August 2, 2017 Issue

Five Mason County 4H members took a week of their summer to learn all about the agriculture industry. Youth Agricultural Lifetime Leadership (YALL) gathered nearly 40 students from across the hill country to tour south Texas. Students from Mason were Garrett Bragewitz, Lucas Martin, Steeley Smith, Alex Cope and John Benefield. This year’s tour traveled to the Texas towns of Gonzales, Victoria, Sinton, Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Raymondville, Harlingen, Mercedes, Weslaco and McAllen.

Oak wilt, one of the most destructive tree diseases in the United States, is killing oak trees in central Texas at epidemic proportions. Oak wilt is an infectious disease caused by the fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum, which invades and disables the water-conducting system in susceptible trees. All oaks are susceptible to oak wilt to some degree, but some species are affected more than others.

Fifteen volunteers from the Hill Country Chapter and Highland Lakes Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists (TMNs) along with volunteers from the San Saba Birding and Nature Club recently spent 8 mornings at the Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) assisting TPWD staff with vegetation data collection and other WMA projects.

Reigning Cats & Dogs’ obedience instructor, Lenore Newsom, is proud to announce that six dog/handler teams graduated 2017’s Basic Obedience class. On Wednesday, July 26th, wildly applauded by friends and family, Johnny Heidelberg and Kodi (Labrador Retriever), Toni Hurlbut and Froggy (Border Terrier), Kathleen Love and T.L. (terrier mix), Suzie Paris and Adobe (Dobermann Pinscher), Richard Taylor and Cobalt (Blue Lacey) , and Elisha Vierus and Ellie (Border Collie mix) all “made the gra ...

(July 31st, 2017) – If you have walked along the nature trail at Fort Mason City Park recently, you may have noticed something new. Something pink. Last week, volunteers from the Texas Master Naturalist Program joined staff from Fort Mason City Park and the Hill Country Alliance to discuss the adverse impacts of non-native, invasive plants to the local ecology, economy, and public safety. Following this discussion, volunteers set out along the nature trail to inventory the Chinaberry tree ...

The Mason High School tennis courts and several residential tennis courts welcomed over 350 entries from all over the state and beyond last weekend. Thursday and Friday saw kids ages 8-18 years of age play tennis all over town. Every player was guaranteed at least two matches and many played more than 3 matches each day.

Employees at Central Texas Electric Cooperative achieved one year worked without a lost-time accident as of the end of business July 18th. This milestone marks the collective effort of four separate offices in an 11-county service area for the 136 employees and managers working at CTEC. “Safety is always THE primary concern in any electric business,” said CTEC Board President James Low.

We seem to continue to get some rain showers here in town on Sundays, although they are so scattered much of the rest of the County just gets clouds. We are also continuing to closely monitor our water system in town to be sure that we can meet the regular water demands.

Before calling to order the July 25 meeting of the Mason Lions Club, “Boss” Lion Jim Heidelberg presented a check from the Mason Lions Club to the Riata Service Organization for its Mason Clinic fundraiser. Tess Geistweidt, Pam Scott and Charter Member Doris Grote accepted the donation on Riata’s behalf.

Five Mason County 4H members took a week of their summer to learn all about the agriculture industry. Youth Agricultural Lifetime Leadership (YALL) gathered nearly 40 students from across the hill country to tour south Texas. Students from Mason were Garrett Bragewitz, Lucas Martin, Steeley Smith, Alex Cope and John Benefield. This year’s tour traveled to the Texas towns of Gonzales, Victoria, Sinton, Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Raymondville, Harlingen, Mercedes, Weslaco and McAllen.

The Mason High School tennis courts and several residential tennis courts welcomed over 350 entries from all over the state and beyond last weekend. Thursday and Friday saw kids ages 8-18 years of age play tennis all over town. Every player was guaranteed at least two matches and many played more than 3 matches each day.

Do your children love to color? Then enter them in the Mason Co. M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library Coloring Contest! Pre-K to First Grade will be judged together, and Second Grade to Fifth Grade will be judged as a separate group. First Place, Second Place, and Third Place ribbons and cash prizes of $25, $15, and $10, respectively, will be awarded.

The Mason High School tennis courts and several residential tennis courts welcomed over 350 entries from all over the state and beyond last weekend. Thursday and Friday saw kids ages 8-18 years of age play tennis all over town. Every player was guaranteed at least two matches and many played more than 3 matches each day.

The 2017-2018 Band Calendars are in and can be picked up at Benjie’s Book & Gift Store.

A celebration will be held for 4H members at the Mason pool on Tuesday, August 8 to celebrate the end of summer and introduce the new 4H year! The swim party will be from 6:30 to 8:30pm. A contest will be held to see which 4H member can bring the most non-4H member guests (K-12 grade)!

Anyone planning to show livestock at the West Texas Fair and Rodeo, September 7 to 16th, must have their entry into the Mason County Extension Office by Tuesday, August 8. Entry information and forms can be printed from the Mason County AgriLife website www.mason.agrilife.org. All major show entry information is available under the 4H tab.

Do your children love to color? Then enter them in the Mason Co. M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library Coloring Contest! Pre-K to First Grade will be judged together, and Second Grade to Fifth Grade will be judged as a separate group. First Place, Second Place, and Third Place ribbons and cash prizes of $25, $15, and $10, respectively, will be awarded.

Breakfast with Carmen is a conversational Spanish group that will meet at 9:30 A.M. on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, beginning tomorrow, August 3rd. The class is being taught by Carmen Griffith, and it is offered at no cost to participants. Please call or come in to register: 325-347-5446; 410 Post Hill Street.

