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This Saturday, October 31st, Johnson City will see ghosts, goblins, spooks and zombies pop up on all corners of town as children celebrate Halloween with trick-or-treating. The City of Johnson City has provided these basic guidelines for participating families in light of the ongoing pandemic: Maintain physical distancing between other groups, have only members of your household in your group, wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth, and apply hand sanitizer often.
Parents should follo ...
By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula
For almost half a century, a Blanco woman made it her mission to help local nursing home residents, including many of the county’s elderly population.
Sophie Johnson retired on June 30 after first working as an administrator at Live Oak Medical in Blanco, which closed in 2017, and then at LBJ Medical Center in Johnson City.
By George Barnette
It was a race to git ‘er done before the expected Covid-19 pandemic resurged this fall, but Johnson City’s wheelchair ramp builders built two ramps in three days last week to clear their backlog and free residents who needed the improved access to their homes.
The volunteers work free, using materials provided through donations to the Texas Ramp Project (TRP) or, if they can afford it, by the recipients themselves.
“The race to build the ramps also was because ...
By Tricia Hartmann
North Blanco County ESD 1 held a Public Meeting on October 19, 2020. President David O’Bannon called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm and a quorum was established with all Commissioners present. Minutes of previous meetings were approved following motion from Vice President Brandt Raeburn and second by Commissioner A.J.
Amazon delivered good economic news, announcing plans for a 700,000-square-foot distribution center and warehouse in Waco.
Gov. Greg Abbott and other state officials heralded the plan to bring up to 1,000 workers to Central Texas at a starting wage of $15 an hour. The online retailing giant previously announced other expansions in Texas, including Forney, Pflugerville and Richmond.
Two other companies also announced plans last week to move to the Lone Star State:
• The nation’s larg ...
There are 28 active COVID-19 cases in Blanco County as of Friday, the county’s office of emergency management announced late last week.
The total is one fewer than announced Oct. 5, the last time the BCOEM released official totals. This time they have been broken down into 20 active confirmed cases and eight active probable cases.
Judge Brett Bray called the special Blanco County Commissioners Court meeting to order at 9 a.m. with all four commissioners. The meeting was simulcasted live on the Blanco County Youtube channel, but citizens had to be present at the courthouse to provide public comments.
After the pledge, public comments were heard.
Kenneth Welch took the floor and requested the court to be more open with the public and follow the Open Meeting Act.
“You, once again, as presiding officer of this Comm ...
Children at the First United Methodist Church in Johnson City packed goodie boxes for Ft Hood troops stationed abroad this fall and winter, as they do every year. The packages are really for Christmas, but since the Post Office put a surcharge on holiday gift mailings, the kids shipped 13 of them early to avoid the extra cost.
The local news items in the Fredericksburg Standard from a century ago included some unusual stories and a few familiar themes among the everyday reports of living and dying in Gillespie County.
The news of 1920 began with a dreamy description of the recent holiday season. “Christmas was celebrated in Fredericksburg in the loveliest manner,” the editor wrote, “and the charm of yuletide enhanced by beautiful clear weather.
It’s the season for all things scary and I found myself wondering how many people are actually looking for more things to frighten them this year.
There is a new horror movie about Zoom that is supposed to be terrific… and I won’t be watching it. I’ve never been a fan of horror movies.
Don’t forget the Blanco Countywide Household Waste Collection event takes place this Saturday, Oct. 31. Blanco citizens should bring their waste to the Blanco County/Waste Connections Transfer Station at 377 Transfer Road in Johnson City from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is sponsored by Blanco County, Blanco Pedernales Underground Water Conservation District, and Keep Blanco Beautiful.
Truck or Treat
Trunk or Treat at the Blanco County Courthouse is on Saturday, October 31, 2020 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The City of Johnson City reminds local families who plan to participate in Trick or Treating to stay in small groups with only those who live in their households.
Hanging the Courthouse Christmas Lights
To volunteer in setting up the displays for Lights Spectacular on Monday November 2 and Tuesday November 3 from 9 a.m.
The Texas Election Code contains 280 chapters regulating a myriad aspects of the election process from the basics such as bilingual requirements, conducting recounts and canvassing elections to the more exotic such as cybersecurity measures and voting by persons who are out of this world.
In 1997, the Texas Legislature added Chapter 106 to its Special Forms of Early Voting, and entitled it Voting By Person on Space Flight.
A forfeit by Medina in their final District 27-2A match on Friday didn’t keep the Lady Eagles off the court. Coach Heather Wilson made the most of the opportunity with an inter-squad scrimmage and a celebration of the three Seniors making their last regular season appearance in the LBJHS Gym.
The Eagle JV fought hard in back-to-back victories to raise their season record to 4-2; 1-0 in district. On October 15 JC defeated the Punchers 14-10 in a nail-biter that wasn’t decided until the final possession. The Eagles led for three quarters fueled by the successful keeper by Quarterback McCray Jacobs; however, the Punchers took the lead early in the fourth quarter when a bad snap went through the end-zone to give them the 10-8 lead.
The two games remaining in district for Johnson City will determine the football play-off representatives for 14-2A and the Eagles intend to come out on top. This Friday’s match-up between JC and the Harper Longhorns is the first meeting of the two teams since 2015 and the Longhorns first visit to Eagle Field. Coming off of a forfeit by Center Point the Eagles (3-5; 2-1) have had extra time to prepare for Friday’s contest against the Longhorns (2-6; 1-2).
Don’t forget the Blanco Countywide Household Waste Collection event takes place this Saturday, Oct. 31. Blanco citizens should bring their waste to the Blanco County/Waste Connections Transfer Station at 377 Transfer Road in Johnson City from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is sponsored by Blanco County, Blanco Pedernales Underground Water Conservation District, and Keep Blanco Beautiful.
Anna Lee Slaughter Smith, 86, of Blanco, TX passed away at her home in Blanco Sunday, October 25, 2020. Ann was born August 1, 1934 in Loraine, TX to Clyde C. Slaughter and Mabel Lynette (Lee) Slaughter. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Robert Clyde Slaughter, and sister, Lynda Jane Case.
For as long as I can remember, the “Star-Spangled Banner” has held a prominent place in my church’s hymn book. It is more than simply a patriotic song. In its entirety it speaks not only of country but also of God and therefore naturally belongs with other sacred hymns. I have sung all three verses all of my life and therefore was surprised when I discovered that many Americans have never heard the second and third verses—and are even surprised to find out they even exist.
When we s ...
It’s the season for all things scary and I found myself wondering how many people are actually looking for more things to frighten them this year.
There is a new horror movie about Zoom that is supposed to be terrific… and I won’t be watching it. I’ve never been a fan of horror movies.
The scientific study of animal behavior is called Ethology. Much of Ethology is concerned with understanding what is instinctive behavior and what is learned behavior. Instinctive behavior, sometimes called innate behavior, is inherited and not based on any prior experience. Exactly how instinct is transmitted from one generation to the next is not fully understood, but the fact that it exists and the resulting observable actions are what I find really fascinating.
Consider this: A sea turt ...
