The Smithville Times • Rosalie Carter, 71 of Smithville, was taken to the Bastrop County jail and charged with aggravated kidnapping for attempting to kidnap her daughter at gunpoint near a Smithville school. Carter’s daughter told police that around 6:15 a.m.

Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek reports that on Wednesday morning, Aug. 12 around 9:22 a.m. Drug Interdiction Investigator David Smith located a tan 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe tan traveling on Interstate 10 westbound near the 664-mile marker near Engle that matched the description of a reportedly reckless driver.

The Texas Wendish Heritage Society in Serbin is the recipient of a Humanities Texas Relief Grant. The Texas Wendish Heritage Society and Museum focuses on the heritage and immigration of Wendish people into Texas during the 19th century and operates a museum to preserve their history and heritage in Texas and to foster an understanding and appreciation of the Wends and their culture and language.

Why does the sky change colors at sunset and sunrise? The sky changes colors for many reasons, from the simple which is the light from the sun being refracted from the atmosphere, or for the not so simple which is something such as dust or ice acting as microscopic crystals in the sky. Let’s start with the simple answer.

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office recently purchased some customized “neck sleeves” for face protection against coronavirus while deputies are on duty. But a recent study by researchers at Duke University indicates that wearing such a mask is actually worse than wearing no mask at all.

Schulenburg Police arrested a man Saturday morning after the suspect allegedly walked around his yard waving a loaded shotgun. According to SPD Sgt.

Mary Anne Kana said her husband George “is like a cat. He’s got nine lives.” George may have used up two of them Friday. The Kanas have a beautiful massive century-old post oak at their home in Cozy Corner that provides a lot of shade for George to work under refurbishing pallets. He was doing so Friday when a massive branch, weighing hundreds of pounds fell from high in the tree and would have crushed George had it not caught on a small lower branch. Not one to leave a job undone, George went back under the tree later in the day to finish the pallet he was working on. Shortly after he was finished, the smaller branch gave way under the weight of the bigger branch and the big branch finally completed its trip to earth, coming down right where George had been. George is shown here on Saturday morning counting his blessings and getting ready to haul the limb away. Photo by Jeff Wick

The spaghetti dinner prepared by the Winchester Area Civic Association (WACA) to benefit the Winchester 4-H Club will not be held this year. Richard Schafer, WACA president, is requesting that everyone who has contributed money or ingredients to aid in the provision of this fundraiser to please donate money. WACA will make up the difference in the amount that was raised last year to the benefit of the 4-H Club. All contributions will be much appreciated. Please make checks payable to the Winchester 4-H and send checks by Aug. 23 to Winchester Area Civic Association, 845 FM 153, Winchester, Texas 78945. If you have any questions, please contact Richard or Barbara Schafer at (254) 644-0336 or send an email to richardbarbschafer@gmail.com.

The coronavirus pandemic hasn’t slowed real estate development in Fayette County, especially in unincorporated areas. At last Thursday’s Fayette County Commissioners Court meeting, County leaders unanimously approved three variances to subdivide land and a re-plat of an existing subdivision.

As of Monday morning Fayette County had 31 combined active/probable cases of coronavirus, down from 37 such cases on Wednesday. This continues a trend which has persisted over the last few weeks of fewer and fewer active cases.