March 18, 2020 Issue

Gerry, I asked my daughter to write this as I thought, as many do that this was much to do about nothing. She breaks it down and makes it more understandable. I told her I would forward to you. She is credentialed to write this. Please consider publishing this . Thanks, Joni Matthews From: Opinionated Aggie Mom kathrynvinson4629 posted: "

Grace & peace in the name of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ. When I first moved to Mason I remember being greeted by the slogan, “Puncher Strong!” In the time that I have lived here, I’ve come to not only experience what that means but become a part of it. I’m sure each person has their own understanding of what Puncher Strong means.

Boss Lion Michael Murphy gaveled the meeting to order at 12:30 pm at Nacho’s Café on March 10. Guests included Landyn Smith, Tad Kirby, Cooper Gibbs, and Dave Davidson. Lion Joel Kuykendall announced that the Lions Camp had received some damage from a storm and they needed some help. The Program Chairman was Mark Nash.

Most Monday mornings are a bit hectic here in the City office when I am trying to write this, but with the new week and the significant amount of concern regarding the Covid-19 virus, this Monday is more than a “bit hectic”!! I am very unsure what the situation will be by Wednesday when this paper is out and you can read this, but today there is a good deal of concern to limit public interaction and encourage people to stay home and self-isolate.

The Mason High School Track and Field team traveled to Llano over the Spring break to attend the Llano Yellow Jacket Relays on Thursday March 12, 2020. It was a very competitive track meet and the Punchers competed extremely well. They represented Mason with Class and Pride. Very proud of these young men. The following teams attend the Llano meet: Marble Falls, Llano, Comfort, Burnet, Wall, Ballinger, Sweetwater, Sonora, Christoval, Cherokee, Goldthwaite, Junction, Irion County and Winters ...

Our Mason Cowgirls competed in the Llano Jacket Relays on Thursday, March 12, against several much larger schools. Our JV Cowgirls finished as the 5th place team overall, and our Varsity finished as the 9th place team. We were missing several athletes due to sickness, injury, & Spring Break, but overall we had some good times and marks and showed lots of improvement. JV Girls 100m dash: Madalynn Del Toro, 2nd, 14.14 800m run: Alex Row, 3rd, 2:52.67 1600m run: Isis Martinez, 4th, 6:24. ...

Boys Team : 365 3rd Place Team Aaron Reardon 76 Kyle Montoya 78 Ivan Wofford 105 Derek Ontiveroz 106 Girls: Kenzie Ake 108 Isela Rodriguez 115

It is time again to apply for a Hill Country CattleWomen scholarship. If you have a junior or senior student who is attending a Texas college or university, have them visit their website at: http://www.hillcountrycattlewomen.com/. Students can download the application. All majors can apply, applicants are not restricted to Agricultural majors.

Due to ongoing concerns related to COVID-19, the Steady Steps annual spring fundraiser, originally scheduled for March 21st, has been postponed. The Steady Steps Council wants to ensure the health and safety of all the fundraiser participants, and we hope to announce a rescheduled date soon. We appreciate your understanding, and we wish to thank all of the individuals, businesses, and community organizations who continue to support the Steady Steps Children’s Weekday Ministry. If you ha ...

The Seaquist House Foundation May Day Celebration scheduled for Friday, May 1, will be postponed as we join those to protect Mason families from possible exposure to the Coronavirus. The May Day event was planned to acknowledge those who have generously given to the Foundation as well as to share the successes and 2020 plans for the Seaquist House. Accomplishments to date include the initial cleaning of the interior and exterior, window and door repair and upgrading the electric wiring.

Patti grew up in Big Lake. She met Craig Grote at Texas Tech. She finished teaching certificate at ASU, then taught for 25 years. She and Craig moved to Mason in 2010, and she has been the County Librarian for nine years. During that time, she has: Created enhanced summer reading programs for kids Instituted evening programs for adults - music, magic, informational for Mason Started radio program to keep citizens informed Especially proud of pre-school literary initiatives - Read ...

Birdwatching enthusiasts won’t want to miss Jimma Gray Byrd on March 24th at the Mason Co. M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library, 410 Post Hill Street! Ms. Byrd, a Texas Master Naturalist, Master Gardener, and member of Texas Ornithological Society (TOS), will present “Local Birds by Season: Who, What, When, and Where” in the Stribling Room at 2:00 P.M.

