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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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Bandera County property values see market increase
Taxable values for Bandera County have increased. The Bandera CAD will mail out annual notices of appraised value the first week of May. Property owners whose value has increased more than $1,000 will receive a notice. Major changes in property values this year were brought on by substantial increases in both the number of sales and sale prices. There is a housing demand in our market area, as well as across the state, that is driving sale prices and market values upward.
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Today in Texas history
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Peterson Health launches vaccine self-scheduler
As Peterson Health continually strives to improve access and offerings for the COVID-19 vaccination as they become more readily available. Now, anyone needing a COVID-19 vaccine can visit the Peterson Health website and click on the link, COVID-19 Vaccine Self-Scheduler.
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FEMA to offer guidance when applying for disaster assistanceBandera County Emergency Management Coordinator Carey Reed said the Texas Department of Emergency Management plans to send a FEMA volunteer liaison to churches, libraries and other non-profit entities to help people who had damages and losses during the February freeze apply for assistance.
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Job Corps celebrates another graduate
Elaine Marie Palmer proudly graduated from the Christian Women’s Job Corps of Bandera County on Monday, April 5.
She wore her cap and gown with obvious joy, and when asked to say a few words, she expressed gratitude to God and to the Job Corps for giving her the skills she needed to get the job she recently acquired. She said she now has hope for the future. |
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BEC Foundation awards community grants
Hill Country Samaritans received a $2,500 grant to purchase backpacks and school supplies for their annual Back to School Bash from the BEC Foundation during their first quarter grant cycle.
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Life after the NICU
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K9 police dog helps keep Bandera County safe
Undoubtedly the cutest member of the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office, K9 Police Dog Zeus is also an integral soldier in the fight against crime.
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American Legion Riders receive donation, plan next rideCommander Susan Junker presents $300 to American Legion Riders #157 “Preacher” Chris Dion, Larry Crocker and Michael Invergo. Their next ride will be May 1.
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Bandera County life saving success continuesKim Mooney of Bandera High School Cheer fame, encourages others to donate during the monthly Bandera County blood drives, while she donated at the Silver Sage in March. The Lakehills Community Center will host an April 17 appointment-only event.
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Pipe Creek Dancehall hosts first Market Day
The Pipe Creek General Store and Dance Hall will host their first bi-monthly Market Day on Saturday, April 17. Located at the corner of Hwy. 16 and FM 1283, it will feature barbecue, burgers, nachos and other treats; as well as vendors selling of all kinds of goods, such as art, photography, jewelry and woodcrafts.
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A Doggie 4 You receives $3,500 Disaster Relief Grant from Pedigree FoundationA Doggie 4 You, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit dog rescue is proud to announce a recent $3,500 Disaster Relief Grant from the Pedigree Foundation for replacing vital pet medications, additional staffing and assistance with utility bills caused by the historic February polar vortex weather event.
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Local animal rescue leads seizure of more than 70 animals after owner dies of tick-borne diseaseThis week, animal rescue group A Doggie 4 You led a large dog seizure of more than 70 dogs, a few cats, and two donkeys in Moore.
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Baubles & Boots event set for May 15
The 15th annual Bandera ISD Education Foundation fundraising event Baubles & Boots is set for Saturday, May 15, from 4:30-7:30 p.m., at Antler Oaks Lodge.
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Grand Prairie man recovering after hit by car on Main Street
A 58-year-old man is recovering after he was hit by a car on Saturday while walking across Main Street. The man, visiting Bandera from Grand Prairie, is in the hospital with a broken leg and other serious injuries.
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Lakehills Saturday Market off to a good startThe first ever Lakehills Last Saturday Market got off to a good start last weekend, March 27. Even though competing with the bikers in town and the opening day of Bandera Little League, more than two dozen vendors came to sell their wares. Although the visiting crowd was not huge, it was steady. Those attendees were not only looking, but buying and contributing to our local economy.
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NRCS & Bandera SWCD host online forum
The Bandera SWCD needs the public’s input. Together with the local USDA NRCS, an online forum has been created to gather feedback that will help the districts set priorities and implement programs locally.
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Chamber of Commerce recognizes award recipients
During the annual Bandera County Chamber of Commerce Gala, awards were presented to members in recognition for the work and the differences they made in the community during 2020. The Bandera Prophet’s Larry Haddad was named this year’s Cowboy Capital Award recipient.
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Renaissance woman spreads her wings and influence in Bandera’s business communityBank manager, business owner and single mom are just a few of the titles Alana Smith can claim. As if running a bank and owning a local bar aren’t enough to prepare an impressive resumé, the entrepreneur is adding two more businesses to her repertoire.
