April 17, 2019 Issue

You may have already noticed, but Cox Paving is back in town and in full force on the Street Project. The rain and flooding from last fall caused delays that pushed the project into an unfavorable time of the year for paving. Cox Paving and their subcontractors have been repairing the base coat and potholes on many of the streets on the north side of town prior to application of rubberized chip seal, or the top coat.

The American Legion Post 370 asked the Llano City Council to name the traffic circle next to the Legion Hall, “Frank Griggs Circle,” since it has not been named. Post 370 is named in his honor when the American Legion Department of Texas was chartered in 1934. Corporal Griggs was a son of Llano.

GRANITE SHOALS—On April 10, 2019, at 9:13 a.m., a 911 call was received reporting a harassment and a shot fired into the air. Officers quickly responded to the report in the 2200 block of Washington Drive. On arrival, the first officer attempted to make contact with the suspect, later identified as Gregory Edward Beversdorf, at his travel trailer residence.

Last week the drilling crew wrapped up the remaining shafts in the river bed and is in the process of mobilizing drilling equipment onto the south abutment (bent 15).  Beams were set at span 8-10 and crews have begun setting bridge deck panels at these spans as well.  Columns will be poured at bent 12 and 13 this week.

Super Star David Frizzell After the thunderstorms left the area on Saturday morning, April 13, there was a roar of a different kind as the American Antique Car Club rolled into Llano with drivers coming from as far as Dallas. Their destination was twofold—one, to have a meal at Cooper’s Old Time Pit BBQ, and the other was to make a stop at the Lantex Theatre for the Llano Country Opry.

On Thursday, May 2, the Llano Tea Party meeting will host Pastor Rafael Cruz as speaker and guest at Schorlemmer Hall in Llano (St. James Lutheran Church). Rafael Cruz is a powerful example of the American Dream. Born in Cuba, Rafael lived and suffered under a cruel, oppressive dictator. He began fighting Batista’s regime as a teenager and was imprisoned and tortured, simply because he wanted to be free.

The City Elections are just around the corner. Early voting will take place April 22- April 30thand election day will be Saturday, May 4. All voting will take place at the library. This article is not about the candidates, but rather a plea to ask everyone to exercise their right as a citizen.

Teachers representing public and private schools from Burnet, Kingsland, Llano, and Marble Falls gathered together on Monday, April 8, to celebrate the 85th birthday of the Alpha Chi chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. The Alpha Chi chapter was organized at the Driskill Hotel in Austin, TX on March 10, 1934 and has faithfully served local teachers from Burnet and Llano counties for over eight decades.

A volunteer instructor of the Small Engine/Shop class at Llano Christian Academy was inspired to build prayer boxes for the First Responders of the Llano area with his students at LCA. God inspired Mr. Ouverson to help the students build the prayer boxes and place them in local churches that the students had discussed. The boxes are for the church family to write notes of prayer, thanks, and encouragement for the First Responders of the area.

The countdown continues. Pun intended. When we last talked, I introduced you to two of Neville Triplett’s physics classes preparing to build a rocket, which will be launched May 2 in Stonewall. The construction phase is underway. “I do believe, with the amount of planning, it will launch successfully,”said Andrew Cantrill, who is head of one of the engine crews.

It seems like we can start a sentence each week with, “After a three month delay due to the October 16, 2018 flood, we are back on track.” This week is no different, but it is an exciting one to announce for sure. On Wednesday, April 17, at 11:30 a.m., the Llano Chamber of Commerce will join the City of Llano and TxDOT in officially opening the new sidewalk from town to the John L.

Ethan West, a 22-year-old barber from Mason, is off on an adventure of a lifetime. He began his kayak trip near Junction at Telegraph and 700 Springs and plans on ending up in Matagorda Bay in about three weeks. The trip is roughly 541 miles and to his knowledge, it has not been done before, especially by one person alone. I met up with West at Scott's Slab where he was taking a bit of a breather.

