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December 20, 2021
Christmas arrives for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bandera County
Christmas gifts for our club kids and list of families in need have arrived.
Lowes Grocery Store Manager Ryan Fennochi delivered 275 gifts; the Lions Club of Bandera delivered 100 stuffed animals; Ashley Wetherill-Garcia delivered 27 gifts and a $420 donation from the Christmas Cornhole Tournament; the Silver Sage delivered 33 cases of Planters Peanuts, 10 cases of Oreos and two cases of Coco Puffs.
We are very thankful and appreciative for all of the gifts and donations given to us for our club kids and families of the community.
Lowes Grocery Store Manager Ryan Fennochi delivered 275 gifts; the Lions Club of Bandera delivered 100 stuffed animals; Ashley Wetherill-Garcia delivered 27 gifts and a $420 donation from the Christmas Cornhole Tournament; the Silver Sage delivered 33 cases of Planters Peanuts, 10 cases of Oreos and two cases of Coco Puffs.
We are very thankful and appreciative for all of the gifts and donations given to us for our club kids and families of the community.
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December 16, 2021
To our community, friends and family,
Thank you to each of you for your generous donations, prayers, kind words, and hugs. Though our home was destroyed by fire in early November, our faith has been renewed.
We are blessed beyond measure to be surrounded by so many compassionate people. Because of you, we will be able to rebuild our home and demolition has already started.
With a humbled heart, we wish you and your family a beautiful Christmas and a very happy New Year.
Mary and JM Clements
We are blessed beyond measure to be surrounded by so many compassionate people. Because of you, we will be able to rebuild our home and demolition has already started.
With a humbled heart, we wish you and your family a beautiful Christmas and a very happy New Year.
Mary and JM Clements
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December 12, 2021
Thanking our fellow non-profits and other organizations for a much stronger bond between us
The Bandera American Legion Post 157 was established 101 years ago shortly after World War I “For God and Country.” As Rick Riordan wrote, “Out of every tragedy, comes new strength.”
Although the pandemic business dampened our celebrations and fundraising, we thank the community for their continued support to the Post, our veterans and their families. We thank our fellow non-profits and other organizations for a much stronger bond between us.
Although some programs had to be cancelled, other opportunities took their place. The critical need for blood and the suspension of mobile van use led to the Legion coordinating monthly blood drives at the Silver Sage and Lakehills Community Centers which continue to thrive. Memorial Day flag placement expanded beyond Bandera, St. Stanislaus and Oak Rest cemeteries: West Prong was added. We missed providing military demonstrations at Alkek Elementary School in 2020, but we were back this year with a flag ceremony, airborne, marching and feeding instruction. A new scholarship program was established for award in May of 2022 at local high schools.
Here are a few examples of the results of new “strength.” Social distancing meant that the Frontier Times Museum required space to spread out for meetings, as did the Bandera County Historical Commission. Word of mouth led to the Bandera County Retired Teachers Association meeting, book collection and fundraising there too - that partnership continues. Local small businesses held holiday parties at the Legion Hall. A Girl and A Gun spent some hot summer hours “shooting” at the walls indoors. The facility was used for the Bandera County Republican Women meetings and due to our non-partisan requirements, the Democratic Club was invited to use it also. Bingo fundraising was sporadic, but those who used the facility donated to assist in keeping our programs alive.
The 19th annual Bandera Honors Veterans celebration on Nov. 13 returned with a “Roar” and a “Soaring” Colonel (Retired) and astronaut, Jack Lousma, music and tributes. It was wonderful to see the support lining Main Street and at the courthouse. The Post appreciates the volunteers and supporters who made it happen for our community. The dedication of the Wall of Honor at Bandera High School will provide a lasting tribute to all graduates who have served their country in uniform. We look forward to a stronger 2022 and beyond – excelling in our motto, “Veterans Strengthening America.”
With deepest gratitude,
Susan Junker
Commander, Bandera American Legion Post 157
Although the pandemic business dampened our celebrations and fundraising, we thank the community for their continued support to the Post, our veterans and their families. We thank our fellow non-profits and other organizations for a much stronger bond between us.
