November 17, 1999
Cornerstone Ceremony for new Blanco High School Thursday
The new Blanco High School will be the scene of a cornerstone laying ceremony on Thursday, November 18, 1999 at 11am.
Members of the Blanco and surrounding area communities are urged to attend.
The event will take place at the north or main entrance to the new high school which is located one half mile west of US 281 on Ranch Road 1623 and is expected to last only about 20 minutes.
The cornerstone, a gift of the Blanco Masonic Lodge will be leveled by W.M. “Mike” Gower, Grand Mason of Masons in Texas. Gower, a McAllen, Texas resident, has been the leader of Texas Masons since December, 1998.
Masons traditionally have given strong support of education in our state and have lent considerable encouragement for our students to strive for success.
November 17, 1993
Yett Memorial Park Transferred
By Sheryl Smith-Rodgers
Many folks thought they’d never see it happen, but it did.
Last Friday, the Blanco Chamber of Commerce became the official owner of Yett Memorial Park. Roddy “Dock” Smith and E.B. Franklin, nephews and executors of Virgie O. Yett’s estate, signed the paperwork that turned over the 30 acre parcel of land to the chamber.
W.T. and Virgie Yett purchased the land sometime during the late ‘50s for agriculture. Yett, prior to her death in August 1989 , signed a 10 year lease agreement with an option to buy with the chamber. Terms of the agreement included $100 a year to lease and $100 an acre to purchase. The transaction, however was not completed until this year when the estate was settled with the Internal Revenue Service, Smith explained.
“I’ve been in contact with them (Smith and Franklin) throughout the years, and they have always assured me that it was their intent to honor their aunt’s wishes.” said chamber representative Jerry Myane. “I never had any doubt that they would. They were gracious and generous about it, too.”
The chamber fell behind in lease payments for three years, but Smith and Franklin allowed the group to catch up, Mayne said. “So technically we broke the agreement, but they were kind enough to allow us to make it up.” Myane added.
Businesses and individuals around town donated a total of $3975 toward purchase of the park, said chamber treasurer Dixie Hall. Total price paid for the property was $3003.56, she said. Smith and Franklin then donated the money back to the chamber toward construction costs of a rock entrance way to the park. A water well will also be dug soon.
“It’s going to be a wonderful facility for the community,” Myane said. “Local baseball and soccer associations may now move forward with improvements on the property, and a rodeo association plans to construct a roping arena there.”
“Donations of money, material and labor will be appreciated,” Myane said, referring to the future projects. “The chamber and the community owe a debt of gratitude to Dock and E.B. for their continuing efforts to consummate this deal as soon as they could.”
Contact Dixie Hall at the Blanco National Bank if you’d like to make a donation.
1 photo attached to this article.
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