La Grange’s annual pre-Christmas festival, Schmeckenfest, will be held Thursday Dec. 7 around the courthouse square The event will begin with a parade at 5 p.m. led by the Might Leopard Band marching in with Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving downtown at the end of the parade.

There are 31 groups bringing their patented Wassail recipes, vying for the title of Schmeckenmeister.

The Glory Tones Handbell Choir of New Life Methodist Church, 1215 N. Von Minden in La Grange, invites you to enjoy their beautiful Christmas music presented at the Ledbetter Christmas Lane of Lights on Friday, Dec. 1, beginning at 6 p.m. Directed by Nancy Hajek, the choir enjoys bringing some Christmas cheer and being part of the live music line-up of entertainment for such a wonderful event.

Property owners statewide are getting some tax relief. Many locals will find out just how much in their mailboxes in a few days.

With November’s payments from the state, most area towns are headed for a record year in sales tax receipts. Six of Fayette County’s seven towns are at the highest levels ever – with three of them ahead of last year by double digits.

The Texas Heroes Museum will be closed for the weekend following Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 24 through Sunday, Nov. 26. Please give special thanks to our active duty personnel who are not able to share Thanksgiving dinner with their loved ones. The museum will resume normal hours on Friday, Dec. 1.

Mississippi-based Progressive Health Group (PHG) has contacted state and federal authorities to ascertain what it will take to reinstate licenses required to reopen the La Grange hospital, St. Marks’ Medical Center, which closed Oct. 12 because of financial struggles.