The family of T.D. Smylie wishes to express their thanks and appreciation for the many prayers, cards, calls, visits, and acts of kindness during his illness and passing. We have been overwhelmed by the love and concern that has been shown to us by so many of you. Hill Country Hospice was such a comfort to T.D., as they provided him with outstanding care and friendship.

Wayne and Lois Russel are celebrating their 70th anniversary on July 11. They were wed on July 11, 1942. Together they have 2 children, 4 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren and whole lot of patience and love! Congratulations!

John & Tamara Pearson of Richardson, TX proudly announce the arrival of their son, Andrew Warren. Andrew was born May 7, 2012. At birth he weighed 8 lbs, 5 oz. and measured 19.5”. Also welcoming Andrew are his grandparents, Dorsey L. and Angie Smith and great grandmother, Bea Ellison.

Scouts from Pack 497, including new Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, kept a date with hippos in a Roars and Snores Campout at the San Antonio Zoo. The Scouts and friends camped out in the hippo observation room and observed firsthand the hippos sleeping under water, and going for their morning run, under water.

Highland Lakes gardeners learned all about Keyhole Gardening from Dr. Deb Tolman on her recent visit to the Marble Falls Helping Center Garden. Dr. Deb shared her thoughts on growing cycles with Master Gardeners. She said we have two optimal vegetable growing seasons, January through June, and July through December.

I graduated from Nursing School in 1982 and worked mainly with Hospice until I became disabled and was essentially “home-bound,” except for attending church at Blanco Hills Church of Christ were I met Olga Ibarra, President of the Tejas Art Club. She encouraged me to attend and I have never regretted it!

So you think you live and work in a safe neighborhood where crimes don’t happen and the things you keep in your vehicle don’t have any value to a thief? Think again! A vehicle crime is committed in Texas every two minutes. Just because citizens live or work in neighborhoods with low crime rates does not mean they are immune to vehicle crimes.

The flood water comes up, or the tornado comes down, or the wildfire burns through. Your neighbor lost everything. Where does he go for help? It could be that he comes to you for help...if you have the knowledge and connections to get it for him. As an American Red Cross disaster volunteer, you can.

Blanco Performing Arts hosted Celtic musicians Wyndnwyre at the Uptown Blanco Courtyard on Saturday, July 7. A good time was had by all.

Some cousins were in town this weekend. They commented that I had just covered "their section" of the cemetery and they had not seen their names. They were just teasing, but I told them they should be glad they had not seen their names because only the people who had "gone home"

Just as the last young cowboy and cowgirl rode out of the arena, the skies opened up with over an inch of much welcome rain. It all fell within such a short few minutes that as the horses were hurriedly loaded and pickup motors started, it was too late to pull away from the arena without the help of the Church Tractor.

Our Lord is great, vast in power; His understanding is infinite. Psalm 147:5 (HCSB) That was the Bible verse for this year's VBS at First Baptist Church. Using Lifeway's "Amazing Wonders Aviation: Awesome God! Amazing Power!", and organized by Dawn Burnet and Karen Cox, kids from Pre-K through 6th grade participated in worship rallies, Bible studies, Missions activities, music, crafts, recreation, and snacks. The sanctuary of the Baptist church was converted into a worship aviation hangar for ...

He created us. He gave us the world and dominion over it. He gave us herbs for healing and all good things to eat. He gave us His Word and His promises for keeping His Word. He gave us all good things. The people before us turned away from Him.

“Like the Bible says, God never puts on you more than you can handle.” Is that what the Bible says? If you are referring to 1 Cor 10:13, that’s not what that verse says. It says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” There is nothing in this verse that remotely suggests that God “puts t ...

Larry D. Fair (Man Called Bear) born December 11, 1943 in Tisue, Ohio passed away on Saturday, June 30 2012 at the age of 68. He is survived by his brother Greg Fair of Norfolk, Virginia and sister Shirley Robinson of Tisue, Ohio. He is also survived by his three children; Michelle Douglas of Ft.

Mrs. Nora Knoll nee Weiershausen of Albert, Texas passed away on Saturday, June 30th in the Windcrest Nursing and Rehab Center at the age of 97 years. Nora was born March 20, 1915 in Johnson City, Texas to Dan and Hilda Herbort Weiershausen. Along with her parents, Nora was preceded in death by her two husbands, Edgar Maenius and Bill Knoll.

Dear Editor, I am writing on behalf of our Blanco County Cat Coalition to let our community know that we urgently want to help our residents to trap, spay, neuter, and return their feral cats. The cat coalition is not just for cats. It is also for all of us who anguish over stray and feral animals who are not cared for.

Dear Editor, A few months ago while reading an article about a woman who had fostered over 180 babies in her lifetime, I instantly thought of Pamela Capps, a local Blanconian. The humorous animated thought accommodating Pamela's "foster" care efforts was her arrival at "The Pearly Gates," greeted by the hundreds of animals she has saved or helped along the way.

Editor, I was discouraged to read about the County Commissioners' planned use for the old jail for several reasons: First, I agree with the letter from Tim Elliott pointing out that the decisions made by the judge and commissioners to buy prime Johnson City real estate keeps this real estate off of the tax roles.

The Hill Country 100 Club, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is proud to announce that for the 2012 – 2013 school year, it has awarded $12,000 in scholarships to six area students representing all four of the our supported counties – Burnet, Llano, Blanco and Lampasas Counties. This is our fourth year to award scholarships to graduating seniors from the high schools within our support area.

The Dow closed last Friday at 12,772.47 based on what some economists claimed to be a weak jobs report. The U.S. unemployment rate remained at 8.2% as 80,000 jobs were gained. Keep in mind that is still jobs “gained” not lost as it was a few years ago when we were losing hundreds of thousands of jobs per month.

AUSTIN — July 9 was the date set for the U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit to begin hearing arguments over the new Texas voter identification law, so far prevented from taking effect by various legal actions. Stakes are high and the hearing could take a week of the court’s time.

When I was just a boy, I used to enjoy telling jokes and poking fun at people. More than once I was told, “you’re quite a character!” Well, based on that, I figured that “character” had something to do with goofing off and being funny. As the years passed, however, I learned a few things on the subject of “real character.” Many persons over the years have commented on the subject.

Here are a few tips for selecting that right builder when you decide to build or remodel. So in your search for a builder, you want to make sure you and the builder are compatible. Here are a few things to look for: • How many years have they been doing business? • How involved will the builder be in the construction? • Do they want to be involved in the design stages? • What style, size, trend, green, will they want to incorporate? • How flexible are they in changing plans durin ...

When a property changes hands, what goes with it? Unless otherwise stated in the sales contract, you won’t find a comfy couch and huge flat-screen TV waiting for you when you move in. But what about curtains, carpets or mirrors? The question of what conveys, or is included, with a property can be more complicated than you think.