CASA for the Highland Lakes Area (CASA) has been awarded $7,500 from the Texas Bar Foundation to fund its 5-County Mobilization Project. “With this award, we can reimburse our advocates for mileage when visiting their CASA kids within a 50-mile radius of the CASA’s home. Before, we could only reimburse for visits that took them farther than 50 miles away,” said CASA Development Coordinator, Kerry Trull. CASA for the Highland Lakes Area recruits, trains and supervises volunteers from i ...

The 2019 Annual Junior Livestock Show Member Meeting will be held, Monday, April 22, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the John L Kuykendall Center (new concession stands area). This meeting is opened to all LCJLS members who have paid their dues for the 2019 year. This meeting is intended for all members to express their thoughts, concerns, suggestions, etc.

Neither a little early morning rain, nor the threat of thunderstorms kept three dedicated Highland Lakes Texas Exes from picking up trash along 2147 in Cottonwood Shores at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 13. Drivers along 2147 might have thought they were seeing jail inmates working along the road, but they were Ron Nicholas, Mike Lucksinger (pictured), and Dana Rushing.

Top Officeholders Join Together in Push for Funding Solution AUSTIN — On April 10, Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen released a joint statement promoting a twofold method for the 86th Texas Legislature to curb property tax increases across the state. Senate Bill 2 and House Bill 2, the not-yet-approved property tax reform bills, would reduce the revenue growth increment used for determination of the rollback tax rate from 8.0 percent to 2.5 percent f ...

Toni: I am turning 65 in July and am an insulin dependent diabetic. I take two insulins which are rather expensive. I am concerned about the Part D Donut Hole because I’ve seen my husband struggle with his current choice. Last year, my husband Steve changed from his Medicare Supplement Plan with a separate Part D plan to a Medicare Advantage PPO plan.  He was told that his doctors were in the plan and all of my husband’s heart meds were covered.

The countdown continues. Pun intended. When we last talked, I introduced you to two of Neville Triplett’s physics classes preparing to build a rocket, which will be launched May 2 in Stonewall. The construction phase is underway. “I do believe, with the amount of planning, it will launch successfully,”said Andrew Cantrill, who is head of one of the engine crews.

HORSESHOE BAY—When you think of major champions in men’s tennis, some of the names that register quickly are: Tilden and Gonzales; Kramer and Laver; McEnroe, Connors and Borg; Sampras and Federer; and Djokovic and Nadal. The Bryans of California have done more than all but a couple. They are—without question—the best doubles team in the history of the game.

LIBERTY HILL—Courtney Reina claimed her first Area round gold medal in her last Area Meet, April 15, and she leads two Llano High girls in individual contests and one Lady Jacket relay team to the Region IV Meet in Kingsville, April 26-27. Quincy Prince will be the lone Llano boy making the trip, but Aiden Cuthbertson set a school record in the triple jump in the shadow of Panther Stadium. Reina threw the shot put, 39 feet, one inch, to win by 21 inches in an eight-girl gathering that las ...

It was another week that was awfully good for Llano baseball, which possesses jewels on the 2019 diamond: Fredericksburg at home and a visit to Wimberley. (See that story about a meter away.) The Jackets entered the Tuesday-Friday contests 3-1 in district, following a 4-3 loss at Boerne. LHS 4, Fred 2 The way Justin Low was pitching into the sixth inning, April 9, this appeared to be a rather nonchalant victory over the Billies.

WIMBERLEY—You want a statistic you’re going to love? How about this: the baseball Yellow Jackets have played Lampasas, Brownwood, Burnet, Fredericksburg and the Texans eight times in 2019 and are 8-0. Everyone on this page compares in size to LHS about like a Buick compares to a Smart Car. The latest win arrived here nicely wrapped, April 12, as Llano recorded a 7-4 victory to sweep two games from the Texans in the last three weeks.

Easter Eggstravaganza at Llano Nursing and Rehab- April 20: Fun, games, snacks, and a huge Easter Egg hunt. 2-4:00 p.m. April 21: Easter Sunrise Community Worship Service at 7 a.m. at Jacket Stadium. Elevate Church- Big Easter celebration: An egg hunt for the kids, a special egg hunt for children with special needs, barrel train rides and Easter family photos in the bluebonnets, all onsite at our church in Marble Falls.  April 21: 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. church service First Baptist C ...

