July 13, 2016 Issue

The Mason Garden Club will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at 2 p.m. at the Mason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library, Stribling Room. The program will be a “Making Potpourri” Workshop. This will be a hands-on workshop and each participant will be able to take home a sample.

Amanda McMillan of the Mason Rodeo Association presented a beautiful Tres Rios buckle to Kallie Criswell at the Round Up Rodeo performance. Kallie had the fastest time of all the Mason County contestants in the Round Up Jackpot on Friday. She and her horse, Pokie made a smoking run and also had the second fastest time of the entire jackpot!

The Mason Lions Club met Tuesday, July 5th, for it’s monthly business meeting. There were 35 members and 1 visitor in attendance. “Boss” Lion Jess Irwin was responsible for the program. Lion Jess read a thank you card from Steeley Smith for our support and gave concession stand information for the upcoming hamburger cook at the Mason County Rodeo event. It was decided at the board meeting to have the membership business meeting be a quarterly event.

Roundup Week is always so busy for so many organizations, and the library was no exception. The Library Board members do the float, and I want to thank Rosemary and John Davis, Pam and John Scott, Mitzi Drennan, her granddaughter Brynlee, and Nanci Gibbons for decorating it. I want to thank Bill Skinner for loaning us his trailer, Julio Ramon for driving, and Shay DeVos, Ryland Pearce, Jackson Pearce, Werner Bauer, and Garrett Lindsay for being on the float.

Gratuity not included You can learn a lot by traveling, and I enjoy a trip to a semi-developed area about as well as the next guy. So when my wife told me we were going to St. Thomas for a week, I was stoked. I said, “Great. Where’s St. Thomas?” She said it was an island someplace in the Caribbean Sea.

Telemarketers! Oh, how we have to put up with them. Hanging up on them, giving them the one-two. Yelling and screaming. These don’t do the trick anymore. Forget the “No call” list. Rachel, still wants to lower your interest rates on your credit cards. So, being on the “No call” list isn’t much help. These folks have gotten smart.

On Ordering Filters and Other Stuff... There’s a good chance that ordering goods by mail, phone or email will always have drawbacks that are trumped by “in person” shopping. That’s assuming we can get Mr. Whipple-types away from spying on “Charmin squeezers” long enough to take our cash or process our card. My old momma--who rarely uttered epithets unless she banged her head--grimaced with mail orders.

Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta This zesty Cajun-style pasta is full of lean chicken, peppers and onions. I’ve never met a Cajun recipe I didn’t like or a Cajun that wasn’t a fabulous cook. I think this dish will be one of your new favorites. I like to serve sautéed green beans on the side. 8 oz.

It was a hot weekend for all of the activities around town, but at least there was some cloud cover during the parade and everyone could enjoy that part of the day with a little shade. The fair on the Square, the parade, the washer pitching, the rodeo and dance, and the reunions and parties were well attended and enjoyed by all.

This is the week that marks summer as half over. Time is flying by. Don’t wait to make your summer plans or you will run out of time. Next week is Vacation Bible School at St. Paul Lutheran. This is joint endeavor by First United Methodist, Mason, Art United Methodist and St.

Mother Nature. What a gal. What a wonderful world she gave us to live in. Just look up at the sky some dark night. Who would’ve guessed what Mira is up to...up there. Mira being a star. Not a movie star. Nope. There’s no comparison to movie stars when it comes to the red giant Mira. Astronomers in the 17th Century called her “a wonderful star whose brightness could change dramatically in the course of about 11 months.” Ah, the fickle world of fame. Modern astronomers now recognize an en ...

Elba Nail has notified the News that there will be a bicycle helmet giveaway held in front of the Mason Fire Station on Monday, July 25th at 2 p.m. With the kids out and about on their bicycles during the summer months, it's a perfect time to make sure they're riding safely!

Notice of Meeting American Legion Post #285 237 Post Hill Road Mason, TX Thursday, 14 July 2016 at 6:30 p.m. All members and interested veterans are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Holly B. Gilmore at 325-347-2274.

The Mason 42 Club will meet at the Mason County Library on Wednesday, July 13 at 1:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Come one, come all.

New “Sommerzeit” festival on Saturday Pari-mutuel horse races return to Fredericksburg this weekend as The Gillespie County Fair Association presents the second of four horse racing weekends on July 16 and 17. A dozen races are scheduled for each day, with half of them thoroughbred races. Gates open at 11:00 am, with post time at 1:00 pm. On Saturday, Night in Old Fredericksburg will present the new Sommerzeit festival at the fair grounds.

