Articles

FAYETTE COUNTY – Sheriff Keith Korenek reports a drastic increase in the number of calls for service for the Fayette County Sheriff's Office for the year 2022.

The 2023 Texas legislative session opened Jan. 10, with property taxes, gun control and the power grid expected to be among the top issues on the agenda.

BELLVILLE – The Bellville Hospital District Board met on Dec. 27, 2022, and approved the ongoing negotiations for a final answer to enter into a contract with a hospital management company and rename the Bellville hospital. The new name, MidCoast Medical Center, is now under the management of MidCoast Health System as of Jan. 1, 2023.

COLUMBUS – Doctors Tyson and Mary Harrell have 45 years of combined dental expertise. They opened from scratch and built a successful dental practice in the Sugar Land/ Richmond area. Years ago, “the country” started calling and they bought their place in Columbus and fell in love with the area.

The county-wide feral hog contest is being held to give landowners, producers, and sportsmen an opportunity to control feral hogs in Fayette County. The feral hog population causes economic losses to Fayette County Agriculture producers through crop destruction, pasture and livestock losses, and environmental damage.

The Grinch didn’t make it to the San Felipe PD in time to spoil a surprise gift of $2,500. The Citizens State Bank in Sealy donated the money to be used as the de- partment sees fit.

The Fayette County SPRING Coyote Control Program began on Jan. 2 and ends on April 28. The contest is being held to give landowners, producers, and sportsmen an opportunity to assist in controlling coyotes in Fayette County. Coyotes cause predation on livestock and result in economic losses to agricultural producers in the county.

COLUMBUS –The Magnolia Belles is iconic at the Magnolia Festival held yearly in Columbus. Steeped in history, the Belles continue to add beauty and flair that goes back over 50 years.

HALLETTSVILLE – The Hallettsville KC 70th Texas State Championship Domino Tournament will be held Sunday, Jan. 15 and the annual Wild Games Supper Saturday, Jan. 28 at the KC Hall in Hallettsville.

COLUMBUS – The Columbus Wellness Center is introducing its Be Well Weight Loss program.

Alayah Zumoff, held by her mother, Kayla Carlton, makes her appearance on Jan. 3 at 5:23 p.m. at the Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus. This earns her the distinction of being the first baby born in 2023 in the tri-county area. She weighed 7 pounds and measured

SCHULENBURG – Schulenburg Police Department is just shy of having a fully staffed police division. There is only one vacancy left to be filled, but the department is ready and able to provide safety and enforce ment of laws starting off the new year of 2023.

LA GRANGE – La Grange found the net a bunch of times Jan. 2 at Leopards Stadium as the girls soccer team shutout Wharton High School by a final score of 3-0.

COLUMBUS – Cardinals boys basketball had a convincing win Jan. 6 at the Marley Giddens Center in Columbus vs Halletts ville High School by a final score of 60-42. A tie score at halftime led to 15 unanswered points in the third quarter to give them - selves enough cushion to coast for the rest of the game.

LA GRANGE – Sealy boys soccer looked very sharp in their La Grange tournament Jan. 5 at Leopards Field in La Grange by taking down Bandera High School with a final score of 4-0.

SEALY – The Bellville High School boys basketball team scraped out a win at Tigers Gym Jan. 3 as they defeated Sealy High School by a final score of 42-36.

Austin County Fair Association brings home awards

LA GRANGE – Fayette County residents living along Country Club Drive and River Road got a belated Christmas gift this week. Demolition on two of the homes impacted by Hurricane Harvey has started, with three more pieces of property scheduled for closings next week.

LA GRANGE – The Fayette County Country Music Club will host a Polka Show Monday, Jan. 16 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in La Grange. The show starts at 7 p.m. and the doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $8.

EAGLE LAKE – The city of Eagle Lake set a town hall meeting to address questions from its citizens about the Endeavors project. The meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 6 p.m. at the Eagle Lake Community Center at 100 N. Walnut Ave. in Eagle Lake.

COLUMBUS – The Columbus Chamber of Commerce received a proclamation from Governor Greg Abbott for Columbus, marking 200 years in existence and its upcoming Bicentennial Celebration.