On April 27, 2010, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will celebrate its 75th anniversary. Born out of the days of anguish and adversity of the Dust Bowl, NRCS, formerly Soil Conservation Service (SCS) has a long and distinguished place in Texas history of helping people help the land. The dust storms, eroded fields and overused rangelands of seven decades ago, have given way to a land of plenty.

A Memorial Service for Ray Salinas will be held at the Cherokee Cemetery on Saturday, May 1 at 3:00 p.m. All friends and family are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served for the family at the Church of Christ following the service. Cherokee Day is at Cherokee Home on Saturday, May 1.

Do you think Llano High School, the UT Engineering Department, Austin Community College and the mega-hit movie Avatar have anything in common? If you answered yes, then you are correct; it is the Computer Animation software called Autodesk. Computer Animation has invaded almost every aspect of our lives these days. Television commercials, the evening weather forecasts, movies and video games all use it and many of the people that create these animations are using a very sophisticated ...

The Annual Student Art Scholarship Competition was held on April 21 & 22 at the Highland Arts Guilds Gallery. Forty senior students from Burnet, Llano, and Blanco Counties high schools brought their works for judging. Presentation of awards was held on April 23 at a reception . The top winner was Olivia Hutto of Llano High School.

The 14th anniversary of Llano Uplift Chapter DAR was celebrated with a visit by TX State Regent Joy Dabney Haag, who brought greetings from State and also installed the new officers of Llano Uplift Chapter on April 24, 2010. Mrs. Hagg also addressed the new State Regents Project the restoration of the Register of Steven A.

Army Spec. Eric R. Solomon has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. He is the son of Holland and Deanna Ligon Llano. Solomon graduated in 2005 from Llano High School, and earned a bachelor’s degree in 2009 from Texas State University, San Marcos.

Twenty-three Llano High School students and six academic coaches journeyed by bus to Texas Tech in Lubbock for the Regional UIL Academic Meet on Friday and Saturday, April 23 - 24. This group of students won the District Championship in Liberty Hill in late March, and they were presented with the District Sweepstakes Plaque while at the Regional Meet.

The Llano Economic Development Corporation heard optimistic reports from the Chamber of Commerce, Zeecon and EDC Vice-President Sharon Keilin at their Monday evening meeting. Probably the biggest news came from Josh Parker, of Zeecon, who told the EDC board that the broadband project in Llano is “finished,” and that the company is signing up business and residential customers.

Llano Memorial Healthcare System conducted an internal survey to determine how much “non-valued” wait time patients experience when visiting LMHS clinics. Dr. Randall Grimshaw, Chief Medical Officer and LMHS board member, presented the results of the field study to the LMHS Board of Directors at their meeting on April 22 with a goal of reducing “non-valued” wait times wherever possible. Dr.

Margaret Alice (Moore) Tate, age 94 and a lifetime resident of Llano passed away on Monday, April 26, 2010. She was born on July 13, 1915 in Llano County to Lela Alice (Willbern) and C.E. Moore. She married James Rowden Tate, Sept. 27, 1936 in Llano; he preceded her in death Sept.17, 2008.

Dorman “Bud” Williamson, 80 years of age, died April 20, 2010 at his residence in Buchanan Dam. He was the son of S.E. and Thelma L. Hogan Williamson born in Eastland on Dec. 7, 1929. Bud had served proudly in the U.S. Navy and was later employed as an insulation installer.

James Brenner Clements, age 85 of Llano formerly of Winkler County, passed away on Sunday, April 18, 2010. He was born on Sept. 28, 1924 in Snyder to Almedia Florence (Martin) and William Henry Clements. He married Cloyce (Corbell) Jan. 23, 1943 in Snyder; she preceded him in death July 25, 2005.

Mr. Joe Miiller passed away Monday, April 19, 2010 at the age of 74. Joe is survived by his wife, Roselie Treibs Miiller; two sons: Ronald and wife Brenda, Kirby and wife Alicia, all of Fredericksburg; four grandchildren: Sara Lyon and husband Roger, Kenneth Miiller, Misti Miiller and Megan Miiller; two great grandchildren: Tyler and Alissa Lyon; two sisters: Clara Nagel and Lena Alberthal; two sisters-in-law: Linda Mae Miiller and Nola Miiller; and brother-in-law, Herold Treibs and w ...

Lonnie Carl Wilkerson, 80, of Kingsland, passed away April 20, 2010. He was born to John and Alice (Murphy) Wilkerson on Nov. 19, 1929 in Lake City, Ark. Mr. Wilkerson proudly served his country in the United States Navy. He married Wanda Marie Looney on June 15, 1951 in Tomball and was a technical supervisor for Exxon for thirty-five years.