Although some programs had to be cancelled, other opportunities took their place. The critical need for blood and the suspension of mobile van use led to the Legion coordinating monthly blood drives at the Silver Sage and Lakehills Community Centers which continue to thrive. Memorial Day flag placement expanded beyond Bandera, St. Stanislaus and Oak Rest cemeteries: West Prong was added. We missed providing military demonstrations at Alkek Elementary School in 2020, but we were back this year with a flag ceremony, airborne, marching and feeding instruction. A new scholarship program was established for award in May of 2022 at local high schools.
Here are a few examples of the results of new “strength.” Social distancing meant that the Frontier Times Museum required space to spread out for meetings, as did the Bandera County Historical Commission. Word of mouth led to the Bandera County Retired Teachers Association meeting, book collection and fundraising there too - that partnership continues. Local small businesses held holiday parties at the Legion Hall. A Girl and A Gun spent some hot summer hours “shooting” at the walls indoors. The facility was used for the Bandera County Republican Women meetings and due to our non-partisan requirements, the Democratic Club was invited to use it also. Bingo fundraising was sporadic, but those who used the facility donated to assist in keeping our programs alive.
The 19th annual Bandera Honors Veterans celebration on Nov. 13 returned with a “Roar” and a “Soaring” Colonel (Retired) and astronaut, Jack Lousma, music and tributes. It was wonderful to see the support lining Main Street and at the courthouse. The Post appreciates the volunteers and supporters who made it happen for our community. The dedication of the Wall of Honor at Bandera High School will provide a lasting tribute to all graduates who have served their country in uniform. We look forward to a stronger 2022 and beyond – excelling in our motto, “Veterans Strengthening America.”
With deepest gratitude,
Susan Junker
Commander, Bandera American Legion Post 157
Christmas lights Bandera style
Three years ago, the City’s Economic Development Corp. decided that it was too costly to continue to decorate the Courthouse or the City Park for Christmas.
This Christmas, 2021, with help from the Bandera EDC and a core group of about 20 volunteers a new group has been formed, the “Bandera Community Action Group.”
This Christmas, 2021, with help from the Bandera EDC and a core group of about 20 volunteers a new group has been formed, the “Bandera Community Action Group.”
August 16, 2021
The three R’s; reading, riting, & rithmatic, I lernt them all in Bandera schools (apologies to my teachers).
It’s such a different world in the learning of today as students learn robotics, coding and lessons that we can’t fathom the use or application of.
It seems that the wisdom of our years may need to be gently applied, so as not to be rejected as dinosaur thinking, by the young people who we encounter. They will certainly understand love and understanding, so this is where I will begin to relate.
May God always bless the children of the world and may He help them through a world that we may struggle to understand! First week of school for many, so be patient with your driving.
It’s such a different world in the learning of today as students learn robotics, coding and lessons that we can’t fathom the use or application of.
It seems that the wisdom of our years may need to be gently applied, so as not to be rejected as dinosaur thinking, by the young people who we encounter. They will certainly understand love and understanding, so this is where I will begin to relate.
May God always bless the children of the world and may He help them through a world that we may struggle to understand! First week of school for many, so be patient with your driving.
David Lee Jureczki
Bandera
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Courtesy photo
Exciting updates on the Wastewater Front
August 11, 2021
Camp OTX in Tarpley implemented their TCEQ “zero discharge-discharge permit” this summer. There will be verifiable transparency: a Texas Clean Rivers monitoring site just downstream from the camp has been approved by TCEQ, and will be managed by the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District. Friends of Hondo Canyon joint settlement with RR 417 (owners of Camp OTX) has been a win-win for water, and a win-win for neighborliness. It could not have been accomplished without your support.
