June 25, 2008

Llano resident Dominica Nicole Schroeder graduated from Schreiner University in Kerrville and was recognized during campus ceremonies on May 5. Schroeder, daughter of Jason and Kim Schroeder, was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in exercise science with teacher certification. Schroeder was a member of the Student Senate, the Order of Omega, Alpha Sigma Alpha, and served as a Classroom Peer Advisor and a Student Activities Intern. Schreiner University is an independent coeducational liberal arts university related by choice and by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

The family of the late T. J. and Leona Osbourn gathered together June 12-15 at the Vaughn Howell place on the beautiful Llano river. This was the 36th reunion and ninety-five (95) family members attended plus twelve (12) visitors. Members enjoyed grilled burgers, hot dogs and all the extras Thursday afternoon and also enjoyed a fish fry plus all the extras on Friday afternoon.

While bond renovations and expansions are already underway, the Llano ISD Board of Trustees took its first steps toward upgrades to the athletic facilities for the district. The board approved a motion to accept the initial design and development documents for new tennis courts, a restroom/concession stand facility in addition to renovations to the visitor’s bleachers at Jacket stadium and to the parking lot. Fromberg Associates, Ltd., presented plans and drawings to the board.

The verdict of a Llano jury last month was reaffirmed Monday when James Paul Vance, 53, was judged guilty of aggravated sexual assault before his retrial began. 424th Judicial District Judge Dan Mills accepted a plea of no contest, declared Vance guilty and sentenced the man to 12 years in prison for his crime. As the punishment phase of the first trial was underway May 2, Judge Mills had been forced to declare a mistrial.

July the fourth and fifth will be crowded with the events of the 39th Annual Aqua Boom, the Independence Day festival of the Kingsland/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce. The celebration is much more than its crowning glory of fireworks viewed from far and wide on the Colorado and Llano rivers because it has a long tradition of giving visitors a chance to become involved on land and on the water. Celebrate ‘08 – Come Home to Kingsland is the theme because so many participants travel to take part and because so many old favorite features have been returned to the line-up. The Children’s Parade (all kids welcome) and the Aqua Boom Land Parade at 9 a.m.

Kaitlyn Newell heads out of her Kingsland home each morning for one of her summer jobs with just one exciting revelation remaining in a path to New Haven, Conn. The 2008 Llano High Valedictorian found out she had been accepted on an early-admission application to Yale University in December and she visited the campus in April. Like Oxford and Cambridge in England, Yale is organized in a residential college system.

Modena Estell Johnson, 89, of Kingsland, passed away at her home June 19. She was born on May 8, 1919, in Hermleigh to Alice Lewis and Clifton Ryan. Modena was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Homer Johnson; her grandson, Larry Jackson; and her sister, Marseline Bryant. She is survived by daughters, Ghrea Dawn Jackson and husband, Gerald, and Sue Eivens and husband, Joe; her grandchildren, Zan Burger, Scott Eivens and wife, Brenda, Craig Eivens and wife, Juli; her great-grandchildren, Park and Bennett Eivens, Ty and Quinn Eivens; her sister, Lucille Reed; her sister-in-law, Cleora Ballowe; and numerous nieces and nephews. Modena married Homer Ray Johnson in Levelland in July of 1937.

Ruby Joyce Ahrlett Macek, 75, of Bryan, passed away Friday, May 23. She was born Dec. 31, 1932, to Russell and Susie (Merkel) Ahrlett, in Llano. Ruby Joyce is survived by her beloved husband, John Macek, of Bryan; her cherished children, her son and daughter-in-law John-John and Trina Macek, of Bryan; her daughters Constance Thompson, of Valley Spring, Candy Kokernot and husband, Johnny, of Valley Spring, Cheryl Velez, of Llano, Cherry Sue Graninger, of Llano; her brother William Ahrlett, of Kingsland; her sister Sue Thames, of Buchanan Dam; and four grandsons, whom she loved and adored, Nathan Flint, Colby McCormick and wife, Brandy, Luciano Velez, and Chandler Macek. She worked as a LVN nurse dedicating her professional life to the care of the aged.

Fred L. “Pete” Martin, 69, of Kingsland, passed away at his home on Thursday, June 19. He was born on Jan. 26, 1939, in Palo Pinto County, to Sylvester Martin and Grace “Gober” Martin. Fred was preceded in death by his parents, a sister and brother. He is survived by his beloved wife of almost 50 years Sandra Martin; his sons, Michael Martin of Round Rock, and Tim Martin of Pflugerville; his much loved daughter-in-law, Laura; his grandchildren, David, Christopher, and Kimberly; his six sisters; his three brothers; many nieces, nephews and close friends. Fred joined the Navy where he met the love of his life Sandra Schuck.

