June 29, 2017 Issue

Blanco, Dripping Springs, Marble Falls, Llano, Mason and now, Johnson City has joined the list of Hill Country cities that have adopted a lighting ordinance with the intention to reduce light pollution and preserve the view of the stars. Earlier this month, The City Council passed the ordinance which would limit the type and direction of lighting residents and business owners can utilize in town.

The Commissioners met for their regular court session on Tuesday, June 27 at the Blanco County Courthouse in Johnson City. Paving of the Courthouse parking and the County-Wide Cleanup took center stage at the short Commissioner’s meeting. Courthouse Parking Last week the Commissioners held a special meeting to move forward with repaving the parking areas around the courthouse.

Another month has come and gone, now we’re in the thick of the summer season, and visitors to Johnson City are coming in record numbers! Thanks to the City of Johnson City, they are now being greeted by welcoming signs on 290 and on Nugent that read “Wine, Dine, Shop”…..and we love them. Thanks also to the City and to the County for the newly-paved roads and parking spaces.

Johnson City Police are seeking information on two suspects caught on camera attaching and removing skimming devices to an ATM at Johnson City Bank. Skimmers are commonly used to steal credit and debit card information from card readers such as ATM’s and gas pumps. Shortly after 6 a.m. on June 24, a male subject, now identified by Johnson City Police as a 17 year old already wanted for similar charges in other states, attached a skimming device to the ATM located at the Johnson City Bank driv ...

Kelsey Heavner, 21, of Johnson City graduated from the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 159th Highway Patrol Training Academy on June 16. She will soon make her move to Odessa where she has been stationed. Her first day on duty will be July 9. “The challenge I look most forward to is [living] out the Texas Highway Patrol mission which is to protect and serve Texas with Respect,” said Heavner. Alongside her, 121 troopers were commissioned on June 16, including: 15 women, 12 former peace ...

“CAN I DANCE NAKED ON A BARSTOOL since I don’t have to follow any rules to be a Christian?” Last week I wrote that religion is no fun. By “religion,” I mean the man-made, “Can’t do that/thou shalt not”-rule-keeping-to-please-God type of stuff. Ya know, the kind of “faith” no one likes, wants or lives. Remember that Jesus reserved his strongest condemnation for religious leaders who enforced rule-keeping as a way to have a relationship with God.

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British and, as traitors, were tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site and the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm invites everyone to join us as we celebrate Independence Day this 4th of July, the old fashioned way. At the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm we will celebrate 4th of July as families would have a century ago with a day of fun and games.

Hill Country Astronomers (HCA) will meet at 6:30 PM, Monday, July 3, at Hill Country University Center in Fredericksburg. We will view Dr. Alex Filippenko’s video lecture entitled “The Intrinsic Brightnesses of Stars.” Instead of just observing the apparent brightness of a star, Dr. Filippenko discusses how astronomers can extract information on a star’s true brightness – how bright it is independent of distance and the obscuring effects of interstellar dust and gas.

Hill Country Memorial announces the summer schedule for its Cardiac Support Group for anyone interested in heart health, including those affected by heart issues like congestive heart failure, heart disease or heart attack. The Cardiac Support Group will meet on Thurs., July 6 from noon to 1 p.m. in the HCM Learning Center.

Government gridlock and political polarization did not begin in the 21st Century. In the 1880s, and for years after, Blanco County was aflame in partisan politics and divided government. Angry citizens were split right down the middle over the location of the courthouse. On February 12, 1858 the legislature in Austin formed a new Texas county from parts of Comal, Hays, Burnet and Gillespie Counties.