September 29, 2021 Issue

A shooting in Mason last week sent one man to the hospital and landed another man in jail. At around 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 21, deputies with the Mason County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 1000 block of Bluebonnet Road in Mason in reference to a “shots fired” call, according to a September 24 news release from Sheriff Joseph Lancaster.

Creating a set of new regulations for the building of housing subdivisions in Mason County is at the forefront of priorities for the Mason County Commissioners. As the county faces ever-increasing interest from developers, commissioners are working with a panel of local real estate brokers and a surveyor to inform them on the many issues involved in updating the local regulations.

The City of Mason’s parks department will have more than $190,000 to spend in this upcoming fiscal year, which means that residents can expect to see some park improvements in the future. “It’s important for us to give members of the community a place to go enjoy,” said City Administrator John Palacio on Tuesday.

The iconic Santos Restaurant in Mason has delighted patrons throughout the years while maintaining their original family recipes created by founder Maria Santos Silerio. Originally from Durango, Mexico, Mrs. Silerio began her business around 1991 pioneering her method of freshly cooked in-house dishes and serving them to the public. Facing surgery and possibly being away from her home in Mason for recovery; various family members at different points in time tried their hand at keeping the res ...

Preceding Friday night’s home game, Mason High School varsity football senior wide receiver Tristin Keller had the high honor of being presented with the Dave Campbell Texas Football Magazine Unsung Hero award. Brandon Willis from Texas Farm Bureau Insurance was at the Puncherdome to present a $500 award which will be donated to the Mason athletic program in Keller’s name.

The Mason High School varsity football team picked up another win on Friday, Sept. 24 at home as the Punchers cruised to a 42-0 blowout victory against the Junction High School Eagles. Prior to kickoff, Punchers senior wide receiver Tristin Keller was honored as the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Unsung Hero for the week and Mason’s athletic program was presented with a $500 donation from Texas Farm Bureau Insurance.

The Mason High School girls and boys varsity cross country teams competed on Monday, Sept. 20 in the fifth meet of the 2021 season at the T.H. Glory Days Invitational hosted by San Saba High School. The Cowgirls varsity squad did well in their two-mile race as Mason placed a very close third out of seven teams with 59 points, behind first-place Goldthwaite High School with 50 and second-place Harper High School with 56 points. Junior runner Isabel Callejas placed fifth overall in a field of ...

Mickey Dean Leifeste passed away August 14, 2021. He was born on September 18, 1944 in Mason, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Mamie Leifeste; sisters, Janice Kay Leifeste, Karlynda Leifeste, and Wanda Steen; brother, Jim Knox, Buck Knox, and twin brother, Dickey Gene Leifeste; and beautiful niece, Melanie Glocar. Mickey is survived by his two daughters, Lisa Hicks (Allan) and Lori Lykins (Robert); his five grandchildren; Sydney Hicks, Luke Hicks, Zachary Stacy, Ash ...

Janice Kay Leifeste passed away on August 3, 2021. She was born on March 25, 1943 in Mason, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Mamie Leifeste; sisters, Karlynda Leifeste and Wanda Steen; brothers, Jim Knox, Buck Knox and Dickey Gene Leifeste; and beautiful niece, Melanie Glocar.

Loma Lee Surber went to be with the Lord September 27, 2021. Her grandson, Mason Surber, was by her side when she passed. Loma was born September 25, 1932, in Mason County, Texas, to Leo and Jewel Starks. On July 23, 1949, Loma married her best friend, J.C. Surber. Loma was a devoted member of First Baptist Church of Sonora.

Jack Ellis Bush, of Ralls Texas, born November 28, 1955, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 19, 2021. Jack is survived by the love of his life, Debbie Stout, and his loving daughter Jennifer Bush; brother, Kelly Bush and daughter Caitlyn Bush of Belfair, Washington; sister Georgia Baldwin and husband Albert, of Port Orchard, Washington; and nephews Michael Harris, Johnathan Harris and Matthew Harris.

Max Eckert Hey slipped into eternity on September 22, 2021. With a final Taps being played, his flag-draped earthly vessel was honorably escorted from the Floresville Texas State Veterans Home, followed by his sons, Matt and Pete Hey. Members of the staff placed hands on their hearts and military residents from beds and wheelchairs, rising to stand, if able, saluted to pay final respects during the procession.

Thad Max Ziegler, devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, was called to be with the Lord on September 14, 2021. He was 93 years old. He was born in San Antonio, Texas on March 12, 1928, to Thad C. Ziegler and Ruth M.

I have previously written about the nitrogen cycle and the water cycle as illustrations of how Mother Nature recycles matter. One of Nature’s helpers in this regard is the vulture. This may not make for the most appealing discussion, but it is important to understand this essential process. I recently came upon what appeared to be a rather fresh jackrabbit carcass in the middle of the road not far from our house.

Thank you for making Old Yeller Day 2021 a success! We might not have had our usual festivities, but we hope everyone enjoyed this year’s events. Our thanks to Ole Yellow Animal Rescue for hosting the Free Rabies Clinic and for donating the prizes for our winners. We would like to thank our community members who donated funds for our drive-in showing of Old Yeller at the Community Building, and the City of Mason for all of their help.

You know that yummy Italian bread that you can get at some supermarkets around Central Texas? The fat, golden, sesame-sprinkled loaves? Well, you can make those right in your own home, and they aren't that difficult! Ingredients: 4 cups King Arthur All-Purpose Flour (or similar) 2 tablespoons of potato flour or ¼ cup of dried potato flakes ¼ cup Baker's Special Dry Milk or any nonfat dry milk 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons sugar 2 teaspoons instant yeast 1 ½ cups water 3 ta ...

What you are reading was once a blank page. No ink. No words. No thoughts. Just a white (“blanc” in French), colorless, unmarked piece of paper. An empty, barren, vacant void. All writing begins with a blank page. The writer’s task is to fill in that blank. This is the 100th column since its return to the pages of this newspaper.

Fall is here and for this gardener ‘most’ of the planting is done. As I was reviewing the plan, I realized I'd forgotten the one staple we depend on: the turnip. Thankfully, I still have room to plant a substantial number. Let's have a look at the turnip, also known as the white turnip.

Our household has been quiet. John and I don’t leave the house unless we have doctor appointments. My retinal specialist gave me a good report. I am supposed to be patient as the bubble in my eye may last up to three months. If you know me, you know patience is not my best trait.

Over the years, readers have asked me why I make fun of Florida and California quite often, but leave Louisiana alone. Many have pointed out that the Sink Me state is full of Cajuns, who are basically just damp rednecks who live in swamps, eat strange things, and talk funny.

On September 21, the Mason Lions Club met at Nacho’s for their weekly meeting. The Lions Club enthusiastically welcomed Roger Goose, guest of Bruce Lehmberg. The speaker was our own Lion, Sheriff Joe Lancaster. Lion Joe spoke at length about the difficult situation on the southern border of Texas and the problems it is causing us here. The border problems, with some assistance from COVID, have caused the courts to be closed and overloaded, the jails are full (we have to board prisoner ...

Last week, I discussed some of the interesting animals that appear in the seasonal wetlands known as vernal pools. This is an especially appropriate topic for this column, as our area of the Llano Uplift is well known for its diverse vernal pools. Several readers commented on last week’s article that they enjoy hiking each spring to the top of Enchanted Rock to see the isolated vernal pools there come to life. Vernal pools may form in depressions of bare rock (as on Enchanted Rock), or in ...