In another canyon, we have more wonderful news to share. Young Life (the new owner of Camp Lone Hollow on the Sabinal River near Vanderpool ) just issued a press release stating their intention to withdraw their application for a wastewater discharge permit in the Sabinal River! Their press release outlines plans including an application for a Texas Land Application Permit (TLAP) – so ALL wastewater effluent will be used for irrigation. Beneficial reuse of wastewater for irrigation reduces groundwater pumping, and helps conserve our precious groundwater resources as well as keeping our few remaining clean rivers pristine. This is yet another win-win for water and a win-win for neighborliness. We await confirmation of Young Life’s decision – an official posting of the formal withdrawal on the TCEQ website. We celebrate our community for coming together to defend our shared resources that have no legislation to protect them.
Development in the Texas Hill Country is going like gangbusters. Everyone in Bandera County received their property tax assessment – a real wake-up call. And the Friends of Hondo Canyon funded monitor well for the Trinity Aquifer has not been drilled yet, because there are so many new well applications in the que.
Our work is not yet done. Without legislation, the preservation of pristine streams using zero discharge wastewater systems remains one battle/one permit at a time. Without dedicated monitoring wells to monitor aquifer levels, water waste will be policed by neighboring wells going dry instead of by logical restrictions on pumping during drought. I urge your continued support of Friends of Hondo Canyon. And I will ask for your voice to join our voices whenever an effective opportunity to speak out for clean rivers presents itself.
In the meantime, use your voice to share the cheers!
Remember Hondo Canyon! Celebrate Sabinal!
Let’s stay united in support for keeping the few remaining clean river segments pristine.
More later.
In another canyon, we have more wonderful news to share. Young Life (the new owner of Camp Lone Hollow on the Sabinal River near Vanderpool ) just issued a press release stating their intention to withdraw their application for a wastewater discharge permit in the Sabinal River! Their press release outlines plans including an application for a Texas Land Application Permit (TLAP) – so ALL wastewater effluent will be used for irrigation. Beneficial reuse of wastewater for irrigation reduces groundwater pumping, and helps conserve our precious groundwater resources as well as keeping our few remaining clean rivers pristine. This is yet another win-win for water and a win-win for neighborliness. We await confirmation of Young Life’s decision – an official posting of the formal withdrawal on the TCEQ website. We celebrate our community for coming together to defend our shared resources that have no legislation to protect them.
Development in the Texas Hill Country is going like gangbusters. Everyone in Bandera County received their property tax assessment – a real wake-up call. And the Friends of Hondo Canyon funded monitor well for the Trinity Aquifer has not been drilled yet, because there are so many new well applications in the que.
Our work is not yet done. Without legislation, the preservation of pristine streams using zero discharge wastewater systems remains one battle/one permit at a time. Without dedicated monitoring wells to monitor aquifer levels, water waste will be policed by neighboring wells going dry instead of by logical restrictions on pumping during drought. I urge your continued support of Friends of Hondo Canyon. And I will ask for your voice to join our voices whenever an effective opportunity to speak out for clean rivers presents itself.
In the meantime, use your voice to share the cheers!
Remember Hondo Canyon! Celebrate Sabinal!
Let’s stay united in support for keeping the few remaining clean river segments pristine.
More later.
By Margo Denke
Secretary/Treasurer
Friends of Hondo Canyon
Bandera County EMS Paramedic Jennifer Harris
July 12, 2021
A few weeks ago Paramedic Jennifer Harris from Bandera County EMS came to College Station for training (https://teex.org/class/MGT314/). It is advanced Large Scale Incident Management training, where she was put alongside very experienced and seasoned responders from all around the country. I have the pleasure of working as an Adjunct Instructor there. Jennifer worked as part of a Type 3 Incident Management Team in a number of exercises, culminating in a full-day exercise where she served in the Command Section as PIO - Public Information Officer (see attached photo).
In that role she demonstrated remarkable clarity, compassion and experience. Frankly, in my 13 years as an Adjunct Instructor there, she was a top performer. My fellow instructors from all over the country made the point to congratulate me on living in a small county with such accomplished people.
Just a handful of days later, we had a medical emergency at our home in Pipe Creek. It was an early morning call, and Jennifer showed up as one of the responders. I listened and watched while she demonstrated excellent patient care, worked closely with her team, and provided good direction to their intern. Once again, very impressive. She communicated with our family all throughout the incident, even when arriving at the hospital to let us know his condition (it was a full recovery).
