September 27, 1968

A highly successful Pasture Short Course was conducted at the Blanco Vocational Agriculture Department by Phillip Nix, Pasture Specialist. This short course was sponsored by the Texas Education Agency, Agricultural Education Div., and Texas A&M University, Dept. of Soil and Crop Sciences, in cooperation with Blanco High School. Certificates of Completion were awarded to 26 farmers and ranchers who successfully completed the short course by Lester C. Cobb, supt. of Blanco Public Schools. • The eighth grade class had a work day. Each penny was one vote for the eight grade Duke and Duchess. The money went to the PTA. • The Blanco High School Band directed by Billy Harrell would march in the 75th Annual Comal County Fair Parade in New Braunfels. There were eight bands and more than 100 entries in the Diamond Jubilee Parade which was conducted in the New Braunfels’ downtown area.

September 29, 1978

Angered by the refusal of the community to “support” An Verner and the Hunter’s Saloon, the apparent real owner of the property refused to allow the Creekwater Art Show to use the land behind the building for their annual display. And, while the one out-of-town property owner was forbidding the community to cross his property line, another who had recently displayed no particular good will to Blanco promptly offered the use of the old courthouse square in the emergency.• Johnson City Mayor Charles Matus confirmed the report that the city had been given a Federal grant in the sum of $86,400 for development of a park. Matus confirmed a story in the Wednesday Austin American Statesman out of Gov. Dolph Briscoe’s office announcing the grant – saying that was actually the first Matus really knew of it officially going through – that although he had been signing the contracts, he hadn’t wanted to announce it officially until everything was wrapped up. • A gallon of McCoy’s Outside Latex House Paint sold for $5.95.

September 28, 1988

Thanks to the generosity of an entire community, the annual EMS Barbecue and Dance held on the Old Courthouse Square was the most successful ever, clearing $7000 toward ambulance maintenance, new equipment, and medical supplies. The event was sponsored by the recently organized Blanco Volunteer Ambulance Corps Auxiliary, under the chairmanship of Anna Lee Jones. Blanco High School’s award-winning Drill Team performed a number of routines for the appreciative crowd at 6 pm., and later, Blanco’s country/rock band Rockin’ A Hard Place played for a street dance under a full harvest moon. • The Blanco Panthers scored their first win of the season in the Homecoming game against Medina, though the game didn’t start well. The end of the first half saw the Panthers in the lead for the first time of the 1988 season. Darryl Fishbeck did his thing, making the score 26-9 with 34 seconds left in the game. Shane Johnson capped off the game on the last play, when he stepped in front of Muttalib Ibrahim to intercept a Josh Turpin pass. • Blanco Junior High beat the Medina Bobcats in Medina by a score of 38-8. In spite of the many penalties, Blanco was still able to dominate the entire game. • BHS purchased 15 new IBM compatible computers and 4 printers for the high school computer classes. The computers cost the school about $13,000, a real investment for the students of the district.

September 30, 1998

Best-selling author Janice Woods Windle returned to Blanco. NO, she didn’t come to tape record another story from a local resident or search for more family history, like she’d been doing for the past several years. This time, she was here two days to promote the culmination of her Blanco-area research—her new novel, “Hill Country,” available at bookstores across the nation. • Former Blanco County Sherriff Harry Carpenter pled guilty to three counts of theft with fines of $500 each, both class A misdemeanors, and to property restitution of $8423. • Parents Night at a recent Blanco Varsity football game brought hugs to moms- who feel they never get enough from their teenage sons.