W Camp Lone Star in La-Grange is hosting their Family Fun Nights. Dates are Oct.

In the years following the Civil War, many African Americans traveled great distances in search of opportunity and freedom. Among them was John Rem, a man born into slavery in Pitt County, North Carolina, whose journey would eventually take him more than 1,300 miles west to Fayette County, Texas. John Rem was born on July 24, 1846. His surname appeared in records as Rhem, Ream, or Rem. This reflects the inconsistent spelling practices of the 19th century, when clerks often wrote names phonetically. John’s parents were John Jack Rhem and Annie Holland Nobles. He was one of 13 children. Some records suggest a few of the children carried the mother’s surname, Nobles, perhaps born before the official marriage. The Rem family lived under the shadow of slavery, but John’s life took a dramatic turn during the Civil War. At the age of 18, he made his way to New Bern, North Carolina, where he joined the Union Army on August 29, 1864. Enlisted as Private John Ream, sometimes recorded as John Rem, he served in Company K of the 37th Regiment, United States Colored Troops. A scar under his left cheek and his height of 5 feet, 6 inches were noted in military records. John mustered out in August 1865, having earned a pension for his service.

Alexandra and Matthew Blair of Gainesville, Ga. announce the birth of their son, Jedidiah ‘Jed’ Amadeus Blair, born at 3:25 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025 at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center in Roswell, Ga. He weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz. and was 21 ins. long. Jedidiah means ‘Beloved of the Lord’.

Fayetteville enjoyed a boujee visitor in the square last Thursday. A crew from Top Gear, a British television program, dropped into town to drive and review a custom Venom F5.

Tickets are now available for the Faith Lutheran High School Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 25.

N ext Thursday I’m speaking at a meeting of the La Grange Garden Club. One of the members asked me to talk about biochar.

The public is invited to attend the “First Look” Celebration, an open house for the Fayetteville Community Center on Fayetteville’s Town Square. The opening is from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, September 21, 2025. There will be refreshments, activities for the kids and a chance to view the inside of the rebuilt E.J. Knesek Building. All are welcome.

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with the nationally award-winning mariachi ensemble from University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Saturday, Sept.

The Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center is proud to present a special evening of traditional Czech music with the Mladá Muzika Šardice and the Dulcimer Band from Kyjov, Czech Republic will perform in La Grange at the Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center’s Sanford Schmid Amphitheater on Friday September 26 at 7 p.m. The group is on a USA tour and is sponsored by the Texas Folklife Institute. The 40-plus member band in various groups of musicians, dancers and singers, all youth, (“Mlada” meaning youth) will definitely put on a performance to remember.

The 37th Annual Wendish Fest will be held on Sept. 28 at the Serbin Picnic Grounds 1011 CR 212 Giddings. The drive-thru Wendish meal line opens at 9:30 a.m. with the dine in line opening at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are only available at the festival.