I contacted Calvin Plummer, our EMS Director, to solicit his thoughts about a story on Jennifer. As a matter of perspective, it was my honor to serve with a large municipal Fire/EMS department for over 30 years, so I have some sense of what the job entails and what excellence looks like. It was no surprise to me when I learned he, too, is a professional and well-spoken supervisor. Good leadership results in good teamwork.
Jennifer is a remarkably accomplished professional. I think the community would be well served to hear how well their EMS Department is doing.
Sincerely,
Mike Arguelles
Pipe Creek
May 12, 2021
If you truly want Bandera to stay the same, then a lot of people need to go back to where they came from. They’re not courteous, they’re rude, they lack patience, and they’re always in a hurry!
Everyone loves the chickens, the horses, the ducks and the wildlife within the city limits of Bandera. But yesterday, Mama duck and her eight baby chicks were coming up the hill to get some cat food from Mrs. Stein’s, and some bastard ran over the male duck and two of his babies! People!!!
The male and female are paired and go everywhere together. As of 5 p.m. the female and what is left of her babies were lost in time. They were waiting for the male duck to return so they could go back to the city park!
I can tell you it’s not a hometown man or woman (native) who did this! We were raised different, to respect others and God’s animals that he has given us!
Bandera is headed in the wrong direction due to some really wrong people to spoil it for everyone.
James McGroarty
April 30, 2021
The month of May is National Neurofibromatosis (NF) Awareness Month. NF is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerve tissues. They can grow anywhere in your nervous system, including on your brain and spinal cord. It can also cause optic glioma, and Lisch nodules, bone deformities, learning disabilities, fine and gross motor skills delays, and multiple Café au lait spots. There are three types of NF. NF 1, NF 2, and Schwannomatosis. NF 1 is the most common and affects 1 in 3000 people of all races and genders. 50 percent of the people with NF inherited it and a spontaneous mutation on a very-long arm of chromosome-17 results in the other 50 percent. In April 2020, the FDA approved a drug called Selumetinib that can shrink plexiform tumors in individuals two years old and older. With continued research maybe one day there will be a cure for NF.
Sheila Zavorka
Lakehills
April 10, 2021
Dear Friends of Hondo Canyon,
We have been working on a long-term solution to prevent wastewater discharge into our pristine creeks/streams/rivers. Here is the problem: TCEQ cannot deny administratively complete applications that meets their regulations! We were fortunate to be able to work with Camp OTX and TCEQ to negotiate the first of its kind “ZERO DISCHARGE discharge permit.” But in order to avoid yet another battle as development of the Hill Country continues, we need to give TCEQ the tools to deny discharge permits into pristine streams. So here we have it: there are two bills before the 2021 Texas Legislature: HB 4146 and SB 1747, and HB 4146 will be reviewed by the Texas House Committee on Environmental Regulation on Monday, April 12, at 2 p.m. I am going to Austin to testify on our behalf, but I need your help! Can you send House Representative Andrew Murr an email asking for his strong support for HB 4146? He needs to hear from our community. We need Representative Murr’s help. To be certain your email doesn’t end up in spam, it is best to send your letter to his aide: Logan Harrison Logan.Harrison@house.texas.gov
Thank you for your continued support. We can make a difference.
Margo Denke
THE DETAILS: HB4146 and SB1747 bills will prohibit TCEQ from accepting applications for wastewater pollutant discharges into pristine stream segments – streams that have undetectable phosphorus as determined by 10 years of monitoring by the Clean Rivers Program in Texas. There are about 40 such stream segments left in Texas, comprising nearly 2,000 miles of creeks, rivers, and streams that remain pristine. This is less than 2% of all of the classified stream segments. 5 of these segments are in our neighborhood-- the Upper Nueces River Basin. The legislation will not stop development. Developers can apply for a TLAP permit (Texas Land Application Permit), using wastewater for irrigation. This benefits all sides (developer, local landowners, TCEQ) from wasting time, money, and effort fighting a discharge permit that will pollute a pristine creek; the end result saves groundwater from being used for irrigation when wastewater will do.
