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The recent grass fires and the severe drought have caused our local volunteer fire departments to have severe shortages of some of their essential supplies. Normally the volunteer fire departments hold fund raisers to cover the costs of their daily supplies but the corona flu outbreak has put their fund raising events on hold.
To help with this problem the Mason County Republican Women’s Club has started a new community program called “Caring for America”, which will provide support t ...
The 2020 Coronation Event will be quite different this year, due to guidelines and limitations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to honor this long-held Mason tradition, as well as recognize our wonderful young people! We also want to give the students of Mason High School the opportunity to experience this event that they look forward to every year.
Tickets are going fast! The Mason County Livestock Show & Expo Inc. (MCLSE) is hosting a gun raffle fundraiser and the winning ticket will be drawn on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3. Tickets are $100 each and only 300 will be sold.
Winner will receive a Liberty 30 Safe along with the following guns: Beretta A400 Xtreme 12GA Shotgun; Ruger American 6mm Creedmoor Rifle; Ruger 77/22 .22LR Stainless 20” Rifle; EAA Churchill 12GA Pump Shotgun; Ruger American Predator 6.5 Creedmoor w/Magpul Stock; Ruger Ame ...
A new podcast produced by the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network highlights important news and happenings in Texas agriculture and rural Texas every weekday.
The state’s largest general farm and ranch organization launched the podcast, Texas Ag Today, on Aug. 31.
“This podcast is great for Texas farmers, and ranchers and anyone who has an interest in Texas agriculture,” Will Frey, Mason County Farm Bureau president, said.
Because wildlife is part of many Texas farms and ranches and i ...
Curb-side Voting: Curbside voting will be available in our upcoming City and County elections. I am sure many of you are pleased and relieved to hear this. I know I have been told by a number of friends and neighbors that they plan to take advantage of this method of voting as you will not need to leave your car or stand in line.
According to the calendar it is now officially Fall, and as we look forward in a couple of weeks, the polls will open for early voting here in Mason. Just a glance at the daily news or social media and it become abundantly clear that there is a great deal of concern and emotion involved in this election, and only occasionally is it really clear just what a particular candidate thinks about a specific topic other than the flaws of their opponent.
Monday night's City of Mason Commission meeting was the end of the budget process for the upcoming year, and the group approved the budget and tax rate for the upcoming year with minimal discussion. Since they've had several meetings and workshops on those items during the last two months, they agreed that there was little remaining to discuss on those topics.
There was a longer discussion on the possibility of an enhanced ordinance to deal with nuisance issues within the City.
“Start With Hello Week” is a national program from Sandy Hook Promise that teaches students in grades K – 12 to help their peers in a fun and meaningful way. Students are encouraged to take small but powerful actions to promote inclusion and to support students who are showing signs of loneliness or social isolation.
“Loneliness is the overwhelming feeling of being left out and social isolation is not having frequent interactions with friends.
The 2020 Coronation Event will be quite different this year, due to guidelines and limitations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to honor this long-held Mason tradition, as well as recognize our wonderful young people! We also want to give the students of Mason High School the opportunity to experience this event that they look forward to every year.
The Mason High School varsity football team suffered another tough loss on Friday, Sept. 18 as the Punchers were defeated 42-7 on the road by a very talented Wall High School Hawks team.
A frustrating start to the 2020 regular season continued for the Punchers as they kept it close with the Hawks in the first half but let Wall pull away late.
The Punchers did manage to get off to a very good start in the first, much like they did two weeks before during a loss at Comfort High School.
Ma ...
7th grade
The seventh grade Punchers ran into a tough challenge as they lost to Wall 20-0. We played pretty good defense throughout the game, they were just able to score on a couple of big plays and the opening kickoff. The boys played hard, we just have some things we need to work on to get better for the future.
8th grade
The eighth grade Punchers played a hard fought game from the beginning to the end but unfortunately could never get out on top as the final buzzer went off with Wal ...
(Mason, Texas) - Students from around the Mason Area invite students from surrounding communities to share their Christian faith with fellow students during our 5th Annual National Fields of Faith Event. This interdenominational outreach event will be held in over 500 locations throughout the nation.
Fields of Faith is structured as a student-to-student ministry.
The Mason High School varsity cross country team put together yet another solid outing last week on Wednesday, Sept. 16 as the Cowgirls placed first down at their meet in Junction.
Head coach Jeff Guice’s squad impressed, even without the services of Mason senior standout runner Ana Segura for this meet, as the Cowgirls won a tiebreaker with San Saba High School to place first in the team standings.
Although the Cowgirls and Lady Dillos finished with 48 points each, the Cowgirls were aw ...
Mason Young Life has been blessed to be in ministry with Mason high school students for 8 years. As we approach another amazing year of sharing the good news of the Gospel with students, we face a significant financial impact on the ministry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Out of respect for our struggling families and businesses, we chose to cancel our Spring fundraiser and rely on monthly donors, cash reserves, and “belt tightening” to keep the ministry afloat.
