July 17, 2019 Issue

From June 14th-17th, thirteen Mason students and five adults took a trip along with a group of students from Brady to visit our nation’s capitol of Washington, D.C. While on the trip, the students visited several places such as the National Cathedral, Ford’s Theatre, National Archives, the Capitol Building, Holocaust Memorial Museum, Mt.

On Sunday, July 7, twenty-three adults and youth set out from the First United Methodist Church in Mason to spend a week in Rockport, Tx. helping families who had been affected by Hurricane Harvey. Even though the hurricane happened almost two years ago, the number of families still in need is shocking. This group went as a part of UMARMY, or United Methodist Action Reach-out Mission by Youth.

Celena Resendez will teach two final classes of the Second-Step program. She will be here on Friday, July 19, and Friday, July 26, at 2:00 P.M. in the Stribling Room of the Mason Co. M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library, 410 Post Hill St. These classes follow a set curriculum and use fun activities to allow children to learn and practice social, emotional, listening, focusing, and problem-solving skills that set the stage for school success.

The Kothmann Family 50th Reunion was held June 8, 2019 at the Premier Ranch, Mason Texas. Approximately 600 people attended. The ranch is currently owned by Steve and Margaret Haverlah. The reunion was held under a huge tent south of the headquarters and next to the cemetery. The draped tables were center-pieced with commemorative bags for attendees to take home.

4th Runner Up - Nevaeh Schneider, 3rd Runner Up Tie Linden Chapman and Isis Martinez, 2nd Runner Up Mariah Avalos, 1st Runner Up Isabelle Callejas, Queen Isela Rodriguez Miss Congeniality- Mariah Avalos

Mason High School class of 1989 had their 30th (yes, we look very young) class reunion on Saturday, July 13th at the home of Toby Gibbs. We had a great time reminiscing and catching up! We are all looking forward to many more reunions to come. Lisa Mansell, Tammy Lumpkins Leifeste, Angel Ramon Arredondo, Norma Palacio, Debbie Elliot Lange, Sherry Sutton Nichols, Steven Craig, Sharon Parrish Swafford, Shawn Miller, Denise Brandenberger, Michael Brown, Michelle Holloway Barnes, Toby Gibbs, Sher ...

The meeting was called to order by Lions President Michael Murphy. Guests included Jan McCann, Sherry Cordero, and Frank Bartlet. The program chairman was Kirby Groves. Kirby introduced Jeff Durst from the Mason Independent School District Board of Directors. Mason ISD had to replace their school superintendent. Mr. Durst said they had completed an intensive search that involved every board member doing interviews with candidates. The market for a school superintendents is not favorable t ...

This week’s forecast is for sunshine and hot weather, and even though we have not seen temperatures in the 100’s yet, the heat is sufficient to dry out our lawns and gardens. We have seen some increase since the start of summer in the demands for water, and we anticipate the regular demands for considerably more water as our residents begin watering lawns and landscapes to offset the heat and evaporation.

Though the agenda for Monday night's City Commission meeting only contained three items, the packed house at the Richard P. Eckert Civic Center made clear that it was a meeting of importance to the Mason community. In case there was any doubt about the topic that was drawing such a large crowd, flyers were being handed out at the door emblazoned with "No Transfer Station!" Two months ago, Commissioner Sue Pledger had asked the commission to consider all options for solid waste management fo ...

SAN ANGELO, TX (07/15/2019)-- Nearly 150 Angelo State University student-athletes and student athletic trainers have made the Lone Star Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll for the 2019 spring semester. ASU posted the highest number of honorees for any LSC school. To be eligible for the Commissioner’s Honor Roll, a student-athlete or athletic trainer must earn at least a 3.3 grade point average (GPA) for the semester and be on a current team roster.

From June 14th-17th, thirteen Mason students and five adults took a trip along with a group of students from Brady to visit our nation’s capitol of Washington, D.C. While on the trip, the students visited several places such as the National Cathedral, Ford’s Theatre, National Archives, the Capitol Building, Holocaust Memorial Museum, Mt.

The Mason County Republican Women’s Club is sponsoring a Mixer on July 27th at Lea Lou’s from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. You are invited to join us for an informative evening and getting acquainted with our members. We may also be honored by a special guest. Joni Matthews will be hosting this event. Please, bring a friend; our goal is to increase membership in 2019-2020.

Celena Resendez will teach two final classes of the Second-Step program. She will be here on Friday, July 19, and Friday, July 26, at 2:00 P.M. in the Stribling Room of the Mason Co. M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library, 410 Post Hill St. These classes follow a set curriculum and use fun activities to allow children to learn and practice social, emotional, listening, focusing, and problem-solving skills that set the stage for school success.

Ms. Caroline Chi of BancorpSouth will teach a Homebuyer Seminar in the Stribling Room of the Mason Co. M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library, 410 Post Hill St. The seminar will run from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon, and admission is free. Participants will learn about credit scores, homebuyer incentives, veterans and special needs programs, the home-buying process, home affordability, home inspections and maintenance, mortgage and home insurance, and more. For more information, please contact Mr.

