News

COLUMBUS - Life deals us a bad hand now and then. Sometimes it seems like there is nowhere to go. However, for Jolynn Stancik, she chose to go up in life instead of drowning in self-pity. When her living situation looked bleak, Habitat for Humanity came into her life and the rest is history.

Fayette County offices have received a number of calls regarding the changes in the emergency healthcare here specifically relating to Air Ambulance Services.

ROUND TOP – The members of the venerable Round Top Rifle Association have been working feverishly to present the 173rd annual July 4th Parade and Celebration.

RESS “When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.” This is such a true quote by Benjamin Franklin. Our wells may not dry up, but when the electricity goes out and the water wells can’t pump the water for the plants, garden and inside-the-house uses, the value of water goes up. As the cost of electricity to run the water well increases and your plants and gardens are panting for water, the worth of water goes up.

Grass ripe for fire with heat wave

Working in the Texas heat can be exhausting and deadly. Outdoor and indoor heat can be dangerous if you don’t take safeguards to protect yourself while you work. Nearly three out of four fatalities from heat happen during the first week of work.

COLUMBUS - Members of the Aus - tin County Regional Special Response Team (SRT) and Texas Department of Public Safety SRT executed arrest and search warrants on two residences locat ed in the 900 block of Fannin Street and 400 block of Malleck Street in Colum- bus on June 16 at about 6 a.m.

SCHULENBURG – Shots rang out and one lay dead for a deadly motive that Schulenburg Police Chief Troy Brenek is not yet releasing. The deceased, Ricky Machicek, 64, of Schulenburg was shot by his son, Shane Machicek, 24, of Schulenburg on June 24 at about 9 p.m.

COLUMBUS – Rock enthusiasts and professional geologists gathered at the home of Debbie Damon on Forest Street in Columbus to get a chance to snag petrified wood that sat in heaps mere feet away from the group.

Weimar High School Softball team earns county resolution

EAGLE LAKE - The 25th Annual Eagle Lake Fireworks Show will be held Sunday, July 3, beginning at 9:15 p.m., at the tra- ditional Calhoun Road location west of town about a quarter of a mile from Hwy 90A in Eagle Lake.

COLUMBUS - Columbus Community Hospital located at 110 Shut Dr. in Columbus will offer free prostate screenings June 26 – 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The screening is a simple blood test, and no appointment is necessary. Take charge of your health with this important screening that is recommended for men over 50.

The Austin County Sheriff’s Office welcomes Makaylah Scott as a Telecommunicator. Makaylah is a 2019 graduate of Sealy High School and a student at Sam Houston State University, graduating with a Communications degree in December. Sheriff Brandes is honored to have Scott, a lifetime citizen of Austin County, working with them.

BELLVILLE – Isaac Carrizales, 17, was arrested on June 14 in Bellville by the US Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offender Task Force. Carrizales was wanted for murder, evading arrest, unlawful carrying of a weapon and organized criminal activity.

The FBI is warning the public of malicious actors creating synthetic content commonly referred to as “deep fakes” by manipulating benign photographs or videos to target victims. Technology advancements are continuously improving the quality, customizability, and accessibility of ar- tificial intelligence (AI)-enabled content creation. The FBI continues to receive reports from victims, including minor children and non-consenting adults, whose photos or videos were altered into explicit content. The photos or videos are then publicly circulated on social media or pornographic websites for the purpose of harassing victims or sextortion schemes.

Interstate 10 near Flatonia at the 660 westbound mile marker held a sweet surprise for Fayette County Drug Interdiction Investigator David Smith.

WEIMAR – In a stunning series of events that culminated with the resignation of Weimar Police Chief Todd Jacobs, the resignation of Weimar City Manager Mike Barrow followed on its heels.

RESS EAGLE LAKE – Suspended Eagle lake Chief of Police Kris Abbott was of- ficially relieved of his command of the Eagle Lake Police Department on June 14. His termination by City Manager Charles “Tink” Jackson comes after a lengthy suspension while an investigation was concluded about instances where Abbott may have been derelict in his duties.