May 27, 2020 Issue

The day after Memorial Day the Thrift Store reopened, and will continue to be open from 9:00 in the morning till 2:00 in the afternoon. The shorter afternoon hours allows the staff time to clean and disinfect the store to provide a safe shopping environment. We are also requiring shoppers to wear a mask in the store and that children under 12 not be brought to the store, so that we can maintain a clean and healthy store for everyone.

Russ Brintnall, a dear friend to our Mason Community, lost his battle with cancer on the eve of May 20, 2020. He was the Physicians Assistant at our little clinic for many years. He was also a founding member of Christ the King Church, which is now River of Life Church. His Texas family would like to honor him with memorial donations through River of Life Church to the Mason Clinic.

The very first Mason High School Graduation on the Square is in the books! Thanks to the pandemic, everything is different these days, and high school graduations are no exception. The MISD administration made the difficult decision to depart from the traditional ceremony at the Puncherdome and hold a Socially Distant Graduation Parade instead.

Last week our community had one of the most interesting experiences as we “graduated” our High School Seniors in a most public and supportive manner. Congratulations go out to all of those young adults that have worked hard to complete their high school education as well as participating in the many extra activities offered.

BRYAN, TX - Texas students remain a priority to Capital Farm Credit’s commitment to youth in agriculture. The tradition to award 100 scholarships to students across Texas continues in 2020. The following High School Seniors were awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Capital Farm Credit’s Central Texas area offices; Kyler Bordner of Cherokee, Bethany Crenwelge of Fredericksburg, Juna Glasscock of Llano, Blake Greaves of Coleman, Jacob Jenschke of Fredericksburg, Kelton Marek of Harper, Shyan ...

The Mason ISD Education Foundation honored Mason High School students with the presentation of Academic Excellence awards last week. The award recognizes academic achievement. Students receiving the Academic Excellence Award maintained a 3.95 GPA or better for each of the first four six weeks while taking at least four core subjects.

This letter is intended for families with: Children who received SNAP food benefits for March 2020. Children who are certified for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2019-20 Texas school year. Children who attend a school that offers free meals to all students (Community Eligibility Provision or Provision 2). If you do not meet at least one of these criteria, you are not eligible for the benefits described below. Dear Parent or Guardian, We understand the challenging ci ...

The very first Mason High School Graduation on the Square is in the books! Thanks to the pandemic, everything is different these days, and high school graduations are no exception. The MISD administration made the difficult decision to depart from the traditional ceremony at the Puncherdome and hold a Socially Distant Graduation Parade instead.

BRYAN, TX - Texas students remain a priority to Capital Farm Credit’s commitment to youth in agriculture. The tradition to award 100 scholarships to students across Texas continues in 2020. The following High School Seniors were awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Capital Farm Credit’s Central Texas area offices; Kyler Bordner of Cherokee, Bethany Crenwelge of Fredericksburg, Juna Glasscock of Llano, Blake Greaves of Coleman, Jacob Jenschke of Fredericksburg, Kelton Marek of Harper, Shyan ...

The Mason ISD Education Foundation honored Mason High School students with the presentation of Academic Excellence awards last week. The award recognizes academic achievement. Students receiving the Academic Excellence Award maintained a 3.95 GPA or better for each of the first four six weeks while taking at least four core subjects.

The day after Memorial Day the Thrift Store reopened, and will continue to be open from 9:00 in the morning till 2:00 in the afternoon. The shorter afternoon hours allows the staff time to clean and disinfect the store to provide a safe shopping environment. We are also requiring shoppers to wear a mask in the store and that children under 12 not be brought to the store, so that we can maintain a clean and healthy store for everyone.

This letter is intended for families with: Children who received SNAP food benefits for March 2020. Children who are certified for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2019-20 Texas school year. Children who attend a school that offers free meals to all students (Community Eligibility Provision or Provision 2). If you do not meet at least one of these criteria, you are not eligible for the benefits described below. Dear Parent or Guardian, We understand the challenging ci ...

Mason’s Scarlet Punchers, those intrepid women “of a certain age,” who absolutely insist on enjoying life to the fullest, are rebounding from social isolation with a vengeance! Nothing, and we mean nothing, can get between the Scarlet Punchers and the annual Tacky Jewelry Exchange, which will be held at our June gathering, on Tuesday, June 2nd, (11:30 AM) at the home of Jan Appleby.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted some of our most basic businesses and services. To assist farmers, ranchers and other Texans, Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) launched a COVID-19 resource web page, https://texasfarmbureau.org/covid-19-resources, to help navigate this unprecedented situation. “It can be difficult to know where to turn for information online,” Mason County Farm Bureau President, Will Frey said.

