April 27, 2017 Issue

The South County Annex project is moving forward with Commissioner Weir negotiating a contract with an architecture firm. Other topics at the April 25 Commissioners’ Court was consideration of a Community Resource Center and discussion on a forming Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ). South County Annex The county reviewed the one response to their Request for Qualifications to design and build the proposed South County Annex and approved Commissioner Weir to negotiate a contract with the ...

A woman was pronounced dead after being found unresponsive in the Valero Restroom. According to Johnson City Police, on Friday April 21 Johnson City Police Sgt. Chad Wiggins responded to a 911 call from the Valero gas station off of HWY 281 in Johnson City. The Valero store clerk called 911 stating that there was an unresponsive Woman in the bathroom on the floor.

Early Voting Started at City Hall on Monday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. through May 2 with extended hours April 25 and 27, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Cast your vote for Mayor, three City Council seats and two School Board Seats. Mayor Candidates for a Two Year Term are Dawn Capra, Tim Vasquez.

April 25, 2017 Your Johnson City Chamber of Commerce is hard at work, with the ultimate goal of bringing more customers to local businesses in 2017. This is the first of a monthly column that we will use to keep you apprised of our progress throughout the year. We have a few new board members and, along with other directors who have been serving for a while now, we have a great board that encompasses many different areas of expertise: Lon Yaeger, President, Yaeger Hospitality Consulting Patty E ...

Three volunteers from Johnson City helped take medical care to three tiny villages in the mountain desert of northern Mexico last week. The three are members of the First United Methodist Church, who joined the mission trip with Misión de Candelilla of Fredericksburg. They crossed the border from Presidio to Ojinaga, west of Big Bend, then bounced over increasingly rough roads to the villages — the big one has a population just over 100 — after 14 hours on the road, to set up clinics and p ...

The Blanco County Appraisal District is informing residents that they will see an increase in appraisal rates this year. Chief Appraiser Candice Fry said individuals soon should receive an appraisal notice from the Blanco County Appraisal District, and that all residential structures will see an increase of at least 5 percent this year due to the rising market value of the properties. Information states that there will also be additional adjustments to certain areas and property types. The appr ...

I’LL ADMIT, I CANNOT FIND THAT JESUS LAUGHED anywhere in the Bible. It’s an assumption. I figure that since he wept, he must have laughed. And, don’t forget the minor fact that Jesus was not only 100% God but also 100% man, therefore, he also experienced the same emotions as we do.

The Hill Country Astronomers (HCA) will meet at 6:30 PM, Monday, May 1, in the HEB meeting room at the Hill Country University Center in Fredericksburg. Amy Jackson, founder and director of Starry Sky Austin, will discuss what draws people into wanting to learn astronomy, and more importantly, what we can do to engage their learning.

Pedernales Electric Cooperative announced it is closing its Blanco and Manchaca offices, effective June 1. The decision is part of the cooperative’s long-term facilities plan and was approved by board resolution. The cooperative issued a press release and stated, “Planning such as this will help PEC reduce controllable costs.” It also stated that employees at the Blanco and Manchaca offices will be transferred to other PEC offices. “PEC has helped brighten these communities for nearly 8 ...

Back in the 1980’s Socorro High School in El Paso had one of the top Navy Jr. ROTC programs in the country. As principal, it was my privilege to observe and to evaluate the teaching skills of the program director. Chief Martinez was a veteran Navy submariner. He was a no-nonsense kind of leader who expected a lot from his charges and was seldom disappointed. During one classroom observation I heard him give the students an overview of how he had arrived at that point in his life.

Students from the Johnson City FFA recently participated in several welding contests sponsored by Austin Community College at their Round Rock campus. Caleb Dowdy and Landon Bible competed in welding skills completing a 5f welding test which uses gas metal arc welding and shielded metal arc welding. Both represented Johnson City well, Caleb only being 15 points away from winning the top welder award. Colt Kneese and Tuckier Lechow entered a bench building contest where the only rules were it ha ...

