March 24, 2021 Issue

Judge Brett Bray called the Blanco County Commissioners Court to order at 9 a.m. with all four commissioners present. There were no public comments at this time. The minutes of the prior meeting were approved. There was one proposed line item transfer from Commissioner Chris Liesmann and it was approved. Liesmann moved to approve the outstanding bills in the amount of $205,509.31 and Commissioner Paul Granberg seconded.

Halle Puckett performed her recital for Blanco Performing Arts just eight days shy of one year after the original scheduled date, and it was absolutely worth the wait. The shutdown associated with COVID-19 postponed her concert from March 28, 2020 to March 20, 2021. This was Puckett’s first public performance in a year. Listening to Puckett perform certainly supports the theory that some talents can be inherited as her parents are concert pianists.

If you were a student in JCISD schools in the early 2000’s, you probably remember Coach Donny Ott. He was part of the Eagle family from 2000 to 2002 who taught English and coached football, basketball and track. Coach Ott is now the Head Girls’ Basketball Coach at 5A Cedar Park High School near Austin. Last week, Ott’s team won the 5A State Basketball title by beating defending State Champion Frisco Liberty by a score of 46-39.

This drive-through vaccination event was held on March 19 at the North Blanco EMS station in Johnson City. To keep up-to-date on vaccine availability within the county, residents may register their email with the county. A link is available on the Blanco County website at www.co.blanco.tx.us. This weekend’s drive-through COVID-19 vaccination event serviced Phase 1C qualifying individuals, who are 50-64 years of age.

Kid’s Facemasks Tutorial Learn how to make facemasks for kids at the library on March 26 at 2 p.m. Register online to reserve your spot! https://bookwhen.com/johnsoncitylibrary. All materials will be provided, however, you are welcome to bring any specific material you would like to use. This class is open to all skill levels. Homeschool Day The Science Mill becomes Mission Control as we explore Careers in Space Science on March 24.

rs  Arthur D’Andrea, the chair and sole remaining member of the Public Utility Commission, resigned late last week at the request of Gov. Gregg Abbott. D’Andrea pledged to remain on the PUC until Abbott names a replacement. In the announcement Abbott said in part, “Texans deserve to have trust and confidence in the Public Utility Commission, and this action is one of many steps that will be taken to achieve that goal.” Texas Monthly obtained a recording of a March 9 call D’And ...

Gillespie County Sheriff Alfred Klaerner was making a turn on one of those crazy streets in downtown San Antonio when an excited policeman came running towards the car, waving his arms and shouting “Hey mister, you can’t make a left turn here.” The sheriff, not wanting to contradict a fellow peace officer but considering himself a pretty fair judge of distance, calmly leaned out the window and said “Yeah, I believe I can make it all right.” Alfred Klaerner was Gillespie County she ...

Most of us learned about our nutritional food pyramid in school, where we were advised to eat lots of the bottom layer (grains, cereals), slightly less fruits and vegetables, much less meat and fish and only a little of the top of the pyramid, sweets. The food pyramid has recently been replaced with something called the “food plate” which shows what we should be eating in a kind of a pie chart (no pun intended) superimposed on a plate. In biology, the idea of a food pyramid has long bee ...

Senior Guard Blake Jenkins was selected by area coaches to the District 29-2A All District 1st Team. Jenkins led the play-off qualifying Eagles in scoring (13.0 ppg), assists (3) and rebounds (10). Fellow Senior Mason Roberts (forward) and Freshman Sky Hurlbut were selected to the 2nd Team in their respective divisions.    Boys’ honorable mention: Jakub Emerson, Brinley Portie, Nathan Axtell, Colin Linsey Academic All-District: Nathan Axtell, Jakub Emerson, McCray Jacobs, Colin LInsey ...

If you were a student in JCISD schools in the early 2000’s, you probably remember Coach Donny Ott. He was part of the Eagle family from 2000 to 2002 who taught English and coached football, basketball and track. Coach Ott is now the Head Girls’ Basketball Coach at 5A Cedar Park High School near Austin. Last week, Ott’s team won the 5A State Basketball title by beating defending State Champion Frisco Liberty by a score of 46-39.

Kid’s Facemasks Tutorial Learn how to make facemasks for kids at the library on March 26 at 2 p.m. Register online to reserve your spot! https://bookwhen.com/johnsoncitylibrary. All materials will be provided, however, you are welcome to bring any specific material you would like to use. This class is open to all skill levels. Homeschool Day The Science Mill becomes Mission Control as we explore Careers in Space Science on March 24.

Woodie Steve Ratliff left this world for his heavenly resting place, at the age of 74, on March 15, 2021. Steve was born on August 18, 1946 to Woodrow and Gladys Ratliff in San Saba Texas. Steve grew up in Goldthwaite Texas and graduated from Goldthwaite High School in 1965. He attended Durham Business College. Steve married the love of his life, Judy Polk, on October 30, 1965.

