The 9th Annual Heart of Texas Quilt Show got underway Friday at the Brownwood Coliseum with over 120 entries of quilts in a variety of patterns, colors and sizes.

Entries came from across the state including local entries and other from cities such as Marble Falls, Dallas and San Angelo.

On Monday, April 22nd, East Elementary students lined the sidewalks for a STAAR parade to cheer on the 3rd grade students as they prepared to take the STAAR test.

Students created custom signs, banners, and flags showing their support for their fellow students who donned special-made “Reaching for the STAARs” T-shirts.

A donation was recently made by TexasBank to the Bangs Sports Association Junior League.

Pictured is Rodney James, coach of the Dragons baseball team for the Bangs Sports Association Junior League (15 & under), accepting a donation from TexasBank representative, Ann Reeder.

Howard Payne University’s Department of Theatre opened their production of “Dancing at Lughnasa” Thursday night at the HPU Theatre, and performances will continue Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 28, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for students and free for all HPU faculty, staff and students.

Written by Brian Friel and first performed in Dublin, Ireland, in 1990, the play received a 1991 Olivier Award for best play of the year in Great Britain and a 1992 Tony award for best play on Broadway.

KBK Martial Arts will host their first Annual Martial Arts Fair and Benefit from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. this Saturday, April 27, at 1301 Early Blvd. in Early, at their new location.

This year, KBK MA has chosen Bob Brewer as beneficiary. Mr. Brewer needs oral surgery to remove his teeth and have dentures made. He is also in need of thyroid surgery. His teeth are causing him such an infection that his doctor said that he needs them out soon or they will kill him. If you have ever been to a benefit in the Brownwood area, chances are, you have seen him onstage playing his guitar. He has spent most of his life helping others (Boys and Girls Club, CAP Cadet United States Air Force Reserve program, Brownwood Reunion, Jackie Bibby, etc.); and now, it is time to help him.

Local resident Michael Spratt recently competed in the Wild Wild West Karate Championships in Abilene on April 19th and 20th, winning top honors.

Spratt won 1st and 3rd places in the adult heavyweight continuous and point sparring competition.

The Brownwood Garden Club will be holding a plant sale this Saturday, April 27th, from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Heartland Mall in Early.

They will have a variety of plants and other items available including indoor and outdoor plants, garage sale items and donated items from local merchants that will be raffled off.

The Brownwood Quilters’ Guild, the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce and Mills County State Bank will be sponsoring the 9th Annual Heart of Texas Quilt Show on April 26-27 at the Brownwood Coliseum.  Show hours are 10:00 am-5:00 pm each day.

Admission is $7 for quilters, husbands and children under 12 admitted free of charge.

There will be over 120 quilts on display, door prizes, a donation quilt (a portion of the proceeds benefits the Pregnancy Care Center), demonstrations, scissor sharpening and more.  Tickets for the donation quilt are 6 for $5.00 or $1.00 each and may be purchased from any guild member.

Brownwood High School FFA students recently competed in the Area FFA CDE (Career Development Event) Contest held at Tarleton State University on April 10, 2013.  The students competed in categories that included Entomology, Floriculture, Horse, Livestock, Nursery/Landscape, Range, Veterinary Science, and Wildlife Contests.

Results from the contest are listed below: