Paul Mikula has been named the Parade Marshall for this year’s Fayette County Fair parade, which will roll through the streets of La Grange Saturday Sept. 3 at 10:30 a.m. He was born and raised in La Grange, graduating from La Grange High School in 1978. He attended Sam Houston State University (SHSU), achieving a BBA in Finance. Paul has two daughters and one granddaughter, Courtney Mikula Sanchez (husband Richard) and Brittany Poncik (husband Thomas and granddaughter Elizabeth). Paul recently retired after 35 years in the retail grocery business. Most recently, he worked for La Grange HEB for 25 years, retiring in May as Store Director. Initially upon graduation from SHSU, he worked in the residential lending field until rough times hit the economy in the mid-80’s. Paul, along with fiancée, Linda Morrison enjoy a passion for giving back to the La Grange community through service and volunteerism. Paul currently serves or has served as a board member in the following organizations: La Grange Baseball Association, La Grange Noon Lions Club, St. Paul Lutheran Church, and the LEPS Foundation. He also volunteers with Second Chance Emporium, AMEN Food Pantry, Adopt a Highway Program, and the Rotary Club hamburger booth. He has enjoyed chairing the scholarship committee for the Noon Lions Club for 20 years, watching recipients achieve their college goals and become successful in the workplace. Paul was passionate about the LGISD One-On-One elementary school reading and mentoring program, having served as a mentor for the 20-year life of the program.

Thousands descended on the tiny village of Praha on Monday, Aug. 15, for the 167th annual Pražská Pout at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The day celebrates the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It also serves as a homecoming for the many people of Czech descent whose ancestors came through Praha. The picnic always takes place on Aug. 15, no matter what day of the week it falls. The crowd that came didn’t seem to mind that it was a Monday. Visitors enjoyed a delicious meal of fried chicken, Praha’s famous beef stew, buttered potatoes, green beans, sauerkraut and homemade desserts. It was the second year for picnic-goers to enjoy their meal with air conditioning inside the recently- refurbished parish hall. Just ahead of this year’s picnic, the parish added an entrance and exit room to the hall, which greatly-alleviated the traffic jam that used to occur during the picnic at lunchtime.

Someone scaled the fence at the La Grange I.S.D. Bus Barn and damaged the stop arms on three school buses last week.

As the school year begins The Record will be profiling some new area teachers. Today’s spotlight is on Amanda Hunger of Fayetteville.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released the latest accountability ratings for public schools in Texas this week. All school districts in Fayette County received an overall grade of B or better, although a few campuses received an overall score of C this year.