December 20, 2017 Issue

The University of Texas at Tyler Announces Alpha Chi Inductees TYLER, Texas (Dec. 14, 2017) – The University of Texas at Tyler announces 67 student inductees in the Alpha Chi National Honor Society Texas Alpha Xi Chapter, which recognizes superior scholarly performance and exemplary character among both students and faculty. Alpha Chi is the only major multidisciplinary honor society in which students and faculty have equal roles. To be eligible for membership as an undergraduate, a stu ...

Agricultural leaders from Mason County Farm Bureau attended the 84th Annual Texas Farm Bureau Meeting Dec. 2-4 in Frisco. Discussion of the latest agricultural issues, including private property rights, seed and plant certification, Texas-bred horse program and agricultural practices; the recognition of top county Farm Bureaus and individuals; and evaluation of the organization’s policies, were the tasks for nearly 900 voting delegates from county Farm Bureaus. County delegates voted on ...

Mason Lions Club members and their delightful guests gathered at the Eckert Center on December 12 for the annual Christmas luncheon. “Boss” Lion Jim Heidelberg welcomed everyone in attendance. Daryl Watson graciously provided musical entertainment throughout the event. “Boss” Jim thanked all Lions Club members for their hard work performing service projects in the community and supporting the various fund-raising activities of the Lions Club during 2017.

It seems that we are never entirely ready for Christmas, no matter how early we begin preparing, but nevertheless in less than a week it will be here! The weather does not seem to be anything but “Texas” through and through with cold days followed by spring-time warmth and sunny skies, fog or just drizzle often within days of each other.

The American Legion Post #285 & Ladies Aux. held their annual Christmas party at Nachos café Tuesday night Dec. 12. After good food and good fellowship the drawing was held for the two rifles that were in the raffle this year. The AR15 rifle was won by Burt Coldiron of Mason.

Each Tuesday, 4H members in the Food and Nutrition project move among learning stations that teach a number of skills from safety to healthy eating habits. The members meet at 4:30 at the community building at Fort Mason Park. This is also the location of this year’s Mason County Food and Nutrition Show so members are familiar with the area in which they will compete on Saturday, January 6.

Varsity Cowgirls vs. Lipan Tuesday, 12/12 Mason 18—18—8—7 = 51 Lipan 4—4—2—13 = 23 Scoring—Pr. Anastas—5, Dudney—5, Baltierra—2, Hanscheck—2, Herrington—2, Palacio—3, Pe. Anastas—6, T. Guice—8, Magnus—11, Armstrong 2, A. Guice—7. Rebounding—Duarte—2, Nail—1, Pr. Anastas—3, Dudney—4, Baltierra—2, Hanscheck—5, Herrington—4, Palacio—1, Pe. Anastas—2, T. Guice—3, Magnus—8, Armstrong—5, A. Guice—6. Assists—Nail—1, Pr. A ...

Each Tuesday, 4H members in the Food and Nutrition project move among learning stations that teach a number of skills from safety to healthy eating habits. The members meet at 4:30 at the community building at Fort Mason Park. This is also the location of this year’s Mason County Food and Nutrition Show so members are familiar with the area in which they will compete on Saturday, January 6.

Each winter from December through early March, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) stocks rainbow trout in more than 100 locations across Texas. This winter, Mason County will host one of these fishing opportunities at the James River Crossing on Highway 2389. This Mason County winter fishing opportunity will be called WinterFisch and will include two release dates of December 23rd, 2017 and January 27th, 2018.

The 2018 Mason County Livestock Show & Expo is just a few short weeks away, Friday and Saturday, January 5-6 at the Fort Mason Park Community Building. The youth of Mason County have been working hard over the last few months preparing for this year’s big event. In addition to the livestock show featuring cattle, swine, sheep and goats, several new events have been added to the line-up.

Pastoral Note: 4th Sunday of Advent ends with Sunday Mass, 10:30am at St. Joseph; 8:30am Mass at Holy Trinity. As a result, you may attend the Advent and Christmas Masses on Sunday and fulfill your Holy Days of Obligation. Enjoy the peace of Merry Christmas, Alleluia! SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24th, 2017 VIGIL OF CHRISTMAS MASS (Nativity of the Lord)/ 5:00pm Maria Mutis and Choir will present spirited and inspirational sounds of Christmas bringing peace and joy to our hearts. MONDAY, DECEMBER ...

Christmas is a time for family, fellowship and celebrating the love of Christ. The family of River of Life Church wants to share in food and fellowship with our family of Mason at our annual Christmas Dinner. Please join us on Christmas Day, Monday, December 25th at the River of Life Gymnasium for a delicious traditional Christmas dinner.

Bobby Bridger, singer/songwriter/poet/actor/playwright/author and painter will perform A Ballad of the West at the Odeon theater in Mason Saturday January 13 at 7:00PM. For three decades Bridger has traveled the globe performing a trilogy of one man shows for audiences in America, Canada, Europe, Australia and Russia. And through all that time he has remained true to his obsession with mountain man and great-great-uncle Jim Bridger, Native Americans, and the settling of the frontier while con ...

The Heart of Texas New Years Celebration will be held on Saturday, December 30 and Sunday, December 31, at the Brady Civic Center in Brady. Tickets on sale at www.heartoftexascountry.com. The events are sponsored by the Heart of Texas Country Music Museum. On Saturday, December 30, Johnny Bush, Dottsy and Justin Trevino will headline the dance at the Brady Civic Center. Johnny Bush began his musical career in Houston.

Local artist, Laura Lewis has scheduled five workshops around West Texas for the spring semester, and will begin with a workshop in her studio on Lower Willow Creek Road, scheduled for January 19th and 20th, 2018. This workshop is concurrent with a solo exhibit of Laura’s work at the Arnold Gallery, which opens on January 11th.

