January 22, 2020 Issue

Members of the Blanco ISD board of trustees were honored during the January board meeting for School Board Recognition Month. The Blanco High School AAVTC collected pictures from each board member’s past and interviewed some of their friends. They made a video with all the information they gathered and presented at the meeting.

A group from a neighboring county has joined a lawsuit in an effort to stop the Permian Highway Pipeline from going through the Hill Country. Citing environmental concerns, the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District announced last week that it would join a lawsuit against Kinder Morgan, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S.

The Blanco Library, already a quiet place, will become even more tranquil next month as folks gather to learn meditation and mindfulness. A series of six classes on meditation will be held each Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. beginning on Feb. 12. Marcy Westcott, a certified meditation and mindfulness instructor, will be teaching meditation using the SEED method.

The Blanco County Commissioners approved an agreement to preserve and store old records at their January meeting. The commissioners and Kofile Technologies, Inc. agreed to let the company preserve meeting minutes from 1880 to 1959. Cathy Drolet, with Kofile Technologies, told the commissioners that commissioners court meeting minutes are considered a permanent retention and records to 1950 can never be eliminated.

Volunteers and members of the Blanco Coalition Awareness, Prevention, and Treatment of Substance Abuse (CoAPT) put out over 5,000 stickers during its fall sticker shock campaign. The campaign was held to raise awareness for underage drinking. The stickers were placed on containers of alcohol at stores in Blanco, where businesses allowed the group to place them.

Two Democratic candidates for U.S. Congress are facing off in the upcoming primary election. A candidate forum is being held on Tuesday, Jan. 28, from 6-8:30 pm, at the Science Mill in Johnson City. Wendy Davis is a former Texas Senator. Jennie Lou Leeder is an educator and coach. Both live in Austin. Blanco County is part of Texas Congressional District 21, which also includes parts of Travis, Hays, and Bexar counties, as well as all of Gillespie, Kerr, Comal, Kendall, Bandera, and Real ...

Mayor Martha Herden called the Blanco city council meeting to order at 6 p.m. on Jan. 14 in the Byars Building. All council members, Martin Sauceda, Tony Vela, Matt Lewis, Keith McClellan, and Martha Gosnell, were present. No announcements or public comments were made so the public hearing for the tree ordinance was opened.

The Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disability Centers is gathering assessment information and would appreciate feedback from citizens. The center focuses on supporting and assisting people create “the life they want to live.” Support is provided for behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disability, substance abuse, crisis care, and justice involved services.

The Panther powerlifting team competed in their first meets of the season at Texas Strength Systems in San Antonio Thursday, Jan. 16 and Friday, Jan. 17. Participants perform three lifts including squat, bench press and deadlift, with their best lift in each category added together for a total score. On Thursday, Christian Flores won first place in his weight class with a total of 1,275 pounds on all three lifts.

The Lady Panther basketball team defeated the Manor New Tech Lady Titans 71-25 Tuesday, Jan. 14. The Panthers led 38-9 at the halftime intermission. Blanco improves to 18-6 on the season and 5-1 in District 25-3A. Presley Young led the team with 34 points, eight rebounds, six assists and 14 steals.

The Panther basketball team outscored the Manor New Tech Titans 70-43 Tuesday, Jan. 14. The Panthers are 19-7 overall and 6-1 in District 25-3A standings. Tristan Schlinke was the leading scorer with 21 points. Gavin Young and Caleb Meyer each scored 11. Mitchell Hebert sank nine points. Zack Wisdom added eight and Andrew Sanchez scored seven points. The junior varsity Panthers beat the Titans 54-46.

Thursday, Jan. 9 8th A Team Blanco 57, Florence 15 Brayden LaRue – 15 Carson Smith – 14 Hayes Johnson – 6 Carlos Chavez – 6 Cameron Anderson – 6 Jess Whitehead – 4 Trevin Young – 4 Estevan Lopez – 2 8th B Team Blanco 20, Florence 3 Rowdy Topper – 9 Miguel Avila – 7 Cesar Manriquez – 2 Christian Santos – 2 7th A Team Blanco 41, Florence 4 Isaiah Mancha – 24 Colby Murphree – 9 Jacob Johnson – 4 Carson Riba – 4 7th B T ...

Coni Crawford Ross was born May 26, 1951 to David and Hazel Crawford, and was raised in Bulverde, Texas. She joined our Father in Heaven Jan. 19, 2020. Coni is survived by her husband, Dr. Charlie Price Ross III; daughter, Rebecca Hale and husband, Ryan; daughter, Amanda Hansen and husband, Randall; daughter, Rose Casagrande and husband Tomasi; grandchildren, Rylee Belle and Charlie Ryan “C.R.” Hale, and baby boy Hale (due any day), Alexandria Anais and John Price Casagrande; mother, Ha ...

Phyllis Shayman Wharram-Gallent died peacefully in the early morning, Saturday, Jan. 11. She moved to Blanco in 2003 to be near her daughter and son-in-law, Joanne and Phil Evett. Prior to that she had long lived in California. She was twice widowed. Known for musical ability, Phyllis had a beautiful soprano voice and expertise as a piano accompanist.

Julianne Ellen Russell was born on July 6, 1943 and passed on Jan. 4, 2020. She was born in Dover, Pennsylvania, to the late Julius C. and Mary E. Gross. Julianne is preceded in death by her brother, Michael Gross. Julianne leaves behind her loving partner, James R. Perkins, and from her marriage to Dale M.