On September 25, 26, and 27th, the Mason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library will be having a virtual dog contest. At past Old Yeller Day events, we have held the dog parade and dog contest, but this year we will go virtual. We will not have any specific categories, so feel free to dress as Old Yeller and Travis, show off your pet’s Halloween costume early, or just pose with you and your dog!
To enter the contest, just submit a new photo of you and your dog.
Since we are unable to celebrate Old Yeller Day with our usual events this year, we have put together a display of past Old Yeller Days in the foyer of the library. The very first celebration of Old Yeller Day was in 1999 and we have a photo album as well as some newspaper clippings of the event.
Louis Palacio Sr., of Mason, passed away on Thursday, September 17, at the age of 74.
Mr. Palacio is survived by his children Louis Palacio Jr. and wife Julie of Cross Roads, Lisa Palacio of Brady and Lupita Palacio of Brady, 4 brothers Daniel Palacio, David Palacio, Moses Palacio, Pete Palacio, 3 sisters Rosalinda Martinez, Louisa Macareno and Irene Gloria, 2 granddaughters Katie and Justine Palacio and the mother of his children Juanita Cantu.
He was preceded in death by 2 sisters Franc ...
Ethel Julia Sagebiel Willmann, 99, passed from this life on September 21, 2020, to reside in heaven until Christ returns.
Ethel was born on January 7, 1921, at Eckert, Texas, to the late Alfred Gottieb Sagebiel and Selma Dittmar Sagebiel. She attended the Nebo School at Eckert, graduated from Fredericksburg High School in 1939 as Salutatorian and graduated as a Registered Nurse from Parkland Hospital Nursing School, Dallas, Texas in 1942.
She married Willie Ray Willmann of Mason, Texas, i ...
William C. Laverty died quietly at home in Pagosa Springs, Colo., surrounded by family, on Aug. 26. “Papa Bill” had a good run; he was 97.
Bill was born Feb. 24, 1923, to Luther and Roberta Laverty in Waterloo, Iowa. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Princeton, Ky., where he grew up.
Mason Young Life has been blessed to be in ministry with Mason high school students for 8 years. As we approach another amazing year of sharing the good news of the Gospel with students, we face a significant financial impact on the ministry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Out of respect for our struggling families and businesses, we chose to cancel our Spring fundraiser and rely on monthly donors, cash reserves, and “belt tightening” to keep the ministry afloat.
As I sit here in an attitude of prayer, I’m asking Jesus to write what’s on His Heart upon the tables of my heart, so I can then, with His guidance, share with all who read this column.
As I continue to sit here, I can’t help but ponder what the heart of God is in all this craziness?
We see people in fear, we see despair, we see stealing, killing, and destroying; it’s right here in our own nation.
Proverbs 25:11 gives wise advice about how we should speak to one another as we live in community in God’s world: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” This verse encourages us to think carefully and considerately in our speaking and in our relationships in community together.
(Mason, Texas) - Students from around the Mason Area invite students from surrounding communities to share their Christian faith with fellow students during our 5th Annual National Fields of Faith Event. This interdenominational outreach event will be held in over 500 locations throughout the nation.
Fields of Faith is structured as a student-to-student ministry.
With the way things are going now days: political unrest, rioting, taking offence or taking someone else’s offence without knowing the whole truth, I thought it would be good to remember these words of wisdom: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all” Pray for wisdom from God before you speak.
(Originally written 30 years ago, this recalls one of Mason County's darker moments.)
I was just a little tense. As I drove slowly up the dirt road to our ranch house both hands gripped the steering wheel tighter than usual. My body was erect, almost stiff. Eyes searched the road ahead for any sign of human footprints.
As I approached the house and barns, I scanned every nook and cranny for human forms or movement.
Creeping to a halt in front of the house.
When someone suggests that life is difficult, there’s the temptation to ask, “Compared to what?”
Actors dating back to Shakespeare have cited another comparison concerning the difficulty of making audiences laugh. They’ve said it thusly: “Dying is easy, comedy is hard.”
Within a specific current context, Fletcher’s Corny Dog Pop-Up Stands are offering “bargains” when compared to the Dallas Cowboys’ take-out menu during games at AT&T Stadium.
It is probably not surprising that many of the questions I’ve received recently are about the current COVID-19 epidemic. This epidemic has affected all of our lives and livelihoods, and many of us have friends or loved ones who have suffered or even died from COVID-19. Unfortunately, many discussions of the disease and the epidemic have become conflated with political viewpoints surrounding the upcoming presidential election, which has made straight talk about the epidemic difficult.
Fall is here. I hope we get the cooler weather we have been looking for. And, while I am hoping, we could use a little more rain. Welcome to pumpkin season. Halloween will be here before we are ready. Then we will have the Thanksgiving holiday. Christmas decorations are already in the store, but Christmas is still three months away.
