August 20, 2008

The Negro school was located in the southwest part of the Wheeler pasture, nestled smugly amidst a grove of live oaks with grapevine climbing and hanging endearingly to their trunks. The plank, rectangular structure had a front entrance facing east, a back entrance facing west and three windows to the South. The structure was painted white nearby, to the right, was Centennial Creek flowing gently by the little school house.

Mason's Comanche Creek Golf Course may very well be one of the best kept secrets in the Texas Hill Country. As a key attraction of Ft. Mason City Park, the golf course provides the citizens of Mason with great outdoor fun in a beautiful setting.

The Mason Lions Club met Tuesday August 12th, for its regular weekly luncheon meeting. There were 43 members and 8 visitors in attendance.

In many of my news articles reporting activities of the Mason Bluebonnet Study Club, the phrase “the club is a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs” is included. Some readers have asked what the General Federation of Women’s Clubs is and why a local club belongs to an international organization headquartered in Washington, DC.

Due to rain and a muddy construction site, the ground breaking ceremony for the site work on the Hill Country University Center (HCUC) will be moved to Marktplatz at the corner of Main and Adam Streets on Thursday, August 21 beginning at 10: 00 am. The community is invited.

SAN ANGELO- Texas AgriLife Extension Service’s annual Silver Clover Recognition Banquet celebrated its 41st year August 14 with a banquet at the Zentner’s Daughter Steak House in San Angelo. This year’s event recognized 29 individuals who are instrumental to the success of District 7 4-H youth program.

Whether it is the excitement of live pari-mutuel horse racing, the thrills of the carnival and midway, the music, the displays of agricultural and home prod-ucts, livestock competitions or the colorful parade, the 120th Gillespie County Fair Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 21-24, offers activities and events for the entire family.

Each year over Labor Day Weekend wine lovers and music enthusiasts gather at the Quiet Valley Ranch (9 miles south of Kerrville on TX Hwy 16) to celebrate the art of songwriting and winemaking. This Texas Hill Country setting is perfect for introducing our audiences to the newest and best wines that Texas has to offer in addition to performances by dozens of the world? s best songwriters.

Mason Rodeo Association will hosts its regular business meeting at Zavala’s on Wednesday, August 20th, at 6 p. m.

The Mason County Historical Society met on Tuesday evening August 5th. We had much to celebrate.

Alpha Beta Psi Service Organization met for a salad supper at Leslie Copes home. There is much excitement and a buzz in the air for our organization to have a fun and productive year serving our community.

As Texas school children prepare to head back to school, the Texas Department of Public Safety reminds all drivers to watch out for children walking to school or waiting for school buses—and to obey all traffic laws related to school buses. “DPS has zero tolerance for vehicles that pass stopped school buses,” said Col.

Each year over Labor Day Weekend wine lovers and music enthusiasts gather at the Quiet Valley Ranch (9 miles south of Kerrville on TX Hwy 16) to celebrate the art of songwriting and winemaking. This Texas Hill Country setting is perfect for introducing our audiences to the newest and best wines that Texas has to offer in addition to performances by dozens of the world? s best songwriters.

Koy Mac Grote and Sarah Renee Owens were united in marriage on June 14, 2008. Officiated by Gary Brown and witnessed by several family members from Texas, the ceremony was held in the meadow area at Wild Basin Lodge in Allenspark, Colorado. The natural setting was breathtaking with green grass, an array of wildflowers, and snowcapped mountains.

The Mason County 4-H club met on Saturday, August 9th at the Extension office and Heritage Park. We had planned to swim at the pool, but it was closed early so we kicked off our 4-H year by playing games at the Park. 4-H members and leaders filled out their new enrollment forms for the year and we had a Leader meeting while the 4-Hers played games.

Llano, Texas- On Wednesday, August 20th, a member of Congressman Mike Conaway's (TX-11) staff will be in Mason to visit personally with constituents. This will allow you to share concerns, request help on a federal issue or to ask any questions you may have.