Jolea Fleming Miller, 90, passed away at her home in Grand Prairie on June 14. She was born June 24, 1917, in Kirbyville, to the late Walter Collins Fleming and Clara Lula Watt Fleming. Jolea was proceeded in death by her husband, Bill Miller; her daughter-in-law, Serena Miller; and her brother, W.C.

Patsy Peters Sexton, 66, passed away on June 17. She was born on July 23, 1941, in Hatch, N.M. to James Stanley and Burnace (Aileen) Peters. Mrs. Sexton is preceded in death by her parents; her son, James Carl Dean Sexton; her brother, Jimmy Peters; one of her sisters, Bonnie Curtis; and her great nephew, J.J.

Frank D. West, 67, passed away at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont June 16. He was born Sept. 13, 1940, in Hillsboro. Mr. West was preceded in death by both parents, five brothers and four sisters. He is survived by his wife Mary Ann West, of Vidor; his seven children, Frank Jr., J.C.

“We don’t want them on the couch, eating potato chips and watching ‘Oprah,’ if they’re on ranches working or doing something else meaningful, okay, but the weight room is open for those who have the time.” The words flow from head football coach, David Yeager, who can’t do any coaching in the summer, but he can certainly encourage his boys to pursue strength and conditioning and maybe some running on the practice field.

Two of Llano football’s most feared foes of the decade now play for teams much of the community supports--well, one or the other--and they are embarking on their senior seasons. Texas A&M quarterback, Stephen McGee, says, “I’m excited; our new coach, Mike Sherman, will do a great job. He has a lot of respect in the locker room, already, and that’s amazing.

You can’t accuse David Yeager-led search committees of running the bases slowly; in all of two days it decided on a successor to Chad Krempin as head coach of the Llano High School varsity baseball team, and Brad Harman said, “yes.” Harman has been head coach at Class-2A Coahoma (east of Big Spring in west Texas) for the last five years.

Brandon Walters shot an arrow in the air and hoped it would land in Winnsboro, where his folks are, and his wife’s parents are close by, in Emory. The arrow disobeyed, but it wasn’t too far off: it floated to the turf in Wills Point, 45 miles southwest of the bullseye.

It couldn’t have been an easier crowd to please for the Llano Lady basketball Jackets--it was like going camping, shopping in the mall, as relaxing as reading something brilliant in People. The Jackets, June 23, were on the floor in Fredericksburg, wrapping up six weeks of spring-league competition, and in this finale they only had to impress one person in the stands, and he wasn’t Simon Cowell.

C.A.S.A. (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for the Highland Lakes Area, Inc. is having their Third Annual Motorcycle Rally and Armadillo Run in Riesen Park, beginning Friday, June 27 through Sunday June 29. The function will serve as a fundraiser for the non-profit organization as well as a public awareness effort.

The Mason Country Opry will be staged on Thursday, June 26, at the Odeon Theater in downtown Mason. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and admission is $10 per person. Tickets will be on sale at the door. Branson entertainer Tommy Horton will highlight the second half of the Mason Country Opry.

The Mason County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Sesquicentennial Roundup parade on Saturday, July 12. This parade is extra special because it’s celebrating of the 150th anniversary of the founding of Mason County. Named for Fort Mason, the county was established by an act of the state legislature on Jan.

The Valley Spring TEEA Club met on June 18 at the Badu House for lunch and it was the last meeting until September. Twelve members were present and a very brief business meeting was held. The council reported that Pam Jackson and Elna Preston were selected to attend the State TEEA meeting and Vera Honig was selected as an alternate.

Llano Main Street hosted the quarterly round table of the Texas Downtown Association, Thursday, June 19 at the Dabbs Hotel. There were 25 who attended the luncheon meeting, with members attending from Austin, Buda, Dallas, Rockdale, Georgetown, Luling, Hamilton, Seguin, and La Grange. Special guests were Mayor Roger Pinckney, and City Manager Finley deGraffenried. Elisa Dalrymple spoke on Community Marketing, and told the members how she markets her business, Material Things, drawing from her experiences in the marketing business and a workshop she attended given by Jon Schallert, a renowned marketing consultant. The purposes of the round tables are for members to network in a casual setting, discuss and share problems and successes in their communities.

By Sarah Franklin It is time to start planning the annual Llano County Heritage Day Festival, which will be held Saturday, October 18, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on and around the Llano Courthouse square, sponsored by Llano Main Street. Booth applications will be mailed out in the next couple of weeks.