Cold. Wait for it. Hot. And so it goes. Sweater. Jacket. Hat. Flip the switch. AC. T-shirt. Cap. Speaking of T-shirts and caps. You can get them monogrammed at Beaty’s Embroidery & Signs. And Mason Monograms & More. And T-shirts printed too. They’re right across the street from each other on Hwy 87 north. Near the Short Stop. And Nacho’s Caf ...

Comic relief, though harder to find, is still around. Maybe “comic” is too strong; “mild amusement” may be a more accurate descriptor. The “grim grip” of problems throughout the world threatens to overshadow whatever might otherwise make us smile. Ongoing sources for brighteners are persons who compose newspaper headlines. Some of ‘em makes us smile unknowingly.

Last Sunday was truly a day of blessings! We were all blessed with a BIG burst of energy boosting fall weather! This is definitely my favorite time of the year. Let the fun begin! Speaking of blessings, Trinity UMC was blessed with a new member on Sunday. My husband Ron and I attended the worship service and helped welcome Denise Kennedy into the congregation.

In last week’s paper when I announced the opening of our antique store, I mentioned that I would write more about some of the coins that we currently have featured. The entire selection includes the set of coins I collected of my birth year,1953, for my Coin Collecting merit badge when I was a Boy Scout.

I subscribe to a healthy dessert blog, Chocolate Covered Katie. Google her and sign up! She creates very interesting recipes. I’ve only tried a few, but most of them look wonderful! This gal is a vegan, so she often has crazy ingredients, but I just use regular flour or sugar if I need to and they turn out just fine.

The Mason Lions club met Tuesday, October 2nd, for its monthly business meeting. There were 33 members and two visitors in attendance. Among the visitors were two Mason High School seniors, Abby Nash and Katherine Koock. "Boss" Lion Pat Reardon was responsible for the program and Secretary/Treasurer Gene Gammill read the minutes and gave the financial report. The 5K/10K Walk-Run was a big success.

Here we go again! No internet service! There are “woogies” in the network! Life gives us a lot of woogies to work through! However, it will all come out in the wash. I cut my foot, the bad one, and Z. had to rush me to the ER. That cut wouldn’t quit bleeding.

During the past fifteen years, as a weekly outdoor humor columnist, I’ve written, from time to time, about people who think traveling around in a motor home is camping. These people, to me, have always been fictional characters, like Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny or personable Jehovah’s Witness adherents.

I always love people that approach every situation as if it is the end of the world. The problem with that approach is that it is usually out of proportion to the topic at hand. Warning of the end of the world when the situation is more closely linked to the end of the day seems a bit,,,,, much. Kids do it all the time.

REPUBLICAN The Founders’ Intent "The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government, lest it come to dominate our lives and interest"- Patrick Henry This, in a "nutshell", is how Republicans view and interpret the Constitution. We in the United States are NOT a democracy, but a constitutional republic where democracy plays a vital but not dominating role.

My father was career Air Force and my husband was career Navy. In one way or another, I have been around the military life for more years than I care to count (and certainly more than I want anyone to guess). I personally have not experienced the stress and danger that service personnel face but I appreciate the military and know that they have exceptionally difficult jobs. In some small way I want to honor them and I would ask that those who can join me in signing Christmas c ...

I realized something earlier this year. I realized that I am a United Methodist pastor in my 40s and I have never attended a Camp Meeting! That used to be one of the staples of the Wesleyan tradition. Sooooo, I decided to rectify that by having the Hilda United Methodist Church host an Old Fashioned Camp Meeting.

ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL MASON, TEXAS Saturday November 24th, 2012 - 12 pm to 5pm Location: Mason Community Building. We invite you to participate in the Tannenbaum Arts & Crafts Festival in Mason Texas! Sign up TODAY!! Booth: Size 10' X 12' - Cost: $60.00 per booth for those residing outside Mason County, $40.00 per booth for Mason County residents. Booths will be assigned and reserved in paid registration sequence.

The Union Band Cemetery Memorial Association will have their annual business meeting on Saturday, October 20, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. in the Pontotoc Community Center. Anyone interested is invited to attend.