April 9, 2021
As of today at 5:15 p.m., the FM 337 Bridge at Mill Creek in Vanderpool is open to traffic. Harper Brothers will still have construction ongoing, and will implement daily lane closures. Thanks to the Fire Department and EMS for handling that area on this side of the creek and everyone who helped keep response going during this time.
Carey Reed
Bandera County Emergency Management Coordinator/911 Coordinator
April 6, 2021
Henry Bussey
On behalf of Save Medina Lake
March 30 was the 22nd anniversary of the Grand Jury investigation of BMA. Let’s examine the Grand Jury’s conclusion and the progress made in the ensuing 22 years.
Please see more here
February 24, 2021
Share the Joy! Zero wastewater discharge from Camp OTX in Tarpley is now a reality. The ink is dry on the signed permit, which was mailed Feb. 23, 2021.
Thanks to all of you for supporting this community effort. Our creeks will remain pristine. It took all of us, including the owners of Camp OTX, to come together to make this happen.
Rejoice!
Margo Denke Griffin Secretary/Treasurer Friends of Hondo Canyon
January 13, 2021
Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District to hear agenda item for a water well permit from Young Life on Thursday, Jan. 14. Send your comments NOW to dmauk@bcragd.org and hphillips@bcragd.org
Imagine that we live in a quiet, peaceful corner tucked into the canyonlands of the beautiful Texas Hill Country. So idyllic is this spot in fact, that when the first European settlers came and drank in the beauty that surrounded them they named one of the communities Utopia. Imagine that, as we go about our quiet way of life, we strive to keep our employment routines in such a way to not disturb the ecosystem, as we enjoy the unspoiled setting, feeding the birds, counting the butterflies every year to participate in a nationwide survey, swimming in and paddling the rivers. We strive to maintain a balance that honors nature, the native wildlife, and the rural way of life that our great grandparents, our grandparents, our parents lived, and to maintain that same tranquil way of life we found when we became stewards of the land. We and they have worked hard to keep the serenity ofthis unspoiled place. Now imagine that a very large corporation decides to bring their brand of summer youth camps into our setting. They come with admirable stated goals, a Christian camping experience for young adolescents. In this case they apparently wish to develop a campground that would serve a much-expanded attendance from that of the former owners of a camp at the same location. Imagine, such a well-funded corporation – a corporation that urges their supporters to cement their legacy in this life by giving real estate, business interests, oil, gas and mineral rights to fund the camp corporation – a corporation so well-funded that it can spend millions to develop massive new uses of the natural resources they have found available in this chosen spot. And now you need not imagine any longer! Young Life has come to Utopia. While we applaud one of the basic tenants of their values stated on their website “ Observing the highest standards of stewardship of all the resources placed in our trust” this high standard does not seem to include avoiding the risk of irreparably polluting our beautiful Sabinal River......... Now we find that they and a neighbor landowner are also seeking to draw a very significant volume of ground water in an area of our canyonlands where some landowners wells have reportedly already gone dry!
FOR THE WATER WELL PERMIT: Please make your voice heard. Send your comments to Bandera River Authority and Groundwater District (dmauk@bcragd.org and hphillips@bcragd.org) BEFORE this agenda item is heard TOMORROW, Jan 14, 2021.
FOR THE WASTEWATER DISCHARGE PERMIT: Send your comments to: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (https://www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/ Enter permit : WQ0015892001) asking that the PERMIT BE DENIED to discharge 60,000 gallons of water daily into creeks that ultimately flow into the Sabinal River. Please alert your neighbors to do the same. If we are to protect this gift of nature we must stay alert, be willing to make our voices heard. Together our community can save these treasured place we call home.
EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED
January 7, 2021
Hi CCTRA riders! It’s warmup ride time.
This is our 51st year. Mark your planners for Saturday, Jan. 9. Rideout is at 9 a.m., from Twin Elm Guest Ranch Arena, around Schmidtke Road to Mr. Frank and Mary Anderwald gravesite to pay respects at S.t Stans. Chili/cornbread lunch in town around 1 p.m. and then return to the Twin Elm. Wagon space available and wagon friendly for folks who would like to come along. Please RSVP.
