April 22, 2015 Issue

Former Blanco Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amos Ramirez, 51, reached a plea deal with 33rd District Judge J. Allan Garrett and the 424 District Attorney's office for stealing thousands of dollars while working for the chamber. "He pled guilty to writing checks from a Blanco Chamber of Commerce and a park fund to a business he owned,"

Mayor Pro-Tem Bobby McClung opened the April 14 meeting of the governing body of Blanco with what he called "decent news" about Mayor Chuck Homan's medical status. The mayor, who recently underwent a medical procedure for cancer, is actually suffering from chronic bronchitis and is on the mend. McClung said Homan sends his best. On the regular agenda, council voted to approve the appointment of Amil Baker to the Planning and Zoning Commission, following a recommendation from P&Z chair Bruce ...

Blanco's Dairy Queen is in the midst of a complete makeover that should be completed in approximately six to seven more weeks. Construction workers have gutted the existing building in preparation for a total rebuild that will result in an essentially new facility. Local employees are working at other area DQ's during the renovation process. 

Real Ale is a real friend to Blanco's emergency services.  During Blanco County Emergency Services District #2 (ESD #2) regular session held Monday, April 20 in the Blanco Volunteer Ambulance Corp Training Room, the brewery stepped up and donated $10,376 to be divided evenly between the Blanco Volunteer Fire Department (BVFD) and the Blanco Volunteer Ambulance service (EMS). Real Ale co-owner Brad Farbstein showed up with two giant checks, each for $5,188, saying the money had been raised ...

Everywhere you looked on the morning of April 18, you would have seen Blanco youth with parents and leaders and citizens in bright pink shirts with the KBB "Trash Patrol" logo on the front. They were scurrying around with black plastic bags to gather litter from the city streets and easements.

Just one week after finding a new high school principal, the Blanco Independent School District Board of Trustees hired a Jowie Walker [pronounced JOE' ee] to be the principal of the elementary school during special session held on Monday, April 20. She will succeed Linda Romano, who is retiring at the end of the current school year. Walker is currently the assistant principal at Spring Meadows Elementary in the Judson Independent School District where she has served for the last six years. BIS ...

Blanco's boys golf team is state-bound for the third year in a row! "We take a lot of pride in representing Blanco ISD all over the state, and we have established ourselves as one of the best golf teams in the Region!" said head coach Scott Balmos. The Panthers finished second at the Region IV 3-A tournament this week, which included sixteen schools ranging from Lago Vista on the north end to Brownsville on the south end. Medalist Ashley Hall played well both days in the girls division, and sho ...