The town of Randolph, Iowa had a serious feral cat problem, so the city council placed a five-dollar bounty on the wild felines to encourage residents to trap them. The bounty had to be rescinded when animal rights groups protested. Three boys in Delaware County, Indiana were arrested for animal abuse.

Natural Health from A to Z By Margaret Durst, N.D. At least 12 million Americans take a prescription statin drug. These include Lipitor, Zocor, Mevacor and Pravachol. There is even a natural statin available at health food stores that is very popular now - this is Red Yeast Rice. Before banning cholesterol, consider its beneficial functions in the body.

In these challenging economic times there is still a fantastic deal to be had and it’s as close as your public library. Imagine - all these offerings at the Mason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library are free! Over 16,000 titles to check out, high-speed and wireless internet access, Story Time for children, Live Homework Help, and TexShare Databases.

Every household has one or maybe two. Some call them a “catch all” drawer,cabinet or maybe a closet. This is where everything that isn’t used everyday is put. All things from string to nails and books on how to work that “thing of a jig,” that you bought to slice and dice. My Mother called her’s the “Fibber McGee and Molly” closet.

Devotees of Kermit the Frog are croaking with delight. They’ve had antennae up for months to see which presidential candidate first plays—or misplays—the “race card.” They claim that it was Barack Obama, never mind that his comment was not a “black/white” issue. What the frogs heard was “green,” and that was close enough for them.

Thought it was appropriate to share the recipe for this yummy, good for you snack. Don’t throw out the seeds when you are carving your jack o’lantern! Make sure to check out the various different flavors you can use. Ingredients: Seeds of one pumpkin and salt. Preparation Directions: 1. Extract sees from pumpkin. 2.

There is a very important vote date coming up on November 4th. Early voting started on November 20th and continues through November 31st. You can vote from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. every day. I urge you to vote early to avoid the crowd that is expected on the 4th. Birthdays occurring during the next week are Seth Hudson on October 25th, also on the 25th, Laura Jordan, granddaughter of Roger and Tyra Jordan, will be three years old.

Art. A town in Texas. Not far from Mason. And one of my favorite places. Art can also be found in Mason. Especially this Saturday. All around the square. Art. Artists. Art lookers. Art appreciators. Art buyers (hopefully). Plus a couple musicians. And three local writers selling their books. Plus all the shops with open doors. Open for business. Around the square. And off the square too. Like The Thing Is. And Country Collectibles. And all the restaurants and cafés open for ...

The past couple of weeks have been busy around the City offices and for the City Commission. The water tower on the west side of town continues to be assembled and should begin to take shape in the next couple of weeks as the main water bowl is raised into place.

This is a short story about a member of our Brady coffee club, who has been described as “a charming man” by a female acquaintance. He has been affectionately dubbed Slo-Mo by his Precious Memory Coffee Club cronies because of his leisurely slow entry into the coffee establishment and for his equally lazy approach to our coffee table.

Dr. John Fox, an anthropologist who lives in Waco, has studied the ancient Mayan civilization for more than 30 years. Last year he made me an offer I couldn’t resist. The Mayas had a keen interest in the night sky, and while Dr. Fox and his colleagues have learned much about Mayan astronomy, he wants to dig deeper.

Our first campaign drive for the Box Tops For Education program ends Friday, October 24th. So gather all your Box Top coupons and drop them off before the deadline. Collection boxes are located at Super S Foods, Mane Attraction, and the Elementary/Jr. High School office. Box Top coupons are about the size of a postage stamp and can be found on many grocery items you purchase everyday, including General Mills & Betty Crocker foods.

The Mason Gospel Church Youth and their church families celebrated Grandparents Thank You Day and Mason's 150 years as a community on Saturday, October 11. As the youth met the grandparents at their transportation, you saw Indians, Old West lawmen, girls promenading in their long dresses and bustles, church going attire from the 40s that always included a hat for the ladies, flapper dresses from the time of the roaring 20s, June Cleaver showed up in her quite little housedress that barely ski ...

