Lampasas receives one inch of rainfall

PHOTO BY GABE WOLF Even though rainy weather is a rare event in July, this local resident had his umbrella at the ready when a storm passed through Monday afternoon. Lampasas recorded one inch of rain from the downpour.

Although past performance is not a guarantee of future results, financial adviser Ken McDaniel has an impressive track record -- in meterology.

He is at least two for two in predicting rain for the Lampasas area.

The local Edward Jones investment representative had joked several months ago with a client that when he gives out one of his complimentary rain gauges, precipitation will be recorded within 10 days. Guaranteed.

The customer said indeed the rain came within the promised 10-day period.

On Monday morning, McDaniel proved himself a good prognosticator once again, when he distributed another rain gauge to that client with the prediction that it would bring moisture to the area. On this occasion, it resulted in at least one inch of rain to parts of Lampasas, and residents didn't have to wait the full 10 days for results.

A strong localized thunderstorm brought lightning and heavy rain Monday afternoon.

James Bennett, who lives on Old Georgetown Road, got a bit more than an inch of rain Monday.

"And we needed it," Bennett said.

Daryl and Melba Edwards received 0.8 inches of rain at their East Fourth Street home, along with lightning that struck an oak tree in their driveway. The light- ning busted some concrete in the driveway, exposing steel rebar, and left the Edwardses without telephone service for a day.

The couple were in their house during the thunderstorm, and they were not hurt. "It really increased my faith to see how God protected us," Mrs. Edwards said.

Although most of Lampasas experienced showers, precipitation passed by many parts of the county.

F.A. Taylor's property east of Kempner "didn't even get enough to wet the ground," Taylor said.

Western portions of the county also remained dry.

"I could see it and smell it, but we didn't get a drop," Travis Herring said of his ranch north of Lometa.

Nix also did not record any rain.

If word of McDaniel's predictive abilities spreads throughout the county, though, he may face a run on stock in rain gauges.