St. Martin’s Episcopal Worshipping Community will be offering an alternative to the usual Lenten lunch during this time of avoiding large gatherings. There will be no seated Lenten lunch on March 25. Instead, we will be providing our chicken, sausage and okra gumbo over rice at St. Joseph Catholic Church on a takeout basis only.

After Governor Abbott declared Texas was in “a state of disaster” and consultation with Brady Mayor Tony Groves and our attorney, the Heart of Texas Country Music Association Friday announced the postponement of the 31st Annual Heart of Texas Country Music Festival scheduled for March 20-28 in Brady. Event organizer, Tracy Pitcox, said, “We’ve been monitoring the situation closely, and believe it is best to postpone the event until the current crisis is over.

The Precinct Convention in 2020 is now a part of your March 21, 2020 County/Senatorial Convention. There was NOT a Precinct Convention following the closing of the polling place on March 3, 2020. Your County Convention (or Senatorial Convention) will be at: The home of Lynn Reichenau. Saturday March 21, 2020 Registration will open at 10:00 a.m. The Convention will be called to order at 10:00 a.m. You may pre-register online at http://2020TexasDemocrats.org ---------- La Conv ...

In the current situation with the spread of coronavirus it seems that situations change daily or hourly, and the most important task of the local leaders is to stay in touch and keep our community informed. Monday, Judge Jerry Bearden, District Judge Rob Hoffman, Dr. Monte Horne, Mayor Brent Hinckley, School Superintendent Stan Whittle, City Administrator John Palacio, Chief Deputy Joe Lancaster and a few others met and discussed the many issues that Mason is facing in the coming weeks and th ...

Thanks to Mason Study Club, we have a great new resident in Camp Discovery! Our brown bear finally came out of hibernation and traveled all the way from Washington State to make Camp Discovery his new home! Be sure to let the kids come welcome him! Don’t forget, the bloodmobile is in our parking lot today from 4:00-7:00 P.M.

Our world has gone crazy. Another virus, this one from China, is predicted to wipe out America if we don’t live in fear and stop our normal lives. I believe the media is promoting fear. We all know how to take precautions during flu season. Somehow, hoarding toilet paper was not in any of my previous precautionary plans. We gladly welcome Spring on March 20.

The City of Mason will be holding a City Election Saturday, May 2, 2020. Positions up for election this year are Mayor at Large, City Commissioner District and City Commissioner District 3. The City will begin accepting applications for early ballot by mail beginning March 18, 2020. Application for ballot by mail may be made to Pattie Allen, P.O.

Mason, Texas- The Fifth Annual Mason Chamber Music Festival has been postponed until early June. Committee Chair Cathy Terrell, along with members of the Odeon Board of directors have come together to make the decision. Ms. Terrell said, “We want our Festival goers and our wonderful musicians to be safe in light of the current coronavirus situation.

It is time again to apply for a Hill Country CattleWomen scholarship. If you have a junior or senior student who is attending a Texas college or university, have them visit their website at: http://www.hillcountrycattlewomen.com/. Students can download the application. All majors can apply, applicants are not restricted to Agricultural majors.

The Friends of the Library know that many people in the community are following the advisory to stay away from social gatherings for health reasons, accordingly FOL is postponing our Annual Book and Bake Sale to a future date. We know that the community looks forward to the fabulous bargain books and delectable treats and will announce a new date soon.

Mason Community Blood Drive San Angelo, TX March 12, 2020 Amidst coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention measures, Vitalant and other blood centers nationwide are urging healthy individuals to donate blood—and for organizations to maintain scheduled blood drives—to ensure patients have the lifesaving blood they need. The blood collection process is safe. In addition to the vigorous FDA-mandated testing of all blood components donated, Vitalant staff follow rigorous safety and disinfection p ...

The First Baptist Church of Mason will be showing multiple movies in our Sanctuary the next couple of months. Last year we were able to install a large projector and screen. We recently installed a new sound system. Though the primary use of this equipment is to help facilitate our worship services, we are also eager to share what the Lord has given us with the community.

