Matthew 24:21 - "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." (22) "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." Even most who have read but little of the Bible will remember these verses of warning.

Excessive exposure to a hot environment, especially while active or working, can bring about a variety of heat-induced symptoms – some mild and some severe. Heat illness can range from mild to moderate cramping and leg swelling to more severe heat exhaustion and even fatal heat stroke if the body’s temperature is not brought down.

A group of youth from the Brady Church of Christ spent a few days on the Cherokee Home for Children campus. They had Bible Study, played games and enjoyed the fellowship. Payton Suggs visited Doug and Cyndi Suggs again. He spent a whole week with them. Payten Vaughn is back in town.

This weekend the Olympics will begin in China. The teams have been established and the athletes have been training for a number of years. For some of them they will enter a race and it will be over in ten seconds. Others will take hours to finish. It is a long awaited event that will have some athletes wearing gold around their necks while others will go home empty handed.

100 Years Ago August 6, 1908 The County Convention was called to order at 2 p.m.and temporary organization was effected by electing John Seiders, chairman and W.A. Smith, secretary. The following were elected to the various conventions as follows: State - S.E.W. Hudson, John Seiders and A.J. Harkey; Congressional - J.E.G. Hillman, J.R.

We finished off the month of July with only .4 of an inch of rain. In the first 6 months of 2008 we have registered just a little over 10 inches of rain, as opposed to 2007, when we received 37.7 inches in the first half of the year. It is hard to imagine such a difference in rainfall.

Reading Recommendations: Dreams From My Father, A Story of Race and Inheritance, Barack Obama - "Almost a decade has passed since this book was first published. As I mentioned in the original introduction, the opportunity to write the book came when I was in law school, the result of my election as the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review.

With temperatures soaring to near record levels this summer, I’d like to remind everyone to drink enough water while working outside. Dehydration can quickly lead to poor performance and heat related illness. Preventing heat illness in the first place should be your first priority. The human body is very adaptable, but needs time to compensate for changes in its environment.

Try as I may, it’s very difficult to start an article that’s a Column of this type without bringing up the weather. Country folks are pretty well tied to it; most coffee or lunch table conversations get around to it sooner or later, and it pretty well affects us all, one way or the other.

Receipts totaled 1619 head for the week. Stocker heifers sold $2 to $3 higher and stocker steers were $1 higher. Feeder steers and heifers sold $2 higher in a steady market. Packer cows were $2 higher while packer bulls were steady. Rep. Sales Ruben Packer -Brownwood-3 steers-373@125.00 Leonard Hill-Brownwood-4 steers-416@123.00 MitchHutchinson-Stephenville-1steers-550@111.00 Winkel-Brooks Partnership-Austin-10 steers-631@109.75 Bill Burgess-San Saba-8 steers-660@109.50 Gary Bauman & Jim ...

The San Saba Ladies Golf Association met July 31, 2008 for play day with the Chair for June, Anita Miles, calling for a game using the traveling four ball point system, one point for boggie, two points for par, and three points for a birdie, plus your handicap. Four ladies made the maximum of 40 points, Sandee Hartley, Dorothy Sterner, Bobbie Churchill, and Jo Ann Snow.

Dear Editor: We, the citizens of the city of San Saba and county of San Saba, are lucky to have good and caring men on our city police force, county sheriff's department, and our volunteer fire department. We are also lucky to have caring, thoughtful people on our EMS squad. Let's remember these wonderful, dedicated people in our prayers and thank them when we see them around town. A grateful citizen - Suzanne Walters San Saba, TX

July 26, 2008 Turner, Ryan Neil - Disorderly Conduct; time served July 28, 2008 Cogan, Charles Michael - Possession of Marijuana; bond Deloach, Melanie Goodwin - Warrant-Attorney General's office; released by Attorney General's office

Not wishing anyone bad news, but sure hope the hurricane that is in the Gulf will bring us some relief from the heat and dry conditions that exist. Next week there just may be some report of rain over the county. At last report Monday at noon the storm was to hit Galveston Tuesday or Wednesday and residents there were told to fill gas tanks and be prepared for the storm. Dennis Scroggins recently spent some time in Arizona at a church retreat.

