March 29, 2017 Issue

This will be the 40th year Llano has held a fiddle contest. It all started in 1976, on the banks of the Llano River in Robinson Park. Llano always had a rich history when it comes to the fiddle, and it can be attributed to the many grass roots fiddlers in the Llano area such as Otis Light, Tilman Harlow, Bud Otto, Wilford Tumlinson, Armand Taylor, Harmon Ellis, Eddie McDonald, Woodrow Thomas, the Goff Brothers and J.

The City of Llano will host a town hall meeting on Tuesday, April 11, at 5:30 p.m. in the Lantex Theatre. The purpose of this meeting will be to provide factual information relative to the propositions that will be on the ballot during the May 6 election, the city said in a press release. City staff in conjunction with a bond attorney, financial advisor, bond advisory chair and engineers will be in attendance to provide information as it relates to the proposed bonds. Everyone is encouraged to ...

The City of Llano will host a town hall meeting on Tuesday, April 11, at 5:30 p.m. in the Lantex Theatre. The purpose of this meeting will be to provide factual information relative to the propositions that will be on the ballot during the May 6 election, the city said in a press release. City staff in conjunction with a bond attorney, financial advisor, bond advisory chair and engineers will be in attendance to provide information as it relates to the proposed bonds. Everyone is encouraged to ...

The Republic of Texas Museum held an art contest for students across Texas. Students from all over Texas submitted their drawing or power point presentation for their district on Texas history. Last Saturday, the Daughters of the Republic held an awards program and reception for the winners of the contest. The program was held at the Texas State Cemetery Gallery.

This submission from Roy Buntyn shows the Llano Municipal Airport blooming in its full beauty. “Come and see the blue bonnets in bloom,” he advises.

April is Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month. The Llano County Child Welfare Board will sponsor Go Blue in Llano County on Wednesday, April 5, at 4:30 p.m. at the Llano County Courthouse. This is the fifth year this group has hosted an event to bring awareness of the problem of child abuse and neglect, focusing on things our community can do to prevent child abuse. Events will include a proclamation by the Llano County Commissioners Court presented by Judge Mary Cunningham, short pres ...

After spending a few years bringing comfort and joy to the residents of local convalescent and assisted living homes, it looked like Ashley Torres would be forced into an early retirement. An injury to her knee early last year meant an expensive surgery and a long recovery. Owned by Barbara Torres of Barbara’s Dog House in Llano, Ashley is a 6-year old, 92-pound silver pit bull who has been trained as a service dog in order to visit shut ins. Last fall, Barbara raised money for Ashley’ ...

Last Wednesday, more than a dozen fathers, grandfathers and other male community members returned to the classrooms of Llano High. The men, among whom were a hog trapper, a police officer, a pilot, a Navy admiral and a youth pastor, were part of a new program called Dads on Campus. The brainchild of Llano High school principal Jenifer Neatherlin, Dads on Campus was designed to increase male involvement in the lives of the students. “Moms just tend to be around more,” said Neatherlin.

“This is the best audit report I’ve ever delivered,” auditor Jack Clark told the Llano County Commissioners on Monday. Clark, of Singleton, Clark & Company P.C., delivered the county’s yearly financial report to commissioners at Monday’s regularly scheduled meeting. He told them the county was in excellent financial condition, and gave the county a clean, unqualified opinion. The former Lampasas County auditor, who held the post for almost three decades, said Llano County’s ...

Imagine that you are 15 to 18 years old, and the only thing to your name is the clothes on your back, a toothbrush and a washcloth. You have no electronics, no cell phone, no social media, no food or snacks, no extra clothes, no wallet, no personal items and no transportation. This was the situation on Friday starting at 5 p.m.

It’s getting to be like Kentucky basketball: “One and Done.” Yes, that’s only the truth for the last two, but the Llano boys are about to get their fourth head basketball coach in four years. Aaron Nuckles is leaving. You can’t blame him. Born and raised in Lampasas, he was a Badger player, graduate, and assistant coach.

Two nights resulted in two nasty losses for the baseball Jackets. The first one, March 21, was okay for a while, but visiting Burnet, with the score 2-2, got two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh to erase the paraphrase, “The Tie is Cast.” The final was 7-2. Three nights later at Liberty Hill, Llano fell—in painful fashion—to the Panthers, 16-1.

ABILENE—He overcame a Rocky start but avoided a knockout. He had family and the school principal in the Taylor County Expo Center stands, and they had been assured by the media the young man would be a strong representative of Llano High. The pressure/adversity list concluded with another Rocky reference— he ignored a nose bleed in the waning seconds of his final challenge. And, yes, despite it all, Dakoda Trull scripted an excellent performance, finishing fifth in the 242-pound c ...

When you beat someone badly, you’re supposed to act like you’ve been there before—and the Lady Jackets did just that, March 21—although I don’t know if I would have—after an 11-1, run-rule whipping of Burnet. Actually, they had been there before. In a tournament game in Johnson City, March 3, Llano belted the Bulldogs, 11-0. “All through the lineup,” head coach Bobby Williams said, concerning the 19-4A triumph, “everybody contributed.” This was the first district victor ...

WIMBERLEY—It seemed like it took a while for some excitement to flower on the Llano High Track & Field team, March 23, but when the windy night came to a conclusion, the good outran the bad. Ray Dixon’s day included a gold medal and his only loss of the year, and, oh, one other thing: an invitation to the prestigious Texas Relays on the UT campus, March 31 and April 1. “Awesome,” Ray said of learning he had qualified for the Relays in the shot put and discus.

Myrtle M. Kimbrough Hazelwood, 89, of Highland Haven, Texas passed away on March 17, 2017 surrounded by her family. She was born to Lonnie D. and Bessie (Austin) Moore on February 3, 1928 in Wilson, Texas in Lynn County. Myrtle graduated from Tahoka High School in Tahoka, and graduated from Scoggins Beauty Academy in Abilene.

Ardis Virginia Patterson passed away March 21, 2017 in Llano, Texas at the age of 83. She was born on April 28, 1933 in Cannon Falls, Minnesota to Carl Sorensen and Ruby (Banks). Ardis was a resident of Llano for more than 40 years since coming from Burnet, and was the previous owner of the Gingerbread House. Ardis is preceded in death by her parents, Carl Sorenson and Ruby Sorenson; and brother, Connie Sorenson. She is survived by her lifelong partner, Fred Shaffer; sons, John D.

All are invited to attend an upcoming Seder Supper, a Christian version of the traditional Jewish Passover service at Grace Episcopal Church, 1200 Oatman, on Tuesday, April 4, at 5:30 p.m. Passover is the oldest and most important of Jewish religious festivals and marks the beginning of the Jewish religious year.