July 9, 2008

Superintendents from 15 public school districts have been nominated for the annual Superintendent of the Year (SOTY) award sponsored by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). Since 1984, the SOTY program has recognized exemplary superintendents for excellence and achievement in educational leadership. Regional superintendents of the year and nominating education services centers (ESCs) are Roel Gonzalez, Rio Grande City CISD, ESC 1; Sam Atwood, Goliad ISD, ESC 3; Abelardo Saavedra, Houston ISD, ESC 4; Mike Cargill, Bryan ISD, ESC 6; David Fitts, Pewitt CISD, ESC 8; Tom Woody, Vernon ISD, ESC 9; Ted Moore, Lovejoy ISD, ESC 10; Stephen Waddell, Birdville ISD, ESC 11; Dennis Hill, Llano ISD, ESC 13; Ronny Collins, Snyder ISD, ESC 14; Matt Underwood, Mason ISD, ESC 15; Frank Belcher, Canadian ISD, ESC 16; Doug Harriman, Seminole ISD, ESC 17; Ricardo Estrada, Clint ISD, ESC 19; and Dan Troxell, Kerrville ISD, ESC 20. Candidates are chosen for their strong leadership skills, dedication to improving educational quality, ability to build effective employee relations, student performance, and commitment to public involvement in education.

By Glynis Crawford Smith The man sentenced in April for the death of former Llano and Kingsland resident, David Earl Logan, was to make a motion today for a new trial in Live Oak County. Logan was shot in his home near Lake Mathis on Sunday April 29, 2007, and Jason Lynn White, 29, of George West, was sentenced by a jury in his hometown to 40 years for murder with a deadly weapon in the crime. According to a statement by 156th District Attorney Martha Warner after White was found guilty April 30, she was confident the verdict would withstand any appeal process. Logan’s mother, Jeanette McPherson, of Llano, said her son’s killer showed no remorse after her victims’ statement at the end of the trial when she read to him from her Bible and told him, “The hole you put through my son’s heart?

he city council meeting opened with Mike Barnes, from the Mike Barnes Group, Inc., giving a stimulating presentation on The City of Llano Economic Development Strategy of Action. This presentation summarized and broke down the economic development plan Barnes began almost a year ago. He gave the council and staff tips on how to stir up growth in Llano and was very positive with the results of this strategic plan. “An economic development program should be comprehensive in nature,” said Barnes.

Llano Memorial Hospital now has a new state of the art CT due entirely to the generosity of a rancher from Cherokee. According to Kevin Leeper, CEO, “This is the single largest gift from an individual ever received by Llano Memorial Hospital. We are truly blessed by the donor’s generosity.” Leeper stated the Medical Director of Radiology, the Radiology Director and the administrative team evaluated different proposals prior to ordering the Phillips Brilliance 16 slice CT which was installed in June.

Llano’s Rockn’ Riverfest hosted many people over the weekend, along with many events including the 2008 Miss Sparkle Pageant, Childrens Parade, and Cook Off. The winners of the 2008 Miss Sparkle Pageant are as follows: Beautiful Baby First Place- Koda Wagner Second Place- Peyton “Riley” Mendez Third Place- Camrie Henderson Twinkling Toddler Queen- Payton Hanley Princess- Kylee Dick Duchess- Hayden Cox Tiny Miss Queen- Caylyn Perry Princess- Briley Barker Duchess- Annika Parramore Little Miss Queen- Lilly Christopher Princess- Kendall Wenzel Duchess- Maycie Cox Junior Miss Queen- Connor deGraffenried Princess- Kendall Bell Duchess- Dani Lehmann Miss Sparkle Queen- Amber Bell Princess- Ashlee Rub Duchess- Dani Martin The winners of the Cook Off are as follows: Grand Champion Overall- 3 Star Redneck Cookers from Glenrose Brisket Category First Place- 3 Star Redneck Cookers from Glenrose Second Place- Burnt 2 Perfection from Beeville Third Place- Little Taste of Llano from Llano Chicken Category First Place- Boot Scootin BBQ from Leander Second Place- Little Taste of Llano from Llano Third Place- 3 Star Redneck Cookers from Glenrose Ribs Category First Place- 3 Star Redneck Cookers from Glenrose Second Place- Little Taste of Llano from Llano Third Place- Liquid Plumbers from Llano Sam Jones and Rich Bevis of the “Beaners Group” bought the first place brisket for $250, which was donated to the Rock’n River Fest. Winners of the Children’s Parade are as follows: Most Patriotic First Place- McKennzie Jones Second Place- Riley Mendez Third Place- Desirree Densman Most Creative Echo and Epic Farmer Motorzied First Place - Echo and Epic Farmer Second Place- McKennize Ahrlett Third Place- Lauren Wimberly Bicycles First Place- Dalton Holcomb Second Place- Caroline Puryear Third Place- Abry Fenton Wagons First Place- Faith Painter, Bryson Rhoades and Hayden Bigger Second Place- Tate Morgan Third Place- Koda Wagoner Bill Ratliff won the Rubber Ducky Race and $500 and Cassandra Leads won the Miss Sparkle TV raffle.

