Hays County Sheriff Tommy Ratliff has promoted veteran officer Ronnie Strain to Lieutenant of Patrol. Strain has 12 years with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office.

You want festivals? We got ‘em. Music? But of course. What else do you want? A petting zoo? Well, we’ve got that too. Theatre? ‘Natch. You won’t find much missing this weekend, but you certainly don’t want to miss this weekend of fun and surprises.

Five Hays County high schools sent a total of 12 students to participate in the American Legion’s Boys State or its counterpart Bluebonnet Girls State. Those students will share their experiences during a program at the San Marcos American Legion Hall at 2 p.m. on Sept. 13.

Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) awarded $1,000 scholarships to local students from its Kyle district.

Eight local young women will be delegates in the 2009 session of Bluebonnet Girls State from June 14-20 at Texas Lutheran University.