See. And be seen. That’s our wildlife for ya. Fox. Armadillo. Skunk. Snake. Hawk. Turtle. Tortoise. Two quail. Two quail again. Does that make it “quails”? Two jackrabbits. Big-eared statues in the shade. One deer. A doe. A female deer. Drinking from the dog’s water dish. So thirsty. So hot. So dry. But then we had rain. Thunder and lightning. And rain. Blessed rain. Moisture from the sky. An inch to two inches. Depending on if you were livin’ right. Still ...

The City of Mason has been functioning on a very even keel for the past several weeks, so I have not felt a need to write a column for the paper just to say that everything is going good. Of course there is the constant pressure to meet all of the regulatory issues that running the various departments of the city create.

Praise God and thank Him for the rain. Most of the county got around one inch, some more, some less. Continue to pray for rain because we really need much more. Happy birthday to John Mutschink on June 28th, to Max Jordan on June 30th, to Daniel Victor Durst on his 5th birthday on July 1st and to Susie Jordan on July 3rd.

Just a reminder to watch out for the young and old especially during this terrible heat! We all need to be drinking more liquids. And don’t forget your pets- they need plenty of water, shade, and don’t leave them in the hot car either. As many Texas areas mark record high temperatures, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) health officials offer precautions people can take to reduce the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

It is with a sense of trepidation that the subject is broached at all. Maybe it’s akin to moths being drawn to fatal flames or criminals returning to crime scenes. This admitted, I introduce this week’s topic—watermelons and recipes. They’ve gotten me into considerable trouble in the past, and here I go, diving headfirst into controversy’s inviting pool…. As Sister Maria sang with the von Trapp Family Singers (remember “Sound of Music?”), let’s just start at the very beginnin ...

I’ve just gotten rid of over a hundred e-mails trying to sell me Stuff and Designer Watches, among other items not to be mentioned. This is another example of our lives that seem to be revolving around STUFF and TIME. Online medicines were a big part of these 100 plus emails.

As soon as my wife and I pulled up in front of the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, we were attacked by a gang of thugs. One tried to open my door, one went for my wife’s door, and another tried to get into the back of the car to grab our luggage. Luckily, all the doors were locked, but these guys just stood there and waited.

Sixty children and teens have signed up for the Texas Summer Reading program and registration continues. The time logs that are turned in become entries in a contest to be held July 11. So keep reading and bring in those time logs! Also, the contest to determine the two children who will ride on the Historical Commission’s prairie schooner wagon in the Round-Up parade is still going on.

Wagon Yard Days FOREWORD: The following articles could be viewed as reruns inasmuch as they are taken from the initial portion of my MEMOIRS which began appearing in the Brady Standard on Oct. 16, 1992. In again reminiscing of that long ago era I am trusting that the replay of some of those early day articles will reveal a portion of history to the young who perhaps missed the early installment and will not be remembered by the elderly who, while recalling those days, will have forgotten ...

B vitamins are the catalytic spark plugs of the human body. They function as catalysts in many biochemical reactions that are essential to health. As a group, they are named the B complex vitamins because they are found together in nature and are often needed together to perform best. The best food source of B vitamins is brewer’s yeast.

Last Thursday and Friday, for the first time since January of 2007, I took off two days. It had been planned for a while; but, finding an available time slot to leave was difficult. Finally, after much shuffling and advance planning, we set the date for a Thursday and Friday, and we were set.

Bluebonnet CASA of Mason, Menard, McCulloch and Kimble counties is conducting a fundraiser. The playhouse constructed by Mason FFA will be raffled on Saturday, July 12th during the Mason Rodeo. Tickets may be purchased from Bluebonnet CASA, the Mason Chamber of Commerce, the Gunshop, and Hofmann Insurance in Mason. Bluebonnet CASA recruits and trains volunteers to advocate for our child victims involved in the court system.

AUSTIN—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s, R-Texas, Central Texas Regional Director, Sandy Edwards, will be in Mason County on Thursday, June 26, 2008, to meet with constituents, address any federal concerns they may have, and assist with various other services. “As a U.S. Senator, I work hard to make sure Texas values are well represented in Washington,” Sen.

The Central Texas College (CTC) Continuing Education Department now offers online adult continuing education classes through its partner ed2go – a national provider of adult online education. Students can take courses from the comfort of their own homes or offices at the times that are the most convenient. Courses are highly interactive and taught by expert instructors, many of whom are nationally known authors.

