August 5, 2009

On Saturday August 1, 2009, the Mason Square Museum in Mason welcomed Yvonne Merkel of Fredericksburg, Texas as the 10,000th visitor to the museum since it opened April 2007. After living 30 years in California, Ms. Merkel had recently moved back to Texas. She and friend Michael Johnson, also a recent transplant from the east coast, had decided to start visiting area towns and sites to rediscover the Hill Country.

On Saturday, August 15 at the Courthouse Lawn, starting at 5:00 p.m. the Steady Steps Summer Social will feature: · Hot Dogs, Cold Drinks & Ice-Cream! · Music! · Cake Walk! · Dominoes! · Washer-Pitching! · Children’s Cupcake Walk! · Bounce-House! Funds raised at the Steady Steps Summer Social will be used to support a sliding fee scale for hard-working families that need affordable child care.

All members of Central Texas Electric Co-op are encouraged to make plans to attend their annual membership meeting on Tuesday, August 18, at 7:00 p.m. This year the meeting will be held at the Fredericksburg High School Auditorium located at 1107 Highway 16S in Fredericksburg, Texas. Registration begins at 6:00 p.m. Four Directors will be elected to the Board during the business session.

The Texas Education Agency publicly released the state accountability ratings on Friday and the Mason Independent School District received the top rating of “Exemplary” at the district level as well as all three campuses making the list. Last year Mason High School was the first high school in the region to achieve the prestigious rating and this year the Elementary and Jr.

Mason High School registration will be held on Thursday, August 13, 2009. Students should be in compliance with all dress code regulations in order to register. Students should expect to receive information packets in the mail by the end of the first week of August (August 7th or 8th). Please bring completed forms to registration.

The City of Mason will be performing work on the transformers providing power to the Mason County Courthouse on Thursday morning. The County offices will be closed until that work is completed. The county has informed the News that they should reopen around 10:00 a.m.

A strong line of storms moved through the Mason are on Thursday, July 30th. Most areas received between .2 and .4 inches of rain, though some were fortunate enough to receive half and inch or more.

There is now a website designed to help local residents better understand land and water resources issues affecting the Texas Hill Country. The South Llano Watershed Alliance website, southllano.org, provides news and information on water and land stewardship issues in the Llano River basin, and provides links to some of the latest scientific studies on these complex issues. The mission of the Alliance is to “encourage land and water stewardship in order to preserve and enhance the South Ll ...

This is the time of year for pre-participation physical examinations for school athletics. While some parents are ahead of the game and had their children examined in the spring, others may be questioning whether their children truly need such an exam. Jennifer Mitchell, M.D., FAAFP, associate professor in the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Department of Family Medicine, says although many parents view these exams as an expense of money and time, they are necessary for children ...

On September 12, 2009, the Texas AgriLife Extension Service will be hosting their annual Hill Country Professional Child Care Providers Conference at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Tx. This Year the theme will be "Hope is the Child: Love is the Gardener" and Kathy Lozano will be our keynote speaker. This is how Kathy describes her keynote: We have been chosen as loving gardeners for the children in our world.

The sale of Mason Puncher Football Box Seats for the ’09 Season will be on Thursday, August 27 at 10:00 a.m. Box seats will be sold on that date. Persons who desire box seats should have a check for $240.00 at the Administration Office, 911 W. College Ave., before 9:00 o’clock that morning.

Attention mommies!!! The First Baptist Church Mother's Morning Out Program will be back in full swing August 25th 2009. The hours and days of operation are every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm. Few spots left call to register your child. We accept infants through five years.

“I was amazed at the turnout given this was just the second year of the event.” “The race was well-organized with friendly and knowledgeable volunteers, and a great course.” Those were just some of the comments from participants regarding last year’s Gem of the Hill Country 5&10k Run/Walk in Mason.

WHAT The Fredericksburg Pioneer Museum Roots Music Concert Classic Country and Western Swing! WHEN Saturday, Aug 29, 2009. Gates open at 5 p.m., with the music from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. WHERE The Pioneer Museum is located at 325 West Main Street in Fredericksburg, with concert entrance on Milam Street. WHO Amber Digby & Midnight Flyer 6pm -6:45 & 7pm-8:10pm www.amber-digby.com Classic country in the style of Loretta Lynn and Connie Smith, crooned by 23-year-old Amber Digby, who comes f ...

The Mason County Queen’s Court will be hosting a fundraiser this Sunday, August 9th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm on the Square. The court will be serving a delicious BBQ sandwich, chips, and a drink for a donation of $6.00 each. In conjunction with the meal, there will be a Bake Sale so you can take home a great desert to enjoy all afternoon.

