July 29, 2020 Issue

Active COVID-19 cases in Blanco County have increased by 20 in the last week. The county now has 89 active cases of the virus as of Tuesday morning, up from 69 a week ago, according to numbers released by the Blanco County Office of Emergency Management. Active cases jumped by 38 during the past three weeks.

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s will take place as scheduled this year but will look different due to concerns about the COVID-19 virus. Past walks have always been a gathering of a large group of participants who then traverse a set course. Due to COVID concerns, that’s not possible in 2020.  The overall slogan for the 2020 Walks is “Walk to End Alzheimer’s is Everywhere.” This year’s Walk participants can walk almost anywhere - in their neighborhoods ...

COLLEGE STATION–  Existing homes sold in June through Texas Multiple Listing Services (MLSs) surpassed 29,000 for the first time since August 2019. Housing experts for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University point out the trend may not last. “Texas’ housing market rebounded after two and a half months of sluggish activity amid the economic shutdown and social distancing measures,” said Dr.

Shelly Wenmohs was acknowledged as the new part-time auditor for Blanco County during the Blanco County Commissioners Court meeting on July 14. On Tuesday, July 21, Judge Brett Bray swore Wenmohs into office. She will serve the remainder of the two year term effective July 1 and ending Oct. 1, 2021. Wenmohs graduated from Texas A&M University in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

A small spillage incident from drilling on the Permian Highway Pipeline in Gillespie County on Saturday did not result in any water pollution, according to the Texas Railroad Commission. “The RRC has rules in place to ensure the protection of public safety and the environment. Kinder Morgan notified us of inadvertent returns that occurred this weekend.

Fredericksburg-The Education Department at the National Museum of the Pacific War (NMPW) was just named Connect2Texas’ Outstanding New Program for Distance Learning in our region. Connect2Texas is a network of Texas-based educational content providers including museums, authors and cultural, historical and scientific organizations. These providers utilize interactive videoconferencing to deliver live programs and professional development to school children and educators across the globe.

Let’s search together for capital ideas Ed Sterling wrote this column for almost three decades, so let’s open by celebrating his contributions to the Texas Press Association and its members. Ed was the calm, steady voice keeping us informed and interested. I am honored to have been asked by Mike Hodges, TPA executive director, and Donnis Baggett, executive vice president, to continue the important work of keeping Texans up to date on what’s happening in Austin.

Hill Country Memorial has received the Women’s Choice Award recognizing its “Excellence in Safety” rating, according to Chief Clinical Officer Nikki Rivers. Only hospitals in the top 10% of the country are named Women’s Choice Award hospitals, the only designation that takes into consideration the preferences of women when selecting a hospital. “This is a great recognition,” Rivers said.

The following column is one that I first wrote several years ago, during another hot, dry summer. Unfortunately, our climate conditions have not changed, nor have the ways to save water, so it seemed appropriate to run it again today. By now most all the native grasses have gone dormant, many forbs and some shrubs are beginning to wilt and a few are dropping leaves.

AUSTIN—Mental health issues are often overlooked in a discussion of physical health and safety, according to the Texas Psychological Association. The association, which represents more than 1,000 practicing psychologists and graduate students in Texas, is offering Texans practical advice and online resources to support their mental health amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. “Addressing risks to mental health should be an essential element in any organized community response to a public health ...

Heroes are ordinary people who do extraordinary things because it is the right thing. They have families, children, and live work and participate in all facets of the life of our community. These men and women are the first responders who are trained to answer the call when emergencies arise.

The Washburne family, owners of Side Street Hospitality in Fredericksburg, held a “profit share weekend” on May 29 in support of the Hill Country Memorial Foundation. A percentage of gross sales from Hoffman Haus, Tubby’s, Otto’s, La Bergerie, and Caliche Coffee were designated for the Foundation. The Washburnes rounded up the total to $5000. “We were painfully aware of how difficult the current situation has been on our hospital operations,” said John Washburne, who also serv ...

By Julie Storer In the the early morning coolness that characterizes Hill Country summer mornings the familiar sounds of whistles, hand claps, words of encouragement and those of admonishment are expected to fill the air Monday on fields and in gyms across the state as 1A-4A schools return to action in Football and Volleyball.

JCISD conducted a special meeting on Tuesday, July 21 at 6 p.m. in the LBJ High School Commons Area. President Shelly Wenmohs called the meeting to order, and a quorum was established with members Brit Odiorne and Randy Rutherford absent. There were no public comments. In view of the fluid circumstances surrounding preparations for the 2020-2021 school year, the JCISD Board voted unanimously to revise the 2020-2021 JCISD Academic Calendar.

On the morning of Tuesday July 7, 2020, my mom passed away.  I say my mom, but Jackie Lynn Magee Martin was a mother to so many people.  She was the center of our universe, and just like the sun she was an unstoppable force who surrounded those she knew with her warmth and love.

I took Linda Robinson to the high school Junior Prom. I remember that night well because the borrowed car I was driving almost got washed away in flood waters on the way to the dance. Years later when I spotted her at a family gathering, we were both married and had families.

My husband, Peter, is fascinated by hummingbirds. This year has been a difficult year for hummingbird watching as there has been a lot of competition at the feeder. First, the ants wouldn’t leave it alone. Then a bear smashed the feeder to bits. Right after Peter replaced the feeder, wasps found it.

Fredericksburg-The Education Department at the National Museum of the Pacific War (NMPW) was just named Connect2Texas’ Outstanding New Program for Distance Learning in our region. Connect2Texas is a network of Texas-based educational content providers including museums, authors and cultural, historical and scientific organizations. These providers utilize interactive videoconferencing to deliver live programs and professional development to school children and educators across the globe.

Fredericksburg took it hard when workers demolished the original Vereins Kirche in 1897 and almost immediately made plans to build a new one, exactly like the old one, out of the traffic flow, not 200 feet from where the original Vereins Kirche stood in the middle of Main Street. The present has always mingled with the past in Fredericksburg.

Let’s search together for capital ideas Ed Sterling wrote this column for almost three decades, so let’s open by celebrating his contributions to the Texas Press Association and its members. Ed was the calm, steady voice keeping us informed and interested. I am honored to have been asked by Mike Hodges, TPA executive director, and Donnis Baggett, executive vice president, to continue the important work of keeping Texans up to date on what’s happening in Austin.

The following column is one that I first wrote several years ago, during another hot, dry summer. Unfortunately, our climate conditions have not changed, nor have the ways to save water, so it seemed appropriate to run it again today. By now most all the native grasses have gone dormant, many forbs and some shrubs are beginning to wilt and a few are dropping leaves.

AUSTIN—Mental health issues are often overlooked in a discussion of physical health and safety, according to the Texas Psychological Association. The association, which represents more than 1,000 practicing psychologists and graduate students in Texas, is offering Texans practical advice and online resources to support their mental health amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. “Addressing risks to mental health should be an essential element in any organized community response to a public health ...

The Washburne family, owners of Side Street Hospitality in Fredericksburg, held a “profit share weekend” on May 29 in support of the Hill Country Memorial Foundation. A percentage of gross sales from Hoffman Haus, Tubby’s, Otto’s, La Bergerie, and Caliche Coffee were designated for the Foundation. The Washburnes rounded up the total to $5000. “We were painfully aware of how difficult the current situation has been on our hospital operations,” said John Washburne, who also serv ...