February 14, 2018 Issue

The Mason High School Academics UIL Team had a lot of results at the Lampasas High School Invitational UIL Meet held on February 3rd. The meet featured competition against several of the top schools--such as Salado, Liberty Hill, and Copperas Cove--from 4A and 6A classifications. Nevertheless, despite the stiff competition, multiple students were able to place in this first meet of the UIL season. Results from the meet were as follows: Ready Writing: Sloan Townsend, 1st; Lizzy White, 2nd; ...

On Wednesday February 7, 2018, four teams from Mason High School competed at District Cross Examination Debate. This year’s resolution: The United States federal government should substantially increase its funding and/or regulation of elementary and/or secondary education in the United States was debated in a round robin tournament. Grace Chapman & Jenna Johnson placed 1st, with Raegan Palacio & Joshua Fluhmann coming in second.

Our sixth grade robot builders participated in the San Angelo Stock Show Robotics competition. They were a force to be reckoned with! The Feed Sweeper by Laney Lastly, Cutter Couvion and Ethan Roberts, sweeps up feed for less contamination and savings on feed for feedlots / dairys was The Grand Champion of the show!

01-01-18@0119 Deputy Kealer and Mason EMS responded to an Unknown Trouble call on College St. Child was on 911 asking for a deputy and an ambulance. The patient refused transport to the hospital. 01-01-18@0820 Deputy Escobar responded to a Commercial Burglary Alarm on San Antonio St. Alarm was accidental. 01-01-18@0940 Mason EMS responded to Hofmann St for a sick female.

“Boss” Lion Jim Heidelberg called to order the weekly meeting of the Mason Lions Club on February 6. Thirty-two members, two visitors and our speaker attended the meeting. “Boss” Jim asked our two Mason High seniors to introduce themselves. Kason Silerio, who plans to attend either the University of Mary Hardin–Baylor or Abilene Christian University, told the members he will study biochemistry.

The winter months are sometimes a slower time of year for many of us as the weather is unpredictable and with the cold this year the grass and landscaping is enjoying a truly dormant period for a change. There are certainly always things that need to be done, both personally and for the City, but they are often a bit less hectic or demanding for a couple of months right now.

The week of February 5th was a busy one for both Boy Scout Troop 281 and Cub Scout Pack 281. On Monday, four members of the Troop sat before the Board of Review for advancement to their next rank. Scouts advancing were: James Simonton to Star Scout, as well as Jacob Kruso, Austin Simonton, and Wesley Vinson all advancing to Second Class Scout.

The county wide Walk Across Texas campaign is right around the corner! Have you registered? If not, we’d love for you to call Shanta at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Office (347-6459) or email Chel Terrell at [email protected] or Jennifer Moneyhon at [email protected] . The Walk Across Texas campaign kicks off Sunday, March 4th with a Color Run/Walk event.

The Mason High School Academics UIL Team had a lot of results at the Lampasas High School Invitational UIL Meet held on February 3rd. The meet featured competition against several of the top schools--such as Salado, Liberty Hill, and Copperas Cove--from 4A and 6A classifications. Nevertheless, despite the stiff competition, multiple students were able to place in this first meet of the UIL season. Results from the meet were as follows: Ready Writing: Sloan Townsend, 1st; Lizzy White, 2nd; ...

On Wednesday February 7, 2018, four teams from Mason High School competed at District Cross Examination Debate. This year’s resolution: The United States federal government should substantially increase its funding and/or regulation of elementary and/or secondary education in the United States was debated in a round robin tournament. Grace Chapman & Jenna Johnson placed 1st, with Raegan Palacio & Joshua Fluhmann coming in second.

Our sixth grade robot builders participated in the San Angelo Stock Show Robotics competition. They were a force to be reckoned with! The Feed Sweeper by Laney Lastly, Cutter Couvion and Ethan Roberts, sweeps up feed for less contamination and savings on feed for feedlots / dairys was The Grand Champion of the show!

