To capitalize on its achievements and grow to the next level, the Chamber is also actively seeking members to serve on its Board of Directors and in various community service roles. Interested candidates for the Board are encouraged to submit a brief application, which is available at the chamber office at 312 Pecan Street on the Courthouse Square or on the chamber’s website at www.blancochamber.com. The deadline is Friday, September 7.

Rodeo Awards from the Fair and Rodeo.

On August 27, the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site will celebrate what would have been LBJ’s 104th birthday. Visitors will be able to enjoy refreshments of old-fashioned lemonade and watermelon at the LBJ State Park Visitor Center and are encouraged to enjoy the movie “Hill Country, LBJ’s Texas” in the auditorium along with a new centennial movie honoring Mrs.

Another great week at the museum, but we are still getting ready for the new exhibit. As you have probably heard by now, the next exhibit is WESTERN! We are again asking the public to assist with this exhibit by loaning us their pictures, artifacts, and items associated with the Western lifestyle.

Gardeners and anyone who mows, don’t trash the MILKWEED! Help the monatch butterfly on its annual migration through Texas. Of the 20 or so milkweeds native to our state, antelope horn and green milkweed are two of the most important (and common). They are important because, as they grow abundantly along the road sides and in pastures on the central Texas flyway of the monarchs on their annual migration to Mexico, this “weed” provides the nourishment necessary for the monarch.

The Blanco County Historical Commission met Monday August 13, 2012, at the beautiful new annex in Johnson City. Driving through hard rain and lightning, the meeting was well-attended. The rain was a welcomed sight. The main agenda of business was to discuss and decide where the two Texas Historical Markers should be moved after the TXDOT closings of the roadside park facilities.

Representatives of The Citizens for Blanco State Park donated a $3,000 check to the Friends of Blanco State Park group, with the conditions that the money will be used within the park with the approval of the citizens of Blanco. The Citizens group also donated $300 working with the Master Naturalists on landscaping in the Park, and $70, going half with the Friends group manning a booth at the Blanco Lavender Festival promoting the State Park. All the proceeds that have been donated are from t ...

Pedernales Electric is joining other electric cooperatives across the country to participate in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour program, which sends high school students to Washington, D.C. to learn more about cooperatives and government. For its 2013 Youth Tour Contest, PEC is asking area high school students to write an essay and propose a cooperative business with an environmentally sustainable product.

During the more than twenty years that All Faiths Chapel occupied the location where New Hope Lutheran meets today, its members created and maintained a ministry that provides equipment to local residents who have special medical needs. The storage building on the property houses wheelchairs, walkers, powered hospital beds, braces of many different types, crutches, breathing assistance equipment, and assorted other items.

New Hope Lutheran celebrated with their Interim Pastor, Rev. Ann Koopmann, on the 14th anniversary of her Ordination (August 15th).

Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Our God is a faith God. The world says seeing is believing. God says believing is seeing.

After the death of one of the richest men in the world, someone asked his financial advisor, "How much did he leave?" To which the advisor answered, "Everything!" In Galatians 1:4-5 we read, "Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore.

Last week I printed the entire chapter of 2 Chronicles 18:1-34 , and it had to be divided due to column space.  The Blanco County News is good about working with me to split lengthy articles.  This is a continuation and perhaps the most important part!  It’s profound how God accomplishes His plans!  If you missed last week’s article, verses 1 through 27 (of 2 Chronicles chapter 18) relate how King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to war together at Ramothgilead, afte ...

James E. Walton, loving husband of Sheila Noel Walton, passed away on August 17, 2012 in Blanco at the age of 70. He was born on September 25, 1941 to Coty and Estelle Burke Walton in Centralia, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Sheila, his son, Jason Walton, his stepson, Philip Hunt, Jr.

The DOW rose slightly for the week and closed at 13275.20 this past Friday. Earnings reports were responsible for keeping the DOW in check. The Leading Indicators report in the S.A. Express News last week helped provide more positive news regarding our U.S. economy. The report stated that “ a measure of future economic activity recovered in July following a sharp drop in June, providing further evidence of an economy that is regaining some momentum.” The Conference Board said its index of l ...

AUSTIN — The New Orleans-based U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Aug. 13 vacated the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s disapproval of the state program governing releases of air pollutants by Texas industries. Among several findings in the majority opinion released following a 2-1 ruling by a three-judge panel of the court, the EPA’s 2009 ruling disapproving Texas’ emissions control program came 16 years too late.

With 8 seniors graduating from the Panther varsity volleyball squad, the 3 returning varsity letterman, senior, Leslie McClinton, junior, Meaghan Seales, and Sophomore, Reagan Rogers are joined by many new faces. Seniors, Kelsey Schwind, Abby Beard, Megan Andrews, and Brook York move to varsity. Ashlyn Stephens, junior, and sophomores, Lexee Jenkins, Abbie Culton, Payton Savarino fill the varsity ranks. The theme for the 2012 volleyball program is “Be Bold”!

School will soon be back in session, but do you know what your children are learning about a matter of lifelong importance? Health matters… food and drink, exercise, sleep and a general sense of well-being. These are the substances that sustain life. For the next few weeks we will be focusing on our children's health and nutrition. One of the best gifts we can give or children is the gift of health.

Want to be up-to-date on the latest in yard maintenance? Plant a meadow. The trend for a “soft” look, low maintenance, environmentally friendly green space around your house is sweeping the country. They are even planting meadows in New York City! A meadow lawn attracts butterflies and birds. It helps the aquifer as the rain water is absorbed into the ground instead of used entirely by the plant or lost as run-off.

When my oldest brother, Boyd, married his sweetheart, Nancy, I was still in grade school. I had never been to a wedding reception in the United States and was unfamiliar with its customs and, to me, its weird rituals. For example, after the multi-layered cake had been cut by the bride and groom, each holding onto the handle of a gilded knife as if each by himself or herself was incapable of performing the act alone, and it was almost time for the happy couple to depart the festivities, the groo ...

Summer's winding down, and, if you've noticed, the temperatures are coming down a little too! I can't wait for Fall!!! The kids are heading back to school, so watch out for them - they can be so quick! Just wanted to say how much we all miss Tommy Vallone. I especially miss him coming into the drugstore accusing me of putting the lids on too tightly for him to open; he was a pistol!

Whether you are building a new home or making some kind of addition while remodeling, chances are that you will have to do some excavating during the process to make sure that everything is where it needs to be. Excavation is one of the most important steps in building any structure because it provides the base for the foundation and everything that will go on top of it.

Candidates for the 1982 Blanco County Fair and Rodeo Queen’s Contest are (front L-R) Kris Riddell, Chris-Ann Craig, Jennifer Hobbs, Tami Gipson, Shannon Moss, Susan McIlvain, Kim Schneider, Kathy Felps, Sophie Hartman, Parrish Taylor, Holly Craig, Candy Weirich, (back L-R) Trudy Sagebiel, Karen Kroll, Gail Connell, Kathy Moss, Sandra Jones, Perry Kuebel, Stephanie McCarty, Sharlette Haley, Sharleen Haley, and Julie Mengers.

Think back to when you were a first-time homebuyer. Were you excited but overwhelmed? It’s not unusual to feel that way as a first-time seller either, and it’s just as involved a process, if not more so, but knowing what you can expect can make the selling process go smoothly.