December 6, 2017 Issue

The Mason Study Club held their monthly meeting last Wednesday and were treated to a delicious luncheon hosted by Deanna Handlin, Linda Kesler, Brenda Rue, and Corrine Wright. Sherrie Clarkson, Study Club member and Mason’s own Texas Master Gardener, gave the Club a presentation on Texas Master Gardener certification. Once accepted into the Master Gardener program, 50 hours of training and classes are required.

Riata held their membership meeting on Tuesday, November 28th at the River of Life meeting/flex room. Hostesses were Mona Lois Schmidt, Rebekah Whitworth and Sherrie Patrick. Pam Scott introduced Pastor Dave Benefield from the River of Life Church. Pastor Dave gave a very informative presentation and slide show detailing their mission work at Chipas, Mexico; in Puyipa, Santa Cruz and the surrounding villages.

On Oct. 17, Hill Country Memorial was recognized by Healthgrades®, a national health care quality rating institution and leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. This achievement is part of findings released by Healthgrades and is featured in their 2018 Report to the Nation. The report demonstrates how clinical performance continues to differ dramatically between hospitals regionally and nationally. “These recognitions reflect our commitment ...

11-01-17@1251 Deputy Stafford responded to a Suspicious Vehicle on Hwy 87S near the Gillespie Co line. Vehicle was gone prior to arrival. 11-01-17@2106 Deputy Hebert responded to Loose Livestock on Hwy 29W 11-01-17@2039 Mason EMS handled a walk-in patient that had fallen out of a tree stand. Patient was transported to Hill Country Memorial Hospital. 11-02-17@0204 Deputy Hebert responded to Suspicious Activity on Rainey St.

I again want to say “Thank you!” to some people who support the library. The Mason Garden Club has been working to ready the front flowerbeds for winter. The beds look so neat now! The ladies worked hard, and we appreciate their willingness to share their talent for gardening and to give their time and effort to keep the library looking beautiful!

“Boss” Lion Jim Heidelberg called to order the November 28 meeting of the Mason Lions Club. Thirty Lions Club members were present at the weekly meeting along with five guests. Lion County Commissioner Will Frey introduced his guest, Curtis Donaldson, who Lion Will said is an authority on Texas A&M basketball.

The weather is much more fall than winter, but if we are lucky there may be some cold weather before the end of the month. We probably will not have a white Christmas in Mason, but the lights around the Square and in Heritage Park certainly lend a very festive holiday brightness to every evening.

Mason ISD third graders are in week six of Learn, Grow, Eat and Go! In this week’s lesson, the kids learned the “Go, Slow, Whoa!” classifications. The objective was for the kids to be able to discriminate between the foods that are good for us and those that we should eat much less often. GO foods contain the least amount of unhealthy fats, added sugars, and sodium.  SLOW foods are food that contain fats, sugars and salt in amounts between those of GO foods and WHOS foods. WHOA f ...

During Friday night's matchup with the Yorktown Wildcats, the Punchers once again continued their season-long streak of holding opponents to 7 points of less. They also once again posted almost 3X the total yardage for the evening, 425 yards, than their opponent, 159 yards. All in all, it was an excellent warm up for the next step in the playoff run when they will meet up with perennial rival, Refugio. Just over three minutes into Friday's game, QB Otto Wofford broke free and ran 89 yards f ...

There will be a Lamb and Goat Showmanship Clinic held this Saturday, December 9, 2017 at the Mason County Show Barn. The clinic will begin at 1:30. The clinic is hosted by the Senior 4H Officers and will offer help for new exhibitors on showing their animal in the show ring on show day.

Varsity Cowgirls vs. Colorado City Tuesday, 11/28 Mason 7—14—11—9 = 41 CC 16—21—14—13 = 64 Scoring—Sandra Duarte—7, Presley Anastas—7, Bridgit Herrington—2, Raegan Palacio—2, Tessa Guice—3, Ruby Magnus—14, Jesse Armstrong 3, Allie Guice—3. Salado Tournament: Varsity Cowgirls vs. Weiss Thursday, 11/30 Mason 15—13—6—13 = 47 Weiss 0—2—0—7 = 9 Scoring—Duarte—4, Pr. Anastas—5, Baltierra—5, Hanscheck—1, Pe. Anastas—10, Magnus

This next Monday, December 4th we will have our annual blood drive that is brought to you by the Mason National Honor Society. We have hosted this event for the past few years and have had an amazing outcome and would like to continue donating Puncher blood that could potentially save a life. If you would like to donate the drive will be from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm in the library.

