October 28, 2015 Issue

It's been a very busy month! The Board of Directors and I have been working very hard on our largest fundraiser of the year, Wild Game Dinner. Proceeds from this event help maintain Chamber office expenses and promote tourism to Mason. I would like to introduce you to our Board of Directors: President – Brandy Neece, Vice President – Sabin Nelson, Treasurer – Chad Schmidt, Secretary – Courtney Nix, Christina Gonzales, Jared Henrich, Monica Hinckley, Crockett Keller, Robert Owens, Tammy ...

November is National Picture Book Month, and if you have little ones, you'll find a great selection of both fiction and non-fiction books in the Kid Zone of the library. Picture books are often a child's first experience in finding pleasure in stories and stimulates a desire to read words.

I am really getting excited. My favorite day of the year is the day that Daylight Savings Time goes away. This year, that is on November 1. I am an old math teacher and I know that you cannot save daylight. Daylight is not saved by artificially changing the time so there is less daylight in the morning and more daylight in the evening.

Grammas' Goulash This recipe is my families' "all time" favorite recipe. My mother fed a lot of kids and grandkids with this dish. I am sure most of my childhood friends remember it fondly. Even my kids request this for their "Birthday" meals or when they are coming in for the weekend.

Tim Stark was 'terrified.' Now, before we go any further, I'd just like to point out here that I'm not going to make fun of Tim Stark for having a name associated with terror, and also being terrified. If I'd been writing the story about Tim, for the York Press, I'd probably have made some bad joke about it, like, 'Tim Stark realized stark terror,' or 'Terror.

What's the first thing you say to someone after, "HI!"? It's most likely, "How are you"? Why do you have to ask? Do you really want to know all the details? I thought so. So, what could you replace the, "How are you," bit? There has to be a better starter of the conversation than "HI, HOW ARE YOU"!

A vintage Mason County quilt is being raffled by the Voca Quilting Club. The quilt top was made in Pontotoc during the 1930s. It was completely hand pieced by Eydthe Perilee McCloud and her daughter, Pauline Grace Jordan Parker. The top was donated to the Voca club by Murray and Jeanette Jordan.

"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and caldron bubble. Fillet of a fenny snake, In the caldron boil and bake; Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog, Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg and howlet's wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. ... Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and caldron bubble. Cool it with a baboon's blood, Then the charm is firm and good." [From Shakespeare's Macbeth.] All Hallow's Eve near ...

Pamela Jary Rosser, the first onsite conservator at the Alamo will speak at the annual Friends of the Library meeting at 6:00 p.m. on November 5, 2015. For over 300 years, the Alamo has been a crossroads for history. From its early days as a Spanish mission and site of the 1836 battle that enshrined it in the hearts of Texas, to its role in the commercial development of an American city, the Alamo is a place like no other. Our speaker, Pamela is native to San Antonio.

On November 7, 2015, the Castell School will be serving homemade chili, cornbread, desserts and all the trimmings from 11:00 a.m. until 3 p.m., or as long as it lasts. You will be able to drive through the old Castell schoolyard in "Downtown" Castell and get your chili and fixings to go, or "come on in"

The Fine Arts Association of the Hill Country is hosting a sale of 5" x 7" paintings by member artists, on Saturday, October 31, from 8:00 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Topaz Bakery. All paintings will be sold for the price of $20 each and all funds will go into the FAAHC Scholarship Fund.

The Mason Volunteer Fire Department received a check for $150 recently from Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Companies as an expression of thanks fro the department's work on the property of Mike Merrill. The money will be used for their loss prevention program. The Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Companies pay fire departments this amount when the department works at a fire in rural areas, involving property insured by them. The Insurance Company believes fire departments have contributed to reduce the ...

Helen M. Smith, 78 of Victoria passed away on Friday, October 23, 2015. She was born in Brady, TX on December 5, 1936, to Bill and Marie Schooley Morgeson. Helen retired from the City of Victoria and the County Treasurers' office after 25 years. She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth (Robert) Johnston, Theresa (Gaylen) Youngblood both of Victoria; five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L.

It's that time of year! The Mason County Chamber of Commerce Wild Game Dinner is scheduled for November 14, 2015 at the Ft. Mason Park Community Building. The doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. This year we are giving away 40 + guns including a unique, original Henry Rifle.

