Pin Oak Cemetery, one of our area’s historic cemeteries, is in the process of improving some of the historic graves. Namely the graves of two of the heroes of the Battle of Salado and one veteran of the Battle at San Jacinto, who’s graves, will be surrounded by new wrought iron fencing. The fencing is being crafted off site and will be installed when finished and the weather permits.

Army Nurse Corp and Family Nurse Practitioner Lori Thurman Tapley recently celebrated a belated promotion ceremony at her home to the rank of full colonel in the U.S. Army. Colonel Tapley is the daughter of Ray and Twila Thurman of La Grange. She graduated from La Grange High School in 1994 and was commissioned into the Army Nurse Corps in December 1998. She has served 22 years on active duty and has been a Family Nurse Practitioner since 2006. She is currently the Deputy Chief, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio. In April this year, she will PCS as Chief, Division of Army Health Clinics for Landstuhl Army Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany. She is pictured here with her present Commander, Colonel Switaj.

Tuesday Night Mixed League Week 16 - Jan. 12, 2021 Just Us 41.0 Taki’s 39.0 Ron’s Bowl of Nuts 39.0 CRS 38.5 A-Prime Water Well Service 37.0 Leward Anders & Sons, Inc.

Super Bowl LV is right around the corner, falling on Sunday, Feb. 7. This year, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is teaming up with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to remind football fans and Super Bowl partygoers that designated drivers are the best defense against the dangers of drunk driving.

Blinn recently announced the Fall 2020 Honor Rolls for the Chancellor’s and Dean’s scholars honors. The list sent to us by Blinn last week and printed in Friday’s newspaper did not include any Fayetteville students.

Navidad Valley Community Connections is excited to announce that it is preparing to open the NVCC Center at Wolters Park on Monday, Feb. 1. Craig Moreau and his office of Emergency Management are confident that we strictly follow all the safety protocols and the members have agreed that it is best for everyone and they insist on it as well. We will continue with the basic services for now, with dominoes, the 42-card game table, Mexican Train, visiting with each other, and sharing a meal, but changes are in the air and we are working hard to address those.

Earlier this week Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a new state strategy for distributing COVID-19 vaccines. Senator Kolkhorst played a key role in securing this site for the region. The plan focuses on new vaccine “HUBS” and “subHUB” that are intended to help distribute the vaccine faster. As of today, Washington County Expo Center (Fairgrounds) has become one of the rural county vaccination subHUB. The subHUB will be supported by Austin County, Burleson County, Fayette County, Grimes County, Washington County, City of Brenham, Baylor Scott & White, Blinn College, Texas Agricultural Extension Service, and Brenham Independent School District, Faith Mission.

The students, faculty, and staff of Sacred Heart Catholic School in La Grange will celebrate Catholic Schools Week Jan. 30 through Feb. 5. The theme for this year’s events is Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.

Giddings Times & News • A Giddings man who nearly lost $3,000 in a scam was saved a lot of money by bank tellers telling him to contact law enforcement authorities about the situation on Jan. 6.

The Navidad Valley Cattle-Women (NVCW) are seeking applicants for their 2021 Scholarships. Due to the generous support of the community of the 5K Ranch Run in August, numerous recipients will be awarded a scholarship of at least $500 with a total of $8,000 being distributed.