Enrollment for the 2017-2018 school year is underway for Kingdom Kids, River of Life’s Mom’s Day Out program. Kingdom Kids mission is to provide a loving, Christ-centered environment where children are nurtured and mother’s needs are met. Daily activities for children ages 3 months to 4 years old include Bible and age appropriate pre-school lessons, music time, crafts, and outside play plus added events throughout the school year. The program runs Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting Sept ...

This Saturday and Sunday, August 5 & 6, the Comanche Creek Golf Course will be holding its annual Club Championship Golf Tournament and annual Membership Meeting. This is the only tournament of the year that requires a golfer to be a member of the Ft. Mason Golf Association to participate. All the other 7-8 tournaments are open to the public.

Lea Lou Co-op will be hosting the Let's Gidder-Dunn for ALS Fundraiser. Come scoot a boot to some great country music featuring Andy Armendariz & Eight from the Gate. Where: Lea Lou Co-op Mason Tx When: Sat. Aug. 12th 7-11:55 pm Cover charge: $5 per person We will have some very nice items from individuals and local Mason businesses to auction off.

On Wednesday, August 9th, The American Legion Fort Mason Post 285 will have its regular monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m., at The American Legion Post Hall, 237 Post Hill [behind the Jail]. At this meeting, Mason’s Texas Boys State and Bluebonnet Girls State attendees will make presentations describing their experiences at camp in June 2017.

The 2017-2018 Band Calendars are in and can be picked up at Benjie’s Book & Gift Store.

Welcome to August. We had a nice shower Sunday afternoon. Hopefully, the extreme heat is over for a few days. The other reality of August is that school starts soon. The grandkids are getting registration packets and summer band is starting. This old teacher is sad not to be there in the excitement and very glad to return to reality and know I am retired. Class meetings continue at the Art United Methodist Church on Wednesday evenings.

Christopher Taylor Bussell, beloved wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, passed away on July 25, 2017, in Burnet County, Texas. Chris was born on March 11, 1945, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She graduated from George Washington High School in 1963 and went on to attend Mills College and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1967.

Robert “Bob” Merle Doss, 82, passed away on July 15, 2017, in Sid Peterson Hospital in Kerrville, Texas. Robert was born on July 5, 1935, to Corwin Merle Doss and Eunice Marguerite Koeppe Doss. He attended and graduated from San Jacinto High School in Houston, Texas in 1953. Robert enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1954 and was honorably discharged in 1962.

Willie Aldwin “Bill” Chapman, of Mason passed away on Tuesday, July 25, at the age of 70. He was born on April 12, 1947, in Menard to Blanton V. Chapman and Oleta Low Chapman. He was raised in Menard on the Blackie Williamson Ranch. On August 28, 1965, he married Brenda J.

Why Every Single Business Matters! This summer, after 19 years of feeding residents and visitors alike, Santos Taqueria closed its doors. For those involved with the restaurant, it was a difficult decision; but, one that was logical in its timing and outcome. The statistics are not kind when looking the risks of starting a business.

Water. Agua. Stream. Creek. River. Rio. Ocean. Sea. Mar. Lake. Pool. Tank. Rain. Lluvia. Precipitation. Shower. Puddle. Fountain. Fuente. Mist. Fog. Bruma. Damp. Moist. Wet. Mojado. Green. Blue. Azul. Cold. Cool. Frio. Bubble. Gurgle. Flow. Flujo. Flood. Crash. Thunder. Tronada. Pound. Storm. Drench. Soak. Empapada. Oh, to be sopping wet. Alas. No matter what language, One can still dream. Sueno ...

Excitement, peril, dropped jaws, popping eyes, gasps, and squeals are all a part of this event that happens Thursday through Sunday at The Eckert James River Bat Cave Preserve! No, it is not a new amusement park, but what takes place will amuse you. I am not going to spoil the suspense for you, but I will say it will curl your toes!!

Welcome to August. We had a nice shower Sunday afternoon. Hopefully, the extreme heat is over for a few days. The other reality of August is that school starts soon. The grandkids are getting registration packets and summer band is starting. This old teacher is sad not to be there in the excitement and very glad to return to reality and know I am retired. Class meetings continue at the Art United Methodist Church on Wednesday evenings.

Jell-O Popsicles This recipe brings back so many fond memories. During the hot summer months my mom would nearly always have Jell-O popsicles in the freezer. Whether I was damming up Honey Creek with cousins, playing in the sprinkler, fishing with my dad or just sitting on the front porch watching the sun go down, these popsicles would put a smile on my face.

This is a “cheating” recipe, since it calls for refrigerate biscuits rather than scratch made ones. If you would rather not use store bought one, use your favorite biscuit recipe instead. Ingredients: 1/2 cup chopped pecans 2 cans Jumbo Biscuits; not the flaky kind 3/4 cup white sugar 3 tablespoons cinnamon For the sauce: 1 1/2 stick butter 1 cup white sugar 2 tablespoons cinnamon (Place all these ingredients in a small sauce pan; heat gently to combine) Process: S ...

I often hear complaints that “nothing’s simple anymore” and “There’s just so much going on that I can’t keep it all straight!” I certainly identify with those sentiments because I complain about them, too. This week happens to be National Simplify your Life Week—which many of us wish we could figure out how to do!

Heads are gonna roll One of the phrases people say to me pretty often is, “I think I’ll start writing, so I can become rich and famous, like you.” OK, they don’t say the ‘rich and famous’ part.’ I made that up. But their tone makes it clear they expect more wealth and fame than I have.

I strive for a low ‘drama life.’ However, there are times when this just doesn’t happen. Last week was full of drama. Had a snake in the bathroom! This is a first for me. Outwardly, I didn’t panic, but inwardly I was screaming at the top of my lungs. The snake got killed.