February 16, 2022 Issue

Mason County Commissioners heard a presentation concerning American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from Alan Bristol of the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) at Monday’s Commissioner’s Court. A standing-room-only crowd attended in response to the agenda item, and four people made public comments prior to the presentation expressing their disapproval of the county’s acceptance of these federal funds in May, 2021. Last year Mason County accepted its allocation of $828,916, said Judge Je ...

The local affiliate of the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity is hard at work on its 20th home in Mason County, but more local help is needed. “One of my goals is to get more people in the community involved,” said Jess Irwin, president of Habitat for Humanity’s Mason County affiliate.

The award-winning Mason High School Theatre Program has been dedicating hours of preparation to their UIL One-Act Play entry for 2022. They have had opportunities to perform dress rehearsals for three clinicians who offered their input on the production. All suggestions are carefully considered as the company continues to polish their work for the March 1 contest to be held here in Mason. MHS hopes to repeat a trip to State in 2022.

Does your non-profit group have a great idea but need help with the money to make it happen? Time is running out to apply for a Mason Community Foundation grant, and we would really like to help you. The Foundation has provided many thousands of dollars to local non-profits over the past fifteen years, and our next grant cycle has a deadline of Tuesday, March 1st.

George Ferguson Sr., age 77, of Mason, Texas, passed away February 10th, 2022. He was born June 6, 1944, in Huntington, Texas to George and Polly Ferguson. He retired from Upton County Road and Bridge. George married his partner in crime and love of his life, Janice on August 24,1991, in Rankin, Texas.

Don Vierus went home Wednesday, February 9, 2022, to be with his wife Dora Mae (Gamel ) Vierus ( Dodie ). They were married September 14,1957. They were married 62 years. He passed quietly at his home in Castell with his family by his side. Don was born May 30, 1936, to Clifford and Nonie Vierus.

Mayme Dodd Morrow, 82, resident of 411 Cherokee Street, passed away Friday February 11, 2022, at Abbeville Area Medical Center. Born in Mason, Texas, she was a daughter of the late Clarence Dodd and Maurine Chatam Dodd. She was a retired employee of General Telephone Company, with over 25 years of service.

We approached each other with grim grins on our faces. We were glad to see each other, but at the same time were anxiously unsure about how our greeting would take place. Normally Tex and I would shake hands. That was the way two old friends had been doing it for more years than we could count on our combined fingers and toes.

This was another crazy week at the Ceynowa house. John is still in the VA Hospital in San Antonio. Traveling four hours to visit him for one hour is hard. But, if it was me in the hospital, I know he would find a way to visit as often as possible. Sunday, February 20, is loose change Sunday at the Art Methodist church.

This is an easy recipe that you basically dump, bake, and serve. This recipe takes minimal time, but it is a definite crowd pleaser. Life has been a little crazy lately and, when that happens, I try to find one of my recipes that is easy but delicious! It also has green beans and potatoes, so you have a meal in one!

March is a busy month in Texas, and with Ground Hog Day behind us, it’s time to gear up for Texas Independence Day (2 March), Alamo Day (6 March), and if you’re Catholic, or Irish, or somewhat greenish, St. Patrick’s Day (14 March). St. Patrick was the guy who supposedly drove all the snakes out of Germany, but I’m skeptical.

On February 8, the Mason Lions Club met for their weekly club meeting at Nacho’s. The Lions Club welcomed as its guest Daniel Boatright, guest of Lion Will Frey. The club also welcomed as its guests two graduating seniors from Mason High School. Braden Hollingshead, whose parents are Kara and Taylor Hollingshead, has participated in track and football.

We have two upcoming programs for adults at the library. On March 3rd at 7:00, JL Wilkins, All By My Lonesome, will perform country music. On March 15th at 6:00, singer/songwriter Sofia Talvik will return to the library to perform. We will have more information on these programs coming in the following weeks.

It’s mid-February: onion and potato time! The fabulous twosome. How would anyone cook without these? Onions in our grow zone are short-day variety. You will find starts that are suited for your zone at your local feed store and some big box stores. Short-Day varieties are recommended for Southern States where temperatures are normally warmer year-round.

These are some great rolls that can be eaten with any meal; split open and oven toasted for breakfast; used as slider bases for some sausage patties, or just tossed in a bag for you to take to work. YUMMY! And it makes a bunch! Ingredients: 2 cups milk 3 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon active dry yeast ½ cup warm water ½ cup sugar, divided ½ cup honey About 7 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, divided 2 eggs 2 teaspoons salt Butter to rub on top of freshly baked rolls Pr ...

Short, cold days and long winter nights seem like a good time to read some good books. Here are a few from my collection that I recommend you consider this winter. If you haven’t read Aldo Leopold’s, “A Sand County Almanac,” that would be the first book I would recommend—everyone interested in nature should have it.

The Mason High School girls varsity basketball team earned itself a 2A Bi-District championship victory on Monday, February 14, when the Cowgirls routed Brackett High School 74-27 at neutral site Bandera High School. From the very start, the Cowgirls were in complete control of a Lady Tigers team that did not have much of an answer for Mason’s balanced scoring attack and tenacious full-court defense.