Dora Mae (Gamel)Vierus(Dodie) passed Wednesday 3/11/20. She was born January 3,1938, to Earl and Lelea Gamel in Streeter Texas. She went to school in Mason and participated in sports there. She married Don Vierus September 14,1957. She enjoyed her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She loved to hunt and fish and work in her yard. She is survived by husband Don of 62 years of marriage, two boys Don Martin Vierus Jr.

Dale Wesley Clauson, 71, of Beaumont, California, passed away on February 8, 2020, after a valiant battle with glioblastoma brain cancer. Dale was born on December 1, 1948, in Bell, California. He grew up in the surrounding areas, graduating from Yucaipa High School in 1967. He graduated from San Diego State University with a BA degree in mathematics and a Masters in systems analysis. He served in the Air Force for 21 years, ultimately retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1992.

Grace & peace in the name of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ. When I first moved to Mason I remember being greeted by the slogan, “Puncher Strong!” In the time that I have lived here, I’ve come to not only experience what that means but become a part of it. I’m sure each person has their own understanding of what Puncher Strong means.

The First Baptist Church of Mason will be showing multiple movies in our Sanctuary the next couple of months. Last year we were able to install a large projector and screen. We recently installed a new sound system. Though the primary use of this equipment is to help facilitate our worship services, we are also eager to share what the Lord has given us with the community.

Waking Up to a New World - Pandemic Response A few weeks ago, I was at the Rodeo Houston kickoff barbecue. At the time, a few people were talking about the Novel Coronavirus; but, most were laughing it off as media hyperbole and panic. However, I remember being concerned that hand washing stations were out of water; and, I noticed that the crowds were avoiding anyone who was coughing or sneezing. It's now only two and a half weeks later.

Coronavirus Regarding the Wuhan Virus: The mind is an incredible thing. Like Alice, it can believe two impossible things before breakfast. What do we know about the Wuhan virus? It is: contagious likely to have little effect on children and young people for most people more like a slight cold or a minor case of the flu for older people WITH PRIOR RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS a slightly higher but not abnormal incidence of death. What else do we know about the Wuhan virus: It does no ...

Covid19 Gerry: Some Thoughts about the coronavirus: Healthcare experts from the University of California, San Francisco Health Center, who have been in the thick of dealing with coronavirus, tell us that we have passed the time when containment of the virus is possible. Now we are just trying to slow the spread to help healthcare providers deal with the demand: In other words, to lower the peak of the surge in demand that can overwhelm healthcare providers.

"Toto, We're Not In Pontotoc Anymore!" We have two granddaughters, sisters, who live in Denver, Colorado. When the eldest had our first great-grandchild she decided to have him baptized in her home congregation in Angleton, Texas. Younger sister and husband would be "Sponsors" (Lutheran for "Godparents"). The thinking was this would be more convenient for family and friends to attend and for me, who had baptized the granddaughter mother, to officiate.

Levi Duncan Cornbread courtesy: Edgar D. Gooding, retired Texas Ranger As you’ve probably figured out, I can’t pass up a “new” recipe for biscuits or cornbread. Here’s a cornbread recipe that you most likely have not seen before. You can push around a bunch pinto beans with a piece of this for a long, long time! Ingredients: 1 pound lean ground beef 1 cup sifted flour ¼ cup sugar 4 teaspoons baking powder ¾ teaspoon salt 1 cup corn meal 2 eggs ¼ cup softened ...

Vote as You Please (Or Not)… There was “people-watching” at its best recently when Texans gathered at polling places to exercise their voting preferences in primary elections. Yep, it was a foretaste of the “Big One” in November. They showed up in attire ranging from the serious sloppy to “after five,” with a few of the latter adorned as if headed to an opera box.

Cajun Shrimp Tacos I have to apologize first,” I put a recipe in the newspaper a couple of weeks ago and left out the main ingredient!!” It was the “Tamale Loaf”. It should have had 1 pound of ground beef or ground turkey. I am so sorry about that. My mind doesn’t always operate like it should!!

Our world has gone crazy. Another virus, this one from China, is predicted to wipe out America if we don’t live in fear and stop our normal lives. I believe the media is promoting fear. We all know how to take precautions during flu season. Somehow, hoarding toilet paper was not in any of my previous precautionary plans. We gladly welcome Spring on March 20.