June 12, 2019 Issue

On Monday, May 10, the Commissioners addressed the regulations governing animal control in Llano County. Commissioner Linda Raschke and Matt Rienstra have spent approximately one and a half years making sure that it meets current standards and is in clear language. The terminology is now clearly explained. The list of the Schedule of Fees is also included for the first time.

Llano City Council held a workshop on Monday, June 10, the topic being utility rates. Mayor Gail Lang started off by saying, “I don’t want us to go off willy-nilly and lower rates this month and raise them again next month.” Mayor Pro-Tem, Sammy Leverett, agreed with the mayor and stated that the Council needs to, “Agree on how we want to structure it before we start.” This will give them direction on what they want to accomplish.

On Monday, June 10, Main Street Advisory Board announced that Main Street Affairs has been bought by Chuck and Brittany Baker. They will open on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. as “The Barrel House.” The shop is in the process of obtaining their full liquor license. The Barrel House will be featured in a later edition of The Llano News. The board welcomed their new member Alecia Williams.

Bulls 12 – Cowboys 0 It all began in 1919, and except for war years and a flood, it has been around for 84 years, the first full weekend in June. On Thursday night, beginning at 6:30, slack was run with nearly 200 performances of tie down roping, breakaway roping, team roping and barrel racing.

In another effort to raise some money to "raise the roof" -- well technically the ceiling, but the other has a better ring to it, the Llano Art Guild hosted a chili supper Saturday night. Entertainment was provided by Emmet and Debbie McPherson, and while all the chili was yummy for the tummy, I'd say the brownies stole the show.

On Saturday, June 15, the Llano Artwalk will commence from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., where participants can venture into shops and businesses to watch art demonstrations, view artwork and have the opportunity to purchase works made by over 30 local artists. Below is a list of merchants and artists who will be participating in the 18 stops featured in the Llano Artwalk: 1.

You are all invited to a ribbon cutting and welcome to the Llano Chamber of Commerce at the Pink Cactus on Friday at 5:30 p.m. They are located at 407 W. Young St. We are also returning the waters of the Llano River on Saturday with our monthly sunset kayak trip.

Governor Signs School Safety, Mental Health Bill Gov. Greg Abbott on June 6 signed three bills into law to improve school safety and expand access to mental health resources.  “After the horrific shooting (at Santa Fe High School on May 18, 2018) and the subsequent school safety roundtables, I made school safety an emergency item to help prevent a tragedy like this from happening again,” Abbott said.

If you were gamblin' for a good time at the Ramblin' Rose on Saturday night, you hit the jackpot. Ben Watson and Hired Guns kicked off the rodeo dance with some old favorites that had every girl wishing her man would take her for a spin on the dance floor.

CASA for the Highland Lakes Area announced Leo and Janelle Boutte of Llano County as recipients of the Volunteer Advocates of the year for 2019. Each year the CASA staff recognizes a volunteer who has gone above and beyond in serving CASA children from the five counties (Blanco, Burnet, Lampasas, Llano and San Saba) we serve.

UM ARMY (United Methodist Action Reach-Out Missions by Youth) visited Llano last week, providing minor home repair and construction needs, painting, and yardwork at no charge to members of the community who needed assistance. UM ARMY is a Christian organization whose mission and purpose is to provide Christ-centered experiences for middle and high school students and adult volunteers.

Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center (HCCAC) is excited to announce they will be offering annual training to child care providers or community members. HCCAC will be offering a two-hour training in Blanco, Burnet, Copperas Cove, Johnson City, Kingsland, Lampasas, Llano, Marble Falls and San Saba. Training hours include: recognizing and reporting child abuse, infant brain development, sudden infant death syndrome and abusive head trauma and shaken baby syndrome.

LAMPASAS—The old (very old) saying is, “You only have one chance to make a first impression.” The basketball Jackets actually had two, June 6, and made a good one in Game 2 of the opening night of the Badgers’ month-long league. “Real pleased,” said Chris Armstrong, heading into his third year as Llano High Head Coach.

In my last ‘Message from the Mayor’ I talked about the copious rains that we’ve had lately, but this time, I want to talk about the lack of (or possible lack of) rainfall as the summer moves on. Although we are predicted to have a wetter than normal summer, it doesn’t take very much of a lack of rain to put us into drought status.

The Burnet County Historical Commission (BCHC) is pleased to announce a Texas Ranger Memorial Cross Dedication at the gravesites of two former Texas Rangers and pioneer Burnet citizens: Hugh McCoy and Archibald Lewalen McCoy. During the Ranger ceremony, the gravesite of another Burnet pioneer, E. O.” Jiggs” Kleen, will be marked with a medallion from the Sons of the Republic of Texas.

Projects to repair and rehabilitate flood control structures across Texas will now be funded thanks to a $150 million appropriations bill legislators passed this session. The governor signed the bill into law on June 6. These structures serve as a critical protection for our state’s infrastructure, private property, and lives.