‘Tis the season for giving! Willow Creek Cafe & Club invites the community to help them give the gift of food to those in need. From December 4th to the 24th, Willow Creek will have boxes in the cafe and club to collect food items for the Mason Food Bank. According to the 2015 Census, 23% of persons age 18 and under in Mason County are below the poverty level.

The Mason Post of Veterans of Foreign Wars 8554 and Auxiliary will have their annual Christmas dinner and awards ceremonies at Nacho’s Café Thursday evening, December 14th a t 6 PM. There will be a cover charge of $ 5 each person with a choice of three items as the menu.

The noontime Advent Program with music and lunch will continue next week on Wednesday, December 13 at the First United Methodist Church. During the lunchhour, from noon till 1:00 p.m., there will be a brief message in the Sanctuary, and then special music by Pastor Colleen Haley. Following in the Fellowship Hall, lunch will be served and there will be time to visit. Hope to see you soon.

River of Life Church is hosting its fourth annual senior angel tree! The last few of years has seen great success in meeting the needs of a humble group of individuals: our senior citizens. Most of the senior citizens live on a fixed income which may barely cover necessities such as shelter, medication, and food.

During Friday night's matchup with the Yorktown Wildcats, the Punchers once again continued their season-long streak of holding opponents to 7 points of less. They also once again posted almost 3X the total yardage for the evening, 425 yards, than their opponent, 159 yards. All in all, it was an excellent warm up for the next step in the playoff run when they will meet up with perennial rival, Refugio. Just over three minutes into Friday's game, QB Otto Wofford broke free and ran 89 yards f ...

Evangelism will come alive when The Journey to Bethlehem Drive-Thru Christmas Luminary comes into our midst. The Christmas Luminary is an annual production of St. Paul Lutheran Church. The date for the Luminary is December 10. The setting will be the beautiful and serene Fort Mason City Park, with the time 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Living in rural Texas gives an appreciation for our volunteer fire departments and just how important they are to their communities. Case in point is the recent fire in London that claimed two lives. We don’t have nearby fire hydrants to plug into when there is a fire out here, so the ability to transport water is paramount. Since its beginnings, Loyal Valley Volunteer Fire Department has put an emphasis on water “tenders”--ground vehicles that transport water--not to be confused with ...

The Llano Country Opry will be staged at Lantex Theater in downtown Llano on Saturday, December 9. There will be two performances with the Award Winning Bellamy Brothers beginning at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM. Admission is $20.00 per person. Limited tickets remain on sale online at www.heartoftexascountry.com or at the Llano Chamber of Commerce.

A statewide online continuing education unit workshop for private applicator license holders will be held Monday, December 11, 2017 at St. James Lutheran Church Schorlemmer Hall, 1401 Ford Street (same as SH 16), Llano 78643. The workshop is hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offices in the counties they serve.

There will be a Lamb and Goat Showmanship Clinic held this Saturday, December 9, 2017 at the Mason County Show Barn. The clinic will begin at 1:30. The clinic is hosted by the Senior 4H Officers and will offer help for new exhibitors on showing their animal in the show ring on show day.

Friday, December 15th, is the deadline for making your donation to the annual Mason County E.M.S. fundraiser: “Operation Christmas Greeting”. A full-page “Community Greeting Card”, with an alphabetical listing of all contributors, will be in the Christmas edition on December 20th. The “Greeting’s” goal each year is to provide funds for needed equipment for our local E.M.S.

Welcome to December. It was a fun day to Christmas shop and then to watch the Punchers play. So few high school teams are still playing football. We are privileged to be able to see our Punchers still on the field. Good luck to the team this week when we face our rival, Refugio.

This next Monday, December 4th we will have our annual blood drive that is brought to you by the Mason National Honor Society. We have hosted this event for the past few years and have had an amazing outcome and would like to continue donating Puncher blood that could potentially save a life. If you would like to donate the drive will be from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm in the library.