The Art United Methodist Church will have regular Sunday morning services on May 31. We are all ready to return to church on Sunday. Pastor Tim and his helpers have done a great job putting services on YouTube, but we are ready to be in church again. There will not be Sunday School on May 31. Grandson John is graduating from high school Friday night.

May 22, 2020 — The U.S. Census Bureau, in coordination with Federal, State and local health officials, will begin a phased restart of some 2020 Census field operations in select geographic areas this week, including parts of Central Texas. Beginning next week, operations will resume at the Williamson County (Leander) Area Census Office (ACO).

BRYAN, TX - Texas students remain a priority to Capital Farm Credit’s commitment to youth in agriculture. The tradition to award 100 scholarships to students across Texas continues in 2020. The following High School Seniors were awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Capital Farm Credit’s Central Texas area offices; Kyler Bordner of Cherokee, Bethany Crenwelge of Fredericksburg, Juna Glasscock of Llano, Blake Greaves of Coleman, Jacob Jenschke of Fredericksburg, Kelton Marek of Harper, Shyan ...

Russ Brintnall, a dear friend to our Mason Community, lost his battle with cancer on the eve of May 20, 2020. He was the Physicians Assistant at our little clinic for many years. He was also a founding member of Christ the King Church, which is now River of Life Church. His Texas family would like to honor him with memorial donations through River of Life Church to the Mason Clinic.

Herbert Franklin Donop, age 98, of Mason passed away in his sleep, peacefully and with a tiny smile, on May 18, 2020, in the Knopp Nursing Center in Fredericksburg, TX. Born November 29, 1921, to Edwin and Hulda Jordan Donop at their home in Art, Texas, he was the third of four children.

Making the Rest of 2020 As Normal as Possible.... Inch by inch, step by step, things are starting to return to "normal," whatever that might mean. Restaurants and bars are reopening. People are gathering in small groups, and often those grow into larger groups. After two months of self isolation and extremely limited social activity, people have decided that they are ready to start "living"

Covid Concern I am disappointed with some of the residents of Mason county. The citizens of Mason have been praised for their care and concern for others many times. Texas is dark red on the COVID case count list. Mason county shows as one of the darkest red counties. (Cases per capita). I am homebound.

Don't Go Barefoot to a Snake Stompin'! (If I had been asked to speak at a university graduation ceremony this year I would have included some of the following remarks.) The man had taken a picture to an art shop for framing. At the counter he heard the woman in front of him tell the sales clerk that she wanted a frame for a $20,000 picture. The clerk gasped and stammered that although the shop did not usually handle such expensive items, they would certainly do their best. The woman n ...

Easy Southern Biscuits (and an extra tip!) courtesy: onemina These biscuits are so easy to make, so sweet and fluffy, that you may never make the “old fashioned” biscuits you’ve been making for all these years! I have added a quick tip for those of you who have been having trouble finding self-rising flour.

Our front doors have opened! We are letting people in to browse books and DVDs again and we have two computers for public use. The building will be open from 10 until 2 and we will run curbside service from 10 until 4. All of our usual services will not be available right away, so bear with us as we slowly reopen.

Less ‘Pomp,’ More ‘Circumstance’… Push Americans into a corner, and they’ll either start painting or enliven the crunched space with creative juices soon to spill over. Superintendents and other school “brass” have greatly expanded committees planning commencement ceremonies, realizing that “same old” plans employed historically since the earth started cooling are “no more.” For many reasons--some understandable, some impractical and a few bordering on idiotic--mos ...

The Art United Methodist Church will have regular Sunday morning services on May 31. We are all ready to return to church on Sunday. Pastor Tim and his helpers have done a great job putting services on YouTube, but we are ready to be in church again. There will not be Sunday School on May 31. Grandson John is graduating from high school Friday night.

May 22, 2020 — The U.S. Census Bureau, in coordination with Federal, State and local health officials, will begin a phased restart of some 2020 Census field operations in select geographic areas this week, including parts of Central Texas. Beginning next week, operations will resume at the Williamson County (Leander) Area Census Office (ACO).