The Fredericksburg Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas invites all members of the community to hear the free presentation, “What’s All the Buzz? Native Bees of Texas”, by Jessica Beckham, Ph.D. It may be surprising to learn that the familiar honeybee is an introduced species in the Americas. Hives crossed the ocean with New England colonists only a few 100 years ago.

The Central Texas peach crop is abundant this year despite enduring early and late freezes, heavy rain and recent strong storms. According to the Hill Country Fruit Council, the 2019 peach crop is very strong. Several stands have the white-fleshed peach in now. Varieties are a week or two earlier than normal, as the first Freestone Harvester began ripening the first week of June.  According to experts, most of the Hill Country fruit is ripening, and it’s a bumper crop, according to are ...

LAMPASAS—The old (very old) saying is, “You only have one chance to make a first impression.” The basketball Jackets actually had two, June 6, and made a good one in Game 2 of the opening night of the Badgers’ month-long league. “Real pleased,” said Chris Armstrong, heading into his third year as Llano High Head Coach.

ROUND ROCK—Unless they begin saying baseball games can end in a tie, you cannot get any closer to a state championship—and still not win—than the Blanco Panthers did June 8 at Dell Diamond. Wall (39-1) prevailed 2-1 on a hot morning when Blanco pitcher Zack Wisdom, a freshman, was sensational, and the defense was superb.

GEORGETOWN—The high school football season—real tackle football—either got underway early or ended late, June 7, in the All-Star FCA Unity Bowl at Birkelbach Field. Llano High’s Cade Fly and Mason Brooks and Defensive Coordinator Clint Easley helped the Blue team win on the last play of the game, 16-14, over the Gold. “It’s a great experience to play with this caliber of players,” said Brooks, a safety, who actually was filling the position of a hybrid safety/linebacker.

We’re not mad at anyone, just want to have a little fun, admittedly at the expense of the Southeastern Conference. We admire the guts of our neighbor, Texas A&M, to take on such a significant challenge, but we play on the side of the Big 12 in this report, which, we believe, recently, has truly held its own with all conferences in the land including the SEC. Okay, the Baylor women won the 2019 national championship in basketball, beating Notre Dame, 82-81, in the title game.

On Saturday, June 15, the Llano Artwalk will commence from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., where participants can venture into shops and businesses to watch art demonstrations, view artwork and have the opportunity to purchase works made by over 30 local artists. Below is a list of merchants and artists who will be participating in the 18 stops featured in the Llano Artwalk: 1.

You are all invited to a ribbon cutting and welcome to the Llano Chamber of Commerce at the Pink Cactus on Friday at 5:30 p.m. They are located at 407 W. Young St. We are also returning the waters of the Llano River on Saturday with our monthly sunset kayak trip.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Llano County, will be having a Private Pesticide Applicator Training Class on Monday, June 24.  Class will begin with registration at 8:00 a.m. with the training beginning at 8:15 a.m.  Cost of the training if you pick up your materials is $80.  If info is mailed to you, the cost will be $90.  Location of training will be at the Llano County Extension Office, 1447 East State Hwy.

Imagine what it feels like to be the person who shows a child that heroes still walk the earth and that all grown-ups are not the same. To be the one that can restore a child’s faith in people and can give them hope for the future. Think about a time in your life when you felt totally alone and in need, and someone stood beside you.

The doorknocker at our home’s entrance sits astride a plaque containing the following quote of Joshua (of wall falling fame): “AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD,” an appropriate goal for any father at any time, but an especially fitting one to ponder on Father’s Day. Who was this committed father whose words expressing his family goal remain familiar to millions millennia later? Joshua had lived an exciting and sometimes dangerous life.

I am often asked for gift ideas for many of my friends that share my interest in the outdoors. Finding that perfect gift can be a daunting task, especially if the shopper does not hunt or fish. Some items such as hunting bows, rifles, or shotguns require some input from the one receiving the gift.

GEORGETOWN—The high school football season—real tackle football—either got underway early or ended late, June 7, in the All-Star FCA Unity Bowl at Birkelbach Field. Llano High’s Cade Fly and Mason Brooks and Defensive Coordinator Clint Easley helped the Blue team win on the last play of the game, 16-14, over the Gold. “It’s a great experience to play with this caliber of players,” said Brooks, a safety, who actually was filling the position of a hybrid safety/linebacker.

The doorknocker at our home’s entrance sits astride a plaque containing the following quote of Joshua (of wall falling fame): “AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD,” an appropriate goal for any father at any time, but an especially fitting one to ponder on Father’s Day. Who was this committed father whose words expressing his family goal remain familiar to millions millennia later? Joshua had lived an exciting and sometimes dangerous life.

To understand the origin of Father’s Day, we must first go back to the origin of Mother’s Day. If Mother’s Day had not been started, we probably would not have a Father’s Day. After the “War Between the States” (erroneously called the American Civil War), an activist named Ann Reeves Jarvis urged a divided West Virginia town to celebrate “Mother’s Work Days.” That brought together the mothers of Confederate and Union soldiers; however, it would be another 40 plus years befor ...

