We the people. By the people. For the people. And yesterday the people voted. America. Whose future will be determined. But this is still with us today: "We the People of the United States, In Order to form a more perfect Union, Establish Justice, Insure domestic Tranquility, Provide for the common defence, Promote the general Welfare, And secure the Blessings of Liberty To ourselv ...

Fall is fast approaching, these cool and refreshing nights are evidence, and the warm and sunny days are a last gift until spring. Rain would be a lovely treat and we can only hope it will come soon. We lost a wonderful man this week. Andrew Kothmann was one of a kind and he will be missed greatly.

I recently had a really productive Food Safety class, and it consisted largely of people around Mason who own Bed and Breakfast establishments. These people aren’t really governed by the State Department of Health the way that restaurants are, and so it was nice to see them taking initiative to learn more to keep their customers safe.

My Uncle The 98-year-old guy down in the thicket is used to the linkage of his life rhythms to the beat of a far distant drum. His mind spins with "what ifs" during most waking moments and in some hours of sleep as well. He recently spoke of dramatic changes made by the new ownership of the Texas Rangers Baseball Club.

Seems Cousin Louie, Earl and Rojo went Trick and Treating! Neighbor Marnelle, wasn’t impressed and sent them home. However, they met up with a skunk and really got tricked. This wasn’t such a cute trick, as I gave Earl, Rojo and Nacha a bath this afternoon. Brenda sent me a photo of her and Bob with their Poodle, showing graduation from Obedience School.

Paden, my 17-year-old son, and I were driving up I-35 on our way to Arkansas. Just the two of us. This doesn’t happen often, Paden and I being solely in charge of one another without anyone else around, and that’s probably a good thing. We don’t communicate well. Paden doesn’t speak English.

This will be my last column for the library and next Tuesday, November 9 will be my last day as librarian of the Mason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library. Thanks to every one who has made my roles as library volunteer, assistant librarian, and librarian such enjoyable experiences. I’ve loved 99% of it and the other 1% I don’t remember anyway so I leave with only fond memories.

The Mason Lions Club met Tuesday, October 26th, for its regular weekly luncheon meeting. There were 33 members in attendance. Among the visitors was one Mason High School senior, Shayla Estes. Lion Brent Drennan was responsible for the program and introduced Gabe Jennings who spoke about the "Bobwhite Brigade" program. Gabe attended the program that was held on the "74"

Chinese medicine dates back over 3000 years. It is still a very valid system that treats the body holistically. At first glance, it seems simplistic because the conditions treated within Chinese medicine use terms such as excess fire or water or wind rather than our modern scientific names. Yet this system is actually very complex and can be significantly more effective than our modern medicine especially with chronic health problems. The part of Chinese medicine that I find particul ...

My brief journalistic ( I use the word lightly) endeavors most distinguished critic up until now have been my sixth grade granddaughter’s criticism of my lack of computer skills and utterly boring content. However last week my piece on who’s who and what’s what was criticized for my having misstating history and suggesting that the feds had a role in the whole Texas CREZ process.

The last week and a half has been a whirlwind. Down here at the office, we were neck deep in working on the Fall Hunting Guide. Meanwhile, the school was in the midst of handling a disciplinary situation involving some of the football players. Contrary to what rumours have suggested, the young men WERE punished for their bad behavior, and they are still paying for a few bad decisions. Early in the week, I sat through a Commissioners' Court meeting where a disagreement over ho ...

Gerry, Paul Sadler paid for a full page ad in the paper. So I guess he ought to be able to opine in it. But he shouldn’t have suggested Ron Crocker was wrong when he wrote his piece about the historical background leading up to this fiasco of accommodating wind developers.

Dear Gerald, We have heard several negative rumors regarding our school. All of them were based on inaccurate and incomplete information. This causes us to wonder why people repeat or even listen to them. Our schools are among not only the very best in the state (Texas Education rating of Exemplary for the District and campuses) but the NATION (Blue Ribbon School)!

Dear Gerry, I was interested in Mr. Sadler’s letter of 27 October in which he extolled the many virtues of wind energy – most of which I am inclined to agree with him about. I would like to respond to Mr. Sadler and his 20 October full page advertisement about "The Truth about Wind Energy in Texas."

