October 9, 2019 Issue

Western Trappings on the Llano 2019 is honored to have two of our local artists provide raffle items for this year’s art exhibition. The raffle items are on display at the Llano County Historical Museum. Tickets are $5.00 each and are available at the museum. Ira Kennedy’s “Before the Flood”, a 16”x24” gallery-wrapped canvas, captures a beautiful Hill Country scene complete with fields of bluebonnets.

Western Swing at The Lantex The Llano Country Opry celebrated its 20th anniversary a few months ago and the entertainment just gets better with each performance. On Saturday afternoon a group of musicians came together for the first part of the show that aren’t regulars to the Opry, Michael Morris on Drums and 15 year old fiddle sensation, Wyatt Alemann.

With the approach of hunting season, it is only proper to write a story about one of Llano's more reclusive hunters. This particular hunter has been at it a while, in fact, he's won more than a few awards and captured quite a number of titles. In fact, his trophy wall is lined with them: books.

The Llano Jr. High Daubers had a great night as they traveled to Early and came home with two victories over the Longhorns. The Daubers also had a combined 7th and 8th Grade B team that played a very good game against the Burnet Bulldogs, but ultimately came up short on the scoreboard in a close defeat.

Llano High School with Principal, Jeni Neatherlin gave one of the most awe inspiring pep rally speeches in recent memory at Friday’s Pep Rally. She discussed the competiveness of her family, which I am very well aware of, and how her brother used to call other family member’s heads their kitchen. He would say “I am going into your kitchen and get some milk, or get some cookies” while they were playing Monopoly, in other words, he was getting in their heads “rent free”.

Both the Freshman and JV teams recorded impressive victories over the visiting Comfort Bobcats. This concluded non-district action, as both teams start District play against the Geronimo Navarro Panthers. Llano Freshmen (Combined Black & Orange Teams) 46, Comfort Freshmen 0 The Llano Freshmen came out clicking on all cylinders as they recorded their second consecutive.

“I want to be remembered as a funny guy who was fun to be around.”—Major Slaughter As the only senior member of the 2019-2020 trumpet section, Major Slaughter is in an interesting position. Although he is not the designated section leader, Major has become an unofficial leader within the trumpets, especially those not playing “first” parts.

Bucks Baseball competed in the Fall Grand Slam held in Pflugerville on September 28 and 29. The team rounded out the weekend with a 1-2 record. The weekend consisted of a combined 17 strike outs by Lucas McClintock (10), Blane James (6) and Cooper Holley (1). Offensively the team saw strong hitting by Tanner Stone, Sterling Andrews, Blane James, Derek Griego and Luke Etheredge. The highlight of the weekend came in the form of a triple play to end a hard fought game.

“They’re very good.” Could be the shortest story you’ve ever read, but we’ve got paragraphs in the wings. The opening three words belong to Llano Head Coach Matt Green, and they describe Navarro, Llano’s opponent, October 11. Following the bye week, this contest will open district 13-4A play. “They return tons of experience,” Green continues.

The Llano High football Jackets have been Highlights on Parade this season. Producers of Top Ten lists should have been checking with ISD leaders for the rights to some of this action. The written word is free below. Let your mind and memories construct the moving pictures: The defense shuts out highly-regarded Hondo.

MASON—The freshman did awfully well, and the rest of the Llano High cross country team did fine, October 2, in its second meet in four days. Both challenges were in heat in mid-summer form, ignoring the calendar which says autumn is about two weeks old. Lauren Lee was 19th in a dandy field of 83 on Fort Mason City Park’s golf course.

I’ll admit I don’t watch much regular season baseball, but I am watching some of the playoffs. I do like to see year-end stats, and here are a few good ones: The Astros (107), Dodgers (106), Yankees (103) and Twins (101) exceeded 100 wins. I wonder how many times that many teams have done that in a season?

Three big happenings occur at Packsaddle this month! First is our Follett Book Fair starting October 9 – 17. Don’t miss all the fun, prizes, and books to purchase. Research shows that reading to a child, or a child reading independently at home, significantly improves literacy skills and helps develop life-long learning.