Maria Morquecho Menchaca, of Mason, passed away on Monday, December 4, at the age of 85. Maria was born on February 1, 1932 in Fredericksburg to Estevan Morquecho and Ramona Towns Morquecho. In 1946 she married Alfredo Menchaca and they made their home in Mason. In Mason they were members of St.

Eulene Johnson, of Mason, passed away on November 1, at the age of 94. A Celebration of Her Life and interment of her cremated remains will take place on Saturday, December 9, at 10:00 a.m. at the Gooch Cemetery in Mason. Condolences may be sent to the family on-line at masonfuneralhome.net. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Mason Funeral Home.

Bob Crider, of Mason, passed away on Wednesday, November 29, at the age of 80. Mr. Crider is survived by his wife, Nancy Crider of Mason, 5 sons: Billy Crider and wife Linda of Dale, Clinton Crider and wife Phyllis of Leander, Carl Crider of Lago Vista, Kenneth Crider and wife Annette of Georgetown, Jim Crider and wife Christean of Manchester, New Hampshire a sister Margaret Fulks and husband Lee of Georgetown, 7 grandchildren: Ray Crider, Eddie Crider, Brandon Crider, Jennifer Crider, Mary ...

Well, the weather outside is frightful For years I’ve been poking fun at the Global Warming crowd, because they claim human activity has such a profound impact on the long-term climate on earth that we’re ruining the environment. My position has always been that cyclic warming and cooling trends occur naturally, and have been doing that for thousands of years, and human impact is so small as to be infinitesimal.

River of Life Church is hosting its fourth annual senior angel tree! The last few of years has seen great success in meeting the needs of a humble group of individuals: our senior citizens. Most of the senior citizens live on a fixed income which may barely cover necessities such as shelter, medication, and food.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like.... The alerts started popping up on my phone on Monday. At first, it was just San Angelo, Eldorado, Abilene... By mid-afternoon, the alerts had been extended further south and included Junction, Menard, Mason and Brady. By this morning, the warnings had been extended even further south and east and now included most of the Hill County and the Highland Lakes.

Advent Music Was wanting to thank the Mason Ministerial Alliance for their sponsorship of the Advent Music Festival presented by the Mason Community Choir at the St. Paul Lutheran Church. A large crowd attended to listen to a very good Christmas Musical. Connie and Rex Smith

Cinnamon-Sugar Biscuits This recipe started out as a buttermilk biscuit recipe. The biscuits turned out so well I thought I’d see if there were other variations out there to try, and sure enough, this recipe popped up. Ingredients: 2 ½ cups self-rising flour ½ cup sugar ½ teaspoon cinnamon ½ cup unsalted butter 1 cup buttermilk (and add more if the dough doesn’t quite come together) Cinnamon-sugar (for the tops; mix ¾ cup of sugar with 2 tablespoons of cinnamon) 1 t ...

Christmas gift giving isn’t what it use to be. Men got socked and tied! Women got hosed! Boys got Tonka trucks! Girls got a doll! Grandpa got a bottle of hooch! Grandma got Grandpa! Growing up on a ranch, Daddy had to help a heifer calve and that was what Mother called little Jesus.

Anchored in Galveston… Surely, the passing of 75 years knocks the edges from the fib of a 15-year-old, as well as a military doctor who ignored height and weight requirements for a youngster on his second try to join the US Navy. Eddie Janek, reared by his widowed mother during the Depression in West, TX, stood 5’1” and weighed 98 pounds.

Warner Kartoffelsalat (German Potato Salad) Well I was blessed with the stomach virus last week and whenever anyone was sick at their stomach my mom would make Karoffelsuppe, toast and usually jello.. I still make it when anyone in our family doesn’t feel good on their stomach. Its one of our family’s favorite dishes.

Welcome to December. It was a fun day to Christmas shop and then to watch the Punchers play. So few high school teams are still playing football. We are privileged to be able to see our Punchers still on the field. Good luck to the team this week when we face our rival, Refugio.

The spokes. The wheel. The hub. As the world turns. The Mason world that is. And last but not least is the fourth spoke from the Square. That would be Highway 377. Aka North Live Oak. Go north from the corner where Willow Creek Café and Chica Chula are. That’s 377. Locals call it the Fredonia Highway. Because that’s where it ends. As you head north, you’ll see Mason Artisan Gallery. Local artists and also antiques. Just past there is Off the Square Hair Comp ...