Would someone kindly explain this thing called the five second drop rule? It seems if some food item is dropped on a floor but is picked up within a five second interval it is still okay to eat! Excuse me? If there are a million typographical errors in this column hereafter it will be because I cannot stop gagging.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for all people and especially for students when they attend school. Throughout the night, our bodies use up the food eaten the evening before. When we wake up, our bodies need a new supply of energy. Not eating can bring on feelings of weakness and hunger, often called “mid-morning slump.” Children and adults need about 50 nutrients daily for body growth, maintenance and repair.

How hard is it for you to forgive someone? Do you have hatred in your heart? Are you capable of turning loose of things that may have happened to you and forgive someone?If someone took the life of your loved one, would you be able to forgive them? Most of us who have never experienced this would say we believe we would.

100 Years Ago August 8,1912 The most successful of the ten successive San Saba county fairs was fittingly ushered in Monday evening when the young men of the town entertained at the new Clark building with a ball complimentary to the fair visitors. Every phase of the affair was ideally successful.

We are so hot and dry up in our country and there is just a slight chance for rain in the forecast. Our chances do not look good for any moisture.The 2012 Elm Grove rodeo is now behind us. For the first time ever, I just couldn't make it. This awful heat is unbearable to me.

Reading Recommendations: Summerland, A Novel, Elin HilderbrandOn a warm June evening, the students of Nantucket High gather for the traditional graduation bonfire on the beach. But the celebration ends in tragedy after a horrible car crash leaves the driver, Penny Alistair dead, and her twin brother, Hobby, in a coma.

Luke 6:38: "Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."Jesus' words hold true. The more you give, the more you will be blessed.

1 Pedro 4: 1-19 Puesto que Cristo ha padecido por nosotros en la carne, vosotros tambien armaos del mismo pensamiento; pues quien ha padecido en la carne, termino con el pecado, para no vivir el tiempo que resta en la carne, conforme a las concupis-cencias de los hombres, sino conforme a la voluntad de Dios.

The dog days of summer seems a natural expression. In hot weather dogs pant and lie as flat on the ground as they can to avoid the heat. The expression doesn't originate with the behavior of dogs during the summer, however. It reaches farther back in time to some mistaken astronomical impressions of the Greeks and Romans.During hot weather, particularly the period from mid-July through August, the star Sirius, part of the constellation Canis Major, rises and sets with the sun.

The heat hasn’t dried up all the news, but it is still too hot for words and dry as a bone. We need some rain or things are going to really turn brown. Already we have some plants giving up the ghost. Just pray for rain.Jane Tinney finally found the time to send in all her news for the month of July, better late than never.

It’s early morning here in beautiful Seeley’s Bay, Ontario. My brother-in-law Dave is on the back verandah drinking his morning cup of coffee and enjoying a quiet read before his day gets busy. The babies are starting to wake and that means watchful eyes have to be following them at all times.

Live pari-mutuel horse racing returns to the Gillespie County Fair Grounds in Fredericksburg on Saturday and Sunday, August 11th - 12th.Also taking place that weekend in the Show Barn at the Gillespie County Fair Grounds will be three livestock shows.For the races, the gates open at 11:00a.m. and post time is 1:00p.m.

CASA for the Highland Lakes Area is forming its next advocate training class for 2012. CASA is a nonprofit organization that speaks up for the best interest of abused and neglected children in Blanco, Burnet, Lampasas, Llano, and San Saba counties.Children deserve to grow up in a safe, permanent home where their basic needs - food, clothing, shelter and education - are met.

The Llano Country Opry will be held on Saturday, August 11th. Grammy Award Winners Asleep at the Wheel will headline two shows at the Llano Country Opry with an afternoon concert at 2:30PM and an evening show at 7:30PM. Tickets are now on sale at the Llano Chamber of Commerce, Llano National Bank, and Lively Computers, or by calling (325)247-5354, or on-line at http://hillbillyhits.com/Calendar.html.

With August 11 almost here, Atmos Energy hopes this date on the calendar, 8/11, will serve as a natural reminder for residents to call 811 prior to any digging project to have underground utility lines marked. This comes on the heels of a recent report, which determined an underground utility line is damaged during digging projects every three minutes nationwide.

Brady Health Care Services (BHCS) turned twenty years old in 2012! They have been providing quality home health care since 1992 and look forward to continued growth in the coming years. The San Saba branch had a Birthday Bash to celebrate with our community on July 27th. They provided free hot dogs, drinks, cake and door prizes for everyone who attended.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is urging people to take precautions to reduce the risk of contracting West Nile virus, a mosquito borne illness. People should use insect repellent when outdoors and avoid going outside at dusk and dawn.There has been a higher than usual number of human West Nile cases in Texas this year due to the warm winter and recent rains, particularly in the North Texas region.

According to Brenda Willis, San Saba County Jail Administrator, a fire was reported 10 miles northwest of San Saba on FM 500 Sunday, August 5th at 1:12p.m.The fire was difficult to contain because of the rough terrain in that area. After ravaging 40-50 acres, the fire was finally contained at 3:41p.m.

The Reverend Harlene Sadler, currently serving as part-time pastor of Smiley United Methodist Church, has been called to preach the 154th consecutive Methodist Camp Meeting which will be held August 16 – 19 at the Methodist Campground, Chappel. Rev. Sadler is no stranger to San Saba. She was married to the late Steve Sadler, who owned and operated several commercial enterprises in this area.

