June 2, 2021 Issue

It's been said that we stand on the shoulders of those who went before us and we enjoy our freedoms because of those who fought to defend them. But let us never forget those valiant defenders of our rights who paid the ultimate price by giving their lives to defend our country.

With the conclusion of the 2021 UIL State Speech Meet last week, the Mason High School UIL Academics team completed one of its best ever seasons. The team placed 2nd overall in class 2A by earning 168 total points in state contests, just behind Sabine Pass High School’s 186 points.

Rebuilding Mason County’s historic courthouse will cost an amount of money that could only be described as monumental, but the county leaped forward when the state legislature recently allotted millions of dollars for the rebuilding project. With some help from Mason County’s state representative, Andrew Murr, the county will receive a $6 million appropriation that will be distributed through the Texas Historical Commission. The $6 million will not go directly to the county; rather, w ...

Evelyn Jane Dalton, pivotal member in the development of the new Mason County Farmer’s Market 2021, is one busy lady. An entrepreneurial spirit lends itself to not only the market; but to her own business; Calamity Jane’s Farm where she creates hand made goat’s milk soaps. Partnering with Candace Morrison of the Junction Farmer’s Market, they have garnered participation from local advocates to see the Mason version of the market go from an idea to a live event.

A sensational 2021 postseason run came to an end on Thursday, May 27 as the Mason High School varsity baseball team was defeated by Shiner High School in a best-of-three series in the 2A Region IV Semifinals held at neutral site Dripping Springs High School. MASON PUNCHERS 4, SHINER COMANCHES 9 The Punchers got themselves into an early hole against the Comanches and were unable to close the gap enough on Wednesday, May 26 as Mason dropped Game 1 to Shiner 9-4. Down 2-0 in the top of the ...

Deena’ Dawn Coleman Anderegg, a life-long resident of Llano, TX, went to be with the Lord on Monday, May 24th, 2021, at the age of 39. Deena’ is survived by her husband of 19 years, Justin Anderegg, of Fredericksburg and later Llano, TX; her grandmother, Laquita (Deedee) Fiedler, of Castell, TX; her parents, JohnA and Connie (Fiedler) Coleman, of Castell, TX; her sister, Jonna McBride, and her spouse, Aaron McBride, of Paris, TX; her brother, Kenneth (KC) Coleman, and his spouse, Caleb ...

June Joys “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (Philippians 4: 4-6) June is a month to let go of anxieties as we come to the end of spring and the beginning of summer. It is a time to ponder God’s mysteries of life. It’s a time to let go a bit from rigid schedules and to be thankful to God in prayer and open to what God may wish to teach us in nature and the world around us.

I am sometimes asked, "How do you learn to identify plants?" I suspect that it is like learning anything else, there is certainly more than one way to do it. What worked for me might not work for you. But before we talk about how to learn the names of plants, we might ask why learning the names of plants is important.

Next week, Summer Reading begins at the library! Read-to-Swim starts on Monday June 7th and will run until July 16th. For thirty minutes of reading at the library, children can earn a pass to the pool or an ice cream. Read-to-Swim is sponsored by Mason Bank and is a great way to get your child interested in reading this summer.

June brings back many good memories! We usually spent at least the first week after I got out of school, camping at the mouth of Leon Creek on the Llano River. This was a long time Eckert Family tradition. They would camp out on Memorial Day and 4th of July to celebrate family birthdays.

Mrs. Lang shared this recipe with me. She got it from her daughter-in-law, who in turn got it from her mother. While it is called a “one bowl” recipe, I found that premixing the flour, salt and baking powder in a separate, small bowl worked better for me. Also, I tried adding a teaspoon of instant coffee to the original recipe and sort of liked the taste that the coffee imparted to the final product.

I was honored to be invited as guest preacher for a special worship service at one of the Synod’s largest congregations. As is my custom, I arrived thirty minutes ahead of the service. Walking through the front door of the church, however, it became obvious that there had been some miscommunication about the time.

This year, the first day of summer begins on Sunday, June 20. With all the very stormy Spring we are having and all the up and down temperatures I am looking forward to Summer. We need sunshine to ripen the tomatoes and kick start the lagging flowering. It is just an unusual weather year. This week I would like to bring up some issues I am having this season with insects.

I trust everyone has embraced June. The mood is better since most had some rain last week. Welcome summer, even if not the official date. It is reunion time. My mother’s family, the Kensings, cancelled their reunion last year. We are looking forward to getting together in June at a cousin’s home in Hamilton.

For over a year now the CDC, which is, seriously, located in Atlanta, Georgia, has been telling us what to do to avoid getting sick. Their latest medical advice has nothing to do with the covid thing, but I have to admit it sounds pretty solid. Last week the US public health agency issued a statement urging Americans not to kiss chickens. Now, that may sound kind of harsh, if you’re the kind that likes a good smooch from your favorite hen now and then, but there have been salmonella outbr ...