Two City of Fayetteville Positions Vacated
City Secretary Janice Wasut and ballpark manager John Berry have resigned their positions. The last day for Wasut will be May 3. The position of Deputy City Secretary has been posted on the bulletin board directly outside the city offices. Fluency in QuickBooks Online is required. Applications may be picked up in person.
Berry has left to pursue other interests in addition to working for Baca’s 159 Junction. City Council member Ronnie Pflughaupt is serving as interim ballpark manager until the end of the baseball season. He will be joined by Josh Vitek, who took the City of Fayetteville to State as a pitcher and was drafted by the San Diego Padres.
The first game kicks off March 1 and runs through the end of April when playoffs begin. Practice begins in two weeks. Admission is $5. The schedule can be found here: https://www.fayettevilleisd. net/455559_3.
Meeting on Ballpark
A special meeting was called by the city council on Monday, Feb. 1 regarding a request made by SPJST to ask the City of Fayetteville to release the maintenance and operation of the ballpark to them. After questions and remarks were presented by the residents in attendance and much discussion by the council, it was determined that the contractual agreement concerning the ballpark between the City of Fayetteville and SPJST has been terminated.
The contract with SPJST had exclusive rights to maintain the ballpark. The City has used an extensive amount of resources to include umpires, repairs, water, labor and electricity, etc. The mayor explained that labor costs have eaten up the majority of the revenue obtained.
Although financials were not available, the mayor stated the City is currently carrying an $89,000 debt which includes some debt related to the ballpark and will continue to be responsible for paying down the line of credit loan.
Mark Schmitt and Josh Vitek represented the Fayetteville Baseball Association, in the process of being developed as a 501(c)(3). One of the projected improvements included installation of AstroTurf, allowing for multiple field configurations to better serve all children in the community.
Contact Ronnie Pflughaupt, Treasurer of SPJST, with any questions.
Finalist in Piano Competition
Fayetteville ISD 2020 graduate and Baylor freshman Miles Gillette has been named a finalist in the Baylor University Concerto Competition, winning the keyboard (piano/organ) division. He advances to the finals scheduled for the end of February. His performance can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=2pFyq_vcCPM
Cross-Curricular Lessons
Tara Murphy teaches third and fourth grade ELAR and social studies at Fayetteville ISD. In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Week last week, her students read and analyzed a poem, “The Butterfly” by Pavel Friedmann and designed remembrance butterflies (Butterflies of Hope) inspired by a newsclip from the Holocaust Museum Houston. The observance provided the ability for cross-curricular instruction as they combined learning through art, history, and poetry.
New Soap Added
Two of the newest bars of Johnny Applesoap at Emil Knodell’s Fayetteville Vintage Gallery on the square include Gardenia Swirl and Vanilla with activated charcoal. Look for a handmade balm coming.
Quilts for Charities
For over 25 years, members of the church quilting group led by Jeanette Brown and comprised of ladies of all denominations have gathered twice a month at St. Paul Lutheran church to create quilts of all sizes for distribution to numerous charitable organizations. Last year, 124 quilts were donated to Lutheran World Relief, St. Mark’s Hospital, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and CASA. Everyone is welcome to come help. Text or call Jeanette at (979) 966-7175.