January 25, 2017 Issue

   Our CTEC branch office in Mason will be closed from 10-1 on Friday January 27th. The drop box will be available for payments and crews will be on call for outage issues. All incoming phone calls to the Mason branch office during those few hours will be forwarded to our Llano branch office. Also our headquarters office in Fredericksburg can be reached at 1-800-900-2382 for assistance.

New year. New month. New President. New First Lady. New policies. New procedures. New challenges. New solutions. Perhaps. Supposedly. Maybe. Possibly. And yet... “There is no new thing under the sun.” [Ecclesiastes 1:9] Ain’t that the truth. Thus the saying: history repeats itself. We live in interesting times. “Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden.” [Phaedrus] And so it goes. And h ...

   It is Sunday evening as I write this. I am so grateful that the horrible wind has died down. In my sixty plus years at the Art United Methodist Church, I don’t remember the roof rumbling like it did this morning. I had trouble opening a door to the north so I could leave the building.

   And So, We Trudge On... Church marquees all over Arkansas touted the Razorbacks in the 1969 season’s so-called “game of the century.” Many messages something like: “Football is only a game. Eternal things are spiritual. Nevertheless, beat Texas.” (The Longhorns and the Razorbacks were ranked #1 and #2 nationally.) UT prevailed, 15-14, thanks to a couple of fourth-quarter touchdowns.

   The internet has a delete button. The Facebook has a thumbs up, sad, and happy buttons. What we need is a DISGUSTING button. This goes for the news stations. I know you can turn the channel or station off, but still I would like to hit the DISGUSTING BUTTON. You have to push one for English.

   And they called the wind Mariah. The wind came thru and pruned the trees, and pretty much anything that wasn’t nailed down went into the wind and off to places unknown! I even received a few items from parts unknown. Just before the storm struck I had finished pruning and cutting back.

   It’s only (someone else’s) money Several years ago, not long after Carter Smith became Executive Director of Texas Parks & Wildlife, I cornered him at a Texas Outdoor Writers Assn. conference and bent his ear for a while. Well, I didn’t literally bend his hear. It’s just an expression. It means to whine about something to the point where you cause excessive irritation to your listener(s).

I’d like to remind everyone that we’re starting to collect books for the annual Friends of the Library Book and Bake Sale. You may bring books to the library but please bring them in—don’t leave them on the porch. Also, please check to see if the books are in fairly good shape and dusted off.

   The Mason Lions Club met Tuesday, January 17th, for it’s weekly luncheon meeting. There were 31 members and 3 visitors in attendance. Among the visitors were 2 Mason High School Seniors, Lupe Callejas, and I did not get the name of the other young lady but both plan on attending A.S.U.

   With the old year passed and the New Year ahead, it’s time to think of new projects to benefit Mason area residents! The Mason Community Foundation is currently accepting applications from local non-profit groups for grants that could make life in Mason safer, healthier, smarter, prouder or just more enjoyable!

 Mason Varsity Cowgirls vs. Center Point Tuesday, Jan. 17 MHS 16--11--18--11 = 56 CPHS 4--11---11---2 = 28 Scorers--Stockbridge 17, Tedder 8, Powell 10, Palacio 3, Guice 2, Magnus 16. Rebounds--Baker 3, Nail 1, Stockbridge 3, Tedder 2, Powell 13, Guice 5, Magnus 14, Armstrong 1. Assists--Baker 2, Nail 1, Stockbridge 3, Tedder 1, Powell 1, Guice 3. Steals--Baker 3, Nail 2, Stockbridge 8, Tedder 2, Powell 1, Guice 2, Magnus 3, Armstrong 3. Blocked Shots--Stockbridge 1, Powell 1, Guice 1, Mag ...

   You're Allowed to Complain, Not Destroy....    The inauguration of Donald J. Trump as our 45th President is done. As has occurred for almost 250 years, the United States of America has once again completed the peaceful transfer of power from one elected leader to the next. And, there were people protesting his inauguration before it had even transpired.