As I've shared on occasion, I never write my columns in advance. I choose to wait until Tuesday morning and to let whatever is troubling me, or pleasing me, or just buzzing around my head -- to come tumbling out on to the page. Some weeks, that can be a painful and tortured process and I sometimes worry if I'll be able to find the words I need for my space in the paper.
I've been writing my own column for 20 of the 21 years I've been at the newspaper.
The recent grass fires and the severe drought have caused our local volunteer fire departments to have severe shortages of some of their essential supplies. Normally the volunteer fire departments hold fund raisers to cover the costs of their daily supplies but the corona flu outbreak has put their fund raising events on hold.
To help with this problem the Mason County Republican Women’s Club has started a new community program called “Caring for America”, which will provide support t ...
The 2020 Coronation Event will be quite different this year, due to guidelines and limitations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to honor this long-held Mason tradition, as well as recognize our wonderful young people! We also want to give the students of Mason High School the opportunity to experience this event that they look forward to every year.
On September 25, 26, and 27th, the Mason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library will be having a virtual dog contest. At past Old Yeller Day events, we have held the dog parade and dog contest, but this year we will go virtual. We will not have any specific categories, so feel free to dress as Old Yeller and Travis, show off your pet’s Halloween costume early, or just pose with you and your dog!
To enter the contest, just submit a new photo of you and your dog.
Tickets are going fast! The Mason County Livestock Show & Expo Inc. (MCLSE) is hosting a gun raffle fundraiser and the winning ticket will be drawn on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3. Tickets are $100 each and only 300 will be sold.
Winner will receive a Liberty 30 Safe along with the following guns: Beretta A400 Xtreme 12GA Shotgun; Ruger American 6mm Creedmoor Rifle; Ruger 77/22 .22LR Stainless 20” Rifle; EAA Churchill 12GA Pump Shotgun; Ruger American Predator 6.5 Creedmoor w/Magpul Stock; Ruger Ame ...
The COVID-19 situation has disrupted the normal functioning of the Mason Lions Club, particularly in regard to the temporary termination of regular meetings where members have frequent opportunities to interact with one another. In response, the members have changed the way we provide service to the community.
Our most recent project is providing “Helping Hand,” a handy man service to seniors, the disabled, and anyone who has need of small household repairs but is unable to afford regul ...
(Mason, Texas) - Students from around the Mason Area invite students from surrounding communities to share their Christian faith with fellow students during our 5th Annual National Fields of Faith Event. This interdenominational outreach event will be held in over 500 locations throughout the nation.
Fields of Faith is structured as a student-to-student ministry.
A new podcast produced by the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network highlights important news and happenings in Texas agriculture and rural Texas every weekday.
The state’s largest general farm and ranch organization launched the podcast, Texas Ag Today, on Aug. 31.
“This podcast is great for Texas farmers, and ranchers and anyone who has an interest in Texas agriculture,” Will Frey, Mason County Farm Bureau president, said.
Because wildlife is part of many Texas farms and ranches and i ...
Since we are unable to celebrate Old Yeller Day with our usual events this year, we have put together a display of past Old Yeller Days in the foyer of the library. The very first celebration of Old Yeller Day was in 1999 and we have a photo album as well as some newspaper clippings of the event.
Gooch Cemetery is a very big part of the rich Mason History that dates back to 1872. Gooch is taken care of by members of the community and The Gooch Cemetery Board. The board has been working hard to keep the grounds looking beautiful and maintained. If you have visited lately you will have noticed the new Esplanade that was recently done.
Frida is still waiting to find her forever home! Our pretty girl has a big heart and is 60 pounds of total dog love. Frida is currently in a foster home in Frederickburg. Her foster family reports that she is doing great. Frida is housebroken, spayed, heartworm negative and up to date on her vaccinations.
Curb-side Voting: Curbside voting will be available in our upcoming City and County elections. I am sure many of you are pleased and relieved to hear this. I know I have been told by a number of friends and neighbors that they plan to take advantage of this method of voting as you will not need to leave your car or stand in line.
Everybody has at least one good zucchini bread recipe, but after you try this one, you’ll never go back to other ones!
Ingredients:
3 well beaten eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups grated zucchini
2 cups brown sugar
2 ½ cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans
Process:
Divide dough into thirds and place in loaf pans
Bake in a 350 degree oven until done; use a tooth ...
It is still not too late to fill out the 2020 Census. It is very important for everyone in our community to be counted, so we will be offering two laptops for checkout so that people can complete the census at home. You can always use one of our computers to fill out the census as well.
It is probably not surprising that many of the questions I’ve received recently are about the current COVID-19 epidemic. This epidemic has affected all of our lives and livelihoods, and many of us have friends or loved ones who have suffered or even died from COVID-19. Unfortunately, many discussions of the disease and the epidemic have become conflated with political viewpoints surrounding the upcoming presidential election, which has made straight talk about the epidemic difficult.
