June 27, 2018 Issue

The Blanco County Sheriff’s Office received 352 calls for service from 6/18/2018 through 6/24/2018. The Blanco County Communications Center received the following call types during the seven-day period: 15 = Arrests 100 = Traffic Stops 13 = Reckless Drivers 29 = Medical Aid Calls/Medical Alarm 25 = 911 Hang up Calls, Mis-dials, Open line or Abuse calls 3 = Fire Calls/Fire Alarms 13 = Motor Vehicle Accidents 3 = Disturbance Calls 6 = Animal Complaints/Loose Live Stock Calls ...

The Blanco City Council met briefly Tuesday, June 19, 2018 adjourning into Executive Session after roll call to discuss the new job description and title for Wendy Patterson, the new City Secretary/Finance Director. After the matter was discussed, councilmember Gosnell moved to approve the job title and new position of Secretary/Finance Director.

Court Rules Against Ban The Texas Supreme Court on June 22 upheld a ruling by the Texas 4th Court of Appeals that the city of Laredo’s ban on single-use plastic bags is illegal. The ruling effectively invalidates bag bans across the state, said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. “Municipalities violate the law when they unlawfully pass the burden of solid waste management to citizens and retailers through illegal bag bans.

Birds of a feather flock together…and so does litter. It is a proven fact that “litter attracts litter.” If people see litter along the roadside, they are more likely to toss their own discards there as well. But if the roadside is clean, by and large, it stays that way.

This past weekend, communities all across the country celebrated the lesser known American holiday, Juneteenth. This annual observance commemorates the word of emancipation coming to Texas. Union General Gordon Granger delivered the news to the residents of Galveston nearly two and a half years after the emancipation proclamation had gone into effect, on June 19, 1865. A portmanteau of ‘June’ and ‘Nineteenth’, the day on which the holiday is traditionally observed, Juneteenth is the ...

Cicero A. Rust III, a resident of Blanco, has established an endowed scholarship in the Department of Modern Languages at Texas State University with a donation of $25,000. Rust established the scholarship in honor of his former English students at Floresville High School, where he began his teaching career, and also his former Spanish and English students at Lyndon B.

FFA graduating seniors were the recipients of generous scholarships. Cassidy Wagner received the Richard Wallrath Educational Foundation Scholarship in the amount of $10,000 and Emily Biggs received the San Antonio Livestock Show Tour Guide scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Blanco FFA also had students receive the Texas FFA Lonestar Degree, which is the highest degree you can receive at the state level competition.

Texas Parks and Wildlife along with Hill Country Alliance, the Nature Conservancy and other organizations are holding meetings in the Hill Country to raise awareness of an invasive grass species known as Arundo along rivers and creeks. Arundo is wreaking havoc on Hill Country creeks and rivers, according to presenters at the meeting.

The Kendalia Community Club hosted its annual homecoming Sunday, June 24, 2018. The event took place at the Kendalia Library, 2610 Ranch Road W 473. A barbeque dinner of chicken, sausage, side dishes and desserts were served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There was a silent auction and raffle, and the Kendalia Neighbors Study Club had a table with items for sale.

Hill Country Astronomers (HCA) will meet at 6:30 p.m., Monday, July 2, in the HEB Activity Room at Hill Country University Center in Fredericksburg. The program will feature two video lectures from Professor Edward M. Murphy’s “Our Night Sky” course. Following the videos, club vice president, Bruce Barton, will lead a discussion. In “Observing the Planets with a Telescope,” Dr.

Instead of running to the doctor for every achy pain, I sometimes wait until Mr. Blackburn says something like, “Sweetheart, I really think we need to take you to see the doctor.” Waiting a little too long to tend to something persistent is how I recently ended up in the ER, where I gratefully received three well-placed, miraculously effective injections into my neck (one into the splenius capitis, and two into a couple of different locations in the upper trapezius). If I hadn’t waite ...

The Blanco-Pedernales Groundwater District board meeting was called to order Thursday, June 21, 2018 by chair Jimmy Klepac. After the board read their minutes of May 17, 2018, the minutes were approved with one change. General Manager Ron Fiesler gave the financial repot that the only thing of note was the credit card bill that was a little larger than normal.

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British and, as traitors, were tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

We are all familiar with shrubs and even trees that have thorns, like mesquite, acacias, huisache, bois d’arc, gum bumelia, toothache tree, fragrant mimosa, retama and Blanco crabapple, and even vines like greenbrier and dewberry. One might think that the thorns or spines deter browsing by deer, but in fact some of the above thorny trees and shrubs are deer favorites.

Zach Collins (pictured at left) and Will Adams (pictured at right) of Blanco High School graduated from American Legion Boys State, known simply as Texas Boys State. This year, 1,100 future leaders were selected for the prestigious Boys State program and spent a week at the University of Texas learning about government. Begun in 1935, Boys State is a unique program that educates future leaders about government, civics, and patriotism in a “learn by doing” environment.

