Monday was Ground Hog Day, which is one of my favorite holidays. I like Ground Hog Day for several reasons. It’s the first holiday of the year, unless you count New Year’s Day, which everybody sleeps through anyway. It involves fat, furry little animals. It doesn’t mean anything at all to anyone, which is a big plus, since I don’t have to observe it if I don’t want to.

The Mason-Jackson black families lived across the Comanche Creek in the northwest part of town. Sandy Mason Miller remembers when the Mason schools became integrated and the following story is from Sandy's recollections. Clinton Schulze, Mr. Sharpe and Charles Gipson came out across the creek and said the Mason schools were integrated and the Negro children would have to go to the white school.

Primrose. Flower of February. And a powerful flower at that. One belief held if there were less than 13 primroses in the first spring posy your hens would have no more chickens than there were primroses. In other words, make that posy a big ‘un and you’ll be in the chicken business. Posy. Now there’s a word you don’t come across every day. And a primrose posy is about as common as hen’s teeth too. But much prettier. The Welsh traditionally believed it was bad luck for a primr ...

We have some beautiful sunshine but no rain. Pray for rain and warm weather. There are two, or I should write, three birthday celebrations this week: Judy Kingston celebrates on the 6th and then, Turner and Emma, grand children of Roger and Tyra Jordan and children of Matt and Cindy Ashby, both celebrate on February 10th.

Now that I’m balancing baby, husband, and work, this topic appealed to me! “I know that keeping lists can be beneficial in terms of helping us figure out what’s important. But if, as many of us did, you got carried away with your lists, you may have to reconsider and cut your lists back to more realistic proportions.” Source: Elaine St.

Column #301 for Release Saturday, January 31, 2009, or Later As news of the day is processed, we are overwhelmed by bloated accounts that result in a cacophony of groans. So, we welcome oddball stories that fit perfectly into the “man bites dog” category. We are drawn to headlines that tease about goings-on that are 180 degrees from the norm….

Cousin Louie turned one year old on January 29th. Cousin Louie is a Blood Hound that thinks he’s a wiener dog or a Chihuahua. Louie has no idea that he’s a BIG PUP. They told me that Louie would be better and calmer after he was a year old. Well, they lied.

PROLOGUE: You will not believe this. There is just no way you are likely to believe this story I am going to tell you. Before you finish it some of you are going to say “Poor old Bill, he has finally flipped his lid, popped his cork or has serenely passed into second childhood.

Glycemic Index or GI is a measure of the affect of the carbohydrates in individual foods on blood-glucose levels. Carbohydrates that break down quickly in the process of digestion have high GI values, while carbohydrates that break down slowly have low GI values. Examples of high GI foods include candy bars, sodas, many breakfast cereals such as corn flakes and Cheerios, sweet treats made with white flour, etc.

The Mason Lions Club met Tuesday, January 27th, for its regular weekly luncheon meeting. There were 38 members and 3 visitors in attendance. Among the visitors were 2 Mason High School Seniors, Ryan Schuessler and Rowdy Ake. Lion James Kingston was responsible for the program and introduced Marcie Perlman who spoke about Work Force Solutions of the Concho Valley.

During the last two meetings of the City Commission, there has been a great deal of discussion about allowing alcohol to be served at the new Richard P. Eckert Civic Center. I fear the discussion has been clouded by misperceptions. Several groups have already held events at the Civic Center, and several of those events included the serving of wine and or beer.

Keep the Eckert Center Dry!!!!! Dear Gerry, In the last two months, Mason has had an outbreak of criminal activities. The ones that I know about are: teen gets drunk at party and shoots guest in leg, young men get drunk and go on crime spree, burglarizing residences and businesses, and local youths beaten bloody at memorial service at The Peanut Mill.

Celebrate Mardi Gras in Llano at the 4th Annual LMHS Mardi Gras Ball. Sponsored by the Llano Memorial Healthcare System Foundation, the gala event scheduled for Saturday, February 21st at the Oestreich Rose in Llano is sure to be the party of the year with all of the fanfare that one expects with Mardi Gras.

The Heart of Texas Country Music Association will celebrate its 20th Anniversary on Friday and Saturday, March 13th and 14th, and Friday and Saturday, March 28th and 29th at the Ed Davenport Civic Center in Brady. The festivities will include a Welcome Party and Dance on the Friday nights, an afternoon Matinee Concert at 1:00 p.m.

Please join us for our next monthly episode. Mark those calendars for: Wednesday, February 11th, 11:30 a.m. We will congregate at the home of Lenore Newsom located at 810 Hofmann Street. It’s our valentine theme luncheon; therefore, put on your red & purple outfit, bring a friend or two plus a covered dish to share.