Hill Country Memorial Hospital Foundation is hosting an annual Wills Clinic Thursday, November 5, at the Fredericksburg Inn and Suites Barons Creek Conference Center which is located at 201 South Washington Street, in Fredericksburg. The HCMH Foundation is sponsoring the event as a free public service to the community. The clinic will begin at 1p.m.

The Hill Country Astronomers (HCA) will meet at 6:30 PM, Monday, November 2, at the Hill Country University Center, 2818 East US Hwy 290 in Fredericksburg. Club members Ryan Behrends, Mark Ward and Jack Petersen will talk about the three club telescopes available for members to borrow. Earlier this year, a local amateur astronomer passed away, and his wife, Susan Weddington, donated his telescopes to Hill Country Astronomers.

PART-TIME LVN needed at the LBJ Nursing Home in Johnson City. Apply at the LBJ Nursing Home. Call Billye at 830-868-4093. CLASS A CDL DRIVER WANTED: Hazmat and tanker endorsements a plus. Five years experience preferred. Medical insurance available. Asphalt experience a plus. EEO. 1-830-833-1402. STEADY STEPS WEEKDAY MINISTRIES is looking for a new daycare teacher.

Mark Hierholzer will be presenting a concert of free improvisation on the piano at Hill Country Evangelical Free Church, 107 East Lower Crabapple in Fredericksburg at 3 PM on Sunday, November 8. Hierholzer is director of the Fredericksburg Chorale and the German Choirs. He performs his compositions and improvisations regularly in Fredericksburg and surrounding areas.

The countdown is on for Mason's first Fall Art Fest scheduled for this Saturday, October 31 from 11-4pm. Artists of all shapes and sizes from the Texas Hill Country will be taking to the sidewalks with their creative endeavors. Some will even be working their magic right before our eyes! Texas born award winning sculptor Irene "Cookie"

The Mason High School National Honor Society and United Blood Services are teaming up once again to host the annual Mason High School Blood Drive! The Blood Drive will be held in the high school auditorium from 10:00 am to 2:00pm on Friday, November 6th. Walk-ins are welcomed, but you may also schedule an appointment by contacting the high school office or by going online to www.blood hero.com and entering the sponsor code: masonhs.

River of Life Church will be holding their 9th Annual Fall Festival on Saturday, October 31st from 5 - 8 p.m. There will be free food, a variety of fun games, Cake Walk, Giant Inflatable Slide, Bouncy Castle, Obstacle Course, Laser Tag, Prize Booth and of course plenty of candy!

The Mason Co. M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library is hosting Ghost Stories!! on Thursday, October 29th, at 6:30 P.M. in the Stribling Room of the library. John L. Davis is the storyteller, and he is especially known for his ghost stories. The program is suitable for adults and student but may be too spooky for very young children.

BROWNWOOD – Texas 4-H Youth Development now offers the opportunity for 4-H members to develop life skills and character through its new Leadership Experience Adventure Program. The program, which is held at the Texas 4-H Conference Center near Brownwood, is designed to provide 4-H youth leaders a variety of educational and self-enrichment experiences in an exhilarating environment, said program coordinators. "We use the 4-H center's challenge course as the primary venue for the program,"

Meet HOPE. She is a super sweet cuddle bug. Crate trained. Housebroken. Never met a stranger and a very happy go lucky girl. Hope is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, heart worm negative and will be microchipped before going to her forever home. If you are interested in learning more about Hope, please call SECOND CHANCE – MASON ANIMAL RESCUE At 325/347-6929 or e-mail to [email protected]

When someone starts advertising, Someone starts buying; When someone starts buying, Someone starts selling; When someone starts selling, Someone starts making; When someone starts making, Someone starts working; When someone starts working, Someone starts earning; When someone starts earning, Someone starts buying.

HARDWOOD FLOORS installed by a Certified Installer. Installation of all hardwood floors at reasonable price - Call 830-392-6013 or 830-385-2005. Installers are certified by Armstrong Flooring. References available upon request. WELDER REPAIR: MIG, TIG, Bobcats & Plasma Cutters. Full Service.Miller & Hobart Authorized. Spring Tune-Ups. Call 325-347-6477. FENCING, WELDING, SPRAY MESQUITE, CUT CEDAR.

