August 27, 2008

Autumn Sanderson, of Llano, won a gold medal and was 11th all around in Level V Sr. A Division at a meet held at the San Antonio’s River City Gym. She was the first to compete on vault and her family was thankful she walked away without any injuries. Her team, GymA.C.T.

Kristan Farnham, of Kerrville, graduated from Schreiner University’s Vocational Nursing Program during campus ceremonies held on Aug. 8, before an audience of friends, family, and members of the University’s academic faculty. Farnham is the daughter of Karen Crouch. Schreiner University offers two rotations of its one-year vocational nursing certification program each year; one begins in the fall and one begins in the spring.

Come all Bears, Red Raiders, Cowboys, Cornhuskers, Jayhawks and Buffalos and join the Longhorns with the Highland Lakes Chapter of the Texas Exes for a Big XII Kickoff Party. Come enjoy a catfish dinner on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 6:30 p.m. at the Trails of Lake LBJ. Former Texas Tech football coach Spike Dykes is the featured speaker.

The Llano County Commissioners Court again pared down the rate it will present to taxpayers at the public hearing on the rate and the county budget Sept. 16. With more than 95 percent of the tax roll certified, the Llano Central Appraisal District reported total taxable county property of $2,917,612,984. Commissioners, in turn on Monday, approved a rate of $0.2788 per $100 valuation rather than $0.279 proposed at their last meeting.

Everywhere he goes these days Dennis Hill gets an extra pat on the back. Selected in July as the Superintendent of the Year in Education Service Center (ESC) Region 13, he is also one of five finalists for Texas Superintendent of the Year (SOTY) to be announced Sept. 28. “It’s like having a local Olympic champion,” said Ronnie Rudd, president of the Llano Independent School District Board of Trustees.

The Llano Independent School District Board of Trustees Monday night acted to propose a slight increase in the tax rate to save on future interest payments by the district. By approving payment of about $1.3 million in 1998 bonds in the coming year, the district will save about $153,000 annually in interest payments. “It’s a prudent business decision,” said Ronnie Rudd, board president, echoing the consensus of the board. The combined tax rate to be considered for final approval Sept.

Howard Smith Bell, 86, passed away Aug. 21, at Buchanan Dam. He was born July 12, 1922, to Willie and Laura (Smith) Bell in Cookville. Howard was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Laura Bell; his sister, Lucille Graham, and a baby brother. He is survived by his wife of 37 years Joy (Pence) Bell; his stepdaughters, Carolyn Pilgrim and husband, Larry, of Cisco, Cathy Lee and husband, Tommie, of Cisco, Cindy Guy and husband, Randy, of Abilene; his stepson, Jon Thackerson and wife, Signa, of Buchanan Dam; his eight grandchildren; six great grandchildren; his sisters, Faye Alford and husband, Bobby, of Dangerfield, Jean Chitman and husband, Bill, of Longview; his brother, Louis Bell and wife, Nona, of Tyler; his brothers-in-law Billy Pence of Buchanan Dam and Robert Graham of Telephone; and his numerous nieces and nephews.

Winnie Dee Bryant, 88, of San Marcos, passed away Aug. 19, in San Marcos. She was born on Dec. 28, 1919 in Llano, to Thomas Garrett and Lattie (Porch) Garrett. She was preceded in death by her parents, as well as her husband, R.J. Bryant, in 1986; her grandson, Chris Morley, in 2002; her two sisters; and her one brother. Survivors include her daughter, Nancy Redd and her husband, Lonnie, of Houston; her son, Paul Bryant, of San Marcos; her four (4) grandchildren, Lori Anne, Randy, Shelly, and Angie; her four (4) great grandchildren, Logan, Ethan, Chase, and Sunny; and her great-great grandson, Mikie. She married Robert J.

Eula Marie Lusby, 82, of Kingsland passed away on Aug. 24, in San Antonio, with many loving family members by her side. Mrs. Lusby was born in Fallis, Okla. on Oct. 13, 1925, to J.C. and Gerdie King. Mrs. Lusby is preceded in death by her parents; her eight siblings, and her wonderful husband, Raymond M.

It was Early, early, and Llano, late; the Jackets saved their better half for the second half of the football scrimmage, Aug. 21, and fought to an unofficial draw with the talented Longhorns. “I’ve been in coaching 22 years,” Llano’s David Yeager said following the contest, “and once you get off the field the guys seem to play better, and we certainly did.” During the running of 15 or 20 plays for each offense, the coaching staffs stood opposite from each other and behind the quarterback.

In 1976, another Olympic year, Rockdale beat Llano, 10-9, in the first round of the football playoffs--the Tigers went on to win the Class-2A state championship. On Friday, Aug. 29, in Rockdale, there will be a rematch of that bi-district clash. It will be the first time the teams have met in 32 years. “I’ve seen improvement from the kids since practice began Aug.

You get the feeling the Llano High School volleyball team will play more games this season than the Utah Jazz. As of Aug. 23, it had a record of 6-5--and the school bell hadn’t even rung! Since the last edition of the newspaper began filling scrapbooks throughout the Hill Country, the Lady Jackets had their final summer fling in Gatesville and went 2-2. “We played okay against Harker Heights (Class 5A),” head coach, Shawn Sweeten, said.