The twentieth annual Comanche Creek Golf Championship will be held August 8th and 9th. Individual tournament play. Sign up for Saturday tee time by 5:00 Friday. Sunday's tee time is determined by flight. Annual Meeting and meal to follow afternoon round at Zavala’s. Cost is $20.00 per person

It will be a busy weekend at the Gillespie County Fair Grounds in Fredericksburg on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8-9, when two days of live pari-mutuel horse racing are combined with a wine tasting and live-stock judging. The gates open at 11 a.m. and post time is 1 p.m. for the live pari-mutuel racing on Saturday and Sunday. “Texas Wines and Texas Winners” will take place on Saturday afternoon from 1-5 p.m.

The Mason High School Cheerleaders will be holding a cheer camp on Tuesday August 11th through Thursday August 13th from 9 am to 12 pm. The camp will take place in the Junior High gym for all kids ages 3 to sixth grade. The cost will be $35 per child.

With school athletic programs gearing up for a new season, Hill Country Memorial Hospital will offer a free sports medicine seminar for middle school and high school athletes and their parents. The seminar is set for Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Hill Country Memorial Wellness Center in Fredericksburg at 1006 S.

Thursday: August 6, 2009 from 1:00 to 3:30 pm for children ages 6 to 18 years old. Wednesday: August 12, 2009 from 8:30 to 11:30 am and 1:00 to 3:30 pm for children under 6 years old. Wednesday: August 26, 2009 from 8:30 to 11:30 am, and 1:00 to 3:30 pm for children ages 6 to 18 years old.

Kjuana Tonson passed away on Monday, July 27, 2009, at the age of 19. She is survived by her parents Marvin and Linda Tonson of Ft. Worth; brother Marvin Tonson of Abilene; sister Sophia Dillard of Ft. Worth, two aunts Carolyn and Eila and by her friends in Mason, David and Susie Guerrero and Ethan, Kellie, Kalla, Eva, Isaiah and Emily who she considered to be part of her family.

Gary Scott Williams, of Mason, passed away on Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at the age of 54. Gary was born on October 14.1954, at the Patuxent River Naval Base to Joan and Cecil Williams. Gary is survived by his wife Barbara A. Williams of Mason, Mother Joan Williams of Mason, son Scott Michael Williams and wife Meghan stationed at the Naval Submarine base in St Mary’s GA., daughter Katrina Marie Williams of Paint Rock, brothers David Michael Williams of Lawton OK, Allen Lee Williams of Washingt ...

Saturday, July 25th the Mason Playday Trail Ride was held at Camp San Saba! The youth rode all morning and then ended up at the river for a picnic and a swim! This was the final hoorah for the summer series! MacKenzie Striegler, Bradley Ake, Tate McLarty, Jax Tedder, Shay Lynn Baker, Justyn Tedder, Brody Baker, Selah Farmer, Jake Farris, Ashlynn Ake & J.

During the last year, rainfall has been widely scattered across Mason County. One place would get an inch while another got only a sprinkle. Fortunately, with each successive storm, the distribution of the rainfall changed and everyone usually got at least a bit of moisture. North and east of Mason, and even out west, they tended to get even more rain.

Citizens of Mason County, In the last Commissioner’s court meeting the budget for several county offices was discussed. It was reported in the Mason county news that the salary budget of the Sheriff’s Office was 65 percent gone because of overtime. This is due to the rising number of calls and investigations in our county.

A reminder to all J.H. athletes; all incoming 7th Grade athletes must have a physical on file before school begins in order to participate in athletics. Any new students to the district, 7th or 8th, must also have a physical on file. Game day dress will consist of khaki pants, dress shirt and tie.

Mathew Finn won Reserve Champion Maine Anjou Prospect Steer at the River Roundup in New Braunfels. Mathew is the son of Sean and Belinda Finn, the grandson of Don Finn of Placid, and grandson of Randy and Brenda Lehmberg of Mason. He is the Great grandson of Billie Lehmberg and the late Fritz Lehmberg of Mason.

Army Spec. Aaron J. Fortin has graduated from the Special Forces Candidate One-Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. During the first fourteen weeks of basic infantry training, the private first class received training in drill and ceremony, weapons employment, map reading, tactics, military customs and courtesies, military justice, physical fitness, road marches, first aid skills, and Army history, core values and traditions.