The 7th and 8th grade Prose Readers will be presenting at the Coffee Mug ‘n More on Wednesday, February 11, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. Cuttings from a variety of books will be read and the students are fantastic. The public is invited to enjoy the talents of Mason County’s young people.

Children of all ages one day only. Thursday, Februaaryac 17, 2009. 9:30 to 11:30 am and 1:00 to 3:00 pm. At the DSHS Clinic at 1004 S. Bridge St. Brady, Texas. 325-597-0550.

Don't delay. Make your reservations now for a special evening with a love one; be it a spouse, special friend, son or daughter, or even a co-worker. True Connection, the young adults at River of Life Church, will host a Candlelight Dinner on Valentine's Day, Saturday, February 14th at River of Life Church.

Spring is Near and Baseball is Here Mason Youth Baseball is gearing up for the 2009 Season. The MYB Board of Directors have been hard at work getting ready to kick-off the new season. MYB will be holding registration this Saturday February 7th from 9 am to 12 pm at 2 locations- Super S Foods and on the Southside of the courthouse lawn.

A Voice for Change, Featuring Best-Selling Authors, Inspirational Speakers & Musical Artists Comes to San Marcos, Texas February 26-March 1, 2009 PHOENIX, AZ – (January 29, 2009) — Stay Awake Productions presents The Awakening Conference Series 2009: a Voice for Change, February 26-March 1st at the Embassy Suites in San Marcos Texas.

The Central Texas College (CTC) extension campus in Brady, TX will begin testing for admittance to its vocational nursing program this month. The one-year program involves 12 months of study beginning in late August and consists of 53 credit hours to be completed in three semesters. Test dates for the Nursing Entrance Test (NET) are February 24, March 16, March 31, April 7, April 21 and May 4.

An information session on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form will be held on Monday, Feb. 23, at Fredericksburg High School Library at 5:00 and 6:30 p.m. Sessions will also be in Spanish. All students applying for college financial aid must complete the FAFSA form.

The 2009 Hill Country Memorial Hospital Gala XIII date is set for Oct. 17, 2009 at the Wildseed Farms of Fredericksburg. The biennial event is organized by the HCMH Foundation gala committee, known as Friends of the Hospital. It will support the enhancement of the current catherization laboratory and construction of a new one.

Hill Country Memorial Hospital and a Fredericksburg obstetrician/ gynecologist will cosponsor the ninth annual “Girl Talk” seminar Wednesday, Feb. 18, at Fredericksburg Elementary School Cafeteria, 1608 N. Adams Street, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Mothers and daughters from around the area are invited to attend the free, interactive seminar led by health care professional Jennifer Woerner Dulaney, M.D.

Hill Country CattleWomen Chapter will meet on Tuesday, February 17 at the Gillespie County Farm Bureau Bldg on Equestrian Drive in Fredericksburg, Tx. 10 a.m. Social and sign-in, 10:30 a.m. Meeting starts promptly. Lunch will follow the meeting, cost is $15.00. The public and prospective members are invited to attend. The program will be presented by an authority on”Predator Control”, a subject of great interest to those farming and ranching in the Texas Hill Country. Reservations by Feb ...

The Lambda Omega Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma held their February meeting in the Home Economics lab at Mason High School on Feb. 2. Discussion was held concerning upcoming scholarships for high school senior girls from Mason, Menard, and Kimble counties who are majoring in education. Delta Kappa Gamma is an honorary teacher organization that, among other things, endows scholarships, advances the professional interest and position of women in education, and stimulates the personal and profession ...

The Mason ISD Trustee Election will be held on May 9, 2009. There are 3 terms expiring this year, Trustee positions up for election are: Single Member District 1-Tina Cantu; Single Member District 4-Amanda McMillan; and Single Member District 5-Shannon Worrell. Residents of Mason ISD who desire to place their name on the ballot for one of these positions may do so starting February 7, 2009, through March 9, 2009.

On Friday, March 6 The Odeon Preservation Association will begin hosting musical concerts once slated for the Willow Creek Ranch House Concert Series. Dennis and Kay Evans have invited back to Mason Tish Hinojosa for the opening of the Odeon Theater Concert Series. So, if you missed her the first time, you won’t want to miss this rare opportunity.

INGRAM—A year of enchantment is unfolding at the Hill Country Arts Foundation as the venerable visual and performing arts colony celebrates its 50th anniversary with events in the gallery, Country Kitchen, on its two stages and underneath the trees at the sprawling, 13-acre complex. The theatre magic begins Friday, Feb. 6, opening night of “A Bench in the Sun,” as beloved actors Virgil Justice and Kit Werlein return to the stage at the Point’s indoor Elizabeth Huth Coates Theatre.

