Bill Brollier was only 24 when he was assigned to the 389th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force in Hethel, England in 1944. The journey had begun for him in 1942, shortly after graduating from the Schreiner Institute in Kerrville, Texas, with an engineering degree in 1939. It was in 1942 that he enlisted in the Air Force, and by January of 1943, he had already been called up for service.

FREDERICKSBURG (MARCH 15, 2013) – International, best-practices contractor organization Success Group International (SGI) awarded 72 Degrees Heating & Air Conditioning with its “Club Membership Company of the Year” award for 2012 at its recent Expo in Las Vegas. As winners,72 Degrees also becomes enshrined in SGI’s Home Services Hall of Fame. Only the top one percent of residential service contractors is members of SGI.

The following students of Grace Christian School received Honor Roll recognition for the third quarter of the school year: (back row, left to right): Randee Renfroe, Gabe Jennings, and KC Coleman. (front row, left to right): Sydney Renfroe, Selah Farmer, Kaden Kimbriel, Riggin Farmer, Derek Renfroe, and Hunter Bradley.

Second Chance – Mason Animal Rescue works hard to find forever homes for unwanted pets in Mason. But providing a forever home for a pet, any pet, is a big commitment and a lot of responsibility. It is important for potential adopters to think long and hard before making a new dog or cat part of the family.

Sixty-five descendants of Johann Julius Conrad Pluenneke held a family reunion at the ranch home of Terry and Judy Pluenneke and at the Hilda Community Clubhouse on Saturday, March 9th. The reunion was held in honor of our German “cousin”, Friedrich Pluenneke, who made his first visit to Texas. Another cousin, Robert Feuge, of Sedona, AZ also attended the reunion.

Ella Grace Wheeler was born on October 23, 2012 to Sheri and Tim Wheeler of San Angelo, TX. She is the first grandchild of Patti and Craig Grote and the first great-grandchild of Stanley Grote, all of Mason.

Steve and Jill Cochran are proud parents of a baby boy. Cale Alan Cochran was born February 7, 2013, in Lubbock Texas. He weighed seven pounds, 10 ounces and was 22 inches long. He is welcomed by big sister Clara, grandparents Fred and Joan Kettner of Mason, grandparents Dean and Sue Cochran of Perryton, and great grandmother Marian Leifeste of Mason.

Nine-year-old Cole Valiente shot his first turkey during the morning hunt of the youth-only spring turkey season on March 24, 2013. He was hunting just west of Mason, TX with his Ruger .22 Hornet. He made a perfect shot and his family are very proud of him.

Lauren Lusty of Lindale, TX won Reserve Champion, Poland China Breed, at the Houston Stock Show 2013. She is the granddaughter of Barby Brunken of Mason.

An accident on Highway 377 on March 10th claimed the life of 42 year old Austin resident, Alicia Annette Brothers. Mrs. Brothers was the driver of a 1998 Honda traveling west on Highway 87. About one mile west of Bluff Creek Road, on a sharp turn in the highway, her vehicle crossed the center line of the road and struck a 2002 GMC pickup, pulling a trailer, heading east on Highway 377.

Daniel and Michelle Hinckley of Fredricksburg welcomed a new baby boy on January 18th. Grandma came to visit and they took a group photo: (L-R) Juan Pablo, new baby Thomas with Emmanuel, Maria Victoria, Monica Hinckley with Joseph, and Solanus. The family wants to thank you for all your thoughts and prayers; Michelle is doing well, her treatments will continue through May.

By now you have probably noticed the green signs around town advising folks to “Prevent a litter, Fix your critter.” The signs are part of Second Chance – Mason Animal Rescue’s yearlong campaign to encourage spaying and neutering. If you would like to show your support for the project please stop by and pick up a yard sign at either Topaz Confections or the Strategic Oilfield Services office.

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Angelos Angelou of Austin and A. Gerry Geistweidt of Mason to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Oversight Committee. The committee guides the work of the institute, which awards grants to expedite innovation in cancer research, and attracts and expands cancer prevention and treatment research capabilities. Angelou is founder and principal executive of AngelouEconomics, and former vice president of economic development for the Austi ...

Shortly after this photo was taken of workers on top of the Courthouse dome, the cap was removed for preparatory work on the metal restoration.

SAN MARCOS, Texas - February 27, 2013 — The following local residents have been named to the fall 2012 Dean’s List at Texas State University: Justin L Yonker, a resident of Mason Judy Lynn Drazan, a resident of Mason Jonathan J Martin, a resident of Mason To be named to the Dean’s List at Texas State, a student must earn a minimum grade-point average of 3.50 while carrying a class load of at least 12 semester hours. Texas State is an emerging research university located in the Austin ...