January 27, 2010

An otherwise routine meeting of the Llano County Commissioners Court was highlighted by public recognition of librarian Tommi Myers, who was recently honored as Citizen of the Year by the Llano chamber of Commerce for her innovative programs at the library and her work as an unofficial advocate for Llano’s active military personnel.

The City of Llano and the Llano Independent School District have scheduled elections for Saturday, May 8. Three seats on the city council are up for grabs, as the terms of Mayor Pro Tem Mike Hazel, Alderwoman LaNell McKinney and Alderman Gordon Hefner (who was appointed to fill out Mike Reagor’s term after Reagor was elected mayor) will expire this year.

Llano County Tax Assessor Collector Dexter Sagebiel reminds Llano County taxpayers that time is getting short for them to pay their 2009 property taxes. Taxes for the county’s estimated 36,300 parcels of property must be paid either in person by 4:30 p.m. Monday, February 1 at the Tax Assessor Collector office at 100 West Sandstone in Llano, or by mail, if postmarked by 4 p.m.

City Manager Finley deGraffenried presided over the first meeting of Llano’s new Comprehensive Plan Committee on Monday evening. The 17 committee members discussed positive and negative factors affecting Llano’s image, growth and prosperity, and began to collect ideas and goals for Llano’s future. The city manager pointed out that a comprehensive plan is “very important for obtaining grants,” and a useful tool for planning and zoning, as well as a “ ...

The Llano County Republican Executive Committee is hosting a Candidate Forum at the Kingsland Community Center this Thursday, January 28, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The committee sent invitations to all the local Republican candidates as well as candidates for the State Board of Education, the Third Court of Appeals (Place 4), and for Congressional District 11. “The response has been great,” says Ron Hewitt, Republican County Chairman.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Llano County Soil and Water Conservation District invite the public and any agencies with an interest in conservation issues to participate in a Local Work Group meeting to be held at the Texas Agrilife Extension Service meeting room in Llano (1447 East State Hwy 71).

Llano School Superintendent Dennis Hill announced January 19 that two key employees of the school district have submitted their resignations. Business Manager, Jo Ann Williams, has resigned effective at the end of April. Ms. Williams became business manager in 2004 when the district was having substantial financial difficulties and has been responsible for implementing policies to get the district to the highest rating available on financial reporting by school districts in Texas.

On a crisp winter morning, a truck driver delivers a load of steel to a storage area on Hwy 16 across from Llano High School. It’s one of many trucks that will deliver a total of about 6,000 tons of steel to a handful of transmission material storage sites leased by LCRA Transmission Services Corporation (LCRA TSC). These shipments of steel and other transmission materials on four to 10 trucks per day have attracted their share of attention from the communities near the storage ...

There are nights when the shots might not fall—a shooter keeps shooting, but he doesn’t always start making. There are times when free throws seem to prefer banging into everything instead of tumbling inside the soft feel of the net. There’s even forgiveness, sometimes, when the offense has a woeful night—“you’re going to have nights like these”—but the defense gets no breather.

Llano High School sophomore Kaitlin Hairston (left) won third place in the December Writers’ Classic, an annual statewide writing contest. LHS sophomore Wes Haverlah took sixth place and junior Mariah Newell captured seventh place. Ready Writer competitors have two hours to create an expository essay on a topic that challenges them to think critically and use examples from history, literature, current events and everyday life.

It is a great thrill to be part of a first in sports, except when it’s the other team that’s celebrating ITS first, you’re on the losing side, and that’s half the reason the first was achieved—in the first place. The translation to that well-constructed sentence is Rouse defeated Llano 61-53, January 22, to capture its first-ever district win in basketball.

Realignment is a better-kept secret than Sarah Palin was a few years ago. She was mayor where? You could solve California’s financial problems before you could put every school in its place for the next couple of years. You could understand the passer rating formula before you could set the lows and highs for the classification numbers.

THE STATE OF TEXAS JP MORGAN CHASE BANK VS BRUCE DOUGLAS COOK & UNKNOWN HEIRS OF AUDREY COOK CAUSE # 16730 IN THE DISTRICT COURT 424th JUDICIAL DISTRICT LLANO COUNTY, TEXAS CITATION BY PUBLICATION TO: UNKNOWN HEIRS OF COOK, AUDREY F DEFENDANT, GREETINGS: NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: “You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issue ...

