March 25, 2020 Issue

As promised, the Mason Restaurant Listings. We'll update as more information becomes available. Please remember to tip your server/delivery person generously, as service industry folks are some of the first to suffer in this type of situation. Keller's Store - (210) 323-9519, Takeout/Curbside Nacho's Cafe - (325) 347-6757, Takeout/Curbside La Copa Joe - (325) 805-0991, Drive Thru Mason Donut - To Go Lea Lou Co-Op - (325) 347-1234, Takeout/ Home Delivery/Cursbside Willow Creek Cafe ...

MASON, Texas – Loyal Valley Volunteer Fire department accepted a $15,600 grant to help purchase a slip-on unit that was installed onto a 4-wheel-drive truck chassis. The transformation will give the department a small brush truck for quick, safe response to wildland and structure fires and EMS calls. The cost share grant was made possible through the HB2604 Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program administered by Texas A&M Forest Service. “We configured this slip-on unit to in ...

INGRAM, TX – March 19, 2020 – HCTC, headquartered in Ingram, Texas, announced today that they signed onto the FCC’s pledge to “Keep Americans Connected” during the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Last week, the FCC issued a press release detailing its efforts to ensure that during the current pandemic, Americans who are affected will not lose access to their broadband or telephone connectivity.

Community banks are the strong hold for rural America. The Commercial Bank is no different. Community banks are more stable and well-capitalized, and customers can rest assured their money is safe because it is insured by the FDIC. Since the FDIC as founded in 1933, no one has ever lost a penny of FDIC-insured funds. “The FDIC fully insures funds held in FDIC-insured community banks up to $250,000 per depositor,” said Michael Cope, Pres/CEO.

This week’s Lions Club meeting was cancelled due to concern over the coronavirus. Six lions ate at Nachos Café any way. We did not have a speaker and no presentations. Shortest column ever! The Mason Lions Club promotes sight conservation in our community. Anyone who has used eyeglasses to donate may give them to a Lions Club member or place them in collection boxes at the local banks.

In this ever changing world and the difficulties of dealing with the concerns of coronavirus, very likely anything that I write on Monday will be out-of-date by the time this paper is in your hands in a couple of days. However, it is important that we all work on communicating clearly and providing the best information we can, so I will try to address some of the local issues and how we are trying to meet them.

City Election Information The City of Mason will be holding a General Election for Mayor At Large, City Commissioner District 1 and City Commissioner District 3 on Saturday, May 2, 2020. Early Voting will be held at the City Office Building 124 Moody St. Early voting begins Monday, April 20, 2020 and concludes Tuesday, April 28, 2020 during the hours of 8:00 a.m.

As promised, the Mason Restaurant Listings. We'll update as more information becomes available. Please remember to tip your server/delivery person generously, as service industry folks are some of the first to suffer in this type of situation. Keller's Store - (210) 323-9519, Takeout/Curbside Nacho's Cafe - (325) 347-6757, Takeout/Curbside La Copa Joe - (325) 805-0991, Drive Thru Mason Donut - To Go Lea Lou Co-Op - (325) 347-1234, Takeout/ Home Delivery/Cursbside Willow Creek Cafe ...

Temple, Texas, March 2, 2020 — The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Texas has announced the first funding application deadline of April 3, 2020, for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). If additional financial assistance funds are still available, a second funding application deadline will be scheduled for May 15, 2020. Applications are taken year around for NRCS programs, but deadlines are announced to rank and fund eligible conservation projects.

Do you have any old sewing machines, bicycles, ice-cream makers, a generator that doesn’t work, school books or school supplies that you’d like to get rid of? Our surplus and unwanted items can make a big difference in the lives of people in Nigeria through African Outreach Ministries under the leadership of Pastor Tony Okeke. Pastor Tony has been ministering in Nigeria and central Africa for over 40 years.

MASON, Texas – Loyal Valley Volunteer Fire department accepted a $15,600 grant to help purchase a slip-on unit that was installed onto a 4-wheel-drive truck chassis. The transformation will give the department a small brush truck for quick, safe response to wildland and structure fires and EMS calls. The cost share grant was made possible through the HB2604 Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program administered by Texas A&M Forest Service. “We configured this slip-on unit to in ...