Dear Sirs: On the afternoon of Sunday October 24th I was taking a trailer of calves to Jordon Auction. Murphy’s Law struck right on Main street in front of the courthouse and the back door to my trailer mysteriously came open. Five weanling calves got out of the trailer and began their trek through the streets of Mason.

Dear Editor, I just wanted to say "Thanks!" to whoever FINALLY mowed and trimmed the two places on Hwy. 87 when you come into town from the south. The little red "shack" and the defunct auto garage were really eyesores as you drove into our beautiful square and it’s so nice to see them nice and neat now.

The following was taken from an Internet site called First Steps to Al-Anon Recovery: "Wow…I just heard about Al-Anon for the first time today and came home and got directly online to find out more. I’m pretty much at the end of my rope. I feel like I’m enabling my husband by staying with him.

Do you have 45 minutes to spare, one day a week,during your lunch hour? This is the amount of time that it takes to mentor a child during the school year. The importance of spending some time and being a role model for a young person cannot be over estimated. We have several children that have requested a mentor.

The Internet. This word was scarcely part of the language two short decades ago and now is as common as the word "Coca-Cola," and it has spread worldwide as well. As we all know, the Internet has become an indispensable resource for historically unparalleled access to goods, services and industry in addition to email, VoIP phone and chat communications.

The National Honor Society of Mason High School will be sponsoring a blood drive on Friday, November 12th, from 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m., in the High School Commons area. On the day of the blood drive, potential donors will receive a mini-physical consisting of blood pressure, temperature, pulse and iron level check.

Fredonia Community Association is having a RUMMAGE and BAKE SALE November 12th and 13th, from 8:00 a.m. until noon, Friday and Saturday. They have all kinds of new items to sell including: baby, children, women and men's clothes. They have a myriad of household items including dishes, cook stove, decorative items and furniture.

A blood drive to benefit Jacob Bibb will be held Saturday, December 18, 2010 at Doss. Please call Natalie Hudson (347-5485) or LeAnn Harwell (347-1060) to reserve your preferred time.

The Fifty- Fourth MHS Coronation is Saturday, November 6, 2010. "A Night ln Tuscany" will begin at 7:30 p.m. Come see the young adults of Mason High School dressed in their finest against a lovely courtyard setting. Enjoy the quality entertainment provided by Dawn Hahn and Justin McFarland.

A presentation entitled "CREZ Transmission Developments and The Rest of the Truth About Wind Energy" will be featured as the key part of an informational meeting hosted by Save Our Scenic Hill Country Environment (SOSHCE). The public is invited to attend. The meeting will be at 6:30pm on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at the Gillespie County Farm Bureau building at 237 Equestrian Drive in Fredericksburg.

The Critter Shack Humane Society of Menard will have a dog and cat adoption in Menard on Saturday, November 6 Critter Shack will also offer items for sale to raise money for needed veterinary supplies. They will have handmade dog and cat beds, candles, and baked items. If anyone is interested in donating items or in volunteering for the adoption event, please contact Amy at 456-9181, Diane at 396-2126, or Connie at 456-5098. The Critter Shack is a non-profit 501-C organizatio ...

The public is invited to an "Open House" to be held at the M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library on Tuesday, November 9th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to honor librarian, Carolyn Nixon. The Open House is an appreciation social for Carolyn’s service to Mason. Refreshments will be served!

The Mason Co. Cancer Benefit is having a BAKE SALE on Friday, November 5th at Weber’s Chevron. The bake sale will begin at 8am and end when all items are sold! The proceeds of this bake sale will benefit the family of David Vargas, who we recently lost to cancer.

On December 6, 2010, the training necessary to obtain a private applicators license will be presented by Jamie Osbourn, Llano County Extension Agent. This training will be held at St. James Lutheran Church Schorlemmer Hall, 1401 Ford St. in Llano, and will begin at 8:30 a.m. with registration and include the noon meal.

