Carmine Lions Club met Aug. 10 at JW’s Steakhouse. It was reported that the club collected 120 pairs of eyeglasses (some lenses included) last year. Quite a few have already been collected this year. They may be dropped in the collection box at the Carmine State Bank or brought to any meeting.

Sheila and Allan Brunner’s grandson Lane Brunner eloped with Madison McCord on Nov. 7, 2020 have now had an official wedding ceremony on Aug. 21, 2021 surrounded by their family in Auburn, Washington. Lane’s Uncle Chance Brunner and cousin Landon Hayes served as groomsmen. Lane’s brother, Wyatt was to also have been groomsman, but was unable to attend due to illness. Other family members from Texas that attended were grandparents Sheila and Allan Brunner; and Aunt Angie and Uncle Duke Fairchild.

The 9th Annual BBQ Showdown will be held at Shorty’s Bar in Winchester on Sept. 24-25 and will benefit Meals on Wheels Rural Capital Area and the Family Crisis Center. Meat categories will be chicken, pork spareribs (no baby backs), and beef brisket. Jackpot categories will be the open (provided by event coordinators), beans, and bloody marys. The entry fees will be $150 for meats and $20 for each jackpot. There will be cash payments paid out in all events and trophies for meat category winners and overall champion. For more information, contact Jake Franke at (979) 966-7416.

Commander Andrew Kruppa and Auxiliary President Vicki Latapie of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. Post 5254, announced the kick-off of the VFW’s annual Patriot’s Pen youth essay competition. Middle school students in grades 6-8 in this area have the opportunity to compete and win thousands of dollars in national awards.

The Fayette County Firefighter’s Association reports the following calls for the week of August 15-21: Oil Tank Fire - 1 Grass Fires - 2 Medical - 4 Vehicle Fire - 1 Fire Alarm - 1.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fayetteville will be holding their annual huge church feast Sunday, September 5, on the church grounds in Fayetteville.

Prosperity Bank of La Grange donated $500 to the Texas Ramp Project, a local nonprofit that builds free home wheelchair ramps for older adults and people with disabilities. Pictured (from left) are Suzette Zarr, Candy Chavez, Brenda Seberger (Banking Center Manager), J. Frank Smith (Austin-East Regional Coordinator for Texas Ramp Project), Barbara Janacek, Ashley Kubala and Taylor Comer. Photo by Andy Behlen

National Bank and Trust of La Grange teamed up with FayCo Printing Company to provide officers of the La Grange Police Department with new “Back the Blue” t-shirts. Pictured (front, from left) are Ashley Conrad, Personal Banker; Beka Jaster, Bookkeeping; Tish Muniz, VP of Lending; Nidia Noriega, Lead Personal Banker; (back) Tracy Harris, President and CEO; Monica Lopez, Lead Personal Banker; David Laffee, SVP and CFO; Kimberly Rhodes, Asst. Controller; Scott McManus, SVP of Lending. Photo by Andy Behlen

Fayette Co. Fair The Fayette County Fair is coming up Labor Day weekend for a four day event packed full of fun for the whole family.

The Fayette County Fair begins this week, but Sunday, at a volunteer appreciation dinner at the fairgrounds, it was one last chance for new and old fair royalty to get together before taking the stage Thursday for the Queen’s Pageant. Above, left, last year’s Queen Sierra Fitzpatrick and her royalty court address the crowd. Above, right, five of the six Queens Contestants this year make one final pitch to sell tickets. In the bottom photo, the crew of Little Miss and Little Mister contestants introduce themselves to the crowd Sunday. They were joined by last year’s Little Miss Fayette County Lilly Herzog and Little Mister Fayette County Rilan Karisch. Photos by Jeff Wick