Nearly 100 descendants attended the Wilhelm and Johann Heinrich Geistweidt family reunion held Saturday, June 14 at the home of Kurt and Tuttie Geistweidt at Doss. A covered dish dinner was served along with barbecue brisket, pork and sausage prepared by barbecue chairman Dennis Crenwelge and his crew. The annual business meeting was led by Adam Geistweidt, president, who recognized Melrose Geistweidt Leifeste as the oldest lady in attendance while Dan Anderegg received recognition for the me ...

High gas prices and increasing grocery prices affect everyone. But imagine the impact on low income families who paid $3.17 for a gallon of milk a year ago and now pay $4.29 a gallon. That is just one small example of how unrelenting increases in food prices cause these families to live with hunger and food insecurity.

The Mason Country Opry will be staged on Thursday, June 26, at the Odeon Theater in downtown Mason. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and admission is $10.00 per person. Tickets will be on sale at the door. Branson entertainer Tommy Horton will highlight the second half of the Mason Country Opry.

Applications are still being accepted for the Arts and Crafts Fair on the Courthouse Lawn on July 12th. It looks like another good year. We’ll have lots of food, games and interesting crafts. We’d also like to remind everyone to DRESS UP 1850’S STYLE. This event should be a big celebration of our Sesquicentennial.

The Mason County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Sesquicentennial Roundup parade on Saturday, July 12th. This one is extra special because we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of Mason County. Named for Fort Mason, the county was established by an act of the state legislature on January 22, 1858.

How many of you remember a time when you would gather up your neighborhood pals and head off to the baseball field with your worn in gloves and your wood bats for a great afternoon of baseball? On June 24, 4 teams from central Texas will converge on Mason Texas to begin the Mason Sandlot Wood Bat Tournament.

Voluntary water conservation for residents of the City of Mason is now in effect. Water users should limit their watering to the hours of 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. If your house faces North or East you should water on even numbered calendar days. If your house faces South or West, you should water on odd numbered calendar days.

Three summer sessions, three mornings each, for kids who like to think, and like to talk about what they think. Texas Nature Project’s “Young Philosophers’ Summer Academy” requires no background, just an interest in thinking about … pretty much anything. Founded on the values that we all share, such as community, active citizenship and stewardship, discussions will focus on how we make decisions and choices, ranging from how we choose friends, how we treat others, how we like to be ...

AMARILLO – With the Panhandle targeted for increased wind power development, many landowners already have signed or are considering signing contracts with energy companies. But questions remain, especially about wildlife. The Panhandle Wind and Wildlife Conference on Aug. 8-9 at the Ambassador Hotel in Amarillo is aimed at answering some of those questions.

When: Saturdays, beginning June 28th through July 20th Noon-4PM Where: Flying Frame Studio, 510 El Paso Street, Mason, Tx How Much: $75/ class or $250/full summer session; 4 classes Registration begins TODAY! Contact Lee Ann Peavy at 325-347-0369 or at lapeavy@gmail.com Class room capacity: 8 Due to the small class capacity, students are encouraged to preregister/prepay to secure your place in the class,. The Sessions: June 28th: Hand Tinting Black and White Photographs Students will l ...

The Mason Lions Club met Tuesday, June 17th, for its regular weekly luncheon meeting. There were 43 members and 4 visitors in attendance. Lion Jerry Bearden was responsible for the program and he spoke about the Mason County Courthouse. Jerry, being the County Judge, gave a brief history of the Courthouse and then talked about the needed repairs that the Courthouse roof was needing as well as some structural problems that were going to need to be addressed in the near future.

Left to Right- Borothy Henrich, Bonnie Underwood, and Beatrice Holloway taking a stroll on the squre. 1958 Submitted by-Tim Underwood

Pat Bode Saunders (daughter of Leon and Polly Hurley Bode) forwarded along this photo from the late 1950s or early 1960s of Katemcy/Camp Air residents John Ruegner, Edgar Ince and Arthur Hurley weighing a lamb.

I have always been interested in art and creative expression of all kinds. My parents encouraged me to paint, sew, and otherwise expand my visions. I have taken various are classes over the years, portrait painting, landscape, still life. At that time I was using oil paints. During my 20 years as an antique dealer, I refinished my own furniture, became interested in 1800's "false grain painting", experimenting with different painted finishes on trunks, furniture, etc.

