continued from last week... There has always been great mystery about the power and circumstances relating to the existence of God's ARK. For many years during the reign of King David and many kings after him, the ARK was kept in the sacred room of the Holy of Holiest in the tabernacle Moses had built, and in that room in the house of God that King Solomon built.

Want to provide some inexpensive fun for your children? Do you need something for your children and family to eat? Feeling like you need to spend some quality time with your children? Then cooking with your children can be the answer to all the questions. Baking together as a family can provide many hours of interaction, fun and education.

There will be a Fajita Lunch Sunday, March 28th from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. at the Cherokee Fire Station. Donation Only...... All proceeds go to Relay for Life. Ellen and Josh Jones from Colorado visited friends and family in Cherokee and Llano this week. It was great to see them. Tommy, Kaci, Talli and Tori Morrison spent part of their Spring Break camping. Danny and Janiece Duggan spent time in Waco recently.

Who would ever have known that Saturday was the first day of spring? The north wind was very strong and it was 38 degrees for a high that day. Sunday was a bit warmer but still windy. Monday was finally a pretty day and we enjoyed that. A friend from San Antonio said since it has stayed colder longer this year, he predicts a cold winter next year.

Reading Recommendations: A Reliable Wife, Robert Goolrick Abandoning her worldly life, traveling to a remote Wisconsin town in the dead of winter, trusting her future to a man she had never met, such was Catherine Land's new beginning. But there was an ending in sight as well, an ending that would redeem the treachery ahead, justify the sacrifice and allow her to start over yet again.

She was in her seventies and having a few health problems. The doctors had been doing tests and wanted to do surgery. Our family decided to meet at her home the evening before the surgery and take her out to eat as a special treat. She would have nothing to do with it because she wanted to fix a meal for us and did not want any help.

Just like clockwork, about the same time every year when I look out the window and notice the buds forming on the oak trees surrounding my house, I put down the knitting needles and start digging through my fabric stash. My friend Caleb supposes that knitting just naturally seems to be more of a winter activity but he has no explanation to offer as to why Spring brings the urge to get out the sewing machine. I have been trying to explain this phenomenon to myself.

It was a cold, rainy, dark day. A poorly clad newsboy stood shivering in a doorway shouting, "Morning newspapers!" A warmly dressed man bought a paper and said, "This is bad weather for you, isn't it?" "I don't mind it much," he replied. "The sun will shine again." Whatever happens, don't lose hope and faith. Life without hope is like a bird without song.

Local churches should be groups of people with whom men and women may gather to draw near to God and meet with Him. God promised ancient Israel, "I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people"

If some of the Bend News doesn’t make good sense it will be because I came down with some sort of crud Sunday and Monday it was worse. Fever, chills and upset stomach and a head that feels like a big empty drum ( some might say that is normal).

All good things must come to an end, and so, it’s back to school we go. The weather is absolutely nasty and cold. We did have a few nice days during spring break. I managed to get a flower bed dug out and planted. I just hope the flowers survive this frigid weather.

The last thing any driver wants is to pay for bad fuel. When Texas drivers fill up their gas tanks, they need to feel confident the fuel they pay for meets the highest quality standards and is free of water and other contaminants. Thanks to a new law, the Texas Department of Agriculture is now authorized to protect consumers from receiving tainted fuel. The new statewide Fuel Quality Program was established as a result of the passage of House Bill 2925, which authorizes TDA to regula ...

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs today encouraged consumers to sign up early to receive rebates on selected ENERGY STAR appliances purchased during the Texas Trade Up appliance rebate program April 16-25. Approximately $23 million in federal stimulus funds are available for the rebate program. Beginning April 5, a toll-free phone number and an online reservation system will be available for Texans to reserve an appliance rebate.

The CourtYard @Millican Pecan Co. introduces a lunch alternative available to students of all ages, the $6.00 Lunch Special! Nutritional Fast Food. Kristen Millican – Owner of The Courtyard states, " Although anyone can purchase one of these tasty lunches, we specifically wanted to provide our San Saba students a lunch alternative that would be nutritious, served fast, and very affordable."

Mr. and Mrs. Steven Leshin, of Dallas, Texas, are happy to announce the engagement of their daughter, Miss Hilary Ann Leshin, to Mr. Wesley Dean Adams. Wesley is the son of Mr. and Mrs. R.D. Buddy Adams, and the grandson of Bebe and the late Dean Bagley, and Lillian and the late Rip Adams of San Saba, TX.