Emily Gail Jordan and Christopher Martin Rhodes were married June 13, 2009, at the Art United Methodist Church, Art, Texas. Emily is the daughter of Max and Jan Jordan of Mason, Texas and the granddaughter of Sterling and Carlita Jordan. Christopher is the son of Dale and Nancy Rhodes of Lovington, New Mexico and the grandson of Mrs.

The descendents of Gottlieb and Fritz Brandenberger met in reunion on Saturday, August 1, 2009 at the Eckert Civic Center in Mason Texas. Reunion Chairman, Lynn Reichenau welcomed all the descendents and then she opened the reunion with a prayer of thanksgiving for family and the meal we were to receive.

The Mason Lions Club met Tuesday, July 28th, for its regular weekly luncheon meeting. There were 38 members and 2 visitors in attendance. Lion Will Fry was responsible for the program and introduced Will Herron of Dripping Springs who spoke about his participation in their "Bass Brigade" Camp. The camp is part of the Texas Brigade Camps that include the Bobwhite Brigade, Buckskin Brigade, and the Bass Brigade.

Rock. Paper. Scissors. Scissors. Paper. Rock. A fun way to see who goes first. Or draw straws. Now there’s an easy way to make decisions. Ah, the simple joys in life. Eeny-meeny-miney-moe… Or…tag, you’re it! Things have gotten so complicated. No wonder everybody’s on drugs. I mean the legal, pharmaceutical, advertised-every-five-minutes-on-TV kind of drugs. (We’ve always been on the other drugs.) No wonder people can’t sleep. Or stop breathing when they do. Or ju ...

Precious Memories… Column #327 for Release Saturday, August 1, or Later Back in the day, students in their final year at most smaller high schools in Texas looked forward to their “senior trips” as capstones of their educational pilgrimage. They typically raised the funds, with the final figure dictating the type and length of trip, destination and mode of travel.

Regular Blood Work Ranges for blood chemistry are good indicators of our health. Regular blood work is beneficial in that it is a good screen for diseases and it records health markers at given times so that a history is established. Blood work can also help indicate nutritional and functional status.

This is more on the O’Bladder healthcare changes. I’m not quite through giving my two bits worth on this matter. I’ve come to some conclusions and I do believe that the Washington folks are taking our dollars, because they have no cents! If Americans go to Canada for drugs and Canadians Come to America for healthcare, one might see that Socialized Medical plans don’t work, but the lower cost of drugs, do!

Thank God for the beautiful rain. Some of you got good amounts and some, like the northeast part of the county, got little only about 5 tenths. But things look good and we can use more. Pray for rain. Josh Calhoun has a birthday on August 7th and Michelle Burdette will celebrate her birthday on August 9th.

As summer begins to wind down, around town people are trying to get in that last few days for a vacation and parents are working to get all the children ready for a new school year. The City Water Department is still asking that you be careful and limit your yard and landscape watering, but with the recent showers and the new water tank working, there is not as great of a concern as many of our neighboring towns seem to have.

In an attempt to remain as healthy as possible I jog or bike a couple of times a week on State Highway 87, some of you may have seen me. I usually get looks of disbelief from drivers, but from time to time I receive a kind wave of the hand. I do realize how crazy it is to be exercising in the dry intolerable heat on a busy highway, where the speed exceeds 70 mph, but it allows me to take the time to enjoy the beauty of Mason County.

The City Swimming Pool will close to the public for the 2009 season on Monday, August 10th. Be sure to stop by for your last swim on Sunday, August 9th from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. We appreciate everyone who has supported the pool operations and we have enjoyed a great summer!

Quick Tips To Make Cooking Easier Here are a few tried-and-true easy ideas for saving time and your energy in the kitchen! 1. When a bottle of corn syrup or pancake syrup is almost empty and that last bit is taking forever to come out— just warm it in the microwave for a few seconds.

Lion’s Club International was started by a fellow named Melvin something in about 1917 or 1915 or thereabouts. The reason I’m able to be so specific is because I belong to my local Lion’s Club. I even know the club motto, which is “We Serve.” At least, I think that’s what it is. Anyway, there are Lion’s Clubs all over the world, and they hold fundraisers periodically and give some of the money to the parent organization, and it’s spent to help people who need glasses and can’ ...

I'm Too Old for This Young World First among the things I am too old for is the lack of discipline in our schools which, in my mind, is the primary reason “Johnny can’t read” and foremost among the reasons so many teachers are leaving the teaching profession. Born in 1911 my “golden rule” school days started in 1918 which was some years after the slate had been replaced with the pencil and tablet but quite some time before the pen dipped into an ink bottle was to be replaced by th ...