September 17, 2009

The veterans of the Wiley B. Murray Post No. 27 will meet Wednesday, September 23rd and will host State Representative Harvey Hilderbran. Hilderbran will address the veterans group and present several Texas Service Medals. The meeting will be attended by members and their guests only and will not be open to the public. Rep.

The 2009 Lone Star Loop 1000 – “Twisted Texas Two-Lane Tour” to be held October 15-18 is a four-day, 1000-mile scenic driving tour circuit of Texas featuring antique and classic vehicles. The tour, which will avoid big cities and interstate highways, will start/finish in Weatherford and will make stops in San Saba, Fredericksburg, Cuero, Rockport, Kenedy, Marble Falls, and Hamilton with nightly dinners and informal car displays.

The San Saba County Commissioners’ Court met at l:00 p.m. on September 14th, in the County Judge’s Chambers for the 2nd Public Hearing On the Budget and Tax Rate. County Judge Byron Theodosis called the meeting to order. Kenley Kroll gave the invocation followed by everyone joining for the pledges to the American and Texas flags. Presentation of the Budget and theTax Rate was discussed.

The San Saba City Council met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, September 8th at 6 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. Mayor Ken Jordan called the meeting to order and announced a quorum present. Marvin Riggs gave the invocation and everyone joined for the pledges to the American and Texas flags. The “Joe Ragsdale Employee of the Month” award for September was presented to Rick Reynolds.

In San Saba Commissioners’ Court Chief Deputy Bill Price and Jail Administrator Brenda Willis were both honored for their outstanding work at the jail. The San Saba County jail has been under fire for some time, but recently passed complete inspection by the state. The jail had not been certified since 2007 but is now in complete compliance with the state and Sheriff Brown stated that it is because of the excellent work of all the staff and of these two individual supervisors that we are now ...

Descendants of Almond Baxter and I.D. (Dolphie) Baxter met in annual reunion at The Hostess House of Lampasas, Texas on Sunday, September 6 for a noon meal and fellowship. The Iva Baxter Landers family members present were: Lewvon and Raymond Hicks, Bobby and Debbie Hicks and daughter Laura Beth Hicks; Orabeth Hicks, Jimmy & Mary Hicks with children Catherine Anne Hicks and John Brooks. LaFayne Baxter and Bernice Porter family members present were: Ann Porter Wagner, Sherry & Bill McBryde, Ha ...

Faithweaver Friends (FWF), the after-school program of the First United Methodist Church, got off to a miraculous start on Wednesday, September 9th. Were there real miracles that afternoon? You decide. First, there was the rain. Lots of it. Almost three inches fell while the Faithweavers were meeting. San Saba has long needed rain and the downpour came the moment the Faithweavers meeting started.

Next Thursday, September 24th, Fellowship of Christian Women will gather in Richland Springs for a Sharing Harvest Recipes Luncheon treating our ladies in their 30’s. If you have any harvest from summer gardens that would be wonderful, if not, please bring any covered dish to share around the serving tables.

It's your birthday, but we got the gift; a loving DAD, husband, valued friend, uncle, and the BEST PAPA in the whole wide world. A man full of the joy of LIFE, full of many stories of days gone by. Anyone who spends time with you is privileged to know such an extraordinary man full of so many valued stories to share.

The Pierian Study Club met September 10, 2009 for their Annual Fall Luncheon at the First Presbyterian Church fellowship hall with the Yearbook Committee acting as co-hostesses: Kathleen Hawkins, Millie Burnham, Sandy Kuykendall, Joycelyn McRorey, Dorothy Miller, and Jane Randolph, who was absent, but fulfilled her duties as co-hostess. Other members in attendance were: Ann Allison, Donna Baker, Paula Barrier, Loy Nell Behrens, Sharon Clawson, Barbara Gilger, Barbara Hardy, Jeri Jones, Zolly Jo ...

John Darrin Barker graduated on August 15, 2009 from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He is the son of Darrin and Kelli Barker. John Darrin and his wife, Michelle, reside in Sanger, Texas.

MATTHEW 14:3 "The disciples came to Jesus privately saying, (tell us what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and the end of the world?)" In the rest of that 24th chapter Jesus answered their question. And because we are clearly seeing many of the things He mentioned: happening right now, this will be a sincere effort to detail a warning to all who might read this.

We’ve been hearing a lot about the H1N1 influenza season, so let’s talk about simple precautions: Symptoms are similar to those of regular or seasonal flu and include fever, fatigue, lack of appetite and coughing. Some also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Health officials say everyone should follow standard precautions to reduce the spread of any respiratory illness. · Practice healthy habits to stop the spread of germs. - Wash your hands often wit ...