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of MARGARET B. ARNOLD, Deceased, were issued on January 21, 2010, under Docket No. 06477, pending in the County Court of Llano County, Texas to: CONRAD LEE ARNOLD, JR. Claims may be presented in care of the attorney for the Estate addressed as follows: Wade Hutto Attorney at Law Hutto & Lucksinger, L.L.P. P.

CITY OF HORSESHOE BAY, TEXAS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING REGULATIONS CODIFIED AS CHAPTER 14 OF THE CITY CODE TO Add Minimum Lot Development Standards for Manufactured Homes TO BE PLACED ON LOTS CLASSIFIED AS m-1 MOBILE HOME in Zone 4B Horseshoe Bay South The City Council of Horseshoe Bay will conduct a public hearing on February 16, 2010 as part of its regular city council meeting agenda that will commence at 3:00 p.m.

CITY OF HORSESHOE BAY NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING AN Amendment to the Zoning regulations codified as Chapter 14 of the City Code providing A PERMANENT ZONING CLASSIFICATION FOR THE North Parts of LotS 12038-C and 12039-B of Horseshoe Bay Plat No. 12.39, LLANO COUNTY, TEXAS (500 Lighthouse Drive) The City Council of Horseshoe Bay will conduct a public hearing as part of its regular city council meeting agenda that will commence on February 16, 2010 at 3:00 p.m.

The Lower Colorado River Authority hereby gives notice pursuant to Texas Water Code section 49.226 (c), that the following properties will be sold by private sale on or after February 10, 2010: A 0.94 acre tract of land more or less out of the Christian Lange Survey NO. 192, Abst. NO.

NOTICE TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF KATHLEEN SHOEMAKE, DECEASED Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Kathleen Shoemake were issued January 14, 2010, in Cause No. 06487, pending in the County Court of Llano County, Texas, to Donald L. Barley. The residence of the Executor is McCulloch County, Texas.

There will be a public hearing concerning a 6 1/2 foot Front Yard Setback Variance request on Lot No. 17015 of Horseshoe Bay Plat No. 17.1, also known as 111Nimrod, in the City of Horseshoe Bay, Texas, whereby the owner(s) are seeking a Variance from Section 14.02.406 (b) (3) (A) of the Zoning Chapter of the City Code, at the regularly scheduled City Council Meeting of Horseshoe Bay beginning at 3:00 PM on February 16, 2010, followed by discussion and action on the same.

Non-profit organizations may qualify for a total exemption from property taxes, by applying for the exemption no later than April 30, 2010. The April 30 deadline also applies to businesses that are receiving tax abatements granted by taxing units; to firms that ship inventory out of Texas and may be eligible for the “Freeport” exemption on certain goods in transit; and to businesses that acquired pollution control property. Property tax exemptions are available to n ...

Robin Chiesa has an idea to boost tourism in Llano. Localizing the famous “Trail of Tears” and the “Painted Pony” concept which is gaining popularity around the country, she would like to organize a “Trail of Deers” to attract art-lovers to Llano throughout the coming year. In a presentation to the Economic Development Corporation Monday evening, Chiesa told how art is becoming an increasingly important factor in bringing tourists to cities around the coun ...

Celebrate Mardi Gras in Llano at the 5th Annual LMHS Mardi Gras Ball. Sponsored by the Llano Memorial Healthcare System Foundation, the gala event scheduled for Saturday, February 13th at the Oestreich Rose in Llano is sure to be the party of the year with all of the fanfare that one expects with Mardi Gras. Entertainment at the Ball will be provided by the “sax man” Elliott Fikes and Soul Serenade, a dynamic, hi-energy group.

Remember that the Exes-Basketball game is Saturday night. Keith Davis would like to thank everyone that has helped with the baskeball concession stand. Also a big thanks to everyone that helped with the Hospitality Room for each tournament. Keith does a great job and we all need to remember to thank him for his hard work. Ty Windham had surgery last Monday. Several people have had the flu this last week. Natasha Jackson and Tiffany Jackson are both engaged to be m ...

This Friday night January 29 at 7:30 and Saturday, January 30 at 4:30 and 7:30 Main Street will show Alvin and the Chipmunks; the Squeakquel at the LanTex. The zany chipmunks, Alvin, Simon and Theodore are at it again. The cast includes Zachary Levi, David Cross, Jason Lee, Justin Long , Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Amy Poehler, Anna Faris and Christina Applegate. The guys are in now in the care of Dave Seville’s nephew and take a break from pop-music stardom to return ...