March 26, 2008

Kyndel Howell won second place at Angelo State University’s Hepthathlon Competition at the ASU Spring Break Multi-Events at the ASU Multipurpose Sports Complex. Howell provisionally qualified for the NCAA Divsion II National track meet to be held at the end of May in Walnut, Calif. Howell was second place with 4,593 points, which was only 267 points away from first place. Howell is a senior at ASU and this is her third year to run for the Rambelles track team.

By all appearances, Wednesday, March 19, was a day like any other in Darci’s Deli in Marble Falls. The fresh-faced owner greeted her customers with the usual efficiency and generous smile, but there was a small, added sparkle in her large hazel eyes and another on her finger -- a wedding ring. “It’s not exactly how I had imagined my wedding,” she said with grace. Just the day before, in a simple civil ceremony in the library of the Llano County Jail, the former Darci Dickey had become Mrs.

A 42-year-old Llano man is in jail for stalking District Attorney Sam Oatman and will likely be returned to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for violation of parole on a drug conviction. Shawn Michael Appell, apparently fixated on Oatman since 2002, was arrested by the Llano Police Department Monday following at least two recent incidents directed toward the 33rd Judicial District’s chief prosecutor. On Saturday night the LPD called in the Austin Police Department Bomb Squad when a mailing tube wrapped with wire was discovered on top of one of the family cars at the Oatmans’ Llano home. “I went out to move my pickup because I thought it was going to rain and I found the thing,” said Oatman.

Based on the finalized figures for development permits Llano County grew by 364 new residences and a probable 774 people last year, according to a report at the Llano County Commissioner’s Court Monday. That would bring the probable county population to 22,999 people. At the rate of growth that has held fairly steady over the past seven years, we are headed for 24,514 by 2010. Precinct 3 Commissioner Duane Stueven has been the unofficial number cruncher on the court since the 2000 Census and he bases an annual evaluation and forecast on figure reported by Ron Moore as administrator of the Llano County Department of Environmental and Emergency Services (DEES). Based on the average household size in each precinct, Stueven estimates population growth by multiplying by the number of new homes in each precinct. Precinct 1, including Sunrise Beach Village and Horseshoe Bay, saw 159 development permits, equaling about 328 new residents. Precinct 2, including Tow and Buchanan Dam, saw 49 permits for an estimated 98 new residents. Precinct 3, including Kingsland, had 106 permits for an estimated 229 new residents. Precinct 4 saw 50 permits for an estimated 119 new residents. The growth rate across the county seems fairly even, ranging from 2 percent in Precinct 2 to 2.38 percent in Precinct 4.

An 84-year-old Cherokee man and his passenger escaped injury Friday when their Dodge Pickup slammed into the side of the Super S Grocery Store. Police say some sort of vehicle malfunction was the cause of the accident that left a sizeable hole in the side of the store. Two people inside were treated with minor injuries.

Amarllys Glasgow Charlton, 66, of Marble Falls, passed away on Wednesday, March 5. She was born on Sept. 21, 1941 in Wichita, Kan. to Tom and Blance Gibbons of Amarillo. Amarllys was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Allen Gibbons, and husbands, Dick Glasgow and Powell Charlton. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Andrea and Paul Witt of Flagler, Colo.; and five grandchildren Jamie, Philip, Nathan, Garrett and Jason Witt.

Arletta Diaz, of Tow, passed way Friday, March 14. She was born in Kansas to Edward and Leona Marshall. Diaz is proceeded in death by her daughter, Marticia Beckley; and her sisters, Leona Neilon and Betty Vidauri. She is survived by her daughters, Rebecca Foreman and husband, John, of Tow, and Loretta Simmons and husband, Melvin, of Stockton, Mo.; her sons, Henry Diaz and wife, Terri, of S.Yarmouth, Mass., and Carlton Dodson and wife, Barbara, of Clovis, N.M.; her thirteen grandchildren, including Tirzah Foreman Storbeck, husband, Michael, and son Mike, of Austin, Maureen Foreman Riggs and sons, Zachary and Bryce, of Tow and Austin; her sixteen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Diaz was a member of St.

June Herzing, 88, of Plano coming from Kingsland, passed away Thursday, March 20, in Plano. She was born on June 6, 1919 in El Paso, to Lottie (Chipman) and I.A. Helms. She is preceded by her parents; husband, Don Jay Herzing; and son, Don William Herzing. Mrs. Herzing is survived by son, Robert Smith and wife, Ceilia; brother, Tommy Helms; grandson, Don William Sheddrick; granddaughter, Emory Smith; and two great grandchildren.

Frank Howard Lange, 69, of San Saba passed away Monday, March 24, in San Saba. He was born on Dec. 29, 1938 to June (Kothmann) and Howard F. Lange in Llano. Mr. Lange is preceded in death by his parents, Howard and June Lange. He is survived by his beloved wife, Cherry Lange of San Saba; his daughters, Lynda Kuder and husband, Chuck, of Llano, Kayann Squires and husband, Brent, of San Antonio; his son, Craig Lange and wife, Lizz, of Llano; his grandchildren, Meghan and Danni Kuder, Kaymon and Justin Lange, Raymond, Branden and Kelly Long.

