April 2, 2015 Issue

Blanco County can feel pretty good about its current economic standing thanks to March sales and tax revenues reported by Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. Last month, the county's tax collections were up 6.10 percent. The county earned $29,495.53 compared to $27,797.84 the prior year during the same collection period in 2014. The numbers are reflective of those at the state level, which garnered $2.46 billion, up 11.7 percent from March of 2014. "This marks the 59th consecutive month of year-over ...

Fun and fellowship were a big part of the Texas Men's State Chili Cook-Off sanctioned by the Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) in Johnson City this past week, but who boasted the winning recipe was the primary aim as the event returned to the Blanco County Fairgrounds. The big winner was Larry Walton, who earned the 2011 crown at the famed Terlingua International Chili Championship, said he's still using the same recipe that has catapulted him to the top of the CASI competitions. ...

Dave and Pat Ripsom added the 4th Great-grandson to Our Granddaughter Amy and husband Kevin Giroux in Rochester, MI. They now have a total of l2 Great-grandsons. Yes, it is true. They are all beautiful and healthy. God has been good to us. He was born on the 26th of March, just missing their Pap's birthday on the 28th of March and Granddaughter Valaurie, sister to Amy had her 3rd child on his birthday, would that not have been a story to tell them later in life. Cynthia Smith reports that a few ...

Congratulations to the Current Issues team consisting of Grey Grote, Hector Alvarez, Susie Birck (coach), Charles Hedlund, and Thomas Tobolka (not pictured) for winning the District UIL contest and advancing to Regionals. Photo by Nina Goodwin.

Freddie Clyde Armke, of Hye, Texas passed from life, through death, to eternal life on Thursday, March 26, 2015 in Fredericksburg, Texas at the age of 89. He was preceded in death by his parents, Erich and Ottilie Heidrich Armke; his loving wife of 62 years, Joyce Dean Armke; a son, Tim Daniels; a brother, Leroy Armke; and two sisters, Lola Ammann and Rowena Voges. Freddie is survived by his six children: daughter, Brenda Lindig and husband, Al ; sons, Troy Armke and wife Kathy, Tibby Armke and ...