It's that time of year again for our annual Mason Puncher football camp. Registration for the camp will be on the 25th in the high school gym at 8:30 a.m. (for grades 3-5) and 10:00 a.m. (for grades 6-9). Bring cleats if you have them. Camp times are as follows: July 25th / 26th / 27th 3rd - 5th grade: 9:00 - 10:30 6th - 9th grade: 10:30 - 12:00

Looking for Differences, Ignoring the Similarities.... I saw a great photo on Facebook the other day. A bear sits at a picnic table holding a knife and fork in its paws. The caption says: "White, black, man, woman, straight, gay, Catholic, Muslim, American, Mexican.... all taste like chicken!" If an alien spacecraft were to land on Earth, they would notice some marked differences in the life forms that are here.

Mason County Habitat for Humanity is now accepting applications for home improvement projects under its “Brush with Kindness” and “Aging in Place” programs. Both of these programs are being conducted in partnership with community sponsors, which to date include the Mason Community Foundation and Mason Lions Club. The selection criteria for both programs will be based solely on need. The “Brush with Kindness” program will provide assistance to families or individuals whose homes eith ...

Mason County Habitat for Humanity is now accepting applications for home improvement projects under its “Brush with Kindness” and “Aging in Place” programs. Both of these programs are being conducted in partnership with community sponsors, which to date include the Mason Community Foundation and Mason Lions Club. The selection criteria for both programs will be based solely on need. The “Brush with Kindness” program will provide assistance to families or individuals whose homes eith ...

Women who need additional care during their pregnancies now have access to specialized obstetric care in Fredericksburg to help them maintain a healthy pregnancy and outcome. Austin Maternal-Fetal Medicine now provides care for patients every other Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 816 Reuben St., Suite C in Fredericksburg. Sina Haeri, M.D., and Kimberly DeStefano, M.D., will see patients at the newly opened clinic. Both are specially trained in maternal-fetal medicine, a subspecialty of o ...

Local author Judy Schoenfeld will be signing her book Mason Country Schools: Drawings, Photos, Histories, and Stories at the Mason Co. M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library from 4:00-6:00 P.M. on Tuesday, July 19. The book is on sale for $25.00. The library is located at 410 Post Hill Street.

Alice Starks H. Alice Starks peacefully passed away Saturday, July 2, 2016, at her home in Mason, Texas, at the age of 85. Alice was born October 12, 1930, to Louis and Lillian Mertz Pyka in Fredericksburg, Texas. She is survived by Tommy Starks, her husband of 59 years; her son, Ray Starks and wife, Cynthia, of Mason, and their children Audrey and Dylan; her daughter, Nancy Starks Aycock and husband, Bill, of Corinth, and their son John; and sister, Cecile Sobotik, and husband ...

Bob Ellis Robert Lynn (Bob) Ellis was born August 26, 1944, in Tucumcari, N.M. to Elmo and Jimmie Holt Ellis. The family moved to South Houston where Bob attended school and graduated from South Houston High School in 1962. He graduated from San Jacinto Jr. College in 1965 and Angelo State University in 1967. He married Elizabeth Loeffler October 7, 1967, in Mason, Texas. Bob retired from Texas Parks and Wildlife as a Park Superintendent and Peace Officer in 1995. He was preced ...

Marjorie Robbins Marjorie Elizabeth Robbins, of Mason, passed away on Friday, July 8, at the age of 90. Visitation with the family was Monday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mason Funeral Home. The funeral service was held on Tuesday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Mason with Pastors Ryan Buck and Ray Ash leading the service.

The Old Yeller Days celebration will be held Saturday, September 24th, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the Mason County Courthouse lawn. This annual event, sponsored by the Mason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library, will bring to life the frontier times of Mason County and its literary heritage Mason author Fred Gipson.

DENVER, CO -June 9, 2016 - Pamela Kruse in Mason, TX has joined a network of approximately 2,000 agricultural professionals who are members of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA). Kruse joins the Society as an Associate member. Associate members are those who desire to become Professional or Accredited members, but do not meet the requirements.

There is a town meeting planned for people interested in the Upper San Saba River Management Plan. This meeting will introduce the attendees to the proposed legislation to bring local control of the San Saba River flow. The meeting will be open to the public but comments will be accepted from riparian land owners or water rights owners only. The meeting will be held July 19, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.

KERRVILLE, TX - Sheryl Smith-Rodgers will be the Texas Master Naturalist Hill Country Chapter’s speaker at the July 25th monthly meeting. Sheryl is a freelance writer, photographer, and a Texas Master Naturalist. She holds a journalism degree from Trinity University and has worked many years as a newspaper reporter & editor.

Summer reading was a grand affair this year with special programs by John R. Erickson, Percussion Things, and Wild Things Zoofari. Shay DeVos was a special storyteller, and Diane Esquell was here for an extra hour--Reading with Miss Diane--in addition to our regular Read to Swim, Book Hounds, and Read with a Dog programs.