Toni: I am turning 65 in July and am an insulin dependent diabetic. I take two insulins which are rather expensive. I am concerned about the Part D Donut Hole because I’ve seen my husband struggle with his current choice. Last year, my husband Steve changed from his Medicare Supplement Plan with a separate Part D plan to a Medicare Advantage PPO plan.  He was told that his doctors were in the plan and all of my husband’s heart meds were covered.

FREDERICKSBURG — Hill Country Memorial Wellness Center is hosting a three-week, six session swim clinic called Total Immersion. The class will accommodate all levels of adult swimmers, including those wanting to learn for the first time. The clinic will be taught by U.S. Masters Swim Coach Alan Carr. In addition to welcoming beginner adult swimmers, the swim clinic is also geared toward Masters competitive swimmers and tri-athletes wanting to improve their swim time, as well as those want ...

The Red-Hotts, Fredericksburg High School’s dance team, will present their Second Annual Spring Variety Show "Dancing Through the Decades" on Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27, at 7 p.m. at the Fredericksburg High School Auditorium. Tickets are $5 pre-sale and $8 at the door. Advance tickets are available from any FHS Red-Hott or Director Gail Savage.

Kathy Ann Light passed away at her home in Tow, Texas with her family at her side on Friday, April 12, 2019. She was the eldest of four sisters and was born on December 26, 1954 to Jerry and Molly Cannon of Odessa, Texas. Kathy graduated from Odessa High School in 1973.

George Franklin Stiefel, 73, of Cherokee, Texas, passed away on April 11, 2019. The memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., April 17 at Cherokee Church of Christ. Doug Suggs of Cherokee Church of Christ will be officiating. Visitation immediately following the service at the Church of Christ Annex. George was born in Aiken County Hospital, Aiken, South Carolina on December 7, 1945.

Easter Eggstravaganza at Llano Nursing and Rehab- April 20: Fun, games, snacks, and a huge Easter Egg hunt. 2-4:00 p.m. April 21: Easter Sunrise Community Worship Service at 7 a.m. at Jacket Stadium. Elevate Church- Big Easter celebration: An egg hunt for the kids, a special egg hunt for children with special needs, barrel train rides and Easter family photos in the bluebonnets, all onsite at our church in Marble Falls.  April 21: 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. church service First Baptist C ...

It seems like we can start a sentence each week with, “After a three month delay due to the October 16, 2018 flood, we are back on track.” This week is no different, but it is an exciting one to announce for sure. On Wednesday, April 17, at 11:30 a.m., the Llano Chamber of Commerce will join the City of Llano and TxDOT in officially opening the new sidewalk from town to the John L.

Yesterday was another excellent garden day. The red potatoes have grown tall, and the peach trees are full of tiny peaches and growing fast. Potatoes first— Their origins track to Peru and the extreme north of Bolivia. They were introduced to Europe the second half of the 16th century by the Spanish.

In my humble opinion, wild turkeys are the crappie of the hunting world. At times, such as when crappie gang up in large numbers in the shallows to spawn, they can be ridiculously easy to catch but much of the time, they are one of the more challenging fish to pattern, likewise with turkeys. I have taken first time turkey hunters out in past years when the gobblers would come running to anything that remotely sounded like a hen turkey.

Burnet is booming in a lot of ways, especially economically. The Burnet Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), along with the City of Burnet and other partners, can be very proud of their accomplishments, as well as their plans for additional development. Oftentimes, citizens see the results of this type of work but may not be aware of the many months, or even years, that are invested in making these things happen; not to mention the dollars that it takes to do so. An example is the ribbo ...

Toni: I am turning 65 in July and am an insulin dependent diabetic. I take two insulins which are rather expensive. I am concerned about the Part D Donut Hole because I’ve seen my husband struggle with his current choice. Last year, my husband Steve changed from his Medicare Supplement Plan with a separate Part D plan to a Medicare Advantage PPO plan.  He was told that his doctors were in the plan and all of my husband’s heart meds were covered.