All Saints Day is “officially” celebrated on November 1st or, if the first is not on a Sunday, the Sunday following November 1. The Hilda United Methodist Church is holding its All Saints Celebration this coming Sunday, October 26 at its 11:00 a.m. worship service. Traditionally, in Protestant churches, All Saints Day and All Souls Day (the day after All Saints Day) were valued as times to celebrate heritage and those Christians of the past who faithfully transmitted the faith to succeedin ...

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Mason County Soil and Water Conservation District invite the public and any agencies with an interest in conservation issues to participate in a Local Work Group meeting to be held at the Mason County Library in Mason, TX. This meeting will be on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. The purpose of this meeting is to receive input from a broad range of local agencies, organizations, businesses, and individuals that have an inter ...

The Mason High School National Honor Society is sponsoring a blood drive on November 3, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the MHS commons area. Anyone interested in donating blood may come to the high school during these hours or sign up for a time slot online at www.bloodhero.com by using the sponsor code “masonhs.” Students that are 16 years old can now donate blood with parental consent.

Mason 4-H Club members will be meeting at the Extension office on Sunday, October 26th at 4 p.m. Please join us if you’d like to participate! We will be conducting a door-to-door non-perishable foods drive for the Mason Food Bank. The Food Bank is not able to run on donations any more.

The Fredonia Community Association will be having its fall fund-raiser November 8th, 8am-5pm. A Community wide Rummage Sale will start at 8 am. Drinks and sweets will be for sale all day. Grilled hamburgers will be for sale at noon. Come and enjoy the day with us. All the proceeds will be for the purchase of the Community Center.

Mason Elementary / Junior High School, Perfect Attendance Roster, First Six Weeks Head Start Hernandez, Miranda Lewis, Blake Peck, Michael Rodriguez, Isela Valdez, Alfredo Pre-Kindergarten Ake, Kyleigh Bishop, Hannahmarie Carter, Madison Garcia, Malakai Harding, Hayden Knowles, Kadynce Kring, Braden Lewis, Blake Peck, Michael Roy, Tara Smith, Sterling Stockbridge, Brooke Kindergarten Berrio, Allie Bunker, Kolby Gammill, Julian Garcia, Dominick George, Billy Georg ...

All members of the community (past and present) are urged to attend a meeting at the schoolhouse Sunday, October the 26th at 5:00 p.m. Come see what restoration has been completed, get an update on the current financial status and take part in the planning of a fall workday schedule. It is very important that everyone be there to participate in the decision making regarding future work on our community building.

Bill Price, Democratic candidate for Sheriff and Tax Collector will give a presentation Thursday, October 23 at 6:00 p.m. in the Mason County Library. This will be an excellent time to hear him discuss his qualifications, the issues, his training and experiences. He will give a presentation followed by a question and answer session.

Dear Editor, I’m trying to keep a good attitude, really I am. When my dear dead daddy’s cement jockey was mysteriously relocated from my yard to my across-the-road neighbor’s yard, I thought it was funny. No harm done. When my Obama sign was stolen from my yard a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t like it, but again, I figured it was only kids cutting up after the football game.

faculty and staff of Grace Christian School announce the following students achieved Academic Honor Roll status for the first quarter grading period: Josie Clement, Eva Guerrero, Ashlynn Ake, Haylee Burton, Jeff Burton, Bailee Everett, K.C. Coleman, Gabe Jennings, Selah Farmer, Sydney Renfroe, Isaiah Guerrero, J. J. Ake, and Kinley Everett. These students are recognized for their diligent efforts to complete the required school work with an average grade of no less than 90 and no grade lower t ...

