December 17, 2009

Welcome rains and the lifting of mandatory water restrictions by the Lower Colorado River Authority enabled the Horseshoe Bay City Council to remove mandatory water restrictions at Tuesday afternoon’s meeting. However, the council opted to continue with voluntary Stage 1 water restrictions which encourage reasonable conservation measures by water customers with a target of lowering water usage by 10%.

Texas cities’ sales tax receipts for sales made during October were down 14.9 percent compared to October last year according to the monthly report issued on Friday by Texas Comptroller Susan Combs. September sales tax allocations were down 8.3 percent compared to September 2008. Most Hill Country cities fared better during October than the statewide average decline in sales tax revenue, and four cities posted positive gains in sales tax activity over last year’s numbers.

A decrease in donations and difficult economic times have led to a critical funding situation at the Boys & Girls Club of the Highland Lakes. To strengthen and guarantee the organization’s ability to continue helping local children, club officials have launched a special fund raising drive and a matching funds campaign aimed at alleviating a serious shortfall in income. “The recession has really hurt our fund raising efforts, as with many other non-profits.

Horseshoe Bay Mayor Bob Lambert presented HSB police Lieutenant Richard Baum with a 5 Year Service Award on Dec. 15, 2009 at the city council meeting.

The number one hit movie of the July 4th weekend last year was Hancock, directed by Peter Berg and starring Will Smith, Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman. But those who watched Hancock were charmed by another character in the movie – 12-year-old Jae Head, of Goldthwaite. This year, Jae has a starring role in the hit movie The Blind Side, with Sandra Bullock and Quinton Aaron.

Horseshoe Bay residents, Roger and Geneva Dalton, would like to issue a challenge to anyone whose life has been enriched by animals. These special friends of the animals have generously offered to match dollar for dollar $5,000 in contributions to the Highland Lakes SPCA through December, 2009. Their goal is to raise $10,000 for use as general operating funds.

The Chancel Choir of the Church at Horseshoe Bay will present selections of Handel’s Messiah during both worship services at 8:30 and 11 a.m. on Sunday, December 20. The musical piece including the Hallelujah chorus will be conducted by Rev. Larry Sherwood, Minister of Music, and will be joined by Dr.

The Council gathered at three o’clock on Monday to once again discuss ———the “Roads/Streets.” Standards for upgrade construction, assessment methodology and street selection criteria were discussed and approved by unanimous votes. I will hit some highlights of these three discussions, and more detail will be presented in your Christmas Eve Beacon.

What triggers your memories of Christmas? Is it the smell of pine or cedar? Is it a particular pie or cookie such as mincemeat or snicker doodle? Perhaps a crackling fire in the fireplace with the stockings on the mantle swaying in the heat. I wish that something so wonderfully American as one of these did it for me, but it doesn’t. Christmas to me was cotton harvest.

Throughout your life, you strive to provide financial security to your family. And your efforts can extend beyond your lifetime — if you work to control estate taxes. It’s always challenging to create financial strategies that are somewhat dependent on tax laws, because these laws are always changing. In 2009, your estate could have passed up to $3.5 million to your heirs before incurring federal estate taxes at a maximum rate of 45 percent.

Dear Editor, Buffoon is the nicest word I can come up with to describe Kirk Bohls…while we are at it, let’s add an ‘S” to it and include Riggs and Rosner. Suh is a great player; but deserving of The Heisman…not even close. You wasted 3 votes that might well be the difference in Colt McCoy winning The Heisman and ladies and gentlemen he deserves it and here is why: · It is a yearlong award…not a last game award · He won ...

It was exactly 50 years ago this fall that I spent a semester abroad as an American Field Service exchange student to Austria. Among the many highlights of that remarkable and wonderful five months, during which I lived with a family in a small town in Styria, was the opportunity for me to experience first-hand a tradition that was quite different from what I knew at home. Some of our typical American traditions, such as the Christmas tree, have their origins in the German-speaking co ...

Thursday, December 17 Dinner Bingo-6 p.m. at Quail Point, dinner catered by Moe’s. Game begins between 6:45 and 7 p.m. Bring your beverage of choice, decaf coffee and iced tea are provided. $9 a person includes meal, entry fee and a bingo card ($1 each.) Reservation necessary, call Dianne Jones at 598-4528. Sunday, December 20 Handel’s Messiah will be presented at The Church of HSB at the 8:30 a.m and 11 a.m.