   Fredericksburg, TX (Jan. 23, 2017) –Rehearsals are underway for Fredericksburg Theater Company’s (FTC’s) production of the popular musical, Hello, Dolly! Appearing in the production are Dawn Hahn as Dolly Levi, William Joseph as Horace Vandergelder, Brett Ellis as Cornelius Hackl, David Wilkinson as Barnaby Tucker, Leanne Finnegan Ellis as Minnie Fay, Donna Jackson as Irene Molloy, Donna Vaughan as Ernestina, Daniel Hoffman as Ambrose, and Lucinda Harvey as Ermengarde, The pr ...

   The Mason Garden Club met on January 17, 2017, at the Stribling Room of the Mason County Library, with 17 members and 4 visitors attending. The program, “Back Yard Bee Keeping”, was given by Jim Lindley, MD, now retired, from Fredericksburg. He has been interested in bees since he was a child and has a wealth of knowledge on bee keeping and continues to have his own hives.

   Jarrett Worrell, Worrell Enterprises of Mason TX exhibited the Reserve Champion Hereford Female, Junior Yearling Division at the 2017 National Western Stock Show. DPH 109 6129 Geisha 501 ET is a previous National Champion female and continues her campaign through the 2017 show season. Jarrett also exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Hereford Cow-Calf Pair at the 2017 National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO.

   If you love music, you won’t want to miss Hungrytown, performing in the Stribling Room of the Mason Co. M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library, 410 Post Hill St., Tuesday, Jan. 31st, at 6:00 P.M. Admission is free, but you can help feed our “hungry town” by bringing canned tomatoes or tomato sauce for our local food bank. Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson have toured the world for a decade.

   Scarves    To all who love to knit and crochet,    As a member of the Wesley Nurse health committee, I am announcing a new project that we hope to be a yearly event. We are asking those who are interested to knit or crochet a scarf/muffler to be given to people we know are in need.

   President Trump    Dear Gerry,    I just learned that Donald Duck will be laying a wreath at Arlington Nat’l Cemetery today. The ironies overwhelm me.    Here is a man who considered paying taxes beneath him, and he’s honoring those who paid with their lives for this country? Is this not the very image of a hypocrite?

   Did you know that about 90 billion pounds of edible food goes uneaten each year! This amount of food weighs 123 times the Empire State Building and costs consumers $370 per person each year. Add to your list of 2017 resolutions a commitment to reduce wasted food in your home with simple shopping, storage, and cooking practices. Plan and Save: Plan your weekly menu and make a grocery list.

   Darlene Brandenberger, of Mason, passed away on Monday, January 23, at the age of 75. Darlene is survived by her children Tim Chew and wife Darinda of Mason, Tracy Montoya of Mason, a sister Marlene Duzan of Bluffton and a brother Teddy Ray Doyal and wife Linda of Mason along with 5 grandchildren: Ryan Mehal and wife Crystal of San Antonio, Tyler Chew and wife Bekah of Brady, Carly Sloss and husband Hunter of San Angelo, Brooke Falgout of Mason and Kyle Montoya of Mason. Darlene wa ...

   Jay Boy Adams and Zenobia are back in Texas touring with their powerhouse rhythm section, Mister Sister. They will perform at the Odeon Theater in Mason, Texas Saturday February 18 at 7:00 PM. Jay Boy Adams, who has toured with ZZ Top, the Marshall Tucker Band, the Allman Brothers, Joe Cocker and Stephen Stills, has always represented a resonant mixture of country, rock and blues.

   The Might Mason Puncher Band will have its 5th annual fundraiser this Saturday, January 28, 2017, simulcast live on KHLB 102.5 FM from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be an extraordinary array of items and services on which you can cast your bids. The following is a small sample of the variety of contributions we have received so far: a dove hunt for two people donated by Steve and Melina Gamel, two loads of gravel from Mag Materials, a gift certificate from The Boondocks in Brady, a ...

   The Hon. Robert R. Hofmann, judge the 452nd Judicial District Court, has been elected to membership in the Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation. Fellows of the Foundation are selected for their outstanding professional achievements and their demonstrated commitment to the improvement of the justice system throughout the state of Texas.

