in the name of a loved one. Are the holidays stressing you out?

A thought to ponder, is that this holiday, and those to soon follow, can consist of wonderful times and make good memories, depending a great deal on our attitude. It shouldn't have to be said, but may our Thanksgiving be a time of truly giving thanks. Let us remember the blessings of the Lord that have been bestowed on us in this land in which we live.

Luke 17:12-19 “And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests.

Matthew 22:37-38 “37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.” Do you love God? One might ask, “How can you love someone you’ve never met?” Or “How can you love someone you’ve never seen?” And “How do we get to know Him?” The only answer is through His Word; His living Word.

Dolly Mae Kneupper, 83, passed away Friday, November 18, 2011, in New Braunfels. She was born in San Antonio on August 11, 1928, to Curt F. Richter and Charlotte (Schlossnies) Richter. Dolly was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Olan Fred Kneupper; daughter, Janet Lane Jahnsen; brother, Curt Franklin Richter; and sister, Charlotte Kramer. She is survived by her son, Wray Kneupper and wife Diana of New Braunfels; daughter, Nola Mae Kneupper and Kenneth Bible of Johnson City; son-i ...

Lillian Jo McJimsey of Blanco passed away on November 20, 2011, at the Knopp Health Care Center in Fredericksburg, Texas, at the age of 79 years. She was born on August 30, 1932, to George Allen LaFrance and Addie Mae Marie Miller in Austin, Texas. Lillian is survived by one brother, Homer Whitaker, and three sisters, Margie Huckabay, Gertie Butler, and Peggy Hesskew.

AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry and Attorney General Greg Abbott last week reacted to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to hear Texas and 25 other states’ challenge to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. On November 14, Perry said the court’s decision to hear the case “is encouraging news for Texas.” And, Perry said, the act would cost Texas taxpayers “more than $27 billion over 10 years for the Medicaid expansion starting in 2014.” Also on November 14, Abbott sai ...

The Blanco FFA Chapter recently competed in the Guadalupe County Fair Livestock Judging Contest in Seguin. Overall, local FFA members did very well in both the senior and junior divisions. In the senior competition, Blanco placed 6th overall while also finishing 2nd in swine, 4th in cattle and 5th in sheep.

Since the early 1980s, parents across the country have organized Project Graduation parties, alcohol- and drug-free gatherings that follow graduation ceremonies. Project Graduation is a program developed by the Texas Department of Transportation, as a way of educating our students about the dangers of alcohol abuse, especially during one of the worse nights for teenage driving fatalities, graduation night.

The Lady Panther varsity basketball team tallied an overwhelming win 67-21 in their home opener against Fredericksburg Heritage on November 21. Justine Cooley blistered the nets for 25 points to lead the Panthers. Kayla Martinez nailed the basket for 13 points. Payton Savarino made 8 points, while Micaela Klein added 7, Leslie McClinton made 4, and Meaghen Seales scored 3 points.

The U-12 Dripping Springs Fall Ball Blanco team ended their winning season, Friday, November 18. The Mighty Blue had the winning record of 11-1 during the regular season and were the end of the season tournament champions with a record of 3 and 1! Blanco played a double header Friday night, suffering their first loss of the tournament, 10-7.

The Panther junior varsity basketball team fell to the Hill Country Christian varsity team, 48-63, on November 15. Kyle Sauceda led the team with 28 points. Dru Ramirez tossed in eight points and Carlin Green scored four. Will Byler added two points. Sauceda also grabbed nine rebounds and three steals. Byler also made three steals and blocked two shots, and Brett Champion added five assists to his teammates. The Panthers will face San Antonio Lutheran at home on Tuesday, November 29, startin ...

The boy’s middle school teams played Ingram at home on November 21. The 7th grade team lost 12-36. Points were scored by: Jacob Ruiz - 1, Chase Coggins - 2, Shawn Burton - 2, Garrett Seales - 3, and Jeremy Kindla - 4. The 8th grade team won 38-31. Points were scored by: Ryan Ronces - 2, Conner Anderson - 2, Jordan Wagner - 3, Hugo Rodriguez - 3, Ross Edwards - 7, Trent Dechert - 10, and Eddie Torres - 11.

Changes in requirements for yard/garage sale signs are now in place, with the new sign ordinance passed by city council at the council meeting last week. Garage/yard sale signs fall under the category of special event signs. The new ordinance requires permits to be obtained from the city office for special event signs including those for yard/garage sales (Sec.

Last Sunday I pulled into the church parking lot and got a ticket. As I stepped out of my pickup, a small boy walked up and handed me a yellow slip of paper inscribed with a hand written message that said simply, “Parking Ticket.” “Oh, great!” I exclaimed. “What is this gonna cost me—forty bucks?” The boy looked me straight in the eye and said firmly, “No.

Don’t you wish you could just contact one person to fill all your real estate and construction needs? Well you can. These folks are called general contractors, with real estate capabilities being a plus. General contractors know all aspects of construction and can meet all your needs and requirements. Do you really want to try and juggle multiple trades?

November 25, 1966 Two additional screwworm cases were found in Blanco County during the past week, creating some concern for the security of the eradication program in the area, according to O.L. Patterson, County Agent. The first case, reported last week, was in the South end of Blanco County, while the two reported this week were in the North part of the county.This should remove any complaceny from producers of the county that there is no need to worry about screwworms.