PASTURE OR GRAZING LEASE FOR LIVESTOCK WANTED. Any size property considered. Call Randy 325-347-2520. FERTILIZER APPLICATION for wheat, oats and rye, N-TEXX-15-5-5 with microbes. Organic N-TEXX soil inoculant with humas increases germination/growth. $22/acre applied. Damon Berry, 254-793-2318 or 254-702-3797. IS PRICKLY PEAR or MESQUITE A PROBLEM ON YOUR LAND? For individual plant spraying call Gary Bates, Certified Pesticide Applicator.

WINDMILLS and WATER TANKS WANTED. Call Fbg. 830-456-1988.

FOR ALL YOUR PROPANE AND GAS INSTALLATION NEEDS call Community Service & Supply, Inc. Reliable and trusted since 1963. OLIVER CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION: Specialize in slabs, driveways, sidewalk, add-ons, porches, scoring. Call for FREE estimate. 830-798-4011 or 830-798-3983, please leave message. AA MEETING EVERY TUESDAY & THURSDAY EVENING 7:00pm AT THE HISTORICAL BUILDING. LLANO GUN SHOW: October 31st and November 1st.

LONE STAR STORAGE: Four sizes available NOW - as low as $45.00 per month. Call 347-6238 or 347-4226. TRIPLE AAA STORAGE UNITS now available, 1429 East Hwy. 29. Call 347-5360. BAXTER STORAGE UNITS for rent. 5x10, 10x10, 12x20. Please call 325-347-2811 or 325-347-7134. MOVE IN SPECIAL. (2) One Bedroom. Come by 511 Merrill Street.

Friday night's matchup with Brackett had a lot of unique aspects. It began with a start time one hour earlier than usual due to the threat of rainfall for the area. After that beginning, it would be a night fans will well remember. Half way through the first quarter, the Punchers began pulling together their momentum and Seth Hudson sent a pass out to Evan Dayton who shot across the goal for the first score of the night.

Three former Mason Punchers that will be playing for the Hardin Simmons Cowboys this Saturday in a crucial American Southwest Conference Showdown against Mary Hardin Baylor in Abilene this Saturday with kickoff slated at 1 p.m. Both teams come in with an undefeated record of 8-0. Hardin Simmons comes in ranked 12th in the Nation which is their highest ranking in quite some time.

The 2015-16 Mason Cowgirl basketball season is just a few short weeks from tip-off. The Texas Association of Basketball Coaches preseason poll has been released and the Cowgirls are ranked 8th among Class AA schools. You will be able to meet all the Mason Cowgirl basketball teams on Tuesday, November 3rd at 6:30pm in the high school gym.

Meet HOPE. She is a super sweet cuddle bug. Crate trained. Housebroken. Never met a stranger and a very happy go lucky girl. Hope is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, heart worm negative and will be microchipped before going to her forever home. If you are interested in learning more about Hope, please call SECOND CHANCE – MASON ANIMAL RESCUE At 325/347-6929 or e-mail to [email protected]

BROWNWOOD – Texas 4-H Youth Development now offers the opportunity for 4-H members to develop life skills and character through its new Leadership Experience Adventure Program. The program, which is held at the Texas 4-H Conference Center near Brownwood, is designed to provide 4-H youth leaders a variety of educational and self-enrichment experiences in an exhilarating environment, said program coordinators. "We use the 4-H center's challenge course as the primary venue for the program,"

The Mason Co. M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library is hosting Ghost Stories!! on Thursday, October 29th, at 6:30 P.M. in the Stribling Room of the library. John L. Davis is the storyteller, and he is especially known for his ghost stories. The program is suitable for adults and student but may be too spooky for very young children.

River of Life Church will be holding their 9th Annual Fall Festival on Saturday, October 31st from 5 - 8 p.m. There will be free food, a variety of fun games, Cake Walk, Giant Inflatable Slide, Bouncy Castle, Obstacle Course, Laser Tag, Prize Booth and of course plenty of candy!