   KERRVILLE, Texas (January 19, 2017) - Schreiner University has named qualified students to its President’s and Dean’s List. To be eligible for the President’s List, full-time students must earn at least a 3.75 grade point average and have at least 12 hours credit for the term. To qualify for the Dean’s List, a full-time student must have passing grades in all courses and, must earn at least a 3.50 grade point average and at least 12 hours credit for the term. The following ...

   Reminder to take advantage of lower registration fees during early registration. Early registration is open until February 3rd and regular registration will be February 4th – 10th. Completed registration forms should be returned to the elementary or junior high school office (payment must accompany form). Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 19th.

   Reminder to take advantage of lower registration fees during early registration. Early registration is open until February 3rd and regular registration will be February 4th – 10th. Completed registration forms should be returned to the elementary or junior high school office (payment must accompany form). Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 19th.

   The Might Mason Puncher Band will have its 5th annual fundraiser this Saturday, January 28, 2017, simulcast live on KHLB 102.5 FM from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be an extraordinary array of items and services on which you can cast your bids. The following is a small sample of the variety of contributions we have received so far: a dove hunt for two people donated by Steve and Melina Gamel, two loads of gravel from Mag Materials, a gift certificate from The Boondocks in Brady, a ...

   From technical school to four year university to the military to junior college, we want our students to be ready for what comes next! That’s why we created Puncher College Week. (Of course, we use the generic term “college” to encompass furthering your education as a member of the military, as a student at a technical college or as a student at a college or university.) At high school, the halls are draped flags, banners and pennants from just about every college you can thi ...

 Mason Varsity Cowgirls vs. Center Point Tuesday, Jan. 17 MHS 16--11--18--11 = 56 CPHS 4--11---11---2 = 28 Scorers--Stockbridge 17, Tedder 8, Powell 10, Palacio 3, Guice 2, Magnus 16. Rebounds--Baker 3, Nail 1, Stockbridge 3, Tedder 2, Powell 13, Guice 5, Magnus 14, Armstrong 1. Assists--Baker 2, Nail 1, Stockbridge 3, Tedder 1, Powell 1, Guice 3. Steals--Baker 3, Nail 2, Stockbridge 8, Tedder 2, Powell 1, Guice 2, Magnus 3, Armstrong 3. Blocked Shots--Stockbridge 1, Powell 1, Guice 1, Mag ...

   Reminder to take advantage of lower registration fees during early registration. Early registration is open until February 3rd and regular registration will be February 4th – 10th. Completed registration forms should be returned to the elementary or junior high school office (payment must accompany form). Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 19th.

   The Might Mason Puncher Band will have its 5th annual fundraiser this Saturday, January 28, 2017, simulcast live on KHLB 102.5 FM from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be an extraordinary array of items and services on which you can cast your bids. The following is a small sample of the variety of contributions we have received so far: a dove hunt for two people donated by Steve and Melina Gamel, two loads of gravel from Mag Materials, a gift certificate from The Boondocks in Brady, a ...

   Jay Boy Adams and Zenobia are back in Texas touring with their powerhouse rhythm section, Mister Sister. They will perform at the Odeon Theater in Mason, Texas Saturday February 18 at 7:00 PM. Jay Boy Adams, who has toured with ZZ Top, the Marshall Tucker Band, the Allman Brothers, Joe Cocker and Stephen Stills, has always represented a resonant mixture of country, rock and blues.

   Scarves    To all who love to knit and crochet,    As a member of the Wesley Nurse health committee, I am announcing a new project that we hope to be a yearly event. We are asking those who are interested to knit or crochet a scarf/muffler to be given to people we know are in need.

   If you love music, you won’t want to miss Hungrytown, performing in the Stribling Room of the Mason Co. M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library, 410 Post Hill St., Tuesday, Jan. 31st, at 6:00 P.M. Admission is free, but you can help feed our “hungry town” by bringing canned tomatoes or tomato sauce for our local food bank. Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson have toured the world for a decade.

