June 16, 2021 Issue

Despite its popularity with residents, including some city workers who would stock up on water there, the City of Mason’s water station on McKinley Street will not be flowing soon. The water station closed due to COVID-19. One of the city’s newly-elected commissioners lives nearby and remembers plenty of folks using it, including himself at times. “A lot of people around here really liked it, so I think it’s a good option to have,” said City of Mason Commissioner Paul Smith, who ...

Local youth Jarret Worrell recently had an impressive showing competing in the Texas Jr. Hereford State Show in Belton, Texas. This is the largest state junior breed show in Texas, with this year’s show hosting over 600 entries and 419 exhibitors. Jarret exhibited numerous animals and was awarded banners for Grand Champion Female, Reserve Grand Champion Bull, and Reserve Grand Champion Cow/Calf pair.

As Mason’s new Building Inspector, Ross Spallone, explained recently; “It’s a long way to Texas. Eight hours by air and twenty or so hours by car.” But once the decision was made; Texas was the destination for the Spallones anyway. The Spallones, Ross and Cindy, decided to make the move once their daughter, Amy and son-in-law Keith – an Infectious Disease physician and a Pathologist, were committed to work at M.D.

Mason County citizens have been relieved to see the removal of the barriers on the south side of the courthouse in the last few weeks; but, they still have many questions about the project: What is the work schedule? When will the courthouse be completed? How much money will need to be raised to complete the project? The Friends of the Mason County Courthouse met with Project Manager David Stauch of CPM Texas, as well as his assistant on the project, Andrew Stauch, at the end of May t ...

On June 8 the Mason Lions Club met at Nachos for their weekly meeting. Any ladies or gentlemen who are interested in joining the Mason Lions Club and serving the Mason community need only ask any Mason Lion! We had the pleasure of having Hannah Zesch as our guest, and we hope she returns soon and often. Have you ever had an excellent adventurer, long-distance hiker, tonsorialist, and now apiculturalist talk about his apiary work?

In 2007, when the Mason Community Foundation first started, there were questions about whether we could manage to run the local Thrift Store and sell enough gently-used merchandise to provide some benefit to the community of Mason. Now, fourteen years later, we have seen regular increases in sales and the Board has granted over $450,000 back to help local non-profit organizations, and we continue to see growth and support in our town and beyond.

As several readers have noted in their recent kind e-mails and phone calls to me, my Science Corner column has been missing from the paper since the beginning of May. The reason for its absence is that I was hit from behind on the highway while waiting to make a left-hand turn.

Our next children’s program will be June 24th at 4:00. Happy Tails Mobile Zoo will be at the library with some animal friends! Read-to-Swim is also still running on weekdays from 1:00-2:00, courtesy of Mason Bank. New to the Library: DVDS The Blinding of Isaac Woodard Come Away The Courier City of Lies The Nest Raya and the Last Dragon Senior Moment Nonfiction: Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in WWII by Daniel James Brown “From the aut ...

Summer is almost here, and the heat is on. We have had a very wet, rainy spring, and deep moisture and humidity bring some challenges. Powdery mildew and root rot are the beginning of the gardener’s concerns currently. Large, leafed plants like gourds, squash, and pumpkins are particularly susceptible to powdery mildew. It grows as a fungus on the leaves, a powdery grey film on the leaves, or a white coating on the leaves and stalks.

I am still reliving “memories of summer.” This week I am sharing my recipe for Salmon Patties. It seemed that mom made them at least once a week, usually with some fresh vegetable from the garden, like green beans. My favorite memory of salmon patties was when I was about 12 years old.

This nifty recipe will give you and your family some really great tasting, bread-like cheese muffins. They're aren't overly “cheesy,” but you can feel free to add some more to get it just right for you! Ingredients: 2 cups A/P flour ½ cup sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon baking soda 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese 1 cup plain yogurt 2 eggs, beaten ¼ cup butter, melted Process: Preheat oven to 400 degrees Grease 12 large muffin cups ...

As the ranch father worked, riding the tractor, feeding the cattle, and repairing the fences, his young son played in the sand with his toy trucks, threw rocks off the hillside, and sat under the shade of an oak tree marveling at the red ants and their intricate “road” system branching out in various directions from the central bed. As the boy grew into youth, the father eased him into the ranch work.

We have been blessed with our great grandson Tanner visiting us for over a week. He went home today, Sunday, and the house is very quiet with him gone. He is a very busy two year old. I found him in the utility room this afternoon trying to fill the little cup with laundry detergent from the big jug.

People get stuck with nicknames in odd ways. Big guys are often called ‘Tiny’ or ‘Slim.’ Bald guys are sometimes called ‘Harry.’ More often though, nicknames actually fit, like Dish Boggett, the cowboy character in Lonesome Dove. He got the name Dish because, while on a cattle drive, he came into camp really thirsty and drank a tubful of dishwater. Noah Sweat is another example.