Dusty Hill, ZZ Top’s bassist for more than 50 years, has died, the group’s longtime rep confirmed. He was 72.

Some locals folks have been getting scam calls saying their Medicare benefits are going to expire, and the caller uses that tactic to try to get personal information from the resident over the phone. Here are some important things for seniors to know about how Medicare and the Social Security Administration (SSA) function.

In the story about the church picnics from Tuesday’s paper, we left out two important details: Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Plum held a very successful picnic on June 27, and St. Michael Parish in Weimar will hold their Harvest Feast at the Weimar Veterans Hall on August 8.

On June 12 the Fayette County Retired Teachers’ Association met in the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall with 30 members in attendance. The fellowship time was held at 1:30 p.m. complete with Blue Bell ice cream, and refreshments by the Executive Board. President Melanie Mica welcomed all members, and the pledges to the flags were led by Lisa Slinkard.

A new housing development is in the works in the Northrup area of Lee County. Scott Wallace of Wallace Construction is developing Leon’s Crossing on 9.89 acres of land at CR 216 and CR 217. There will be six tracts, that will range from 1.0 to 1.8 acres and will include electricity and water. All homes in the development will be a minimum of 2,000 sq. ft. The company is hopeful of beginning phase 1 by mid-September.

The 2021 Junior Beefmaster Breeders Association (JBBA) held its 37th Annual National Show and Convention at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton, July 17-23. The JBBA National Show and Convention is a family fun event for all involved. This summer showcase provided endless opportunities for junior members to compete with their Beefmaster cattle as well as the educational contests that were offered. The weeklong event was jammed packed with fun events and contests for the entire family.

Friday Summer Movie Nights at Henkel Square continues tonight, July 30, with “Coming 2 America.” Next week, Aug. 6 will be “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” followed by the closing movie, “Captain Marvel” on Aug. 13. Bring your blanket and lawn chairs for this free event. The movie starts at 8:30 p.m.

The Round Top Lions Club recently donated $875 to the Round Top Family Library. Monies donated will be used to support children participating in The Dolly Parton Imagination Library reading program. Infants thru five years old get a free book in the mail every month. Interested parents can go to info@ilovetoread.org. Pictured left to right: Sally Reynolds (LC), Kinsley Wallace, Kate Behnke, Brylie Mund, Julie and Liliana Wantland and Pam Langford (LC).

I first wrote this in 2016 and my husband has since passed away, however he would talk about that day with such sadness. “Thought we were at war” is what Gene Adcox believed on that very hot sultry day 55 years ago in Austin on Aug.

Britton Karisch, distiller for Dime Box Distillery, recently received a John Barleycorn Society Gold Award for his strawberry brandy. The John Barleycorn Society is an assemblage of the world’s top spirits professionals, who wish to recognize the exceptional distillers, marketers, and designers in today’s international spirits industries. Competing against similar products from around the world, Britton’s brandy won in a blind taste test by industry professionals who considered flavor, color, and aroma.