Several Fayette County 4-H members competed in the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Wildlife Judging Contest on Saturday, March 20. The contest was held at Long Acres Ranch in Richmond. The Fayette County Junior Teams of Kaleb Hensley and Copper Littrell won 3rd place and Conner Fricke and Quade Brothers placed 4th. Kaleb won 3rd high individual, Cooper placed 6th, Conner placed 8th, and Quade placed 7th. The Wildlife Judging Team is coached by Bobby and Lanette Williams. Pictured from left are: Kaleb Hensley, Cooper Littrell, Conner Fricke and Quade Brothers.

Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek reports that on Friday afternoon around 2:17 p.m. the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office received several 911 calls reporting a truck on fire at the 665-mile marker on I-10 eastbound just past the N. Knesek overpass. The Flatonia Fire Department was notified and responded to the scene along with DPS Corporal Patrick Mladenka and Deputy Terry Guentert. Upon arrival it was reported the truck cab was fully engulfed along with a grass fire and the driver was out of the vehicle. The Flatonia Fire Department arrived and the fire was quickly contained and extinguished. It is believed the fire started from a flat tire on the truck prior to stopping.

The president of the Pickleball Hall of Fame rode a bicycle into La Grange Wednesday as part of a 3,000 mile trek across America to raise funds for the Hall’s construction. Seymour “Rif ” Rifkind, a 70-year-old multi-sport athlete, is perhaps the biggest promoter of the unusually-named sport.

Fayette County Farm Bureau organized a free-will donation drive-through dinner on Tuesday, March 23. Fayette County Farm Bureau President Donnie Dippel said all of the proceeds will be donated to the food pantries in La Grange, Schulenburg and Flatonia. The drive-through sold 563 plates, which generated about $3,000. Fayette County Farm Bureau chipped in another $3,000. In total, $6,000 will be donated to the three food pantries. Photo by Andy Behlen

A man from Houston was arrested for driving while intoxicated following a crash on SH 159 near Rutersville Monday night. The wreck happened around 11:20 p.m.

Four members from across the area joined Fayette Community Foundation’s Board of Directors this month. For 20 years, Fayette Community Foundation (FCF) has offered financial benefits to families and individuals in simplifying their charitable giving.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, popularly known as WIC, is a nutrition program for pregnant, breastfeeding women, and families with children younger than five. WIC provides the support and inspiration to eat right, have a healthy pregnancy, breastfeed successfully, and raise amazing kids.

AMEN Food Pantry in La Grange received a $400 Feeding Families Across Texas donation on March 20 from KJZT Family Life, St. Frances of Rome Society No. 31 of La Grange. This is a statewide KJZT Fraternal Cause reaching out to those in need. AMEN representative Garry Schellberg accepted the donation from members of KJZT Society No. 31. Pictured from left are Secretary Marilyn Kothmann, Treasurer Barbara Eilert, President Elizabeth Kallus, and Chaplain Fr. Brian Phillips.

Food Bank Truck The Central Texas Food Bank Truck will be at the Waldeck Lutheran Church located at the Junction of FM 1291 and FM 2145 on Monday, March 29 from 10 a.m. till 11 a.m.

Tuesday night a powerful storm blew through Fayette County with high winds that took down lots of branches. Mostly damage was minimal, but this huge sycamore tree (estimated wight of about 2,000 pounds) snapped at 977 N. Jackson Street and then stayed balanced atop the roof, apparently doing no major damage. Shown here is Jimmy Dwigans of CTL Tree Service about to get to work taking down the tree. “We had a few members in the St. John area out of power, about 60, and a few in the Camp Lone Star area. No major problems or outages to report,” said Fayette Electric Cooperative Director of Communications Catherine Poppe. Photo by Jeff Wick