September 23, 2020 Issue

Mayor Rhonda Stell called the Special Meeting of the Johnson City City Council to order on September 15, 2020 at 5 p.m. A quorum was established with all members present. Pastor Steve Sanchez gave the Invocation which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Public Comments Several Chamber members and business owners addressed the City Council regarding a reduction of staffing at the Visitor’s Center.

You might have noticed some construction going on over at East Main Grill recently, and wondered just what is going on. In fact, an exciting and not-so-new business is coming to Main Street.  Johnson City residents Katie and Josh Brownfield have begun the process of establishing a branch of their successful north-of-Dripping Springs restaurant, Proof and Cooper, right here on Main Street.  Proof and Cooper offers a family-friendly space at 18800 Hamilton Pool Road, with smoked meats, a ...

On Wednesday, Kinder Morgan made four donations to the libraries and ministerial alliances of Blanco County, totaling $46,000.00. Above: Maggie Goodman of the Johnson City Public Library, and Crystal Spybuck of the Blanco Public Library, each received a donation of $18,000 for projects ongoing at their respective libraries. Below: Pastor Jimmy Boatright of the North Blanco County Ministerial Alliance and Pastor Carlos Cloyd of the South Blanco County Ministerial Alliance each received a donat ...

Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz, and their team are excited to return to Texas! They plan to film episodes of the hit series American Pickers throughout the area in November. The press release stated: “With the proliferation of COVID-19, we are all facing very uncertain times. We at American Pickers are taking the pandemic very seriously and will be following all guidelines and protocols for safe filming as outlined by the state and CDC.

HCM celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Kathleen C. Cailloux Birthing Center on Sept 14. Since the birthing center opened a year ago, it has welcomed over 420 new babies to the Hill Country. The pavilion underwent a $3 million renovation that enabled the HCM obstetrics wing to increase in size by 50%. Upgrades increased the number of Labor, Birthing, Recovery, Postpartum (LBRP) suites from four to eight, added four hydrotherapy tubs to allow expectant mothers to naturally alleviate ...

For 30 years, Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area has been assisting job seekers and businesses in Blanco County. Workforce Solutions is proud to be a partner with the Blanco County Community Resource Center (CRC) and to provide computers and equipment for individuals to look for work at the CRC. Workforce Solutions staff will also meet with job seekers and employers at the CRC by appointment. In addition, with COVID-19, Workforce Solutions has transitioned to offering job seekers assist ...

While scientists race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is urging everyone to get a flu shot. Texans need to do their part to keep moving forward the state’s recovery from the pandemic, the governor said. Last week, he also eased restrictions placed on businesses in most of Texas. In a new public service announcement, Abbott reminded Texans that flu season already has arrived.

By Terri Seller Even a pandemic didn’t tamp down the enthusiasm felt by the women who generously joined forces to raise money for a deserving Blanco County non-profit. Early last year, the Blanco Non-Profit Coalition and its group of energetic women who presented Wild Woman Weekend decided to take a break from the work, but not the fundraising.

Judge Brett Bray called the Blanco Commissioners Court to order at 9 a.m. with Commissioners Tommy Weir, Chris Liesmann, and Paul Granberg present. After the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, a moment of silence followed in remembrance of Dr. Craig Manifold who recently passed away unexpectedly. Dr. Manifold was appointed as Blanco’s local health authority Blanco’s local health authority in late March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and he also served on the Emergency Management board. N ...

Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) is hosting a virtual professional development event for Texas teachers to learn more about agriculture. "This is a great opportunity for our teachers of all grade levels and subject areas," Glenn Sultemier, Blanco County Farm Bureau president, said. "This virtual event could help teachers find ways to incorporate agriculture in their classrooms, which would help students better understand how agriculture plays a role in our everyday lives." The Teacher Ag Academy i ...

The Varsity Eagles fought back from a 21-7 third quarter deficit, but ran out of clock in their 21-16 home loss to the Thrall Tigers on Friday. Quarterback Cade Boyer had 158 yards passing including a touchdown to Nathan Axtell and 92 yards rushing with one touchdown to lead the Eagles offense.

The trip to Lometa last Wednesday offered the Eagle and Lady Eagles Cross Country teams a chance to compete against similar-sized schools and Lydia White, Jackie Earley and the Lady Eagles Middle School Girls struck gold in their divisions. Clare White, Riley Birck, Antonio Perez and the Varsity Lady Eagles earned silver in the strongest overall showing for JC this season.  Lydia and Clare White set the pace early and outran the field to finish 1-2 in the Varsity Girls’ 2-Mile.

By Julie Storer The Varsity Lady Eagles notched their third shutout against a District 27-2A opponent in as many attempts when they blanked the Junction Lady Eagles 3-0 last Tuesday in JC (25-7, 25-11, 25-18). Ivy Swafford had four aces, 8 kills, 23 assists and 3 digs to lead JC; Paige Dalland added eight kills, 2 blocks and 3 digs.

Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) is hosting a virtual professional development event for Texas teachers to learn more about agriculture. "This is a great opportunity for our teachers of all grade levels and subject areas," Glenn Sultemier, Blanco County Farm Bureau president, said. "This virtual event could help teachers find ways to incorporate agriculture in their classrooms, which would help students better understand how agriculture plays a role in our everyday lives." The Teacher Ag Academy i ...

By Tricia Hartmann JCISD Board held a regular meeting on Monday, September 14. Board President Shelly Wenmohs called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. and a quorum was established with all trustees present except Amber Fry and Randy Rutherford. There were no public comments. Asynchronous Instruction Plan Director of Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment Shannon Helmke presented an update on the Asynchronous Plan which must be approved by TEA.

Shirley Lee Felps Jones of Bluffton, TX, passed away Tuesday, September 15, 2020 in Temple, TX in the company of her loving husband.  Shirley was born November 29, 1943 in Blanco, TX to Richard Milam Felps and Rosetta Brown Felps.  Shirley was a loving, stay-at-home mom for her daughters’ early years then returned to school, earning a degree and worked in the aircraft industry.  Shirley was an avid deer hunter, quilter, reader and was the librarian for her church.  Proud of her herita ...

The other day I came across a six-inch by eight-inch board. Glued to it and coated over with varnish is a painting of a ship foundering in high seas. I remembered that it had been given to me by a third grade girl in Veracruz, Mexico. Because of the love with which it was offered by that little dark-eyed child, I have kept it and treasured it for more than 50 years. I was given lots of things during my tenure as an educator both in Mexico and in the States.

I still remember the first exposure I had to experts talking about land management in the Hill Country. It was in January of 2002 in an all-day symposium on land management in one of the local hotels in Kerrville. The speakers were all college professors or government agency people from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Forest Service and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. I still remember vividly my impressions from that day.

While scientists race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is urging everyone to get a flu shot. Texans need to do their part to keep moving forward the state’s recovery from the pandemic, the governor said. Last week, he also eased restrictions placed on businesses in most of Texas. In a new public service announcement, Abbott reminded Texans that flu season already has arrived.