April 19, 2018 Issue

Warm-season grasses are breaking dormancy but not actively growing yet in many parts of the state, so producers should hold the fertilizer, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. Dr. Vanessa Corriher-Olson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist, Overton, said despite warm days, including temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s, nighttime and soil temperatures drive warm-season grass growth.

Johnson City School Board has held several meetings during the month of April to finalize staffing changes for the ISD with another meeting scheduled for noon Thursday to consider teacher contract renewals and separation agreements. Most notably the school board accepted the retirement of High School Principal, Julie Storer. Newly hired during the month of April, Derek Daniel will begin his role as high school principal on May 29, 2018. The board also accepted the retirement of long-time ...

Continuing the streak which began in 2003, the Johnson City FFA wildlife team recently qualified for the State contest which will be held at the Texas Tech Campus in Junction on April 24, 2018. The team of Grey Grote, Brinley Portie, Brett Sultemeier, and Colby Turner placed fourth in the Area contest at the Angelo State University Campus in San Angelo on April 3.

The Lady Eagle softball team did not let the fact that they were playing on Friday 13 scare them. Instead, the Lady Eagles ended the game two innings early, defeating the visiting Comfort Deer 14-4 in five frames. Comfort scored a lone run in the first inning, hoping to gain a win.

The 2018 Eagle Tennis season ended with a flurry of extremely competitive and hard-fought victories and defeats. Congratulations to Braulio Icaza and Juan Guerrero on winning the 2018 Llano Spring Smash Boys Varsity Doubles Championship on Friday, March 2. Determination, effort, and smart play earned these two Eagle leaders first place in varsity competition soundly defeating quality opposition from Llano, Brady, and San Saba. Our Eagles produced another champion on Saturday, March 31 in ...

A storm was brewing, adding an eerie effect to the skies for a high-stakes game of baseball between Johnson City and the Comfort Bobcats on Friday, April 13. The Deer took an early lead which the Eagles were not able to overtake, eventually falling 2-4 in seven innings. Comfort wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning.

“The kids in Bristol Are sharp as a pistol, when they do the Bristol Stomp”. That opening line to the first hit record for “The Dovells” (61’) was the beginning of a string of hits and a long career for Mark Stevens and partner of over 50 years, Jerry Gross. “I couldn’t have written a better story of my life if I tried”. Of course I never dreamt I would have moved to Johnson City, Texas to be closer to family but I must say...

May 5, 2018 Fun with Chemistry Join the Science Mill for a day dedicated to women in STEM. Fun with Chemistry featuring the UT Women in Natural Sciences group will be on site with hands-on activities and shows. These hair-raising, mind-melting experiments will blow you away! All activities and shows are free with museum admission.

Rosie Lee Kunkel, 79, nee Lindig, of Johnson City and formerly of Stonewall, died Friday, April 13, 2018. Rosie was born May 2, 1938, the daughter of Eugene Andrew Lindig and Annie Pearl Schu-mann Lindig. She married Kurt Weinheimer on Dec. 22, 1957, in Trinity Lutheran Church, and after their divorce, she married Raymond Lee Kunkel on June 26, 1971.

Richard Lee Sullivan (1939 – 2018) Richard was born on September 11, 1939 and passed away on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Richard was a resident of Kendall County, Texas at the time of passing. He served his country in the U. S. Air Force from 1958-1962. Richard worked at Nasa for several years on the Apollo program and truly enjoyed the work.

THE TITANIC SANK 106 YEARS AGO with the anniversary of its demise remembered last Sunday. Over 500 books and nearly 50 films and television programs have documented this incident, including the second highest grossing film of all time which made over two billion dollars worldwide. The “unsinkable ship” still fascinates, with all its stories of human error, lavish extravagance, heroism and selfishness, yet not much has been written about one man who gave his life attempting to save the sou ...

While a student at Brigham Young University I obtained employment as an Operating Room orderly at a local hospital. It was one of the most interesting jobs I have ever had. It was my privilege to pick up patients in their rooms and transport them to the OR and, after surgery, take them to Recovery and then back to their rooms.

I spent a lot of time and energy researching this week’s commentary. I know what I have heard about The Wall and illegal immigration, and I have my own feelings. I truly believe that regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, your human emotions have come into play.

The United States is a country of immigrants. Immigrants have long provided an important part of the workforce in our economy, frequently doing the work that citizens will not do, such as harvesting crops, cooking our meals, and building our homes. Truly, immigrants have built our country. In August 2016, Donald Trump proposed building “The Wall,” characterizing Mexicans as, “drug dealers, criminals, [and] rapists.” In truth most people crossing the border are simply looking for hon ...

The Bamberger Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-operating foundation with a mission to grant out funds to non-profit organizations and is seeking non-profit organizations with defined projects for their grants. “Grants from The Bamberger Foundation are for charitable and educational non-profit organizations that encourage and promote land stewardship, conservation, environmental awareness, cultural and historic preservation,” Doug Bamberger, Foundation board member. The Foundation has provi ...

The Blanco Association of Retired Educator (BCARE) met in February at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church for a business meeting and a superb program presented by Connie Barron. Barrron, who teaches Tai Chi at Gem of the Hills, gave a brief history of the Eastern art which is now prescribed by Western physicians. Tai Chi is excellent for balance, lower body strength, range of motion, and cardiovascular issues, including high blood pressure.

Mark Twain’s book Roughing It paints an ugly picture of travel by stagecoach. The ride was bumpy, dusty and claustrophobic. Passengers had no time to relax and enjoy the scenery. They were too busy holding on for dear life. Every bump in the road was a jolt to the kidneys. Riding on the tailgate of a pickup across a plowed field comes to mind. Stagecoach companies made little effort to accommodate passengers.

In March Hill Country Memorial installed a new infant security system in its Obstetrics Department. The “Hugs” system uses wireless technology to monitor small transmitters on special tamper-detecting bands worn around babies’ ankles. The band activates when it is attached, and it is automatically identified in the tracking system. Once active, the band provides exit protection and tamper detection.

In 2017, Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) experienced record growth, surpassing 300,000 active accounts and installing more than 13,000 meters. PEC is the largest distribution electric cooperative in the United States and already powers approximately one million lives across Central Texas. The cooperative is proud to report it’s on track for another year of widespread growth across its 8,100-square-mile service area, which includes six of the 15 fastest growing counties in Texas. PEC ...