A Fayette County Grand Jury handed down 14 indictments on Jan. 20.

Each year, the Texas Word Wrangler Book Festival at the Giddings Public Library celebrates Texas authors and their contributions to literature. Author applications are now open for the Nov. 18-19 festival. Submissions will be accepted until July 31.

The Texas Institute of Letters has announced the winners of the thirteenth Annual TIL Literary Awards, including Winedale’s Babette Fraser Hale. In a year with a record number of contest entries, the TIL will award more than $26,000 in prizes to these writers at the TIL Awards Ceremony and Presentation in El Paso, Texas on April 23.

Fayette County Commissioners granted preliminary approval to plans for a new subdivision north of Round Top. The property is a 66-acre former farm with a house, a barn two ponds and various farm buildings.

As part of the statewide Children’s Book Project, the Fayette County Retired Teachers Association is proud to be donating to the community. A $400 gift is presented to Whispering Hills Achievement Center, and 179 books have found a home with the Family Crisis Center. Pictured are Darryl Ashford, CEO of Whispering Hills Achievement Center and Jan Jenkins, 2nd-Vice President FCRTA.

Judge’s Award - Birds+Words by Lori Learned of La Grange and quilted by Kathi Babcock of La Grange. Outstanding Contemporary Professional - Broken Block by Jo Anne Hill of La Grange.

CASA of Bastrop, Fayette and Lee Counties is pleased to announce the recent appointment of (from left) Lupe Delacruz and Miriam Fahrenthold as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) by Judge Benton Eskew on March 1. CASA of Bastrop, Fayette and Lee Counties endeavors to provide trained volunteer advocates in all abuse and neglect foster care cases assigned by the courts. CASA Volunteers are screened and highly trained and then appointed by Judges to represent and advocate for a child’s best interest in the child protection system. CASA volunteer training will begin again in April. To learn more about becoming a CASA Volunteer, call (512) 409-0771.

This month the City of La Grange’s Office of Community and Economic Development is thrilled to introduce some of their newest staff. Looking ahead into 2022, both staff members will play a pivotal role within the community—supporting local businesses and promoting and stimulating economic opportunities.

Fluor Cares, a committee of employees working for Fluor Cooperation, delivered a check for $3,500 to Turtle Wing Foundation. Pictured from left is: Turtle Wing Founder DeeAnn Hooper, Joan Klekar of Fluor Business Services, and Turtle Wing Executive Director Destiny Psencik.

The Rural Non-Profit Networking Group (RNNG) is an opportunity 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. Since reactivating post-pandemic shutdown, the group is more energized than ever, back to meeting monthly, and incorporating an educational aspect into each gathering.