Announcements

Kelli Bramlett, noted molecular biologist and Director of Research & Development at Thermo Fisher Scientific in Austin, will be the featured speaker for the 2018 Wittliff Lecture Series at San Marcos Academy. The Witliff Lecture, “My Bloom on the Foundations of STEM Learning,” will be presented at 10:15 a.m. Sept. 19 in the Katherine Schultz Lecture Hall on the Academy campus.

Registration for Community English Classes is set for 6:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, at the First Baptist Church Blanco, with classes beginning the following Monday. This ministry of First Baptist Church will start its sixth year of service to English language learners. Although the classes are designed for adults, high school students who would like to participate are welcome. The program has a highly motivated all-volunteer staff.

The Senior Coalition of Fredericksburg will host the 5th Annual Fall Harvest Health Fair on Tues., Sept. 18 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, 1800 N. Llano St. The Fall Harvest Senior Health Fair is open to the public for free, and senior citizens, caregivers and those with aging parents are invited to attend. This year’s health fair will offer: Information about services and products for senior citizens Door prizes Raffle items Flu shots Vision sc ...

The Blanco County Emergency Services District No. 2 public hearing was called to order by board president Ann Hall Wednesday, Sept. 5. All commissioners, were present. The hearing that opened the meeting was to hear public comment on the proposed tax rate of $0.10 per $100 of taxable value of property to support emergency services in south Blanco County. “The ESD Board believes it is necessary to maintain the previous year’s rates in the interest of the health and safety or residents ...

The Blanco Pioneers’ Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas was originally inspired by Sarah Jane Page. Sarah Jane Page was born November 13, 1842, in Lockhart, Texas, to John and Susan Ann Page. Her father was a prosperous miller. He died of consumption in November 1949. Her mother remarried Hugh McLaurin in 1850, and he brought Susan Ann and the family to Blanco in 1853.

A tragedy in Genoa Italy made international headlines. At least 39 people are dead after a highway bridge collapsed – a bridge that had been on officials’ radar as dangerous for years. For years, there have been warnings about our own crumbling infrastructure and the need for repairs on bridges and overpasses we use every day.

Last Tuesday Aug. 21, the day before Blanco Elementary School started its 2018-19 school year, a group of Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts gathered at the Elementary School cafeteria to help their Cubmaster, Tom Hampton, with his recruiting efforts. Hampton attends every year the meet-the-teacher day to provide information to parents about scouting, while signing up potential candidates who may want to join his pack of Cub Scouts.

On the heels of back-to-school vaccines for children, the Hill Country Memorial Medical Group and Johnson City family nurse practitioner Jovawna Hubbard remind the community that adults need regular vaccines, too. Hubbard encourages adults aged 50 and older to get vaccinated against common but potentially dangerous infectious diseases like pneumonia, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The HCM Medical Clinic in Johnson City offers the Pneumovax 23 vacci ...

With motor vehicle crashes still a leading cause of death among children, the Texas Department of Transportation is joining safety advocates statewide to remind parents of the importance of always buckling up their children. That means not only making sure they’re secured in their vehicle, but also avoiding the most common mistakes when it comes to child safety seats: failing to select the seat that is appropriate for the child’s age and size, and failing to correctly install it. As p ...

Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush is proud to announce the kick-off of the 2018 Save Texas History Essay Contest for 4th and 7th grade students. The Save Texas History Essay Contest encourages students to answer an important question: “What history in your community is worth saving?” “As a former history teacher, it’s especially rewarding to have the opportunity to announce the 2018 Save Texas History essay contest” said Bush.