Varsity Cowgirls vs. San Saba Tuesday, 2/6 Mason 8—7—12—11—4 = 42 SS 10—8—2—18 —7 = 45 Scoring—Pr. Anastas—1, Pe. Anastas—3, T. Guice—1, Magnus—15, Armstrong—6, Cano—16. JV Cowgirls vs. San Saba Tuesday, 2/6 Mason 8—4—4—4 = 20 SS 6—10—2—11= 25 Scoring—Rodriguez—4, Olvera—4, Fisher—12. 8th Cowgirls vs. San Saba Monday, 2/5 Mason 4—7—6—17 = 34 SS 6—2—6—9 = 23 Scoring—Keller—16, Stockbridge—2, ...

The county wide Walk Across Texas campaign is right around the corner! Have you registered? If not, we’d love for you to call Shanta at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Office (347-6459) or email Chel Terrell at [email protected] or Jennifer Moneyhon at [email protected] . The Walk Across Texas campaign kicks off Sunday, March 4th with a Color Run/Walk event.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Ash Wednesday 2018 and Valentine’s Day 2018 just happen to fall on the same date! Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent when Christians remember Jesus’ sacrificial and loving path to the cross. Valentine’s Day is a special day to celebrate friendship and love.

The Mason County Republican Women will hold their bimonthly luncheon on Wednesday February 21, 2018, at 11:30 am in the Stribling Room at the Mason Library. Members and guests will gather at 11:30 a.m. for meet and greet with the luncheon starting promptly at noon. Our distinguished speaker will be David Heckert who is a US Army veteran, and currently a Field Leader with the Texas Border Volunteers.

Meet Bentley Bentley says Happy Valentine’s Day!! About 1 year old, Bentley is an absolute sweetheart. He is housebroken and LOVES to go for rides in the car – especially when he ends up at the park for a nice long walk. He is very easy going and would love to be your companion.

The Mason Co. M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library is offering a Microsoft Office Excel 2010 class this spring. The class is free, and materials are provided. Carol Tucker will be the instructor, and she has many years to her credit as an excellent teacher of computer skills. The class will begin in mid-March, but you must call to register.

The Mason County Ministerial Alliance is continuing the Mason tradition of noontime Lenten devotional services with luncheons at our various churches in Mason. All who can come on Wednesdays at noon beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 14 (Valentine’s Day) are invited to enjoy good spiritual fellowship with Mason friends at these services.

The regular meeting of the Mason Garden Club will be on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, at 2 p.m. in the Stribling Room of the Mason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library. Guest Speaker will be Sherie Clarkson, Master Gardener from Mason, who will speak on “History of Texas Herbs”. For more information, contact Joan Lindley at 347-7007. Visitors are welcome....

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, Feb. 20, at 6:30 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. Vermonters Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson have toured the world for a decade.

All I want for Valentine’s Day is for everyone here to get well. We have had everyone down with something this last week. We had upper respitory infections, flu, ear aches, reaction to tamaflu, bronchitis, and minor surgery. We have kept the Lysol spray people in business. I think everyone is on the mend.

Mason, Texas- Save the Dates! The Third Annual Mason Chamber Music Festival will take place April 5th -8th and is sure to be the gem of the weekend’s festivities in Mason, Texas. The weekend of performances by the Artisan String Quartet will include free Thursday, Friday, and Sunday performances and the $20 ticketed Saturday Gala performance at Mason’s Historic Odeon Theater. The Artisan String Quartet who hail from Austin will again be the Festival’s artists-in-residence and will int ...

The legendary Blackwood Quartet will be appearing at the Heart of Texas Events Center at 804 San Angelo Highway in Brady, Texas, on Friday, February 16. The concert will benefit the Brady Clergy Association. Tickets will be $10 and available at the door. The show begins at 7:00 PM. The year was 1934.

JUNCTION – South Llano River State Park is excited to announce its First Annual Birding Festival, sponsored by the Friends of South Llano River State Park, to be held Friday, April 27 through Sunday, April 29th, 2018. The Festival will feature guided bird walks, including Golden-cheeked Warbler walks and Birding the Riparian, and will also offer guided photography sessions in the park’s four popular bird blinds.

Surrounded by members of his loving family, Thomas Ray Polk slipped peacefully into eternal life on January 1, 2018, following a brief illness. Thomas was born September 14, 1927, to Thomas Walker and Martha Sanders Polk in Mason, Texas. Thomas attended Long Mountain schools and graduated from Mason High School. He served in the US Army.

