January 15, 2020 Issue

In July of 2020 the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) will begin construction of a new bridge to replace the low water crossing bridge at White’s Crossing on Highway 1871. Current plans do not allow for continued public access as has historically been enjoyed by Mason County residents and our many visitors who also enjoy the Llano River.

Recycling has come a long way and we are proud of what it has become. The City of Mason is the go-to recycling place. The Recycling center has been in Mason for the last 18 years. I have been here in Mason for the last 10 years and we have spent many countless hours getting Grants to increase our range of recyclables and the machinery to process them.

The Patriot Warrior Foundation held a luncheon and fund raising event at the convention center in Mason, Tx., on January 10, 2020 , to honor veterans from all branches of the military. The Foundation honored ten veterans by presenting each of them with a handmade quilt with the name of each veteran hand sewn into the corner. The Foundation presented Quilts of Valor to: Eli Castillo, Navy; Victor Castillo, Navy; Stuart Jordan, Air Force; Kenneth Lindow, Navy; Wilford McCann, Navy; Stanley Mc ...

Effective January 1, 2020, Mason Bank has named Amanda McMillan as Senior Vice President, Audit - Investments, along with naming Jennie Armes, Irene Martinez, and Sheri Simon as Vice Presidents of the bank. “On behalf of our board of directors, I’m proud to announce these promotions of some of our key employees who contribute daily to the success of our bank and our community.

The 9th of January was National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and to honor our local defenders of the law, the Mason Post 8554 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars had the pleasure of having about 30 of our Esteemed Group as our guest for a lunch at Mi Pueblo Restaurant, Wednesday, the 8th, as well as our EDITOR OF THE NEWS.

I am excited about what our new year, our new decade, holds for our wonderful community. LONG TERM PLANNING WORKSHOPS: We are starting the new year off by each commissioner volunteering to assist in planning for our city’s future projects. In October, the Commission accepted my recommendation to form a City Committee for long term planning, comprised of all the Commissioners that will meet throughout the year in workshops.

Boss Lion Michael Murphy gaveled the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. at Nacho’s Café on January 7. We had a Board of Director’s Meeting prior to this meeting. The main subject was whether to do a 5k 10k event this year. No Lion has volunteered to oversee the 5k 10k, so it appears that we will not do it this year. It was our major fundraiser for quite a few years.

The last two articles I have written have included information regarding the spring municipal elections and the opportunity our residents have to consider serving our community. I have been asked a number of times during the past several weeks if I intend to run again for Mayor and my answer is the same as it has been for the past two years, “I have served as Mayor long enough and it is now time for someone else to take up that job.” I suspect a few citizens are beginning to believe me, b ...

Grand Champion Market Steer Aspen Martin Buyer: Star S Ranch Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer Angela Huffman Buyers: Capital Farm Credit, FLBA, Joe David & Heather Yates, Joe David Yates & Associates Grand Champion Breeding Heifer Jarrett Worrell Buyers: Jimmy & June Scripps Reserve Grand Champion Breeding Heifer Fisher Bradley Buyer: Red Rock Ranch Senior Cattle Showmanship John Finn Intermediate Cattle Showmanship Fisher Bradley Junior Cattle Showmanship ...

The JV Boys Basketball played Sterling City and Goldthwaite last week. Both games were very close to the end. Against Sterling City, the Punchers fought hard but came up just short losing 33-31. Brody Comey was the high scorer for the Punchers with 11 points. Also scoring for the Punchers were Ivan Wofford with 8, Carson Cox-Kelton with 4, Milam Mayfield with 4, and Kaleb Fisher with 2. The Goldthwaite game the Punchers lost 30-23.

Varsity Cowgirls vs. Boerne Tuesday, 1/7 Mason 9—14—12—24 = 59 Boerne 6—10—12—14 = 42 Scoring—Smith—3, Stockbridge—1, Keller—10, Hanscheck—16, Guice—4, Olson—7, Armstrong—4, Cano—14. Rebounding—Smith—2, Elliott—2, Keller—6, Hanscheck—9, Guice—2, Olson—5, Armstrong—3, Cano—8. Assist—Keller—4, Guice—4, Olson—2, Armstrong—1, Cano—2. Steals/Deflections/Blocks—Smith—3, Stockbridge—1, Keller—4, Hanscheck—1, Guice

Grand Champion Market Steer Aspen Martin Buyer: Star S Ranch Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer Angela Huffman Buyers: Capital Farm Credit, FLBA, Joe David & Heather Yates, Joe David Yates & Associates Grand Champion Breeding Heifer Jarrett Worrell Buyers: Jimmy & June Scripps Reserve Grand Champion Breeding Heifer Fisher Bradley Buyer: Red Rock Ranch Senior Cattle Showmanship John Finn Intermediate Cattle Showmanship Fisher Bradley Junior Cattle Showmanship ...

On Sunday, February 2, 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. Dine in or carry out! Please mark your calendars, and to help you remember, it’s the first Sunday in February.

The MCLWPA will hold its annual meeting Thursday January 16, 2020. The meeting will be in the St. Paul Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall at 5:30. It is crucial that all concerned landowners and citizens of Mason County attend. We will elect officers and directors. Those attending will have the opportunity to determine the dues and bounties for 2020.

