News

When our forefathers settled the Texas Hill Country, many of which were straight off ships from Germany and other European countries, they had to quickly adapt to a harsh new land totally alien to them. In their struggles to survive they quickly learned of the not so obvious abundance of edible wild plants in the Hill Country.

Since the commission has started refurbishing markers within the county many citizens have come forward to question us on various subjects related to the marker process and what happens after someone should be fortunate to have some structure designated historic. These are types of Historical Markers: First, Subject Markers are educational in nature and reveal local history that is important to the county or community.

Your new Medicare card is coming soon. From now until April 2019, Medicare is mailing new cards to the more than 60 million Americans with Medicare. The 3.9 million Texans with Medicare will begin receiving their cards this month. The new cards will no longer have your Social Security number on them.

Whenever anyone in this part of Texas thinks of a disease of trees, or just thinks of trees dying, they always think of oak wilt. And with good reason. Oak wilt is probably the proximate cause of the death of more mature oak trees in the Hill Country than any cause, other than man. But there is another fungal disease, called hypoxylon or hypoxylon canker (Hypoxylon atropunctatum) that infects and kills oaks.

Blanco County Commissioners held a Special Meeting with Budget Hearing and Tax Rate Hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018. All four Commissioners and Judge Brett Bray were present. Judge Bray asked if there were public comments on the proposed budget and tax rate and there were none. Commissioners approved line items transfers as presented, and approved payment of the outstanding bills for $113,426.43. Commissioner Paul Granberg told the Court there were some date adjustments for CAPCOG reg ...

n error was made in last week’s article covering the Aug. 23 2018 meeting of the Blanco-Pedernales Groundwater Conservation District article. Taxes were not raised. A subsequent interview with general Manager Ron Fiesler explained how the taxes are determined. “When the district was created, voters approved a $0.05 maximum tax rate,” Fiesler said.

The inaugural El Rey 5K and Dog Walk was held at the Old Blanco County Courthouse on Saturday, Sept. 1. The event honored the memory of Ian Ray, “El Rey,” who was a dog lover. Competitive 5K runners, joggers and walkers enjoyed the route that began at the courthouse, turned east on Main St., south through the Blanco State Park along the banks of the Blanco River, and back to the courthouse. More than 130 people registered and participated in the event.

Lights Spectacular Hill Country Style in Johnson City is getting new life as a new planning committee takes over the huge endeavor. Under the new direction of chair Chrystal Tamillo, owner of Pecan Street Brewing and the 12 other committee members including Mayor Dawn Capra, planning for Lights Spectacular Hill Country Style must begin early to get this Chamber of Commerce event developed in enough time. The event committee saw the need to keep this fun holiday tradition going when voluntee ...

Last week’s public meeting on the discharge permit application for the new City of Blanco wastewater treatment plant, held by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) sparked much discussion around town. The Blanco County News has covered the project dating before the May 2016 meeting when the Blanco City Council approved initial steps toward building a new WWTP.

The Old Ironhorse Saloon will be celebrating it’s one-year anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 8, complete with drink specials, live music and a food truck. “These plans are actually a little low key, compared to what I have planned for the years to come,” a very pregnant Nikki Forsberg, owner and operator said.