July 4, 2018 Issue

On May 8, 2018, the descendants of many German immigrants welcomed the marker dedication honoring their ancestor pioneers. Gail Jordan Sholar and Max Jordan, descendants of several of these immigrants were in attendance. A Daughters of the Republic of Texas medallion and an information marker were placed in front of the Pioneer Museum in Fredericksburg.

Members of Central Texas Electric Co-op, Board District 3 (Mason County), met Tuesday, June 5th in the Richard P. Eckert Civic Center. The members were welcomed by CTEC Chief Executive Officer, Robert A. Loth, III. Mr. Loth opened with The Pledge of Allegiance and the introduction of members of the co-op’s board of directors in attendance.

(June 29th, 2018) – Over the past year, volunteers have worked together to improve the habitat along Comanche Creek in Fort Mason City Park. Landowners, high school students from the Pioneers program, and city park staff have worked with partnering organizations to control Chinaberry trees and enhance the native plant community along the creek. When diverse, healthy plant communities thrive along the banks of creeks or rivers—also known as the riparian zone—they reduce erosion and flo ...

For the final time as President of the Mason Lions Club, “Boss” Lion Jim Heidelberg convened the weekly meeting of the Mason Lions Club on June 26. Beginning with the next regular meeting on July 10, new President Marty Bentson will emcee Lions Club meetings. Thirty-eight persons attended the meeting, including James Durst, a junior at the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mason High School Class of 2018 graduates Reagan Palacio and Ella Canfield and our speaker, Jeff Durst of ...

I hope that you have plans to celebrate July 4th in a fun and safe manner. Be sure and fly the red, white and blue with pride if you have that opportunity, and we all appreciate the Lions Club volunteers that put out the flags around the square on every holiday.

Despite the heat, we have been having tons of fun at the Eckert James River Bat Cave Preserve. Visitors have been left in complete awe at the emergences. We have not had many predators, but the bats have not complained. They actually seemed quite pleased with the reprieve. I guess if you live your life in constant awareness that each second could be your last, it might be a little less stressful to see a few less critters trying to make you their dinner. The pups have all been born and are ...

Calli Montague and Chet Weitz have been chosen to represent Bloomer Trailers out of hundreds of high school rodeo athletes across the United States. The Bloomer Trailer team consists of 33 team members representing 11 states. This is the first year that Montague has been chosen to represent Bloomer Trailers in Pole Bending, Team Roping and Breakaway Roping.

It is that time of year again for the Mason Jr. and adult tennis players to enjoy a fun, relaxing and competitive tennis tournament right here in Mason. This year’s tournament will be the 54th Annual Dr. Pepper/Tennis Outlet Tennis Tournament. Players from all over the state travel to Mason to compete in this tournament and one thing I continually hear is how awesome it is that there are so many youth and adult tennis players in our community.

July 9th - 12th (M - TH) July 16th - 19th July 23rd - 26th July 30th - Aug 2nd 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. All incoming 7th through 12th grade girls and boys are highly encouraged to attend. There is no cost for this camp.

Calli Montague and Chet Weitz have been chosen to represent Bloomer Trailers out of hundreds of high school rodeo athletes across the United States. The Bloomer Trailer team consists of 33 team members representing 11 states. This is the first year that Montague has been chosen to represent Bloomer Trailers in Pole Bending, Team Roping and Breakaway Roping.

Ethan Powell, Lucas Martin, Tyson Keller and Joshua Fluhmann represented Mason at Boys State this year. These young men were chosen by the American Legion Fort Mason Post 285 to be statesmen. As stated by the Boys State website: American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students.

The Mason Rodeo Association cordially invites you to join us for our 54th Annual Round-Up & Rodeo! To kick off this weekend long celebration, Dennis & Karen Townsend, with the support of Mason Bank and The Commercial Bank, will be sponsoring the Mason County Team Roping on Thursday, July 12th. Books close at 6:30 p.m., roping begins at 7:00.

Kara Grainger makes a stop at Mason Texas’ Odeon theater on her tour across the U.S. and Canada promoting her newly released CD Living With Your Ghost. Showtime at the Odeon is 7:00 PM Saturday July 7. Grainger covers a lot of ground, genre-wise, on her well-produced CD Living With Your Ghost.

Individuals with sleep apnea are invited to a free group meeting on Tues., July 10 at 1 p.m. at the Hill Country Memorial Brune Building (808 Reuben St.) in Fredericksburg. Hill Country Memorial sleep technologist Theresa Cochran will host a roundtable discussion about the obstacles in committing to treatment for sleep apnea, including the challenges in using positive airway pressure masks successfully. The group will continue to meet on the second Tuesday of each month including Aug.

Hill Country Memorial will offer diabetes education options in July at the HCM Wellness Center conference room (1006 S. State Hwy. 16) in Fredericksburg. “Diabetes is a serious condition, but it can be managed and even prevented by taking action,” said Kim Thornton, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at HCM.

