Winter is over and gone and with it should be the excuses for not being physically active. The warm weather and the blooming flowers just beckon us outside. There are a variety of activities the entire family can do to meet daily activity needs. Before you head out the door, you may wonder how much activity is enough.

On Sat. April 12 Joel, Betty, Garrett, and Erin Ratliff were in Marble Falls to attend the annual “Ratliff Reunion.” This years gathering was held at the River City Grille. Those attending were the direct descendants of Jesse and Della (Moss) Ratliff. Joel’s grandfather and grandmother, E.B. and Willie Ratliff, were well known in the Cherokee and San Saba communities, as they owned land at Babyhead and lived there from the 1930’s until their deaths in the 80s. Wednesday evening, April ...

This past week I had surgery on my foot. I will get to wear a boot for about six weeks. I have a new found sympathy for those who have to use crutches, who are limited by their mobility, and who depend on others for help. Learning to use crutches has been “fun.” I will say that I have not fallen…yet.

100 Years Ago April 23, 1908 A News reporter went down to the Red Bluff bridge Tuesday to see the thing go down with the sweeping torrents of water going over it, according to rumored reports. But he found it standing like Gibralter still 10 to 12 feet above the water. It was reported one time that the Goldthwaite bridge was washed away but later reports say it is under water but still standing.

We have had no rain to measure the past week but everything is pretty and green. We have very few wild flowers due to lack of rain last fall and winter. There were 13 folks attending the community meeting last Saturday night. The working committees for the upcoming May picnic were appointed and will be published later.

Reading Recommendations: Gillespie County, A View of the Past, Monty and Michelle Mohon - This fine coffee table sized book features an unique collection of photographs which chronicle the people who settled and developed this Texas Hill Country soil. From the first settlers dining on bear and panther meat to Meusebach's confrontation with the Comanches to the accolades of native son Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, the settling of Gillespie County is fascinating and colorful. This personal his ...

Here’s hoping you had an enjoyable & commemorative San Jacinto Day on Monday. It’s somewhat short of amazing to this humble scribe that so many Texas folks could be so oblivious to such an important day in the history of our great state, not to mention the effect on our National progression.

There has been a lot in the news lately about groups where one man may have many wives. Many believe or are taught from childhood that you cannot get to heaven or enjoy it, if you do not have many wives. In other parts of the world many are teaching that if you die killing people who call themselves Christians they will get a double reward in heaven which includes many virgins.

April 13, 2008 Edmondson, Karen S. - Driving While License Invalid; bond Lopez, Ren - Public Intoxication/ICE Hold; released to INS Rojas, Ceasar - Public Intoxication; released to see JP Salinas, Fulgencio C. - Public Intoxication/ICE Hold; released to INS April 14, 2008 Stewart, James M. - Writ of Attachment-Lampasas County, Possession of Marijuana, Bond-San Saba County; released to Lampasas County April 17, 2008 Gill, Timothy Eric - Public Intoxication Salinas, Justin Daniel - Reckl ...

The Bend Community meeting went off as scheduled, but with a low attendance. The few that did attend enjoyed visiting and a game of “Five Crowns.” A big thanks goes out to Leon and Mebbie Eckhoff for hosting the event. It is amazing what kind of information can come from people sitting around and talking.

It’s been an exciting week for my household. I made an unplanned trip to Temple Thursday night. You know, the night of the big storms. The clinic in San Saba sent me off to have my eye checked. Many hours later a nice young resident told me I had an incomplete PVD, not to worry, it was tearing away nicely and all would be fine.

The Cowboy Cemetery Association meeting and cemetery cleaning was held on April 19th. The association provided barbeque brisket, sausage, beans, potato salad, slaw, and pickles, etc. Desserts and drinks were provided by the members. The main project for the Association for the coming year is to raise funds to help pour a concrete slab beside the building and under the new roof.

The San Saba Co. Extension Education Clubs will host their annual May Event on Wednesday, May 7th at the First United Methodist Church, 204 W Brown. Each year the E. E. Clubs offer a varied program to enlighten and entertain the audience followed by a salad and dessert luncheon. This year, Phyllis Poehlmann will be discussing and demonstrating how to slump and fuse glass, with special focus on how she makes fused glass mosaic crosses.

The Friends of the Rylander Memorial Library have scheduled their Spring Book Sale for Friday May 2nd & Saturday May 3rd. Thanks to the generosity of John Northern, this year’s sale will again be held in the old Harry’s Ladies Store on the south side of Wallace Street next to Sugarbakers.

San Saba County residents are welcome to join their neighbors in Burnet and Llano Counties at a free household hazardous waste collection event Saturday, April 26. The event will be held at LCRA’s Western District Complex at the intersection of RR 1431 and Highway 29 in Llano County. The collection event will be open from 8:30 a.m.

The San Saba County Pecan Growers will host the annual Pecan Field Day on Monday May 5th at the Civic Center. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. with the program beginning at 9:00 a.m. There will be a $20.00 registration fee for those who call in and pre-register. The fee will be $25.00 for those who do not pre-register.

