Our Most-Read Online Stories of 2023
Listed below are the most-read stories of 2023 based on page views from our website, www.fayettecountyrecord.com. The website received more than 750,000 visits last year.
1. www.fayettecountyrecord.com/news/ woman-dies-i-10-wreck
4,473 views
A woman from Beaumont died in a fiery crash on Interstate 10 near Schulenburg on Saturday, July 1, after the front right tire of her 18-wheeler blew out. The driver lost control and the 18-wheeler crashed into a bridge support.
2. www.fayettecountyrecord.com/news/newla- grange-city-manager-resigns-six-months-job
2,864 views
La Grange City Manager Fred Bell resigned on Monday, Aug. 21, after less than six months on the job.
3. www.fayettecountyrecord.com/news/mueller- fires-moreau-minutes-after-being-swornjudge 2,342 views
Fayette County Judge Dan Mueller took office on Jan. 1 and dismissed Emergency Management Coordinator Craig Moreau on the same day.
4. www.fayettecountyrecord.com/news/ church-picnic-season-about-hit-high-gear 2,183 views
Church picnic season is a favorite time of year for many Fayette County residents. A story in the April 28 issue of the paper listed dates and details for the numerous church picnics that took place during the summer.
5. www.fayettecountyrecord.com/news/ restaurant-owner-seriously-injured-motorcyclecrash 2,111 views
A local businessman suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle crash in La Grange on Thursday, June 29. Visar Halilaj, 41 of La Grange and owner of Ere’s Italian Restaurant, was driving a motorcycle on 71 Business and struck a pickup that pulled out in front of him from Country Club Drive.
6. www.fayettecountyrecord.com/news-society/ reporter-who-infiltrated-chicken-ranchmarvin- zindler 1,963 views
Last summer the Record profiled the notorious Chicken Ranch in a series of articles to mark the 50th anniversary of its closing. This article came out July 18 and featured Larry Conners, the veteran newsman who infiltrated the whorehouse in 1973 as part of Marvin Zindler’s television expose that year.
7. www.fayettecountyrecord.com/news/ mcrobbery-suspect-identified-still-sought 1,713 views
La Grange Police identified one of the suspects who allegedly robbed the La Grange Mc-Donald’s Restaurant at gunpoint on Nov. 9. Police Chief David Gilbreath said his department obtained an arrest warrant for 22-year-old Morris Allen Cooper of Hallettsville for aggravated robbery.
8. www.fayettecountyrecord.com/news/ blessings-come-threes-tiny-triplets-arrive-home 1,617 views
Diane and Kenn Kasparek had a lot to be thankful for last year. The couple had triplets in July – two boys and a girl. The little ones were born a bit prematurely, but they were able to come home in time for Thanksgiving.
9. www.fayettecountyrecord.com/society/ meat-family-behind-schulenburgs-iconic-market 1,506 views
Record columnist Andrea Schutter Riebeling profiled the Smrkovsky family of Schulenburg and their business, City Meat Market, which is known far and wide for their line of delicious smoked sausage.
10. www.fayettecountyrecord.com/news/ schulenburgs-hannah-schulz 1,383 views
Every year when school starts, the Record features new teachers from around Fayette County. We interviewed social skills and behavior teacher Hannah Schulz of Schulenburg in the Aug. 27 issue.
11. www.fayettecountyrecord.com/news/lgman- hit-killed-i-10
1,361 views
A local man, 32-year old Felix Isaac DeLa-Rosa of La Grange, was killed July 27 on Interstate 10 near Seguin. According to incident reports, DeLaRosa was the driver of a Dodge Durango and had struck a guard rail. Upon exiting his vehicle after the accident, DeLaRosa was struck by a Toyota Camry and Ford Expedition and died at the scene 12. www.fayettecountyrecord.com/news/ one-dead-after-i-10-collision 1,237 views
A crash involving two 18-wheelers claimed a life on Interstate 10 Friday morning, Sept. 19. The crash happened shortly before 5:46 a.m. in the westbound lanes about two miles west of Schulenburg. One of the 18-wheelers was carrying a load of mangos that spilled onto the highway.
13. www.fayettecountyrecord.com/news/ henneke-crowned-2023-fayette-co-fair-queen
1,143 views
The 2023 Fayette County Fair kicked off Aug. 31 with a bang, as Harper Henneke was crowned Fayette County Fair Queen. Henneke earned the crown by selling $29,645 in season passes. She was representing the La Grange Optimist Club. She beat out a very competitive field.
14. www.fayettecountyrecord.com/news/ marburger-crowned-schutzenkonig-151st-annual- round-top-event 1,114 views
Eddie Marburger of Round Top won the title of Schützenkönig at the 151st Annual Round Top Schützenfest on Sunday, Sept. 17. Marburger shot a 35 in the final round of the marksmanship contest on Sunday, one point shy of a perfect score. A long-time member of the Round Top Rifle Club, Marburger won the title back in 2002 as well.
15. www.fayettecountyrecord.com/news/ what-record-reported-50-years-ago-aboutchicken- ranchs-closure 1,100 views
On July 4, the Record reprinted the article that appeared in the Aug. 7, 1973 edition that announced the closure of the Chicken Ranch. It was one of the few mentions of the notorious whorehouse ever printed in the local newspaper during those years.