Texas banks, which have been supporting customers, small businesses and communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, have announced a “Unity Grant” program to provide quick relief to minority and women-owned small businesses impacted by manmade or natural disasters.

Schreiner University in Kerrville has named qualified students to its President’s and Dean’s List. To be eligible for the President’s List, full-time students must earn at least a 4.0 grade point average for the term, passing all classes and have at least 12 hours credit for the term. To qualify for the Dean’s List, a full-time student must have passing grades in all courses and must earn at least a 3.50 grade point average and at least 12 hours credit for the term.

The Fayette County Commissioners Court voted last Thursday to postpone the public hearing over a proposed tax abatement for the 7V Solar Farm near Cistern until Aug. 27.

The number of people who tested positive for the coronavirus in Fayette County has risen to 156 since officials began tracking the virus back in March. As of Monday morning, July 13, four people have died, and that number has not changed in over a week; 84 people have recovered.

A local woman died in a wreck on SH 71 near Plum on June 30. The accident happened at 3:53 p.m.

A movement in the Texas Republican Party to censure Governor Greg Abbott over his handling of the COVID-19 crisis has spread across the state. The Fayette County Republican Party might soon weigh in on that debate.

With Texas continuing to break records for new coronavirus deaths and hospitalizations this week, Gov. Greg Abbott reiterated Friday afternoon that things will continue to get worse. And if people keep flouting his new statewide mask mandate, he said, the next step could be another economic lockdown.

Schulenburg Police Chief Troy Brenek reports that officers responded to 97 calls for service during the week of June 27 through July 3. Included were: one burglary, one theft, one criminal mischief, one MIP tobacco, and one credit card abuse.

Agricultural producers in Fayette and Lee Counties must complete crop acreage reports by the July 15 deadline. Levi Garlick, county executive director with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), says the July 15 deadline applies to corn, cotton, grain sorghum, CRP and native & improved grasses that are not covered by a NAP policy.