The labor market recovery in the Rural Capital Area of Central Texas picked up momentum in July 2021, with the unadjusted unemployment rate sliding down to 4.3 percent, after a slight increase to 4.9 percent in June, according to figures released today by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The local economy added 9,191 jobs from June to July, with employment rising by 36,911 year-toyear. The 4.3 percent unemployment rate in the nine-county Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA) represented 25,279 residents seeking jobs. The region’s unemployment rate remained below Texas’ (6.0 percent) and the national (5.7 percent) rates, which both saw drops in July as well.

The Spaghetti Dinner prepared by the Winchester Area Civic Association (WACA) to benefit the Winchester 4-H Club will be held on Sunday, Sept. 12 at Zilss Hall. The dinner will begin at 11 a.m. and will be drive thru or eat in. Richard Schafer, WACA President is requesting everyone who wishes to contribute money or ingredients for the meal, to conduct Barb Schafer at (254) 644-0336 or email at richardbarbschafer@gmail. com. All proceeds will benefit the Winchester 4-H Club.

I read a little book recently that talked about chicken soup. I thought for sure it would contain directions for preparing the steaming broth but it did not.

The Weimar Mercury • On Aug. 8 at 2:43 a.m.

During the week of July 23-31 twenty members of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) and five sponsors went to LaFayette, Ga. for a week of learning, serving, and fun. The theme for this trip was “The choices we make through our faith.” While there they repainted authentic Civil War cannons at Chickamauga National Military Park as their service project. They took part in daily devotions and attended a banjo-led outdoor worship service at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Dalton, Georgia. They doubled the attendance at that service. They enjoyed whitewater rafting, hiking, and ziplining. The LYO will begin its fall program on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 6:30 p.m., with a meal, a devotional time, and plenty of time for fellowship. They meet in St. Paul’s Fellowship Hall at 110 W. Walnut Street in La Grange. All high school students are welcome. For more information on the LYO, call the church office at (979) 968-5657 and ask for Caleb.

In conjunction with the opening ceremonies on Thursday, Sept. 2, and the Fayette County Fair Queen Pageant, a must see is The Fayette County Fair Little Miss and Mister Pageant. This year 10 little miss and 6 little misters vie for the titles, with a personal interview with each kid. It has become a crowd-pleaser that will bring more than a few laughs. The pageant kicks off at 7 p.m. with the presentation of the Little Miss contestants followed by the Little Mister and then the crowning of the young royalty. The Queen’s pageant immediately follows.

Blood Drive The La Grange Community Blood Drive will be held Wednesday, Aug. 25 at the La Grange KC Hall located at 190 S.

The City of La Grange received only one bid for the project to close-in Beefhead Ditch, and the bid came in at nearly double the engineer’s cost estimate. The Council is expected to reject the bid and re-bid the contract.

Fayette County officials buried a woman from Carmine in the County potter’s field last Friday, August 20. The woman was 76-yearold Harriett Hemmil of Carmine.

As the school year gets underway, we’re profiling a new teacher at all five public school districts in Fayette County. Next in the series is Melissa Baugh who is a new high school teacher at Flatonia ISD.