News

Beginning this Thanksgiving weekend on Friday, Nov. 27, and continuing through Sunday, Jan. 3, the 31st season of its Lights Spectacular Hill Country Style will continue to glow in Johnson City despite the current global pandemic.  In conjunction with Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s famous display of over one million lights strung in the oak trees at PEC headquarters, guests will be encouraged to socially distance and enjoy an enchanting tour of the “Twinkliest Town in Texas” from ...

Active COVID-19 cases in Blanco County increased by 10 in less than a week. Numbers released Monday afternoon by the Blanco County Office of Emergency Management showed 48 active cases in the county, an increase in the 38 active cases the agency reported last Wednesday. That number is up 20 from the 28 active cases BCOEM reported Oct.

What’s in your elders’ attics? It might seem overwhelming to think about curating the artifacts of your family’s past--from military medals to sepia-toned photographs and everything in between--but one local man and prolific author has explained the process in his newest book. “It feels like I’ve been working on this book for more than 45 years, beginning when I lost my mother,” said Mark Standley, Ph.D., author of Our Museum of Us: Curating your Family’s Past into a Digital F ...

Blanco County Judge Brett Bray called the special Commissioners Court meeting to order with all four commissioners present at 8:35 a.m. on Tues. Nov. 24. After the roll call and the pledge was recited, public comments were heard. Kenneth Welch took the floor first and asked again if the Cyber Security Assessment for the Blanco County elections systems had been completed.

The coronavirus pandemic has laid much of the American economy on its back — but a bright spot made the disaster less crippling than it might have been. That is the Paycheck Protection Program, which funneled money to workers through small businesses. More than five million small businesses took the PPP loans, representing 50 million jobs, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Congress in June.

The Blanco Commissioners Court meeting was called back to order at 9:01 a.m. by Judge Brett Bray with all the commissioners present. The minutes of the prior meetings were approved. There were no line item transfers at this time. Commissioner Chris Liesmann moved to approve the outstanding bills in the amount of $78,156.12 and Commissioner Emil Uecker seconded.

Hill Country Memorial continues to offer its popular LifeScreen and QuickDraw low-cost health screenings, available to all residents of the Hill Country. The screenings take place on the second Saturday of each month, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the hospital’s Admission entrance on 1020 S State Hwy 16, Fredericksburg.

To memorialize the patients under their care this year, HCM Hospice is hosting a candlelight drive-through Celebration of Life on December 11 and 12, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Brune Campus parking lot, 820 Ruben Street in Fredericksburg. “We at Hill Country Memorial Hospice are honored to have cared for patients and families throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic,” said Randa Kirchner, Hospice Administrator.

Johnson City Mayor Rhonda Stell called the regular meeting of Johnson City City Council to order at 6 p.m. on November 10. The meeting was held at City Hall, and all members were present. Pastor Steve Sanchez gave the Invocation and everyone recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Stell introduced and welcomed the new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)/City Secretary, Rick Schroder, “We are so happy to have Rick here and he is doing a fabulous job.” There were no public comments. Reports ...

As of Tuesday, there have been 204 cases of COVID-19 in Blanco County and four people have died. Thirty-two cases are active and 168 people have recovered, according to Blanco County Emergency Management. “Cases are on the rise, which is consistent with other parts of the state and the U.S.,” said Ben Oakley, Blanco County infectious disease control officer.