October 21, 2020 Issue

Fourteen members of Boy Scout and Cub Scout Troops 497 of Blanco help dedicate the new flagpole at American Legion Post 352 on Monday, Oct. 19. The flagpole, donated last year as surplus to the American Legion by Blanco’s Gem of the Hills Community Center, now proudly flies Old Glory as well as the POW/MIA flag, commemorating American Prisoners of War and service personnel who are Missing in Action.

Some families have withdrawn their children from the Blanco Independent School District after school officials decided last week to end its remote learning instruction, giving parents four days to decide whether to send their children back to campus or to pursue other remote learning options. “I was so shocked because of the amount of time they gave us,” said Jessica Elbel, whose two children attended Blanco Elementary School but now have withdrawn after the district’s decision.

Members of the Blanco Masonic Lodge are normally planning for the Ernie R. Davis Jr. Care and Share Luncheon by the middle of October. This year, however, is a different case. Held the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the Care and Share Luncheon has become a Blanco tradition. This year, due to the constraints of the COVID-19 virus, the Blanco Masonic Lodge is has regretfully announced that the meal will be canceled this year. Coronavirus or not, the Masons wanted to offer some assistance to ...

Blanco County will be holding its county-wide household waste collection event on Saturday, Oct. 31. Bring your recyclables to the county drop off location, the Blanco County/Waste Connections Transfer Station, at 377 Transfer Road in Johnson City. The station will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Household items accepted include lead-acid batteries, rechargeable batteries, construction debris, carpet, appliances (including refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, dishwashers, freezers, ns water hea ...

The Blanco City Council meeting was called to order at 6:07 p.m. Oct. 13 by Mayor Pro Tem Martin Sauceda. All council members, Keith McClellan, Mike Smith, Matt Lewis and Deda Divine, were present and a ten-person limit was enforced. The meeting was available to view and participate via GoToMeeting and to view on the city’s Facebook page.

Halloween is right around the corner and there are many ways to go green during this holiday. Durable decorations that can be reused year after year along with recyclable decorations are great options. Fallen leaves, pumpkins, gourds, corn husks and straw bales also make beautiful decorations and are au natural. Purchase pumpkins and gourds from local farms. There are also many eco-friendly costume ideas; one can use items around the house or second-hand costumes.

As part of the Hill Country Night Sky Month of October, Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky (BCFNS) volunteers staff a tent chock full of information about night sky preservation and light pollution abatement at the Oct. 17 Blanco Market Day. Volunteers, pictured from left, are: David Loose, Elizabeth Miller, and Vicki Guidry, the organization’s vice president.

Lone Star Capital Bank is proud to have been selected as a Top Workplace for 2020. The winners were announced by the San Antonio Express News virtual event on Oct. 8, as well as featured in the Top Workplaces Publication. This honor is bestowed to companies whose employees have participated in an anonymous survey and have rated their employers positively for various categories such as, work environment, communication, and management. When asked what being named a Top Workplace means to Lo ...

Blanco rolled to a win over Luling in its District 13-3A opener Friday with a 55-0 home victory. The Panthers (6-1, 1-0 district) dominated the game offensively with 421 yards of offense and 23 first downs. Nine Blanco players carried the ball in the big win. The BHS defense was stifling by sacking the Luling quarterback and creating turnovers, and the visiting Eagles only threatened to score once late in the game. Luling opened with the ball and Blanco quickly forced the visiting team to ...

Blanco’s only district loss before Friday was a five-set thriller to Ingram, the state’s top-ranked Class 3A team, back on Sept. 29. The much-anticipated rematch of the two teams was another marathon as the Lady Warriors edged past the Lady Panthers, again in five sets, by scores of 25-20, 20-25, 25-17, 18-25 and 17-15.

Jimmy Dale Carter, 82, passed away Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020 at his home in Blanco. Jimmy was born March 5, 1938 in Wichita Falls, to Henry and Estell (Knowles) Carter. Jimmy retired from the U.S. Navy after 20 years of proud service to his country. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Doris Lee (Waggaman) Carter.

The Honorable Reverend Hilmar J. Flugrath ascended to Heaven Oct. 16, 2020. Rev. Flugrath was born June 19, 1932, in New Braunfels, at the home behind Handy Corner. When he was nine, he moved with his family to the dairy farm owned by his father in Blanco. When he married, he took over Handy Corner Lumber Company on Landa and Walnut Streets for 30 years and eventually moved his lumber company to Sattler, Texas. He built one church in Blanco and two in New Braunfels, as well as numerous chur ...