Billy Howard Davis, of Llano, passed away on June 30. Born in Austin, he was a trained floor mechanic, sought after for his talented skills in home and office floor installation. A beloved husband, dad, and grandfather he is preceded in death by his father William O. Davis; and his sister Patricia Davis. Mr.

Ermina Romero Espinoza, 64, of Kingsland, passed away July 3. She was the daughter of Antonio Romero and she was born in Boerne, on April 25, 1944. She is survived by her husband, Jesse Gilbert Espinoza, of Kingsland; her daughter, Naomi Espinoza, of Kingsland; and her son, Roman Christova Espinoza, of Granite Shoals. Funeral services were private. Arrangements by Putnam Funeral Home & Crematory 145 Texas Avenue Kingsland, Texas 78639 (325)388-0008.

Margaret June Grace, 87, of Kingsland, passed away July 4. She was born to William and Anna (Mitchell) Ham on May 29, 1921, at Ft. Hustis, Va. She is survived by her children, Judith Grace, of Kingsland, Daniel Grace, of Seminole, Fla., William Grace, of New Braunfels; her grandchildren, June Ronneberg, of Granite Shoals, Tracie Donnelly, of Austin, Leena Landmark, of Bryan, Amy Carrillo, of New Braunfels, Tommy Grace, of Austin, Crystal Grace, of Chicago, Ill.; her great-grandchildren, Matthew Johnson, of Caldwell, Kaoni Norris, of Round Rock, Lauren Landmark and Shelby Landmark, of Bryan, Jezelle Donnelly, of Austin, Caden Carrillo, of New Braunfels, Troy Grace, and Angelina Grace, of Austi; and her six great-great grandchildren. Mrs.

Lydia O. Grenwelge, 87, of Castell, coming from Bell County, passed away Thursday, July 3, in Llano. She was born on Sept. 12, 1920, to Emma (Heller) and August P. Lange in Milam County. Mrs. Grenwelge is preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her three sisters, Ella Shiller, Erna Kirk, Elsie Gaeke; and her four brothers, Benny Lange, Raymond Lange, Julius Lange, and Henry Lange.

Louis Alexander Rubi, 54, of Kingsland passed away July 1. He was born to Delfino and Rose Mary (Bethancourt) Rubi on Oct. 20, 1953, in Elmhurst, Ill. He is survived by his wife, Joan Rubi, of Kingsland; his children, Carlye Pearson and husband, Chris, of Snyder, Courtney Linney and husband, Brian, of Kingsland, Megan Williams and fiancé, Steve Hawkins, of Golden, Colo., and Brittany Williams, of Kingsland; his five grandchildren; his brothers, Paul Rubi, of Grays Lake, Ill., Raul Rubi, of Arlington Heights, Ill.; his sisters, Christina Amariles, of Huntlui, Ill., Maric Barry, of Chicago, Ill., Sylvia Rubi, of Chicago, Ill.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mr.

Manuela Guerra Silva, 71, of Granite Shoals, passed away on July 2. She was born on Dec 27, 1936, in D’Hanis, to Manuel Guerra and Genoverra Leos Guerra. She was preceded in death by her parents; her son Augustine Silva Jr. and her sisters. Silva is survived her husband Augustine Silva, of Marble Falls; her daughters, Mary Gutierrez and husband, Julian, of Round Mountain, and Delfina Ontiveros and husband, Albert, of Granite Shoals; her sons, Greg Silva, Robert Silva, and Rudy Silva all of Granite Shoals; 14 grandchildren; numerous great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and close friends. She enjoyed life and loved to go fishing and camping but especially loved her family.

Dorothy (Rhodes) Thompson, 86, of Llano, passed away Monday, July 7. She was born on Oct. 25, 1921 to Pearlie (Stevens) and Everett Rhodes in Fordtran. She is preceded in death by her husband, Hardy Thompson, her parents, and her two brothers, Graford and Crockett Rhodes. Mrs. Thompson is survived by daughters, Judy Morris and husband, Joe, of Llano, Karen Creamer and husband, Gayle, of Chattanooga, Tenn., Pam Cowan of Blanco; sons, Tommy Thompson and wife, Mary, of Baker City, Ore., Garin Thompson, of Dallas; sister, Jewel McGehee, of San Antonio; brother, Lathy Rhodes of Martindale; ten grandchildren; numerous great grandchildren; and several great great grandchildren.

