Last week the PUC heard final comments about the CREZ transmission lines in this area and confirmed the previous understandings we had that they would not commit to build those large towers and power lines through Mason County. The orders will be signed on January 24, but the decision was to route the lines cross country from the new McCamey D substation to IH-10 west of Junction, then parallel the interstate and bypass the Kimble County Airport at Junction south of IH-10 between th ...

Kiko. Diva. Dozer. Boca. Limo and Big. Dogs that mean business. Just like my assistant, Buster. Kiko greets people at The Green House. Diva oversees Hemphill Insurance. Dozer cracks the whip at Mason County News. Boca supervises Rollie’s RPM Painting. And Limo and Big watch four-legged customers come and go at Reigning Cats & Dogs on the square. Some of the canine customers leave cleaner ...

It is certainly nice that the days are getting longer (slowly but steadily). For those with fruit trees the freeze hours should encourage fruit set. Personally, I’m very glad we don’t live in the frozen, snowed-in areas. But please pray for rain. Celebrating birthdays this week are Matt Jordan on the 26th, Scott Ceynowa also on the 26th, and Lena Slocum Walker on the 28th.

Easy, healthy recipes from eatingwell.com I was looking for some new recipes to make with the afterschool program when I came across these. Let me know how you like them! Microwave Potato Chips http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/microwave_potato_chips.html From EatingWell: January/February 2009, January/February 1997 You don’t need a deep fryer to make crispy potato chips. We toss thinly sliced potatoes with just a touch of olive oil, pop ...

Feather Duster Alert… Chances are strong that public hallway photographs of prominent people—previously given "once over lightly" cleaning swipes—warrant "twice over heavily" treatment in recent days. When a faux pas of grand scale occurs in the city hall of America’s ninth largest city, red alerts reverberate in corridors of statehouses, courthouses, museums, schools, libraries and such.

Last Monday I went to see cousin Jack, about my foot. It seems the Super Glue didn’t adhere, and my screw isn’t holding! He told me before any other surgery, I need to get my body in shape. He suggested I get a stationary bike. I’m sure Jack hasn’t heard my story about peddling!

You would think, as much as it costs to fly these days, that airlines would hire pilots who could find your major cities in the U.S. Hah. You would be wrong. I got on a plane in Austin to go to Las Vegas last week, and the knucklehead up front missed it by one state and about 250 miles.

The Mason Lions Club met Tuesday, January 18th, for its regular weekly luncheon meeting. There were 39 members and 3 visitors in attendance. Among the visitors were two Mason High School seniors, Tomas Callejas and Matt Hyden. Lion Kirby Groves was responsible for the program and he introduced Pastor Mark Krause, Director of the Mason Ministerial Alliance Food Bank.

The quest for health is universal. Throughout the ages there has been a desire to find the one pill or potion that would restore our health and hopefully our youth – at least some of it. Think of the resources and effort behind our modern health care system. Think of the "miracle"

Last week, a young man came through Mason on a cross-country hike to raise awareness for the state of veteran services. He was a well-spoken, engaging fellow, and we snapped a photo of him over at our Veterans Memorial before he headed on his way. I have to admit that, when I got the first call about this particular fellow, I had to fight the part of me that is jaded and skeptical to make myself take an interest.

Local landowners and supporters began to organize well over a year ago to stop the CREZ line from coming through our part of the Hill Country and it paid off. The line is going south of us through Junction and Kerrville, down I-10. From day one we were short of money, short of voters, short of big name lawyers, short of organization, short of time and most of all short of knowledge on how to stop the powerful and connected from running this power line through Mason County. T ...

The eleventh annual Hill Country Memorial "Girl Talk" seminar is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 15, at Fredericksburg Elementary School Cafeteria, 1608 N. Adams Street, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Mothers and daughters are invited to attend the free, interactive seminar led by obstetrician and gynecologist Jennifer Dulaney, MD. The seminar is designed for young women ages eight and older and their moms, or other female caregivers, as an educational session on basic female anatomy and hygiene ...

Randy Kruse from Mason Gas Company presents a check to Kay Yonker with the Mason Puncher Club. West Central wireless donated $20.00 for every new activation and upgrade that was done during the days of October 25 - November 5 to the Puncher club. Mason Gas Company and The Puncher Club offer their thanks to those who particicipated and made this possible.

While serving in Iraq two years ago, Troy Yocum used his spare time to devise an epic plan. Concerned for a friend and fellow veteran who had lost his job, Yocum decided to raise money for veterans who returned home to find themselves jobless and in debt. He decided he would walk 7,000 miles across America, joined by his wife and dog.

