April 1, 2015 Issue

Blanco County can feel pretty good about its current economic standing thanks to March sales and tax revenues reported by Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. Last month, the county's tax collections were up 6.10 percent. The county earned $29,495.53 compared to $27,797.84 the prior year during the same collection period in 2014. The numbers are reflective of those at the state level, which garnered $2.46 billion, up 11.7 percent from March of 2014. "This marks the 59th consecutive month of year-over ...

The Hill Country Area Crime Stoppers are looking for Blanco County residents to join their board of directors. That is the word from board members Dee Spinks, Bill Weaver and Charles Moore. "We really need people from here to volunteer with our board," Moore said. "Every board member we can get makes us a more effective organization.

The Blanco Volunteer Fire Department (BVFD) Fish Fry is scheduled for April 25 from 4-8 p.m. at Yett Park, but the annual event is getting off the ground with a raffle that opened this week. According to Jack Twilley, a member of the BVFD Board of Director, the funds raised through the raffle, fish fry and live auction, are essential to the operation of the department. "The tickets will be raffled off and as with all funds that are donated, they will be used to work on recruiting, retention eff ...

What's the difference between a Blue Moon and a Comanche Moon? When is the best time this summer to see the International Space Station pass over Blanco? Have you ever seen a galaxy or a nebula with your own two eyes? Do you know that two different comets will be visible to the naked eye this year, in June and in October? These and many other intriguing questions will be answered in an educational and fun-filled evening as Blanco State Park hosts its semi-annual Stars-in-the-Park event on Frida ...

An organization dedicated to serving youth of all ages is getting more support from The GVTC Foundation. Blanco County Young Life received a $5,000 donation from the Hill Country-based philanthropic organization. The money will help fund a variety of activities and camps it organizes for area youth. In addition to having fun, Young Life leaders help their kids consider the direction of their lives and offer hope for their future.

The Blanco High School UIL Academic Team has an insurmountable 58-point lead over district rival Lago Vista going into the last contest of the District 25-AAA meet. BHS will win another district championship despite the One Act Play results. The district meet, held Monday and Wednesday in Blanco, quickly became a two-school race with BHS and LVHS combining for nearly 1,000 points, 543—485.

The Blanco Panther JV Baseball Team is off to a fast start with a season record of 9 and 2 following this weekend's tournament where the Panthers swept all 3 games. In the opening game of the tournament, Blanco would defeat the Marion Bulldogs 7 to 1. Garrett Seales would pitch 6 strong innings for the win allowing just 1 unearned run on 5 hits while striking out 9.

The Blanco baseball team won one and lost one in district play this past week. On Tuesday, March 24 the Panthers defeated the Comfort Bobcats 5 to 4. Ty Royce picked up his second win going 4 innings and scattering 4 hits. Jake Breeding and Kyle Gray both came in relief and threw shut out innings.

Team Results 1st Calculator Applications—Moses Godinez, Colton Barrow, Katie Struck 1st Computer Science—Mark Kuebel, Colton Barrow, Breanna Collins, Moses Godinez 1st Current Issues—Thomas Kirkscey, Ian Kirkland, Patton Keutz, Wade Wardlow 1st Mathematics—Moses Godinez, Colton Barrow, Katie Struck, Breanna Collins 2nd Accounting—Scott Burnett, Ashley Hall, Trent Pruitt 2nd Literary Criticism—Helen Kasberg, Celia Kasberg, Jacie Handberry, Courtney Marshall 2nd Science—Chase Coggin ...

The Panther softball team lost a hard-fought game, 15-16, to the Comfort Deer on Tuesday, March 24 and then fell to the Florence Buffalo, 3-12, or Friday, March 27. Against the Deer Cheyenne Klein was on fire at the plate batting 4 for 6 with a single, a double, a triple, and a homerun.

David Struck competed at the Mens' Texas State Gymnastics Finals in Saginaw, TX, this past weekend. As a Level 8 gymnast, he earned a 1st place medal in Vault and 2nd place medal in High Bar. His All-Around score qualified him for the Regional Finals in Oklahoma City, OK, next month. David is a freshman at Blanco HS.

Joe Leroy Scott, age 66, died February 10, 2015 at his home in Blanco, Texas. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 14, 2015 at the Crofts - Crow Funeral Chapel in Blanco, Texas, with Rev. Phil Flournoy officiating. Joe was born on August 28, 1948 in El Paso, Texas.

Freddie Clyde Armke, of Hye, Texas passed from life, through death, to eternal life on Thursday, March 26, 2015 in Fredericksburg, Texas at the age of 89. He was preceded in death by his parents, Erich and Ottilie Heidrich Armke; his loving wife of 62 years, Joyce Dean Armke; a son, Tim Daniels; a brother, Leroy Armke; and two sisters, Lola Ammann and Rowena Voges.

Donald Lynn Nance (Donnie) died March 26, 2015 peacefully at his home in Blanco, Texas surrounded by his loving family. He enjoyed the many visits from so many special family and friends in the preceding days. Donnie was born in Orange, Texas on October 13, 1929 to Eugene and Barbara (Smaihall) Nance.

