June 4, 2008

Texas State University-San Marcos has announced that the following students were among the graduates during commencement ceremonies held May 9 and 10 at the university, Tracy E. Dalrymple, of Llano, received a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice; Amber M. Francis, of Llano, received a Bachelor’s in Exercise and Sports Science; Rhett J.

Texas State University-San Marcos has announced that the following students have been named to the dean’s list for the Spring 2008 semester, Amber M. Francis, of Llano and Eric R. Solomon, of Llano. Texas State is a doctoral granting university located in the Austin-San Antonio corridor on the edge of the Texas Hill Country.

Howard and Margaret (Peg) Channels, of rural Llano, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary June 11. Mr. and Mrs. Channels were married in Columbus, Ohio on June 11, 1948, in the home of Mrs. Channels’ great-uncle, the Rev. Silas Rosenberger. Mr. and Mrs. Channels are the parents of three daughters, Analee, deceased; Delci (Andrew) Grimm, of Carson City, Nevada; Angela (Joe) Wonder, of Tiffin, Ohio; and one grand-daughter, Crystal (Darrell) Hurlburt, of Carson City, Nevada.

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Phillips, of Horseshoe Bay are pleased to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their daughter, Krista Marie Phillips to Christopher James Wilde, son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Wilde, of San Angelo and Cynthia Wilde, of Ballinger. The couple will exchange vows on Saturday, Nov.

Quiet and beautiful, lovely and gifted describes lifetime Llano resident Polly Ann Morgan. Celebrating her 70th birthday, May 27, at Llano Pizza Hut. Family and friends gathered to wish her a happy birthday. Polly Ann has blessed so many lives with her amazing gift from God, playing the piano. We love you Polly Ann and wish you many more happy birthdays.

The city council meeting started off with a farewell to retiring Municipal Court Judge Jack G. Redford. Mayor Roger Pinckney read a proclamation, proclaiming June 2 to be Jack G. Redford Day, honoring Redford for his years of service for the City of Llano. “It’s a real honor to me to read this proclamation,” said Mayor Pinckney.

Five Llano High School Seniors hit the wall of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) mathematics test this year and, for three of them, even completion of all their course credits was not enough to carry them across the stage at graduation. The Llano Independent School District Board of Trustees were split Thursday night on the decision to exclude all five from graduation exercises, but the final vote did not fall in their favor. Lisa Simpson spoke on their behalf, saying that she had found only four in ten local districts that did not make a concession for students who had only to pass the state-mandated TAKS on a final try in mid-July. “Mason even puts a certificate of completion in a diploma binder for those students,” said Simpson. She submitted a citizen petition.

Quotations from outside engineering firms are on the agenda for Monday’s Llano County Commissioners Court meeting and the court will get an initial look at a survey of facilities needs from Komatsu Architecture. Since the county’s year-long work at repairing flood damage and increasing development in the floodplain, commissioners have felt the need for consultations but the topic was tabled at last Monday’s meeting so each precinct’s representative could review qualifications. Earlier in the year Fort Worth architect Karl Komatsu was hired to assess the needs of county offices for a new facility.

The 73rd Annual Llano Rodeo blasts out of the chute Friday and Saturday night beginning at 8 p.m. at the Llano County Community Center. Once again, the Lester Meier Rodeo Company will run the event, featuring Jeff “Slim” Garner. Meier has produced the event for the last 24 years. The event officially kicks off tonight (Wednesday) with a 6 p.m.

Llano traffic accidents continued to be few following a quiet Memorial Day weekend with just two accidents reported in the last week. Two motorcyclists were airlifted with non-life-threatening accidents to Austin’s Brackenridge Hospital Friday afternoon. Robert Hart, Jr., 43, of Sunset, laid his bike down after coming over a hill on SH 16 north of Llano and discovering that a trailer turning into CR 413 had not cleared the roadway. Department of Public Safety Trooper J.R.

Donald B. Jackson, 74, of Buchanan Dam, passed away on May 26. Mr. Jackson was born in Menard, to Benny Bevin and Tina (Watson) Jackson on April 21, 1934. Mr. Jackson is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lois Jackson; and grandson, Jimmy Ayers. He is survived by his daughters, Linda Brashears of Tennessee, and Laura Nelson, of Georgetown; his son, Jerry Brandley, of Tennessee; his four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildre; his two sisters, Joyce Dobler, of Scottsdale, Ariz., Linda Sue Schririer, of Austin; and his brother, Ricky Jackson, of Pflugerville.