The Odeon theater in Mason is the last stop before bluesman Johnny Nicholas heads way way out west to Hawaii for a concert tour. In addition to his performances throughout the islands Johnny will be working with the talented students of the Honoka’a High School Dragon Jazz Band. Nicholas’ tour will benefit the Honoka’a High School program, especially their jazz band students who will be joining Nicholas on stage for the entire tour.

America’s civil rights era will come to life at Mason’s historic Odeon Theater on the afternoon of Sunday, January 19, with a 50th anniversary screening of Ely Landau’s acclaimed documentary “King: A Filmed Record … Montgomery to Memphis.” The three-hour presentation will begin promptly at 2:00 P.M. and will include one intermission.

Join us on January 21 at 6:30 P.M. for a free music event, as we welcome back the folk duo Hungrytown! After more than fifteen years of world-wide touring and three album releases, Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson have earned a reputation for the quality and authenticity of their songwriting. Hall and Anderson met in New York City, where they had already been performing regularly- Hall as a jazz singer, and Anderson as a drummer for a variety of garage bands.

The regular meeting of the Mason Garden Club will be held on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 2 p.m. in the Stribling Room of the Mason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library. Sherie Clarkson, Master Gardener from Mason, will present a program on “Herbs for Pollinators”. Now is the time to start thinking about the herbs to add to your garden and landscape to help our pollinator friends. For more information contact Sherie Clarkson at 325-347-5762.

It is time for everyone to double their prayers for rain. We really need rain. The last storm started in the far eastern part of the county and left everyone else with a little wind. At the Art United Methodist Church, Men’s Choir will practice January 28 at 6. The Finance Committee will have their quarterly meeting on January 29 at 5. Class Meetings continue on Wednesday evenings at the parsonage.

The event will be at the Mason County Library on Thursday, January 23 at 7 pm. Participants include: Pct. #1 County Commissioner, Reggie Loeffler, and Pct. #3 County Commissioner, Buddy Schuessler. The two candidates running for County Sheriff are: Brian Haley and Joe Lancaster. The candidate for County Attorney is Rebekah Whitworth.

The McCulloch County Republican Women held an organizational meeting on January 7 to gain a better understanding of the voting process in McCulloch County and to become better informed about the candidates running for national, state, and county offices. Speaking to the group included members of the County Clerk’s Office.

A Community Trying to Breathe!!! The first few weeks of 2020 have been an interesting time in Mason County. We've had promises of rain that, once again, did not materialize. We've had bipolar weather all around, with one day being 75, the next 29. In the hills around the county and in surrounding counties, cedar trees have been releasing pollen like great voluminous clouds, drifting on the wind and finding its way into every nostril and bronchial. As if that didn't already create enough w ...

Oak Wilt Best Pruning Time in San Antonio The proper time to prune your ak tree is in the dead of winter. Yes, that coldest time of year when you dread just going outside for the morning paper. But that's the best time of year to prune your oak tree. Spring or Fall, Summer or Winter? Never prune your oak tree in the spring time!

Ordinance Mayor Hinkley, Thank you for your letter offering an opportunity to present opinions on the proposed ordinance. INCONSISTANT REWARDS Historic houses and livestock show animals have much in common. Both the houses and the show animals have been picked as the most desirable of their class. The owners give priority care to something very special.

I Like Goats (A herd of Angora goats was the source of many a RONdom Thought. Sadly, a rise in predators and a decline in mohair prices resulted in their dispersal. But the memory - and columns - are still around.) I like goats . My roots are in a Texas Hill Country ranch.

No Knead Apple/Cinnamon/Raisin/Pecan Bread original recipe by The Practical Baker As those of you who regularly read this column know, 95% of the recipes I share with you are recipes that I’ve collected (borrowed/stolen?) over the years from friends, relatives, cook books and the internet. I always try to give credit to the person or organization that supplied me with the recipe.

We have lots going on the rest of the month, so start marking your calendars! Brown Hearing will be here on Friday, Jan. 17 from 10:00-4:00. Also, if you’re a blood donor--and I hope some of you are--plan on giving Monday, Jan. 20th. The bloodmobile will be in our south parking lot from 4:00-7:00 P.M.

Hockey ‘Mongst the Bowl Games… My ancient Uncle Mort claims only fuzzy memories of Texas’ first hockey games. He said something about chipmunks competing on 50-pound ice blocks, or something equally absurd. Suffice it to say that the sport has fully arrived. When 86,000 fans showed up at Dallas’ Cotton Bowl for the “hockey classic” featuring the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators, he was “goggle-eyed.” His voice cracking, skin crawling and lips quivering, he noted that t ...

Slow Cooker Sweet Jalapeño Turkey Thighs With everyone getting back in the groove of school or just a hectic Winter schedule, I started going through my crockpot recipes. I don’t have very many that call for turkey so I thought this would be something good for a change. Since I know SOME of you are still trying to stick to your resolutions.

It is time for everyone to double their prayers for rain. We really need rain. The last storm started in the far eastern part of the county and left everyone else with a little wind. At the Art United Methodist Church, Men’s Choir will practice January 28 at 6. The Finance Committee will have their quarterly meeting on January 29 at 5. Class Meetings continue on Wednesday evenings at the parsonage.