August 1, 1969

Lt. and Mrs. David P Leese proudly announced the birth of their bouncing baby boy, David Patrick Leese Jr., who was born July 19, 1969 at St. David’s Community Hospital in Austin. David weighted 9 lbs., 4 oz. and was 21 inches long. Maternal grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Roy H. Byars of Blanco. Paternal grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Fuchs of Austin. Maternal great grandparents were Mrs. and Mrs. W.S. Crider of Johnson City. Paternal great grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Klappenbach of Johnson City. • Billy A. Harrell, Blanco High School Band Director for the past five years, resigned to accept a position as band director at Hondo High School. • Flint Immel of Blanco was seriously injured in an accident in which an automobile crashed head on with the milk truck Immel was driving in Bexar County on Highway 281 near the Comal County line. All occupants of the car were killed in the accident, all residents of San Antonio. Comal County Justice of the Peace Charles Wood saw the accident when Thornton’s auto passed him, headed south, swerved, and struck the milk truck head on in the approaching north bound lane. • The Blanco Theatre was showing “Sidemount” and “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” starring Alan Arkin, Sondra Locke, and Chuch McCann.

July 27, 1979

“Because of conflicting reports from various agencies, it is still unknown what the definite amount of the schools’ reimbursement will be on homestead, disability and over 65 exemptions,” reported Blanco ISD Tax Assessor Joy Brussel. In the Truth in Taxation Law, a long formula must be used to calculated a preliminary tax rate; however, this formula does not take into consideration the exemptions and inflation. Using this formula, the indicated tax rate should have been $1.14 for the coming year. Blanco ISD had a $1.30 per $100 valuation tax rate since 1975 and was again planning to use it for the 1979 tax year. The final tax rate would be adopted at a meeting later in the August, pointed out School Superintendent Bobby Roberts. • Mr. and Mrs. Glen Martin, Johnny and Missy, Mrs. Marie Conley, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Supak and Stephanie all of Austin, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Stohr, Janet and Stevie of Cedar Park, spent several days camping, fishing, and swimming in the Blanco State Park. Sunday, they were joined by other members of the late Edd Foster family for a reunion and picnic. • Johnson City Methodist Youth work hard last weekend washing cars, to earn money for a trip to Corpus Christi. The ocean was bound to be better than those hoses in the heat! • Ellen White invited visitors to view their 130-year old log house, rebuilt for occupancy by the Whites on their spread out Old Mt. Horeb Church Road. Transporting the house from New Braunfels to the new site was the biggest problem, the Whites showed places where parts of the roof and edges of the building were knocked off along the way.

July 26, 1989

Diana Rae Barry, Justice of the Peace in Blanco’s Precinct 4, was taken into custody by Texas Rangers on Monday afternoon on two counts of official oppression. Judge Barry was interrogated at the Blanco County Jail and then taken to the Women’s Detention Center of the Comal County Jail. According to Chief Deputy Dugie Mobley, official oppression is a misdemeanor, but the evidence presented may result in felony charges. • The letter which was received at Blanco County Commissioners’ Court supposedly from Thomas “Butch” Neill resigning the office of Constable in Precinct 4, turned out to be a hoax. According to a letter written by Neill to the court and a copy of which he hand-delivered to the Blanco County News, Neill had not resigned and had no intention of doing so. County Judge Charles Scott, after reading Neill’s letter to the court said that the first letter received by the court “was apparently his signature, it looked just like the signature on his monthly report.” Assuming it was authentic, Scott had released the resignation to the press, “After it was published… Butch called me, and said he knew nothing about such a letter. I have learned a hard lesson about verifying (such information).” he said. The letter with the forged signature was turned over to the Texas Rangers for further investigation.

July 28, 1999

A private paving company would begin repaving US 281/Main Street in Blanco, starting from the Blanco River bridge and running to the northern city limits. The $350,000 project was part of the Texas Department of Transportation’s routine upkeep of state highways. • A possible kitchen fire gutted the Dairy Queen restaurant in Johnson City. Johnson City Volunteer Fire Department officials responded around 4 pm and had the fire under control in around 10 minutes. North Blanco County EMS treated one firefighter for smoke inhalation, but no one was seriously injured.

July 29, 2009

At a special meeting, County Commissioners examined preliminary plans for a proposed Law Enforcement Center, as well as a new County Annex Facility. The Law Enforcement Complex would include an upgraded jail that would meet Jail Commission Standards. The present county jail was reportedly inadequate in terms of capacity and meeting security standards. • At the meeting of The Blanco Lions, President Nan Mikes welcomed Dennis Craft and “Scout” of Lions Leader Dogs and Donald Schoch of Lions World Services for the Blind.