Local artist, Laura Lewis has scheduled five workshops around West Texas for the spring semester, and will begin with a workshop in her studio on Lower Willow Creek Road, scheduled for January 19th and 20th, 2018. This workshop is concurrent with a solo exhibit of Laura’s work at the Arnold Gallery, which opens on January 11th.

Merry Christmas. My wish is that each of you will be blessed this holiday season. Hopefully, you will have some family time. You will probably have time to eat too much. You will laugh with friends and family and share memories of past Christmas times. Take time to reach out to your family and friends that are lonely.

The City of Mason will be closed Monday and Tuesday December 25th and 26th for the Christmas Holidays. Trash trucks will pick up as scheduled: Monday the 25th will be on Wednesday the 27th Tuesday the 26th (City facilities closed) will be on Thursday the 28th Landfill and Recycle operations open on Saturday December 23rd. Trash pickup will resume back on schedule Wednesday December 27th The City of Mason will be closed Monday January 1, 2018 for the New Year’s Day. Trash truck ...

Hill Country CattleWomen is hosting a free Women’s Ranch Seminar on January 26, 2018 in Fredericksburg, TX. Hillcountrycattlewomen.com

Dorothy Jane Johnson, of Mason, passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at the age of 95. Dorothy was born in Mason, Texas, on July 5, 1922, to Ben and Alma Carson. She spent her entire life in Brady and Mason, except for AJ's service in the Army Air Corp from September 1, 1942, until November 25, 1945. Dorothy married AJ Johnson in Fredericksburg, Texas, on September 20, 1941, and their marriage was blessed with two sons, Ron and Gary.

Carolyn Ruth Bratton Grosse, wife of Mark Grosse, left us peacefully at her home in Port Aransas, TX on December 15, 2017. She was born on December 7, 1943, to Ruth Bratton and Roy Bratton. Carolyn grew up in Mason where she excelled in academics and athletics, making it to the state tennis in doubles with Mary Jo Geistweidt Cockrell on two occasions.

The holidays are upon us, so be sure to come in this week and get books, movies, etc. to tide you over. The library will be closed Monday, Dec. 25, Tuesday, Dec. 26, and Monday, Jan. 1. Nancy, Trudy, and I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year! DVDs: Around the World in 80 Days A Christmas Memory Hero Truman Capote’s One Christmas Home Alone and Home Alone 2 Max Lucado’s Christmas Child Logan Lucky Trolls Hickok Despicable Me 3 Party with the ...

Pastoral Note: 4th Sunday of Advent ends with Sunday Mass, 10:30am at St. Joseph; 8:30am Mass at Holy Trinity. As a result, you may attend the Advent and Christmas Masses on Sunday and fulfill your Holy Days of Obligation. Enjoy the peace of Merry Christmas, Alleluia! SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24th, 2017 VIGIL OF CHRISTMAS MASS (Nativity of the Lord)/ 5:00pm Maria Mutis and Choir will present spirited and inspirational sounds of Christmas bringing peace and joy to our hearts. MONDAY, DECEMBER ...

Christmas is a time for family, fellowship and celebrating the love of Christ. The family of River of Life Church wants to share in food and fellowship with our family of Mason at our annual Christmas Dinner. Please join us on Christmas Day, Monday, December 25th at the River of Life Gymnasium for a delicious traditional Christmas dinner.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas? We live in Mason, Texas. That's located right in the heart of the state, and falls within the temperate zone. And that means that, more often than not, Christmas day is usually 50-60 degrees with sunny skies. Except, this year, the forecast is a bit different.

The gift that keeps on irritating Since Thanksgiving is over, it’s OK to play Christmas music now. If you play Christmas music before Thanksgiving, people get testy. For some reason. Not me, though. I like to listen to ‘Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer’ year round. Matter of fact, there’s a guy named Bob Rivers who has made some Christmas albums that everyone needs, featuring singles such as ‘The Restroom Door Said Gentlemen,’ to the tune of ‘God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,’ ...

Christmas 2017, is here and hopefully all is under control at your house. There is a time to “put the metal to the petal,” and folks this is the time. Always have a plan B-C-D-E-F-G! B is for best way after all, C is for bought cookies, D is for did that last year and it worked, E is for enough of the decorations, F is for Fa La-La, get more wine.

More Than a Timepiece… Now and again, a news story piques our consciousness with greater impact than carefully prepared ads. Such was the case a few months ago when ABC News ran a story about a couple whose appreciation for a physician runs deep. They credited a doctor for saving both the mother’s life, as well as the baby she birthed.

Grama Geistweidt’s Cinnamon Rolls Mom was well known for her homemade cinnamon rolls and homemade bread. I remember pretty much every Friday when I would get off the school bus and walk home that wonderful aroma was wafting through the house. One or the other graced every Lutheran covered dish luncheon I can remember.

Merry Christmas. My wish is that each of you will be blessed this holiday season. Hopefully, you will have some family time. You will probably have time to eat too much. You will laugh with friends and family and share memories of past Christmas times. Take time to reach out to your family and friends that are lonely.

Countdown. Five more days till Christmas. Shop local. And when in doubt, Gift Certificates. Get them for just about anything. Square Plate Restaurant. Post Oak Spa. Reigning Cats & Dogs. So much to be had right here. The Thing Is Boutique. Cherokee Rose. Mason Feed Store. Market Square. And good prices too. The Shooting Star has quite an array on display. And Christmas items abound at The Petal Patch. Try dinner for four from Sisters Catering. Or two tickets ...