Why do kids gather on a regular basis in the old Wool and Mohair Warehouse located at 5th and Pecan Streets in Blanco? What do they do there? Why are more and more students at Blanco High School wearing “Young Life” t-shirts? What’s with “WyldLife”? This reporter decided to find out. The Blanco County News editor, Charles Willgren, suggested that I start with Doug Pautz, a local dentist, marathoner, former motorcyclist, husband of the very accomplished musician and aficionado of the ...

On July 28, Tom San and Kim Taing San opened “Blanco Donuts” across the street from the Bowling Club Café on Fourth Street. Besides serving up a delicious array of glazed, cake and cream-filled donuts, they also provide twists, cinnamon rolls, apple fritters, bear claws, and donut holes. You can add to that great-tasting sausage, bacon and egg biscuits, along with a variety of kolacheQs featuring cheese, sausage and even jalapenos. “You’re probably wondering,” said Tom, “How can A ...

Wednesday, April 18, marks the 70th anniversary of the single most significant mission in the history of military aviation. Four months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, sixteen Air Force B-25 bombers lumbered off the deck of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet in a raging storm to bomb Tokyo, Japan.

At least two thousand five hundred pieces of hand-sanded wood make up a wooden replica of the Old Blanco County Courthouse created by local craftsman Vernon Schmidt. The replica is now on display at the Blanco Library, thanks to Matt and Martha Herden. Vernon, who is well-known for his cabinet-making skills, tried his hand at wood-crafting and scroll work after being inspired by his daughter Doris Phipps.

As part of the Blanco Pioneer Museum's exhibit on World War II, veteran Tina Burnham of Round Mountain visited the museum to tell her stories about the war. Burnham stayed stateside but did her part to help the war effort. "Roosevelt saw what needed to be done," she said about the government hiring women to work in factories and allowing women into the military.

I first met Olla and Cicero Rust after the big flood on the Little Blanco River in June of 1985. They had just recently moved into my neighborhood into the Edgar McClain place. My friend Linda and I had been taking English riding lessons at their place during the transition so we were very familiar with the barns and the riding arena. The flood left me devastated as it had taken all of my beautiful horses except for two.

At age 96, Blanco resident Vernon Schmidt is the type of person who can never retire. After decades of working as a cabinet and furniture maker, Schmidt still tucks himself away each day in his garage workshop, creating artistic treasures out of even the most ostensibly marred piece of wood that most people would simply toss in the trash heap or fireplace. Well-known for his woodworking skills, Schmidt has turned his craft into an art form.

It was nearly four years ago that Joyce Bettinger, a survivor of terminal brain cancer, entered ‘Deer Creek of Wimberley’ and embraced it as her permanent community. I came to know Joyce during our weekly art class. She looks forward to this time of creative focus and social exchange with sincere dedication, but also as a significant promoter of its success as an activity in the nursing home’s infrastructure. As a member and [former] president of the Residents Counci ...

What happens when you bring Mardi Gras to the Cowboy Capital of the world? One of the wildest, craziest, and fastest growing celebrations in Texas! Cowboy Mardi Gras, held each year for the past six years the week before the official celebration in Louisiana and throughout East Texas, is sure to make you wish you were Cajun!

The ongoing drought has kept water not only in the local headlines, but regionally throughout the Hill Country from San Antonio to Austin. As the drought persists, water availability, which by definition of State water planners is “the maximum amount of water available during the drought of record, regardless of whether the supply is physically or legally available,” is being reduced.

To overturn a trial court’s judgment, an appellant must show that the trial judge abused his discretion. On March 5, the Third Court of Appeals in Austin ruled that appellant David Allen Hall did not clear that steep hurdle. In an interview Tuesday, Hall reflected on the court’s ruling. “I’m grateful for the support and encouragement given me by many concerned PEC members, and disappointed for their sake in the outcome at the appeals court.

A snapshot of charitable contributions and community assistance funded by rate payers of the Pedernales Electric Cooperative shows the utility contributes over $1 million each year to a wide variety of recipients, including high school students, public schools, public service organizations, volunteer service groups and financially strapped customers. In addition, PEC contributes an un-quantified amount of “in kind” service throughout its service area. The money for these donations comes fro ...

For the past few months, a wonderful group of volunteers from Blanco County have been working hard on planning out this year’s Relay For Life of Blanco County. Every extra minute of their time and thoughts have been focused on Celebrating Twenty-Five years of Fighting Back. Some people ask why do we do this?

It took countless volunteers to make the Youth Show a fun and meaningful experience for the young people in Blanco County. Students, parents and other volunteers showed up for two workdays prior to the show to begin barn preparations. Rule Books for exhibitors were prepared by Martha Danz. The Awards Committee, headed by Keitha Johnson, ordered duffel bags, jacket certificates, and buckles for the champion exhibitors, and buyer appreciation gifts for the buyers.

The term of the Blanco County grand jury hearing evidence about possible criminal wrongdoing at the Pedernales Electric Cooperative ended last week without any indictments being issued. Tom Kelley, spokesperson for Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, said, “This is an ongoing investigation and we are aggressively pursuing the case.” Citing the secrecy of the grand jury process, Kelley declined to make any further comment. The grand jury selection process is spelled out in the Texas Code of ...