September 10, 2008

Katy Michelle Wheat, daughter of James and Elaine Wheat of Belton, and Travis Michael Ward, son of Vaughn and Melinda Ward of Llano, were married on June 28, at the Railroad and Heritage Museum in Temple. Officiating at the ceremony was the groom’s father. The bride was escorted by her father and given in marriage by her parents.

The Llano County Commissioners Court on Monday created the Llano County Tourism Committee to review grant requests for the county’s hotel occupancy tax (HOT) funds. To date, the four percent tax on lodgings in the unincorporated portion of the county has generated $56,190 and a full year of collections should yield from $81 to $84,000, according to Precinct 3 Commissioner Duane Stueven. Stueven received high praise from County Judge Wayne Brascom for his years of work to establish the HOT. “I certainly want to thank Duane Stueven,” he said.

Two different cases involving men with ties to Llano County who are charged with child sex offenses -- one a priest and the other a policeman -- had developments last week. Problems with jury selection caused 33rd Judicial District Judge Gil Jones to reset the trial of the Catholic priest who formerly served St.

The 4th Annual Llano River Chuck Wagon Cookoff is set to get underway again this year on the banks of the crystal clear Llano River Oct. 17-19. “The number of wagons has increased to sixteen making this the biggest cookoff we have ever had,” said David Griffith, organizer. The event kicks off Friday Oct.

The Llano County ban on outdoor burning has been lifted for a week at least. The question of replacing the ban will be on the agenda of the Llano County Commissioners Court on Sept. 16 when the court convenes to act on the budget for Fiscal Year 2008-2009. “Conditions obviously have not gotten much better,” said County Judge Wayne Brascom. “It appears things have greened up considerably, but the rains have been spotty,” said Precinct 1 Commissioner Johnnie B.

An additional hour of academic assistance will become part of the Llano High School schedule beginning Wednesday, Sept. 17. Ninth period, will be from 3:50 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Thursday, will provide peer tutoring with staff supervision to all students failing two or more core classes as of three week reports.

Jimmie Allen Hefner of Kingsland, passed away Sept. 3. He was born Sept. 11, 1939, in Bastrop, to Wallace and Lennah Nite Hefner who preceded him in death. After graduation from Bastrop High School, Mr. Hefner attended SWT State University, worked for Texas Parks and Wildlife and later the Texas Department of Transportation from which he retired after 31 years of service at District 14.

Pearlie (Johanson) Walters, 93, of Cherokee, passed away on Sept. 6, in Llano. She was born on April 21, 1915, in Bluffton, to John Johanson and Laura Magnolia (Maggie) Johanson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mike Walters; her son Byars Walters; her parents John and Maggie Johanson; three sisters Ella Baker, Zula Hallmark, Lou Etta Johanson; and five brothers, Moore, Woodroe, Clyde, Wayne, and Douglas. Survivors include two brothers, Dale Johanson, of Three Rivers and Harold Johanson, of LaVernia; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Mrs.

David Ray Webb, 64, passed away Sept. 1, in Georgetown. He was born on Aug. 15, 1944, in Fort Worth, to Billie Ray Mercer and Wanda Lou Ogletree. Mr. Webb is preceded in death by his daughter, Deborah Lynn Webb; and his father Ramon Edward Webb. Mr. Webb is survived by his loving wife, Beatrice Webb, of Tow; his mother, Wanda Elliot, of Clovis, N.M.; his daughters, Tjwana Schuster and husband, Randy, of San Antonio, and Starla Stubblefield, of Bertram his son, Raymon Webb, of Austin; his step-sons, Ray Hewett and wife, Geneva, of Lamesa, and Ricky Hewett, of Florida; his grandchildren, Pierce Leonard, Gage Stubblefield, Brett Schuster, Brannon Schuster, and Bryce Schuster; his step-great-grandchildren, Jace Hewitt, Justin Hewitt, Dashia Hewitt, and Crystal Hewitt. Mr.

What a dilemma? Do you mention Marcos Vallejo and Erik Forrister for their 1-2 punch in the Belton Invitational Cross Country Meet or the Llano girls, who won the team crown in the Class 1A-2A-and-3A division? Kaily Timmons and Lauren Parker led the charge for the Lady Jackets for the second Saturday morning in a row.