Jeanne Beauxbeannes
830-534-5750
January 5, 2021
I just read the article about Elithe Hamilton Kirkland, submitted by Bandera Spirits of Texas. My mother purchased Kirkland’s novel, Love is a Wild Assault, from a book signing at Scarborough’s Department Store in Austin in 1960. When she finished the book she gave it to me and I still have that signed, first edition copy. Love is a Wild Assault is by far one of my favorite novels. It is rich with Texas history and tells the story of one of our most fascinating pioneers, Harriet Potter, during the time of our fight for independence. Every few years I get a hankering to read it again and have enjoyed it several times. It is a classic. Kirkland was an excellent story teller and I was so pleased to hear more about her. She, too, was a pioneer and a true Texas treasure. The book is still available from Amazon and they have it in hardcover, paperback and Kindle edition.
Vicki L. George
Pipe Creek, TX
December 30, 2020
December is a time to reflect on the past year and to give thanks. It is also a time to reach out and support those who are struggling. Can you help?
Just west of Hondo Canyon (Sabinal Canyon) an established summer camp – Camp Lone Hollow (downstream from Lost Maples State Natural Area) has been sold to Young Life. In their plans to update the camp and make it a year round destination, Young Life has applied for a TCEQ Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit (TPDES) to send ALL of their wastewater - up to 60,000 gallons/day - into an unnamed creek that flows to Long Hollow Creek then into the Sabinal River just north of Utopia. The Sabinal River is like Hondo Creek – it has never received wastewater discharge north of US Highway 90. Wastewater discharge will forever change this pristine section of the Sabinal.
There is no reason why Young Life cannot apply their abundant resources to design a zero discharge system. We navigated the path to ZERO DISCHARGE in Hondo Canyon.
Numbers count - let’s help our neighbors in their struggle by writing to TCEQ. Let’s not sit back while yet another clean river gets a rubber stamp approval to be changed to a polluted one.
Go to https://www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/?fbclid=IwAR1G41wKBcsHk yaGWk-byy6IA26nqnCGfE-xgkX8AfS07KsYiosbS8eRI0o
Fill in the permit number: WQ0015892001
Complete your contact information (you must agree to privacy policy–TCEQ does not accept anonymous comments)
Enter your comments–why this pollutant discharge permit should be denied.
Why should local children swim in a polluted Sabinal River at Utopia Park when Young Life’s children swim in pristine spring water?
Ask that TCEQ hold a Public Meeting on the permit.
Thank you for sharing our blessings.
Margo Denke Griffin
Friends of Hondo Canyon
December 8, 2020
On Saturday, Nov. 12, at one point I counted 36 people - all volunteer - helping to set up the Christmas display on the courthouse lawn. More volunteers than we had last year. I would sincerely like to thank volunteers from Knights of Columbus, Bandera 4-H, Bandera Juvenile Probation, Bandera High School Honor Society, James Westover, Steve and Heather Jones of Zoka Jo’s, as well as an unknown number of residents from Lakehills and Pipe Creek, Medina and Bandera communities. Also, would like to thank the Bandera Prophet and the Bandera Bulletin for their contributions. A thank you to Bandera County Commissioners’ Court for use of the courthouse lawn and a $750 grant, and the Bandera County Chamber of Commerce. A special thanks to Bandera Equipment Rental for the use of the lift to put lights on the big tree, Dough Joes’ for the coffee and hot chocolate and Snowflakes for the doughnuts. A very big thanks to Chip Aragones for putting the lights on the courthouse. Bandera County is a great community. Hopefully this group of volunteers and more of the community can come together and make this an annual tradition of local volunteers. Our county has always had a great volunteer spirit. Commissioners and judges come and go! A sincere thank you for making this project fast, easy and enjoyable.
Jack Moseley
Commissioner Pct. 3
P.S. We’re looking for volunteers on Saturday, Jan. 9, who would be willing to help take down and box up the lights for next Christmas.