Norma Elizabeth Johnson, 84, of Llano, passed away Monday, May 26, in Houston. She was born on June 1, 1923, to Amelia (Titlow) and W.O. Pyle in Coalgate, Okla. Mrs. Johnson is preceded in death by her parents, Amelia and W.O. Pyle; her husband, Raymon Johnson; her sister, Flora Pyle Hallmark and her brother, Howard Oscar Pyle. She is survived by her beloved sons, Larry Ray Johnson of Houston, and Tommy Jay Johnson, of Province Town, Mass.; her grandchildren, Kyle Ryan Johnson, and Kristin Elizabeth Johnson.

Therese Weber Lehmberg passed away Monday, May 26. She was born Nov. 25, 1904, to Wilhemina Moritz Weber and Alfred R. Weber in Llano. Mrs. Lehmberg is preceded in death by her bother, Spencer Weber; her husband, Albert Lehmberg, and her sister, Mrs. Audrey (Louise) Currie. She is survived by her three daughters, Mrs.

Ruby Joyce Macek, 75, of Bryan, passed away Friday at St. Joseph Regional Health Center. She is survived by her husband, John Macek, of Bryan; her son and daughter-in-law, John John and Trina Macek, of Bryan; her daughters and son-in-law, Constance Thompson, of Llano, Candy and Johnny Kokernot, of Valley Spring, Cheryl Velez, of Llano, and Cherry Sue Graniger, of Llano; her brother, William Ahrlett, of Kingsland; her sister, Betty Sue Thames, of Buchanan Dam; and her four grandsons, Nathan Flint, Colby McCormick and wife, Luciano Velez and Chandler Macek. Mrs.

Victoria-Larry “L.D.” Daffern Maxwell, 73, of Victoria, passed away Monday, May 26, in Victoria. He was born Sept. 20, 1934, in Llano County to Loraine Francis Daffern and Jack Larrimore Maxwell. He is preceded in death by his parents; his son, Gilbert Cliffton Maxwell; and his brother, Thomas Larrimore Maxwell. L.D.

When a baseball pitcher gets neither the win nor the loss in a game, he gets a “no decision.” That’s the status now as the Llano Independent School District searches for a girls’ varsity basketball coach to succeed Brandon Walters. He resigned last month after five successful seasons. As of June 3, the committee had interviewed four or five applicants, and another three or four will come in for talks in the next few days.

The Llano News has learned that Llano High School head baseball coach, Chad Krempin, has been offered the same position at San Angelo Central, a Class-5A school. He has not yet decided if he will take the job. Krempin, a graduate of Burnet High, has been in Llano the last two years.

The next song will be sung by Stuart Forrister, and he has chosen, “My Old Kentucky Home.” The young man, who graduated May 30 from Llano High School, will attend Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, on a tennis scholarship. “One reason I chose Asbury was that my uncle, Ray Zerkel, attended seminary there,” Stuart said just after receiving his Jackets’ diploma.

At its May 13, meeting, the Llano Athletic Booster Club elected officers for the 2008-2009 year. Newly elected officers include Cindy Thurman, President, and the Vice Presidents are Jacque Woolman (working with volunteers), Kathryn Vricella (concessions), and Lisa Lewis (spirit sales). Continuing in their previous officer roles will be Jackie Center as Treasurer and Johanna Schorck as Secretary.

They cannot be called “The Lone Ranger,” because of the first word in this sentence, but a power-hitting first baseman and a dynamite dandy in the softball outfield will attend Ranger Junior College in the fall. Dustin Jordan, the six-foot, three-inch lefty, who bothers pitchers more than Scott McClellan bothers George Bush; and Emily Schendel, the first in line to ignite a spirit fire, will carry the Llano colors to a school between Fort Worth and Abilene and maybe a stolen base away from Interstate 20. Jordan, in his one varsity season as a Yellow Jacket, hit a mammoth .450 with two home runs and 35 runs batted in.