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Mother launches support group after daughter attacked by dogA Bandera County child is continuing her recovery after she was attacked by a dog in her neighborhood. Tara Worley said her daughter was riding her bicycle in February when a neighbor’s dog escaped its back yard and pursued the 11-year-old girl.
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Bandera man indicted for murder, deadly conduct
Bandera man Austin Small was true billed March 9 by the 198th Judicial District Grand Jury, confirming his Feb. 1 arrest after the shooting of Zachary Bower. He was arrested again March 11, and bonded out the same day. Small, 25, faces one charge of murder, two charges of deadly conduct and one charge of child endangerment.
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City comprehensive planning sessions have begun
“The layout of the community was very intentional, but it has grown up,” Simplecity.Design CEO Matt Lewis said during an open house and workshop last week.
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BEC Technology Center opening soon in Boerne area
Bandera Electric Cooperative has announced the purchase of a new property located on 20 acres just off FM 289 near the I-10 corridor. The new campus will be constructed in three phases and will serve as the main hub for BEC Fiber and BEC Energy Services and will also provide an additional member services location.
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Commissioners pass resolution, consider another opposing proposed legislatureBandera County commissioners are considering a resolution in opposition of House Bill 3, which is on the floor in the current Legislative Session. Lawmakers have about three months left to deliberate on a host of proposed bills, some of which are focused on shoring the governor’s reach and thereby reducing the power of local authorities.
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Medina TAFE students knock it out of the park
Two Medina TAFE (Texas Association of Future Educators) students placed as national qualifiers in the State Teach Tomorrow Summit Competitors event, held March 3-6.
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Bandera Natural History Museum is
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City approves resolution designating water tower as historic landmark designationBandera City Council members have given their seal of approval for the Bandera County Historical Commission to seek a formal Landmark Designation for the city’s water tower.
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Pipe Creek Christian School receives help
The Pipe Creek Christian School is happy to announce their flag pole rope, which broke some time ago, has now been replaced by Paul Strouse, owner of Bandera Rentals.
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The BEAST does it again
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Bandera City Hall and lobby open to publicBandera City Hall opened to the public on Wednesday, March 10. A serendipitous discovery, the drive-thru will also remain open, as it has been since the lobby closed in November last year.
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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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School districts keep mask policies in place
Governor Greg Abbott announced on March 2 that he was rescinding his executive order mandating masks and opening all Texas businesses to full capacity, effective Wednesday, March 10. Local school districts, however, will maintain the status quo, for now.
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Governor rescinds mask mandate and business capacity limitsTexas Governor Greg Abbott announced today the end of the statewide mask mandate, as well as business capacity limits.
“It’s time to reopen Texas 100 percent,” Abbott said in today’s news conference in Lubbock, adding the new executive order will take effect on Wednesday, March 10. |
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Texas Winter Storm survivors in Bandera County can apply for Federal Disaster AssistanceTexas homeowners and renters in 18 additional counties who suffered damage from the winter storm that recently struck Texas may now apply for disaster assistance with FEMA.
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Commissioners declare all legal county businesses essentialCounty commissioners unanimously approved a resolution declaring all legal businesses in Bandera County as essential services. The resolution, drafted by Pct. 1 Commissioner Bruce Eliker, cites the U.S. and Texas Declarations of Independence that guarantee “the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in the face of governmental overreach.”
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Discovering a Lost History: African-Americans in Bandera CountyThe stories of the early black residents of Bandera County were traditionally overlooked by local historians who focused more on Bandera’s European immigrants and white settlers. Much was written on the original Polish families who settled along the Medina River to work the cypress mills and on the Mormon families whose site of their short-lived colony sits beneath the waters of Medina Lake.
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USDA NRCS offers Texans assistance in response to winter storm damageIn response to the winter storms that hit Texas last week, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering farmers and ranchers technical and financial assistance to repair and replace certain damaged conservation practices.
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Mayor signs Disaster Declaration for City of Bandera
City of Bandera Mayor Suzanne Schauman has signed a Disaster Declaration for damages caused by the winter storm last week. Schauman said the declaration will not help city residents get federal assistance, but she said it will allow her to file a claim for losses the city incurred.
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Update: Officials are currently in the process of gathering more information to determine whether Bandera County may qualify for assistance. Residents are urged to complete the state survey. Please see the survey link in the story.Bandera County not applying for disaster declaration, minimum criteria not metThough a major disaster declaration was federally approved for the state and 77 Texas counties, Bandera County did not meet the federal threshold for damages and does not plan to issue a declaration, Emergency Management Coordinator Carey Reed said.
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County works toward dedicating part of Hwy. 173 to fallen Marine veteran, Bandera heroCommissioners approved a resolution supporting a bill that dedicates a portion of Hwy. 173 S. to Rodney Buentello, who died in 2016 while rescuing two teenagers at the dam in Bandera City Park.