The Mason High School National Honor Society and United Blood Services are teaming up once again to host the annual Mason High School Blood Drive! The Blood Drive will be held in the high school auditorium from 10:00 am to 2:00pm on Friday, November 6th. Walk-ins are welcomed, but you may also schedule an appointment by contacting the high school office or by going online to www.blood hero.com and entering the sponsor code: masonhs.

The countdown is on for Mason's first Fall Art Fest scheduled for this Saturday, October 31 from 11-4pm. Artists of all shapes and sizes from the Texas Hill Country will be taking to the sidewalks with their creative endeavors. Some will even be working their magic right before our eyes! Texas born award winning sculptor Irene "Cookie"

The Hill Country Astronomers (HCA) will meet at 6:30 PM, Monday, November 2, at the Hill Country University Center, 2818 East US Hwy 290 in Fredericksburg. Club members Ryan Behrends, Mark Ward and Jack Petersen will talk about the three club telescopes available for members to borrow. Earlier this year, a local amateur astronomer passed away, and his wife, Susan Weddington, donated his telescopes to Hill Country Astronomers.

Hill Country Memorial Hospital Foundation is hosting an annual Wills Clinic Thursday, November 5, at the Fredericksburg Inn and Suites Barons Creek Conference Center which is located at 201 South Washington Street, in Fredericksburg. The HCMH Foundation is sponsoring the event as a free public service to the community. The clinic will begin at 1p.m.

It's that time of year! The Mason County Chamber of Commerce Wild Game Dinner is scheduled for November 14, 2015 at the Ft. Mason Park Community Building. The doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. This year we are giving away 40 + guns including a unique, original Henry Rifle.

The Mason Volunteer Fire Department received a check for $150 recently from Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Companies as an expression of thanks fro the department's work on the property of Mike Merrill. The money will be used for their loss prevention program. The Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Companies pay fire departments this amount when the department works at a fire in rural areas, involving property insured by them. The Insurance Company believes fire departments have contributed to reduce the ...

On November 7, 2015, the Castell School will be serving homemade chili, cornbread, desserts and all the trimmings from 11:00 a.m. until 3 p.m., or as long as it lasts. You will be able to drive through the old Castell schoolyard in "Downtown" Castell and get your chili and fixings to go, or "come on in"

Pamela Jary Rosser, the first onsite conservator at the Alamo will speak at the annual Friends of the Library meeting at 6:00 p.m. on November 5, 2015. For over 300 years, the Alamo has been a crossroads for history. From its early days as a Spanish mission and site of the 1836 battle that enshrined it in the hearts of Texas, to its role in the commercial development of an American city, the Alamo is a place like no other. Our speaker, Pamela is native to San Antonio.

I am really getting excited. My favorite day of the year is the day that Daylight Savings Time goes away. This year, that is on November 1. I am an old math teacher and I know that you cannot save daylight. Daylight is not saved by artificially changing the time so there is less daylight in the morning and more daylight in the evening.

The Mason Lions Club met Tuesday, October 20th for it's regular weekly luncheon meeting. There were 28 members and 7 visitors in attendance. Among the visitors were 3 Mason High School Seniors, Amber Hengst, Whitney Gainer and Heather Shaw. Lion Ken Cordero asked for prayers for Treasurer Fritz Landers who had heart surgey yesterday. Lion Jim Heath was responsible for the program and introduced Pam Kruse, Mason ISD Superintendent.

Helen M. Smith, 78 of Victoria passed away on Friday, October 23, 2015. She was born in Brady, TX on December 5, 1936, to Bill and Marie Schooley Morgeson. Helen retired from the City of Victoria and the County Treasurers' office after 25 years. She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth (Robert) Johnston, Theresa (Gaylen) Youngblood both of Victoria; five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L.

Gerry, Any voter on the fence about the school bond election would do well to call our superintendent to schedule a walkthrough of the 1952 elementary school. Got my attention and the restrooms are a real show stopper. I'm showing my Puncher Pride – I'm voting "FOR" the bond. JD Kidwell

The City of Mason and Mason County, in a cost cutting move several years ago, eliminated the City's police department, and signed an interlocal agreement with the County to help pay the County for providing law enforcement for the city residents. In theory, this is a completely workable arrangement. However, cracks have been appearing in the agreement during the last couple of years, culminating in some very heated meetings during the last few months. The City of Mason had been paying the Count ...