Mason, Texas- Mason County Habitat for Humanity’s Homeowner Selection Committee will hold its first public meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11, at the Eckert Civic Center. Everyone who is thinking about applying this year should attend. The Committee will only hold three public meetings. Applicants must attend at least two of those meetings to qualify for selection. At the meeting Habitat for Humanity representatives will discuss the application process; who is qualified to apply; wha ...

It is that time of year again for the Mason Jr. and adult tennis players to enjoy a fun, relaxing and competitive tennis tournament right here in Mason. This year’s tournament will be the 54th Annual Dr. Pepper/Tennis Outlet Tennis Tournament. Players from all over the state travel to Mason to compete in this tournament and one thing I continually hear is how awesome it is that there are so many youth and adult tennis players in our community.

July 9th - 12th (M - TH) July 16th - 19th July 23rd - 26th July 30th - Aug 2nd 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. All incoming 7th through 12th grade girls and boys are highly encouraged to attend. There is no cost for this camp.

Happy Fourth of July. Independence Day is certainly a day to celebrate. I hope you all have a great holiday. July just jumped out and I am not ready. Well, I am ready for cooler weather. But, I am not ready to face August heat. I learned today that Art had a part in the Mason tennis tradition.

Warren Clarence “Dusty” Schulze, Lt. Colonel, US Army (Ret) passed away June 25, 2018. He was born February 26, 1921 on his family’s ranch in Mason, Texas to the late Hugo O. and Hulda Eckert Schulze. He attended Mason County schools and graduated from Texas A&M in 1942. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the US Army.

Doris Engle Holler McKay, 89, a former Mason resident, died Monday, June 25, in Austin, Tx. Born in Denver City, Tx, on August 25, 1928, Doris graduated from high school there in 1945, and married her husband Charles in October, 1946. They lived in Crane, Tx from 1953-1971. Doris worked throughout her life as a bookkeeper, office manager, deputy sheriff and legal secretary until she and her husband retired in 1985, when they moved to Mason, home of their daughter-in-law Kathy Ziriax McKay ...

When Summer is Just An Oven Door Left Open! On Monday morning, we got the Executive Order from County Judge Jerry Bearden instituting a burn ban, and banning aerial fireworks over the July 4th holiday. I've posted the Order on our Facebook page, and included it in this issue. Thus far, reaction has been supportive and well received. For several days now, temperatures have hovered at or above 100 degrees.

Canvas the Curbs I am never sure whose responsibility it is to maintain and keep clean the curbs around the square .... the city, the county, the state, or the business owners. With Round-up just around the corner, it seems to be an ideal time for each business to “Canvas and Clean the Curb” in front of their individual store/business.

Reaping Letter To The Editor: As we near another July 4th, I am concerned about the widening division that now grips this 'Once God Fearing Nation'. The King James Bible says in Mark 3:25 and Matt. 12:25, that a Nation or House that is divided against itself, cannot stand. Note that both of these 2 institutions are of Divine Establishment!

Quick Bread, Buns or Pizza Crust recipe origin unknown This recipe floated into my inbox a few years ago, sent to me by a local reader of the column. She did not know where she had gotten it, but thinks it came from her grandmother “back in the old country.” All I do know is that it is a good recipe and is just as versatile as the title implies so I'm certain you and your family will find a few good uses for it. Ingredients: 2 ½ cups warm water 6 tablespoons sugar 3 tablespoo ...

Hope y’all are having a great Fourth of July! We should celebrate—we live in the best country on Earth! We had great fun with Kim Lehman, The Bee Lady, yesterday, but the fun’s not over yet! We have one more special program to finish out summer reading next week. On Thursday, July 12, the last day of summer reading, ventriloquist and puppeteer Margaret Clauder will bring the “Reading Fiesta with Señorita Margarita” to the library at 1:00 p.m.

Freedom Considering the extent to which our country is divided today, it might be a good idea to look back to a time when everyone saw the value in pulling together. Despite their differences, the founders of our nation once risked all they had, for the idea of freedom. When our Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson and edited by the first Continental Congress, was adopted on July 4, 1776, it was decision time.

Happy Fourth of July. Independence Day is certainly a day to celebrate. I hope you all have a great holiday. July just jumped out and I am not ready. Well, I am ready for cooler weather. But, I am not ready to face August heat. I learned today that Art had a part in the Mason tennis tradition.

Fourth of July. It’s heeeeere.. As in, today. Maybe it’ll rain. Maybe it won’t. Hot and dry and 95 degrees more than likely. That’s Texas weather for ya. Probably get both. All at the same time. One part of the county will take the hit. The other will take the heat. Either way is appropriate for the Fourth. Thunder-and-lightning fits right in. Nature’s own fireworks. Hot-and-dry fits right in. Celebrate outdoors. Parades. Picnics in the shade. Col ...