830-522-1500
jmoseley@banderacounty.org
November 20, 2020
The Bandera Blue Devils are currently registering for Spring 7v7 and tackle football. We are calling all 6th, 7th and 8th graders to come out. We are offering a competitive schedule and the chance to enhance your football understanding and abilities. If your child enjoys football and you are looking for a competitive option to soccer or baseball rec ball, contact us.
Banderabluedevils@gmail.com
October 28, 2020
We write to you with an exciting update.
Friends of Hondo Canyon and RR 417, the company developing Camp OTX, have reached an equitable settlement in mediation together, which will become fully realized once both the camp’s wastewater and water rights permits have been issued by TCEQ with a couple of very positive amendments.
Per the settlement agreement, there will be ZERO discharge of wastewater into the creek, and all state surface water will pass through and be returned as creek flow to Commissioner’s Creek. Through this complex process, which Friends of Hondo Canyon and Camp OTX navigated together, we have had to work through many frustrating aspects of Texas water law and the regulatory system.
We believe this mutual agreement provides some excellent protections for our creek. Thanks to all in our community for participating in this process!
Margo Denke Griffin - Secretary/Treasurer Friends of Hondo Canyon
Sam Torn and Chris Torn - Camp OTX
2020 CHRISTMAS
Let’s end 2020 on a happy note with Christmas lights on our Courthouse lawn again. Y’all may remember last year we put up the lights with all volunteer help. I had church groups, 4-H, Juvenile Probation kids and a lot of individual volunteers. We are trying to do it again. This year Chip Aragones has volunteered to put up lights on our courthouse also. Last year it took about three days total. Most of it was accomplished on the first Saturday. Hoping to start Saturday, Nov. 21, at 10 a.m. That gives us five days to finish. The lights will be turned on the Friday (Nov. 27) after Thanksgiving.
Anyone interested in helping please give me a call:
Jack Moseley
Bandera County Commissioner Precinct 3
830-522-1500
jmoseley@banderacounty.org
Bandera Little League Elections for Spring
We are going to try and see if we can help everyone interested in attending by going virtual. Join the meeting on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 5 p.m. ALL positions are available. Help us have an amazing Spring Season! We need your help to help our kids play ball.
Join Zoom Meeting https://frost.zoom.us/j/2103818264
Meeting ID: 210 381 8264
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,2103818264# US (San Jose)
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September 26, 2020
A settlement for the wastewater discharge permit has not been reached. The next public step for protesting wastewater discharge into the creeks is to attend the preliminary hearing on the pending wastewater discharge permit.
The hearing is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 28, at 10 a.m. You do not have to speak at the hearing; your registration speaks for you. We do not want pollutant discharge into our creeks. To register, visit the SOAH website at: http://www.soah.texas.gov/ or call SOAH at 512-475-4993. When you get to the SOAH home page, click on the top blue banner E-SERVICES (on the line starting with home, agency, hearings and mediation). This will take you to a page ‘e-filing news’ and the last link on the list is Public Hearing Registration. Click on this and you will get a list of hearings for September 2020 and October 2020.
RR 417 hearing is the third one on the September list. Click on it, fill out the information and that you are attending as an observer.
The more observers we have, the better. This is the official TCEQ process, and we travel it together.
Margo Denke Griffin
Secretary/Treasurer
Friends of Hondo Canyon
July 23, 2020
💥💥 National Day of the American Cowboy Event Cancelled 💥💥
On behalf of the BBA:
We are saddened to announce the cancellation of the NDAC this year, Saturday July 25, 2020, due to the tropical storm headed toward Texas and the forecast for rain/thunderstorms on Saturday. We thank all of our visitors, vendors and participants for your interest in this annual event.
Bandera Business Association
July 23, 2020
We understand that everyone is facing trying times during the current COVID 19 pandemic and it has caused all of us financial difficulties. The Chamber is no different; however, we rely on our membership dues, fund raisers and community support for our operations. Unfortunately, all events have been cancelled in the past few months and we have not been following up on unpaid membership dues because of the current environment. Both of these events have resulted in a significant liquidity issue for us. Any assistance you can provide would go a long way to allowing us to continue to operate.