Our October Chamber will be at the Llano Visitor Center next Tuesday, October 15, at 5:30 PM. Hosted by the Llano Xtreme Bull Riding. Come join us and learn more about the event coming up on October 19 along with a host of other events that weekend. This weekend, October 12, two of our members will be hosting fundraisers for their non-profits.

Audrey Meretta Chew Perry went to be with her Heavenly Father on October 3, 2019. Audrey was born in the Esbon community, Texas, on June 5, 1923 to James O. Chew and Winnie Tuckness Chew. She grew up in the Esbon community with 3 siblings. On December 23, 1939 Audrey married Leon Perry of Cherokee.

Bobby Terrell Levensailor, 69, of Llano, Texas died in Austin, Texas on October 5, 2019. He was born on April 17, 1950 to S.L. “Buddy” Levensailor and Clara Skaggs Levensailor in Llano, Texas. He married Shirley Jean Thomas in 1983 and they had three children. Bobby worked in the oil fields, the granite quarries and in construction.

JD (James Don) Gray passed away unexpectedly on August 13, 2019 in Reno, Nevada. He was born March 18, 1979 in Klamath Falls, Oregon to Charlie and Becky Lynn (nee Vaughn) Gray. JD and Angee Nimsic were married in Lake Tahoe on August 4, 2007. He is survived by his loving wife Angee Gray of Reno, NV, and beloved mother, Becky Lynn Vaughn, of San Saba, father, Charlie Gray, of Fairbanks, AK, brother Charles Daniel Gray of Fairbanks,  brother Nick Gray of Bangkok, Thailand and numerous aunts, ...

Joe Nell “JoNell” Southern Smylie passed away at 87 years of age in Beaumont, Texas on October 1, 2019, as a result of natural causes. A resident of Llano, Texas, she had recently moved to Beaumont, Texas to be closer to her family. Joe Nell was born July 14, 1932 in Stockdale, Texas to Woodrow Wilson “Pete” Southern and Gladys Marie McKinny.

Mary Pauline Waltmon Smith (Chu Chu) died peacefully in Austin, Texas, on October 3rd at the age of 96. Chu Chu was born November 6, 1922 in Hearne, Texas, to DeWitt Waltmon and Frances Cummings. She attended the University of Texas in Austin and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Swept off her feet and married Willis (Bill) Maxson, III, LTJG, USN in 1941.

Dear Reader, Last week, due to lack of space, my letter was abbreviated. This week, I'll submit the rest, albeit somewhat updated, having attended the City Council meeting Monday evening. I was glad to see a good turnout because, for one thing, in my opinion, it's going to "take a village" to accomplish the Herculean task of getting the Center back on its feet.

On Tuesday, October 1, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Executive Director in Mason and Llano County, Randy Maenius, announced that ranchers and livestock producers may be eligible for assistance from the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for grazing losses incurred in 2019. According to Maenius, “Both Mason and Llano County recently met qualifying drought ratings that ‘trigger’ eligibility for the Livestock Forage Program on full season imp ...

MARBLE FALLS—They may not have been the exact cars of the 1920s and ’30s, but the work done on them by the owners was superb, and when you talk to these men and women, you know they loved the antiques of the automotive industry. Downtown. October 5. An era comes alive.

AUSTIN—Grants supporting veteran services are available to eligible nonprofit organizations and government agencies from the Fund for Veterans' Assistance (FVA) of the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC). The application deadline for 2020 FVA grants is October 25, 2019. For detailed instructions on how to apply, click https://www.tvc.texas.gov/grants/apply/. Additionally, a webinar on how to apply may be viewed at https://www.tvc.texas.gov/grants/ . Past grants to organizations ranged fr ...

MARBLE FALLS—On October 18, Phoenix Center, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing critical mental health care to local children and families, will move to its permanent location in Horseshoe Bay. The new Phoenix Center site is located at 3340 W SH 71, Horseshoe Bay, Texas, approximately 2.5 miles from the intersection of highways 281 and 71. Phoenix Center will move to temporary mobile office buildings while the state-of-the-art mental health clinic is constructed.