Esther Zaynah Chandler Age: 10 Grade: 6th School attending: Homeschool Parents: Debby & Zachary Chandler Sponsor: Texas Vintage Motorcycle Museum Activities involved in: Softball and JC Co-op Who is someone you admire and why: God and Jesus because they watch over me, and made the ultimate sacrifice for everyone’s sin. What is your favorite thing about the Blanco County Fair & Rodeo: Hanging out with the commu ...... read more

Queen Contestants Kennedy Lorenzen Age: 14 Grade: 9th School attending: LBJ High School Parents: Rianne & Todd Lorenzen Sponsor: Allied Ag Services, Inc. Activities involved in: I am involved in multiple activities inside and outside of school. Some activities I’m involved in are showing steers & pigs. I’m a member of FFA and just became an officer for our Chapter.... read more

Two automated license plate readers quietly collect data on every passing vehicle heading north and south along U.S. Highway 87 in Mason County. However, one local man is refusing to be silent about his concerns, with his letter to the editor in last week's Mason County News sparking plenty of conversation among residents. “I think it's important to address the dangers and risks of these devices, because I believe privacy is a human right everyone should have and it has slowly b ...... read more

The 321st Civil Affairs Brigade arrived on the historic downtown square in Blanco on Friday morning. Their “mission” was to practice an emergency response plan loosely based on what would happen if the city experienced a significant flood. These practices help cities and local leaders identify needs during emergencies but also help the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade hone their skills before deploying overseas.... read more

About 40 residents gathered at the Old 300 BBQ for a Quarry Advisory Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. on August 5th. McCar Materials Operator and Lessee Peter Nunez was there to answer questions. The land owner was not required to be present and did not attend. Blanco Mayor and Advisory Committee Chair Candy Cargill welcomed everyone and gave the Invocation which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and Pledge to the Texas flag. Public comments were taken, and a number ...... read more

The sixth annual Heart of Texas Honky Tonk Festival will be held August 26-29 at the Ed Davenport Civic Center in Brady, with proceeds benefiting the Heart of Texas Country Music Museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tickets are $30 per person per day and include both band performances each evening. The event is BYOB, and concessions will be available. The festival kicks off Wednesday, August 26, with a free Heart of Texas Welcome Party featuring The Kenaston Band f ...... read more