Microsoft Word 2010 Basics will be held at the M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library on the following schedule: Thursday, Oct. 11 6:30-7:30 P.M. Thursday, Oct. 18 6:30-7:30 P.M. Carol Tucker is the instructor. Class size is limited. Please call 347-5446 to register.

Tuesday, October 16, 6:00 p.m. FREE MOVIES The original versions of: The Mummy & Night of the Living Dead

The Spanish Club will be traveling to Spain in early June; we will be raising enough money so that the entire club will be able to go. Traveling to Spain will give each of us a new look on the world we live in. It will be an eye-opening experience to be able to visit a foreign country, under the guidance of teacher Justin McFarland, who has been to Spain before. Our first fundraiser will be a casserole and cinnamon role sale on November 10th in front of Lowe's Market in Mason, ...

The Old Yeller Days celebration presented by the Mason County Friends of the Library on Saturday, October 27 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on the courthouse lawn will emphasize educational demonstrations from life in the 1870s, music from well-known artists and family-friendly activities for all age groups. Set on the beautiful historical Mason County Courthouse lawn, the day will start out with the Old Yeller Dog Show with several different prize categories awarded and continue with ...

The Mason Garden Club will hold their next scheduled meeting on Tuesday October 16,, 2012, at 2 p.m. in the Stribling Room of the Mason County Library. This will be a work day meeting for all members to help plan for the Zone I, District 5 meeting coming up on October 30th.

Meeting night October 15 at 6:30 p.m. Main item of business of this meeting will be the honor guard membership, and plans for the Veterans Day ceremony. As of the last posting on the status sheet, Mason Post is the top post in district 13. With a little more effort we can remain in this position.

A special event is planned for the next meeting of the Bluebonnet Study Club. On Monday, October 15th, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., there will be a card signing at the Stribling Room of the Mason County Library. Each year, the Red Cross, through its Holiday Mail for Heroes program, distributes Christmas cards to American military personnel.

The Heart of Texas Country Music Association is hosting a special “Two Step Thursday Dance” with Justin Trevino and Special Guests on Thursday, October 11, from 7:00 PM until 9:30 PM. The dance is being held to accomodate a bus group of twenty music fans from England visiting Brady. The group is on a two week “music holiday” that will allow them to visit Nashville, Austin, Houston, Luckenbach and Brady.

The two second place teams for the Comanche Creek fundraiser tournament on September 22nd were: top photo, left to right: Zach Langehennig, Joe David Langehennig, Jason McMillan, Chris Hicks and David Langehennig. Bottom photo, left to right: Weldon Tucker, Sammy Crouch, Greg Lange and Brad Lehmberg. (Not shown, Mike Kyzar).

MASON, Texas — Capital Farm Credit Board of Directors recently approved a $55 million cash distribution by retiring a portion of previously-allocated equities. Combined with cash patronage paid in the spring, Capital Farm Credit has returned record cash distributions totaling $93.4 million, in 2012. Customers will receive their portion of the cash payment this fall. Capital Farm Credit has a long tradition of strong earnings and, in return, is able to share almos ...

The October meeting of the Heart of Texas Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas was held on Monday, October 8, at the ranch of Linda and Andrew Davis, located in Mercury, Texas. Perched high on a hill in the center of Texas, members and their spouses greeted Lt.

Jaxon would like to introduce his brother, Hunter Loeffler Price. Hunter was born July 23, 2012. He weighed nine pounds two ounces and was 22 inches long. Proud parents are Shanna & Zak Price, Grandparents Cindy & Reggie Loeffler of Doss, Holly & Tom Price of Montgomery. Great Grandparents are Irma & LeeRoy Loeffler of Junction.

Mason County Story Time Outreach, October 5: Little Punchers make good listeners. Both the two-year-olds and the three-year-olds pay rapt attention as Sue Kaan reads during the Library Story Time that is now taking stories on the road to bring the joys of children’s literature to young children.

On September 22nd, twenty one classmates from the Mason High School class of 1957, plus spouses and significant others, met for the 55th reunion at the Peters Prairie School. Much sharing and support was given with rememberances for Carl Keith and Dorothy Keith Kerns families. Pictured on Left front: Lougenia Stockbridge Kidd, Harold and Fran Davenport Hoerster, Wayne and Johanna Hofmann, Judy Allen Arnold, Larry Dannheim, and Pat Reardon.

