January 13, 2016 Issue

By far, the greatest outdoor invention of our time is the jeep. Well, maybe not the greatest outdoor invention of our time. That would probably be the space blanket. Those things have saved no telling how many hunters and fishers and campers from freezing to death. And from being inconveniently uncomfortable. Maybe the greatest outdoor invention of our time is the ziplock bag.

It's always good to clean out the cobwebs occasionally. I like to do the same thing with this column every now and then. Rather than focusing on one topic, lets look at some of the items bouncing around in my mental attic. Powerball Wednesday night's Powerball is, at this time on Tuesday, projected at $1.4 billion.

Mark your calendars to attend the “Dining with the Governors” luncheon, which will be held at the Lea Lou Co-op (formerly Grosse Lumber and Hardware) on the Square in Mason. The luncheon will be on Saturday, February 20th starting at 11:30AM. The luncheon will follow an historic theme taking the guests on a food journey through the pages of Texas history.

FREE ODEON FILM - JANUARY 13 - BARD OF THE BACKCOUNTRY The ODEON THEATER will be offering a free documentary film on Wednesday, January 13 at 6:30PM as part of the enrichment series that the theater presents to the general public. The film, entitled BARD IN THE BACK COUNTRY, is a very nice look at the business of performing Shakespeare’s works in rural America.

In response to Mayor Hinckley’s City Corner column in last week’s paper where he states “in no way did I, or any person associated with the City, intended to pressure or suggest that we want a significant change in the current law enforcement”. I’m sorry, but Mr Mayor, were you not the one on the local radio station telling us we needed a city police force and were you not the one writing columns in the newspaper stating that the City should have a police department?

Because I was born in England, it only makes sense that I would love kettles and teapots. The surprise is that I don’t like tea! Perhaps I was born in England by mistake. But although I don’t care for tea, I am quite taken with tea kettles. I love kettles fashioned from brass and copper, pewter, nickel, and iron.

Kristin Jordan graduated December 18, 2015 from Texas A&M University. She is the daughter of Ken and Kynda Jordan of San Saba, Texas. A 2012 graduate of San Saba High School, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Leadership Education and Development, with an emphasis in Recreational Parks and Tourism Science.

Mason Bank held their annual drawing for their Bonus Bucks "Shop at Home" promotion during their Open House prior to Christmas. They handed out the awards just after the first of the year. Left to right: Pam Evans, Joan Williams, Sandee Shaw and Sherry Lehmberg. Other winners who were not available for the photo: Shay Baker, Elvira Sanchez, Sherryl Bibb, Larry Haines, & Alyssa Nash.

Varsity Cowgirls @ Early Tuesday, Jan. 5 Mason 20—14—9—11 = 54 Early 6—1—9—6 = 22 Scoring—Steeley Smith--3, Monaco Schmidt--1, Kenley Stockbridge--13, Sara Powell--5, Cheyenne Ivey--2, Kayla Guice--19, Ruby Magnus--3, Katy Armstrong--8. Rebounds--Stockbridge--4, Tedder--3, Powell--5, Ivey--2, Guice--5, Magnus 13, Armstrong--2, Gipson--1. Assists--Smith--1, Schmidt--2, Stockbridge--2, Powell--1, Ivey--1, Guice--4, Magnus--1, Armstrong--1. Blocks--Magnus--4. Steals--Stockbridge--2, ...

Today I’d like to start out with an addendum from Senior Center Director, Mario Arteaga, to last week’s Spotlight of Apolinar Arteaga, Sr. .... Apolinar is reminded of his action in the life he gave his six children: Juana (Reynol) Garza, Maria (Federico) Medellin, Joe (Eva), Mike (Barbara), Paul (Minnie) and Mario Arteaga.

CLEANSING is a great topic for the New Year. If you would like to be healthier or would like to lose weight, a cleanse would be a fabulous place to start. The purpose of cleansing is to help the body get rid of harmful toxins so that it runs more effectively and efficiently. The standard AMERICAN DIET is full of processed and refined foods plus fast foods that tend to overwhelm our bodies and clog not just our arteries, but our livers, colons, lymph systems and kidneys as well.

The Mason Lions Club met Tuesday, January 5th, for it’s monthly business meeting. There were 31 members and no visitors in attendance. “Boss” Lion Joel Kuykendall was responsible for the meeting. Lion Thom Canfield announced that former Lion and long time Mason resident Alex Grosse passed away this morning at The Wyndcrest Convalescent Home in Fredericksburg.

