December 9, 2020 Issue

MARBLE FALLS- Art in a pandemic is much like seeing a rainbow during a storm. It signals hope amidst the less-than-ideal surroundings. Highland Lakes Creative Arts is determined to press through the pandemic turmoil by enlisting the power of art. Particularly during the holiday season, HLCA believes it is important to keep traditions alive, inspire the community, and support the arts, so the local organization sought to commission a creative activity that keeps the holiday spirit alive, while ...

Community Church of the Hills is offering free Christmas photos at their in-house booth. All you have to do is sign up at www.CCHsignUP.com for a time slot. Courtesy photo.

“A guy pulled over, gave me a cup of coffee and a bagel. About 30 seconds later a woman gave me the finger.” This is how a homeless veteran describes daily encounters with other people.  These experiences were captured by Ruben Grafe, a filmmaker who is creating a documentary about people living on the streets of Austin.

Blanco County Farm Bureau had a membership drive this year. Our year calendar ended on October 31. This year, we had a drawing for two stainless steel Coleman coolers. One was drawn for new members enrolling between Nov 1st, 2019 and Oct 31, 2020. The winner for this is Nicole and Donald Kelley (left).

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a Hill Country property that had been managed in a very different way than most places I have been on. The owner, new to the Hill Country, and with no prior experience owning any rural property, completely changed the appearance of his property to fit his vision of what a beautiful landscape should look like.

By Terry Wiemers The Johnson City Womans Civic Club members joined for the November meeting on Zoom and had a very special guest speaker: Officer Mike Bacon. His message was very interesting and informative. Focusing on personal safety, Officer Bacon shared situations where individuals need to exercise caution, such as phone and email scams.

‘Tis the season to spread cheer and light up the Hill Country! Go all out decorating your home and enter our Home Holiday Lights Contest. Submit photos of your lights display Nov. 27-Dec. 11 for your chance to win up to $500 — and bragging rights! PEC has eight district offices located throughout our service territory.

This holiday season, deck the halls with science! The Science Mill in Johnson City will be open with expanded dates from December 17 to December 31 to give families more time to play (closed Dec. 24 + 25 and Jan. 1). Visitors can explore 50+ interactive exhibits, inside and outdoors, including the newly updated Banana Piano (which relies on the human body’s ability to conduct small amounts of electricity) and the return of MindBall, an exhibit powered by brainwaves.

Texas is ready to distribute 1.4 million doses as soon as the COVID-19 vaccine receives federal government approval. Gov. Greg Abbott said the vaccines should be arriving the week of Dec. 14 and would be distributed to qualifying providers. Health care workers are the first in line to receive the medication, which needs to be given in two shots.

The Johnson City Volunteer Fire Department held a business meeting on November 25. President Ray Bible called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. A quorum was established, and there were no public comments. The JCVFD reviewed the Financial Reports and these were approved following motion by Captain Chris Welch and second by Treasurer Orlando Ibanez.

The Blanco County Commissioners Court meeting was called to order at 9 a.m. by Judge Brett Bray. Commissioners Tommy Weir, Emil Uecker, and Paul Granberg were present; Commissioner Chris Liesmann was not in attendance. Kenneth Welch provided public comments after the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. “I wrote to you on Nov.

A fifth COVID-19 death in Blanco County has been reported. Information released Friday by the Blanco County Office of Emergency Management reported five deaths, with the latest being a female in the 60-69 age range who was from Blanco. She died in late November. The third and fourth deaths included a delayed report on a woman who was in her 70s and lived in Johnson City.

Kinleigh Young of Friendswood, Texas and Mia Fisher of Johnson City made the big reach to send Santa their letters ahead of the Christmas holiday at the Santa Letters Express mailbox, located at the gazebo at Memorial Park. Children can drop a letter to Santa with a return address, and the elves will collect the letters and send back a certificate from the North Pole.

With six returning Varsity players - none of them Seniors - first-year Lady Eagle Head Basketball Coach Kevin Williams will have the opportunity to shape his young team into the hard-nosed competitors he needs to be successful in District 29-2A. “Our fans should expect to see us play with a fighting, no-quit attitude,” stated Williams, who will expect leadership from a Junior Class including veterans Karina Calderon, Aubrea Granger and Darien Marshal, as well as Jeanette Soto, Nyeli Barri ...