Mason Ministerial Alliance invites everyone to the annual Community Wednesday Noontime Luncheon Devotional Services at a different church each Wednesday through April 1st. Offerings go to Mason Ministerial Alliance for the Food Bank and other needs in our community. Come and enjoy! The final two Lenten Luncheons have been canceled. That was the March 25 meal hosted by St.

INGRAM, TX – March 19, 2020 – HCTC, headquartered in Ingram, Texas, announced today that they signed onto the FCC’s pledge to “Keep Americans Connected” during the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Last week, the FCC issued a press release detailing its efforts to ensure that during the current pandemic, Americans who are affected will not lose access to their broadband or telephone connectivity.

ger/mar 25 hcm telehealth digital pic on ger HCM Medical Group offering TeleVisits for patients Certain patients will now be able to visit their HCM Medical Group provider via TeleVisits, a two-way virtual platform provided by Hill Country Memorial that minimizes the risks of one-to-one contact. This innovative effort uses technology to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in the local community, according to Clint Kotal, Chief Health Integration Officer. “TeleVisits provides a platfor ...

To address a critical need for blood in the area, Hill Country Memorial and the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center will hold a blood drive on Wednesday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the HCM Wellness Center, 1006 South State Hwy. 16 in Fredericksburg. Deena Todd, Clinical Lab Manager, noted that the hospital hosted a blood drive on February 27, but another is needed due to a shortage of people donating out of fears surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak. “People have just been afraid to ...

School closures, visitation restrictions, and disruptions in social events have had a serious impact on all the communities Frontera serves. The goal of these efforts is to help slow and prevent the spread of infection from person to person via social distancing. To date, we have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Kimble, Menard, Concho, Mason, or McCulloch Counties, but these efforts have been put in place to help prevent a case from occurring.

In response to emerging needs due to Covid19, beginning on March 30, the Mason Food Pantry will be open twice a month. Hours will be 3:00 – 5:30 pm Monday only, and food will be provided using a drive -thru and-go system. This change in the delivery means that, for the time being, clients will not have the opportunity to select what specific foods they want. March/April food pantry dates: March 30, 2020, April 13, April 27.

Central Texas Electric Cooperative’s office lobbies will be closed to the public beginning Friday, March 20, to protect the health of the cooperative’s members and employees during the Coronavirus outbreak. All drive-thru lanes will remain open at each office in Fredericksburg, Llano, Mason and Kingsland during regular business hours. “Closing our lobbies is the responsible thing to do and is in the best interest to the communities we serve,” said Bob Loth, CTEC’s CEO.

Mason County and District Clerk’s Office will be closing their doors to the public immediately. Please give us a call by phone at 325-347-5253 to see if there is a way to help you without us coming in contact with the public. Our goal is to protect our staff and our customers due to the COVID-19 (Corona Virus).

The Mason County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center has created a webpage and direct link to information regarding ALL local businesses interested in participating on their website. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO BE INCLUDED! We understand these are unusual circumstances as local businesses and citizens continue to struggle with ongoing changes.

The First Baptist Church of Mason is responding with everyone else in the community to the COVID-19 crisis. All ministry events for the next few weeks have been either postponed or canceled. This includes the planned showing of “Unplanned” which was scheduled for March 28th. Our church is praying for Judge Bearden, first responders, Superintendent Whittle and all community leaders as they lead us through his historic time.

Books-to-Go! Our front doors may be closed, but you can still “order-up” some great reads! Pick a “menu” number from below and we will prepare a bag for you filled with some surprise books! The Regular: 2 Mysteries and 1 Non-fiction sandwiched between 2 Literary Fictions The Southwestern: 3 Western Fictions sandwiched between 2 Texana The Hero: 2 Thrillers and 1 Non-fiction sandwiched between 2 Action/Adventure The Lighter Side: A tossed together selection of 2 Romance ...

The Hill Country CattleWomen (HCCW) will be cancelling their annual Spring Round Up to be held on April 18, 2020 at the Texas Rangers Heritage Center in Fredericksburg. All ticket and table holders, sponsors and donors are being notified. The event has been rescheduled for April 24, 2021. For questions about the HCCW or to learn how to join, please contact Alice Anderson at 830-446-9691 or [email protected] or go to the HCCW website: hillcountrycattlewomen.com

Joe David Shearer of Luckenbach, Texas, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus on March 15, 2020. He was born in Baytown, Texas, on January 30 1958, to Jewel Travis Shearer and Mary Evans Shearer. Joe was 62 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Ronald Travis Shearer and brother Curt Stockton. Surviving siblings are sister Mary Shearer Eckert and husband Dewey Eckert of Mason, and brother Wylie Shearer and wife Brenda Shearer of Ingram.

