November 11, 2020 Issue

There’s a good reason the military is also called “the service,” and one local veteran has taken the idea to heart by continuing to be active in the Blanco community. Hal Switzer served in the U.S. Army from 1969-1972, including in Vietnam. “I came home in one piece and I was very happy about that,” he said. Switzer would join the Army again, if he could. “I was never a hero, but I served amongst them and it was a privilege,” he said.

Blanco Elementary School was closed Tuesday and is closed Wednesday of this week for a “deep cleaning,” the school district announced Monday afternoon. An announcement will be made Wednesday on whether the school will continue remote learning or return to campus learning. “Through contract tracing, we do not believe any students on campus have been exposed (to COVID-19), but we want to take every precaution,” the announcement stated. BES students were out of school Tuesday with ...

Judge Brett Bray called the regular Blanco County Commissioners Court meeting to order at 9 a.m. Tuesday with all four commissioners present. The meeting was simulcasted live on the Blanco County Youtube channel, but citizens had to be present at the courthouse to provide public comments. Commissioner Tommy Weir moved to approve the minutes from the prior meeting and Commissioner Emil Uecker seconded.

One way to honor Blanco County veterans is by honoring those who have passed away. Wreaths Across America aims to do that once again in Blanco County. On Dec. 19 at noon, volunteers will place wreaths on veterans graves in five cemeteries in the county – Blanco Historic Cemetery, Twin Sisters Cemetery, St.

I’ve always been a shovel kind of guy as opposed to a mustard seed guy. Yes, mountains can be moved, but somebody has to get off his duff, grab a shovel and start digging. Why is it, you might ask, that I believe in the authenticity of livestock faith healers? I have no first-hand knowledge of the practice.

Incumbents carried the day in local and regional elections involving Blanco County. In the race for Blanco County Commissioner in Precinct 1, incumbent Tommy Weir won with 77.66 percent of the vote. He defeated challenger Matt Lewis 1,387 votes to 399 votes. Weir received 1,063 votes during early voting, 237 on election day and 87 through absentee ballots.

The Blanco volleyball team lost its area playoff game 3-1 to defending state champion Industrial on Nov. 3. Industrial was the winner of District 28-3A and the number one seed from that district. Blanco was the runner-up in District 25-3A and the second seed from District 25. Both teams advanced to area with bi-district wins. Industrial took the first set 25-17.

Evelyn Trammell, Blanco sophomore, competed at the Region IV UIL Cross Country Championship Meet Monday, Nov. 9. Trammell placed 48th of 130 runners with a time of 14:23.24. The meet was held at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

The Blanco football team rallied late but ultimately dropped a 42-28 game last Friday at Lago Vista. Lago Vista jumped out to a 21-0 lead with a touchdown in the first quarter and two in the second quarter. Blanco scored 21 of its 28 points in the fourth quarter. Blanco set up a scoring drive at its own 32 yard line after a seven yard kickoff return by Connor Cofield.

The Blanco junior varsity football team lost its final game of the season, 21-0 to Lago Vista last Thursday. The Vikings started on offense at their own 25. Four plays later, Lago Vista ran for a touchdown and added the extra point to lead 7-0 early in the first quarter. Fernando Palacios returned the kickoff to the Blanco 20, but then made a long gain on the next play to the Viking 25.

Ronald James “Pete” Liesmann was born on April 27, 1955 in Blanco, in the old courthouse when it was a hospital, to Jerome Liesmann and Vera Waugh Liesmann. He married Debbie Schmidt on Sept. 21, 1974 and they made Johnson City their home. At the age of 65, Pete died peacefully in his home surrounded by friends and family on Friday, Oct.