On Saturday, October 25, 2008, at 11:00 A.M. the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Fort Concho Chapter of San Angelo, Texas will have a Citizens of the Republic of Texas Medallion Marker Service for Ludwig “Lohie” Schneider at the Pioneer Rest Cemetery in Menard, Texas on Highway 83. The service is being hosted by his great great grandaughters Tammie Dietz Smith, President of the Fort Concho Chapter, and Mary Louise Schneider Chapman of the Alamo Heroes Chapter of San Antonio, and family ...

Mason Elementary / Junior High School, Honor Roll Listing, First Six Weeks SECOND GRADE A HONOR ROLL Baltierra, Victoria Burleson, Jerry “Hite” Crocker, Kylie Fluhmann, Joshua Gillespie, Kate Guice, Tessa Karr, Jason Keller, Tyson Padilla, Andrew Powell, Ethan Ramirez, Nathalie Taylor, Bailey Townsend, Sloan Trimble, Austin Watson, Carlos AB HONOR ROLL Anderson, Sydney Bindseil, Cade Brandenberger, Colten Brown, Hannah Burdette, Terra Carter, Mackenzie Davel, Con ...

Summer was full of fun at Mason Care Center. The residents enjoyed getting outside as much as possible with burgers on the patio every Friday and also ice cream, watermelon, Popsicle and lemonade socials. Our Armchair travels took us to Hawaii, Jamaica, Africa, and Australia via travel videos. We enjoyed delicious native fruits, drinks and music from each country.

The Mason Lions Club met Tuesday, October 14th, for its regular weekly luncheon meeting. There were 39 members and 4 visitors in attendance. Among the visitors were 2 Mason High School Seniors, Amanda Henrich and Rebecca Caffey. Lion Gene Gammill was responsible for the program and introduced P. D. G.

In The Middle of Somewhere, I caught a gleam in the eye of a familiar face, when I walked in the door of course, but also in the portrait of a painting by Kyle Martin. In The Middle of Somewhere, I saw a remnant of a good time in an abandoned beverage, when I walked in the door of course, but also in the installation by Rex Hausman.

Mason County Habitat for Humanity has been very busy this year! So much has happened, it can’t be recounted in one telling, so consider this ‘Part One’, as we go back to Spring 2008! In April, the second group of RV Care A Vanners took up temporary residence in Mason. These traveling volunteers come from all across America and are dedicated to helping build decent, affordable housing to those in need.

Thomas Claude Stickels, Sr. 73, of Lakewood Village, TX died Friday, October 10, 2008, in Presbyterian Hospital of Denton and entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior. Graveside service were held Saturday, October 18, 2008, at 3:00 pm in Gooch Cemetery, Mason, Texas with Pastor William DeDear of the Church of Christ and Pastor Thomas Stickels, Jr.

The Mason Punchers continued their push to secure a berth in the playoffs on Friday with a 61-13 victory over the Irion County Hornets. The Punchers would take three minutes of the first quarter before they made their first score, a short run by Jared Hudson, followed by a Justin Yonker kick, placing the score at 7-0. Irion County came back a short time later with the first of their two game scores, a pass from Garrett Barnett to Marshall Miller, and the score was 7-6. Mason would score once ...

The Mason cross country teams were not full force on Saturday because many of our runners were competing in the Area Band Marching Contest held in Brady on Saturday morning. As the meet began, many coaches approached asking where all of our runners were. Many coaches have been tracking our progress and know that we have tough teams that make for good competition. When you arrive at such a large meet, like the one held at Comfort High School on Saturday, and you are short many of your athlete ...

The JV Punchers traveled to Winters last Thursday night to take on the Blizzards in a highly anticipated matchup that featured two good teams with stellar records and high expectations. The game was hard fought until the final whistle with the Blizzards coming out on top in the end 18-13. The Blizzards struck first after a Puncher three and out to take the lead 6-0.

Thursday evening was just about as perfect as anyone could ask for. Resent rains had cleaned the air and put a green on the grass. The 7th and 8th Punchers combined to take on the visiting Hornets from Irion County. The coin was tossed then the hitting began. Mason deferred the first possession because everyone was geared up to play defense, and play they did.