This issue of Mason County News is available to read with an online subscription. See the same pages as in the print edition with all the stories, photos, and more.
An account and online subscription is needed to read the eEdition.
Mason Independent School District students returned to their campuses last week as the district sees an increase in enrollment compared to last school year.
“By the end of the first day of classes, we had a total of 732 students enrolled,” said MISD Superintendent Stan Whittle, on Aug. 19. “Enrollment numbers are up by 17 students from where we ended the school year last year and we’re anticipating that number to increase slightly in the coming days.”
It seems that parents and c ...
Hey, Puncher Nation! Do you remember back in 2015 when Fox and crew came to Mason and made our Punchers the DQ Big Game of the Week? We had a DQ pep rally, a huge honk parade, even purple ice cream! Our town was painted in purple from end to end!
The Mason High School varsity football team was in action on Thursday, Aug. 19 for a home scrimmage at the Puncherdome vs. Blanco High School. Both the Punchers and visiting Panthers got their players plenty of valuable reps on offense and defense in anticipation of the regular season opening this week.
Mason’s offense was able to sustain drives both on the ground and through the air.
The Mason High School boys’ and girls’ varsity cross country teams will be in action this week on Wednesday, Aug. 25 when the Punchers and Cowgirls compete at the Eagle and Lady Eagle Cross Country Meet hosted by Eldorado High School.
The Cowgirls are ranked No. 4 in the CCCAT preseason rankings for Class 2A.
Join us for an outdoor evening of food, music, drinks, and fun to include three extraordinary auction items. Are you up for a first-class Louisiana duck hunt? The event starts at 5:30pm and tickets are $50. Proceeds will go towards outdoor repair and painting of the historic Seaquist House. The moment you arrive you’ll realize the magnitude and expense of this project.
Here’s what you will see.
Don C Townsend Jr. of Mason, passed away on Sunday, August 22, 2021, at the age of 74.
Don was born in Houston, Texas on September 27. 1946 to Don C. and Lillian Erb Townsend. Mr. Townsend is survived by his wife Dorrett Brown Townsend, step-sons and their wives, Josef and Tammy Pinter of Mason, Kurt and Martha Pinter of Kingwood, Texas, and much beloved grandchildren Elijah, Natasha, Benjamin and Nikole.
Jimmy Lloyd Wagner, of Paint Rock and formerly of Mason, passed away on Sunday, August 22, at the age of 72. Mr. Wagner is survived by his sister Betty Lyon of Paint Rock and his brother John Wagner and wife Ann of Abilene. Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters Jerssie Faye Weaks and Mauvoreen “Reen “Troutt.
Jimmy was born in Mason on March 5, 1949 to Lloyd Peter Wagner and Arlene Cavaness Wagner.
The latest data on COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness is in, and it is mostly good news. The vaccines continue to be highly effective at preventing severe illness and hospitalization, with no significant decline in effectiveness (at preventing hospitalization) so far. In addition, the majority of COVID cases, and almost all severe cases of COVID that require hospitalization, are occurring in unvaccinated individuals.
I have previously written about our Hill Country live oak because it is the most common oak around here and because it is often considered a symbol of the Hill Country. But there are several other oaks commonly found in our area that are interesting and important as well.
Oaks are classified as either white oaks or red oaks.
Storytime continues at the library every Friday at 10:30. Kids age 2 to 6 are welcome to come and enjoy a story and a fun craft! Our library book club will also meet again on September 7th at 5:00. This month’s book is Laura Dave’s The Last Thing He Told Me.
This is a loaf of bread that you can make up even if you've never tried to bake one! It's very easy and straight forward and would be a good introduction to someone who'd like to try baking bread but is frightened off by the idea of using yeast and doing much kneading.
(August 27 is the birthday of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Some personal thoughts on the former President.)
To a 12 year old country boy well versed in fundamentalist religion, a voice from the sky had to be the voice of God. Or at least one of his angels.
That was my first thought as the voice boomed from the helicopter hovering over Brady, Texas, that hot summer Saturday in 1948.
Watermelon! The taste of summer! The question is: What is the origin of watermelon? For 150 years it was believed to have come from southern Africa. Now with advanced genetic testing techniques, that is changing. Smithsonian Magazine presents evidence that the melon originated in Southern Sudan. You can go to smithsonianmag.com and read the article describing the origins and travels of the watermelon.
School has started. It has not affected our household at all. Our youngest grandchild graduated this year from high school. Our only great grandson is too young for school. We look forward to listening to Puncher football on the radio. My husband is still following the Dallas Cowboys. I am still boycotting all professional sports.
It is quiet at the Art Methodist Church.
The impact of COVID-19 has led to financial struggles for homeowners across the nation. In fact, a recent study conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with the National Association of REALTORS® discovered that more than 8 out of 10 American homeowners – 81% – have experienced financial distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The effects of COVID-19 have led some homeowners to take desperate measures to ensure they can protect their investments.
The big news lately, quite obviously, is the monumental disaster going on in Afghanistan. The country has been going south on greased rails since the U.S. withdrawal, which seems to have caught pretty much everyone by surprise. And that, in itself, is a surprise, since President Biden had said he was going to withdraw U.S.
On August 17, the Mason Lions Club met at Nacho’s for their weekly meeting.
We had an excellent program on an exciting new initiative coming to Mason County as early as next month. The Rural Health Institute at TAMU is responding proactively to the growing shortage of health-care providers in rural Texas counties.