Alex Howard Grosse was born February 4, 1925, on the best street in Mason, Rainey Street. His parents were Alex Egon and Alma Willmann, brother Billy Dick, and sister Jewel Grosse. He attended Mason schools and after graduating he joined the Navy. He served on the eastern U.S. coast during World War II.

I’m tired of pushing buttons on the telephone. I’m an American living in America, so I speak English. A wee bit of German and lesser Spanish. I’m not bilingual, unless you consider profanity a language. If I call a number, I want to talk to a warm body, who speaks Texas English.

One doesn’t hear much about dares anymore, and rarer still are “double dog dares.” Well, Stephenville’s Debbie Beverly issued dares to members of Cub Scout Pack 18 in both 2014 and 2015. They’ve responded, easily topping the goals she set for annual popcorn sales. The proceeds cushion costs of meetings, outings, awards and such.

For the last few months, I have been thinking about some of what Reader’s Digest called “The most Unforgettable Characters” of our area and some of the activities of each that was worthwhile to mention and I think I have come up with a few that will bring back THOSE TIMES. I am sure that many of you still remember my brother,” Cub” Hight who was a resident of the London area most of his life.

Happy New Year! It is almost time for our 2016 Annual Awards Banquet. This year we have some very exciting changes and the event is taking on a somewhat classy flare. The event will take place at the Ft. Mason Community Building on February 18th at 6:00 p.m. At this time, we will recognize our 2015 Business of the Year, Business Man of the Year, Business Woman of the Year, Public Servant of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Educator of the Year and Hall of Fame Individual.

It has been quite busy in our household. Amber is back in school part time. John would rather be in school part time. The old folks are making the usual round of doctors. The weather is not too hot or too cold. Life is good. The trustees of Art United Methodist Church will have a meeting January 20 at 6 pm.

Blank. Blank. Blankety-blank. What a funny word. Blank. Rhymes with bank, sank, and tank. Also dank, rank, and yank. But its history isn’t blank. The word originally was “blanc” (“white”). Comes from Middle English and Old French. According to trusty Webster. From there it went to Frankish “blank.” (Frankish? Is there a Fredish?) The Frankish word means “white, gleaming.” Akin to Old English “blanca.” Meaning “white steed.” And that got convoluted with Indo-European

The City of Mason will be holding a City Election, Saturday, May 7, 2016. City positions up for election this year are: Mayor At-Large, City Commissioner District 1 and City Commissioner District 3. Residents of the City of Mason who desire to place their name on the ballot for one of these positions may do so beginning Wednesday January 20, 2016 until Friday February 19, 2016.

Angelo State University conferred 440 undergraduate and graduate degrees upon 436 graduates during 2015 fall commencement exercises Dec. 12 in San Angelo, Texas. Areas of undergraduate academic study at ASU lead to the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Border Security (B.B.S.), Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Bachelor of Cultural Competence and Security Studies (B.C.C.S.S.), Bachelor of Cultural Fluency and Security Studies (B.C.F.S.S.), Bachelor of Fine Arts ...

The Mason County Republican Women will hold their first luncheon meeting of the new year at noon on Wednesday, January 20 in the Stribling Room of the Mason County Library. The guest speaker will be Attorney Mark Pulliam from Texans for Lawsuit Reform. Mr. Pulliam has had a long and distinguished career in litigation with a specialty in Labor and Employment Law. Members and quests begin gathering at 11:30 with the luncheon starting promptly at noon. Please RSVP to Mary Carlman at 325-347-2290 b ...

Lonnie was born to Leonard J. Sturdivant and Iva Mae Keith Sturdivant on January 21, 1956, in Hobbs, NM. Lonnie was in Little League and Agriculture as a boy. He was always busy. Lonnie began driving big rigs and tractors at 15 years of age. I'm sure his favorite pastimes were roping in the rodeo and fishing.

Alex Howard Grosse was born February 4, 1925, on the best street in Mason, Rainey Street. His parents were Alex Egon and Alma Willmann, brother Billy Dick, and sister Jewel Grosse. He attended Mason schools and after graduating he joined the Navy. He served on the eastern U.S. coast during World War II.

Franklin Willard Brandenberger went to be with his Lord and Savior on 12/31/2015. He was born on his dad's ranch near Hilda, Texas, on 8/6/1925 to his parents, Wesley and Esther Brandenberger. Franklin learned to drive at about 10 years old and had special permission to drive kids from his area of county to school.