As big a fan as I am of Tiger, I admit I never thought he would win another Major. Not because he couldn’t shoot a fine 72-hole score, but either a great name or week to week also-ran could brew a 20-under card and beat him. The competition, which becomes more enriched in each era, is so good, first names will almost suffice: Rory, Dustin, Justin (Rose and Thomas), Brooks, Jordan (and his game will return), Xander and Francesco.

CASA for the Highland Lakes Area (CASA) has been awarded $7,500 from the Texas Bar Foundation to fund its 5-County Mobilization Project. “With this award, we can reimburse our advocates for mileage when visiting their CASA kids within a 50-mile radius of the CASA’s home. Before, we could only reimburse for visits that took them farther than 50 miles away,” said CASA Development Coordinator, Kerry Trull. CASA for the Highland Lakes Area recruits, trains and supervises volunteers from i ...

The 2019 Annual Junior Livestock Show Member Meeting will be held, Monday, April 22, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the John L Kuykendall Center (new concession stands area). This meeting is opened to all LCJLS members who have paid their dues for the 2019 year. This meeting is intended for all members to express their thoughts, concerns, suggestions, etc.

Neither a little early morning rain, nor the threat of thunderstorms kept three dedicated Highland Lakes Texas Exes from picking up trash along 2147 in Cottonwood Shores at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 13. Drivers along 2147 might have thought they were seeing jail inmates working along the road, but they were Ron Nicholas, Mike Lucksinger (pictured), and Dana Rushing.

In my humble opinion, wild turkeys are the crappie of the hunting world. At times, such as when crappie gang up in large numbers in the shallows to spawn, they can be ridiculously easy to catch but much of the time, they are one of the more challenging fish to pattern, likewise with turkeys. I have taken first time turkey hunters out in past years when the gobblers would come running to anything that remotely sounded like a hen turkey.

Runners and walkers are invited to Fredericksburg Saturday, April 27, for the 26th annual Fredericksburg Wildflower Run/Walk. The route will follow a scenic course in and around Fredericksburg, beginning and ending at Marktplatz downtown where parking, restrooms, and registration will be available. The Wildflower Run offers 5K and 10K distances for runners and walkers of all ages and a Fun Dash for Kids ages 4-12. The stretch and warm-up is sponsored and led by fitness professionals fro ...

Burnet is booming in a lot of ways, especially economically. The Burnet Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), along with the City of Burnet and other partners, can be very proud of their accomplishments, as well as their plans for additional development. Oftentimes, citizens see the results of this type of work but may not be aware of the many months, or even years, that are invested in making these things happen; not to mention the dollars that it takes to do so. An example is the ribbo ...

On Saturday, April 27, The Native Plant Society of Texas, Fredericksburg chapter, is offering the Native Landscape Certification Program: Level 1. The introductory class is open to the public. Homeowners, property owners, landscapers, architects, nursery employees, and Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners are encouraged to attend. The day-long class will be held at the Central Texas Electrical Cooperative (CTEC) office located at 386 Friendship Lane, Fredericksburg, TX 78624. This course ...

Top Officeholders Join Together in Push for Funding Solution AUSTIN — On April 10, Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen released a joint statement promoting a twofold method for the 86th Texas Legislature to curb property tax increases across the state. Senate Bill 2 and House Bill 2, the not-yet-approved property tax reform bills, would reduce the revenue growth increment used for determination of the rollback tax rate from 8.0 percent to 2.5 percent f ...

FREDERICKSBURG — Hill Country Memorial Wellness Center is hosting a three-week, six session swim clinic called Total Immersion. The class will accommodate all levels of adult swimmers, including those wanting to learn for the first time. The clinic will be taught by U.S. Masters Swim Coach Alan Carr. In addition to welcoming beginner adult swimmers, the swim clinic is also geared toward Masters competitive swimmers and tri-athletes wanting to improve their swim time, as well as those want ...

The Red-Hotts, Fredericksburg High School’s dance team, will present their Second Annual Spring Variety Show "Dancing Through the Decades" on Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27, at 7 p.m. at the Fredericksburg High School Auditorium. Tickets are $5 pre-sale and $8 at the door. Advance tickets are available from any FHS Red-Hott or Director Gail Savage.