On a September morning in 1927, the bell in the tower of the Mason Grammar School summoned children to a new school year. Among that group were first graders who were destined to be the class of 1938. Because this class was large in numbers, it was divided into two class rooms.

Early of last week a baby Robin was crying for it's mom from a house top near a group of ladies watching the sunset and enjoying a good breeze. We started talking to it and it flew down at out feet. Lorine Metz got some instant oatmeal, sprinkled it in front of it, but the bird wanted it put in it's mouth.

Caitlin Brown, daughter of David and Janna Brown of Austin and granddaughter of Frank and Margaret Brown of Hilda, was named to the Dean’s List at Texas State University in San Marcos. Upon completion of her freshman year, she is enjoying her appointment as Orientation Leader for the summer at TSU.

During Parent’s Weekend (April 11-13, 2008) at Texas A&M University, many activities were going on, including Spring Scholarship banquets. Lindsi Dutton ’10 was honored at two of those banquets. She received the George & Eleanor McDonald Endowed Scholarship and the William M. Lehrer Agribusiness Scholarship. Lindsi will be a junior at A&M in the fall.

Billy and Sherry Francis of Mason are pleased to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their daughter, Emily Nicole to Joe Russell Roach. Joe is the son of Rusty and Joanna Roach of Banquete, Texas. Emily is the granddaughter of the late Sam and Priscilla Pittman and the late Doris Francis, all of Corpus Christi, and the late Bill Francis of Newark, New Jersey.

Members of the Mason Bluebonnet Study Club sponsored the June birthday celebration at the Mason Care Center on Thursday, the 12th. With bright baloons, three kinds of cake, and punch along with birthday “surprises” for each of the residents having June birthdays, members of the club sang “Happy Birthday” to Frances Durst, Ella Marie Mutshink, Oleta Barton, Helen Olsen, and Lois Durst.

Dale Watson and Jesse Dayton will recreate that great Texas Dance Hall sound at the next Roots Music concert at the Pioneer Museum on Saturday, June 28 in Fredericksburg. Dale Watson has been heralded as one of “country music’s last authentic voices,” but he prefers to be called “Ameripolitan.” Watson created the word and defines it as “original music with prominent roots influence.” For fans, that means they will hear echoes of the great traditional western swing, but infused wi ...

6-1-08 @ 5:45pm- Vehicle title issue-Deputy Bill Price responded 6-1-08 @ 9:39pm- Loose cattle Deputy Bill Price responded 6-1-08 @ 12:35am- Contact for Junction PD- Deputy Parker responded 6-2-08 @ 9:22am- 911- Sheriff Low and EMS responded 6-2-08 @ 4:52pm- Possible attempted burglary- Sgt Martin responded 6-3-08 @ 10:15am- Welfare concern- Chief Deputy Carson responded 6-3-08 @ 5:51pm- Loose cattle- Sgt Martin responded 6-3-08 @ 6:35pm- Trucker assist- Sgt Martin responded 6-3-08 @ 6: ...

The Mason County Grand Jury met on Friday, June 20, 2008, and returned the following indictments: Jodie Lynn Terry Carraway, burglary of a habitation Willie Joe Gumbert, felony theft Rosa Linda Madrigal, family violence assault, enhanced

David W. Eudaly, of Art, passed away on Tuesday, June 17, 2008, at the age of 53. David Wayne Eudaly was born August 14, 1954, in Bridgeport, Texas, to LaRoy and Dortha (Dee) Fuqua Eudaly. Upon graduation from Socorro High School in El Paso, he enlisted in the Air Force; spending time in Vietnam and serving throughout Southeast Asia.

Mary Lee Kothmann Thomas, beloved wife and mother, died on June 22, 2008, in Houston, Texas. Born on September 22, 1932, in Frio County, Texas, Mary Lee was the second of six children born to Evelyn and Ryland Kothmann. She grew up in Mason, Texas, in the Texas Hill Country.

Sadie Ann Jakeman, age 93 died June 15, 2008. in San Antonio, Texas, at Incarnate Word Retirement Center where she had been a resident for four years. She was born August 13, 1914, in Mason County to Ed and Annie Surber Curren. She grew up with siblings: Milton, Ruth, Dorman, Raymond, and Martha Fay.