The Hill Country 100 Club, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, is announcing a one-time $25,000 donation to various law enforcement agencies that have lost their Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (LEOSE) training funds as a result of the Texas’ 82nd Legislative Session’s budget reductions. Statewide the 82nd Legislature eliminated $12 million in LEOSE funds that normally would assist local training.

Blanco County Farm Bureau has donated $334 each to the Blanco, Johnson City and Round Mountain Volunteer Fire Departments, with $1,000 each contributed by Texas Farm Bureau (TFB), to help recover resources and funds used to keep our community safe. “We are grateful for these firefighters’ tireless efforts to protect our homes, land, animals and families,” said Don Casey, Blanco County Farm Bureau President.

Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s Board of Directors recognized at its Dec. 19 meeting five PEC-area organizations that were awarded grants through the Community Development Partnership Program. The organizations received a combined total of $90,882 in grants from the Lower Colorado River Authority. The CDPP was created in 1995 after the Texas legislature authorized a provision for the development of economic and community development programs, grants and in-kind services through the LCRA.

Dr. Gene Allen will open Blanco Counseling Center, housed at Trinity Lutheran Church, beginning Thursday, January 12, 2012. Dr. Allen has been a pastoral counselor, educator, and consultant for over thirty years. He will provide individual counseling, family counseling, and spiritual development counseling for the Blanco area. Dr. Allen felt it was time to open a center in Blanco to fill a need for counseling from a Christian perspective.

It’s the day after Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature is stirring, 'cept this little mouse. My husband is sleeping (it’s way past ten), and my bird is singing to me in our den. I look all around me, and what do I see, but boxes and clothes where there should be a tree.

Now that the message of peace on earth, good will toward men, is neatly packed away with the Christmas decorations, we’re in danger of entering our annual relapse into business as usual. Though totally inconsistent with the message of the season we’ve been celebrating, this too often happens. Those of us who live in a cold climate now brace ourselves for winter winds and lots of snow but we often look forward to a brief break, soon after the beginning of the New Year, called a January thaw ...

This past Sunday, I preached a message entitled, “Celebrate The Incarnation”. The word incarnate simply means to clothe with flesh. It signifies when the second person of the God Head, Jesus The Son, put on flesh and dwelt among us (Mt 1:23, Jn 1:14). This is what the Christian celebrates at Christmas.

Bernice Josephine Weinheimer, née Klein, passed away in her home on Weinheimer Ranch, Stonewall, on December 18, 2011, at the age of 80 years old. She was born on November 14, 1931, in Fredericksburg, Texas, to the late Emil and Otilia Klein. Bernice was raised near the banks of the Pedernales River in Stonewall, Texas.

Larry A. Tatum, age 56, of Seguin passed away December 20 at his home. Services will be held at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas, on December 30 at 1:00pm. He is preceded in death by his father, Riley W. Tatum, Sr. Survivors include his mother Patricia Seymour and husband Bob, daughter Carly Patek and husband Korey, daughter Stacy Tatum and fiancé Jeff Bettis.

Dear Editor, I also found it disheartening that your paper would reprint a story of a family’s tragedy in your “Remember When” section. Even more so, was the fact you chose to print the letter from Terry Neill last week without any note of apology for the obvious lack of sensitivity shown when the article was chosen.

AUSTIN — Texas Comptroller Susan Combs on Dec. 12 presented Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus with the annual estimate of state revenues. Spending was set by the Texas Legislature at $81.1 billion for the 2012-2013 fiscal biennium, and Combs’ estimate shows the state will have $82.7 billion available for general revenue related funds, an amount that would yield an ending balance of $1.6 billion, on Aug.

The Panthers started their holiday break with three wins over the Brooks Academy Bengals on December 20. The junior varsity boy’s team got the night started in Blanco’s favor with a 40-32 win. Chad Marshall and Josh McCaslin led the Panthers, scoring 11 points each. Carlin Green shot for six, with Logan Dodd adding four.

The committee, comprised of Clara Gourley, T. D. Smylie and Jon Warren, was given the important task of working on the Cemetery's constitution and bylaws. After diligently working on these documents for the past 7 months, and giving the Directors periodic drafts to review and make suggestions, the Board met on December 10 and had the opportunity to ask any questions in order to clarify details.

As I enjoyed indulging some of our grandchildren this holiday season I couldn’t help but marvel at the lengths to which their parents went to train them and to protect them. I was reminded of the mother Thetis in Greek mythology who took her baby Achilles to the River Styx—which offered powers of invincibility—and dipped his body into the water. But as Thetis held her baby by the heel, that spot on his foot was not washed by the water of the magical river.

This article was written by Sheryl Smith-Rodgers and originally appeared in the August 27, 2003, issue of the Blanco County News. Earlier this summer, Sarah Pautz couldn’t have been more relieved when she stepped into her tub and spotted a skinny leg sticking out of the drain. “Mom!” she hollered excitedly to her mother, Vickie.

Do you know the most important item you must consider when looking for a home? I hope so because only you know what features are essential to you and your family. For many people, priority No. 1 may be price, neighborhood or number of bedrooms … perhaps some combination of the three.