Hand Washing: It is something a lot of us just do automatically. However, some scientists estimate up to 80 percent of all infections are transmitted by hands, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC considers handwashing the single important thing you can do to help prevent the spread of infection and to stay healthy and well.

Thanks to all the ones who bought tickets on our quilt for the fire department. The winning ticket was purchased at The Cherokee Grocery. Our congratulations go to Marilyn Smith from the Dallas area. She is the sister of Joyce Barnes who has a place in Cherokee. The raffle was a big success and we thank all who bought tickets. Jane Randolph spent last week in Dallas visiting Sabra and David Roberts. Doug and Cyndi Suggs went to Houston to attend their son-in-law, Sam Baisden’s sisters fune ...

My grandparents lived in the country and their home stood about two or three feet off the ground like most homes in that area. Under the house was a good place to play and the dogs loved to sleep there but you had to watch for snakes. Every now and then a strange dog would show up or try to hang around.

This past week was a time for remembrance and reflection. Eight years ago we were attacked by terrorist when they flew planes into the twin towers in New York and in the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Another plane went down in Pennsylvania when those aboard attacked their hijackers. Many lost their lives, many more lost their loved ones on this day.

I think it has rained every day for a week and it appears to be all over the state. We have had almost 4 inches here in Richland and I have seen some full stock tanks in the area. This should give the old cows some good grazing going into the winter.

Reading Recommendations: The Kings Daughter, Barbara Kyle Historical Preface-"In 1547 the obese body of King Henry VIII gave up its hold on life. During his tumultuous reign Henry had defied Popes, brought the sentence of excommunication on himself, and forged a national Protestant church, all to get a divorce. He had also wiped out a thousand monastic houses and dispersed their rich holdings to loyal servants of the Crown in an avalanche of sales.

Week before last the rains came leaving 6/10 inch of rain. There were reports of over an inch in other areas of the county. This past week the rain has been really good for the county. Some places received more than others, but who is complaining, it is rain and that is what was needed.

Well, I spent another weekend driving through the pouring rain! Praise God! I can tell you that we didn’t get as much rain as the folks living towards Dallas, but every drop is a blessing! We will be cutting grass in September and October instead of July. I think we can all live with that. You might ask why I was driving in the rain again.

Receipts totaled 2528 head for the week. The market was strong on the F1 heifers off the Deep Creek Ranch with one set of 30 F1’s bringing $1.52 per pound. Buyers were on hand from Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. The stocker steers were steady to $1 higher and the heifers were steady.

Mark your calendar to attend the Rainwater Harvest Seminar in San Saba. The seminar is scheduled for Thursday, October 8th at the San Saba Civic Center from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Billy Kniffen, Water Resource Specialist with the Menard AgriLife Extension Office will discuss watershed management on rangeland acreage, run-off reduction in the landscape, rainwater collection for home and livestock use, and build a wildlife guzzler. Registration is $15.00 per person (lunch and handouts included).

Recently, I read about a new survey from the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University in Boston. According to the survey, less than half the nation’s four million college graduates ages 25 and under were working in jobs that required a college degree - a 54 percent decrease from last year.

Don Woodruff, 72, of Grand Prairie, passed away on Monday, September 7, 2009 at Arlington Memorial Hospital in Arlington, TX. He was born September 6, 1937 in San Angelo, TX, the son of Carl Judson Woodruff and Lola Whitley Woodruff. Don Woodruff and Linda Gay Rutherford were married on August 29, 1959 in San Saba.

Edwin Clarence Shelton, age 85 of Cherokee passed away on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at his residence. Edwin was born on July 21, 1924 in Miami, Arizona to Clarence Shelton and Ethel (Palmer) Shelton. He married Barbara Garside in June 1946 in Arizona. He proudly served his country in the U.S.

Funeral services for Ella Mae Hunter Patrick, age 84, of San Saba County, were at 10:00 AM, Saturday, September 12, 2009 in the Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel. Interment followed in the Varga Chapel Cemetery. The family received friends at the funeral home on Friday from 4:00 until 6:00 PM. Ms. Patrick died Wednesday, September 9, 2009 in Brady. Ella was born on November 11, 1924 in McCulloch County near Winchell to Ruff Cook and Mary (Pearce) Hunter.

