March 15, 2017 Issue

Llano Christian Academy recently presented a program celebrating the U.S.A. with music and skits. The silent dessert auction was a huge success and raised $2,000 for a sound system for the Llano American Legion Hall. “A night of celebration!” said Dr. Alice Smith, LCA headmaster. Pictured front row, from left, are: Curren Bauman, Case Thurman and Garnett Lowery.

The Texas Hills Quilters-Wildflowers in Bloom Quilt Show being held March 31 and April 1 at Lutie Watkins Memorial United Methodist Church, at 308 West Main Street in Llano. It will be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Pictured is the Texas-themed raffle quilt created by the Cherokee quilters.

Team Roping made its way to the John L Kuykendall Arena Saturday with the first-ever Project Graduation team roping. The organizers hope it becomes an annual event. There were 68 teams with ropers from Austin, San Antonio, Kerrville, Fredericksburg and many from Llano who participated in the event to raise funds for Project Graduation, which will take place on May 26.

The Llano County Commissioners heard a presentation from a human resources firm at Monday’s meeting. Nueces County in south Texas was recently ordered to pay over $500,000 in back pay or overtime, plus a more than $50,000 that stemmed from not following correct procedures or laws, according to Heath Hilliard of Trend HR in Rockwall.

Everyone in 10 Central Texas counties will soon be able to text 911 in emergency situations. Central Texas 9-1-1 call centers will start testing Text to 9-1-1 emergency communications systems in March. The testing will start in Hays, Travis and Williamson counties and should be available in Llano County in May, according to Gregg Obuch, emergency communications director at the Capital Area Council of Governments. “Right now, I’d say early to mid-May if all goes well,” he said. Obuch ...

Young and old, locals and visitors, new age hippies and cowboys - the Llano Earth Art Festival drew visitors of all sorts to the banks of the Llano River. Some folks came for the art, others spent most of the festival knee deep in the river stacking rocks, and some came to shop at the various booths and food trucks. The Amazing Walter, aka the Sandcastle Man, has traveled the world teaching sandcastle building workshops and spent his days at LEAF demonstrating his incredible castle buildin ...

SMITHVILLE — One boy had been expected to win for a year — although I’m not sure which year that was; one boy had also been expected to win—since late afternoon, March 11, 2017. Yes, on the 11th, both Jackets were crowned champions in their weight classes in the Region II, Division II, Texas High School Powerlifting Association Championships. Dakoda Trull and Mason Greenwood will compete for a state title in Abilene, March 25. “You {always} hope to build up a program,” said head coa ...

You know how it is — as a baseball fan — when certain players come to the plate, you know they’re going to get a base hit, or make a good swing, or if they make an out, how disappointed you are—not in the batter, but because he is a mainstay of the offense, and you love to see him connect for that line drive to the outfield. Drew Baker, you asked?

Jamie Bert L. Payne passed away Saturday, February 18, 2017 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was the only daughter of Lillie Bret Currington and James Calvin Lane of Floresville. She married Melvin Willis Payne on December 20, 1945 and had six children. She is preceded in death by her son Willis Melvin Payne. Jamie is survived by Betty Ann Garcia and husband Mike of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Carolyn Sue Esquibel and son Lane of Grants, New Mexico, June Willete Payne of Buchanan Dam, Diana Jean Pu ...

Bonnie Sue Harden Raines, of Llano, passed away on Sunday, February 26, 2017 at the age of 68 in Temple, from complications of COPD and pneumonia. Bonnie was born to parents Billy “Budd” and Winona “Val” (Smith) Harden on December 23, 1948 in Fredericksburg, Texas. She grew up as the eldest of three and attended Coppell High School.

Desmond A. Sagebiel was born December 13, 1918, the sixth child of Alfred and Selma Sagebiel at their home in Eckert, Texas. He attended the community school, Mt. Nebo School at Eckert, founded by his father. At the age of 12, in 1931, he entered the ranching business with the acquisition of a heifer calf.

Carolyn Joyce Meyers passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2017 in Austin, at the age of 79. She was born November 27, 1937 in Medina, to Clarence Wallace Turner and Edna Eleanora (Sprott). Carolyn was a resident of Llano for 46 years, after moving from Seminole. She was a LVN with Llano Memorial Hospital, from which she retired. Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents, Clarence Wallace Turner and Edna Turner; her sister, Lucille Garrett; and husband, James A.

Louis “Tomper” Fitzjerald, of Llano, Texas, passed peacefully at his home on Sunday, March 5, 2017, at the age of 82. He is preceded in death by his parents, and his son Alfred Louis Fitzjerald. He is survived by his loving wife Sharon, his grandchildren, and his many great grandchildren. The family has chosen to have a small private burial service.

Norman Harry Grenwelge passed away Monday, March 13, 2017 in Fredericksburg, at the age of 95. Norman was born on October 8, 1921 at the family homestead to Rudolph Grenwelge and Augusta Bessie May (Bauer). Norman attended school in Castell, Texas and graduated in 1939 from Llano High School. During World War II he served in the Army for a year. He was a rancher all of his life raising Duroc hogs and later polled Hereford cattle. Norman worked as a cowboy for many ranchers, cattle auction sales ...

Dear Editor, Mike Conaway, you are our congressman You should represent us. During 2011-2015 in Llano County, 13.4 percent of the population under 65 had a disability and 22.3 percent of our population was uninsured. The ACA was a fair attempt to reduce that uninsured population. Now there is an attack on the ACA, and we are worried.