The Brady/McCulloch County Chamber of Commerce and the Heart of Texas Country Music Association, along with title sponsors Brady National Bank and Lubke’s Chevrolet are pleased to announce the highly anticipated musical entertainment line-up for the 2008 Brady Lake Music Fest scheduled for June 6, 7 and 8, in Brady. This new event will encompass numerous musical acts from multiple country music genres - Traditional Country, New Country, Texas Country, and Tejano - that will appeal to a wide variety of local and regional music lovers.

Horseshoe Bay Police Department and Hill Country Area Crime Stoppers are asking for the public’s assistance for any information on a burglary which occurred sometime between Saturday, May 10 at 11 p.m. andSunday May 11, at 3:15 a.m. Unknown suspect or suspects entered a residence in Horseshoe Bay South and took seven various types of guitars, an electronic workstation, pedals and cables estimated value $8,900.00. Any one with information should call Investigator Jay Bauman with Horseshoe Bay Police Department at (830) 598-2633 or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward up to $2,000 for the arrest of suspect or suspects call Hill Country Area Crime Stoppers at (866) 756-8477 or on line at www.hcacrimestoppers.com. Crime stoppers, citizens, law enforcement and the media working together to make our community a safer place to live.

A moving exhibit graced the grounds at the CASA office in Kingsland on May 28. Two hundred thirty-eight stakes bearing stock photos of children’s faces represent the 238 children that the nonprofit agency currently in foster care. CASA for the Highland Lakes Area serves Blanco, Burnet, Lampasas, Llano, and San Saba counties.

The Hill Country Children’s Theater (HCCT) announced tickets are now on sale for its fourteenth stage production, “Bobby Sox.” This original, two-act-show will bring the “fifties” into the Hill Country. “Bobby Sox will be a very special show,” Scott Jones, HCCT’s executive director explained. “It is our first show with singing parts, and the whole show will feature many new aspects for our theater.” “Bobby Sox” will go to stage on June 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, July 4, 5 and 6.

The current topic of immigration will be the subject for the next meeting of the Kingsland Genealogical Society (KGS) on Tuesday, June 10, at 2 p.m. at the Kingsland Library. Harlan Green, of Georgetown will be the guest speaker, and will discuss “Why the ‘Pilgrims’ Left the Old World for the New…From Feudalism to Freedom.” Mr.

Representative Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville, awarded six scholarships to Hill Country students who graduated from high school this May. Winners were chosen based on academic performance, grade point average, class ranking, accomplishments and an essay question about a current issue to be addressed by the Legislature. Representative Hilderbran established the “Hilderbran Scholars Fund” to provide financial assistance to students pursuing a degree at a college, university or technical school of their choice.

The official Great Castell Kayak Race is as always the first weekend in June. The race, founded by Jeri Alice Arsenault, has always been a fundraiser for local and regional charity. The race course is a 12 mile journey downstream from the Hwy N. 87 River bridge over the Llano River.

On March 13, 2008, agents from Century 21 Landmasters attended the Century 21 Hill Country Broker’s Council awards ceremony held at Comanche Trace Country Club in Kerrville. Numerous agents from Century 21 Landmasters received national awards for their 2007 annual production. Receiving the Ruby Masters Award were Judy Vanatta from the Kingsland office, and Dub Stewart and Ron Cooper from the Sunrise Beach office.

The CTEC District 4 Member Meeting for Llano County will be held Tuesday, June 10, in the Kingsland Community Center in Kingsland. Members of Llano County will meet to select the district meeting nominee for a seat on the Board of Directors of Central Texas Electric Co-op. In accordance with the CTEC bylaws, a Llano County nominating committee was named.

Both the Kingsland and Llano Libraries are gearing up for their big Summer Reading Program. This year’s theme is “Texas Reading Club Jubilee: 1958-2008” and the program will be filled with books, crafts, games, prizes and lots of fun for everyone! At the Kingsland Library, Texas Reading Club participants will “Dance Through the Decades” with a different theme each week.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS POLICY - A student’s personal appearance is most important since it represents him/her as an individual to other students and the faculty. Cleanliness, modesty, safety, and appropriateness are the standards that should be observed by all students in their personal guidelines when making decisions on appropriate dress for school. 1.

The official Great Castell Kayak Race is as always the first weekend in June. The race will be preceded by The Great Auction, at the Badu House in Llano, on June 6 starting at 6:30 p.m., 100 percent of all proceeds form the auction will be donated to the LiveStrong Foundation.