M.G. “Bud” Smathers of Waco passed away Sunday, March 23, at his home, surrounded by his family. Bud was born May 4, 1931, in Buzzard’s Roost, to Forrest and Ella Mae Smathers. He was preceded in death by his father, Forrest Smathers; brother, Lester Smathers; and nephew, Brad Lange. Bud is survived by his wife, Carolyn Vollmar Smathers; his daughters, Valerie Slade and husband, Chip, of San Antonio, Tammy Smathers of Waco, and Becky Simpson and husband, Shane, of Conroe; his five grandchildren: Carolyn Slade, Shelby Slade, Ella Simpson, Mary Claire Simpson, and Carter Simpson; his mother, Ella Mae Smathers; his sisters, Frances Barrick of Abernathy, Harriet Lange and husband, Pug, of Mason, Marilyn Reid and husband, Jimmy, of Abilene; his sister-in-law, Mamie McEachran, of Pflugerville; his brothers, James Smathers and wife, Pat, of Lufkin, and Pee Wee Smathers and wife, Mary Lou, of Valley Spring. Bud grew up in Valley Spring and loved spending time at his cabin there later in life.

There was a time when some of the few people you saw exercising included: boxers doing famous “road work” (running); track athletes doing a bunch of stuff, and military personnel doing something called “calisthenics.” On the other hand, golfers (slowly) walked 18 holes and got plenty of work flicking their cigarettes to the ground before hitting a four-iron shot; and baseball players could always be seen trotting an incredibly-helpful 100 yards at spring training.

The mercy rule was invoked after four innings, because the Llano Lady softball Jackets showed no mercy till the handshake line as they belted Bandera, 16-1, on March 20. The “turning point” was when Chelsea Montgomery opened the game with a single. She later scored on a passed ball as part of a three-run first inning.

It was an inning that the Jackets wished they could play over. An inning the gushed frustration. The Llano baseball team was looking to even up its non district record Friday before starting league play but Liberty Hill had other ideas. The heart of the story? With the first two batters out in the top of the first inning, a tenacious Panther team scored 11 runs and went through three Llano pitchers before the third out was called. That inning aside, the Jackets battled Liberty Hill to a 4-2 game after a Cody Lattimore grand slam in the top of the second. The mercy rule was invoked after five innings with a final score of 16-3. In that first inning there were four hits, three errors and four walks.

Burnet County Sheriff’s Office and Hill Country Area Crime Stoppers are asking for the public’s assistance for any information on criminal mischief in the Hoover Valley area. Tuesday March 11, suspects wrote graffiti on signs and mailboxes on Clen Oaks Parkway. Any one with information should call Burnet County Sheriff’s Office at (512) 756-8080 or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward up to $2,000 for the arrest of suspect or suspects call Hill Country Area Crime Stoppers at 1-866-756-8477 or on line at www.hcacrimestoppers.com. Crime Stoppers, Citizens, Law Enforcement and The Media working together to make our community a safer place to live.

Vendors from all over the Hill Country will gather at the House, Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the annual craft show sponsored by the Kingsland House of Arts and Crafts, located at 112 Chamberlain Street across from the Wells Fargo Bank. You will enjoy seeing hand-turned pottery by new vendors Pegasus Pottery; very unusual and creative beaded tapestries by ET Beads; beautiful and colorful tablecloths and napkins from Cristine Henriet as well as Coppin’s ceramics; Nancy Thibert’s famous appliquéd clothing.

The Mason Country Opry will be held on Thursday, March 27, at the Odeon Theater in downtown Mason. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and admission is $8 per person. Tickets will be available at the door or reservations can be made by calling (325) 597-2119. Kelly Spinks will be the featured entertainer.

Turkey hunters should get plenty of calling action this spring, based on field reports of an abundance of Rio Grande gobblers observed by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists. "I have been getting reports from many of our field biologist and they all agree that this is going to be a good season in Rio Grande turkey country due to the 2007 spring and summer rains and mild temperatures,"

The Llano American Legion will have their regular meeting Thursday, March 27 at 6 p.m. followed by Family Night at 7 p.m. The Post will have Laird’s barbeque and members are asked to bring a side dish. Post 370 will miss the members who are unable to come to the meeting and keep them in their prayers. Post 370 will soon be electing new officers.

On Thursday, March 13, the Llano High School Band met at the band hall to depart for San Antonio by school bus. After arriving at the airport, they checked in and went through security to board Miami Air Flight No. 638 at 2 p.m. for Orlando, Fla. An hour and 56 minutes later the students were standing on Florida soil and were greeted by tour organizers to board buses for Disney’s Magic Kingdom. After some free time to explore the park, the band watched the Magic Kingdom’s famous “Spectromagic” Parade and “Wishes” Nighttime Spectromagic Fireworks Show.

The Lantex Theater is the place to be Saturday, March 29 for multiple showings of The Spiderwick Chronicles. Main Street will be presenting this wonderful family movie at 10 a.m., 1 p.m.; 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Last month, for Alvin and the Chipmunks, over 350 people attended and we hope to repeat the success of our venture for the community’s entertainment. Visit your local merchants and receive a $1 off coupon for entry to the movie.