Winter has finally arrived with cold nights and pleasant days, that is if the wind isn’t blowing ninety miles an hour out of the North. Really makes you appreciate the calm days even when the temp is way low. Monday was a gray, gloomy day, on the breezy side, but the bright spot of the day was the promise of rain.

Phil B and Winnie Lou McCoury reported on their trip to Bryan this past weekend. They attended their great grand daughter Hollie Ann Lemons dance recital held at the George Bush Library. Then later attended the birthday party for three year old grandson Cole Keens. Sunday they attended the Christmas Parade to watch their granddaughter Rebecca Dowdy who is one of the cheer leaders from Rayburn Junior High School that was in the parade.

Congratulations go out to Winnie Lou McCoury on winning the reserve grand-champion for her turtle bars in the pecan food show in San Saba. To Diane Gibsons mother, Imogene Hawkins who won grand-champion for her cake. To Fannie Crawford who reported that she won a blue ribbon and a package of pecans for her pecan pie entry.

After treatment, Tommye Cobern was released from the hospital and is recovering at home.

Barbara Jones recently visited friends overnight in Killeen. The ladies did their ususal thing, shopping, and of course to keep up their strength they had to eat out.

Bill and Jo Price was on the road again Thursday making their way to Midland for the annual Arco Retiree Club lunch and Christmas party. Door prizes and bingo games were enjoyed by everyone after lunch.

Emmitt Lloyd Byrd, the nephew of the late Mildred Patterson, passed away Sunday, December 7, in San Saba. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

Earl Wharton of Wimberly was buried at High Valley Cemetery Sunday, December 7. Earl will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Grandfather Jerome Meischen reported that his grandson Blake Gideon and the Texas University football team would be playing in the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Arizona January 5. 2009. They will be playing Ohio State.

The home of R.J. and Patsy Henniger was a busy place Sunday, Mickey, Jill, Henniger and their children of Cedar Park, and Pete, Cherie Henniger and their children of Lampasas were out and ate lunch.

The Bend Community Center will have their Christmas celebration Saturday,

December 20, at 6:00 p.m. Turkey/dressing and ham will be served and it has been reported that Santa Claus will make an appearance. Everyone is invited and asked to bring a dish and/or dessert. A Chinese gift exchange will take place after the meal. For the young ones, please bring a gift so that Santa will have something to hand out to them. Men are asked to bring a gift for a man and women are asked to bring a gift for a woman.

Happy birthday goes out to Cody Keeney who will celebrate a birthday December 17, to Donnie Eckhoff and Diane Dowdy who will be celebrating a birthday December 18.