August 15, 2018 Issue

Last Thursday, the Cruz-Mobile visited Mason as part of Senator Cruz’s re-election campaign. The brightly colored van drew attention around the square. In the Lea Lou cafe, campaign staffer John Fletcher, State Outreach Director, visited with a number of supporters of the senator, discussed events in Washington, D. C., passed out campaign signs, and encouraged local supporters of the senator. The supporters had a brisk discussion about politics and asked numerous questions about the cam ...

Mason, Texas- The Commercial Bank announced today the appointment of Curtis Donaldson as Vice President of Lending and Business Development effective September 1, 2018. Donaldson is a graduate of Texas A&M University where he received his BBA from the Mays School of Business in 1981. A recent resident of Mason, Mr.

This is your city commissioner, Sue Pledger, updating you regarding my research into potential CITY OWNED solar power to provide electrical energy for our town. One of my main objectives during my re-election campaign was a commitment to look for ways to maintain our city budget at current levels, if possible, and to pursue long term goals for reducing our city expenses.

“Boss” Lion Marty Bentson gaveled to order the weekly meeting of the Mason Lions Club on August 1. The Lion’s Club had two guests, Megan Canfield, niece of Lion Thom Canfield, and Lion Chase Smith’s father, Paul Smith, former long time tennis coach at Mason High School and prospective new Lion’s Club member. The guest speaker was Joe Lancaster, Chief Deputy for the Mason County Sheriff’s department.

The rains this past weekend were a great blessing, cooling and drenching our parched landscape. Many areas around Mason had several inches of rain and it was very much needed, but our annual rainfall is still well below average and our land is still dry just below the surface. Continue to pray for rain and we shall all wait for God to continue blessing our land in the coming months.

The Mason County Chamber of Commerce is welcoming its newest member the Castell General Store with a ribbon cutting ceremony this Thursday, August 15th at 7:00 PM. Then settle in! Following the ribbon cutting our recipients are graciously hosting the Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Mixer. Drive over to enjoy complimentary appetizers!

On Thursday, August 9th, three Texas Boys State and three Bluebonnet Girls State attendees addressed a roomful of parents and family members, members of the American Legion Fort Mason Post 285 and the American Legion Auxiliary Fort Mason Unit 285, and other interested parties at the American Legion Post Hall. Boys State and Girls State are among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students.

Shortly before the end of the 2017-2018 school year, a special presentation was held at Mason I.S.D. to announce the recipients of special awards and scholarships. Those results follow. The information is an abbreviated version of the script used by the presenters during the evening. Mr. Jack Asbill and Mr. Mark Hahn presented scholarships on behalf of Central Texas Electric Cooperative to: Jenna Johnson Ryli Ruffin TR Kerr Mason High School wrote a grant application on the crowd so ...

Mason County 4H member Marshall Marquart competed in the State 4H Shooting Competition on Friday July 13 at the Austin Rifle Club in Manor, TX. Marshall says he enters the State Competition each year because it is the only place to shoot pistols competitively. He has been competing at the state level for three years.

Enrollment for the 2018-2019 school year is underway for Kingdom Kids, River of Life’s Mom’s Day Out program. Kingdom Kids mission is to provide a loving, Christ-centered environment where children are nurtured and mother’s needs are met. Daily activities for children ages 3 months to 4 years old include Bible and age appropriate pre-school lessons, music time, crafts, and outside play plus added events throughout the school year. The program runs Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting Sept ...

The Hill Country Memorial Immediate Care Clinics in Fredericksburg and Llano offer $25 physicals to middle- and high school student athletes. No appointment is necessary, and physical exams are first-come, first-served year-round. A parent or legal guardian must accompany children under age 18. The HCM Immediate Care Clinic in Fredericksburg is located across from the hospital at 1031 S.

Through the generous support of the Library Club of Menard, Menard High School debate competitors were able to participate in debate camp. Richard Colling of Forensic Files and Julian Erdmann of Speech and Debate Services were in Menard on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday August 3-5 to work with 4 Menard High School debaters and 4 Mason High School debaters.

The Mason County Library invites families with children and infants all the way through Pre-K to join us and be a Book Puncher! From August 2018 through August 2019, read just 100 books in that one year period. There are rewards for each 25 books completed during the year. Register at numerous locations: 1) Mason Elementary's "Meet the Teacher Night"

On Thursday, August 9th, three Texas Boys State and three Bluebonnet Girls State attendees addressed a roomful of parents and family members, members of the American Legion Fort Mason Post 285 and the American Legion Auxiliary Fort Mason Unit 285, and other interested parties at the American Legion Post Hall. Boys State and Girls State are among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students.