A father has many definitions: role model, leader, provider, home security, snake exterminator, driving instructor, home… But what truly makes a man into a father is the love he has for his children. Though at times fathers feel like they failed at certain things or didn’t handle a situation properly in hindsight, that’s not what their child remembers. A child remembers being so nervous before an elementary school play that they franticly scan the crowd until they see a face they know ...

Governor Signs School Safety, Mental Health Bill Gov. Greg Abbott on June 6 signed three bills into law to improve school safety and expand access to mental health resources.  “After the horrific shooting (at Santa Fe High School on May 18, 2018) and the subsequent school safety roundtables, I made school safety an emergency item to help prevent a tragedy like this from happening again,” Abbott said.

CASA for the Highland Lakes Area announced Leo and Janelle Boutte of Llano County as recipients of the Volunteer Advocates of the year for 2019. Each year the CASA staff recognizes a volunteer who has gone above and beyond in serving CASA children from the five counties (Blanco, Burnet, Lampasas, Llano and San Saba) we serve.

Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center (HCCAC) is excited to announce they will be offering annual training to child care providers or community members. HCCAC will be offering a two-hour training in Blanco, Burnet, Copperas Cove, Johnson City, Kingsland, Lampasas, Llano, Marble Falls and San Saba. Training hours include: recognizing and reporting child abuse, infant brain development, sudden infant death syndrome and abusive head trauma and shaken baby syndrome.

I am often asked for gift ideas for many of my friends that share my interest in the outdoors. Finding that perfect gift can be a daunting task, especially if the shopper does not hunt or fish. Some items such as hunting bows, rifles, or shotguns require some input from the one receiving the gift.

In my last ‘Message from the Mayor’ I talked about the copious rains that we’ve had lately, but this time, I want to talk about the lack of (or possible lack of) rainfall as the summer moves on. Although we are predicted to have a wetter than normal summer, it doesn’t take very much of a lack of rain to put us into drought status.

The Burnet County Historical Commission (BCHC) is pleased to announce a Texas Ranger Memorial Cross Dedication at the gravesites of two former Texas Rangers and pioneer Burnet citizens: Hugh McCoy and Archibald Lewalen McCoy. During the Ranger ceremony, the gravesite of another Burnet pioneer, E. O.” Jiggs” Kleen, will be marked with a medallion from the Sons of the Republic of Texas.

Projects to repair and rehabilitate flood control structures across Texas will now be funded thanks to a $150 million appropriations bill legislators passed this session. The governor signed the bill into law on June 6. These structures serve as a critical protection for our state’s infrastructure, private property, and lives.

The Fredericksburg Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas invites all members of the community to hear the free presentation, “What’s All the Buzz? Native Bees of Texas”, by Jessica Beckham, Ph.D. It may be surprising to learn that the familiar honeybee is an introduced species in the Americas. Hives crossed the ocean with New England colonists only a few 100 years ago.

The Central Texas peach crop is abundant this year despite enduring early and late freezes, heavy rain and recent strong storms. According to the Hill Country Fruit Council, the 2019 peach crop is very strong. Several stands have the white-fleshed peach in now. Varieties are a week or two earlier than normal, as the first Freestone Harvester began ripening the first week of June.  According to experts, most of the Hill Country fruit is ripening, and it’s a bumper crop, according to are ...

We’re not mad at anyone, just want to have a little fun, admittedly at the expense of the Southeastern Conference. We admire the guts of our neighbor, Texas A&M, to take on such a significant challenge, but we play on the side of the Big 12 in this report, which, we believe, recently, has truly held its own with all conferences in the land including the SEC. Okay, the Baylor women won the 2019 national championship in basketball, beating Notre Dame, 82-81, in the title game.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Llano County, will be having a Private Pesticide Applicator Training Class on Monday, June 24.  Class will begin with registration at 8:00 a.m. with the training beginning at 8:15 a.m.  Cost of the training if you pick up your materials is $80.  If info is mailed to you, the cost will be $90.  Location of training will be at the Llano County Extension Office, 1447 East State Hwy.

To understand the origin of Father’s Day, we must first go back to the origin of Mother’s Day. If Mother’s Day had not been started, we probably would not have a Father’s Day. After the “War Between the States” (erroneously called the American Civil War), an activist named Ann Reeves Jarvis urged a divided West Virginia town to celebrate “Mother’s Work Days.” That brought together the mothers of Confederate and Union soldiers; however, it would be another 40 plus years befor ...

A father has many definitions: role model, leader, provider, home security, snake exterminator, driving instructor, home… But what truly makes a man into a father is the love he has for his children. Though at times fathers feel like they failed at certain things or didn’t handle a situation properly in hindsight, that’s not what their child remembers. A child remembers being so nervous before an elementary school play that they franticly scan the crowd until they see a face they know ...