March 28, 2018 Issue

Sometimes our celebrations of notable occurrences provide us a holiday without our fully realizing the significance of the reason for the celebration. This is true of Easter. Too often we celebrate the holiday with Easter eggs, bunny rabbits and baby chickens, ignoring the deep significance of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. I am saddened that so many call the supreme miracle of the Resurrection a subjective experience of the disciples rather than an actual historical event. I have alwa ...

Hill Country Memorial will host several diabetes education seminars and classes from April through June at the HCM Wellness Center conference room (1006 S. Hwy. 16) in Fredericksburg. “Diabetes is a serious condition, but it can be managed and even prevented by taking action,” said Kim Thornton, registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at HCM.

The scientific study of animal behavior is called Ethology. Much of ethology is concerned with understanding what is instinctive behavior and what is learned behavior. Instinctive behavior, sometimes called innate behavior, is inherited and not based on any prior experience. Exactly how instinct is transmitted from one generation to the next is still being studied, but the fact that it exists and the resulting observable actions are what I find really fascinating. Consider this: a sea turtl ...

With an overwhelming 36 million American adults unable to read above a fifth-grade level, the challenge of achieving literacy for all is larger than any single organization. The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is one of the nation’s strongest and most steadfast voices for literacy. The Foundation, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2018, has awarded more than $146 million to literacy initiatives that have helped more than 9 million individuals learn to read, receive their high ...

Debbie Vallone-Homeier was one of 81 Texas agents (plus their spouse and/or families) who had the privilege to attend the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) Conference in the Bahamas, along with 750 other agents from throughout the U.S. Attendees received political and legislative updates on issues that impact the RPAC and the real estate industry along with homeownership issues.

The Blanco baseball team continued its District success Monday night with a dominant 12-2 District 25-3A victory over Florence. With rain in the forecast for the 27, the decision was made to move up the game to March 26, 2018. Against the Buffaloes, Blanco generated all the offense necessary during the first five innings, coming away with the 12-2, 10-run rule victory. After Florence was unable to generate any offense in the top of the first, the Panthers plated two runs to take a 2-0 lead.

Senior Kendall Brock played in the Chicken Express All-Star Classic March 24, and before the game knocked down all three-point shots in preliminary competition to qualify for the contest. The top two shooters from the north and south teams went on to compete, and Brock won by shooting 7 of 12 three-pointers.

In a game highlighted by timely hitting and strong pitching, the Panthers varsity baseball team beat hosts Johnson City Eagles 5-1 March 23, 2018, to improve their record to 3-0 in District 25-3A. Neither team was able to get anything going early on, until the Panther offense heated up in the third inning.

Although originally scheduled to play against the visiting Florence Buffaloes on Tuesday, the Panthers took the mound a day earlier on March 26, 2018, due to anticipated inclement weather. Blanco continued its winning ways by beating Florence 6-2, and sits alone in first place in District 25-3A with a 6-0 District record and 16-6 overall. In the bottom of the first inning, Blanco broke out on top when Allie West’s sacrifice brought home Ashley LaRue, leaving the Panthers on top 1-0.

The Blanco Panthers Softball team stayed undefeated in District 25-3A by outlasting the Johnson City Eagles 14-10, Friday, March 23, 2018 in Johnson City. The Panthers, who are ranked 23th in the state by the Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA), added two more District victories this week and sit atop the standings at 5-0, 15-6 overall. The Panther bats came alive in the top of the first inning, with a single by Hallie Gloor to plate Ashlee LaRue.

Blanco Elementary recently held a fundraiser for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society, “Pennies for Patients” campaign. Students were asked to collect loose change over a two-week period to raise money. The winning classroom that brought in the most money earned a pasta lunch from the Olive Garden. “Students scoured under couch cushions, rummaged through drawers and even went door-to-door asking the public for donations,” Jennifer Kramer, BES teacher and student council sponsor. The BES ...

Blanco has been invited to join the fourth annual longest yard sale in Texas that got it start in Brownsville. “My sister lives in Indiana, and I went with her one year to several miles of sales, and I thought so why not Texas?” Yoland Almaguer, organizer. This year’s dates are May 4-6, 2018.

Construction is starting at Security State Bank & Trust, 1000 S. Hwy 281. “We’ve been at this location for 18 years and have outgrown the space,” D’Lynn Elrod, assistant vice president, said. She said that the new construction to the north of the existing structure will add four new offices.

The big, beautiful live oaks in town and throughout the Hill Country aren’t indefensible. Considered an epidemic throughout central Texas, oak wilt is one of the most destructive tree diseases in the U.S. The infectious disease spreads in the spring, killing all trees that share its name, with red oaks and live oaks most susceptible. “A live oak is a great survivor against everything that gets thrown at it from wind damage to drought to insects and other diseases, but it’s a poor su ...

e Blanco County Appraisal District gathered for their quarterly meeting on Tuesday, March 20 at the Blanco CAD office in Johnson City. The board approved last quarter’s meeting minutes and financial reports for the months of December through February before moving into new business. Paul Sumrall was approved to serve another year as the Appraisal Review Board chair.

Marguerite Ash, age 95, of Mexia, Texas, arrived in her heavenly home Feb. 27, 2018. She was preceded in death by John Lewis her husband of 69 years, her parents Oreb and Eula Loche, four siblings, a son Clyde Frankston Ash, and grandson Corey Lee Ash. Marguerite is survived by children Susie Johnson of Blanco, Texas, Gilbert (Gil) Ash and wife Annie of Groesbeck, Texas, John Ash and wife Yan Jun of Edmond, Okla.

Joe Neal Sawyer, World War II veteran, died at his home in Blanco, Sunday March 25, 2018. Mr. Sawyer was born on January 6, 1924 in Cherokee, Texas, to Ethel (Mayes) and William Claude Sawyer. He was a graduate of Cherokee High School and after graduation, entered the U.S. Army serving in the medical corp.

We have come through a wonderful journey from Ash Wednesday to Glorious Easter. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit has brought you closer to Jesus in humility and faithfulness to our Lord. This is but one of many spiritual journeys you will travel. Every time you intentionally draw closer to you Lord and Savior you will be closer to your last breath on this planet. As our faith in Christ Jesus increases every area of our life is affected.

What does Christ’s resurrection mean to you? If you haven’t read about it, Mark Chapter 16 below, recounts the event. Mark 16:1-20 “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.