We are currently selling gun raffle tickets and have an impressive 20 guns in the raffle. We also ned sponsorships for Buckfest and always welcome new memberships. We really appreciate all you support and will do all we can to continue to support our membership and our community.
Chamber Board of Directors
July 18, 2020
I am reaching out to all of you today in regards to the county park in Lakehills, Precinct 2.
I reached out to Mr. Harris this morning inquiring if the park was open. He advised me that it was not open and that the closure was extended yesterday at commissioners court. He also stated that this decision was made because of the outbreak in San Antonio and would be reviewed on a weekly basis.
I asked him if opening the park to county residents only would be considered, before I could offer an explanation on why I was asking this, he began talking over me and sarcastically told me that when I provide him with 2 armed guards he would consider this. It is my understanding that Mr. Harris has been acknowledging and praising the Sheriff’s department for sending officers to help control traffic and help encourage people to behave, if this is truly how he feels about the Sheriffs department why is he asking me to provide armed guards for him to consider opening it county residents only? I am still trying to figure out if Mr. Harris consistently speaks over people with sarcastic comments or if I received this treatment because I am a woman.
As a life long county resident we purchase annual boat ramp passes almost every year, my family has property near thousand trails, as the lake continues to be drained a lot of people are finding it more and more difficult to use their own personal boat ramps. This is quickly becoming the reality for my family. We purchased an annual boat ramp pass on January 26, 2020, after initially purchasing this pass we have been unable to use it again because the park has either been closed or has been filled to capacity. Mr. Harris did inform me that 98% of the visitors to the park are from San Antonio, as the park is a county entity I would like to see the residents and tax payers of this county have access to this county park or be offered a full refund of annual passes to the residents of Bandera County. If I remember correctly from the previous auditor Christina, this is a tax payer funded property, I do have a call into the current auditor to confirm how this county entity is funded because funds are allotted in the county budget.
I will admit, I find it odd that Mr. Harris has opted to close the county park, while the commissioner that oversees Mansfield park has allowed that county entity to remain open, a weekly rodeo series that takes place there has seen attendance of up to and exceeding 500 people on a Friday night, with people coming from all over south and central Texas, including people from San Antonio. Why should one of these county entities remain open while the other is closed, if both were closed I would believe the statement of trying to prevent the spread of COVID-19? It seems that Mr. Harris maybe trying to lighten his work load by closing the county park. I find it difficult to believe that people going out in their own boat would be worse than stacking people into stands to watch a rodeo.
I am asking that the county park be opened for county residents only. I am sure this would be greatly appreciated by many of the county residents that are not able to use their own boat ramps.
Thank you, Jennifer Tschirhart-Konvicka
July 6, 2020
In spite of the restrictions that have been placed on us because of COVID-19 we have resolved to continue our work to protect and preserve the natural resources of the Texas Hill Country. Texas Master Naturalist, Hill Country Chapter are currently accepting applications for the 2020 Training Class and the application can be filled out online at https://txmn.org/hillcountry/ The application deadline has been extended to July 13. Become a Texas Master Naturalist!
Texas Master Naturalist, Hill Country Chapter
June 9, 2020
Cajun Festival anniversary celebration postponed
It is with some sadness that we must announce that we will be postponing the 40th annual Medina Lake Cajun Festival to 2021. With the uncertainty of where this virus can go, we just felt that it was too big of a risk to hold it this year. It must be planned so far in advance and the monetary outlay is very high. We were able to retain all of the bands for next year and have adjusted the website to reflect the postponement of the festival and the entertainment lineup. The date for the festival is Sept. 26, 2021. We plan to have a fabulous 2021 Medina Lake Cajun Festival. We are sure that it is going to be bigger and better than ever. Forty years is an amazing milestone and we look forward to celebrating it. If you already had planned to support us this year, we thank you very much and hope you can understand our reasons. Maybe you will think of us again, when we plan to realize this postponed 40th anniversary Cajun Festival in 2021. Thank you very much again, and please do not hesitate to let us know your comments.
Medina Lake Cajun Festival
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June 6, 2020
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