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Countywide burn ban lifted
After days of consistent rain, Bandera County Judge Richard Evans lifted the countywide burn ban, effective immediately.
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Bandera High grad uses comedy to spread message of hope and acceptanceFrom a pool of more than 1,300, only four people were chosen this year to receive The Second City scholarship - a mentorship and training program for comedic talents, carried out in partnership with Saturday Night Live. Morgan Van Dyne, 2012 Bandera High School Graduate, was one of those four.
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Warrior52 water - the blue bottle that’s more than just H2O
A water that’s good for earth, body and country is in Bandera. Warrior52 Premium Alkaline Water has been introduced to the community by local business owner and Marine veteran Jerad Wilcox, and is on shelves now.
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Bingo suspended until safe
The weekly Wednesday night bingo hosted by the Bandera American Legion Post 157 has been postponed in the interest of safety for both players and volunteers.
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Bandera Canyonlands Alliance launches public awareness campaignThe Bandera Canyonlands Alliance is urging local residents in Bandera County to be aware of a precedent-setting permit application that would put pristine area waterways at risk.
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BEC receives $15,000 in grants to install Electric Vehicle Charging PortsBandera Electric Cooperative recently received $15,000 in grants from the Texas Commission on Environment Quality to install six Level 2 (L2) dual-port electric vehicle (EV) chargers within its service territory. An L2 charger can charge any EV, including Tesla vehicles with an adapter. The charger adds roughly 25 miles of range per hour, allowing the user to charge their EV five to seven times faster compared to a L1 charger.
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LCRA, Bandera Electric Co-Op award $3,683 grant to Lakehills Area LibraryA $3,683 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bandera Electric Cooperative will purchase new mobile shelves for the Lakehills Area Library, freeing up space for public events in the library’s much-used community room.
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BEC helps Medina Community Library reach sustainability goalBandera Electric Cooperative recently commissioned a 23.4-kilowatt solar installation on the new addition of the Medina Community Library. The solar system was part of a planned initiative to make the library sustainable.
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Archived Headlines |
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Below is a sampling of our headlines. All stories published in the Prophet are permanently archived.
Please use the search engine to look for more.
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Volunteers step up as food insecurity grows in Bandera CountyMore than 2,100 people were in line this week to receive food from the San Antonio Food Bank and the Silver Sage Community Center, Art Crawford, executive director of the Silver Sage, told Bandera County commissioners today.
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The 85th Bandera County Junior Livestock ShowOn Saturday, after a year of raising and grooming their animals and projects, Bandera County youth presented for auction - a premium sale in which businesses and individuals donate funds that go directly to the kids. See the award winners, and grand and reserve champions here.
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Bandera Electric Cooperative explains some power shortagesAfter the temperatures plummeted Sunday as the arctic blast coasted into the Hill Country, the demands on the power grid skyrocketed. Thousands of people were left without power and heat, and the excitement of a snowy morning quickly transitioned to life-threatening concerns. Two substations that service the east side of the county from Bandera to Pipe Creek, to Bridlegate and down to Medina Lake were drained, and those have been the areas hardest hit.
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Lowe’s Market keeps doors open and shelves stocked
Juggling demand, supply and the weather, Bandera Lowe’s Market has been a beacon on Main Street. Working nearly around the clock with 20 percent of his staff, store Manager Ryan Fenocchi is balancing the community’s needs with his employees’ safety.
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BEC Substation dedicated to Jerry Word
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Bandera County youth presentationBandera County 4-H council officers shared information with the county's judge and commissioners about past, present and future events, and they brought breakfast tacos.
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Governor appoints Medina native Scott MacNaughton to state advisory committeeGovernor Greg Abbott has appointed Scott MacNaughton to the Advisory Committee to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments, for a term set to expire on Feb. 1, 2023.
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BEC Tarpley Substation Dedicated to Rob Sandidge
On Friday, Nov. 6, Bandera Electric Cooperative celebrated the completion of an upgrade to the Tarpley substation by dedicating it to recently retired BEC Board Director, Douglas R. “Rob” Sandidge.
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Bandera County district clerk wins state awardBandera County District Clerk Tammy Kneuper was named 2019-2020 Region IV District Clerk of the Year. Presented by the County and District Clerks Association of Texas, the annual award was presented to Kneuper in August.
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Checkovage, Herrera and McNeal versus the Bandera Central Appraisal DistrictFormer Bandera Central Appraisal District employees Melissa Checkovage, Jana Herrera and Nelia McNeal have filed suit against the district claiming violations of the Texas Whistleblowers Act and wrongful termination.
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Local cowgirl featured in national newsletterA photo of Jeannes Beauxbeannes saddling up during the community CoViD-19 mobile testing at Mansfield Park is the featured photo in today's 1600 Daily newsletter issued by the White House.
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