Wylie Hal Evans, age 70, of Brady, Texas passed away Friday, March 20, 2020, in San Angelo, Texas. Hal was born February 12, 1950 in Brady, Texas to Wilford Gail “Cotton” Evans and Wandolyn Jo (Taft) Evans. He was a 1968 Mason High School graduate. He served in the U.S. Navy during Viet Nam.

Do you have any old sewing machines, bicycles, ice-cream makers, a generator that doesn’t work, school books or school supplies that you’d like to get rid of? Our surplus and unwanted items can make a big difference in the lives of people in Nigeria through African Outreach Ministries under the leadership of Pastor Tony Okeke. Pastor Tony has been ministering in Nigeria and central Africa for over 40 years.

Mason Ministerial Alliance invites everyone to the annual Community Wednesday Noontime Luncheon Devotional Services at a different church each Wednesday through April 1st. Offerings go to Mason Ministerial Alliance for the Food Bank and other needs in our community. Come and enjoy! The final two Lenten Luncheons have been canceled. That was the March 25 meal hosted by St.

The First Baptist Church of Mason is responding with everyone else in the community to the COVID-19 crisis. All ministry events for the next few weeks have been either postponed or canceled. This includes the planned showing of “Unplanned” which was scheduled for March 28th. Our church is praying for Judge Bearden, first responders, Superintendent Whittle and all community leaders as they lead us through his historic time.

We began 2020 full of hope and optimism. The economy was robust. Ample rainfall during the winter held out a promise of pastures full of tall grass and streams flowing with plenty of water for livestock and wildlife. New businesses were opening around town and thanks to some great stories in media around the state, Mason was enjoying a steady stream of visitors. In February, we all started becoming aware of the beginnings of a viral outbreak in China and Iran that, while troubling, seemed c ...

Covid19 Last Friday, when my sister texted me that she and my brother (who live in the Houston area) were going to Rockport to see my mother, I promptly replied, please don’t go! Similarly, when friends who live in big cities came out to their Mason ranches to ride-out the Corona threat, I said, please self-quarantine for 14 days!

Covid19 Last Friday, when my sister texted me that she and my brother (who live in the Houston area) were going to Rockport to see my mother, I promptly replied, please don’t go! Similarly, when friends who live in big cities came out to their Mason ranches to ride-out the Corona threat, I said, please self-quarantine for 14 days!

Where's the Beef? Tipping his soiled cowboy hat back on his head, propping his battered boots on the porch railing, B.V. (Beeves) Reeves leaned back in his old cowhide-bottomed rocker. He took a sip from his "Beef Is My Bread And Butter" coffee mug. As his scarred and calloused hands lowered his libation, twinkling eyes looked at me through the steam rising off the hot liquid, and a deep and raspy voice drawled, "Well, Ron, I figger if there was a tribe of Levis, that's a pretty good sign t ...

Butter Horns courtesy: Gary Henderson Butter horns are delicious. They’re easy to make. They’re not very good for you. Butter horns are delicious. That’s about all I have to say on the subject, other than the fact that they are delicious! Ingredients: 1 cup warm milk ½ cup shortening ½ cup sugar 1 packet (2 ¼ teaspoons) yeast 3 beaten eggs 4 ½ cups flour Process: Combine milk, shortening, sugar and salt Add yeast, and stir well Add beaten eggs, then add the ...

It is my first week working as your new librarian and what a week to start! Sadly, we will be closing the front doors to the public this week, but we are offering curbside service. Give us a call or reserve your items online and we will run them out to your car when you arrive.

A Most Unusual Day… My Uncle Mort, who lives so far out in the country that nobody passes his house going to town, called the other day. “I’m going to shock you, nephew,” he said. “’Cause I’m planning a ‘give-away’ that folks won’t be able to refuse.” He had my attention. I felt flushness in the face--sure that my breathing had shortened.