December 28, 2016 Issue

It's the End of 2016 - And the Beginning of 2017 Calendars are artificial. They are an artificial means of measuring time that were created by man. And, man didn't always get things right. In 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII introduced the calendar that we use today, there were some calculating errors made that place Christ's birth in 3 BC.

The City facilities will be closed Monday, January 2, 2017, for the New Year. If your trash pickup is Monday, January 2nd, it will be picked up Tuesday January 3rd instead. Have a Safe and Happy New Year. City of Mason

   Riata Service Organization held its annual Christmas party in the beautifully decorated home of Barbara Young with Willeda Rea, Nan Larrimore, Amy Capps, Susan Coe, Judy Cordes, and Carol Dyal serving as co-hostesses. Thirty-one members were in attendance. A Christmas ornament exchange was led by Judy Cordes and Susan Coe.

   The Odeon theater starts the year off with a Texas favorite. Walt Wilkins and the Mystiqueros take the stage Saturday January 14 at 7:00PM. Walt and company have toured the U.S. and beyond but regularly tour all over Texas...Fort Worth, Fredericksburg, Luckenbach, New Braunfels, San Angelo and Austin where they often perform at The Saxon Pub. Walt’s spiritual journey as a musician began in Texas at age 8.

   Richard Harris Pierson went home to be with the Lord Saturday, December 24, 2016, while he was at home on Peaceful Hills Ranch. Dick was born in Baird, Tx., May 17, 1940, to Edwin and Jessie Mae Pierson. He grew up in Comanche, Tx, and later the family moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where he graduated from high school.

Rev. Dennie Ray Jackson, of Mason, passed away on Tuesday, December 20, at the age of 79. He was born on September 17, 1937, in Junction, Texas, to Frank and Ruby Jackson. He was born along with his twin sister, Donnie, as the 5th addition to the family. He graduated from Junction High School in 1955.

   The Mason County Livestock Show will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, January 5, 6, and 7th at Fort Mason Park Community Building on Hwy 87. Micah Walker, Ag and Natural Resources Agent announced there are 49 Mason County 4H members entered to show a total of 105 head.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and we wish everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year! Our new year will begin with Trudy Irwin as our new part-time clerk! She’s been volunteering on Wednesdays for quite some time. Now you’ll most likely see her on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Eventful events Now that 2016 is about over with, it’s time to take a look back at the major events of the year. This is my annual Year In Review column, which I write maybe once every ten years, unless there are more pressing things to write about, such as squirrels getting stuck in sewer drains, or videos of deer with buckets stuck on their heads.

I’m stuffed. And the house is full of news stuff. Now, putting up the stuff. Santa gave us a whole lot of stuff. Useful stuff. There’s also a lot of stuff in the Ice Box (AKA Frig.)! Looks like we’ll be eating out of the Ice Box for a while. Having two of my three boys and theirs was the nicest gift.

‘Mind’s Eye’ Vision 20/20... You may recall “been there/done that” experiences differently. If so, be my guest. Mine is a mundane wish that you close out the old year as you choose. It is, after all, your life, and only a few hours remain before peals of 2017 bells are heard. During an aborted springtime trip to San Diego--one of the world’s most beautiful cities--I beheld the grandeur with just one eye.

Hope you had a very Merry Christmas. Now it is time for a Happy New Year. I do not believe in resolutions. I have never kept one more than a month. So, I believe in the happy part. I plan to skip the change something part. The Art United Methodist Church was decorated with luminaries for our Christmas Eve Service.

Happy New Year! Here comes 2017. Feliz Ano Nuevo. Bonne annee. Buon anno. Ein glückliches neues Jahr. That’s German. Stastny Novy Rok That’s Czech. 2016. Check. Finito. Been there. Done that. 2017. Wide open. Free. Anything can happen. Let it be. Nobody knows. Hauoli Makahiki hou. Hawaiian or otherwise. Make it a happy new year. “New” being the operative word. A promise for one and all. All around the world. New beginnings. New endings. One door closes. A window opens. New life. New ho ...

Chet Weitz won big at the United States Team Roping finals. Team ropers from around the world came to compete in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for the super bowl of Team Roping. The finals consisted of a nine day run of team roping which started off with the Open roping (which is the highest level of competition) all the way to the #8 roping (which is novice level of competition. The 15 year old Chet Weitz, a sophomore of Mason High School was among those competing for prize money totaling over 1,000 ...

   The Heart of Texas New Years Celebration will be held on Friday, December 30 and Saturday, December 31, at the Heart of Texas Events Center in Brady. Tickets for the dances are now on sale at www.heartoftexascountry.com or by calling (325) 597-1895. It is sponsored by the Heart of Texas Country Music Museum. On Friday, December 30, Johnny Bush and Justin Trevino will headline the dance. Johnny Bush began his musical career in Houston.