John Kevin McCall, age 45 of Goldthwaite, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at Hamilton General Hospital of Hamilton. Kevin was born on September 23, 1963 in Thibodeaux, LA. to K.W. "Shorty" McCall and Joyce Carpenter McCall. Kevin and Sheri Wiedebusch were married on April 4, 1999 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jim Baker, age 61, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior August 31, 2009 at the Little Rock Baptist Hospital. Jim was born June 2, 1948 in Santa Anna, Tx. to Pat Jim Baker, Sr. and Vera Payne Baker. He is survived by his mother of San Antonio, Tx.; sister, Judy (Al) Martin, also of San Antonio; nephew, Neil Martin of Austin, Tx.; two aunts, Mary (Bob) Thorpe of Berryville, Ar.; and Selma (Roy) Caskey of Clarksville, Tn.; and numerous cousins. Jim was preceded in death by his dad, Pat ...

The Dillos traveled to a rainy Goldthwaite and Plucked the Eagles 24-18 Saturday morning after the Thursday night games were rescheduled. The Dillos started the game with a tough defensive stand that forced the ball over on downs, and then the Dillos started to go to work. The Dillos were led behind the legs of Gabriel Zimmer and Joel Franco and with the arm of Garret Welch.

San Saba's 8th Dillos played the Goldthwaite 8th Eagles in Goldthwaite on Saturday, September 12th. The Thursday game was rained out. It was a great game with the Eagles pulling out the victory in the last seconds of the game. It was the season opener for both teams. Goldthwaite kicked to San Saba to start the game.

A child has only one shot at an education. Parent support and involvement is crucial at both school and at home. Three-week notices are being sent home this week. Please read letters sent from school and contact your child’s teacher as necessary to ensure your child is successful. Kids need structure and guidance to be successful.

In a game closer than the score would indicate, the Goldthwaite Eagles beat the San Saba Armadillos 27-7 last Friday night in Goldthwaite. San Saba moved the ball well but had difficulty scoring throughout the game. The weather had little effect on the game. Goldthwaite won the toss and wanted the football.

The Cherokee Jr. High Indians fell to the Faith Academy Jr. High Flames last Thursday evening, 10-18. Corbin Davis scored a TD and kicked the PAT for the Indians. Blaze Smith tackled the Flame quarterback in the endzone for a safety and recovered a fumble. Colton Cis also recovered a fumble for the Indians. The Jr.

The Dillos had a great victory against the Goldthwaite Eagles. At the start of the game, it appeared the Eagles were going to dominate the game but, the Dillos decided to start playing like they are capable of doing and came out with a hard victory 28-20. In the first quarter, the Eagles drove the ball and scored a TD.

The San Saba Ladies Golf Association met September 10, 2009 for play day with the Chair for September, Sandee Hartley, calling for a game of ‘Mutt & Jeff’, counting the par threes and the par fives less half your handicap. First Place was a tie between Sandee Hartley and Jo Anne Hardy.

What a difference a year makes. Last year the Cherokee Indians handily defeated the Moran Bulldogs 52-6. This year on wet, synthetic turf at Zephyr’s new stadium, the Bulldogs came out on top, 18-20. The Indians had their chances, with Duncan Roberts recovering two Bulldog fumbles while Jesse Perez, Stephen Austermann, and Tucker Corsi each had a fumble recovery.

With another year of 4-H experience under their belts, the San Saba County 4-H held their annual 4-H Awards Banquet to honor the 4-H’ers achievements from the past year. The banquet was held in the San Saba Civic Center Tuesday, September 1st. A country meal of brisket, watermelon, potato salad, beans, and dessert was served prior to the award ceremony.

Rylander Library’s Story Hour for young children will resume Wednesday, September 23rd, at 10 a.m. at the library. All young children are encouraged to attend the 40 minutes session. Each week a different story teller will entertain and encourage the children to read.

This column is a follow up to last week’s column regarding the upcoming Tax Ratification Election. Please consider these questions and answers regarding the Tax Ratification Election for San Saba ISD and feel free to contact me if you have additional questions. Why did the San Saba ISD adopt a tax rate above the roll back rate?

The Tennis Association met on September 7th and had a very productive meeting. Plans are underway for a fall Women’s League, Men’s League and a Junior League. The Tennis Association will have another meeting on Monday, September 21 at 6:00 p.m. This will be an organization meeting and at 7:00 p.m.

Marijuana and Depression. Marijuana and Suicidal Thoughts Marijuana and Schizophrenia. Do we have your attention? As parents and caregivers, you probably never thought you’d see marijuana associated with these mental health problems … but it is. New research is giving us better insight into the serious consequences of teen marijuana use, especially how it impacts mental health.Today’s teens are smoking a more potent form of marijuana and starting use at increasingly younger ages durin ...