Capital Farm Credit, the state’s largest rural lender, recently distributed $17.1 million in cash to its customer-owners and allocated another $39.9 million eligible for future cash payouts, based on its 2009 net earnings. Capital Farm Credit was pleased to pay this patronage particularly after a year that provided more than its share of challenges for lenders and their customers. "We take pride in the fact that our capital position and efficient operations allow us to ...

The City of San Saba would like to congratulate Al Hamrick, City Code Enforcement Officer, on being named "City Employee of the Year" at The 2nd Annual San Saba Awards Recognition Banquet held March 11th, 2010.

Austin - Commissioner Todd Staples is pleased to announce the City of San Saba has become the newest member of the GO TEXAN Rural Community Program, a Texas Department of Agriculture initiative to market rural Texas. "The voice of rural Texas continues to be heard thanks to the hard work of its proud citizens,"

On the tail of the March 5th decision in the Oncor CREZ transmission line case, a similar decision has been rendered in the LCRA CREZ case that involves the southeastern part of San Saba County – the so-called Gillespie to Newton 345kV transmission line project. The Administrative Law Judge who presided over the LCRA case, Wendy K.

On Friday, April 2, 2010 the Community Choir and San Saba’s First Baptist Church will present a Tenebrae service to commemorate the Crucifixion. The production is titled "a crib, a cross, and a cave" and will consist of music with live orchestra and drama that will depict the life of Christ from birth to the cross.

The Heart of Texas Country Music Association will celebrate its 21st Anniversary on Friday and Saturday, March 19th and 20th, and Friday and Saturday, March 26th and 27th at the Ed Davenport Civic Center in Brady. The festivities will include a Welcome Party and Dance on the Friday nights, an afternoon Matinee Concert at 1:00 PM on the Saturdays followed by the Dinner and Dance on Saturday night beginning at 7:00 PM. Only 2,400 tickets will be sold for the festivities.

The Texas Republican Party will have a runoff election for Justice, Supreme Court, Place 3. The two candidates are Rich Green and Debra Lehrman. Local Republicans can cast their ballot during early voting at the clerk's office, April 5-9 or on election day, April 13, at Arrowhead Bank.

The San Saba Multi-Service Senior Center, 705 E. Storey, provides activities and services that meet the diverse needs of mature adults in the community and seeks to assist them in maintaining healthy and independent lives through programs that enrich the body, mind and spirit. Sign up for an exercise class, or get involved in community outreach projects.

Phillip Martin will be the speaker at Abundant Life Ministries, Sunday, March 18th at 6 pm, located at 1005 South High Street, San Saba. Phillip is a teacher/coach at Cherokee ISD where his wife Shawna also teaches. They make their home in San Saba with their two children, Ethan and Emma.

Sandra and Ray Deans won the award for best costume at the 2nd Annual San Saba Awards Recognition Banquet held on March 11.

The annual Central Texas Pecan Short course will be conducted by the Texas AgriLife Extension Office in Mills County from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on March 30. The program will be held at the Mills County Civic Center located at 1103 Cline in Goldthwaite. This program will educate producers on the best management practices available.

We realize that to live in Texas, one is going to experience severe differences in relating to activities of the weather. I would readily agree that recent weather events have just about run the scale on quite anumber of the variances of those occasions. A fellow down at the Donut shoptold me Tues.

Receipts totaled 2679 head for the week. The market was very active and aggressive and continues to advance higher with stocker steers selling $2 to $3 higher and stocker heifers moving $5 higher. Feeder steers and heifers all sold $2 higher. Packer cows sold $2 higher and bulls $1 higher.

Anna Owen, 92, of San Saba, Texas, passed away Thursday, March 18, 2010, at Eventide Nursing Home. She was born April 30, 1917, in Goldthwaite, Texas, to Emzy McLean and Nettie B. Carter McLean. She married Jack Owen in Goldthwaite Texas, on February 29, 1936. Jack preceded her in death October 7, 1989. Anna was a member of the First Baptist Church of San Saba and active in her Sunday School Class and was a Girl Scout Leader. She is survived by two daughters, Anita Miles and ...

Mada Lee Smith, 96, of San Saba, Texas, passed away on Wednesday, March 17, 2010, at Eventide Nursing Home. She was born January 21, 1914, in San Saba to Roy Crockett and Maude Goodloe Crockett. Mada Lee married Floyd Smith on June 19, 1930, in Waurika, Oklahoma. Floyd preceded her in death on January 18, 1985. Mada Lee was a member of the First Baptist Church of San Saba and was very dedicated to her profession of Treasurer of San Saba County, Texas. She is survived ...

