July 15, 2020 Issue

ABILENE, Texas, (July 6, 2020) – Junior exhibitors take top honors at the 2020 National Junior Shorthorn Show and Youth Conference in Abilene, Texas. Overall a total of 622 animals were pre-entered and 368 junior exhibitors traveled all across the nation from 24 states to compete for the National Champion top honors from June 22 – June 27. Judging the Shorthorn Steer show was Lydell Meier, of Stonewall, Texas.

There were a 130 teams that came out to participate in the 2020 Mason County team roping. Mason County team ropers would like to thank Mason Bank and The Commerical Bank for their years of continued support in donating the Mason County Team Roping buckles. The 2020 winners were Zack Hafley (header) and Josh Brooks (healer).

As Kaycee Tatsch Ingleby of KHLB said in her runup to announcing the 2020 Roundup Court, "Welcome to the last event left standing....." Though most every other Roundup event was canceled, the Alpha Beta Psi Sorority moved ahead with the Roundup Queen contest. This year's court, left to right: Duchess Madison Carter, Duchess Kyleigh Ake, Duchess Sariah Hernandez, Duchess Desaree Bowie; and, Queen Lauren Olson.

Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) is now accepting applications for its AgLead program. Strong agricultural leadership doesn’t only happen in the field. It happens beyond the fencerow—in local and state organizations, court rooms and Congress, said Mason County Farm Bureau President Will Frey. Figuring out where to develop those leadership skills can be difficult. “Texas Farm Bureau’s leadership program—AgLead—can help grow our future leaders,” Frey said.

City business is moving forward and the next regular scheduled City Commission meeting will be Monday, July 20 at 5:30 p.m. at the Eckert Civic Center. Although we currently have few or no cases of the coronavirus in Mason, the City is recognizing the serious nature and extensive spread of COVID-19 in our state, and therefore we are adjusting the manner in which we will handle gathering within the constraints of social distancing as well as requiring all participants present to wear a mask.

AUSTIN, Texas—The Texas Historical Commission (THC) supports County Historical Commissions (CHC) across the state as they work to preserve cultural and historic resources. The THC administers the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) Program to honor CHCs that go above and beyond to fulfill their preservation mission. The Mason County CHC has been awarded a DSA for the 2019 year of service.

Registration for Fall 2020 courses with Central Texas College in Fredericksburg is open now through August 21. As part of a six-phase Return to Campus Plan, Central Texas College in Fredericksburg is providing limited student services onsite at Hill Country University Center, by appointment only. “As we navigate and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, our primary goal is to protect the health and safety of CTC students, faculty, staff, and our community while continuing the College’s crit ...

As Kaycee Tatsch Ingleby of KHLB said in her runup to announcing the 2020 Roundup Court, "Welcome to the last event left standing....." Though most every other Roundup event was canceled, the Alpha Beta Psi Sorority moved ahead with the Roundup Queen contest. This year's court, left to right: Duchess Madison Carter, Duchess Kyleigh Ake, Duchess Sariah Hernandez, Duchess Desaree Bowie; and, Queen Lauren Olson.

The Texas Department of State Health Services in Brady will be offering immunizations for children entering/returning to school. DSHS offers immunizations to children who are uninsured, underinsured, have Medicaid, or are American Native or Alaskan Native. Due to the DSHS coronavirus response, they are working modified schedules and will provide the immunizations on Wednesdays BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.

The Mason Ladies Golf Association would like to invite all women who want to play golf to our weekly playing times. We play on Monday and Thursday mornings at the golf course at the City Park starting at 8 a.m. to beat the heat. We play 9 holes usually; and, if you would like to continue to 18 that is fine.

Registration for Fall 2020 courses with Central Texas College in Fredericksburg is open now through August 21. As part of a six-phase Return to Campus Plan, Central Texas College in Fredericksburg is providing limited student services onsite at Hill Country University Center, by appointment only. “As we navigate and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, our primary goal is to protect the health and safety of CTC students, faculty, staff, and our community while continuing the College’s crit ...

The Texas Department of State Health Services in Brady will be offering immunizations for children entering/returning to school. DSHS offers immunizations to children who are uninsured, underinsured, have Medicaid, or are American Native or Alaskan Native. Due to the DSHS coronavirus response, they are working modified schedules and will provide the immunizations on Wednesdays BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.

Summer is definitely here. This heat wave hits you in the face when you walk outside. If you work outside, please be careful. It is hot. You can become dehydrated quickly. Class Meetings continue on Wednesday evenings at the Art United Methodist Church. Soup is served at 6:00 and the meeting follows at 6:30. The Finance Committee of the Art United Methodist Church will meet on July 29 at 5:30 at the church. Happy Birthday to Kathy Jordan and Liz Ferguson on July 15, Karen Toone on July ...