My wife and I have always liked the outdoors and had friends who invited us to go fishing and camping on their ranch on the Rio Grande River. It was a very remote area and you very seldom saw anyone else. One evening we were at our camp and starting the fire for supper when we heard a voice but it was on the other side of the river.

Summer vacation is about over, where in the world did summer go? The “dog days” are definitely here. My outdoor thermometer probably can’t find the number 80 anymore! It sure can search out that century mark in a hurry! My air conditioner is not acting friendly, and that is more than worrisome! Much to my surprise, I met Pearl Cantrell in San Saba at the Dollar General.

Brain scans reveal that cocaine, alcohol and tobacco used during pregnancy can cause changes in the brain scan of developing fetuses, and that these changes can remain detectable for years, HealthDay News reported April 7. “We found that reductions in cortical gray matter and total brain volumes were associated with prenatal exposure to cocaine, alcohol or cigarettes,” said researcher Michael Rivkin of Children’s Hospital and the Boston Medical Center conducted MRI scans on the brains o ...

The descendants of B.A. and Dora McCoy Cook met at the Lake Victor Community Center in Burnet County on July 19th. The children of B.A. and Dora were: Bessie Harris Smith, Vera Turnipseed, Maggie Kincaid, Goldia Harkey, Ruth Kincaid, Melvin Cook, and Maybelle Ray. Maybelle Ray of Cherokee is the only one of the children still living.

Pay $20 to SSMS for the following supplies on Scheduled Pick-up Day on August 13: 4-Notebooks Spirals Dividers Composition Notebook Notebook Paper 12-#2 Pencils Colored Pencils-12 count Crayons 2-pocket folder You will need to purchase the following items on your own: 2 large boxes of Kleenex (given to your homeroom teacher) Pencil Bag (no boxes are allowed) The following are not allowed at SSMS: Pencil boxes Extra notebooks Zippered Binders *Backpacks on wheels *Only ...

Option #1 Pay $20 to SSMS for the following supplies on Schedule Pick-up Day on August 13: Notebooks (4) Spirals (2) Dividers (4) Notebook Paper-3 packages Folders with pockets and brads (4) Pens-blue, black, and red (6 each) 12-#2 Pencils Protractor Erasers (2) Reinforcements You will need to purchase the following items on your own: 2 large boxes of Kleenex (given to your homeroom teacher) Pencil Bag (no boxes are allowed) The following are not allowed at SSMS: Pencil bo ...

Ann Marie Adams and Vincent Edward Gould were united in marriage on July 12, 2008, barefooted on the beach at Sandal's Whitehouse in Jamaica. Surrounded by friends and family and a beautiful view of the Caribbean, Ann was escorted by her father to a bamboo arch decorated with white and sunset lilies, where Vince awaited.

Attention Cancer Survivors! If you were diagnosed with cancer yesterday or 30 years ago, you are a cancer survivor. American Cancer Society would like to recognize your survivorship with a free gift to you. To redeem your free gift contact your American Cancer Society, at 512-919-1864 or email Velma Perez at velma.perez@cancer.org.

Tom Dahl recently earned national accreditation as a Certified Floodplain Manager. The certification, awarded by the Texas Floodplain Management Association, recognized and accredited through the Association of State Floodplain Managers, signifies that he possesses the theoretical knowledge and practical experience in floodplain management necessary to pass a comprehensive examination. Since January 2001, Tom Dahl has served as the TxDOT area engineer for San Saba, Mills and Lampasas Counties ...

In the year 1858, Texas had been a state only 13 years having joined the Union in 1845. By order of Congress, the Comanche Indians were to be moved out of Texas and into Indian Territoy in 1858. Except the Comanches did not recognize that order and were not removed until many years later!

On August 8, 2008, Raymond "Corky" and Velma Poe will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married August 8, 1958 in San Saba, Texas. Corky and Velma have three children, two grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and one step-great-grandson. Their children are Kim Wells and husband, Joseph, of San Saba; Kelli Hubbard and husband, Bill, of Zephyr; and Mike Poe and wife, Tina, of Richland Springs.

The American Cancer Society gratefully acknowledges the following memorial gifts. To send a memorial, please call Jo Anne Hardy at 372-5478, or mail your gift to Jo Anne Hardy, P.O. Box 33, San Saba, TX 76877. James Green Bill & Jo Anne Hardy Jim Cromer Don & Gay Woodruff Bill & Jo Anne Hardy Shay, Betty & Shelby Hardy Archie Rutherford Randy, Darby & Russell Nicholas Iva Lee Hamilton Will Adams/Anita Miles Melinda Walker Marvin & Cynthia Weatherby Kennith & Patsy Stewart Mr.