The Lady Eagles soared into the final playoff spot in District 25AAA by defeating the Lady Warriors from Ingram Tom Moore 19-0 Friday night in Ingram. The Lady Warriors looked like they would give the lady Eagles a game after one inning, neither team scored. In the top half of the second inning the Lady Eagles sent 13 batters to the plate collecting five hits and four walks.

The Johnson City Lady Eagles competed at the District 25AAA Meet last week and finished 5th out of 7 teams and advanced Kalli Dalland in the Shot and Discus and Ashtyn Portie in Pole Vault to the Area Meet in San Antonio. The Lady Eagles placed 5th in the 4X100 Relay, members of the relay include Mariana Alvarado, Reagan Weirich, Kalli Dalland and Paige Rutherford.

Students from the Johnson City FFA recently participated in several welding contests sponsored by Austin Community College at their Round Rock campus. Caleb Dowdy and Landon Bible competed in welding skills completing a 5f welding test which uses gas metal arc welding and shielded metal arc welding. Both represented Johnson City well, Caleb only being 15 points away from winning the top welder award. Colt Kneese and Tuckier Lechow entered a bench building contest where the only rules were it ha ...

Early Voting Started at City Hall on Monday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. through May 2 with extended hours April 25 and 27, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Cast your vote for Mayor, three City Council seats and two School Board Seats. Mayor Candidates for a Two Year Term are Dawn Capra, Tim Vasquez.

I’LL ADMIT, I CANNOT FIND THAT JESUS LAUGHED anywhere in the Bible. It’s an assumption. I figure that since he wept, he must have laughed. And, don’t forget the minor fact that Jesus was not only 100% God but also 100% man, therefore, he also experienced the same emotions as we do.

Back in the 1980’s Socorro High School in El Paso had one of the top Navy Jr. ROTC programs in the country. As principal, it was my privilege to observe and to evaluate the teaching skills of the program director. Chief Martinez was a veteran Navy submariner. He was a no-nonsense kind of leader who expected a lot from his charges and was seldom disappointed. During one classroom observation I heard him give the students an overview of how he had arrived at that point in his life.

Thirteen youth and two adults from the First United Methodist Church helped put in an outside games area, cleaned flower beds, helped put stuff way in the attic and built a picnic table for the JC Library, this past Sunday afternoon. Maggie Goodman, library director, said, “It was amazing how much they got done in so little time, and how beautiful it all looks”!

Three volunteers from Johnson City helped take medical care to three tiny villages in the mountain desert of northern Mexico last week. The three are members of the First United Methodist Church, who joined the mission trip with Misión de Candelilla of Fredericksburg. They crossed the border from Presidio to Ojinaga, west of Big Bend, then bounced over increasingly rough roads to the villages — the big one has a population just over 100 — after 14 hours on the road, to set up clinics and p ...

The Blanco County Appraisal District is informing residents that they will see an increase in appraisal rates this year. Chief Appraiser Candice Fry said individuals soon should receive an appraisal notice from the Blanco County Appraisal District, and that all residential structures will see an increase of at least 5 percent this year due to the rising market value of the properties. Information states that there will also be additional adjustments to certain areas and property types. The appr ...

The Hill Country Astronomers (HCA) will meet at 6:30 PM, Monday, May 1, in the HEB meeting room at the Hill Country University Center in Fredericksburg. Amy Jackson, founder and director of Starry Sky Austin, will discuss what draws people into wanting to learn astronomy, and more importantly, what we can do to engage their learning.

Pedernales Electric Cooperative announced it is closing its Blanco and Manchaca offices, effective June 1. The decision is part of the cooperative’s long-term facilities plan and was approved by board resolution. The cooperative issued a press release and stated, “Planning such as this will help PEC reduce controllable costs.” It also stated that employees at the Blanco and Manchaca offices will be transferred to other PEC offices. “PEC has helped brighten these communities for nearly 8 ...