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Mason County, like surrounding areas, is in the middle of a COVID-19 surge, according to a county health official this week. At the same time, state data show that vaccination rates in Mason County lag behind state averages. “We’re seeing lots of cases coming in,” said Dr. Monte Horne, Mason County Health Authority and Frontera Mason Clinic physician, on Monday.
An item concerning alcohol beverage fees on the agenda drew many local winery and restaurant owners to Monday’s Mason County Commissioners Court meeting. Their concerns over a possible county-imposed fee were alleviated, but they expressed frustration with increasing fees charged by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). The agenda item called for a possible county-imposed fee based on the fees required by the state, which increased on September 1, 2021.
The Republican Women’s highly-anticipated Annual Home Tour is only a few short weeks away and preparations are underway. Mark your calendars for October 2, 2021. Showcasing six of Mason’s homes and lodgings with an eclectic mix of styles, Lea Lou Lodges kicks off the tour with their boutique accommodations on the Square.
Kenneth Max Brandenberger, 79, of Llano, passed away Friday, September 3, 2021. Brandenberger was born in Mason on September 5, 1941, to Dayton Charles Brandenberger and Nila Lee Bode. He was a fifth-generation descendant of the original families that settled in the area. Growing up in a ranching family in Mason, Llano and San Saba counties, he and his brothers showed several winning 4-H and FFA livestock projects, including many champions at San Antonio and Houston.
Curtis Bankston, age 67, of the Ater community, went to be with his Lord and Savior, surrounded by his family, on Monday, September 6, 2021, in Gatesville., Texas
Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, September 17, 2021, at Ater Cemetery with Pastor Cody Haines and Graves Wallace officiating.
This article will not attempt to convince anyone that global climate change is happening. If you haven’t noticed climate change for yourself by now, then no amount of new information is likely to change your mind. Suffice it to say that the fact of global climate change is clear and extraordinarily well-documented.
I’m also not going to place blame on anyone or any group for the climate-change crisis.
I have always been amazed that tiny hummingbirds are capable of migrating across the Gulf of Mexico down to South America and back every year. They are so small (the average ruby-throat only weighs three grams, a little over a tenth of an ounce), and they have to beat their wings so fast to travel such a long distance.
But there is one animal that has an even more amazing life story: the Monarch butterfly.
