June 9, 2010

Last week, Barry Smitherman, Chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, asked the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to “thoroughly re-evaluate the need for the Gillespie to Newton transmission line” that has been proposed to carry wind energy generated in West Texas to population centers along the I35 corridor.

The auditorium at Llano High School was packed with family and friends of 108 graduating seniors for the 2010 Commencement Exercises. Entering to the music of “Pomp and Circumstance,” the successful students were greeted with thunderous applause from administrators, teachers and the audience. A display of flowers at the podium honored the memory of classmate Kassie Mae Zavadil, who died in an accident two years ago.

A team of historic preservation professionals toured Llano last week to assess the progress of Llano’s Main Street program. Led by Debra Farst, state coordinator for the Texas Historical Commission’s Texas Main Street Program, and including experts hired through a Main Street grant from the federal “Preserve America” initiative, the group evaluated many factors in a 24-hour visit and presented their initial findings at a public meeting Thursday evening. While l ...

Voluntary water use restrictions are now in effect for residents and businesses within the City of Llano. The City enters stage 1 water conservation on June 1 of each year with a goal of reducing the amount of water used by 5%. Residents are encouraged to water on specified days, even number addresses on Thursday and Sunday, odd number addresses on Wednesday and Saturday.

Darrell Royal once said—although he later claimed he was kidding a writer—that three things can happen when you throw a pass, and two of them are bad. His colleague, David Yeager, would have amended that, June 1. He would have said, “Four things can happen, and THREE are bad!” 7-on-7 was only about 10 minutes old at Marble Falls High School.

He was fired from one of the most prestigious jobs in sports 14 months ago—he’s ready to go back to work. Billy Gillispie was in Horseshoe Bay, June 2, to address the recently-formed Sports Club. Gillispie, from 2002 to 2009, was the head basketball coach at UTEP, Texas A&M, and Kentucky. “This past year I watched a lot of practices of NBA and college teams,” Gillispie told the Llano News, “and I attended high school games.

There are Old-Timers’ games; there are reunions, in person and on TV; there are alumni gatherings, if you’ve been out of school from oh, say, three months to 100 years. And there are alumni games—baseball, softball, basketball, soccer (oh, not at Llano)—such fun, and there are also football contests between the old grads.

The more important part of this story is next, but I thought if it were first you’d think no one but Blackie Sherrod could write anything better, so you’d skip the back half. What a shame that would be! With that waste of time wasted, here we go. I think what’s really been overlooked in Armando Galarraga’s most perfect of non-perfect games ever is this: that play at first, the first hit instead of the 27th out, was close—I mean real close. Detroit& ...

If you happen to notice hundreds of teen-agers committing “random acts of kindness” all around Llano this weekend (actually, from Saturday, June 12 to Friday, June 18), don’t be alarmed! It’s MPACT, a remarkable event in which young people pay for the privilege of showing God’s love through hard work.

Notice is hereby given that letters testamentary for the Estate of Marguerite Hill DeGeorge, Deceased, were issued on June 3, 2010 in Cause No. 06530 pending in the County Court of Llano County, Texas to Carol Degeorge Romano. Carol DeGeorge Romano, Independent Executor of the Estate of Marguerite Hill DeGeorge, has chosen that all claims be addressed in care of her attorney, JOHN H.

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Marilyn E. Carter, Deceased, were issued on May 6, 2010, Docket No. P6496, pending in the County Court of Llano County, Texas, to Karen Carter-Cohn. Claims may be presented in care of the attorney for the Estate addressed as follows: Camm C.

Llano ISD is taking sealed proposals for fresh baked pizza to be used in the National School Lunch Program. Specifications can be obtained at the Llano ISD Administrative Building, 200 E. Lampasas, Llano, Texas 78643. Bids should be received no later than June 30, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE OF PROPERTY TO SATISFY LANDLORD’S LIEN Sale is scheduled for 7:10 AM June 25, 2010 at U.S. Storage at 3440 West Ranch Road 1431 in Kingsland, TX. Property will be sold to highest bidder for cash. Cleanup and removal deposit will be required. Seller reserves right to withdraw property from sale.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE TO SATISFY LANDLORD’S LIEN Sale is scheduled for 7 AM June 25, 2010 at Stacy’s Storage at the corner of Industrial and Skyline Drive in Kingsland, TX. Property will be sold to highest bidder for cash. Cleanup and removal deposit will be required. Seller reserves right to withdraw property from sale.

Llano Independent School District is accepting proposals for the following contracted services to students with disabilities for the 2010-2011 school year: Occupational Therapy Physical Therapy Adaptive Physical Education Counseling Services FAPE Teacher Proposal specifications are available from Jackie Center at Llano ISD via written request at 200 E. Lampasas, Llano, TX 78643, (325) 247-4220, or by email at jcenter@llano.k12.tx.us. All propo ...

Lone Grove is one of the oldest communities in Llano County; it got its name from a grove of pecan trees between Dreary Hollow and the Little Llano River, about eight miles northeast of where the town of Llano would be built a few years later. John Coggin opened a stage stop and store there in 1852, and a short time later the Carter brothers (George, Doc and Ben) settled nearby.

Hundreds of rodeo fans enjoyed the hugely successful Llano County Rodeo this past weekend. Ryan Feller, president of the Llano County Community Center Association, said final numbers were not yet available, but this year’s rodeo had “the best attendance in a long time.” The crowded bleachers and lines of people all around the arena backed up Feller’s appraisal. “Cadillac Rodeo Company did a great job with the rodeo, and the stock was phenomenal,” Fe ...

Mayor Mike Reagor has issued a proclamation honoring one of Llano’s most illustrious citizens; this Thursday, June 10, has been declared “Darrell Staedtler Day,” and the public is invited to an “Evening with Darrell Staedtler” at 7 p.m. at the Fuel Coffee House on East Main Street, to be hosted by W.C.

The 75th Annual Llano County Rodeo Parade celebrating this special anniversary year has successfully made its way through the streets of Llano, around the courthouse square, and into the history books. The 2010 Rodeo Parade on June 5th was sponsored by the Llano Chamber of Commerce, Ratliff Chevrolet, Texaco / Rusche Oil Company, and Town & Country / Stripes.

Llano musicians Jenny Taylor and Manny Duarte helped provide entertainment following the annual Great Castell Kayak Race. This yearly event raises funds for Chemo Sabe, an outreach program seeking to benefit those afflicted with cancer. It also raises awareness of cancer prevention and treatment options. With the latter in mind, Aim at Melanoma had representatives available, providing information.

Cheyenne LeJeune was crowned 2010 Llano County Rodeo Queen on Saturday night, June 5. Cheyenne, a graduate from Marble Falls High School, won the tickets sales, interview, and horsemanship. Cheyenne is the daughter of Gerney and Tracy LeJeune was sponsored by Tres Rios Silver and One Trick Pony in the Rodeo Queen competition.