Eleven Boy Scouts from Troop 496 of Blanco, Texas attended summer camp at Lost Pines Scout Reservation located in Bastrop, Texas from June 10 through 16. “It was a lot of fun,” Tucker said. He was the top-ranking scout attending with the troop and also served as Senior Patrol Leader during camp. “Senior Patrol Leader at a summer camp is a job that comes with great responsibility,” explained Luis Ramirez, Scoutmaster.

The Blanco Middle School cheerleaders attended cheer camp at the BMS gym Monday, June 18 through Friday, June 22. Back row, from left, Sydney Shiller, Cierra Perez, Cassidy Daves, RoAnna Acosta Mackenzie Topper and Grayci Jung. Middle row, Gracelyn Monasmith, Chloe Luna, Meadow Schlinke, Evelyn Trammell, Baylee Byler, Skyler Soldwisch and Jessica Schwind, cheer sponsor.

The Blanco High School cheerleaders attended a Universal Cheerleading Association, UCA, camp in Corpus Christi Tuesday, June 19 through Friday, June 22. The camp theme was “Space Jam.” The BHS squad received two Superior trophies, five Superior ribbons, three Spirit Sticks, and the coveted Top Banana of the Week award for displaying an overwhelming amount of spirit all week. Mascot, Danae Kimmel, was honored with a mascot Traditions award, a mascot All-American award, and a mascot P ...

Zach Collins (pictured at left) and Will Adams (pictured at right) of Blanco High School graduated from American Legion Boys State, known simply as Texas Boys State. This year, 1,100 future leaders were selected for the prestigious Boys State program and spent a week at the University of Texas learning about government. Begun in 1935, Boys State is a unique program that educates future leaders about government, civics, and patriotism in a “learn by doing” environment.

Blanco High School band members, parents and supporters welcomed new band director Jonathan VanOmmeren Tuesday, June 26, 2018. According to BHS Principal Keitha St. Clair, the search for a replacement for departing director Brian Hecimovich began with a summary of desired skills and characteristics. The search committee included St. Clair, Hecimovich and assistant band director Danette Conard. VanOmmeren was one of five finalists interviewed, and unanimously selected by the committee.

The family of Delman Barker would like to take this opportunity to thank family and friends from far and near for their expression of sympathy for the calls, cards, visits, food, flowers and memorials. To the pallbearers; Paul Goodrich, Lyn Maly, George Pearce, Charles Waxler, Norman Weaner, and Johnny Wood.

FFA graduating seniors were the recipients of generous scholarships. Cassidy Wagner received the Richard Wallrath Educational Foundation Scholarship in the amount of $10,000 and Emily Biggs received the San Antonio Livestock Show Tour Guide scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Blanco FFA also had students receive the Texas FFA Lonestar Degree, which is the highest degree you can receive at the state level competition.

The Kendalia Community Club hosted its annual homecoming Sunday, June 24, 2018. The event took place at the Kendalia Library, 2610 Ranch Road W 473. A barbeque dinner of chicken, sausage, side dishes and desserts were served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There was a silent auction and raffle, and the Kendalia Neighbors Study Club had a table with items for sale.

Hill Country Astronomers (HCA) will meet at 6:30 p.m., Monday, July 2, in the HEB Activity Room at Hill Country University Center in Fredericksburg. The program will feature two video lectures from Professor Edward M. Murphy’s “Our Night Sky” course. Following the videos, club vice president, Bruce Barton, will lead a discussion. In “Observing the Planets with a Telescope,” Dr.

Voters in Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s districts 1, 6, and 7 elected directors in this year’s annual election. The results were announced at the conclusion of the cooperative’s June 23, 2018 Annual Meeting. District 1 elected Milton Rister to serve as its board director. Rister (above left) replaces former director Cristi Clement, who served District 1 for nine years.

Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center Education and Outreach Coordinator, Kaylee Gaines (above left) met with U.S. Rep. Roger Williams (TX-25) in Washington D.C. while attending the National Children’s Alliance Leadership Conference June 12, 2018. Gaines, along with Meagan Webb (above right), director of team relations for the Center of Child Protection in Austin, discussed the current need for the continued funding of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas and the continued suppo ...

Hill Country Memorial announces the third quarter schedule for its Cardiac Support Group. The group is open to anyone interested in heart health, including those affected by heart issues like congestive heart failure, heart disease or heart attack. The Cardiac Support Group will meet on Thurs., July 5 from noon to 1 p.m.

Dolores Sue Dittrich Cox was born May 7, 1934. She departed this life peacefully, surrounded by family, on June 21, 2018 at the age of 84. Dolores was the oldest of four children born to Tillman Dittrich and Lyndoll Galbreath Dittrich. Dolores graduated from Las Vegas High School and then went to work at department stores in San Antonio, Texas. Dolores married Howard Cox on May 11, 1955.

Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers…” He (Jesus) “gave” (bestowed, supplied, appointed, committed, set). Jesus is the One who appoints men and gifts them for this office. They are not to call themselves to it. “Some” - Jesus appoints selected individuals to these offices.

Have you made ‘time’ into an idol? Last week I discussed how King Saul disobeyed God by failing to wait for Samuel to arrive to offer up a burnt offering before the battle. Saul said that he had to force himself to make the offering in Samuel’s place because Samuel was late.