F Lots and lots of well-wishers attended the rededication of the historical Red Building last Saturday. It was a group effort to assemble the grand conference table, built by Evan Quiros and residing in the new boardroom.

The Leo Club at La Grange Middle School donated $300 toward the school’s LMS Connections program at their meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 14. LMS Connections is a 12-minute break period that takes place every afternoon at the Middle School, between the fifth and six period classes. During this time, kids can eat a snack and engage in games and other activities with their teacher and classmates that support their social and emotional needs. The time is free of cell phones, grades and schoolwork, giving everyone an opportunity to make connections and build community.

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Week Ending Sept. 16 Week’s high Sept.

About 18,000 people visited downtown Caldwell for this year’s Kolache Festival earlier this month, up from 9,000 last year. Water from the Colorado River won’t be available for the second growing season and might not be available in 2023 for interruptible customers in Wharton, Colorado and Matagorda counties because of drought conditions in the Highland Lakes, according to LCRA.

W The 34th Annual Wendish Fest will be held on Sunday, Sept. 25 at Serbin.

This past month, the Fayette County Community Theatre Board of Directors voted to create the position of Executive Director, and promote then Operations Manager Heather Barthelme into that role. Barthelme has served as Operations Manager since March of 2021, and in that time has facilitated the opening of the FCCT Box Office and Studio in downtown, instituted monthly Open Mic Night and Second Saturday educational workshop events, and pushed the organization to grow, expanding programming and community partnerships. “This year has been so amazing in so many ways,” Barthelme said. “It’s incredible to be a part of something that brings more art education into our community, entertains our local patrons and reaches out to other communities welcoming them in as well.” The non-profit organization, founded by Susannah Mikulin in 2017, has been all over the city of La Grange, using different venues to allow for a variety of theatre experiences. They pivoted in 2020 to move from the Historic Casino Hall where all plays to that point had been performed, to the Sanford Schmid Amphitheater on the grounds of the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in order to offer distancing and an outdoor experience. This year, partnering with the La Grange Independent School District, the student production was held in the LGISD Performing Arts Center, and for the first time, the first weekend in November, they will perform in the Pavilion on the grounds of the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center, also known as the Round Up Hall.

New Ulm Oktoberfest scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 8 rain or shine at The New Ulm Fireman’s Park.

E The Ellinger Chamber of Commerce will be hosting Bingo, on Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Ellinger Community Center.

As of Sept. 16, the total intake for the Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter is 1031: 440 dogs and 591 cats in need. As of Sept. 16, the shelter has 139 animals in care: 50 dogs and 89 cats. This number includes animals in the facility, in foster care for medical, waiting on available space, or awaiting transport to rescue partner. The shelter is offering a discount voucher program for spay/ neuter for citizens of Fayette County. Call (979) 966-0021 for more informaiton. Statistics for the week of Sept. 10-16: Intake: 36 Adoptions: 29 Transferred to Rescue: 12 Return to Owner: 4 Humane Euthanasia: 4