May 6, 2020 Issue

At the beginning of our reign, we as the Mason County Queens Court selected a philanthropic project. We chose Bluebonnet Casa because we wanted to help make an impact on children in our community. The original plan was to raise funds during the entirety of our year and donate all at the conclusion of our reign in July. With the current state of our country; and, specifically, our community, many organizations in our area are struggling financially.

Hill Country Youth Ranch recently received a generous contribution from the Hill Country CattleWomen, who presented us with a gift certificate for beef from a market in Fredericksburg. We fired up the grill and served a delicious hamburger dinner for all the children who live at Hill Country Youth Ranch. In this historic time when we’re dealing with the Coronavirus crisis, experiencing a drop in donations, and scrambling to keep enough food in our pantry, this wonderful gift from the Hill ...

For the 14th consecutive rating period, Hill Country Memorial (HCM) has earned an “A” for the Spring 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade. The grade reflects a hospital’s performance on maintaining safety measures protecting patients, such as practicing hand hygiene, minimizing falls, and limiting spread of infections. These are metrics the hospital staff pays attention to on a daily basis, according to Jennifer Murray, HCM Quality Manager. “We have a strong push for patient safety ...

Hill Country Memorial (HCM) has joined the HASA Health Information Exchange (HIE) for North, South, and West Texas. HASA is a non-profit, Texas-based, multi-region collaboration building a secure infrastructure between healthcare providers’ electronic health records (EHRs), making it possible to exchange information across differing platforms. This connection enables local health care providers and patients to access electronic patient records with other participating health care provid ...

On Saturday, Mason Community Kitchen produced 163 containers of chicken posole with New Mexican green chiles and fire-roasted tomatoes. These meals are being distributed free of charge to those who need them. Many of the frozen containers have been taken to the senior center, and most of the remainder will be given out at the food pantry on May 11.

Mason ISD is continuing to make meals available to all children 18 years and younger (they do not have to be in school or be enrolled at Mason ISD) for free. Regular deliveries and curb side pick up will be available through May 21. Summer feeding will begin on June 1 and continue until the end of June.

For all current 6th and 7th grade students interested in going to Washington, D.C., this is your trip. I’ve had 3 Zoom meetings and the interest for this trip is high. Everything you think of when you think of Washington, D.C., there’s a high chance we’ll be going there. From Arlington National Cemetery to the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives and from the Capitol building to several Smithsonian Museums along the way, for four days we do our best to see everything w ...

Mason ISD is continuing to make meals available to all children 18 years and younger (they do not have to be in school or be enrolled at Mason ISD) for free. Regular deliveries and curb side pick up will be available through May 21. Summer feeding will begin on June 1 and continue until the end of June.

The MCHS Board meeting for May has been cancelled due to the Coronaviris Pandemic status in Mason County. If anyone needs to contact the society, please call and leave them a message on our phone number (325) 347-5218 or visit our web page at http://www.Masonmuseums.org We hope to resume meetings and open the Mason County Museum when possible.

For all current 6th and 7th grade students interested in going to Washington, D.C., this is your trip. I’ve had 3 Zoom meetings and the interest for this trip is high. Everything you think of when you think of Washington, D.C., there’s a high chance we’ll be going there. From Arlington National Cemetery to the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives and from the Capitol building to several Smithsonian Museums along the way, for four days we do our best to see everything w ...

The calendar may say May, but it feels a lot like July outside. Son Scott came Saturday and finished emptying the green house, as well as several other chores for mama. He is a real blessing to help me. Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10. We will have a little celebration for the three mothers at my house.

Victor Magallanes Castillo of Mason, passed away on 19 April 2020, in Mason, Texas at the age of 81. Victor was born 24 March 1939, in Fredonia, Texas, to Eleno and Rita Castillo. Victor was married to Francis Hernandez of Katemcy, Texas on 19 March 1960. Victor is survived by his wife of sixty plus years, Frances , son Eli Castillo and wife Guillermina of Mason and their children: Victor and his family Tina, Aquiles, Joseph and Lillian of Boerne, Texas; Alejandro and his family Hayli, Elio ...

Robert Gail Fleming was born in March, 1937, in Harper Texas, to John Alton and Annie Lee Cowsert Fleming. He passed away on May 1, 2020, at the age of 83. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, and brother John Dalton Fleming of Mason. Robert had a wonderful childhood growing up in Mason County, attending a one room schoolhouse with his brother and cousins until the third grade.

Miguel A. Arteaga, of Mason, passed away on Tuesday, April 28, at the age of 42. Survivors include his parents Miguel J. and Barbara Arteaga of Mason, a sister Felicia Katie Crissman and husband Jason of Austin, grandfathers Apolinar Arteaga of Fredonia and Frank Martinez of Mason and a niece Raegan Crissman of Austin.

November 17, 1933 – April 8, 2020 The Reverend Dr. Malford (Mal) Cotham Hierholzer, age 86, passed away on April 8, 2020. He was born in San Antonio, Texas on November 17, 1933. He was preceded in death by his parents The Reverend Dr. Elmer J. and Edna Behrens Hierholzer. He is survived by his wife of 61 years Carolyn Turner Hierholzer, sons John G.

What Do You Miss the Most? Sometime this week, possibly even today, I should be cleared from quarantine after my positive diagnosis for Covid-19. I've heard from some of the first diagnosed cases who have been released and they are eagerly starting to rejoin the world, though it is far from being normal yet. Since Sunday, April 26, I've been in lockdown at my house in Katemcy.

The calendar may say May, but it feels a lot like July outside. Son Scott came Saturday and finished emptying the green house, as well as several other chores for mama. He is a real blessing to help me. Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10. We will have a little celebration for the three mothers at my house.

Home Is Where the Start Is It was Mother's Day. So the teacher of the Parents' Sunday School Class thought he would liven things up by bringing in a special prop -- a 40 foot long I-beam -- which he laid on the floor. As the class began, the teacher asked a young mother, "If I gave you $20, would you walk across that I-beam?" Without hesitation the mother replied, "Sure." "Suppose the beam was suspended between two buildings, 50 stories in the air,"

La Posta Chile Rellenos With all the virus quarantining and shutting in, it makes me think of going on vacations. I was very fortunate because my parents loved to travel, not out the country unless you count Acuna, Mexico. We would go to every year the first part of December to do our Christmas shopping.

We are still closed this week and we are not circulating books or DVDs, but all of our eBooks are still available with Overdrive and Libby. If you have never used Overdrive before, it is easy to get the app downloaded to your phone or tablet. Search for Overdrive or Libby in your phone or tablet’s app store and download it for free.

Trio Remembers When…. Commentary by Dr. Don Newbury Column #885 for Release Saturday, May 2, 2020, or Later A few days ago, my wife and I enjoyed a short road trip. Typically an hour’s drive to Stephenville, this day it was twice that. It took 40 minutes to make it through Granbury, where folks--weary of “sheltering”--seemed happy to be in their cars again, perhaps looking for “essential places.” Stephenville friendships were renewed.