September 9, 2020 Issue

Mayor Rhonda Stell called the regular meeting of the Johnson City City Council to order at 6 p.m. on September 2, and a quorum was established with all members present. Pastor Steve Sanchez of Community Church of the Hills gave the invocation, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Public Comments Methodist Church Trustee Blane Schwartz asked the Council about resolution of the church water bill.

The Blanco County Commissioners Court regular meeting was called to order by County Judge Brett Bray at 9 a.m. with all four commissioners present. There were no public comments. The minutes from the previous meeting were approved. The commissioners approved the estimated Sept. payroll of $314,210.79. All of the official reports were in and approved. There were three line item transfers presented.

The JCISD Board held a special meeting on August 31, 2020. President Shelly Wenmohs called the meeting to order at 6 p.m., and a quorum was established with all Board trustees present. There were no public comments. JCISD Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Scott Berry gave a presentation regarding the 2019-2020 Budget.

On Thursday, August 13, 2020, a fire consumed over 400 acres in the Trails and Blue Lake subdivisions of Horseshoe Bay.  Firefighters from more than 17 Volunteer Fire Departments (VFDs) put their lives on the line to save two communities from this devastating fire. Horseshoe Bay Fire Chief Batla states that of the hundred firefighters working together on-site under his leadership, about 70% were from area VFDs and the Texas Forest Service.   The fundraiser is for the VFDs who ...

Community Church of the Hills prayed for 30 days for the Johnson City, Texas Police Department and delivered a book of prayers to Chief of Police Ross Allen. Three families have been praying for encouragement, protection and wisdom for each of the Law Enforcement agencies based in our city, including the Blanco County Sheriff’s Dept.

The Johnson City City Council held a regular meeting on September 1, 2020. Mayor Rhonda Stell called the meeting to order at 5 p.m., and a quorum was established. There were no Public Comments. City Council Members adjourned into Executive Session to discuss possible action on several items. The first item was regarding the discussion and action for the solicitation, employment, and appointment of personnel for the positions of Chief Administrative Officer/City Secretary and Deputy City Sec ...

We started building our house in 2000, and at the time the Blackjack oak about 30 feet off the south end was not remarkable, although not quite as big as the other Blackjacks around us. A couple of years after we moved in, we noticed it was showing signs of hypoxylon with the bark sloughing off the upper branches.

During the first weeks of school all Blanco and Johnson City school district employees received a “How SWEET it is to be TAUGHT by YOU” bag of treats as a welcome back gift from Blanco County Association of Retired Educators (BCARE). Five BCARE officers had a fun masked party to assemble three hundred bags of a mint candy, cookies, and lifesavers. From experience BCARE members recognize that, although classroom teachers have the bulk of the responsibility, every district employee cares ...

The Johnson City Young Life had a big kick off for their fall club on Monday evening. Cars full of young people drove by The Barn on Ranch Road 1323 to grab sausage wraps, buy T-shirts and chalk their car windows with messages about Young Life Club beginning next week, September 14. This year’s Johnson City YL shirts were designed by high school student leaders.

Trees are almost as old as dirt in the construction industry, but they’re new to Texas in the form of the state’s first mass timber office building. The Texas project generating the buzz is The Soto, which opened last week at Eighth and Broadway streets in San Antonio. The six-story building, which will anchor the Cavender neighborhood, has 140,000 square feet of leasable office space and 6,000 square feet of retail on the first floor. The cost of the project was not released, and BOK ...

AUSTIN— In an effort to expand broadband services in Blanco, Burnet, and Llano counties, Connected Nation, working with county officials and the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG), launched an initiative in late January to assess service needs and the type of internet services currently being provided to develop a plan to better meet demand.

The Hill Country CattleWomen’s regular September meeting will be cancelled. They will next meet on October 20, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. with a catered box lunch at Haverlah Ranch, 17900 CR 310, Cherokee, TX. No speaker is programmed as awards will be given and everyone will want time to visit! “I am excited to host our October Meeting at our ranch and see everyone again!” shared HCCW member Lindsay Alexander.