Dear Editor, A very common expression often heard in reference to an old person's age is so many "years young." Why? ? What's wrong with being OLD? It's an inevitable life passage if one lives long enough. I will be, in the words of Lincoln at Gettysburg, "4 score and seven"

Lupe Servin and Martin Macias were married August 5, 2012 at the Mill Pond Park in San Saba, TX. Martin is employed at San Saba Pecan. The couple reside in San Saba with their children, Valeria and Martin Jr.

Betty Ortiz has been named August 2012 Employee of the Month at the nursing home. Betty was born and raised in El Salvador and enjoys living in San Saba because of the people and the low cost of living. She likes spending time with her family, children and one grandchild.Betty says she likes being at Pecan Valley Nursing & Rehab because she enjoys meeting new people, making new friends and enjoys the residents.Someday, Betty hopes to be able to take a long vacation to the Virgin Islands, ...

Republican PrimaryUnited States SenatorDavid Dewhurst - 439Ted Cruz - 354 Railroad CommissionerChristi Craddick - 441Warren Chisum - 264Railroad Commissioner, Unexpired TermBarry Smitherman - 389Greg Parker - 270Justice, Supreme Court, Place 4John Devine - 357David Medina - 304State Representative, District 59 Sid Miller - 404J.D. Sheffield - 400District Attorney, 33rd Judicial DistrictWiley "Sonny"

Most of the conversations around the Table of Knowledge, as of late, seems to mostly center around the weather and attesting to the fact of hot & dry. Any time the temperature hits the century mark we would say that it’s pretty warm outside. We also hear a lot of the younger folks saying that this is hot as it’s ever been.

Receipts totaled 1792 head for the week. The market was very active and demand strong with the stocker steers selling steady to $1 higher and heifers steady after last week’s $5.00 to $10.00 increase. Feeder steers sold steady to $3.00 higher on the choice kind with one group of 668 pound steers bringing $141.00.

Lowell (Dwaine) Lord, Jr. died July 31, 2012 in Dallas, TX. Dwaine was born on August 4, 1963, the son of Lowell Lord, Sr. and Mary Johnson, both deceased. Among his survivors are two daughters, Kayla Lord and Tami Taylor; and 3 grandchildren. A private graveside service will be held at Locker or Richland Springs.

2012 Lady Dillo Basketball Camp - Grades 1-4 – Top row L to R : Coach Sharon Perry, Lexy Amthor, Jaedah Lambert, Braycie Vickery, Brytin Johnson, Landri Glover, Katelyn Bohensky, Jaela Nelson, and Coach Alicia Cummings. Bottom row L to R: Virginia Diaz, Jaycie Everett, Kailey Brooks, Kynedi Isham, and Tori Galindo.

2012 Lady Dillo Basketball Camp - Grades 5-9 – Top row from L to R : Coach Sharon Perry, Alexus Saldivar, Kassidy Ellis, Hannah Hibler, Raley Kirk, Hollee Ragsdale, Analyn Bohensky, Callie Hammet, and Coach Alicia Cummings. Middle row L to R: Jetta Gomez, Dynasty Saldivar, Baile Santeufemia, Brenna Chambers, Ashlynn Cash, Hannah Osbourn, and Casey Mathis.

The Richland Springs Board of Trustees will hold its regular August meeting on Monday, August 13 beginning with a budget workshop at 6:00 p.m. with the regular meeting to follow the budget workshop in the Board Room in the cafetorium.The 2012-2013 Coyotes hit the practice field at 6:45 am on Monday morning to prepare for an onslaught on another state championship.

I hope that you are staying cool and enjoying the summer! Time flies by, and the 2012-13 school year is upon us! We are open and ready for students at the elementary school. We have several new teachers at the elementary and some old faces in new places. It is really shaping up to be an exciting school year.

Football season has finally arrived! I think I’ve seen countdowns on some Facebook accounts from the last day of last season. I told someone recently that this is the time of year I don’t see my husband much. Thankfully I love watching practice and don’t mind the heat or I really wouldn’t see him!

It’s almost time for the 2012-2013 school year to begin and we are excited. Here are some dates we need to share with you. Aug 13th - 9th and 10th Grade Registration 8:30-12:00, 1:00-4:30.Aug 14th - 11th and 12th Grade Registration 8:30-12:00, 1:00-4:30.Aug 17th - New Student Registration 8:30-12:00, 1:00-4:30.Student Laptop Meetings (Student and Parent/Guardian must attend one of the meetings before a laptop will be issued to the student.)Aug 19th - Returning and New Student Laptop Me ...

The 31st Annual Junior Tennis tournament was held on August 3-4. The tournament drew 68 players from 16 towns playing singles, doubles and mixed doubles. The 16 towns were Bangs, Brady, Big Lake, Brownwood, Early, El Campo, Fred-ericksburg, Hamilton, Lampasas, Liberty Hill, Mason, Menard, San Angelo, San Antonio, San Saba, and Utopia.

Let's see...the first Monday in August must mean that football practice is starting.The San Saba Armadillos began practice last Monday with a new style of "two-a-days" mandated by the UIL. Gone are the two practices each day. Instead there is one practice and a session of either teaching/walk-through or meetings/film/weights on alternating days after the four-day "acclamation period"