Would you like to know the age of the deer you harvested? If so, come by the Texas Parks and Wildlife data collection station on opening day of hunting, November 6th! Since 1983, TPWD wildlife biologists have been collecting white-tailed deer age, weight, and antler data from hunter harvested deer throughout the Edwards Plateau.

The Mason County Historical Association is again teaming up with other area historical societies for a tour of sites of interest in our region. This season, the groups will tour a site just outside of Paint Rock, which is an extensive display of Native American rock paintings. If you wish to carpool with the group going from Mason, meet in the parking lot of the First United Methodist Church at 7:45 a.m.

The Heart of Texas Chapter of The Daughters of the Republic of Texas will hold its next meeting on Monday, November 8, 2010, in the Striegler Military Complex of the Heart of Texas Museum. The business meeting will begin at 4:00 PM. At 5:00 PM, refreshments will be served followed by a program.

The Bluebonnet Study Club will have a combination rummage and baked goods sale on this Saturday, November 6, under the awning in front of Hemphills on the south side of the square. The sale will start at 8:00 a.m. and end when most items have been sold. All proceeds will be used to award scholarship funds to Mason’s graduating seniors in the spring. Over the years, Bluebonnet Study Club has helped numerous young people attain a higher education with the support of the c ...

The London Church of Christ is pleased to announce that has finally filled the position of ministers of the church, some six years after losing Richard Horn after some forty years of service to the London community. Glenn Berkemeir has been filling in as minister; but, he lives in Houston and this places he and his wife, Marsha, in a lack of time position.

Saturday, October 30 was a busy day in Mason, with the Starving Artists’ Show, Santos Winery’s Release Party and The Courthouse’s 100th Anniversary. While these are all noteworthy and well-attended, the most gratifying event for several people in Mason (and their friends and family) was the graduation of Reigning Cats & Dogs’ second class of four-legged superstars from dog obedience school. "Rowdy"

The class of Mason High School 1950, gathered together for the sixtieth class reunion on October 16, 2010. The celebration and catered lunch was held at River Bend Ranch on Masollan Road at the home of David and Beth Alm. One teacher, Doris Wall Phillips, 12 classmates (along with their spouses and friends), were served a barbecue lunch prepared by Wayne Carl and Tana Hofmann.

The month of October is District Championship time for the compulsory gymnast. The Level 4 gymnasts in the local area competed at Aerial Athletics in San Antonio the second weekend in October with the Level 2 gymnasts the next weekend at Hugs in San Antonio and the Level 5 gymnast the last weekend in October at National Elite Gymnastics in Austin.

Vondell Jordan, left, Reading Specialist at Mason Elementary School and Tammy Parrish, Elementary School Principal, presented a program on the RTI (Response to Intervention) method that the school uses for first through fourth graders at the Mason Study Club meeting on October 27th. This is a method of academic intervention used in the U.S.

Kaylee Jan Drennan and Robert Brandon Halamicek were united in marriage on Saturday, July 17, 2010, at the First United Methodist Church in Brady, Texas, with the Pastor Alan Delafield officiating. Kaylee is the daughter of Brent and Mitzi Drennan of Mason, TX, and the granddaughter of Buck and Jan Owens of Barnhart, and Glenda Drennan and the late Ray Drennan of Wolfforth, Texas.

Mason National Bank donated the 8 and Under Pole Saddle for the year-end winner of the Heart of the Hills Barrel Racing Association 2010 season. Local competitor, Jesse Armstrong, won the saddle and is pictured above with Jan Bierschwale Townsend. Jan presented the saddle on behalf of the Mason National Bank at the year-end awards banquet held in Harper, Texas.

The following students made the Grace Christian School honor roll; Emily Guerrero, Kinsley Jordan, Selah Farmer, Kinley Everett, Sydney Renfroe, Caroline Lemke, Catherine Lemke, Rylan Jordan, Ty Ellebracht, Randee Renfroe, Aaron Alm, Haylee Burton, Gabe Jennings, and Jeff Burton.

A noon-time pursuit by law enforcement last week ended with this wreck at Watson Auto on Highway 87 N. The late-model pickup, driven by David Lehmberg, went through the back section of the store, entering on the south side and coming to rest on top of Don Watson's pickup that was parked on the north side of the building.