The Dragons went, “Not with a Bang, but with a whimper.” Using such a cliche is a terrible attempt at being clever, but how many times does a team play Bangs? And another thing, it’s true, because the Llano High School football Yellow Jackets made the pages of Runner’s World celebrate (but not excessively).

The Llano Yellow Jackets evened their record to 1-1 with a win in Bangs last Thursday. The Jackets started off flat, but rebounded to an unanswered 12 points in the second half. The Jacket D swarmed to keep Bangs from scoring an offensive TD. Bangs only score was on a fumble recovery deep in Jacket territory.

One coach is thinking about a possible seventh state championship, while his counterpart is thinking harsh thoughts about the play of her team. The Wimberley-Llano volleyball game brought these mental experiences to a reporter’s notebook. Where there may be some debate on whether certain teams are definite dynasties, there’s no discussion necessary where the Lady Texans are concerned: Class-3A winners in 1999 and 2001, ‘02, ‘03, and 2006 and ‘07.

If you read the first half of this exciting novelette, you know that when the saga called for intermission, our "Heroes of the Hardwood" had just been summarily dispatched by mighty Wimberley, and they were preparing for a night in Comfort, September 5. (I don't really know what the word "summarily"

I asked Bob Rose to give us an idea what to expect weather wise for Fall and Winter. So according to my very reliable weather source, Bob Rose meteorologist for LCRA, La Nina has faded and in her place he expects a neutral Pacific signal will continue through the Winter.

The Mason County Sesquicentennial Bed & Breakfast Tour will be held Saturday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Mason. Ten B&B’s, guesthouses, and cottages will be featured on the tour and tickets are $10 each. Tickets include access to all of the B&B’s and a chance to win special gift items if you complete the tour. Continuing with Mason’s Sesquicentennial celebration of 150 years of history, the tour features historic properties located in Mason County.

The National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, is hosting a special commemoration remembering the tragic loss of the 2,819 people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. Visitors will be encouraged to share their recollections of that day. There will be a presentation of the 50-minute Lou Reda production HERO SHIPS: USS New York followed by a discussion program.

Windwood Retirement Center will hold a barbecue fundraiser Sept. 17 at the Kingsland Community Center. Activities, held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., will include a mini-carnival, a country store, Grannies Attic and a nurse’s station. Barbecue dinners will be $7 for adults and $3 for children up to 12 years old. In addition to door prizes, a raffle will offer prizes including a $150 gasoline gift card and others for $75 from Reflections Day Spa and $50 from Village Outpost and Wal-Mart.

Managers of restaurants, bed and breakfast operators, and food service supervisors in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and similar establishments will learn about all phases of food safety by attending a Food Protection Management Course, sponsored by Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Llano County. The course will be offered Sept. 29-30, at the Courthouse Annex on Highway 71 East in Llano.

There will be a special Mass and prayers at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 708 Bessemer, Llano, on Thursday, Sept. 11, beginning at 6:15 p.m. for victims of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and prayers for World Peace. The public is invited. Come, bring your family and friends, and help us pray for our world, our country, and our community.

The Llano Country will be staged on Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Lantex Theater in downtown Llano. Heart of Texas Recording Artists Curtis Potter and Tony Booth will headline the monthly show. Tickets are $10 and are now on sale at the Llano and Kingsland Chamber of Commerce, Llano National Bank, KNEL radio or by calling (325) 247-5354. Curtis Potter has become a legend in Country Music focusing his career on the great Texas Dance Hall music featuring Honky Tonk standards and Western Swing favorites. Potter was born in Cross Plains.

Llano Elementary is hosting an Open House on Monday, Sept. 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. There will be four sessions that you may attend. They are from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Llano County Extension Office will be offering a Private Applicators Licensing Training and Testing on Dec. 1, at the Llano County Extension Office meeting room. The training will begin at 8:30 a.m. with registration and include the noon meal. The registration fee includes study materials and reference manuals. After lunch, a TDA representative will be available to administer the test.

The First Presbyterian Church of Llano, will start a study of the “Purpose Driven Life,” with author Pastor Rick Warren, on tape. The study will begin Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. led by Pastor Rich Lounsbery. This will be a six-week study of the meaning and purpose of life beginning with God and his reasons for creating you and God’s amazing plan for you.