Peggy Hodges, Small Business Development Specialist from Angelo State University will be in Mason and Eden on February 4, 2009. She can meet with small business owners at their place of business or a site of their choosing. Assistance can range from starting a business, expanding, financial options for funding, surviving the tough time, and buy or sell a business.

Mason County Republican Women officers for 2009 are; front row, Jodie Kingston, secretary, Sabin Nelson, 2nd vice president. Back row; Mary Eastes, treasurer, Mary Carlman, president, and Jerrie Owens, 1st president. Not pictured is Barbara Martin, membership. The guest speaker at the meeting was Brent Hinckley. He gave his observations on how the current administration and congress may impact Mason County. The next meeting will be March, 18, guest speaker will be Toni Dashiell, President of ...

The full Library Board had their first meeting of 2009 last week with their newest board members and the exsisting members working together for the Mason County Library. Pictured, clockwise from left: Maribelle Hoerster, Corrine Wright, Pat Hrdlicka, Carolyn Phillips, Jane Hoerster, William Beaty, Mary Freytag, Sue Kaan, Judge Jerry Bearden, Carolyn Nixon (Librarian), and Julie Harrison (standing), the new president of the Library Board.

On Tuesday, January 27th, the Riata Service Organization met at Miss Alma's B&B with Brenda Kothmann serving as hostess and Deann Gregg co-hostess. Sheryl Burleson and Casey Callahan were introduced and welcomed. Sheryl, who is president of the Mason PTO, spoke of the need for a gym facility for the elementary school.

First Grade A Honor Roll Adams, Emma Armstrong, Jesse Bailey, Tristen Bauer, Walker Bierschwale, George Whitt Cope, Alexandra Doss, Kelcey Fluhmann, Annissa Halliburton, Kayla Hyatt, Clay Joy, Brianna King, Mitchell Klaerner, Klay Perlichek, Grace Pinter, Elijah Reardon, Aaron Shoemaker, Zane Wartenbach, Jessica AB Honor Roll Ake, Kenzie Balderas, Joel Fisher, Hannah Hanscheck, Courtney Jordan, Rylan Mendoza, Jessie Montoya, Kyle Smedley, Jamie Williams, Clay S ...

Once again, Mason County made a good showing at the district show in Kerrville. Several champions and reserve champions came from Mason. Listed below are the complete results of last week's show. Lambs Kyli Ruffin, 1st Light Southdown Kirsten Allen, 2nd Middle Southdown Sierra Martin, 4th Heavy Southdown Garrett Allen, 9th Light Finewool Weston Bauer, 2nd Middle Finewool, Reserve Champion Finewool Gabe Jennings, 7th Middle Finewool Gabe Jennings, 3rd Middle Finewool Price Ruffin, 2nd H ...

Austin — State Senator Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) has been reappointed chairman of the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce by Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst. Lt. Governor Dewhurst made the announcement on Friday evening. “I look forward to continuing the work of the Business and Commerce Committee,” Fraser said. “This committee handles the flow of legislation related to electricity, insurance, telecommunications, banking, securities and lending issues, and business licens ...

This week we heard some very discouraging news from some of the nation’s top employers. Over 60,000 jobs were lost, U.S. retail sales posted the first drop in annual sales, and more bank failures were announced. The bad news seems to keep coming with no end in sight. No one refutes the severity of our current situation; but what is the best way to get us out of this crisis?

Texas Forest Service urges caution COLLEGE STATION, Texas— The Texas Forest Service (TFS) is urging citizens from Austin to San Antonio, south to Cotulla, across the Hill County and over to the Rio Grande to be aware of heightened wildfire danger due to a cold front that will drop humidity levels and produce high winds.

Opponent: Christoval (1/30) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT Final Mason 9 7 13 7 - 36 Christoval 5 8 7 10 - 30 Statistical Leaders Points Jacob Bibb - 12 David Mora – 8 Trey Schwertner - 4 Chance Stockbridge - 4 Team Record: 13-3 Next Opponent: Irion County (2/3) * Christoval played hard and gave us some problems during certain times of the games. We maintained our composure and we able to execute under pressure to secure another district victory.

The 8th Grade Basketball team has put in a lot of time on the hardwood in the last couple of weeks, from the Llano Tournament to the District Tournament in Christoval and with a couple of regularly scheduled games in between. After placing 3rd in the District Tournament the Punchers finally were able to play at home hosting the visiting boys from Irion County. Mason jumped on the visitors with a vengeance putting together an excellent first half of scoring and defensive play.