Carson Kipp (left), West Texas A & M Head Football Coach Don Carthel (center), and Colton Elrod (right). The two Blanco Panther Football Players attended the West Texas A & M Football Camp last week in Canyon, Texas, where they were instructed by the Buffalo Coaching Staff.

Navy Seaman Duane J. Phipps (D.J.), a 2011 graduate of Blanco High School, recently finished U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes Illinois. During the eight week program, D.J. completed a variety of training. The training included classroom study, practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety, survival, shipboard safety and aircraft safety.

Artist Edward Povey teaches a three-day master workshop at Uptown Blanco Art Center over the weekend on color and glazing. Povey led the course in color theories developed by artists over centuries, extended to provide insight into resolving and finishing paintings, and concluded with an introduction to Old Masters’ glazing techniques. This workshop was a once in a lifetime opportunity to truly learn the secrets of the old masters. The Art Center is honored to have Povey as a guest teacher, ...

Blanco Performing Arts finished the season on a crescendo Sunday afternoon with violinists Kathryn Eberle and Julie Pautz and pianist Maimy Fong. The virtuosic players delighted the crowd with their unity of sound and depth of emotion. Their interpretation of Bach was especially energized, but the climax was the Navarra by Sarasate which had the audience of the edge of their seats.

On Tuesday, July 17, the Llano County Republican Party will be hosting a forum for our area run off candidates in the 33rd and 424th District Attorney, Angela Dowdle and Wiley “Sonny” McAfee. In Precinct 1 County Commissioner, Tom Engler and Peter Jones. The format will be a 5 minute presentation by each candidate, followed by a question and answer period.

Teens! Do not forget that this Thursday we will be showing the “Bleach” anime at the library! Join us at 5:30p.m. for the movie and refreshments. During the month of July, Mondays and Wednesdays, 4-5:30p.m., our Technology for All computer instructor will be teaching Excel classes. This is a total of 9 consecutive classes that will give you the knowledge of Excel that you need.

Seven members of the Highland Lakes Chapter of Master Naturalists earned their certification earlier this month. The Highland Lakes Chapter serves Blanco, Burnet and Llano Counties. The mission of the Master Naturalists program is to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities.

The Primary Run-Off will take place on July 31st. Registered voters who voted in the Primary can vote in the same Party Run-Off election. If a registered voter did not vote in the Primary they may vote in either party’s Run-Off election. Eligible Texans who are not registered to vote must register by July 2, 2012 to vote in the July 31st Run-Off election.

The Blanco Youth Football League is grateful for the help provided by the Blanco High School Cheerleaders at the Cheer Camp 2012. The cheer coordinators for BYFL, Evann Ramsey and Michelle Edge, presented the Blanco High School Cheerleaders with a donation from the Blanco Youth Football League for their much appreciated time spent working with the youth at Cheer Camp 2012. All of the girls who participated in the camp had a spectacular day cheering alongside their Blanco High School Cheerlead ...

Pecan Street Brewing in Johnson City “hoppily” opened one year ago on June 25, 2011.   They brew their own beer on site and usually have a stable of 5-6 beers on tap at any one time.  Some local microbreweries have beers that are also featured, such as Blanco County’s beloved Real Ale Brewing, Austin’s South Austin Brewing, and, coming soon, from the newly opened Pedernales Brewing out of Fredericksburg. Everyone can find a beer they enjoy from the light and easy Screw Loose Blonde ...

Philemon 1:5-7 says, “Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.” Today we will discover the Biblical key to our faith conferring a benefit to ourselves and others.

I’m going to continue into Matthew, chapter 25, and when we go into it, we can see Jesus is still speaking to His disciples, and He hasn’t stopped. I am reiterating because someone thought He was speaking to the scribes and Pharisees, but this is still continued from verse 3 of chapter 24 where the disciples asked Jesus to tell them what would be the sign of His coming and of the end of the world. He’s giving comparisons to the kingdom of heaven, and they’re all so good!

Helen Marie Carre Cherry of Canyon Lake, formerly of Nederland & Port Neches, passed away June 18, 2012 at Eden Hill Communities in New Braunfels, Tx. She was born in Beaumont, Tx on Oct. 23, 1921 to Albert & Delilah Carre. Helen is preceded in death by her loving husband of 64 years, Robert, also her son-in-law Alex Powell, and brother Ellis Carre. She is survived by her daughters Janice Powell of Canyon Lake, Shirlene Davis & partner Sam of Clearwater Florida; her sons Robert Cherry and wif ...

