In today’s very public arena it is easy for people to criticize and offer uninformed opinions anonymously or jump on the band wagon of people speaking out anonymously. Schools fall prey to this type of attack very often. Across the state at this time public schools are being attacked for using a particular curriculum product.

A couple of years ago we were on a ranch in South Texas talking to the landowners about what else? Deer, of course. On this occasion, the landowner was complaining that, due to the deer having plentiful natural food sources, they were not coming out into the open where he could see them.

Give the weather man an “A” plus for being right on target this past week with the rain predication as there are reports of one half inches of rain falling around the Bend Saturday. We more has been promised and we will know by this time next week if it happens.

The big news in this part of the country is the rain this weekend. (and the power outages.. some said their power was off for 12 hours??). We had ½ inch of rain in Bowser Texas over the weekend. It was still gray and cloudy this morning as I drove to work.

Reading Recommendations: Georgette Heyer, The groundbreaking biography of one of the world's best-loved and best selling authors, Jennifer Kloester "Who was the Real Georgette Heyer?" Georgette Heyer Famously said, "I am to be found in my work." Who was this amazing writer who was so secretive about her personal life that she never gave an interview?

That was a humdinger of a storm last Sunday. As far as rain was concerned it fell a little short of what is needed in the area, but every drop helps this dry land and our local farmers and ranchers. I heard .3 and .4 of an inch from folks in the area.

In visiting I meet so many people who say they are Christians and do not attend church. I think Christians need to ask the question should I go to Church. The Bible speaks a good bit about worshipping God. Early on in the biblical history of man we find him worshipping God.

Dios es amor pero tambien Dios de Justicia 2nd part Salmos 91:14-16 Por cuanto en mí ha puesto su amor, yo también lo libraré; Le pondré en alto, por cuanto ha conocido mi nombre. Me invocará, y yo le responderé; Con él estaré yo en la angustia; Lo libraré y le glorificaré.

1 Corinthians 9:24: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” The Greeks had a race in their Olympic games that was unique. The winner was not the runner who finished first.

This morning as I sat down with my computer, the cursor was doing some strange things. It was moving all over the screen and I was not moving the mouse. Not being a computer Geek, I restarted my computer and that fixed the problem. At least it has so far. Most of the things that happen in life we can use as illustrations.

I had an article written and as happens in life a precious hand came in and told me to put that article in my documents file for another time because there was something else I needed to say. Seven years ago when we first bought this house, I was in our backyard surveying the mess that it was and I heard a rather stern voice say…”Do you mind if I ask what you are doing back there?” I looked up to see a perfectly coifed, well dressed older lady standing at the back fence adjoining the hous ...

Elena Gomez, Neleva Golding-Gardner, BeBe Bagley, Wilton Martin, Geneva Brawn

The Texas Educational Theatre Association held its annual convention January 24 through 27, 2013, in Houston, Texas. More than 1,600 attendees continued the tradition of making the convention the largest one of its kind in the world. Krystal Butler, assistant director of Richland Springs’ One Act Play, traveled to Houston for the event where she attended workshops conducted by experts from throughout the nation.

San Saba County Chamber of Commerce’s Member Spotlight is Barefoot Camp and Leaning Bluff Lodge in Bend, Texas. They offer camping; 38 RV/trailer pull through spaces with all amenities, fishing, swimming. Reservations available for weddings and special events. Call owners, Jackie and Charlene Brister at 325-628-3395

Everything's bigger in Texas, and that includes the Lone Star State's contributions to the Vietnam War. Thousands of young men and women left the farms, ranches, cities, and small towns of Texas to serve in that war half a world away. More than 3,400 never came home. Since the first farmers and ranchers took up arms to fight for independence in the Texas Revolution, the Lone Star State has had a strong tradition of military service, sending its young men to fight in places like Gettysburg and ...

The Friends of the Goldthwaite Library featured National Bestselling Texas Author Lisa Wingate February 9th at noon at the First United Methodist Church Family Life Center. The Valentine’s Day Author Luncheon benefitted the library with ticket sales for the luncheon, sale of extra food and individual contributions in the amount of $1,241.00.

What is it? Community Resource Coordination Groups (CRCGs) are local interagency groups comprised of public and private agencies. Community Resource Coordination Groups (CRCGs) provide a mechanism that helps local public and private agencies and organizations work together to meet the complex needs of individuals for whom no one agency can meet.

Twenty volunteers, staff and board members from CASA of the Highland Lakes joined about 300 children’s advocates from around the state at the Texas Capitol on Wednesday, January 30, 2013, to speak up for children in the foster care system. Last year, more than 47,000 children were in the care of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services because of evidence of abuse and neglect.

25 Years Ago February 11, 1988 The annual Cherokee Hee-Haw sponsored by the Cherokee PTC will be held Feb. 20, at 7p.m. Everyone is invited to Cherokee to share in a night of laughter and fun. Shanna and Shane Lively constructed a snowman last Sunday at their home on Wallace Creek Road. That area was surprised as were others, with a 3 to 4 inch snowfall that fell during the night. The American Legion Valentine Dance is slated for Sat.

Operation Orphans, Inc. held its fourth hunt of the 2012 hunting season January 12th. 64 boys from 11 children’s homes and foster facilities participated. The 64 boys harvested 64 animals which consisted of 46 whitetail does, 6 spikes, 6 management bucks, 3 hogs, 2 aoudad, and 1 sika. Groups represented were from Still Creek Boy’s Ranch, Bryan; Harding Foster Home, Kerrville; John Carl Smith Home, Mullin; Irma Ramirez Home, Converse; Kidz Harbor, Liverpool; Texas Baptist Home, Waxahachie; H ...