Dorothy Rose, lifetime Blanco County rancher, made that final roundup on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2015 at age 90. She was born on October 31. 1924 to Emma Whitworth Leeder and Rudolph Leeder of Blanco County. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Arless Rose, and infant daughter Emmalee Yett. Dorothy is survived by her daughter Irmalee Neill and husband Louis of Port Lavaca, Texas; grandchildren Katherine Nichols and husband Ronnie of San Antonio, and Trevor Neill of Victoria, Texas. ...

Margaret Frances "Peggy" Ogden Welch Born February 13, 1931; Died March 28, 2015 We lost our "Grandma Peggy" on the morning of March 28, 2015 after a courageous battle with cancer at her home in Blanco, Texas surrounded by those she loved. The first of two children born of Margaret Maxwell and Charles Wesley Ogden, she grew up in San Antonio and Corpus Christi, Texas.

Walter Frederick Heffner Jr., age 75, went to be with the Lord on March 8, 2005. Walter was born on January 6, 1940 in Houma, Louisiana. He resided in Corpus Christi, Texas before retiring to Blanco, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Margaret (Toups) Heffner, and brother Dwight Heffner.

Antoinette Genevieve Fildier Rossignol passed away on March 9, 2015 after a rapid decline in health. She was born in Paris, France, October 31, 1926 and witnessed the German occupation, during which she delivered coded messages for the French Resistance. She met her husband Bertrand J Rossignol after World War II, whom she married on July 2, 1949. They moved to San Antonio in 1967.

Alvin Franke, born December 1, 1931, joined his loving wife in Heaven on February 26, 2015. He is survived by sister Ada Cooley; children Clayton, Barry, Todd, Joyce, and Ronna; 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Alvin was a tough cowboy and loving family man, and will be greatly missed. Graveside services were held at Jones Cemetery in Kendalia, February 28, 2015 at 11:00 a.m.

John William Wood, of Dripping Springs, Texas, was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi on April 2, 1929 and died in Austin, Texas on February 13, 2015. His parents were Katherine Slane Wood and Claude Sandifer Wood. He graduated from Hazlehurst High School in 1947, and received a degree in geology from Mississippi State College in 1954.

Madeleine Ellis Moss, 67, passed away on January 6, 2015 at home in Johnson City, TX. She was born on June 3, 1947 in Pasadena, TX to John and Catherine Ellis. Madeleine grew up in Pasadena and graduated from Pasadena Memorial High School. Madeleine married Ralph Moss in 1964 in Pasadena.

Howard Newton Cox was born at home in Blanco, Texas January 26, 1934. He departed this life peacefully on February 11, 2015 at the age of 81. Howard was the youngest of five children born to Andrew Marion and Mary Elizabeth (Price) Cox. Howard married Dolores Sue Dittrich on May 11, 1955. They lived and raised their six children moving to many towns across Texas where Howard worked paving roads.

Cherry Seymour Dean, 71, of Round Rock and formerly of Blanco, passed away on Tuesday, January 20, 2015. Visitation was held Sunday, January 25, 2015 at Crofts – Crow Funeral Home in Blanco from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. Services were held at Crofts – Crow Funeral Chapel on Monday, January 26, 2015 at 2:00 PM.

Carmen R. Borrego passed away on February 1, 2015 at CTMS San Marcos, Texas. She was born on November 15, 1930 to Rito and Carmen Rodriguez in San Antonio, Texas. One of three siblings, she was 84 years old and is survived by one brother, Jose Rodriguez from San Antonio, Texas.

Rev. W. B. "Wally" Hiller, 93, of Blanco passed away on Wednesday, January 21, 2015. Visitation was held Friday, January 23, 2015 at Crofts – Crow Funeral Home in Blanco. Services were held at the First United Methodist Church in Blanco on Saturday, January 24, 2015, and burial with full military honors was in Blanco Cemetery. Rev.

Jack "Jackie" Smith, 79 of Blanco passed away on Friday, January 16, 2015. Visitation will be on Tuesday, January 20, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Crofts – Crow Funeral Home in Blanco and services will be on Wednesday, January 21 at 2:00 PM at Crofts – Crow Funeral Chapel in Blanco with burial to follow in McKinney Cemetery. Jack was born on July 27, 1935 in Blanco County, to Goldwin and Beulah (Edmondson) Smith.

Rodney Wayne Kneupper, 63 of Blanco went home to be with his Lord at his home on January 18, 2015. Visitation will be Thursday, January 22, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Crofts – Crow Funeral Home in Blanco. Services will be held Friday, January 23, 2015 at the First Baptist Church in Blanco at 10:00 AM with burial to follow in the Kneupper Cemetery in Kendalia,Tx. Rodney was born September 25, 1951 in Blanco, Texas to Johnnie I.

Grady Bagby, age 90, died Tuesday, January 13, 2015. Mr. Bagby was born on August 11, 1924 in Blanco, Texas. Grady served as a radio man in the Navy's admiral staff on the Marshall Islands during WWII. He spent 32 years in the Texas Highway Patrol after returning from a professional heavyweight boxing career in New York City.

Three buddies were discussing the resurrection, and they asked each other what they wished would be said of them at their funerals. One said, "He was a helper of the weak and the poor." Another said, "He was a good husband and father." The third said, "Look, he is moving!" One particular sect among the Jews was the Sadducees, which was a sect of fewer numbers than other Jewish sects, but generally a party of more power and money.