Randolph "Randy" Stephen Cox passed away June 20, 2012 at the age of 54. Randy was born December 6, 1957 in New Braunfels, Texas to Howard Newton Cox and Dolores Dittrich Cox. He was the second of six children and graduated from Blanco High School in 1976. Some of Randy's many joys in life were collecting arrowheads, hunting, and gardening.

Talking about the old jail facility, my sentiments are that the County holds a fair amount of prime real estate in Johnson City and some of it has higher and better uses then the present ones. Arguably even the new jail as well as the yard for precinct 2, both with 281 highway frontage are probably not well located as those sorts of facilities do not need high traffic count and visibility for their operations nor do I imagine are they particularly the types of facilities we want to present as t ...

The DOW finished the week at 12640.78 last Friday after a dark day on Thursday when it was hit with a 250.82 point decline due to bad economic reports here at home and abroad. The slide began after the Philly Fed manufacturing report said that there was a decline in manufacturing due to declining company orders.

AUSTIN – Signs that the governor’s mansion soon will be functional again have been evident recently. Pieces from the governor’s mansion collection were being moved back into the stately home that in June 2008 was heavily damaged by arson. The governor’s press office announced June 20 the return of the collection marks the first stage of the move phase of the restoration of the mansion and that Gov.

The Blanco Coach Pitch Girls won the Johnson City coach pitch tournament this past weekend. They played their first game Friday night against Johnson City and won a close one, 14-13. Saturday was a long, hot day as Blanco had to play Mason at 9am. Blanco lost to Mason 12-13, with Mason scoring 3 in the last inning for the win. Blanco was in the losers' bracket at that time and knew they were in for a long day if they were to make it back to the championship game. The next game was against Fr ...

The Blanco basketball camp was held at the Blanco High School gym June 18-21. Eighteen incoming 4th through 6th graders participated in the camp, with 19 participants in grades 7th through 9th. Coach Stuart Schultz and Coach Jeff Akin expressed their appreciation to camp helpers teacher, Mrs. Hull, and students Lexee Jenkins, Payton Savarino, Jamie McClinton, Carlin Green, David Ramirez, and Robbie Arlitt.

The Overland Stage Company was looking for drivers. The three applicants were asked how close they could come to the edge of a cliff while driving a six-horse team at full speed. The first bragged that he could come within two feet of the edge without any fear of going over.

Gentle readers: This is another one of those lousy seven-day periods, in which we lost two more of the kindest people I have met in Blanco - T.D. Smylie, Jr., and Randy Cox. Totally different in personalities, but so, so kind. And Randy had one of those laughs, like Tom Gardner's, just up from his belly.

March, April, and May Reports for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1. Virginia Carol Waggoner, Display expired license plates/registration • Bobby Amos, No driver’s license- when unlicensed, Fail to maintain financial responsibility •Dustin Ray Cooper, Speeding • Jarren Mychal Rosemond, No valid MVI certificate • Lindsea Jo Classen, Public Intoxication • Gina Rene Solorzano, Speeding • Justin Keith Marks, Speeding • Billy Roy Schweinebraten, Public Intoxication- pedestrian • Je ...

By Debbie Vallone-Homeier Paragon C&D Builders/Vallone Real Estate Do you call Cousin Vinny for the job? I am not talking about the Italian for one of “Those Jobs,” but Vinny the cousin who is a carpenter, and just so happens to be Italian. So now that I have your attention, let’s talk about hiring family to do a construction job for you.

1978 – Welcome – Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson waves a greeting to all the spectators who attended the 4th of July festivities at Johnson CIty. Lady Bird was the guest of honor and principal speaker on the windup session of the three-day celebration. Staff photos by Cohane/Matus.

Many Texans will spend their summer vacation renting a house at the beach, near a lake or in the Hill Country. But instead of just renting a place for a few days, have you ever considered buying your own vacation home? If you are fortunate enough to be in the market for a second home, there are a few things to consider to ensure your plan to relax doesn’t stress you out. Why are you buying? Your reasons for purchasing a second home may be varied: for a family vacation spot, to rent out for ...