Shortly before the end of the 2017-2018 school year, a special presentation was held at Mason I.S.D. to announce the recipients of special awards and scholarships. Those results follow. The information is an abbreviated version of the script used by the presenters during the evening. Mr. Jack Asbill and Mr. Mark Hahn presented scholarships on behalf of Central Texas Electric Cooperative to: Jenna Johnson Ryli Ruffin TR Kerr Mason High School wrote a grant application on the crowd so ...

Mason County 4H member Marshall Marquart competed in the State 4H Shooting Competition on Friday July 13 at the Austin Rifle Club in Manor, TX. Marshall says he enters the State Competition each year because it is the only place to shoot pistols competitively. He has been competing at the state level for three years.

The United Way of the Concho Valley supports 17 program providers that render assistance to individuals in the fourteen county area known as the Concho Valley. They include Sterling, Coke, Runnels, Reagan, Irion, Tom Green, Concho, McCulloch, Crockett, Schleicher, Menard, Mason, Sutton and Kimble Counties. Agency programs that serve Mason County are Concho Valley Regional Food Bank, Hunger Relief Program; ICD Family Shelter, Peace Begins at Home Program, Sonrisas Trails, Pediatric Therape ...

On Sunday, September 9, Second Chance Mason Animal Rescue will provide a delicious spaghetti lunch at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Parish Hall as a fundraiser for the free Spay/Neuter Program for income eligible pet owners in Mason. Please mark your calendars, and to help you remember, it’s the weekend after Labor Day weekend.

The Hill Country Sheep and Goat Organization met Monday, August 6th, at the beautiful home of member Betty Burton in Ingram, Texas. President Sharon Kott called the business meeting to order, and each of the officers in attendance gave their reports. Next, a main item of unfinished business to be discussed was continuing efforts toward the annual Style Show fundraiser.

Do you own property along a Texas river? Would you like to earn some extra monthly income? Come out to the Castell General Store on banks of the Llano River at Castell, Thursday, August 23rd at 6:30 to learn more about a new opportunity for landowners…and enjoy some great food. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s River Access and Conservation Area (RACA) program aims to increase sustainable fishing and paddling access to rivers and streams across private lands.

As a result of requests from readers for an online version of the newspaper, both in-town and who subscribe from out-of-state, the Mason County News will begin offering a subscription for a weekly online edition at www.MasonCountyNews.com. Effective Aug. 15, 2018, there will be an e-edition published with access to all content in the printed paper, including all the stories, photos and ads.

Enrollment for the 2018-2019 school year is underway for Kingdom Kids, River of Life’s Mom’s Day Out program. Kingdom Kids mission is to provide a loving, Christ-centered environment where children are nurtured and mother’s needs are met. Daily activities for children ages 3 months to 4 years old include Bible and age appropriate pre-school lessons, music time, crafts, and outside play plus added events throughout the school year. The program runs Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting Sept ...

A television show about "tiny houses" was filmed in Mason, and will finally be available for viewing on Friday and Saturday. The episode, "Tiny Texas Oasis," was filmed at the Red Sands Ranch on the Llano River, with supporting video from around the Mason area. It will air on Friday, August 17 at 8:00 p.m.

The Hill Country Memorial Immediate Care Clinics in Fredericksburg and Llano offer $25 physicals to middle- and high school student athletes. No appointment is necessary, and physical exams are first-come, first-served year-round. A parent or legal guardian must accompany children under age 18. The HCM Immediate Care Clinic in Fredericksburg is located across from the hospital at 1031 S.

The regular meeting of the Mason Garden Club will be held on Tuesday, August 21, 2018, at 2 p.m. in the Stribling Room of theMason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library located at 410 Post Hill Rd. This is the club’s annual membership ice cream social and installation of officers. Everyone is encouraged to come and see what the garden club has planned for the new garden club year.

Frontera Healthcare, along with the American Cancer Society and Jacoby's Cafe in Melvin, is holding a free community health fair on Thursday, August 16, 8:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. This free event will offer checks of blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index and potential heart disease risk. The first 10 people will win a prize, and there will be drawings to win free meals and more. Connect with community resources, insurance, sliding fee scales and healthcare discounts! See you on Thu ...

