September 13, 2017 Issue

The Menard-Kimble-Mason TRTA Unit had its first meeting of the new year on Thursday, September 7, at the Menard Community Center. Sherry Hubbard, First Vice-President, reported that the local unit had 119 members. Louise Jennings explained the importance of volunteer hours donated by TRTA members. Both the number of members and the volunteer hours help our voices be heard on such matters as health care and defined benefit vs.

The Texas legislature completed its budget in last month and Congress is now back in Washington D.C. with a full schedule including the task of passing the 2018 budget. President Trump’s proposed budget includes a $9.2 billion, or 13.5 percent, spending cut to education. The Republican leadership is also calling for deep cuts to domestic spending.

The Mason County Republican Women will hold their bimonthly luncheon on Wednesday September 20, 2017, at 11:30 am in the Stribling Room at the Mason Library. Members and guests will gather at 11:30 am for meet and greet with the luncheon starting promptly at noon. Our distinguished speaker will be Justice Melissa Goodwin, a justice of the Texas 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin, TX.

Members of Brady Rotary Club are extremely proud that one of our own members, Carol Holmes, is serving as this year’s District Governor of our District 5840. Carol retired as vice president of Texas National Bank, Tomball. She joined Tomball Rotary Club in 1992 and served as president from 2003-2004. Carol and her husband, Doug, moved to Mason in 2007.

With hurricanes and national politics in the news, and school starting and Friday night football locally, some of the activities at the City seem to get lost in the shuffle. We are actively working on gathering the materials to rebuild the entrance to the Ft Mason City Park that is partially knocked down.

“Boss” Lion Jim Heidelberg convened the weekly meeting of the Mason Lions Club on September 5. Thirty-five members were present. In addition, two guests attended the meeting. “Boss” Jim related on this day in history, September 5, 1906, the first legal forward pass was completed in a college football game. 19 college football players died from traumatic injuries in 1905 and an additional 137 were seriously injured.

Barry Wayne Kilgore passed away at his home in El Dorado TX on June 19, 2017. This information became available to us at the Mason Senior Center just two weeks ago. Barry was employed at KHLB, the local radio station before he joined us at the Mason Senior Center through the SCSEP senior program.

Everyone is invited to the 6th Annual Fundraising Dinner for Mason Young Life! We invite you to learn more about this exciting ministry and how it is impacting the lives of students right here in Mason! Young Life ministries around the world are “locally grown” by concerned adults who want to make a difference in the lives of kids in their communities.

The Texas legislature completed its budget in last month and Congress is now back in Washington D.C. with a full schedule including the task of passing the 2018 budget. President Trump’s proposed budget includes a $9.2 billion, or 13.5 percent, spending cut to education. The Republican leadership is also calling for deep cuts to domestic spending.

Using the mantra “Off the field, we are on the same team,” MHS student organizations are joining forces to raise funds for the students of Refugio impacted by hurricane Harvey. MHS students recently became aware of the degree of devastation in Refugio. There are students left homeless by the storm who are actually living at the high school and their needs are great.

The Punchers had their first trip on the road last Friday night, and the Johnson City Eagles gave the Mason team a great opportunity to work out some of their early season cobwebs! The game saw the Punchers being hit with several penalties, giving up 63 yards to JC's 21. Even with those missteps, the Punchers were still able to shut out the Eagles for a 35-0 win. Just over three minutes into the first quarter, sophomore Klay Klaerner broke out for the Punchers on a 7-yard run, scoring the ...

The JV White Punchers traveled to Jim Ned last week to take on the Indians. The Punchers played hard but Jim Ned was able to pull out the victory 44-0. Jim Ned was a very good and well coached team. Next week the White Team will have an open week.

The JV Purple played its first home game of the year against Johnson City. The Punchers scored their first points through the air with a 38 yard connection from Whitt Bierschwale to Aaron Reardon. Jace Eckert scampered into the end-zone on a 2 yard run for the Punchers second touchdown. Whitt Bierschwale threw for another touchdown in the second quarter this time to Gage Watson for a 16 yard completion.

The Cowgirls and Punchers, junior high and high school, competed in the Mason Invitational Cross Country Meet held at the golf course this past Wednesday. There were 16 teams and approximately 575 runners competing in the meet. Thank you to all of you who came out to support and those of you who assisted at the finish line.

Everyone is invited to the 6th Annual Fundraising Dinner for Mason Young Life! We invite you to learn more about this exciting ministry and how it is impacting the lives of students right here in Mason! Young Life ministries around the world are “locally grown” by concerned adults who want to make a difference in the lives of kids in their communities.

Using the mantra “Off the field, we are on the same team,” MHS student organizations are joining forces to raise funds for the students of Refugio impacted by hurricane Harvey. MHS students recently became aware of the degree of devastation in Refugio. There are students left homeless by the storm who are actually living at the high school and their needs are great.

The Old Yeller Days celebration will be held Saturday, September 30th, from 9:30-1:00 on the Mason County Courthouse lawn. This event will bring to life the frontier times of Mason County and its literary heritage of Mason author Fred Gipson. Sponsored by the Mason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library, the event will be filled with activities emphasizing the 1870’s time period in which Old Yeller was set. In keeping with the Old Yeller theme, a pet parade and contest will be held wit ...

Attention all ranchers, homeowners, avid gardeners and teachers! Do you ever wonder how much rainfall you received in your area during a recent thunderstorm? Since every drop counts, an important volunteer weather observing program needs your help. The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow network is looking for new volunteers in the area.

If you like to play 42 and dominoes, come join the fun on Wednesday, September 13 at the Mason Co. M. Beven Eckert Library, 410 Post Hill St. Play will begin at 1:30 P.M. in the Stribling Room. If you have a set of dominoes, bring them along and bring a friend.