Operation Orphans, Inc. started its annual hunting program Friday, October 30. This the 51st year of the "Take a Child Hunting" program. Facilities bringing boys were: Texas Baptist Children's Home, Round Rock; Texas Pythian, Weatherford; Presbyterian Home, Itasca; Presbyterian Home, Waxahachie; Sweeten Home, Brownwood; Ninfa Aguero Foster Home, Eden; Constancia Foster Home, Melvin; Collard Foster Home, Glen Rose; and Caring Family Network, Brownwood. The 32 boys harvested 32 animals ...

Andrew Roman Kothmann, first son of Albert and Hulda Wiedemann Kothmann, was born August 12, 1910, in the Fly Gap community in Mason County. He attended school several years at Fly Gap and then at Union School through the tenth grade. Andrew received his religious training at Art United Methodist Church, Mason County, and has been an active member there all his life. On October 19, 1945, Andrew married Ida Louise Smith in Houston, Texas.

Josie Munoz, age 66, passed away at San Angelo Community Medical Center in San Angelo, Texas, on October 29, 2010. A Rosary will be held beginning at 6:00 p.m., on Tuesday, November 02, 2010, in the Gentry Funeral Home of Mason, Texas. A Funerary Mass will be held beginning at 1:00 p.m., on Wednesday, November 03, 2010, in the Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, of Mason, Texas.

Wednesday October 27 Bandera, Texas Varsity Girls Time Place Kelly Kothmann 14:05 6 Catherine Bjork 14:30 11 Yolanda Gonzalez 14:37 13 Emily Holland 14:43 14 Margaret Lemke 14:46 15 Jacie Rychlik 15:22 22 Top 3 Teams Advance to Regionals 1. Brackett—36, 2. Mason 49, 3. Johnson City 63. Other Teams participating— SA Stacey, La Pryor, D’Hanis, Medina, Sabinal, & C ...

The defending State Champion Eagles of Goldthwaite proved unequivocally last Friday night why they are a unanimous pick to retain the title in 2010, as they absolutely crushed Mason 42-6, bringing the Punchers' eight game winning streak to an end and leaving the Mason faithful stunned. Mason’s only highlight of the night was a 47 yard touchdown pass from Dillon Estes to Garrett Rice. To make matters worse, Winters Head Coach, Steve Hermesmeyer, who was scouting the game, said a ...

Score by quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Goldthwaite Eagles 7 14 8 13 42 Mason Punchers 7 0 0 0 7 Scoring summary Qtr Time Scoring play GHS MHS Mason 1 8:36 Estes, Dillon 47 yd pass to Rice, Garrett (Schmidt, Rio kick) 0 7 Goldthwaite 1 4:46 Harden, James 6 yd run (Horton, Tyler kick) 7 7 Goldthwaite 2 5:26 Horton, Tyler 11 yd pass to Wilson, Kiefer (Horton, Tyler kick) 14 7 Goldthwaite 2 0:43 Harden, Jame ...

Both Junior High teams hit the road again this past week, this time to Goldthwaite Texas. Each team came out with a win which seems to always make the trip back home a little easier. The 7th Grade traded licks with the Eagles during the first half of play. Each team threatened with the go-a-head score but was turned back by good defense.

In last week’ article, I wrote about, a game that was worth the money, hoped you got your popcorn and coke early because the Punchers hit the field ready to play. Well, none of that applied to this game. It was a little more like, "Nightmare on Elm Street," or a prelude to "Friday the 13th". To be honest, the Punchers pretty much stunk up the field for the first half.

Thirty contestants paired off last Wednesday evening for a night time golf scramble. Each hole was set up as a par three. The distance was shorten to help cut down on the loss of golf balls. During play, it looked like the heavens were opening up with small red and green meteors streaking across the skyline. Contestants had to hit their golf shots in total darkness until reaching the green.

The Mason JV Punchers traveled to one of the toughest places to play a road game last Thursday to take on the Goldthwaite Eagles. This would turn out to be a thriller ‘til the very end. Mason jumped ahead early after Taylor Meader recovered a fumble on Goldthwaite’s first possession. The Punchers turned that mistake into a score.