School is just around the corner, and the teachers at Mason Elementary School are excited about meeting their students! Pre-K, Kindergarten, First, and Second grades will be having “Meet the Teacher” on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 from 6: 00 to 7:

Austin, Texas, August 18—Less than 1 percent of the Fortune 500 CEOs and only 7. 3 percent of our federal elected officials are female. Though there is a great need for more female leadership in our country, only 21 percent of girls believe that they currently have most of the qualities required to be a good leader, according to the Girl Scout Research Institute.

August John “Gus” Kaderka of Mason, TX went to be with his heavenly Father while on vacation in Denver, CO on Sunday, August 17, 2008, at the age of 60 years, 11 months. Gus was born September 17, 1947 in Georgetown, TX. to August Albert Kaderka and Vlasta Svehlak Kaderka.

Lillian Jordan Early, formerly of Brownwood, died Sunday, August 17, 2008, in Grapevine at the age of 86. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 23, 2008, at 1: 30 p.

On Monday night, I sat and listened to a debate I've heard many times over the years. I was at the Mason ISD school board meeting, and you might guess the most heated topic concerned 2008-2009 fuel costs, or maybe the latest testing requirements for graduation.

The first game on most H. S. and college football schedules is usually a Mary.

The Puncherdome was all a buzz this past weekend as our MHS Punchers hosted a preseason scrimmage against the Braves of Ozona. With over 500 people in attendance you would have thought it was a Friday night. The Punchers who have been receiving quite a bit of hype during the preseason lived up to their marquee billing by dismantling a very talented Ozona team.

1939-1940 Back Row Left to Right: Richard Dobie, Calvin Thaxton, Wilbert Wendum, Roy Lehmberg, Alex Grosse, Del Roy King, Jack Hofmann, Carroll Hahn.

The Mason High School Cheerleaders held a cheer camp for future Mason Cheerleaders. These future cheerleaders will be performing at the first home football game.

The family of Wilda Fay Jennings invites you to join them for a birthday celebration on Saturday, August 23rd from 2: 00 – 4: 00 p.

Thru' the years, the public has been so quick to criticize our school system, and the many changes. So often people fail to understand the needs for progress in our education systems, and don't bother to find the answers.

On August 14, 1948, Patsy Marie Kothmann and Donald Boyce Ziriax were united in marriage during a beautiful garden ceremony at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence P.

I thought it was hot here in Mason! However, I now know that there are hotter parts of this world and that’s in Florida. I was in a continuous sauna/steam bath for a week in Florida.

Realtor. Some pronounce it “realator.

Let it rain. Thank God for the rain we have gotten.

Courtland and I pulled into Lake City, Colorado in late afternoon and promptly encountered an argument. We had gone into a store to ask directions to Dan’s Fly Shop, and the woman who owned the store was evidently trying to get another woman to have her husband carry some boxes to the basement. The other woman didn’t want her husband going down the basement stairs, for some reason I never understood.

Raw apple cider vinegar has been touted as a health tonic for many years. Its use for health is documented back to the time of Hippocrates in 400 B. C.

THE IDLE AMERICAN A Round-Up of Reflections…

It’s a bird. . .

“This old dog won’t hunt” and similar phrases are blended to the cultural language of the rural south and without them our proud Texas dialect would be “as bland as red beans without a chunk of salt pork. ” The use of these localisms which perhaps astound many of the “cityfied” folk from away up yonder is, in fact, a pure delight to the oft referred to society of the “unwashed. ”

It is high peach time here in the Texas Hill Country, so I thought we might talk peaches this week. Did you know that peaches originated in China?

It seems sometimes that only a few things are changing and getting done around the City of Mason, but behind the scenes there is often a number of things happening. Just recently we have hired a couple of new employees to fill some vacancies, and now we are again working hard to keep up and get things accomplished. A week ago on Monday night, the City Commission met and several more issues are being addressed.

This Voice in My Heart was written by world-class distance runner, elite coach and Austin resident, Gilbert Tuhabonye. I’ve known about Gilbert for quite some time – first through my sister, Kerri, and brother-in-law, Dave, who have each done some training with Gilbert’s Gazelles and most recently through my old friend J. B.

NEW ARRIVALS - Quotes are from the cover or summary. Faces of Fear by John Saul (F SAU).

Fuel Kids for School Karen Malouf and Neva Cochran, MS, RD, LD