This is the second in our series of articles profiling the young musicians from around the world who are descending on Round Top for the annual Festival Hill summer institute and concert series. Bassoon player Hans Fronberg was preparing to attend the Festival Hill Summer Institute in 2020 when the COVID pandemic began.

The Texas Department of Transportation will be starting a project to rehabilitate the existing roadway on US 77, 0.4 miles south of La Grange, on Monday June 19, weather permitting. In order to replace an existing concrete box culvert under the highway, US 77 will be closed for approximately five days from June 19 to June 23.

Fayette County Commissioners held their first budget workshop of the year last Thursday, June 8. Court Administrator Cassie Austin provided a rough timeline of this year’s budget proceedings.

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 870 will meet on the third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Ammannsville KJT Hall located in Ammannsville. Food and refreshments will be available after the meeting. Members and prospective members are encouraged to attend.

The intersection of Hwy. 71 and Loop 220 in Plum was the scene of two crashes this week.

First Six Months of Year (Jan.-June) Fayette County Cities Pct. Change Tax Rate 2022 2021 2020 2019 2021 to ’22 La Grange 1.50% 1,387,493 1,246,241 1,098,679 963,946 Up 11.3% Schulenburg 1.50% 745,930 605,011 458,230 450,036 Up 23.3% Round Top 1.50% 248,461 205,927 175,816 105,286 Up 20.6% Flatonia 1.50% 226,920 205,833 197,579 175,660 Up 10.2% Fayetteville 1.50% 141,373 62,044 58,855 48,833 Up 127.8% Carmine 1.50% 74,985 77,728 66,419 55,237 Down 3.5% Ellinger 1.00% 33,403 31,060 0 0 Up 7.5% Other Area Cities Bastrop 1.50% 5,964,665 5,516,063 4,728,990 3,831,128 Up 8.1% Brenham 1.50% 4,645,608 4,510,987 3,773,947 3,372,031 Up 2.9% Lockhart 1.50% 1,969,735 1,759,953 1,551,237 1,463,274 Up 11.9% Elgin 1.50% 1,920,353 1,739,000 1,417,747 1,348,534 Up 10.4% Sealy 1.50% 1,678,725 1,556,034 1,363,148 1,321,425 Up 7.8% Gonzales 1.50% 1,582,448 1,539,594 1,232,175 1,400,003 Up 2.7% Giddings 1.50% 1,356,522 1,209,834 905,322 1,022,846 Up 12.1% Hempstead 2.00% 1,164,477 1,168,371 978,766 913,523 Down 0.3% Caldwell 1.50% 1,071,309 1,027,498 814,384 914,658 Up 4.2% Columbus 1.50% 1,023,512 938,754 823,090 891,270 Up 9.0% Yoakum 2.00% 1,019,046 912,515 766,363 817,456 Up 11.6% Luling 1.50% 999,403 926,373 723,208 649,79 Up 7.8% Hallettsville 2.00% 753,364 711,335 707,844 645,169 Up 5.9% Bellville 1.50% 564,656 500,926 447,174 385,432 Up 12.7% Weimar 1.50% 481,521 457,689 386,823 370,318 Up 5.2% Smithville 1.50% 437,673 439,232 373,004 316,430 Down 0.3% Shiner 1.00% 282,224 258,416 176,322 196,622 Up 9.2% Eagle Lake 1.00% 216,995 198,676 198,201 159,340 Up 9.2% County Governments Bastrop 0.50% 4,072,411 3,677,953 3,005,662 2,564,301 Up 10.7% Washington 0.50% 2,384,225 2,119,902 1,655,288 1,478,515 Up 12.4% Fayette 0.50% 1,696,314 1,480,103 1,109,907 1,057,444 Up 14.6% Caldwell 0.50% 1,626,273 1,377,342 1,243,912 1,079,516 Up 18.0% Gonzales 0.50% 1,280,192 1,109,347 905,172 1,264,777 Up 15.4% Austin 0.50% 1,116,277 1,123,140 987,817 936,409 Down 0.7% Colorado 0.50% 1,063,316 934,643 793,705 1,141,275 Up 13.7% Burleson 0.50% 810,873 745,438 558,225 862,008 Up 8.7% Lee 0.50% 809,273 729,764 637,563 1,773,688 Up 10.9% Source: State Comptroller’s Office .

Footprints Of Fayette Fayette County is one of the most historic counties in Texas. In this weekly feature from the County Historical Commission, a rotating group of writers looks back at local history.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to Offer Professional Food Manager Certification Training Course. Statistics indicate that foodborne illness continues to be a health issue in the United States.

The Juneteenth Committee wants everyone to be aware of changes in the parade route. The Juneteenth Parade begins at 10:30 a.m.