Shermalee & Lou Mack: A RetrospectiveThe Frontier Times Museum is celebrating the National Day of the American Cowboy with the opening of Capturing the Old West in Bronze, a retrospective exhibit on sculptors Shermalee and Lou Mack. Basically self-taught with some limited training, Shermalee created bronzes of Old West characters and vignettes that captured the dynamic history and movement of the Old West.
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Celebrating National Day of the American Cowboy in the Cowboy Capital of the WorldIn honor of the National Day of the American Cowboy, the Bandera Business Association will host family-friendly events and live entertainment at Mansfield Park.
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Calling all contestants for Miss Bandera County
The Bandera County Chamber of Commerce is seeking five more contestants to sign up for the Miss Bandera County Queen and Miss Teen Bandera County competition.
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Heavy rain and flash flooding forced road closuresNumerous roads and low water crossings were closed yesterday after heavy rains led to flash flooding throughout the county. Some areas in Pipe Creek reported up to nine inches of water, while Bandera reported between six and seven inches during the Tuesday morning deluge.
This morning, roads closed include: Peaceful Valley due to debris removal English Crossing at the crossing due to construction |
Back to School Bash rescheduledDue to weather, the Back to School Bash has been rescheduled from this Saturday to Saturday, Aug. 3. The event will still be held from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Hundreds of backpacks are packed with supplies and ready to be given away.
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Groundwater District delays decision on controversial water supply permit requestBandera County River Authority and Groundwater District directors pressed pause on deciding whether to grant two public water supply permit requests from RR 417 LLC, for Camp OTX near Tarpley. Standing room only was left at a 45-minute public hearing, during which scores of concerned citizens implored the district to deny the applications.
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Bandera County Commissioners Court briefing
During a budget workshop, Bandera County commissioners considered several block grant requests from local organizations. Commissioners also agreed to ask the City of Bandera to contribute to the county’s dispatch budget.
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Today in Texas History
On this day in 1845, the United States flag is said to have been raised on St. Joseph Island, a sand barrier island in Aransas County, by United States troops. This was the first time the U.S. flag was flown in Texas.
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County puts brakes on burn banBandera County commissioners put the brakes on a burn ban for now, postponing action pending more rainfall.
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Texas 4-H Congress at State CapitolBandera County 4-H youth members Elliora Groot and Ester Groot participated in the 2024 Texas 4-H Congress, being held in Austin at the State Capitol.
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Notes from Bandera City Council
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City of Bandera seeks community input on economic development and goalsEditor's Note: Phase II, the distribution of the grant, will be released upon completion of Phase I, which the city is currently executing.
The City of Bandera is seeking input and the community’s participation after being awarded $1 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Economic Development Grant. |
Recycling returns to LakehillsThe Lakehills trash disposal site, 105 Ohio Ave., is now taking recycling on Saturdays. With a grant from H-E-B through Keep Texas Beautiful, the volunteers of Don’t Make Waste Bandera have designed and built a Recyclemobile to collect and transport recyclables from Lakehills to the central recycling site in Bandera, next to Mansfield Park.
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High school culinary team puts Bandera barbecue on the national mapIn their first year of competition, the Bandera High School barbecue team qualified to take their award-winning recipes to Branson, Missouri, challenging culinary students from all over the country.
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Bandera County American Legions celebrate patriotism for Independence DayThe American Legion Honor Guard, in cooperation with the Boys & Girls Club of Bandera County, presented a multi-media patriotism theatre-style show that taught the basics of how the U.S. National Anthem was born, proper respect for the flag, how to properly dispose of a U.S. Flag, and then taught the Boys & Girls Club youth members, as well as the general public in how to properly fold the U.S. Flag.
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Pet Parade ResultsVisitors from California to Florida enjoyed this year's 28th annual Pet Parade, sponsored by the Cowboy Capital Pet Assistance League. The winning participants have been announced.
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Lakehills parade never failsIn spite of the blistering heat and the humidity, the American Legion Post 410 parade went off without a hitch. The public lined PR 37 in Lakehills, on both sides, and were not disappointed, watching the floats and the Medina Lake Volunteer Fire Department trucks roll by.
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Celebrating 1776 in the Cowboy Capital of the WorldFor the first time in more than three decades, Bandera celebrated Independence Day with a parade downtown.
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Kinky Friedman passes at 79Kinky Friedman, a frequent and beloved visitor to Bandera, passed away today at 79. Known for his eccentricities as an author, performer, tequila and cigar aficionado, children’s advocate and one-time “politician,” the Texas Heroes Hall of Honor inductee leaves behind a legacy.
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Bandera City Council members adopt amended drought ordinanceAfter voting for changes to the city’s drought contingency plan in February, Bandera City Council members unanimously approved the amended ordinance during their June 25 regular meeting.
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Bandera Juneteenth commemorates the freeing of Texas slavesThe third annual Bandera Juneteenth recognition was celebrated June 15, honoring the day in 1865, when 250,000 Texas slaves were freed.
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Bandera County recycling program in the black, more county support neededIn less than two years, Bandera County has sold more than 2.5 tons of aluminum and about 5.5 tons of plastic bottles. To date, the county has received $4,303 from the recyclables.
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BCRAGD Quarterly In-House ReportPlease see the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District Quarterly In-House Report here.
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Pipe Creek state natural area under development receives grantThe Albert and Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area this month received $300,000 from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Still under development, the 3,800 Pipe Creek reserve features several rare and endangered Hill Country species, such as the golden-cheeked warbler, alligator lizard, sycamore-leaf snowbell, big-toothed maple, Boerne bean and Texas spring salamander.