Frontera Healthcare, along with the American Cancer Society and Jacoby's Cafe in Melvin, is holding a free community health fair on Thursday, August 16, 8:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. This free event will offer checks of blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index and potential heart disease risk. The first 10 people will win a prize, and there will be drawings to win free meals and more. Connect with community resources, insurance, sliding fee scales and healthcare discounts! See you on Thu ...

It’s a great time to be a member of Mason County Farm Bureau, and the organization welcomes new members to add strength to its numbers and influence, according to its president. “We pride ourselves in being the Voice of Texas Agriculture, but you don’t have to be a farmer or rancher to be a member of Mason County Farm Bureau.

Mason-Llano, Texas, August 9, 2018 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Executive Director in Mason and Llano County, Randy Maenius, today announced that ranchers and livestock producers may be eligible for assistance from the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for grazing losses incurred in 2018. According to Maenius, “Both Mason and Llano County recently met qualifying drought ratings that ‘trigger’ eligibility for the Livestock Forage Prog ...

The MCF is now accepting applications for our fall grant cycle. In the past twelve years, the MCF has awarded over 130 grants for a total of $344,000. We have provided grants for upgrades in medical services in our community, area fire departments, school programs, city beautification, and many other areas. If your non-profit group has a project that will benefit the majority of our community, and you have not received a grant from MCF in the last year, you can pick up and return a grant ...

I hope you have been as excited about the rain as I have. I have been driving to Kerrville most days to visit John. The weather is scary but I have persevered. Within 24 hours of rain, dead grass on the side of the road is coming to life with a tinge of green.

The Mason County Library invites families with children and infants all the way through Pre-K to join us and be a Book Puncher! From August 2018 through August 2019, read just 100 books in that one year period. There are rewards for each 25 books completed during the year. Register at numerous locations: 1) Mason Elementary's "Meet the Teacher Night"

The Eckert James River Bat Cave Preserve’s bat viewing season, which typically runs until early October, will end on August 8, 2018. Recent events and increased visitation at the preserve have given us reason to step back and reconsider the operations that support the cave’s nightly public viewings. The Nature Conservancy will use this time to evaluate how to best monitor and manage the visitor experience going forward. Working closely with our revered Bat Cave Steward, Vicki Ritter, sc ...

All About Babies, Brides and Bragging Rights! Over on the right hand side of the page this week is the notice about our rates going up for hard-copy subscriptions to the paper. Increases in the cost of printing, and of newsprint, has forced our hand on this rate increase, and we're not comfortable with it.

Whipping Cream Biscuits courtesy: COOKS.COM If you've followed my column for long, you've noticed that I publish a lot of biscuit recipes. There are two reasons for this: 1) I love biscuits with butter, with gravy, or under a nice fried egg; maybe with a piece of sausage wedged into the mix.

If you’re interested in part-time work for the U. S. Census Bureau, mark the dates August 27 and August 29 on your calendar. To reserve a space for the Test/Interview Session to be held in the Stribling Room on Wednesday, August 29, at 10:30 a.m., you must email [email protected] no later than Aug.

The ‘straw man’ argument Mike Rowe is one of my favorite humans these days. People often write letters to Mike, complaining about something he’s done or said. I love it when that happens, because Mike will sometimes write back, and with a friendly, logical, laid back attitude, rip them to shreds.

‘Besmirching’ on the Rise… Roger Summers, one of the all-time great writers for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, has long had a way with words. My late mother would have said he “wrote a blue streak.” In retirement, he still takes spells of prolific writing between periods of “hibernation.” (Or maybe it’s the other way around.) Whatever, his current writing--some on the Internet and some in old-fashioned books that require “page-turning”--remains excellent. Here lately, ...

I hope you have been as excited about the rain as I have. I have been driving to Kerrville most days to visit John. The weather is scary but I have persevered. Within 24 hours of rain, dead grass on the side of the road is coming to life with a tinge of green.

[It’s become a tradition to run this column every year before school starts] Last week Mason County News published the School Supply List for Mason Elementary and Mason Junior High. You can probably find most of these items at Dollar General. Anyway, I was so intrigued I just couldn’t put it down. The list began with Pre-K. Merely three items required. One large box of crayons. One box of Kleenex. And a rest mat. Ain’t life grand? You can color. You can cry if you ...