Meet JACKSON!! Sweet, handsome and just look at that happy face!!! Jackson joined his foster home a couple of weeks ago and had been doing awesomely. He is just an all around great guy and he loves people, other dogs and kids! Like all young dogs he enjoys his play time but after he gets that out of his system, he really just wants to cuddle.

PLEASE NOTE CORRECTED DATE: On Thursday, Sept. 14th, The American Legion Fort Mason Post 285 will have its regular meeting at 6:30pm at The American Legion Post Hall, 237 Post Hill [behind the Jail]. For more information on The American Legion, please contact Joaquin Velez, 218-2049, or Tommy Koepke, 347-6021. For information on the Ladies Auxiliary, please contact Gail Coldiron, 347-9016.

Greetings class of ’72! It has been 45 years and a few months since we said so long to MHS. Those of us who put this together every 5 years are a little behind this year. It happens when you get older. Since the big one will be in 5 years we decided on a mini reunion for our 45th.

Don’t forget! The Mason High School Class of 1997 will have their 20-year class reunion on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. at Lea Lou Co-Op on the east side of the Mason Square. Come catch up with friends during this fun evening! Check the “Mason Class of 1997” Facebook page for updates or contact Chel Terrell at [email protected] or Kylie Kaderka at [email protected].

It must be a sign of my old age. I just could not figure out what day it was last week. The Monday holiday just messed up my brain. It was a good week. However, anyone who was around me knows I was lost in time. The German Hymnfest will be Sunday, September 24th, at Mason First United Methodist Church at 3 pm.

Mason, TX, located approx. 100 miles from Austin, San Antonio and San Angelo will hold its annual 5 & 10K race on September 30, 2017 @ 8:30 a.m. Come and run the trail that was once traveled by Native Americans, General Robert E. Lee, John O. Meusebach and numerous other historical figures who helped settle this beautiful area of Texas.

The regular meeting of the Mason Garden Club will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2017, at noon in the Stribling Room of theMason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library. The club will be making items to sell at the Old Yeller Days celebration. There will be a pot luck lunch before the workshop. So come, dress casual, bring your sale item ideas and your favorite pot luck recipe and join us. For more information contact Joan Lindley at 347-7007.

Yolanda Ruiz Airheart, age 58, of Brady, Texas passed away Sunday, September 3, 2017, in Brady. Yolanda was born October 3, 1958 in Brady to Raymond M. Ruiz and Eusebia (Escobar) Ruiz. She married Chester H. “Butch” Airheart Sr. on December 3, 1993, in Mason, Texas. She was a lifelong area resident and attended the Christian Community Church in Brady.

Dear Gerry, To encourage people to pay attention to the allegedly controlling, ridiculous medical profession.... Joey Bada$$, a New York rapper, boasted that he would watch the eclipse without protective eyewear. The next day, Joey had to cancel three tour dates due to “unforeseen circumstances,” (meaning he didn’t have the foresight to respect science).

Miles from Impact, Mason Responds Over the course of the last few weeks, nature has unleashed its fury on the western hemisphere. It began with Hurricane Harvey that devastated the upper Gulf Coast of Texas, then followed with a deluge of communities from Bastrop all the way over to western Louisiana.

Stormy weather. Harvey. Irma. Now there’s a pair to draw to. Hope they don’t have any offspring. The poor gulf. And east coast. America, America. God shed his grace on thee. Holy moly. Hang on, Houston. It ain’t Texas without ya. It ain’t America without ya. Being one of the Top 10 largest cities in the country. In 4th Place with 2,296,224 people. Only New York, L.A., and Chicago are bigger. No hurricanes there, however. The Port of Houston is the bus ...

It must be a sign of my old age. I just could not figure out what day it was last week. The Monday holiday just messed up my brain. It was a good week. However, anyone who was around me knows I was lost in time. The German Hymnfest will be Sunday, September 24th, at Mason First United Methodist Church at 3 pm.

On Unorthodox Recruiting… This high school choir teacher maintains a high excitement level throughout the year, but it peaks with the beginning of school each fall. That’s when she’s on high alert to sign up new members. And she does it with the zeal of a gal awarded a 10-yard head start in a Sadie Hawkins Day race. Sandra Sanders Mattson, Killeen High School men’s choir director, is ever “at the ready” to add another voice, and if it happens to be bass, that’s all the bet ...

I keep a close eye on my inventory. Cups, paper towels, toilet paper, to mention a few. My strict enforcement of these items was needed as my little boys grew older and took my favorite color coordinated cups and didn’t return them to the kitchen. To take them outside was an absolute forbidden crime.

Crime doesn’t pay – except in Kalifornia Back when I was a kid my older brother got hold of a letter that was going around. The letter was a joke, ostensibly from a regular guy to the federal government, asking to be paid for not raising hogs. That’s been 40 years ago, and the letter, in various forms, is still making the rounds, although now it’s on AlGore’s interwebnets. This letter got its start because the FedGov had a program whereby a farmer who typically raised a crop tha ...

Today’s the birthday of children’s author Roald Dahl, and roalddahl.com offers games, activities, and more based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, Matilda, and more. If the kids need to brush up on these books, we have them and DVDs to boot! DVDs: Around the World in 80 Days Elementary: Season 5 Blue Bloods: Season 7 NCIS: Season 14 The Walking Dead: Season 7 My Cousin Rachel The Planet of the Apes Legacy Collection Black Sails: Season 4 A Family Man Tho ...

Crock Pot Bread; Easiest Bread You Ever Made! We make lots of things in our crock pot, since it provides us with a way to dump in a bunch of ingredients and then walk away and do other things for the time it takes for the pot to do its magic.