Tomas D. Cooksey Jr. died Wednesday, March 17, 2010, at Brownwood Regional Medical Center. He was born may 13, 1921, the second of four sons of Tomas Denton Cooksey Sr. and Grace Rutherford Cooksey. The Cooksey boys all grew up at Sleepy Hollow Ranch near Mullin in Mills County. Tom graduated high school at Mullin, then attended John Tarleton College. After Pearl Harbor was bombed, December 7, 1941, he enlisted in the U.S.

The Seventh & Eighth Lady Dillos went to Comfort for a track meet on Friday, March 12, 2010. As is the usual weather for track meets, it was windy and chilly. There were no team totals kept and places were kept in field events, running events 800 and over plus the relays. The next meet was in Goldthwaite on Monday, March 22, 2010.

Students, faculty and staff arrived back at school on Monday, March 22 after a week of spring break. Most were glad to be back at school. Many were sore from overexertion during the holidays. Students and faculty returned to a busy schedule of events. Junior high tracksters under the direction of Coach Jerry Burkhart competed at Zephyr on Tuesday, March 23.

Sheriff Allen Brown gave the 2nd grade cub scouts a tour of the San Saba County Jail in February. The boys got to observe their leader, Jake Lackey being shackled and had a great time. Thank you Sheriff Brown.

This past week the Armadillo baseball teams got back to district play. On Tuesday night the Dillo JV beat Brady 15-2. Our record on the year is 2-2-1. JT Mathis got the win on the mound. All of the Dillos did well at the plate. The Varsity beat Brady 3-2 behind a strong pitching performance from Cody Herd.

On Saturday, the San Saba High School Power lifting team competed in the Regional Power Lifting meet in Waco. We are extremely proud of their accomplishments this week and their accomplishments throughout the year. If you see any of these lifters, please congratulate them on their awesome performance at the Regional meet.

The San Saba Ladies Golf Association met March 18, 2010 for play day with the chair for March, Dorothy Sterner, calling for a game of match play. Anita Miles defeated Sandee Hartley and Anita scored the Low Gross for the day, Hattie Rogers defeated Jo Ann Snow and Hattie scored the Low Net for the day, and Becky Hardin defeated Dorothy Sterner.

The Lady Dillos played at home over spring break. Tuesday saw Brady come to town, Thursday brought Hawley for a double header, and Friday brought Early into town. Tuesday was a great day for the Lady Dillos. We secured the win 9-1 over Brady. We played error free ball, and hit extremely well.

The Little Lady Dillos wrapped up their season capturing second place at the Goldthwaite Tournament. We defeated Goldthwaite Blue in the first game, 16-1, the Zephyr Zebras 10-8 in the second round and lost a tough game with the Lady Lions from by a score of 12-8. The week before the Lady Dillos captured first place at the San Saba Tourney as they beat Brady in the Championship game by a score of 16-13.

Haylee Oliver, a 5’10" Junior from San Saba High School received post district honors for basketball. She was named All West Texas and All West Texas Super Team. To be named All West Texas Super Team, she was compared to players from all levels (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A). She was named to the All Region Team by The Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC).

The San Saba 5th/6th Dillos (14-3) finished second at the San Saba Basketball Tournament last weekend. The Dillos will be participating in the Zephyr Basketball Tournament this week, March 25, 26, & 27, taking on Santa Anna in the opening round of the tournament. Tip off is set for 6:40 p.m.

Goldthwaite Tournament Champions - The San Saba Junior Lady Dillos (17-6) picked up their 17th win of the season and the Goldthwaite Basketball Tournament championship this past weekend by defeating tournament host Goldthwaite in the championship game of the 9 team tournament field. The Lady Dillos will be participating in the Zephyr Basketball Tournament this week, March 25, 26, & 27, taking on Bangs in the opening round of the tournament.

March 22, 2010 - ‘Tis the season for state assessments and a much added stress for students and teachers. State assessment occurs each and every year, but the fears and anticipation associated with the assessment has not gone away. For more than 25 years, Texas has had a statewide student assessment program.

State Leaders Urged to Support Higher Tobacco Taxes, Other Tobacco Prevention Initiatives WASHINGTON, DC (March 18, 2010) – Kids in Texas will take center stage in the fight against tobacco on March 24 as they join thousands of young people nationwide for the 15th annual Kick Butts Day. More than 1,000 events are planned in all 50 states and the District of Columbia (for a list of local events see below). Sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Ki ...