After opening with a victory against Ingram the Eagle Varsity struggled to keep pace in losses to Blanco and Boerne Geneva last week. Mason Roberts scored 15, Blake Jenkins and Brinley Portie added 10 each in the 79-44 loss to Geneva on Friday. Jenkins pulled down five rebounds with 4 steals and 3 assists; Portie had 4 steals and 3 assists.

Culminating a semester spent creating LBJ High Art students swept the top honors at the San Antonio Rodeo Western Art Student Competition last Friday. JC students placed in every division in the annual statewide event held in conjunction with the San Antonio Rodeo. Maura Ibanez took top honors with her Championship Sculpture winning an $8,000.00 scholarship and an opportunity to have her work displayed at the Briscoe Museum of Western Art in San Antonio.

‘Tis the season to spread cheer and light up the Hill Country! Go all out decorating your home and enter our Home Holiday Lights Contest. Submit photos of your lights display Nov. 27-Dec. 11 for your chance to win up to $500 — and bragging rights! PEC has eight district offices located throughout our service territory.

This holiday season, deck the halls with science! The Science Mill in Johnson City will be open with expanded dates from December 17 to December 31 to give families more time to play (closed Dec. 24 + 25 and Jan. 1). Visitors can explore 50+ interactive exhibits, inside and outdoors, including the newly updated Banana Piano (which relies on the human body’s ability to conduct small amounts of electricity) and the return of MindBall, an exhibit powered by brainwaves.

Horace Andy “Hank” Lynn passed away peacefully, with family by his side, at home on December 2, 2020.  Hank was born to Jack and Madgie Lynn in Albany, Oklahoma, on September 30, 1932.  He was the big brother to six siblings. Hank graduated from Wright City High School in Oklahoma in 1950 and worked in the sawmill to help support the family.  He then enlisted in the U.S.

Community Church of the Hills is offering free Christmas photos at their in-house booth. All you have to do is sign up at www.CCHsignUP.com for a time slot. Courtesy photo.

A few years ago a survey by LifeWayResearch.com found that 79 percent of Americans surveyed believed that Christmas should be “more about Jesus.” Many churches use the Christmas season to host special services featuring the music of Christmas with special nativity displays and the retelling of the Christmas story. Some congregations use the occasion to evangelize on behalf of their faith. However, some churches skip special events altogether on that day believing that “every day is a ...

MARBLE FALLS- Art in a pandemic is much like seeing a rainbow during a storm. It signals hope amidst the less-than-ideal surroundings. Highland Lakes Creative Arts is determined to press through the pandemic turmoil by enlisting the power of art. Particularly during the holiday season, HLCA believes it is important to keep traditions alive, inspire the community, and support the arts, so the local organization sought to commission a creative activity that keeps the holiday spirit alive, while ...

“A guy pulled over, gave me a cup of coffee and a bagel. About 30 seconds later a woman gave me the finger.” This is how a homeless veteran describes daily encounters with other people.  These experiences were captured by Ruben Grafe, a filmmaker who is creating a documentary about people living on the streets of Austin.

Blanco County Farm Bureau had a membership drive this year. Our year calendar ended on October 31. This year, we had a drawing for two stainless steel Coleman coolers. One was drawn for new members enrolling between Nov 1st, 2019 and Oct 31, 2020. The winner for this is Nicole and Donald Kelley (left).

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a Hill Country property that had been managed in a very different way than most places I have been on. The owner, new to the Hill Country, and with no prior experience owning any rural property, completely changed the appearance of his property to fit his vision of what a beautiful landscape should look like.

Texas is ready to distribute 1.4 million doses as soon as the COVID-19 vaccine receives federal government approval. Gov. Greg Abbott said the vaccines should be arriving the week of Dec. 14 and would be distributed to qualifying providers. Health care workers are the first in line to receive the medication, which needs to be given in two shots.

When the Antlers Hotel in Kingsland threw open its doors in 1901, the resort featured gas lights, running water, telephones and every other modern convenience, except electricity, which, like flush toilets and automobiles, the builders considered a passing fad. The idea for the Antlers began in the 1890s when the Austin and Northwestern Railway extended its line from Burnet to Llano.