Fayette Co. Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security 2022 was a year that once again proved Fayette County has the best citizens and the best neighbors in Texas, and probably in the whole world.

To date, Fayette County EMS (FCEMS) has responded to over 4,139 calls for service, a record year for the department. Of those calls, 2,792 resulted in a patient being transported to the hospital. FCEMS responded to 1,347 calls for lift assistance or other types of calls that did not require medical treatment or transportation. The department provided stand-by assistance and medical services to police and fire at approximately 70 incidents. FCEMS also provided medical stand-by services for all of the local high school football games.

Sheriff Keith Korenek reports on Tuesday afternoon around 11 a.m. Sgt. Randy Thumann received information from DPS Trooper Landon Rabun in reference to a possible murder suspect traveling I-10 eats-bound in Fayette County. Thumann immediately notified Austin County Sheriff’s Office, Westside HIDTA task force, and the Regional SRT team. All agencies secured a perimeter along I-10 and began searching businesses within the perimeter. Sgt. Thumann located and confirmed the suspect’s vehicle parked in the AT&T store parking lot in Columbus.

Fayette County Commissioners Court awarded grant funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to four local organizations last Thursday. “It feels like Christmas,” said County Judge Joe Weber.

Members of the La Grange American Legion Post 102 and VFW Post 5254 salute a tattered American flag which was burned along with other unserviceable American and Texas flags following a respectful and honorable retirement ceremony performed on Dec. 21. Pictured, left to right, are: Richard Gray, First Vice-Commander of Post 102, Dick Frenzel, Chaplain Post 102, Odis Pfeiffer, Commander of Post 102, John Battle, Post 102, Andy Kruppa, Commander of Post 5254 and John D. Marburger, Judge Advocate, Post 102 and 5254. Anyone having worn, faded or tattered American or Texas flags are encouraged to bring them to the Texas Heroes Museum located in the old county jail in La Grange, a designated collection location. All American and Texas flags that are no longer serviceable are properly disposed of from time to time with due and proper formality.

It took until the last few days of the year, but Fayette County set a new low temperature for 2022 when the mercury fell to 17 degrees in La Grange on Friday Dec. 23 according to the LCRA weather station here. It stayed below freezing until Saturday morning. The extended freeze played havoc not only with private wells and pipes, but municipal systems as well. According to Fayette Water Supply, a six-inch water main at their Walhalla well blew apart over the weekend and drained everything at the well site. That system was repaired Tuesday. That well serviced customers in the Walhalla, Waldeck, Nechanitz, Warrenton and Round Top areas, but even when service was restored those customers were under a boil water notice. Fayette Water Supply crews ran propane tanks all night at the Rutersville well to thaw the piping. Meanwhile, on the other side of the county, some Fayette Water Supply customers in the Hostyn/Bluff area were also without water over the Christmas weekend because of breaks.

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Before you ring in the new year with your friends at midnight, Arts for Rural Texas (ARTS) invites you to close out 2022 with a grand celebration of the ARTs. Throughout this holiday season, ARTS has celebrated regional creatives with its annual Holiday Shows.

St. Mark’s Medical Center in La Grange will be accepting appointments for a Blood Drive on Thursday, Jan. 5, between 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Schedule today and start the year off right giving the gift of life. Go to Weareblood. org or email cwellborn@ weareblood.org.