Winners of the 2016 Mason County Team Roping Buckles were Karson Johnson (at right, header) and Jim Bob Thomas (at left, heeler). The Thursday night County Roping had174 teams and winners of that roping were Cody Schuessler and Reagan Bownds. Special thanks to the Mason Bank and the Commercial Bank for sponsoring the buckles this year!

It's that time of year again for our annual Mason Puncher football camp. Registration for the camp will be on the 25th in the high school gym at 8:30 a.m. (for grades 3-5) and 10:00 a.m. (for grades 6-9). Bring cleats if you have them. Camp times are as follows: July 25th / 26th / 27th 3rd - 5th grade: 9:00 - 10:30 6th - 9th grade: 10:30 - 12:00

It is Customer Appreciation time once again at the Mason Community Thrift Store! On Friday, July 29, the store is planning a special event celebrating our customers while commemorating the 3rd anniversary of the move to a permanent location on the Courthouse Square, at 206 Moody Street. In appreciation for the support of the community, both in shopping and in donations, drawings will be held every half hour for terrific Door Prizes.

Summer reading was a grand affair this year with special programs by John R. Erickson, Percussion Things, and Wild Things Zoofari. Shay DeVos was a special storyteller, and Diane Esquell was here for an extra hour--Reading with Miss Diane--in addition to our regular Read to Swim, Book Hounds, and Read with a Dog programs.

KERRVILLE, TX - Sheryl Smith-Rodgers will be the Texas Master Naturalist Hill Country Chapter’s speaker at the July 25th monthly meeting. Sheryl is a freelance writer, photographer, and a Texas Master Naturalist. She holds a journalism degree from Trinity University and has worked many years as a newspaper reporter & editor.

There is a town meeting planned for people interested in the Upper San Saba River Management Plan. This meeting will introduce the attendees to the proposed legislation to bring local control of the San Saba River flow. The meeting will be open to the public but comments will be accepted from riparian land owners or water rights owners only. The meeting will be held July 19, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.

The Old Yeller Days celebration will be held Saturday, September 24th, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the Mason County Courthouse lawn. This annual event, sponsored by the Mason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library, will bring to life the frontier times of Mason County and its literary heritage Mason author Fred Gipson.

Local author Judy Schoenfeld will be signing her book Mason Country Schools: Drawings, Photos, Histories, and Stories at the Mason Co. M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library from 4:00-6:00 P.M. on Tuesday, July 19. The book is on sale for $25.00. The library is located at 410 Post Hill Street.

Women who need additional care during their pregnancies now have access to specialized obstetric care in Fredericksburg to help them maintain a healthy pregnancy and outcome. Austin Maternal-Fetal Medicine now provides care for patients every other Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 816 Reuben St., Suite C in Fredericksburg. Sina Haeri, M.D., and Kimberly DeStefano, M.D., will see patients at the newly opened clinic. Both are specially trained in maternal-fetal medicine, a subspecialty of o ...

Mason County Habitat for Humanity is now accepting applications for home improvement projects under its “Brush with Kindness” and “Aging in Place” programs. Both of these programs are being conducted in partnership with community sponsors, which to date include the Mason Community Foundation and Mason Lions Club. The selection criteria for both programs will be based solely on need. The “Brush with Kindness” program will provide assistance to families or individuals whose homes eith ...

Mason County Habitat for Humanity is now accepting applications for home improvement projects under its “Brush with Kindness” and “Aging in Place” programs. Both of these programs are being conducted in partnership with community sponsors, which to date include the Mason Community Foundation and Mason Lions Club. The selection criteria for both programs will be based solely on need. The “Brush with Kindness” program will provide assistance to families or individuals whose homes eith ...

The Mason Garden Club will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at 2 p.m. at the Mason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library, Stribling Room. The program will be a “Making Potpourri” Workshop. This will be a hands-on workshop and each participant will be able to take home a sample.

It's that time of year again for our annual Mason Puncher football camp. Registration for the camp will be on the 25th in the high school gym at 8:30 a.m. (for grades 3-5) and 10:00 a.m. (for grades 6-9). Bring cleats if you have them. Camp times are as follows: July 25th / 26th / 27th 3rd - 5th grade: 9:00 - 10:30 6th - 9th grade: 10:30 - 12:00

New “Sommerzeit” festival on Saturday Pari-mutuel horse races return to Fredericksburg this weekend as The Gillespie County Fair Association presents the second of four horse racing weekends on July 16 and 17. A dozen races are scheduled for each day, with half of them thoroughbred races. Gates open at 11:00 am, with post time at 1:00 pm. On Saturday, Night in Old Fredericksburg will present the new Sommerzeit festival at the fair grounds.

The Mason 42 Club will meet at the Mason County Library on Wednesday, July 13 at 1:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Come one, come all.