The Long Mountain Cemetery will conduct their annual meeting Saturday, July 25 at 10 a.m. in the home of Bill & Nita Hight located at 24489 North US Hwy 377, 7 miles NE of London or 17 miles west of Mason. You can contact me at 325 265 4226 or e mail to [email protected].

A memorial service will be held for Robert (Bob) Brandenberger at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 18 at the Gooch Cemetery. Due to the unfortunate times of the COVID virus, the family requests each person wear a mask and practice social distancing.

One Month Until School Starts.... School is scheduled to resume, in the classroom, on August 17. Federal and state authorities, who have repeatedly said that decisions about response to Covid-19 should be determined at the local level, are pushing a national move to get studentAs and teachers back into their classrooms as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Mason has had over 35 cases, though officially we no longer have any current positives.

Summer is definitely here. This heat wave hits you in the face when you walk outside. If you work outside, please be careful. It is hot. You can become dehydrated quickly. Class Meetings continue on Wednesday evenings at the Art United Methodist Church. Soup is served at 6:00 and the meeting follows at 6:30. The Finance Committee of the Art United Methodist Church will meet on July 29 at 5:30 at the church. Happy Birthday to Kathy Jordan and Liz Ferguson on July 15, Karen Toone on July ...

Toadally Cool As my wife Ann likes to say, “It’s hard to separate a man from his toads.” That might not make much sense to many people, but my friends seem to find it hilarious. I’ll admit it: I enjoy watching toads. Given that information, you might not have been surprised to see me last week, as I watched a toad catch grasshoppers out in the sun on a hot summer day.

FAKE News! Dear Editor, A letter to the editor several weeks ago made much of statistics which purported to show how few hours of training police officers must have to qualify as opposed to the allegedly much higher numbers of training hours barbers, cosmetologists, interior designers must have to obtain licenses in various states. Obviously this was an attempt to show that the officer who caused the death of George Floyd did so because of his lack of training. Does anyone really beli ...

We are at War Monday morning, 7/13, I got the sobering news that the Texas COVID-19 pandemic wave has finally reached our neighbors in Llano County: since the first of July Llano has recorded over 65 new cases. Of those, 40 remain active, and the local health authority expresses concern that the worst is yet to come. The COVID-19 pandemic is a war, a world-wide engagement against an invisible, deadly threat, a virus.

The Economy "When the happiness or misery of others depends in any respect upon our conduct, we dare not, as self love might suggest to us, prefer the interest of one to that of many. The man within immediately calls to us, that we value ourselves too much and other people too little, and that, by doing so, we render ourselves the proper object of the contempt and indignation of our brethren" Adam Smith Everyone is yelling about "The Economy"

The Economy "When the happiness or misery of others depends in any respect upon our conduct, we dare not, as self love might suggest to us, prefer the interest of one to that of many. The man within immediately calls to us, that we value ourselves too much and other people too little, and that, by doing so, we render ourselves the proper object of the contempt and indignation of our brethren" Adam Smith Everyone is yelling about "The Economy"

A World of Difference One thing we all have in common is -- we are all different! Few truths in life are more obvious. Every time we encounter another person we are reminded that human beings are not uniform stamped-out products of some heavenly assembly line. Each of us is a hand-crafted original, uniquely designed, custom made by the Creator. We all have distinctive physical characteristics.

Fizz Biscuits origin unknown This recipe, and variations on it, have been circulating around for years. They’re good, they’re simple, and if you’re expecting a big crowd at the table, you can double the recipe and the biscuits still turn out beautifully! Ingredients: 2 cups Bisquick or similar ½ cup buttermilk ½ cup Sprite or 7-Up 2 tablespoons sugar 1 stick butter, plus more for serving Cane syrup or molasses for topping (or anything else you want to dress ‘em up ...

Our Summer Reading “Read for a Treat” is off to a great start! We had 47 kids sign up to participate and we already have a few who have redeemed an ice cream voucher. You can still sign your child up (grade K-5) for the program and earn some treats, courtesy of Mason Bank!

A Really Big Goof… It still lurks in my mind’s “crannies,” jumping to the forefront of my thoughts more often than I’d like. It was a single sentence--uttered by someone whose name I don’t know--imparting an important truth usually requiring paragraphs, chapters or even volumes. It was uttered in a large room where a few dozen people were scattered, dutifully obeying mandates of mask-wearing and remaining separated from other folks by the length of two yardsticks. Surely the ...