   Fredericksburg, TX (Jan. 23, 2017) –Rehearsals are underway for Fredericksburg Theater Company’s (FTC’s) production of the popular musical, Hello, Dolly! Appearing in the production are Dawn Hahn as Dolly Levi, William Joseph as Horace Vandergelder, Brett Ellis as Cornelius Hackl, David Wilkinson as Barnaby Tucker, Leanne Finnegan Ellis as Minnie Fay, Donna Jackson as Irene Molloy, Donna Vaughan as Ernestina, Daniel Hoffman as Ambrose, and Lucinda Harvey as Ermengarde, The pr ...

   Our CTEC branch office in Mason will be closed from 10-1 on Friday January 27th. The drop box will be available for payments and crews will be on call for outage issues. All incoming phone calls to the Mason branch office during those few hours will be forwarded to our Llano branch office. Also our headquarters office in Fredericksburg can be reached at 1-800-900-2382 for assistance.

   It is Sunday evening as I write this. I am so grateful that the horrible wind has died down. In my sixty plus years at the Art United Methodist Church, I don’t remember the roof rumbling like it did this morning. I had trouble opening a door to the north so I could leave the building.

   Darlene Brandenberger, of Mason, passed away on Monday, January 23, at the age of 75. Darlene is survived by her children Tim Chew and wife Darinda of Mason, Tracy Montoya of Mason, a sister Marlene Duzan of Bluffton and a brother Teddy Ray Doyal and wife Linda of Mason along with 5 grandchildren: Ryan Mehal and wife Crystal of San Antonio, Tyler Chew and wife Bekah of Brady, Carly Sloss and husband Hunter of San Angelo, Brooke Falgout of Mason and Kyle Montoya of Mason. Darlene wa ...

   You're Allowed to Complain, Not Destroy....    The inauguration of Donald J. Trump as our 45th President is done. As has occurred for almost 250 years, the United States of America has once again completed the peaceful transfer of power from one elected leader to the next. And, there were people protesting his inauguration before it had even transpired.

   President Trump    Dear Gerry,    I just learned that Donald Duck will be laying a wreath at Arlington Nat’l Cemetery today. The ironies overwhelm me.    Here is a man who considered paying taxes beneath him, and he’s honoring those who paid with their lives for this country? Is this not the very image of a hypocrite?

I’d like to remind everyone that we’re starting to collect books for the annual Friends of the Library Book and Bake Sale. You may bring books to the library but please bring them in—don’t leave them on the porch. Also, please check to see if the books are in fairly good shape and dusted off.

   It’s only (someone else’s) money Several years ago, not long after Carter Smith became Executive Director of Texas Parks & Wildlife, I cornered him at a Texas Outdoor Writers Assn. conference and bent his ear for a while. Well, I didn’t literally bend his hear. It’s just an expression. It means to whine about something to the point where you cause excessive irritation to your listener(s).

   And they called the wind Mariah. The wind came thru and pruned the trees, and pretty much anything that wasn’t nailed down went into the wind and off to places unknown! I even received a few items from parts unknown. Just before the storm struck I had finished pruning and cutting back.

   The internet has a delete button. The Facebook has a thumbs up, sad, and happy buttons. What we need is a DISGUSTING button. This goes for the news stations. I know you can turn the channel or station off, but still I would like to hit the DISGUSTING BUTTON. You have to push one for English.

   And So, We Trudge On... Church marquees all over Arkansas touted the Razorbacks in the 1969 season’s so-called “game of the century.” Many messages something like: “Football is only a game. Eternal things are spiritual. Nevertheless, beat Texas.” (The Longhorns and the Razorbacks were ranked #1 and #2 nationally.) UT prevailed, 15-14, thanks to a couple of fourth-quarter touchdowns.

New year. New month. New President. New First Lady. New policies. New procedures. New challenges. New solutions. Perhaps. Supposedly. Maybe. Possibly. And yet... “There is no new thing under the sun.” [Ecclesiastes 1:9] Ain’t that the truth. Thus the saying: history repeats itself. We live in interesting times. “Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden.” [Phaedrus] And so it goes. And h ...