This week we celebrate the unsung heroes of our county’s police departments who wrangle a plethora of escaped, abandoned, injured, and deceased critters of our communities – Animal Control Officers (ACOs). Whether responding to a call for service related to loose cattle on the highway, a pet parakeet taking refuge in a truck cab at Walmart, or a sick wild cottontail bunny on a city lawn, ACOs take it all in stride. In their daily duties, they encounter bees, snakes, horses, raccoons, hogs, deer, and every other type of animal, domesticated and wild, in Fayette County.

Several storms blew through Fayette County last week, bringing welcome rain (some spots in Fayette County got over six inches of rain, but LCRA’s gauge above La Grange registered 4.01 inches) – but at times the weather proved a little too powerful.

The Central Texas Food Bank mobile food truck will be in Fayetteville at St. John Pavilion on Wednesday, April 12 from 10 to 11 a.m. It is a walk up distribution with volunteers to help with the distribution. There will be volunteers to help with the distribution and loading in your vehicle.

CASA of Bastrop, Fayette and Lee Counties focuses on supporting families during National Child Abuse Prevention Month. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and CASA of Bastrop, Fayette and Lee Counties is raising awareness of the need for more dedicated members of the community to step up and become CASA volunteers, and help end child abuse and neglect, through supporting children and their families.

The Fayette County Firefighter’s Association reports the following calls for the week of March 26 through April 1: Medical - 5 Smoke Report - 1 Gas Leak/Odor - 1 Illegal Burn - 1 In City Limits Power Line Hazard - 1 Fire Alarms - 2 Vehicle Fire - 1 Grass Fire - 1

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Kitten and puppy season is here, and the intake is climbing. As of March 31, total intake at the Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter is 351: 215 dogs and 136 cats in need. As of March 31, the shelter has 84 animals in care: 51 dogs and 33 cats. This number includes animals in the facility, in foster care for medical, waiting on available space, or awaiting transport to rescue partner.

W Couples Club BBQ Dinner The Couples Club at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda will have their annual BBQ Chicken Dinner on Mothers Days, May 14. Chickens are $13 and cups of sauce are $3.

E Save the date for the 86th Tomato Festival will be held Friday, May 26-Sunday, May 28. More details to come.

The Rural Nonprofit Networking Group (RNNG) is excited to invite all nonprofit staff and volunteers to join their next gathering which will be held on Wednesday, April 12. RNNG creates opportunities for the organizations that do so much good in our rural communities to share their missions and visions, discuss community needs and partnership opportunities, bring in experts to facilitate growth and professionalism, and simply connect to maximize the efficiency and impact that participants can bring to Fayette, Colorado, Lavaca, and surrounding counties.