Registration forms for Upward Flag Football and Cheerleading are now available at First Baptist Church Llano. Football evaluation and cheerleading orientation will be held at the Barney Lee Baseball Field on Thursday, Sept. 4 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Llano Youth Soccer Registration will begin, Saturday, Aug. 30 and Tuesday, Sept. 2 at the Moore Complex. Saturday’s registration will be from 9 a.m. to noon and Tuesday’s registration will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Cost is $40 per child, no more than $100 per family.

The Central Texas Electric Cooperative (CTEC) annual membership meeting began on an unseasonably cool August afternoon in Mason. The membership, enjoying the 80-degree weather, flooded the Mason High School auditorium to elect three directors, hear the annual report and try their chances at winning a few door prizes from CTEC and its vendors and suppliers. CEO Bob Loth welcomed the members.

Residents living in and around the Horseshoe Bay, community can be screened to reduce their risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Life Line Screening will be at the Church at Horseshoe Bay on Sept. 11. The site is located at 600 Hi Ridge Road in Horseshoe Bay. Appointments will begin at 9 a.m. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. Recommended baseline screenings include Stroke/Carotid Artery, Atrial Fibrillation, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Renee Edwards became the first female to join the Kingsland Lion’s Club. Shown welcoming her as a member are the Rev. Bill Blackstone,president, and Bob Weitner, her sponsor. Renee is employed at Sweet Things bakery in Kingsland. Several other women have submitted applications for membership. This is a very positive step for the club and we invite anyone interested to join us for lunch on Thursdays at 11:30 a.m.

Get out those running shoes out and come join the fun at Johnson Park in Marble Falls on Saturday, Sept. 13, at the CASA “Speak Up For Kids” 5K and Fun Day at the Park. All proceeds benefit abused and neglected children in Blanco, Burnet, Lampasas, Llano, and San Saba counties.

The Kingsland/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce this Saturday will hold a Labor Day Poker Run for Boaters and Labor Day Dance featuring country singer Conrad Vernon. The popularity of the poker run made it a natural, according to chair Chris Carl of Munchkinland. The Aqua Boom Poker Run saw more boaters and bigger prizes than any other in the event’s 39-year history.

Country Music Entertainer Fiddlin Frenchie Burke will headline the Mason Country Opry on Thursday, Aug. 28. The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Lantex Theater in Llano. Admission is $10 per person and tickets can be reserved by calling (325)597-2119. The Mason Country Opry Band will be featured with special guests Justin Trevino, Kelly Weiershausen, Kelsey Behrens, Sammy Geistweidt, Shane Lively, and Benny Fred Kothmann. Frenchie Burke was born in the small Louisiana town of Kaplan, not for from Lafayette.

The Kingsland Garden Club invites the public to hear Master Gardener, Master Naturalist, and author, Bill Luedecke talk about “Gardening in the Hill County.” Mr. Luedecke is well known for his local newspaper and magazine articles and his delightful presentations. We hope you will join us for a fun and informative experience on Friday, Sept.

Llano will be the place to be the weekend of Oct. 17 and 18. The Llano County Heritage Festival and Llano River Chuck Wagon Cook-off will take place on both sides of the Llano River and we want you to make us your destination for a fun filled weekend. The Llano County 1893 Romanesque Revival Courthouse has been completely restored and will be the setting for fabulous music, re-enactments, vendors, children’s activities and good food.

Llano High School Varsity and Junior Varsity Cheerleaders attended the Universal Cheerleaders Camp at Angelo State University this summer. The Varsity Cheerleaders earned one of the first spirit sticks at camp as well as all Superior ratings for their evaluations. They brought home a Superior trophy from camp for their efforts. Varisty cheerleaders include Katie Yeager, Claire Hartz, Chelsea Pike, Margot Stevenson, Mika Smith, Jazmin Jensen, Taylor Coffey and Ashton Bollier.

The Llano Jr. Women’s Culture Club (LJWCC) is pleased to announce they will be selling a unique set of boxed note cards. The cards are prints of original art work commissioned for this project and created by Danielle Carmichael a gifted local artist. These one-of-a-kind prints consist of several of Llano’s historic landmarks including the Llano County Courthouse, the Red Top Jail, the Roy B.

Obviously, the show design staff for the 2008 Llano High School Yellow Jacket Marching Band did not foresee the recent Russian invasion of the Republic of Georgia last spring when preparations for the upcoming marching season were being made. Nevertheless, the LYJB’s 2008 competition will try to march clear of international political events when it presents “Journey to the Land of the Czars” during halftimes this fall.

The eighth annual Llano County Extension Banquet was held Aug. 19, at the American Legion Hall in Llano with 120 in attendance. John Begnaud, retired Tom Green County Extension Horticulturist, was the guest speaker, sharing information about current trends in the horticulture industry. The “green industry” is now the second leading agricultural enterprise in Texas, with beef cattle being in first place.

The First Baptist Church Women’s Ministry will be hosting The Shannon Kasper 5K for School Supplies at the First Baptist Church Activity Center, Saturday, Oct. 18 at 8 a.m. The 5K will start at the First Baptist Church Activity Center and travel down Wright, Landon/Granite, Oatman, College, Chestnut and Sandstone. There will be rest stops with water approximately every mile. This walk/run is to raise money for students of Llano ISD who are in need of school supplies.

Tally Kelso, Kelli Tudyk and Dave Gresham, of Texas Land and Lakes Real Estate, are teaming up with Bonnie Woodell and Tommy Nelms, of Internet Realty, to better serve Llano county and the Texas Hill Country. Mr. Nelms has been involved in real estate for seven years in the Llano, Corpus Christi and Kingsville markets.