Frankie Carline Odell, 70, passed away March 9, 2021 in Johnson City, TX. Frankie was born in San Saba, TX September 23, 1950 to Frank Arnold Marler and Dora Dean Marler and was a long-time resident of Johnson City, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Dora Marler, and sister, Julia Gibson. Frankie is survived by two sons, James Arnold Odell and Robert Brian Odell, one daughter, Angela Sisson and husband Terry Sisson, brother, Roy Marler and wife Jeanie Marler.

Elnora Alma Kneese passed away March 19, 2021 in Marble Falls, Texas at the age of 99. She was born to Arthur Rynold Neumann and Olga Lydia Birck Neumann, September 18, 1921, 5 miles east of Cypress Mill, Texas in her family home. Her siblings were Olivia Bertha Lange and Hilda Matilda Smith.  Proceeding her passing she was married to Alton Oscar Kneese for 47 years.  She is survived by her devoted daughter Loretta Joy Cook and Vernon G Cook (deceased).

Mary Ethel Sparkman Weirich, 74 of Johnson City went to be with our Heavenly Father on Saturday, March 20, 2021. She passed away peacefully with husband and daughter by her side. She was born to the late Sidney & Voyle Sparkman on February 13, 1947, in Beeville, Texas. Mary graduated from George West High School and received a Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor University. One of her proudest accomplishments besides motherhood was editing the book “The People’s History of Live Oa ...

Alice D. Pyle died as she lived, with her devoted husband holding her hand and daughters worshiping our Lord to carry her home on the morning of Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at her home in Johnson City, Texas. Alice was born November 28, 1929 in San Antonio, Texas to Santos DeLeon and Martha LaPlata DeLeon.

We are rapidly approaching the Christian Holy Week, beginning on Palm Sunday and culminating on Easter. Included in that week is what we call Good Friday. I was recently asked by someone why that day is called “Good Friday”. Since we believe that the Christ was crucified on that day, how then can it be “good”.

In times of difficulty it is often hard to focus on the things for which we should be grateful. We tend to lament the things we don’t have rather than to be grateful for the things we do have. On one occasion as I attempted to jam a shirt into an overfilled closet, I complained to my wife about how small our closets are.

Dear Editor: On March 17, 2021, I read in your newspaper, “Mighty Oaks From Little Acorns Grow” by Jim Stanley as his topic of the “From A Master Naturalist” column. Stanley mentions the extreme cold weather in February 2021 measuring 5 degrees or 8 degrees, killed many oak trees. I agree with Stanley that the extreme cold is responsible for the death of our oak trees. Personally, my subdivision goes by the name, “The Oaks”, and I lived here over fifty years.

Dear Editor: All of us are so fortunate to have at least 12 years of free education, and many of us go on to earn many degrees. We count on those with additional education and decades of experience for everything from trips to the moon to life-saving medical knowledge. So for the life of me, literally, I cannot comprehend the JCISD School Board ignoring scientific advice and deleting the mask-wearing requirement in our schools.

Dear Editor: All of us are so fortunate to have at least 12 years of free education, and many of us go on to earn many degrees. We count on those with additional education and decades of experience for everything from trips to the moon to life-saving medical knowledge. So for the life of me, literally, I cannot comprehend the JCISD School Board ignoring scientific advice and deleting the mask-wearing requirement in our schools.

Texas and local governments are set to receive $27.6 billion as part of American Rescue Plan. Blanco County is projected to receive $2.31 million, according to projections from the National Conference of State Legislatures. The cities of Johnson City and Blanco are projected to receive $450,000 each. The purpose of the plan is to provide financial support to offset the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

rs  Arthur D’Andrea, the chair and sole remaining member of the Public Utility Commission, resigned late last week at the request of Gov. Gregg Abbott. D’Andrea pledged to remain on the PUC until Abbott names a replacement. In the announcement Abbott said in part, “Texans deserve to have trust and confidence in the Public Utility Commission, and this action is one of many steps that will be taken to achieve that goal.” Texas Monthly obtained a recording of a March 9 call D’And ...

Gillespie County Sheriff Alfred Klaerner was making a turn on one of those crazy streets in downtown San Antonio when an excited policeman came running towards the car, waving his arms and shouting “Hey mister, you can’t make a left turn here.” The sheriff, not wanting to contradict a fellow peace officer but considering himself a pretty fair judge of distance, calmly leaned out the window and said “Yeah, I believe I can make it all right.” Alfred Klaerner was Gillespie County she ...

Most of us learned about our nutritional food pyramid in school, where we were advised to eat lots of the bottom layer (grains, cereals), slightly less fruits and vegetables, much less meat and fish and only a little of the top of the pyramid, sweets. The food pyramid has recently been replaced with something called the “food plate” which shows what we should be eating in a kind of a pie chart (no pun intended) superimposed on a plate. In biology, the idea of a food pyramid has long bee ...