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Bandera Memorial Day Parade photo galleryPlease see the 2024 Bandera Memorial Day Parade photo gallery here.
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Bandera ISD moves to four-day week next school yearBandera ISD trustees unanimously approved a four-day week for students, beginning with the 2024-25 school year.
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Open your heart and home to a furry companion - become a volunteer pet foster hero todayAre you looking for a meaningful way to make a difference in the life of an animal in need? Join us in our mission to provide temporary homes for pets awaiting their forever families.
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Bandera Paint & Body offers 15 percent discount to veterans and active-duty military"On Dec. 3, 2021, our lives were changed forever, when our 24-year-old son was involved in a head-on collision. He was airlifted to BAMC that night, and began his fight for life. Although my son is not in the military, the amount of support he received from this wonderful group of folks has been humbling."
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Bandera County hires Veterans Service OfficerBandera County hired Mike Lauricella, U.S. Navy veteran, as its Veterans County Service Officer. He is located at 403 12th Street and can be reached at 830-460-1643. He takes appointments from Monday through Thursday.
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Foster Grandparents needed
Do you want to brighten the life of a local child, a youngster in need? Become a Foster Grandparent. The Alamo RCD has joined with AACOG to bring the Foster Grandparent Program to Bandera County.
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Bandera ISD tackles bullying, supports mental healthIt’s tough to be a kid. Aside from the daily responsibilities of school, academics, athletics, extracurricular activities and chores, kids today have the added pressure of Covid fears, the political landscape, personal and social media related stresses from things they experience, see and hear at home, from peers and online. All of this input can cause a data overload for any adult, much less someone whose brain is just five, 12 or 17 years old.
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A probe on the back side of a colonoscopy
I’ve been running a little behind schedule this week - a pun that may be more appreciated as this story goes on. I generally avoid first-person dissertations, but in the spirit of a brutally honest transparency that may help someone else, I thought it befitting to temporarily lift the veil.
A word of caution for the sensitive, this story may not be appropriate for everyone. |
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Understanding Leap Year is a bit of a leapHappy Leap Day.
Just about every four years, the shortest month of the calendar is extended by one day. Those who are mathematically inclined could offer an intensely specific explanation why an extra 24 hours is necessary to maintain order. In laymen’s terms, Leap Year is a kind of self-correction, because nothing is perfect, not even keeping time. |
Bandera County hosts 88th Junior Livestock ShowThe Bandera County Junior Livestock Show Association hosted its 88th Livestock Show at Mansfield Park. With origins dating back almost 90 years, the show is a treasured county tradition.
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Bandera High School Star Steppers star in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade“You want to see the best of the best - that is that right there.” ~ Today Show Host Hoda Kotb of The Spirit of America Dance Stars, including the Bandera High School Star SteppersThe Bandera High School Star Steppers had their collective performance of a lifetime yesterday, dancing in Herald Square during Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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Water tower receives historic landmark designation
The Bandera County Historical Commission celebrated the long-awaited historical designation of the "Tin Man” water tower.
The water tower, named the Tin Man because of its resemblance to the iconic Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, is one of six still standing in Texas, the rest of the originals replaced by newer designs. Bandera’s was installed in 1940. |
Bandera Best Western receives prestigious awardThe Best Western Bandera Suites & Saloon has been awarded the 2023 Champion Design Award for Best Experiential Design.
Each year, Best Western selects hotels throughout the U.S. and Canada that are examples of exemplary quality and aesthetic, judged by an independent panel of design professionals. Bandera was one of five to receive the award this year. |
Great Texans inducted in Frontier Times Museum Texas Heroes Hall of HonorThe Frontier Times Museum celebrated three great Texans on Friday, with an induction to the Frontier Times Museum’s Texas Heroes Hall of Honor.
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City Park playground is open nowBandera city officials and county supporters gathered for a celebratory ribbon cutting at the unofficially named Bandera City Park Playground on Monday. The park, which was completed in December, represents a collaboration of efforts from municipal, county and state organizations.
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Groundwater district approves minimum lot size for domestic wellsEffective Sept. 1, a minimum of 10 acres will be required to drill new domestic wells, doubling the current acreage standard. The change was unanimously approved by the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District board of directors on Thursday.
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Bandera Ham Rodeo gains nationwide appealAttracting visitors from all over the country, people from Pennsylvania, New Mexico, New York and other states came to watch, witness and be part of the Bandera Ham Rodeo.
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Officials gather for highway dedicationLocal officials, as well as family and friends, attended the dedication of the Master Sergeant Rodney Lee Buentello Memorial Highway. The seven-mile highway dedication, which begins at the bridge at Bandera City Park to the Medina County line, is the result of a collaborative effort that crossed political boundaries.
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City of Bandera named in Top 10 True Western TownsThe City of Bandera has been named one of the Top 10 True Western Towns of 2022 by True West magazine.
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Mansfield Park project helps kids help themselves and the countyBandera County would like to thank the Juvenile Probation Department for assisting with the cleaning and remodel of the entry way of Mansfield Park. The project provided the opportunity to not only complete community service hours but to also engage the youth on probation in essential objectives including responsibility for actions, leadership, development in social skills (team work), rational decision making, communication skills, working through adversity, and taking pride in their community.
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When phones were down, Bandera County answered the callBandera County commissioners delivered an after-action report of problems caused by the extreme winter weather two weeks ago, and the creative solutions many departments implemented to keep people safe.
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