October 11, 2017 Issue

For Blanco County Game Warden Sam Smith, the start of hunting season has him back on land, after patrolling the county’s rivers and nearby Canyon Lake by kayak and boat, March through August. “The population of the county seems to triple when deer season starts,” said Smith. Smith is the only state game warden assigned to Blanco County, and one of 14 officers in the seven-county reporting through the Kerrville field office, as part of the San Antonio region of the Texas Parks & Wild ...

I was honored to represent the city at the annual Texas Municipal League conference in Houston last week. It’s a great opportunity to learn about the issues and challenges that other cities are facing, along with presentations on programs and initiatives that are working. The fact that Houston could even host the conference six weeks after Hurricane Harvey is a testament to the resiliency of that city as well as the Lone Star state.

tizens gathered at the Blanco Historic Cemetery to place wreaths at the gravestones of its local fallen heroes, as part of the Wreaths Across America campaign. Wreaths Across America is the organization that places wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery each year. Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as more than 1,200 additional locations in all 50 U.S.

On Oct. 2, 2017, Blanco’s Planning and Zoning Commission met to consider two requests: one to re-zone two properties from residential to mixed use; the second, asking for a variance for a sign that exceeds Blanco’s sign ordinance dimensions. In the absence of chair Mike Green, vice-chair R.K. Seals presided. A public hearing requesting public input on each issue preceded the regular meeting.

The Blanco Library is honored to announce that it has received funding for the third year to continue the cooperative efforts with the local Community English Classes (CEC) through the 2018 English Language Through Library Services and Technology project. This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (2018).This grant provides $ ...

Town Creek is an approximately three-mile long ephemeral stream that flows generally southward from its headwaters north of the city of Blanco, to its confluence with the Blanco River in the downtown area. It maintains a natural bed and bottom for most of its course, with the exception of an approximately 600-linear foot concrete channelized segment that stretches from Elm Street to Highway 281 (Main Street). Downstream of Highway 281 Town Creek runs through the Pecan Bottom which is public ...

Thirteen Blanco High School senior girls comprise the 2017 Homecoming Court, and one of them will be crowned queen on Friday night at halftime of the Panthers’ varsity football game against Lexington at Panther Stadium.

The Lady Panthers volleyball team began District 25 3A play on Sept. 8, 2017, with a 3-0 loss to the Lago Vista Lady Vikings. Since that loss the quad has tallied seven straight district wins including a 3-1 victory over Lago Vista. On Oct. 3, 2017, against Lago, the games scores were 25-9, 25-19, 19-25, and 25-15, in favor of the Panthers.

The 8th grade Panthers played the Ingram Warriors on Thursday, Oct. 5th at the Blanco Stadium. Blanco received the opening kick-off. On the first down quarterback Kaleb Meyer made the hand-off to Juan Olmedo who dashed 64 yards for the score. The two-point conversion failed and the Panthers led 6-0 with 7:40 left in the first. The Panther defense held the Warriors to only four plays.

The 7th grade Panthers hosted the Ingram Warriors Thursday night October 5th, with Captains Collin Romero, Christian Manriquez, Ricky Palacios, and Bennett Brock, winning the coin toss and the Panthers choosing to receive the opening kick-off. Devin Newsome received the kick off and had a 15-yard return. But the Panther offense couldn’t move the ball and was forced to turned the ball over to the Warriors on fourth down.

The Board of Trustees for BISD met Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Two middle students were recognized by Principal Korelich for their accomplishments as well as initiative to start a girl’s football team. The district’s legal counsel presented a legislative update on key bills from 85th Texas Legislative session. Presented as significant bills to the district included: SB 7: Improper Relationships between Educators and Students, SB 179: Bullying & Cyberbuling (David’s Law), SB 693: Seat belt ...

World-renowned guitarist Johannes Moller has performed in places as far away as the Netherlands, New Zealand and Europe. Now he’s coming to Blanco as the opening concert of the Blanco Performing Arts’ 2017-18 chamber music series. Moller–who won the 2010 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition¬–will perform with Argentinian guitarist Laura Fraticelli Saturday, Oct.

The Old Blanco County Courthouse in Blanco will host its 27th annual Gala from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14. Organizer Karen Knutson said, “The event and the Texas Hold’Em Poker Tournament takes place Saturday morning are the largest fundraisers of the year for the historic structure and is vital to the restoration and maintenance of the facility.” The courthouse needs substantial repairs, which is the primary focus of the Old Blanco County Courthouse Preservation Society’s fu ...

On Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2017, Charline Koeppen Read of Johnson City, Texas, went to be with the Lord. Charline was born in Brenham, Texas, to Edward and Dorothy Wuenscher Koeppen on Feb. 3, 1942. Charline is preceded in death by her parents Edward and Dorothy, brother Robert “Bobby” Koeppen and great-grandson Matthew Sedlachek. Charline is survived by husband George Clifton Read, daughters Deborah Sultemeier and husband Tommy, Sherry Conlon and husband Thomas L.

After my father retired from building churches and schools all over Mexico, he returned to the little town of his birth in the foothills of Chihuahua’s Sierra Madre. The original Anglo settlers of the area (circa 1885) quickly discovered that the land they had purchased in the narrow valley of the Piedras Verdes River was poorly suited to the large-scale cultivation of most farm crops.

“Letting Go” is a necessary part of life. In fact, life is a series of “Letting Go’s.” That is to say, we seem to be “letting go” on a regular basis. Friends are made then we must “Let go” as they move away or we move away. We often leave our home towns; churches; schools; and even family.

I was told one day if I pray for something, to pray once, believe I receive, and then wait on God. If I prayed again, that meant I didn’t believe God heard the first prayer, so continual praying negates the previous prayers. I believe that’s a lie because of The Parable of the Persistent Widow, and who is the father of lies? John 8:41-47 “Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you w ...

For Blanco County Game Warden Sam Smith, the start of hunting season has him back on land, after patrolling the county’s rivers and nearby Canyon Lake by kayak and boat, March through August. “The population of the county seems to triple when deer season starts,” said Smith. Smith is the only state game warden assigned to Blanco County, and one of 14 officers in the seven-county reporting through the Kerrville field office, as part of the San Antonio region of the Texas Parks & Wild ...