Othey (Junior) McNew, Jr., age 61 of Llano formerly of Smithville and Houston passed away Monday, April 19, 2010. He was born July 30, 1948 to Betty (French) and Othey McNew, Sr., in Houston. He married Donna Marshall, July 30, 1971 in Anderson. Junior was a Mason and past Master of Aldine Lodge #1412; past Patron of the Order of Eastern Star #1088; Endowed Member of Billy Wayne Tinsley Lodge #1458; Chapter Dad of the order “Demola” in Houston; was member and a past Master ...

Susie Lou Childress, age 83 of Tow passed away, Thursday, April 22, 2010. She was born June 5, 1926 in Portland to Mary Sue (Duncks) and Brian Fudge. She married Horace Wayne Childress in Blanco on Oct. 7, 1944. He preceded her in death in 2002; also preceded in death are her parents; a sister: Evelyn Pollard and a brother: Henry Fudge.

It has been an honor to serve these past two years as an alderwoman for the City Of Llano. Llano and this community has always been my home. I only seek to serve another term to continue with a progressive council. One that works well with each other. We have had many challenges this past two years but we have met them and have had good advice from the city staff.

Here are a few reasons I am pursuing a seat on the Llano ISD School Board. — I am leaving the teaching/coaching profession to open a private business in the City of Llano and this will provide me the opportunity to still make a difference in the lives of our children. — I bring 17 years of educational experience to the table as a classroom teacher and coach. — I strongly believe that the success of a school is dependent on the students and teachers. ...

Another election is underway for Llano County voters — seems like we have had a lot of elections this spring! The May 8 county-wide election is for Llano ISD Board of Trustees. My name is Becky Robinson. I am the incumbent for Place 6 on the School Board and am running for re-election.

I am really hoping that there will be a good turnout at LADI’s “drug awareness” meeting at the Llano High School auditorium tomorrow night. I assume that most of my readers don’t have a drug problem in the family, but I also assume that they are caring people who want to help any way they can with a problem that seems to be affecting a large percentage of Llano’s youth.

This is the undercard, the subplot, the supporting actor, the usher at a wedding; he’s not getting attention to take attention away from the main man, Llano’s new basketball coach, Keith Allen. But this story should also be reported. Dave Bliss, a one-time highly successful college coach who was kicked out of the college game in disgrace, applied for the Jackets’ job. Why did he seek the position?

There were tears, hugs, and picture taking—about as expected as the color of snow. The emotions had much more to do with the finality of the situation than the rude termination of the season by Rouse. For four seniors, their careers in softball at Llano High had also come to an end. The Lady Jackets played twice at the Vandegrift diamond in Austin, April 23-24, and had to win both games to reach the playoffs.

I know, one phone call doesn’t mean much, but he sure sounded good, and, no, Bill Self, Mark Turgeon, Digger Phelps, and Dick Vitale didn’t return my calls, but there hasn’t been any criticism shooting from long range toward my hoop. We’re talking about the new head coach of the Llano High School basketball boys—Keith Allen.

You can read above that the Llano High athletic department has hired a new head coach for the varsity basketball boys, and you can read right here that it will soon be looking for someone to take over that job for the girls’ team. Jessica Quintanilla Jendrzey has resigned after a successful two-year visit as the Ladies’ coach. “I had a great time in Llano,” Jendrzey said.

Students from Llano ISD participated in the Special Olympics Athletics competiton that was held at Conally High School on April 23 and 24, 2010. During this 2 day event, more than 40 teams from the Austin and Hill Country area participated in track and field events. The Llano Yellow Jackets sent a team of 15 students coached by Valerie Brinkman, to participate in field events consisiting of the softball throw and javelin throw as well as the track events.

Dallas Redden was superb once again, the defense was flawless, and the hitting was efficient. It was baseball for the purists—no squeeze bunts, no one got tossed, no breaking-and-entering the press box, no extra innings, no Burnet on the premises, and Llano vaulted past Vandegrift 9-1, April 23, to clinch a tie for second place in district 8-3A. “There weren’t a lot of extra base hits,” head coach Brad Harman said, “but there were timely hits; we moved ba ...

First of all, the man says, “We’re not dumping the slot-T; it’ll be supplemented by the spread offense.” Those are the words of head football coach David Yeager, the man who has directed the slot-T for five years in Llano, a successful five years. I know, I know, you want to say, “Supplemented by…?