Census takers in Central Texas are now following up with households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census. While they do, only 49.4 percent of Blanco County residents have self-responded to the Census, well behind the state and area averages. Statewide, 60.7 percent of residents have self-responded. All the counties surrounding Blanco County, other than Llano County, have a higher response rate. Respond now by completing and mailing back the paper questionnaire that you received, ...

There is no need to suffer chronic pain with the availability of treatments offered through Hill Country Memorial Medical Group, according to Ralph G. Menard, MD, Pain Management and Palliative Care. “I don’t have a magic wand,” Menard said. “But there are a lot of interventional treatments we can do that can greatly lessen or eliminate pain.” Menard generally treats chronic pain, which has been recently redefined by the Texas Medical Board as pain lasting longer than 30 days.

For several years, the Highland Lakes Area’s vibrant golfing community has helped children in need through the CASA for Kids Charity Golf Tournament. We invite you to step up to the green and take the swing that will make a difference in the life of a child! Join CASA in support of our vision of a trained volunteer advocate, a safe home and a promising future for every child in our community who’s been abused or neglected. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, no one’s life has change ...

Senior Reed Moore, Freshman Maura Cowsert and 8th Grader Jackie Earley earned medals in the FEAST Patriots Invitational Cross Country Meet in San Antonio on Saturday. Moore completed the 5,000 Meter course with a personal record (PR) time of 19:30.80 to finish 9th in the High School Boys’ Division. Cowsert raced through the High School Girls’ 2-Mile in 14:26.40 (PR) placing 7th.

To help support local communities, Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) has launched Masks for Members — a program to collect face coverings on behalf of hospital partners that serve their members. But they need your help! Sign up today to make or buy masks to donate, and PEC will arrange to collect and distribute them to hospitals in the Ascension Seton and Baylor Scott & White Health systems.

The JCISD Board held a special meeting on August 31, 2020. President Shelly Wenmohs called the meeting to order at 6 p.m., and a quorum was established with all Board trustees present. There were no public comments. JCISD Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Scott Berry gave a presentation regarding the 2019-2020 Budget.

Trying to ride the wave of their 34-20 opening week victory against Florence the Eagle Varsity Football team came up short at Ingram on Friday. The Warriors (2-0) made the most of JC miscues to build a 14-0 lead in the first half and cruised to a 34-12 victory. Offensive highlights for the Eagles included a 60-yard kick-off return by Owen Portie for a touchdown and Quarterback Cade Boyer’s scoring pass to Receiver Nate Axtell.  In Thursday night sub-Varsity action the Eagle JV won their ...

By Julie Storer The 2A Lady Eagles met their first sub-3A opponent when the Harper Lady Longhorns came to JC on Tuesday for the District 27-2A opener for both teams (late score). Head Coach Heather Wilson and her Varsity Lady Eagles chose to forgo the three-day weekend putting in two-and-a-half hours on Labor Day to prep for the match.  In unfamiliar territory, JC (6-5) hoped to bounce back from a week of back-to-back regular season losses - the first in four years – in road games at Bl ...

When my wife and I travel we like to frequent the “Mom & Pop” restaurants in the cities and towns we visit. In doing so, we meet some remarkably interesting people along the way. A few years ago, we were passing through Gallup, New Mexico, and stopped at such a place to eat.

I have recently become alarmed as two USA institutions have been attacked. First, the Stars & Stripes military newspaper, which published originally during the Civil War, was cancelled by Presidential Order with the last issue being September’s. It is written by the military and is an independent voice. Last week with Presidential turmoil over ‘words’ used by the President to describe military men and women; the order was rescinded for now. Next, Voice of America has always been an in ...

I was struck last week by Keith McClellan’s column fearing for the Constitution. I agree with him that international banks and corporations should not be trusted. Wall Street is given far too much leeway for abuse and too much power in our political system. I also agree that politicians should not be allowed to use corporate money to buy votes.