When he flipped the sign on the door at Ken’s Barbershop over to “closed” for the last time a few weeks ago, Ken Jurecka ended an era. He and his good friend and longtime fellow barber, 95-year-old Charlie Ripper, agree that the action represented a local milestone.

County firefighters responded to four grass fires between the hours of 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, including multiple fires along Interstate 10 near Schulenburg and one in Round Top. The current hot dry conditions, mixed with the ongoing drought have made fire danger very high locally. Fayette County is in a burn ban. Photos from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a new disease and what could happen can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. However, these actions are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Coping with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.

The number of coronavirus cases continue to tick up in Fayette County. As of Monday morning, Fayette County had 121 active cases and 239 total confirmed cases all-time with 103 recoveries and four deaths.

Fayette Heritage Museum and Archives has announced that within the last week, hundreds of searchable issues of The La Grange Journal and The Flatonia Argus from the 1950s through 1965 have been uploaded to the Portal to Texas History. There are now have 9,637 items from eleven decades, all related to Fayette County, on The Portal, including copies of the Schulenburg Sticker and Fayette County Record.

The lockdown from COVID-19 is gradually ending, online school is over and summer is here. Many parents are seeing their teens doing more driving. Unfortunately, most parents are not aware that Memorial Day kicks off what is called “The 100 Deadliest Days for Teens,” when it comes to teen vehicle crashes.

The triple digit temperatures that our area experienced in mid-July will likely impact utility bills for most folks, including members of Fayette Electric Cooperative (FEC). In addition to encouraging the public its members and employees to stay hydrated, FEC is sharing tips on how to conserve energy and keep your electric bill in check.

NewWave Communications announced it will award $15,000 to non-profit organizations in the communities it serves as part of the internet service provider’s “Up for Any Challenge” social media campaign.

Hallettsville Tribune-Herald • Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director JoAnn Shimek said in a recent press release, “After careful consideration and discussion, the Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture Board of Directors regret to inform you that they have made the very difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Kolache Fest. With the uncertainty of COVID-19 and the restrictions that may or may not be in place, as well as the recent rise in positive C0VID-19 cases in our area, the Board of Directors feel it is best to not take any chances, and protecting our community is the Chamber’s number one priority.” The press release also stated that the Chamber will still be moving forward with planning other 2020 events later this year, but they will be on a smaller scale.