The JH UIL Academic Meet was held in Hunt, Texas on December 10, 2010. The Eighth Grade placed third earning a total of 160 points. The students and coaches are to be commended. 8th Art Coach Patrice Searsy India Airheart 3rd Brooke Falgout Madelynn Glentz Second Place Team 8th Calculator Coach Patti Harris Luis Castillo Pascual Callejas 3rd Katie Smith 5th Second Place Team ...

The UIL Academic meet was held in Hunt, Texas on December 10, 2010. The Seventh Graders competed very well, scoring more points than any other group of 7th graders. Congratulations to the competitors and coaches on a job well done. 7th Art Coach Patrice Searsy Katy Armstrong 1st Spencer Bierschwale Kayla Guice 5th Second Place Team 7th Calculator Coach Patti Harris Sam Dyer Monaco Schmidt 6th

The JH UIL Academic Meet was held in Hunt, Texas on December 10, 2010. The 6th graders competed very well and as a class out scored their nearest competitor by over 60 points. Well done students and coaches. 6th Art Coach Patrice Searsy Jackson Chapman 1st Margaret Graves 2nd Sydney Burleson Lupe Callejas 5th First Place Team 6th Calculator Coach Beth Smith Lupe Callejas Grant Sanders 4t ...

The January Meeting of the Mason Bluebonnet Study Club held on the 17th at the Eckert Center was supposed to have a program presented by Jane Hoerster about the history of early black settlers in the area. Ms. Hoerster was ill, so the program turned into a roundtable discussion of the changes brought about by the bravery of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Mason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library Board installed its new officers and board members on January 18, 2011, during their monthly meeting.A special welcome for the new Librarian, Patti Grote, will be held in February. Please check your Mason County News for the date and time of this special event. Front Row (left to right): Beth Reardon, President; Mary Polk, Vice-President; Judge Jerry Bearden, county representative.

On January 22, 2011, the Chartering Ceremony for the newly formed "Llano Pioneers Chapter" of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas was held at the First Christian Church in Llano. The "Llano Chapter" of the DRT was previously chartered on November 2, 1984, with Karen Thompson as the Organizing President and their meetings were held in the Red Top Jail, but due to health related reasons of some of its members, the chapter disbanded on May 2, 2009.

Garrett Allen 3rd Southdown Spencer Bierschwale 5th Southdown Chance Stockbridge 8th Finewool Ryli Ruffin 5th Finewool Riley Pape 8th Finewool Gabe Jennings 7th Finewool Price Ruffin 11th Finewool Ryli Pape 10th Mediumwool Ryli Ruffin 6th Mediumwool Garrett Allen 11th Mediumwool Kory Zavala Reserve Champion British Steer Kyle Zavala 6th European Steer Cal Rasch 3rd British Steer Cade Binds ...

Maureen and Terry Shanks are pleased to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their daughter, LauraLee Maureen Shanks to John David Hughes, son of John and Belinda Hughes of Pace, Florida and Carolyn Hughes of Bryan, Texas. LauraLee is a graduate of Glen Rose High School and attended Texas A&M University.

Raymond Neil Shanks and Nichole Lynn Forest are pleased to announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Nichole is the daughter of the late Michael Melvin Forest (Billie Maynard-Forest) of Reno, NV and Patricia Lynn Gialy-Isom (Pat S. Isom) of Buhl, ID. Neil is the son of Terry and Maureen Shanks of Mason. Nichole attended Spring Creek High School, Elko, NV and is employed with Idaho Home Health and Hospice, Twin Falls, ID. Neil graduated from Glen Rose High School and entered the Air For ...

Britny Lehmberg Fowler is starring in the new hit series, "HEAVY," a docudrama depicting the struggles of dangerously obese people trying to reclaim their lives during a six month treatment program. She appears in the show as a trainer to clients facing extreme life-threatening health consequences as a result of their obesity. There are no competitions or stunts - just the journeys of real people fighting for a new lease on life.

The Mason Community Foundation is again looking for non-profit organizations that have a project that would benefit from additional funding. March 1 is the deadline for the next round of grants, and the Board of Directors would like to continue generously funding worthwhile groups and projects that would have a positive impact on the community of Mason.

After a long illness, Donald Stengel died January 16, 2011, at the age of 67. He was born July 6, 1944, at Keidel Hospital in Fredericksburg to Lee Roy and Jean Hofmann Stengel. He graduated from Mason High School as salutatorian in 1965, got his pharmacy degree from the University of Texas in 1970, and his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Tennessee in 1971. He worked in the Pharmacy Department of the University of Kentucky Hospital.