Data Shows Majority of GISD Remote Learners Failing

Giddings Times & News

• Giddings Independent School District campus administrators presented data to the board of trustees that shows the majority of current remote learning students are failing or falling behind their classmates that are attending school in person. One campus reported 89% of remote learners are failing more than one class, while another campus reported 83.7% of remote learners failing at least one class. Giddings Superintendent Roger Dees said he has witnessed remote learners check-in for attendance, but not do any school work, attend school functions, public and social gatherings, and some are reportedly even working full-time. The general consensus among the campus administrators is to discontinue remote learning except for those who become ill or have to quarantine. A final decision regarding remote learning options for students will likely be made before the Christmas break.

• The construction of three new homes has started in the new Buffalo Ridge development on Middle School Rd., on the north side of Giddings. The contractor is Board & Beam Construction. The homes range in size from 1,753 sq. ft. to 1,924 sq. ft. and should be completed in the spring. The developer is Cedar Frame Real Estate and Development of College Station. The 12-acre Buffalo Ridge development will have 43 homes when complete.

• A vehicle veered off the side of Hwy. 290 and slammed into the crosswalk pole and sidewalk railing then came to rest against the plate-glass window at the front of the City Meat Market in Giddings at 7:34 p.m. on Dec. 6. Fortunately, the car did not actually smash into the building or through the glass and the driver was not seriously injured. The driver of the car told police he believes he fell asleep.

New Ulm Enterprise

• On Nov. 28 at 10 a.m. the Austin County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a theft at the Austin County Precinct 2 building near Industry. When Austin County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived to investigate they met with Pct. 2 Commissioner Bobby Rinn who stated he noticed a tractor battery missing from the county equipment. After reviewing on-site video, two new tires, the battery, and a battery charger were found to have been taken. From the video, the suspect was there from about 2:10 a.m. until 4:47 a.m. when the camera at the gate was knocked offline and also taken. The suspect appears to be a white male wearing a cowboy hat with a bandana covering his face and he was driving a 94-02 white, single-cab Dodge dually hauling a cattle trailer. The truck had a black front bumper, a twotone white and gray door, and an external fuel tank in the bed. The trailer was a black dual axle trailer with the front axle wheel on the driver side missing a hubcap.

The Bastrop Advertiser

• A ceremonial ribbon-cutting in cold, wet weather on Nov. 28 marked the completion of a drawn-out improvement project in Downtown Bastrop. The city’s Main Street Rehabilitation Project, a process ongoing since 2013, reached its conclusion with city representatives and other community leaders reopening the improved Main Street for use. The project, which broke ground in February, improved sidewalks along Main Street from Farm Street to Chestnut Street, as well as from Spring Street to Water Street. Main Street was also resurfaced from Farm Street to Water Street.

The project improvements include the installation of street trees, widening sidewalks, installing new streetlights, and providing a planting strip.