December 30, 2009

Every year has its highlights and lowlights; sometimes the events get blurred in our memories as the months go by. This month-by-month review will summarize the biggest local news stories of 2009. January: New Llano County officials were sworn in January 1. Tommy Duncan took over as Commissioner in Precinct #1; Bill Blackburn became sheriff of Llano County.

The Llano County Junior Livestock Show, along with Art, Craft and Food Shows, will be held next week at the Llano County Community Center. The activity will begin at noon next Thursday (January 7), with the arrival of livestock entries. Animals from approximately 125 livestock exhibitors will arrive throughout the afternoon; show times begin with turkeys at 5 p.m.

A two car accident sent one driver to the Llano Memorial Hospital and kept the Buchanan Dam Volunteer Fire Department, Llano EMS, Texas DPS and deputies from the Llano County Sheriff’s Department busy Monday afternoon. The accident occured around 2:30 p.m. near Floyd Acres off of Highway 261 in Buchanan Dam.

The Llano County Commissioners Court took care of several large and small business matters at their meeting Monday morning; two “good news” items were the approval of a larger-than-expected grant to make the county library more energy-efficient, and the successful completion of the Allen Keller Company’s contract to build a new boat ramp at the Llano County Park on Lake Buchanan. County Auditor Cindy Lent reported that the county had received a grant for $57,500 towa ...

With the buzzer about to sound on 2009, here is a look at some of the top sports stories of the year from the pages of The Llano News on Llano High School. The Llano News, Jan. 7 Lady Jackets Turn Dawgs’ House into Doghouse The signs, oh yes, the signs were all there that Llano was not going to beat Burnet, January 2.

If I had written this column last week, I probably would have titled it “Peace on Earth,” because (for a couple of days) there seemed to be absolutely nothing happening in Llano. Stores were closed, streets were empty and people were indoors (for a couple of days). Of course, there were Christmas Eve services at several of the churches Thursday night.

Notice And Order of Hearing STATE OF WISCONSIN, CIRCUIT COURT, DANE COUNTY IN THE INTEREST OF: Girl Child DATE OF BIRTH: 12-09-1999 CASE NO. 09 JC 296 To: Mary Wisdom IT IS ORDERED: This notice be published advising you that a petition alleging that the above named child is a Child in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS) will be heard before the Honorable Patrick J.

There will be a public hearing concerning a re-plat of Lots 31, 32, and 33, Timberlake Subdivision, Recorded in Vol. 1, Pg. 27 of the Plat Records of Llano County to be heard at the regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting held on January 11, 2010.

There will be a public hearing concerning the replat to be known as Horseshoe Bay Plat No. 27.2, as replat of Lot Nos. 27047 and 27048, Horseshoe Bay Plat No. 27.1 at the regularly scheduled City of Horseshoe Bay city council meeting on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 3:00 p.m., followed by discussion and action on the same.

Charles Vincent Lucia, Jr., 47, of Kingsland, passed away December 8, 2009. He was born to Charles Vincent, Sr. and Helen Marie (Harvey) Lucia on January 7, 1962 in Houston, Texas. Mr. Lucia has lived in Kingsland for the last ten years. He was a musician and played keyboard and guitar.

Kathleen (Henderson) Shoemake, age 93 of Llano, Texas passed away on Thursday, December 24, 2009. She was born on November 22, 1916 in Llano County to Martha Viola (Cardwell) and T.B. Henderson. Kathleen was a rancher and lived most of her life in Llano Texas. She was of the Methodist faith and was a member of Valley Spring Methodist Church. Kathleen is survived by Two Great Nieces: Sue Cox and husband Rick of Llano and Sara Orth of Austin.

Mr. M.R. (“Dick”) McManigle, Jr., former Mayor and prominent Odessa businessman, passed away Wednesday, December 23, 2009, at home in Kingsland, Texas. Dick was born April 7, 1938 in Vandalia, Ill., the son of M.R. (“Dick”) McManigle, Sr. and Elizabeth Suzanne (“Betty”) McManigle who died in 1968 and 1994 respectively. His brother Ralph Dean McManigle preceded him in death in 2004.

Margaret Brown Maples, age 90, passed away on Monday, December 21, 2009. She was born October 28, 1919 in Ozona, Texas, to Edward and Clara (Watson) Brown. Margaret married Barney G. Maples in 1981 moving from San Antonio to Ft. Worth, Texas. Margaret and Barney moved to Tow in 1984 when Barney retired.

Richard Arthur Blair was born in Brillion, Wisconsin, on August 4, 1936. As a boy, he loved the outdoors and spent his free hours exploring the woods of what is now Council Grounds State Park where he grew up in Merrill, Wisconsin. He enlisted in the Army at the age of 17, where he served at Fort Polk and Fort Hood.

Abby Najar is one of those very special people whose passion not only paid the bills (rare enough in itself), but earned respect, affection and recognition from its beneficiaries. Abby’s passion was cooking, and even after 26 years of cooking as a job at restaurants including the Club Llano and the Fireside and Starlight in Buchanan Dam, she wasn’t ready to call it quits.

Those having Christmas Dinner with Roddy and Barbara Maddox were Sally Hardin, Barbara and Robert Grimes, and Roman and Angela Maddox and Ross and Dean. Christmas night the family got together to open present. Those present were Ricky and Chris Maddox with David, Mickey and Coney Hanley with Payton and Preston, Jason and Crystal Mendl, Roman and Angela Maddox with Ross and Dean. Anhelica Trinidad spent some time in South Carolina visiting family.

The number one hit movie of the July 4th weekend last year was Hancock, directed by Peter Berg and starring Will Smith, Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman. But those who watched Hancock were charmed by another character in the movie – 11-year-old Jae Head, of Goldthwaite. This year, Jae has a starring role in the hit movie, The Blind Side, with Sandra Bullock and Quinton Aaron.

Master Gardener Robert Yantis will be presenting a free program on “Living with Purple Martins” to learn about our beautiful springtime visitors at a program presented by the Kingsland Garden Club on Friday, January 8 at 1:15 at the Kingsland Library, 125 W. Polk St. These beautiful birds will be coming back from Brazil during February or March to have their babies and fill our skies eating insects.

The old Red Top Jail is one of the most interesting and important historical treasures in Llano County; built in 1895, it served as the county’s primary jail facility for nearly a century, and its location and Romanesque Revival architecture give it a unique significance to the character of the city.