   The boys' basketball officially began their season with the Menard tournament where the boys beat the Eden Bulldogs and then lost to Leakey and Menard. The Punchers then went on the road and played a tough Christoval Cougar team that returned all but one player off a team that went deep in the playoffs last year. The boys then faced a scrappy Llano Yellowjacket team here in Mason and after exchanging the lead several times, the Punchers would prevail in the fourth quarter. The Maso ...

   The boys' basketball officially began their season with the Menard tournament where the boys beat the Eden Bulldogs and then lost to Leakey and Menard. The Punchers then went on the road and played a tough Christoval Cougar team that returned all but one player off a team that went deep in the playoffs last year. The boys then faced a scrappy Llano Yellowjacket team here in Mason and after exchanging the lead several times, the Punchers would prevail in the fourth quarter. The Maso ...

The City facilities will be closed Monday, January 2, 2017, for the New Year. If your trash pickup is Monday, January 2nd, it will be picked up Tuesday January 3rd instead. Have a Safe and Happy New Year. City of Mason

   The Odeon theater starts the year off with a Texas favorite. Walt Wilkins and the Mystiqueros take the stage Saturday January 14 at 7:00PM. Walt and company have toured the U.S. and beyond but regularly tour all over Texas...Fort Worth, Fredericksburg, Luckenbach, New Braunfels, San Angelo and Austin where they often perform at The Saxon Pub. Walt’s spiritual journey as a musician began in Texas at age 8.

   The Heart of Texas New Years Celebration will be held on Friday, December 30 and Saturday, December 31, at the Heart of Texas Events Center in Brady. Tickets for the dances are now on sale at www.heartoftexascountry.com or by calling (325) 597-1895. It is sponsored by the Heart of Texas Country Music Museum. On Friday, December 30, Johnny Bush and Justin Trevino will headline the dance. Johnny Bush began his musical career in Houston.

   Richard Harris Pierson went home to be with the Lord Saturday, December 24, 2016, while he was at home on Peaceful Hills Ranch. Dick was born in Baird, Tx., May 17, 1940, to Edwin and Jessie Mae Pierson. He grew up in Comanche, Tx, and later the family moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where he graduated from high school.

Rev. Dennie Ray Jackson, of Mason, passed away on Tuesday, December 20, at the age of 79. He was born on September 17, 1937, in Junction, Texas, to Frank and Ruby Jackson. He was born along with his twin sister, Donnie, as the 5th addition to the family. He graduated from Junction High School in 1955.

It's the End of 2016 - And the Beginning of 2017 Calendars are artificial. They are an artificial means of measuring time that were created by man. And, man didn't always get things right. In 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII introduced the calendar that we use today, there were some calculating errors made that place Christ's birth in 3 BC.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and we wish everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year! Our new year will begin with Trudy Irwin as our new part-time clerk! She’s been volunteering on Wednesdays for quite some time. Now you’ll most likely see her on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Eventful events Now that 2016 is about over with, it’s time to take a look back at the major events of the year. This is my annual Year In Review column, which I write maybe once every ten years, unless there are more pressing things to write about, such as squirrels getting stuck in sewer drains, or videos of deer with buckets stuck on their heads.

I’m stuffed. And the house is full of news stuff. Now, putting up the stuff. Santa gave us a whole lot of stuff. Useful stuff. There’s also a lot of stuff in the Ice Box (AKA Frig.)! Looks like we’ll be eating out of the Ice Box for a while. Having two of my three boys and theirs was the nicest gift.

‘Mind’s Eye’ Vision 20/20... You may recall “been there/done that” experiences differently. If so, be my guest. Mine is a mundane wish that you close out the old year as you choose. It is, after all, your life, and only a few hours remain before peals of 2017 bells are heard. During an aborted springtime trip to San Diego--one of the world’s most beautiful cities--I beheld the grandeur with just one eye.

Hope you had a very Merry Christmas. Now it is time for a Happy New Year. I do not believe in resolutions. I have never kept one more than a month. So, I believe in the happy part. I plan to skip the change something part. The Art United Methodist Church was decorated with luminaries for our Christmas Eve Service.

Happy New Year! Here comes 2017. Feliz Ano Nuevo. Bonne annee. Buon anno. Ein glückliches neues Jahr. That’s German. Stastny Novy Rok That’s Czech. 2016. Check. Finito. Been there. Done that. 2017. Wide open. Free. Anything can happen. Let it be. Nobody knows. Hauoli Makahiki hou. Hawaiian or otherwise. Make it a happy new year. “New” being the operative word. A promise for one and all. All around the world. New beginnings. New endings. One door closes. A window opens. New life. New ho ...