Mary Lopez Palacio, of Mason, passed away on Thursday, February 8, at the age of 72. She was affectionately known as “Corè” to her friends and family. Mary Palacio is survived by her, two children: John Palacio and wife Deandra of Mason and Norma Castaneda and husband Felix of Fredericksburg, one sister: Rosario Velez and husband Edward Velez of Mason, and 4 grandchildren Devin Castaneda, John Adam Castaneda, Raegan Palacio, and Makenna Palacio. Mary was preceded in death by husband ...

David Clarence Alm was born on January 21, 1929, the oldest child of Clarence Newton and Marie Matilda Alm. He passed away on Feb 3, 2018. He was born in Phillips, Wisconsin where he spent his childhood and graduated from high school. David enlisted in the service in the summer of 1947, joining what would shortly become the U.S.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Ash Wednesday 2018 and Valentine’s Day 2018 just happen to fall on the same date! Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent when Christians remember Jesus’ sacrificial and loving path to the cross. Valentine’s Day is a special day to celebrate friendship and love.

The Mason County Ministerial Alliance is continuing the Mason tradition of noontime Lenten devotional services with luncheons at our various churches in Mason. All who can come on Wednesdays at noon beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 14 (Valentine’s Day) are invited to enjoy good spiritual fellowship with Mason friends at these services.

Watching the Skies with Fingers Crossed.... On Tuesday morning, as I'm writing this column, the National Weather Service rain gauge at my office has recorded 0.09" of rain since the beginning of 2018. We're almost half way through February, and we've had less than a tenth of an inch of precipitation thus far. Last week, we included a "Prayer for Rain"

Monkey Bread This is a “cheating” recipe, since it calls for cans of refrigerated biscuits instead of “scratch made” biscuits. If using the store-bought ones is not appealing to you, feel free to whup up a batch of your favorites and use them instead. Ingredients: ½ cup pecans (chopped) 2 cans Jumbo Biscuits (I used “Grands”) Don’t use the flaky kind ¾ cup white sugar 3 tablespoons cinnamon For the sauce; (put all ingredients in a small pot and heat until well bl ...

Mark your calendars for Feb. 20th! The folksingers Hungrytown will be performing in the Stribling Room of the library. Admission is free, but we’re asking that you bring canned tomatoes or tomato sauce for the food bank. Rebecca and Ken are a dynamic duo—don’t miss out on the fun! DVDs: Thank You for Your Service Goodbye Christopher Robin The Blue Planet: Seas of Life A Dash of Love Texas Rein Ladder 49 Ace of Hearts Bones: Seasons 5, 6, and 7 Non-fiction: Mockingb ...

Thank you for your support Honestly, I don’t know what the world is coming to. More specifically, I don’t know what the world of air travel is coming to. But wherever air travel is headed, one thing is certain: it will be delayed. Flying used to be a fun thing to do, as long as you weren’t afraid of heights, or tiny spaces, or death.

Two of a Kind… Rarely do guests at funerals “buy” officiants’ claims that we “gather together to celebrate the life of ____.” You fill in the blank. We’ve all “been there, heard that.” Most are prone to think of funerals as marking ends rather than beginnings. Usually, grief engulfs us, dragging us far below the state of joy we’d prefer.

All I want for Valentine’s Day is for everyone here to get well. We have had everyone down with something this last week. We had upper respitory infections, flu, ear aches, reaction to tamaflu, bronchitis, and minor surgery. We have kept the Lysol spray people in business. I think everyone is on the mend.

Valentine’s Day. Heartache. Heart throb. Heartfelt. Heart’s desire. Some reject it. Or neglect it. Shop windows reflect it. Restaurants celebrate it. Such as Willow Creek Café. Sweetheart Supper for Two— Two 12 oz. Ribeyes. Baked potato or fries. Salad bar and roll. And a chocolate-covered strawberry. Plus complimentary Willow-Ritas! All this on February 14th. Starts at 5 p.m. (At least that’s what it was last year!) Guys---if you’re buying, yo ...