U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to this direct support to farmers and ranchers, USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box program is partnering with regional and local distributors, whose workforces have been significantly impacted by the closure of many restaurants, hotels, and other food service entities, to purchase $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy, and meat and deliver boxes to Americans in need.

Agricultural producers can now apply for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which provides direct payments to offset impacts from the coronavirus pandemic. The application and a payment calculator are now available online and USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff members are available via phone, fax and online tools to help producers complete applications. The agency set up a call center in order to simplify how they serve new customers across the nation.

This year Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home & Cremations decided to hold their annual Memorial Day Ceremony virtually due to the recent COVID-19 operating procedures and in accordance with the CDC and local County Judge recommendations.

The Round Top-Carmine High School will have the 2020 graduation ceremony at Round Top Festival Institute on Friday, June 5 at 7 p.m. Several guidelines will have to be followed in order to make this event possible. The ceremony is planned to be outdoors at this time, but the district will continue to evaluate the TEA guidelines. For more information, visit rtcisd.net.

On Thursday, May 21, St. Rose of Lima Catholic School celebrated their graduates during a private evening liturgy. Those receiving diplomas were (front, from left) Amanda Tofel, Nathan Olsovsky, Jacob Vacek, Annelyse Galipp, Alyssa Zbranek, Bryce Stoever, (second row) Graylen Adams, Blake Helms, Ethan Steinhauser, Makena Kopecky, Presley Sommer, Creed Waltz, Mariah Rosales, Principal Rosanne Gallia, (back) Pastor Rev. Timothy Kosler, Arely Montalvo, Natalie Osina, Meredith Magliolo, Nicolas Lopez and Shelby Liere.

This Memorial Day Tribute was located on Simpson Street in Schulenburg.

While several public Memorial Day observances in the area were either cancelled or held online only, the Carmine EDC and the American Legion Post 338 held a drive-up Memorial Day Service of Remembrance Monday at Carmine’s Muehlbrad-Albers Park. Attendees had to either stay in their cars or stay distanced from one another because of coronavirus precautions. Above are images from the event, including the playing of Taps, top, left, and the program being announced over the speakers of a fire truck, bottom, right.