Receipts totaled 1733 head for the week. The cattle offered this week were very attractive and demand was strong. At the end of last week the market was quite a bit higher and we saw the trend continue this week with the stocker steers and heifers selling steady with a set of four 470 lb steers at $196.00 and a set of five 401 lb heifers at $180.00.

Una Mae Hyatt, 92, of San Saba passed away on Saturday, February 9, 2013, in Brownwood, Texas. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 13, 2013, from 6:00—8:00 P.M. at Heritage Funeral Home. The service will be held at Parkview Baptist Church on Thursday, February 14, 2013, at 2:00 P.M.

Melba Annette Newby, 72, of Richland Springs passed away on Tuesday, February 5, 2013, at her home. Graveside services took place at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, February 8, 2013 at Richland Springs Cemetery in Richland Springs, Texas. Annette was born to Ben and Agnes Hubbert on September 7, 1940 in San Saba, Texas.

Major Clarence Mosby, 93, passed away on Sunday, January 20, 2013 in San Saba. Visitation was held on Wednesday, January 23, 2013, from 5:00-7:00p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home. The service was held Thursday, January 24, 2013, at Heritage Funeral Home and interment followed at San Saba Cemetery. Clarence was born on January 27, 1920, to George and Ethel Mosby in Grandview, Indiana.

On Feb. 5, the Dillos continued their quest for a playoff birth when they hosted DeLeon. This was another important game for the Dillos since we needed to win out to put us in playoff position. The first time we played them, we won 54-37. This one had a much different outcome.

THE INDIANS ARE PLAY-OFF BOUND! Congratulations to Coach Simpson, Coach Stevens and the team on earning a spot in the play-offs. The Indians will have a warm-up game against Lometa later this week. The Indians will face Utopia in the Bi-district round. The location is being determined, so check the school’s website, Cherokee Athletics Facebook page, and the school marquee for final plans.

The 2011-2012 yearbooks are available for $25. See Krystal Butler to purchase one. Yearbooks may be purchased during normal school hours. Congratulations to Coach Rogers, Coach Tipton and Coach Brand on a great basketball season. It’s time to hang-up the basketball uniforms and hand out the track uniforms. Track season begins with cold weather and ends in the warmth of spring. Patsy Hall and Krystal Butler are attempting to teach Richland Springs students the art of acting.

On Thursday, the San Saba High School Power lifting team competed in the San Saba meet. The San Saba Boys team finished 2nd out of 17 teams. This meet had several large schools in the area including Stephenville, Brownwood, Llano, Lampasas, Marble Falls, Burnet, Dublin, Brady, Hamilton, Bangs, and Coleman just to name a few.

"A" 1st Grade Ryleigh Bryant Carolina Greenwood Jessica Wright Raegan Wright 3rd Grade Lanie Norris Sierra Tharp 4th Grade Landon Burkhart Chase Gossett 5th Grade Jaianna Smith 7th Grade Jordan Burkhart 8th Grade Cody Pardy 9th Grade Hailee Ashworth 10th Grade Jacob Cohn 11th Grade Melanie Hedley 12th Grade Thomas Fowler Katelynn Teel Cheyenne Tharp "A/B" 1st Grade Dakota Luedecke Jacob Sweeny 2nd Grade Tyler Grant Wayne Greenwood Brandon Stewart Brandon F ...

San Saba-Mills County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Valerie Cortinovis, reminds foreign persons with an interest in agricultural lands in the United States that they are required to report their holdings and any transactions to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. “Any foreign person who acquires, transfers or holds any interest, other than a security interest, including leaseholds of 10 years or more, in agricultural land in the United States is required by law to report ...

San Saba High School Students picture in their presentation to the Texas Legislature at the Texas Capitol Schoolhouse Event at the Texas Capitol on February 4, 2013. Students participating included McKenzie Hibler, Joannah Crosby, Kristen Reynolds and Allison Nettleship.

MONDAY Breakfast: Breakfast pizza or cereal w / graham cracker, juice, milk. Lunch: Chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, green beans, mixed fruit, milk TUESDAY Breakfast: Pancakes or cereal w/ graham cracker, juice, milk. Lunch: Spaghetti with meat sauce, corn, salad, peaches, breadsticks, milk. WEDNESDAY Breakfast: Bacon or sausage with biscuit & gravy or cereal w/ graham cracker, juice, milk. Lunch: Chicken quesadilla, pinto beans, salad w/tomato, pineapple, milk. THURSDAY Breakfast: ...

There are occasionally times when students or parents would like to provide information to the school but hesitate because they do not want their identities known. Providing open, direct communication with the community has long been a basic practice for Cherokee ISD. The Board of Education now offers The Safe School Helpline, another method to allow parents and the community to provide input for our school.

The San Saba JV boys basketball team finished off their season this past week, winning both of their games. Last Tuesday evening, the Dillos won an exciting overtime game against a good DeLeon team. Final score for that game was 54-52. Scoring for the Dillos: John Faught (5), Holt Oliver (18), John Welch (10), Logan Guidroz (8), Stone Sealy (5), and Josh Cazares with (8).

The Richland Springs CX debate Team of Thomas Fowler and Ty Mann won 1st place at the district 30A meet held at Richland Springs high school on January 31st. The team of Jacob Cohn, and Melanie Hedley placed 2nd ,both teams are to participate in the State debate meet held in Austin on March 11th and 12th.

The San Saba Tennis Team had a busy week last week. On Thursday, the JV Team played in the Llano tournament on Thursday, the Varsity team played in the Llano Varsity tournament on Friday. On Saturday the varsity team travelled to Copperas Cove and Killeen to play team tennis matches against Copperas Cove and Harker Heights. Teams in the Llano JV Tournament were Fredericksburg, Canyon Lakes, Brady, Liberty Hill, San Saba, Mason, and Llano.