The Rev. Stan Cosby of St. Stephen United Methodist Church of Amarillo, Texas, is the evangelist for this year's Methodist Camp Meeting to be held August 14-17, 2008, at the Methodist Campground on Cherokee Creek, near Chappel, in San Saba County. Dr. Cosby is a native of Canyon, Texas, where he graduated high school.

Wednesday, August 13 will be the 2008-2009 Middle School Registration, School Supply Pick-up, and Yearbook Picture Day. Students will be able to pick up their schedules, purchase school supplies, and take their yearbook picture for the 2008-2009 school year. Registration will be from 8-12 for 5th and 6th Graders, and from 1-4 for 7th and 8th Graders.

The San Saba Summer Tennis Tournament was held on August 1-2. There were 70 players from around the area playing in the tournament. Tayler Hibler of San Saba was the highlight of the tournament by winning first place in all three events that she played: singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

Hill Country RSVP volunteer statistics for January through June for the RSVP volunteers in San Saba County indicated 14,499 hours of service to the community in the service categories indicated in the accompanying chart. Contributions based on minimum wage scale @ $5.85 an hour, amounted to 87,744.15 in donated revenue for the county.

Aug 12th 8:00 – 12:00, 1:00 – 4:00 Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Schedule Pick-up and Fall Pictures Aug 13th 8:00 – 12:00, 1:00 – 4:00 Senior Schedule Pick-up and Senior Pictures. Juniors and Seniors taking Dual Credit Courses will need to bring all CTC paperwork which was mailed to you.

The San Saba Elementary School will hold registration for students in grades Kindergarten through 4th Grade on August 12, 2008 from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm in the Elementary Cafeteria. Parents are welcome to come at their convenience between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm to gather information and complete necessary forms. Students new to the district should attend this registration.

San Saba High School Cheerleaders participated in a three day camp sponsored by UCA last week. The group consists of Seniors-Calea Turner, Sara Sloan, Brittany Glaze and Nathania Cisneroz; Juniors-Nicole Sears, Kayce Ellis, and Kayla Ellis; Sophomores-Tarah Crosby and Nina Paredez and Freshman-Ashley Pulatie, Mari Zapata and Courtney Pryor. The girls received a superior rating overall and were give special recognition to their determination and attention.

Potential students planning on entering a Texas public college or university can take the THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment) Quick Test on Saturday, August 9, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. with sign-in at 8:30. It will be held at the Frank Fickett Educational Center, 806 Steve Hawkins Parkway, Marble Falls, located off of Highway 281 South in the Gateway area. Texas Tech University at Highland Lakes is offering the test as a convenience for area students.

JoAnn Randolph Gibson, 79, of Wichita Falls, completed her journey from this world to her Heavenly home on July 28, 2008, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She passed away peacefully in Abilene at the home of her son, Robert Layne Gibson. JoAnn was born January 2, 1929, in Cherokee, Texas, to Charles and Martha Randolph.

Leah Marlene Craig went to be with her Lord and Savior at the age of 71 on Monday, July 21, 2008, at a Comfort Care Center, with her loving family at her bedside. She was born on November 7, 1936 in Zanesville, Ohio, to Eherment Perry Bates and Lena Irene Jenkins Bates.

Tom Gibson, 54, of Richland Springs, passed away Saturday, July 26, 2008 at the Darnell Hospital in Fort Hood, TX. He was born January 20, 1954, in Brady, Texas, the son of George Rogers Gibson and Zetha Mae Smith Gibson. He was self-employed in the air conditioner repair industry. He is survived by his spouse, Sheila Gibson of San Saba; two daughters: Brandi Gibson of Austin, Texas; and Jana Gibson of Richland Springs; two brothers: William Gibson and his wife, Sally, of Richland Springs; and ...

The first day of school will be August 25th. Classes will begin at 8:00 a.m. and dismiss at 3:12 p.m. If you have a child age four or five, he/she may be eligible for Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten. If you feel your child may qualify for Pre-Kindergarten, please call the school at (325) 622-4298.