Annie Mae (Chadwick) Goldberg, 89, of Bowser Texas, passed away Tuesday, April 15, 2008. Annie Mae was born April 6, 1919 to Joel and Annie (Mills) Chadwick. Annie Mae graduated from Menard High School in 1938. In 1940, Annie joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corp. While stationed in South Dakota she met her husband, Isaac (Jerry) I.

Gloria Beth (Gobe) Gatliff Lee, 66, of Brazoria, Texas, passed away Monday, April 14, 2008 in the Cornerstone Hospital in Houston, TX. She was born July 14, 1941, in San Saba, Tx, the daughter of Clifton Edward Gatliff and Gertie Gibson Gatliff. She attended the Assembly of God Church. She is survived by her mother Gertie Gatliff of San Saba, two daughters: Sammy Trucellia Bailey of Lampasas, and Rebecca (Beckie) Ann Neville and her husband Troy of Brazoria, TX.

James A. Smith, 61, of Llano, formerly of San Saba, passed away, Saturday, April 19, 2008 at his home in Llano. He was born July 21, 1946, in San Saba, the son of Alfred Elmo Smith and Rutha Maude Rankin Smith. On December 2, 1967, James Alfred Smith and Nelda Gay Hightower were married in Lometa, Texas.

Royce Allen Henry, 78, of Kingsland, passed away April 13, 2008. He was born to Sol and Zada Pearl (Reid) Henry on March 16, 1930 in Pernell, Oklahoma. Mr. Henry proudly served his country in the United States Army. He married Maridell Lambert on October 21, 1960 in Farmington, New Mexico.

Sue Ann Reynolds, 70, of San Saba, passed away, Thursday, April 17, 2008 in Brownwood, Texas. She was born January 22, 1938, in Hopkins County the daughter of Robert Patton and Clara Catter Patton. On April 6, 1956, Ollie Sue Patton and Curtis Reynolds were married in San Angelo, TX.

Good attendance is so important to student success. The next round of TAKS testing begins April 28, 2008. Please urge your child to be at school each and every day. There are only six weeks of school remaining. Upcoming events include: April 28-May 2 TAKS testing and retests May 1 Lake Brownwood Lions Club Banquet 6:00 p.m. May 2 Junior/Senior Prom May 5 Bad weather day (holiday) May 8 Mirabeau B.

The San Saba Ladies Golf Association met April 17, 2008 for play day with the following members present: Jo Ann Snow, Bobbie Churchill, Pat Ribb, Nell McHorse, Jo Anne Hardy, Hattie Rogers, Dorothy Sterner, Sandee Hartley, and Anita Miles. The Chair for April, Jo Ann Snow, called for a game of Low Gross, Low Net, and Low Putts.

Our two Lady Dillo Tracksters ventured over to Gillespie County last Friday and competed in a Regional Qualifiers Meet. There was PLENTY of competition over there as schools from all over the state of Texas were competing. Mercedes High School was there and for you folks who have no idea where that is just travel about seven hours south towards the Rio Grande Valley and you’ll get an idea of how far those guys and gals came to run.

The state competition was held in Corpus Christi April 2nd thru the 5th . This was the largest gathering of students for SkillsUSA in the past seven years with over 5600 students and 1500 advisors from all over the state of Texas. Our San Saba chapter 3761 took three students in project competition where all three placed. Kyle Anderson won a state superior ribbon with a 98 on his project and notebook.

San Saba High School News Wed. 4-23 Varsity Tennis – Regional Tournament - Abilene Thurs. 4-24 Ag – Tarleton State CDE Contest FCCLA Banquet – HS Cafeteria 7:00 Tennis – Regional Tournament - Abilene Fri. 4-25 6-wks. Grades due Ag – Sam Houston State CDE – Huntsville Track – Regional Meet – ACU Sat. 4-26 Ag – TAMU State CDE Track Regional Meet - ACU San Saba High School TAKS Test Schedule for April 28 – May2: Tues.

San Saba native, Kayla Murray, was nominated for the 2008 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Murray was one of 39 students from Howard Payne University who received the honor. Who’s Who nominees are college juniors or seniors who have been noted for their scholarship ability, participation and leadership in academic and extracurricular activities, citizenship and service to Howard Payne, and potential for future achievement.

The track teams qualified three individuals for the region 4 meet at Huntsville this weekend. Sara Perry will compete in the long jump, Miguel Rocha in the 2 mile run, and Hector Jimenez in the 400m run. The girl’s and boy’s tennis and golf teams did not qualify anyone for regionals.

Students look forward to getting to high school because many more privileges come their way as they get older. One of the most revered privileges is being able to leave campus during lunch. Although this is only approximately 30 minutes out of the school day when students are unattended, much can happen and much can be prevented if we as adults help to watch and patrol the parks and highways.