First Baptist Church Llano will be starting an Upward flag football league this fall. The league will run from September through November and will include children in Kindergarten through Sixth Grades. Games will be held in Llano on Saturday afternoons. Applications will be available the week of Aug. 25 and registration will be held the first part of September.

The Gulf of Mexico commercial shrimp season for both state and federal waters will open 30 minutes after sunset Tuesday, July 15. The opening date is based on an evaluation of the biological, social and economic information to maximize the benefits to the industry and the public. In making its determination, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Coastal Fisheries Division used the best available scientific information including samples collected by using trawls and bag seines in routine TPWD data collection.. “There are good stocks of brown shrimp out there and they are widely distributed,” said Robin Riechers., TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division science and policy director. The purpose of the closed Gulf season is to protect brown shrimp during their major period of emigration from the bays to the Gulf of Mexico until they reach a larger, more valuable size before harvest and to prevent waste caused by the discarding of smaller individuals. Federal waters (from 9 to 200 nautical miles offshore) will open at the same time that state waters will open.

By Art Dlugach Near the beginning of the decade, he was winning Class-4A state championships; near the end, he’s planning to spend part of his summer vacation at the Olympics. He’s Leonel Manzano, the Marble Falls High School graduate (2004), who has qualified to represent the United States in the 1,500-meter run. “I’ve been looking forward to this day since the summer of my sixth or seventh grade,” Manzano said on the University of Texas sports Web site, “and I hear everybody say ‘it’s a dream come true,’ but I guess you don’t know what it feels like until it happens.

All golfers are invited to the fifth annual Red and Black Golf Classic sponsored by the Hill Country Chapter of the Texas Tech Alumni Association. The tournament will be held Saturday, Sept. 6 at Lady Bird Johnson Golf Course, in Fredericksburg. Registration and lunch at 11:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. This year’s tournament is dedicated to the memory of Gary Hecht (TTU, 1969), an active member of the Hill Country Chapter from Kerrville who died unexpectedly in June. Entry fee is $80 per person, which includes $5 for a skins pot.

Hundreds of visitors filled the streets of Kingsland and the shores and waterways of Lake LBJ for the 39th Annual Aqua Boom. When organizers for the Kingsland/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce set their theme Celebrate ’09 – Come Home to Kingsland it was with the idea of reviving old favorites of the Independence Day celebration. “Revival” would be putting it mildly, and not just because the whole event was flooded out last year and staged on Memorial Day. “We had 65 entries in the land parade this year, more than we can ever remember, and just look what a turnout our volunteers have gotten,” said Lynda Shroyer, chamber president as she looked out on Fourth of July visitors crowded on thegrass at Sydney Rowe Memorial Park.

For information on using prescribed burning for vegetation management on your ranch, plan to participate in the field day and ranch tour on the M.M. Kothmann ranch on Friday, July 25. There will be talks about prescribed burning for vegetation management for livestock and wildlife. We will discuss how to start a prescribed burning program on your ranch.

Everyone is invited to Free Movies Under the Stars at the Lyndon Johnson Ranch, an evening just like in the drive-in movie days. The dates are July 26 for “Oliver!” and Aug. 9 for “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” These are movies Johnson showed at the ranch and invited community members to watch. Bring the kids and grandkids, chairs, blankets, jackets, flashlight and your picnic basket about 6 p.m.

The prevailing buzz word for these days is, “Going Green.” It is every where, from car ads to conglomerates, we hear a lot about our “carbon footprint” or how much energy we are consuming or trying not to consume. When solar energy is considered as a means of going green, it usually involves capturing the sun’s rays and converting them to alternative energy sources.

The Lake Buchanan Conservation Corporation, a non-profit corporation, will be hosting its second annual Casino Night on Saturday, July 12 at the Hill Country Hall in Buchanan Dam. The event will run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will be many games of chance, including; Blackjack, Craps, Texas Hold-em Poker and Slots.

LCRA calls on individuals throughout the lower Colorado River basin to join in a community conversation about the region's future water supply by attending an upcoming discussion or by joining the virtual community conversation at www.lcra.org/watersupply. LCRA is seeking public input as an important step in preparing a long-term water supply plan, which will be LCRA’s roadmap for how it will meet water needs in the future.

Popular country and western singer Jody Nix and his band The Texas Cowboys will be the featured performers at the Western Swing Night” at the Llano Country Opry on Saturday, July 12. The performance will be at the Lantex Theater in downtown Llano. Advance tickets are now on sale at the Llano and Kingsland Chamber of Commerce, Llano National Bank or by calling (325) 247-5354.