September 23, 2020 Issue

For one local man, American history is neither dusty nor forgotten. It’s very much alive. Blair Rudy, of Blanco is on a mission to help folks, especially youngsters, understand its importance. Rudy is the color guard commander for Texas in the Sons of the American Revolution. He’s been a member of the organization known as the Texas Society for the past 15 years. He also has logged some interesting experiences as a Civil War reenactor, even climbing the same hill that one of his anc ...

Dr. Craig Manifold, who was appointed the local health authority for Blanco County last March once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, died unexpectedly. Manifold served as an assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Health Sciences at the School of Health Professions at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

The annual homecoming parade and pep rally for Blanco High School has been canceled this year due to COVID-19 concerns. BHS Principal Patrick Hinson announced the decision Monday. “Due to COVID regulations, we have decided to cancel the Homecoming Parade and Pep Rally which would normally take place on the Wednesday of Homecoming Week,” he wrote in an email to parents, which was also posted on the BISD Facebook page.

Judge Brett Bray called the Blanco Commissioners Court to order at 9 a.m. Tuesday with Commissioners Tommy Weir, Chris Liesmann, and Paul Granberg present. After the pledge of allegiance was recited, a moment of silence followed in remembrance of Dr. Craig Manifold, who recently passed away unexpectedly. Dr. Manifold was appointed as Blanco County’s local health in late March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and he also served on the Emergency Management board. Next, Kenneth Welch took the ...

Even a pandemic didn’t tamp down the enthusiasm felt by the women who generously joined forces to raise money for a deserving Blanco County non-profit. Early last year, Blanco Non-Profit Coalition and its group of energetic women who presented Wild Woman Weekend decided to take a break from the work but not the fundraising.

The Blanco Coalition on Awareness, Prevention and Treatment of Substance’s grant through the Drug Free Communities Support Program was recently reauthorized. The grant provides up to $125,000 over a five-year period. CoAPT was originally awarded the grant in 2016. The funding comes from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy’s (ONDCP) Drug-Free Communities Support Program, which U.S.

On Sept. 16, Kinder Morgan made four donations to the libraries and ministerial alliances of Blanco County, totaling $46,000. Maggie Goodman of the Johnson City public library and Crystal Spybuck of the Blanco public library each received a donation of $18,000 for projects ongoing at their respective libraries. Pastor Jimmy Boatright of the North Blanco County Ministerial Alliance and Pastor Carlos Cloyd of the South Blanco County Ministerial Alliance each received a donation of $5,000.

Daniel Oppenheimer of the Hill Country Alliance (HCA) came to Blanco Sept. 15 to give a presentation regarding riparians to the Blanco County Master Gardeners. The presentation took place at the amphitheater in Bindseil Park, which provided an opportunity to view the Town Creek Riparian Restoration project. Keep Blanco Beautiful (KBB) members also provided helpful information during the presentation regarding the history of the park and about the riparian project. Retta Martin, KBB execut ...

For 30 years, Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area has been assisting job seekers and businesses in Blanco County. Workforce Solutions is proud to be a partner with the Blanco County Community Resource Center (CRC) and to provide computers and equipment for individuals to look for work at the CRC. Workforce Solutions staff will also meet with job seekers and employers at the CRC by appointment. In addition, with COVID-19, Workforce Solutions has transitioned to offering job seekers assi ...

National nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) announced today that the Blanco Historic Cemetery has once again joined in the effort to support the mission to Remember, Honor, Teach, as an official location for 2020. This is the fourth year that the cemetery will participate in this national event. Wreaths Across America started as a simple gesture of thanks that has grown into a national movement of dedicated volunteers and communities coming together to not only remember the nation’s ...

Blanco used stifling defense and had seven players score as the Panthers took the bite out of the Bandera Bulldogs in a 61-6 win last Friday. The Panthers (3-1) took the opening kickoff and Cade Cress returned the ball to the Bandera 48-yard line. Nathan Tomlinson and Devin Newsome traded carries and moved the ball to the 25-yard line, before Cody Cross scored a touchdown on a 25-yard scamper.

Blanco wrapped up its pre-district schedule with wins over Burnet and San Antonio Home School. The Lady Panthers (11-6) had a five-set win against the Lady Dawgs Sept. 18 with set scores of 20-25, 25-14, 21-25, 25-17 and 15-11. Presley Young led the Panthers with 24 kills, two aces and 15 digs.

The Blanco girls finished sixth at the Wimberley cross country meet last Wednesday. Evelyn Trammell led the Lady Panthers with a 15th place finish in 14:17. Laci Cresswell took 28th in 15:04, Riley Edmondson finished 41st in 15:45, and Valen Edwards took 51st place in 16:49.84. Also for Blanco, Kenna Clark finished 52ndin 16:49.89, Lauren Anderson finished 53rd in 16:57, Daryn Kirkland took 54th place in 17:00, Ella West was 56th in 17:16, Kendall Kramer took 58th in 17:20 and Avery Nance ...

Blanco swept the competition in subvarsity football action last week. In the junior varsity game at Bandera last Thursday, Blanco won 14-0. Cameron Anderson scored two touchdowns and Joe Lopez scored on a two-point conversion. The Blanco Middle School 8th grade team topped Jarrell 14-0. Colby Murphree rushed for a touchdown and Wyatt Martinez scored on a touchdown reception.

Shirley Lee Felps Jones of Bluffton passed away Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020 in Temple, in the company of her loving husband. Shirley was born Nov. 29, 1943 in Blanco, to Richard Milam Felps and Rosetta Brown Felps. Shirley was a loving, stay-at-home mom for her daughters’ early years then returned to school, earning a degree and working in the aircraft industry.