The Nature Conservancy will open its Mason County preserve to visitors during select evenings this summer, to share in the wonder of one of the country’s largest maternal bat colonies (Mason County, Texas – July 9, 2019) – It’s bat season here in Texas and the Nature Conservancy’s Eckert James River Bat Cave Preserve will open to the public for select nightly viewings this July and August. Situated in Mason County, just southwest of Mason, the Eckert James River Bat Cave Preserv ...

The Nature Conservancy will open its Mason County preserve to visitors during select evenings this summer, to share in the wonder of one of the country’s largest maternal bat colonies (Mason County, Texas – July 9, 2019) – It’s bat season here in Texas and the Nature Conservancy’s Eckert James River Bat Cave Preserve will open to the public for select nightly viewings this July and August. Situated in Mason County, just southwest of Mason, the Eckert James River Bat Cave Preserv ...

On Monday, July 22nd at 9:00 a.m. the box office opens to donors for FTC’s summer finale, the hit Off-Broadway musical comedy Nunsense. Tickets will go on sale to the general public the following Monday, July 29th, at 9:00. Nunsense opens Friday, Aug 9th and will have six performances at the Steve W.

At present, we are needing a host family for Johnson a 15-year-old student from Taiwan. We are looking for a family who would be willing to open their hearts and home to him, but also for any of our wonderful exchange students. For Johnson, he enjoys playing basketball and is the captain of his team.

I hope you had a great weekend. There were many roundup activities. I joined daughter in law, Crystal, at her booth on the Courthouse lawn. I saw a bit of the parade from my shady spot. Then, after a food truck lunch, I went home for a nap. It was a great day. The joint vacation Bible school of the Lutheran and Methodist churches is next week.

I Love Our Folks..... Last Saturday, as I drove to town, I worried that the signs we had put out in front of the office asking people to avoid parking in the spaces in front of the building might have been ignored. I knew that Lea Lou had a concert on Friday night, so I had carefully worded my signs, urging people to not park overnight, or on Saturday morning, in those spaces. As I came on to the square and looked across at the office, my heart soared when I saw that absolutely no one had ...

I Love Our Folks..... Last Saturday, as I drove to town, I worried that the signs we had put out in front of the office asking people to avoid parking in the spaces in front of the building might have been ignored. I knew that Lea Lou had a concert on Friday night, so I had carefully worded my signs, urging people to not park overnight, or on Saturday morning, in those spaces. As I came on to the square and looked across at the office, my heart soared when I saw that absolutely no one had ...

Old-Fashioned Fudge Sauce Courtesy Liz Barnes (one of my twisted sisters) My sister, Liz, lives and works in Kansas City (bless her heart!). She entertains her staff of teachers on a fairly regular basis, and recently used this sauce as an ice cream topping at one of their get-togethers. She shared the recipe with me, I want to share it with you, since it’s right down The Practical Baker’s alley: quick, easy and delicious! Ingredients:  3 squares (one ounce each) of unsweetened b ...

Miss Shay is doing a special storytelling series for elementary-aged kids based on The Indian in the Cupboard, along with arts and crafts. Her first session will be today, Wednesday, July 17th, at 1:00 P.M. Second Step will also meet, this Friday at 2:00 P.M. in the Stribling Room. Volunteer Carol Lampman will be supervising a new program for kids ages 4+ on Mondays (in addition to Storytime at 10:30 A.M.).

Over the bounding buffet To cruise the Inside Passage from Vancouver, you first have to get to Vancouver. I call attention to the obvious because, for some reason, Vancouver happens to be located in a foreign country. Not that I’m complaining, but this seems to exhibit poor planning on someone’s part. When you arrive in Vancouver you have to go through ‘customs,’ which is a polite way for the locals to let you know they don’t want you there.

Mort’s Foibles on the Fourth… That my Uncle Mort is determined to keep his enlightened self-interest inflated to the max is a foregone conclusion. For more than a century, he has claimed much from Independence Day celebrations, since he and Uncle Sam share the same July 4 birthday. Mort, who turned 107 recently, has always chosen red, white and blue birthday colors, for example.

I hope you had a great weekend. There were many roundup activities. I joined daughter in law, Crystal, at her booth on the Courthouse lawn. I saw a bit of the parade from my shady spot. Then, after a food truck lunch, I went home for a nap. It was a great day. The joint vacation Bible school of the Lutheran and Methodist churches is next week.

Cash? Credit card? Debit or credit? No one writes a personal check anymore. Paper or plastic? In some places that question has disappeared. You bring your own. Or else buy a bag. Leaded or unleaded? That, too, has disappeared. No one pumps gas anymore. With or without fries? How would you like that cooked? Regular or decaf? Sweet or unsweetened? Questions, questions, questions. Wonder what the very first question was. “Any more beer?” Probably. The qu ...