March 17, 2021 Issue

Blanco County had the lowest unemployment rate in the Rural Capital Area of Central Texas for January 2021, the Texas Workforce Commission reported last week. The RCA overall had an uptick in unemployment, from 4.8 percent in December 2020 to 5.3 percent in January 2021. The unemployment rate represented just over 30,000 residents seeking employment, TWC announced. Blanco County’s unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in January 2021, up from 3.4 percent in December 2020, to lead the region ...

Blanco businesses have been allowed to open at full capacity since Governor Greg Abbott’s executive order went into effect last week, but many business owners are adopting a wait-and-see approach. “The business owners I’ve talked to are cautious, and will not be making major changes just yet,” said Libbey Aly, executive director of the Blanco Chamber of Commerce.

The Blanco City Council meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m. on March 9 with all council members, Mayor Pro Tem Martin Sauceda, Keith McClellan, Mike Smith, Matt Lewis, and Deda Divine, present. The meeting was held at the Gem of the Hills Center located at 2233 US-281; the change of location allowed for more citizens to attend the meeting in person and improved the sound quality of the meeting for those viewing via GoToMeeting or the city’s Facebook page. Mayor Pro Tem Sauceda than ...

Chief Scott Rubin and his department are hard at work updating procedures and policies to earn the Texas Police Chiefs Association’s (TPCA) Best Practices Recognition Program. The recognition is for meeting or exceeding all of the program’s identified best practices for Texas law enforcement. “These Best Practices were carefully developed by Texas Law Enforcement professionals to assist agencies in the efficient and effective delivery of service, the reduction of risk and the protec ...

The Blanco High School and the Blanco Middle School band participated in UIL concert and sight reading contests Friday, March 12, at the Blanco Middle School band hall. The high school band performed Kinderlou by Carter, As Twilight Falls by Sheldon and Blue Ridge Reel by Balmages. The band received straight ones in concert and sight reading and was awarded sweepstakes.

Kiley Elrod won the Region 2 Division 3 powerlifting championship in her class at the regional meet at Dublin Saturday, March 6 with a total lift of 915 pounds. Elrod squatted 400 pounds, bench pressed 215 pounds and deadlifted 300 pounds. The silver medalist lifted 820 pounds. Elrod advances to the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting State Championship Meet at Corpus Christi Friday, March 19.

The Blanco boys basketball team concluded its season deep in the playoffs after winning the District 25-3A championship for the fourth consecutive year. The Panthers posted a 22-2 season record and a 9-0 district mark. Blanco matched its 2020 run into the playoffs, making it to the regional quarterfinal round this year.

The Blanco baseball team tallied a 4-1 record last week to improve its season record to 12-3. Blanco is currently ranked sixth in the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association poll. Blanco traveled to San Antonio March 9 for a rematch with the FEAST, Family Educators Alliance of South Texas, a homeschool organization.

The Blanco softball team split with a 1-1 mark last week. The Lady Panthers (6-8) fell 6-3 on Tuesday to Antonian, then blanked Marion 15-0 on Friday. In the game against Antonian the score was tied 1-1 at the end of the first inning. By the fifth, inning Antonian had a 5-1 lead.

Joyce Lee Knoll, 81, passed away peacefully the morning of March 9, 2021 in her home in Blanco. She was born to Marion and Sybil Lee on Jan. 30, 1940 and later attended high school at Austin High in Austin. She led what seemed to be a fast-paced life and wore many hats which included bank teller, insurance secretary, cashier, Navy wife, truck driver, Ome, and her most important role, Mother.