May 6, 2015 Issue

The Blanco City Council allocated the final disbursement of Hotel/Motel Occupancy Taxes (HOT tax) during a special meeting held Thursday, April 23 at the Byers Building. Two entities — the Buggy Barn Museum and Vaaler Creek's charity golf tournament — will have to wait until next year's budget to receive final allocation, based on a recommendation to the city by the Texas Municipal League (TML). "This is not a public hearing, nor is it a public discussion,"

There's a new culinary stop in Blanco that has adopted an iconic location and is serving up delicious breakfasts and tasty lunches. It's called the Deutsch Apple Café, and it is located at 602 Chandler Street. If it sounds familiar, it should. This was the home of the Deutsch Apple Bakery for a dozen years; however, after the restaurant shut down several years ago, the building sat fallow.

There's a new culinary stop in Blanco that has adopted an iconic location and is serving up delicious breakfasts and tasty lunches. It's called the Deutsch Apple Café, and it is located at 602 Chandler Street. If it sounds familiar, it should. This was the home of the Deutsch Apple Bakery for a dozen years; however, after the restaurant shut down several years ago, the building sat fallow.

The Board of Directors and Volunteer firefighters of your Blanco Volunteer Fire Department would like to say a big Thank You to all the citizens of Blanco who supported our best-ever Annual Fish Fry this past Saturday! Based on the comments and attendance, all enjoyed the superb catfish and sides cooked by Mr.

The Friends of Blanco State Park (FBSP) are up to something that has never been done — they are building the first naturescape in a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) facility. "We're close to being finished," said FBSP's Marilynn Lageman. "On a playground, all you can do is swing back and forth.

Dobie Benson loves cars. Cut his veins and he might just bleed motor oil. So it isn't any wonder that his engine gets revved as the annual Blanco Classic Car Show approaches. This year, the beloved event, now in its 27th year, returns to Blanco State Park on May 16. Check-in begins at 8 a.m.

Volunteers and supporters of Wild Woman Weekend gathered at the Blanco Courthouse on April 30th to celebrate the results of their event. Connie Barron disclosed that the event made close to $58,000 this year, a new high for the Blanco Non-Profit Coalition: Gem of the Hills Senior Community Center, Friends of the Blanco State Park, Blanco Library, Inc., and The Old Blanco County Courthouse Preservation Society.

For some people, the notion of honorably pledging to always do your best, or follow through with one's duty to God, country or even to obey Scout Law, much less to help others whenever they need it, and especially to seek to be "physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight,"

Seth Smithson looks the part of a cowboy and he understands horses better than he does most people. The West Texas native has opened Smithson Equestrian Center at Rockin' J Ranch. "We offer boarding, riding lessons, trail rides — we are going to do anything the equine community wants or needs to do,"

The Blanco High School UIL Academic Team won the Region IV AAA Championship for the third year in a row last Friday and Saturday at Texas State University. The team edged out Lago Vista once again, 175-159. Hebbronville (136), Industrial (116), and Poth (95) followed. The mathematics and computer science teams were crowned regional champions and will represent Blanco at the state meet.

The Blanco FFA Chapter began a busy three-week schedule this past week as they traveled to Stephenville to compete in the State FFA Career Development Events hosted by Tarleton State University. The Blanco FFA qualified teams in 4 of the 6 events, with 23 students representing Blanco. In the Homesite Evaluation event, Blanco placed 2nd overall and will be advancing to the National FFA Contest in Oklahoma City on May 7th.

Blanco's girls track team kept up its winning ways, capturing the 25/26 AAA Area Track title April 22 in a meet held at Judson. The win came less than a week after the girls won the District 25-AAA championship at Lago Vista. The Area meet included qualifiers from District 26, which featured such track powers as Randolph, Cole, and Marion.

The Panther softball team battled the Jarrell Lady Cougars for a 15-13 come-from-behind win on Saturday, April 25. Andrea Calzoncit pitched 6 innings, facing 34 batters. Payton Savarino pitched 1 inning, facing 7 batters. Montana Wiseman led the way at the plate going 3 for 4 with 3 singles and 1 rbi.

The Blanco Panther baseball team blasted the Jarrell Cougar with an 8-0 shut out on Saturday, April 25. Ty Preiss picked up his 3rd win of the season going 5 innings, striking out 3 and scattering 4 hits. Jake Breeding and Kyle Gray each threw a scoreless inning. Gray had the big hit of the night, busting a grand slam homerun in the 2nd inning to put Blanco up 5-0.

Students at Blanco Elementary School were charged with excitement Friday, May 1, with the return of the annual Walk-A-Thon. The event has served to help purchase a track for students on the campus and has other goals in mind that will benefit the school, said principal Linda Romano. "This is the Parent-Teacher Organization's (PTO) way of having the kids all work together to raise money for things that will come back to the campus,"

On April 20, 2015 at 5:34 a.m., we met our son Ford Massey Granberg - 5 lbs. 1 oz. and 19" long. For reasons we may never fully understand, God had a special place for him in heaven, even from the very beginning of his little life. A memorial service was held in Lawrenceville, Georgia on April 23rd.

Lt. Col. George W. "Bill" McClure, Jr. (US Army Retired) passed away on April 28, 2015 in Round Rock, Texas after a lengthy illness. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, May 1, 2015 at the Johnson City Masonic Cemetery under the auspices of the United States Army Honor Guard. Bill was born to George W.

Bruce Elgin Zbytovsky of Johnson City, Texas passed away Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at Audie L. Murphy Veterans Memorial Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. Bruce, as he was best known, was born January 1, 1943 in Barberton, Ohio to Arthur A. and Ione Sherwood Zbytovsky. He grew up in Barberton until joining the United States Army in 1961 where he was discharged after receiving an on-base injury.

God's Word says a lot about love. And we human beings don't know how to show real love. I think many of us don't really know what real love is. I've seen animals display more love than some people! We all should study what God's Word says about love. Today a lady I was talking to said she doesn't love anyone, not even herself.

Act 20:35 I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." When we give, it shall be given unto us: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over (Lk 6:38).

Rom 5:1-5 (expounded) "Therefore being justified (regarded as innocent, free, righteous) by faith (belief, trust, confidence), we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace (undeserved, unearned, goodwill, loving kindness, favor) wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope (anticipation or expectation of something good) of the glory of God.

Patience, love and self control versus bursts of anger and cutting words that you can't take back. Those emotions that go through our senses every day without us even realizing it, because we're engaged in conversations with people in our daily walk in life. All day we are sowing to the flesh, seeds that will produce a harvest.

The Friends of Blanco State Park (FBSP) are up to something that has never been done — they are building the first naturescape in a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) facility. "We're close to being finished," said FBSP's Marilynn Lageman. "On a playground, all you can do is swing back and forth.