Notice of Meeting American Legion Post #285 237 Post Hill Road Mason, TX Thursday, 14 July 2016 at 6:30 p.m. All members and interested veterans are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Holly B. Gilmore at 325-347-2274.

Elba Nail has notified the News that there will be a bicycle helmet giveaway held in front of the Mason Fire Station on Monday, July 25th at 2 p.m. With the kids out and about on their bicycles during the summer months, it's a perfect time to make sure they're riding safely!

All incoming 7th-12th boys and girls are invited to attend the summer strength and conditioning camp. This is a good chance to get a “jump start” on the upcoming season. This free camp will be from 6 - 7 p.m. Monday thru Thursday. Dates are as follows: July 11th - 14th July 18th - 21st July 25th - 28th Also, don’t forget to get your physicals taken care of if you didn’t get that done in May.

Marjorie Robbins Marjorie Elizabeth Robbins, of Mason, passed away on Friday, July 8, at the age of 90. Visitation with the family was Monday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mason Funeral Home. The funeral service was held on Tuesday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Mason with Pastors Ryan Buck and Ray Ash leading the service.

Bob Ellis Robert Lynn (Bob) Ellis was born August 26, 1944, in Tucumcari, N.M. to Elmo and Jimmie Holt Ellis. The family moved to South Houston where Bob attended school and graduated from South Houston High School in 1962. He graduated from San Jacinto Jr. College in 1965 and Angelo State University in 1967. He married Elizabeth Loeffler October 7, 1967, in Mason, Texas. Bob retired from Texas Parks and Wildlife as a Park Superintendent and Peace Officer in 1995. He was preced ...

Alice Starks H. Alice Starks peacefully passed away Saturday, July 2, 2016, at her home in Mason, Texas, at the age of 85. Alice was born October 12, 1930, to Louis and Lillian Mertz Pyka in Fredericksburg, Texas. She is survived by Tommy Starks, her husband of 59 years; her son, Ray Starks and wife, Cynthia, of Mason, and their children Audrey and Dylan; her daughter, Nancy Starks Aycock and husband, Bill, of Corinth, and their son John; and sister, Cecile Sobotik, and husband ...

Looking for Differences, Ignoring the Similarities.... I saw a great photo on Facebook the other day. A bear sits at a picnic table holding a knife and fork in its paws. The caption says: "White, black, man, woman, straight, gay, Catholic, Muslim, American, Mexican.... all taste like chicken!" If an alien spacecraft were to land on Earth, they would notice some marked differences in the life forms that are here.

Mother Nature. What a gal. What a wonderful world she gave us to live in. Just look up at the sky some dark night. Who would’ve guessed what Mira is up to...up there. Mira being a star. Not a movie star. Nope. There’s no comparison to movie stars when it comes to the red giant Mira. Astronomers in the 17th Century called her “a wonderful star whose brightness could change dramatically in the course of about 11 months.” Ah, the fickle world of fame. Modern astronomers now recognize an en ...

This is the week that marks summer as half over. Time is flying by. Don’t wait to make your summer plans or you will run out of time. Next week is Vacation Bible School at St. Paul Lutheran. This is joint endeavor by First United Methodist, Mason, Art United Methodist and St.

Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta This zesty Cajun-style pasta is full of lean chicken, peppers and onions. I’ve never met a Cajun recipe I didn’t like or a Cajun that wasn’t a fabulous cook. I think this dish will be one of your new favorites. I like to serve sautéed green beans on the side. 8 oz.

On Ordering Filters and Other Stuff... There’s a good chance that ordering goods by mail, phone or email will always have drawbacks that are trumped by “in person” shopping. That’s assuming we can get Mr. Whipple-types away from spying on “Charmin squeezers” long enough to take our cash or process our card. My old momma--who rarely uttered epithets unless she banged her head--grimaced with mail orders.

Telemarketers! Oh, how we have to put up with them. Hanging up on them, giving them the one-two. Yelling and screaming. These don’t do the trick anymore. Forget the “No call” list. Rachel, still wants to lower your interest rates on your credit cards. So, being on the “No call” list isn’t much help. These folks have gotten smart.

Gratuity not included You can learn a lot by traveling, and I enjoy a trip to a semi-developed area about as well as the next guy. So when my wife told me we were going to St. Thomas for a week, I was stoked. I said, “Great. Where’s St. Thomas?” She said it was an island someplace in the Caribbean Sea.

Roundup Week is always so busy for so many organizations, and the library was no exception. The Library Board members do the float, and I want to thank Rosemary and John Davis, Pam and John Scott, Mitzi Drennan, her granddaughter Brynlee, and Nanci Gibbons for decorating it. I want to thank Bill Skinner for loaning us his trailer, Julio Ramon for driving, and Shay DeVos, Ryland Pearce, Jackson Pearce, Werner Bauer, and Garrett Lindsay for being on the float.