July 10, 2019 Issue

The July 9 Commissioners Court was called to order at 8:58 a.m. by Judge Brett Bray. All of the commissioners were present. After the pledge was recited, the minutes of the previous meeting were approved. The July payroll of $313,243.38 was approved next. The commissioners considered approving the official reports. Chris Liesmann motioned to approve and Tommy Weir seconded.

Gary P. Nunn, who has made a career out of playing Texas Country music, brought the crowds to Twin Sisters Dance Hall Saturday night. Folks came from as far away as Oklahoma, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Massachusetts to join the locals, and Texans from Dallas and Houston to dance the night away.

Tuesday evening, July 2nd, the Johnson City Library hosted a Dark Skies Star Party. Local organization, Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky, was invited to present information about light pollution and how it can be eliminated. After the program guest stepped outside to take a closer look at the heavens through the telescopes provide by the Hill Country Astronomers. The children in attendance were the “stars” of the show.

Daniel Kelada has been in the hospitality business for a good portion of his life. He was inspired to go to bartending school at age 18 because his father would not allow his older sister to take those classes. Kelada continued to bartend throughout his college years in Austin and worked in a variety of hospitality jobs ranging from bartending to fine dining to hotel. He helped open the original Grove Wine Bar and Kitchen which is “a food and wine haven where neighborhood regulars and ...

On Father’s Day, a 24-year-old Blanco man took his girlfriend swimming at Pedernales Falls State Park, but when he dove into the water, he struck a rock, injuring his spinal cord That means when he gets home from the hospital later this week, he’ll be in a wheelchair, but his family couldn’t afford to have a ramp built to their mobile home. Happily, the ramp-building team in Johnson City not only was able to build the ramp and larger front porch at the home, but also delivered the w ...

Kenzie Adrian placed 1st in javelin (109’) and 3rd in long jump (15’8.5”) in the American Freedom Games last weekend at Rice University. The Games are a collection of youth sporting events that incorporate and celebrate patriotism and pride of country - bringing together some of the top youth athletes in the nation to compete.

Dale William Metcalf born October 24, 1940 (78) in Curtis, Michigan where he resided most of his life.  Dale went home to his Savior Jesus Christ on July 2, 2019 in Fredericksburg, Texas due to complications of colon cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. On one of his visits to Texas Dale whole heartedly gave himself over to the Lord and was water baptized.

Menira H. Castañeda, 87, of Johnson City, Texas passed away on Thursday, July 4, 2019 at Home surrounded by her family. She was born in San Antonio, Texas to Ignacio P. and Sofia V. Hernandez. She was preceded in death by her brother Rudolph V. Hernandez of San Antonio, Texas. She was married to Alvaro H.

Joseph Edwin “Ed” Power, Jr. 82, of Johnson City, Texas passed away early on Friday, June 21, 2019 in Weatherford, Texas. There will be a small private service in Johnson City. Ed was born on May 13, 1937 in Austin, Texas to Joseph, Sr. and Violet Power. He proudly served his country in the U.S.

Willard Leroy Baker, 80, of Austin, Texas passed away on Saturday, July 6, 2019, at St. David’s South Austin Hospital. Willard was born on September 19, 1938, to Velma Marvella Harkins Baker and Willard Oscar Baker in Walla Walla, Washington. Willard was a retired union carpenter with 58 years of service.

Wayne Talley, age 69, passed July 7, 2019 after a hard-fought battle with leukemia. Wayne was born on March 23, 1950 in Cambridge MA to Kirby and Theresa Talley. He served in Vietnam and shortly after that, married his first wife and was the proud father of Erin Talley. He was a general contractor and built many hotels and homes around the San Antonio area.

I cannot prove the existence of God. There. I said it. But let me be clear: I can point to evidence that suggests a Creator. With that said, I’ve given up trying to convince unbelievers that God exists for one main reason: They will never believe because they’ve made up their minds that there is no God.

Bill Martineau was a happy man. Jobs were scarce in Utah during the summer of 1963 and he was elated at having found work as a lumber jack in the high Uintah Mountains. He worked very hard during the week and commuted back to Provo on the weekends. That commute took him through the beautiful dairy farming community of Heber City nestled in a green valley in the shadow of snow capped Mount Timpanogas. One day while passing through that town in his dilapidated used car, he ran into a little j ...

Hill Country Memorial Hospital in Fredericksburg is one of the best small town hospitals in the country, but high quality hospital care didn’t happen overnight. Until the early 20th century Hill Country doctors practiced medicine in their offices or in the homes of their patients. There were no hospitals. Doctors usually did the traveling, not the patients. The earliest hospital in Gillespie County was Lambert’s Sanitarium.