AUSTIN, Texas (Oct. 5, 2012) – The Hill Country Film Festival (HCFF), an annual independent film event in Fredericksburg, Texas, has partnered with the Texas Independent Film Network (TIFN) and the Odeon Theater in Mason, Texas, to screen independent films made in the Lone Star State. The second film presentation of the collaborative efforts of HCFF, TIFN, and the Odeon will be on Wednesday, October 17, with a screening of MAN ON A MISSION (Texas, 2010), a documentary fi ...

Menard High School senior Bradley Laxson was recently notified that he was selected to participate as a member of the Texas 4-H Shooting Sports Shotgun Team. The team will compete at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational which is held on June 23-28, 2013 in Grand Island, Nebraska. This selection requires much more than the opportunity to compete.

Arlis’ pick of the week is Faye, a 4 year old boarder collie, who is all up to date on her shots! Feel free to come by and meet this sweet girl (don’t forget fostering is always an option too). If interested call Ashley at 347-2187 or email oleyellowrescue@gmail.com.

Miss Courtney Brown, daughter of Randall and Peggy Brown, won 1st place in the 4-H District Recordbook Competition in the Rabbit Category. She went on to receive 11th place on the State level. Congratulations, Courtney!

It’s hard to believe six weeks of school has already come and gone. Things are rolling right along. The Punchers of 2012 are following right along in their predecessors’ footsteps with a 5-0 record, the band is gearing up for their marching contest in Brady on October 20th and Cross Country is in full swing.

During the Varsity open week, the JV picked up a game due to the weather cancelation they had during week 3 against Comfort. The Punchers picked up a game with the Brownwood Lions at Gordon Wood Stadium. The Punchers started off the game by taking their opening drive down for a touchdown.

Tourism is a strong and vital aspect to the Mason economy with the unique charms of a small town added to the plentiful Mason history to be shared. With only 41 motel rooms available in town (and many of those booked for service workers to our area), the private accommodations industry has blossomed.

On Wednesday, September 26th, Elliott Courtright was the guest speaker at the Mason Study Club, shown in this picture with Diane Evans. Elliott was raised in Louisiana and spoke on the differences and distinctions between Cajun and Creole cooking. He defines Cajun cooking by the “Trinity” - onioin, bell pepper, and celery.

Second Chance – Mason Animal Rescue is beginning a new project this week. Thanks to a suggestion from Animal Control Officer Audrey Morquecho, Second Chance will be taking donations of pet food for the Mason Food Bank. In these hard times, some people are faced with surrendering a beloved pet because it becomes difficult to buy food for them.

7th vs. Reagan County The 7th grade fought their way through Reagan County and won 8-6. Reagan Co. scored to end the first half and made it 6-0. We drove down and scored at the beginning of the 4th quarter with Jake Comey scoring the a 5 yard sweep play around the left side and Americo Alvarez scoring the 2 point conversion, making the game 8-6. Both sides of the ball played very well.

AI V. Garrett passed away at the VA hospital in Dallas, Texas on September 18th, 2012, at the age of 90. His funeral service was held on September 26th at the Center Point Methodist Church. Burial was at the Center Point Cemetery, with graveside services performed by the Rising Star Masonic Lodge and the American Legion, with full military honors.

Andrew “Drew” Henry Buttery, 17, of Llano, Texas, passed away Sunday, September 30, 2012. He was born February 27, 1995, to Angela Renee (Johnson) Buttery and John David Buttery in Austin, Texas. Drew was a lifetime resident of Llano and a member of the Lutie Watkins Memorial United Methodist Church. Drew was a senior at Llano High School, where he not only excelled scholastically but also was active in extracurricular activities.

Millie Elois Phillips Durst, at the age of 99 years, passed away peacefully on October 8, 2012, in Brady, Texas. Lois was born in Valley Spring, Texas, on May 7, 1913, to Jim and Carrie Baumann Phillips. She was the eldest of five sisters and two brothers. She was married on May 3, 1936, to Wilbur Durst in Valley Spring.