By Paul Harrison
    The rains came and the thunder rolled over Louise, but after two delays the worst of it had passed. The Industrial Cobras and Louise Hornets kicked off at 9 p.m. and the real storm began.
    Cobra kicker Alberto Pineda pounded the ball over the Hornets’ heads into the endzone for a touchback to start the game. On the change of possession, Avery Milner carried Industrial 20 yards across midfield to the Louise 40. Aaron Rosas rumbled for nine yards to the 31 and Milner followed with a touchdown run, 8:00 to play in the first quarter. Pineda with the extra point and it was 7-0 Industrial.
    “I thought the kids did a good job of staying composed with everything going on,” said Head Coach Kensey Allen. “Got here at 5:30 and thought [the weather] was going to slide by. I thought our kids did a good job of staying composed: realizing that at some point we’re going to play and we gotta keep our minds right.”

    On July 6, the Vesely Cemetery Historical Marker was dedicated at the cemetery location on Buller in Waller County. 
    In attendance were Josephine (Vesely) Bear, granddaughter of the cemetery founder, her husband Howard Bear, Patricia (Frank) Kennedy, Parker and Gail Spencer, Junior and Peggy McKay, Sandy Buller, Judy Robinson, Bea Chalupa, Ben Hosak, and Grace Holtkamp.
    This is the first historical marker offered by the Waller County Historical Society which has a unique design displaying the outline of Waller County. This marker will be offered by the Waller County Historical Society in addition to the State of Texas Historical Markers.
    The Vesely Cemetery Historical Marker reads as follows:

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    Jackson County Commissioners and County Judge Dennis Simons have been in budget workshops in recent weeks, and other than some cost-cutting, Simons said not much has changed.
    “The budget is almost identical to last year’s budget,” said Simons.
He said the county lost 36 million in valuation, likely mineral valuation, a 2.3 percent decrease from last year.
    “Some other counties, DeWitt County in particular, dropped something like 30 percent,” said Simons, “So we’re fortunate in that ours isn’t too significantly different, but it is down some from the year before so there isn’t really room for any increase at all.”    
    Trimming little things that can wait off of this year’s to-do list and rolling it over onto next year’s has been the goal of the workshops.

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
 

   An excavation project in Lockhart by Mercer Construction of Edna ended in tragedy on Aug 31 when a hole collapsed on workers, killing one and injuring another. 

As of 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1 the victim has been identified as Nathan Fryday from the Edna area. 
    Around noon on Wednesday, Mercer Construction was working on a sewer line for an upcoming housing development when the collapse occurred. 

    The injured worker was transported by helicopter to an Austin hospital, according to Captain John Roescher of the Lockhart Police Department. 

    Roescher also said that during the attempt to remove the deceased worker’s body another cave-in occurred, burying the worker again. His body was finally recovered around 4 p.m. on Wednesday. 

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    Wesley Hendry passed away in January after a valiant battle with cancer, but he is still very much in Lolita, Texas. Scattered throughout Jackson County, particularly Lolita, are little pieces of Wesley’s memory. There is Brush 66, better known as Ole Girl, an old Chevy at the Lolita Fire Station that he helped rebuild with his own hands. There are little “fireman’s cap” trees peppered throughout the yards of his loved ones. The one in his mother’s yard in El Toro bears his name on a sign. There is the little old lady whose furnace Wesley would go down and light for her, and hundreds of other people who have stories of his warm heart and helpful hands. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who knew Wesley that wouldn’t say Jackson County is a better place because of him. 

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    Edna Youth Football League had a great turnout for players this year. So good, in fact that they had to split into two teams.
    “If you have more than 30 kids that sign up for a particular age group, you have to split them,” said Jason McCarrell, treasurer of the EYFL board, so we have two PeeWee aged teams, and two Junior aged teams. So when we do the schedule for the whole league, that puts us having to play each other at some point.”
    Because of that, the EYFL is holding a Homecoming of sorts. On Saturday, Sept. 3, when the Edna Blue and Edna Black go head to head, the league will recognize their sponsors, sell pulled pork sandwiches, and play on a field many PeeWee player dream of playing on from the time they put their helmet on for the first time – the turf field at Cowboy Stadium in Edna.

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    Just south of La Ward, the Formosa Tejano Wetlands are a hidden-in-plain-sight gem that serve as a home to wildlife. The area is home to a small classroom where Calhoun, Edna, and Industrial ISD students learn about nature through immersion. 
    Inez resident, aspiring Eagle Scout and Industrial High School student Spencer Shilinga saw a need at the wetlands, and decided his upcoming Eagle Scout Project would be.
    “I built two eagle perches to bring back eagles to the Formosa Tejano Wetlands, so they can feed their babies at the river where they nest,” he said, “Miss [Debra] Sonsel gave me the idea and I just ran with it.”
    Sonsel, a Calhoun ISD teacher, teaches science classes at the Wetlands. 

   Ever since I was a young lawyer working in my dad’s hometown law office, I’ve dreamed of being a judge. That dream has now come true, thanks to Republicans across our area nominating me and Governor Abbott recently appointing me.
    While I can’t give remotely the thanks that are due in 150 words or less, here goes.
    I want to thank my wife Margaret and our kids and grandkids for their unceasing support throughout this process. 
    I also want to thank so many friends, old and new, for their constant help along this winding road. You know who you are, and I’m so thankful for each of you.
    I’ll never forget the elation of being sworn in as District Judge with my family and hundreds of friends all around. I was presiding over a trial the day after being sworn in, and I’m genuinely honored to serve you as judge.
Bobby Bell
267th Judicial District Judge
Edna, Texas

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Pam Guenther of Edna as the Jackson County Criminal District Attorney for a term set to expire at the next general election in November 2016.

Pam Guenther has served as assistant criminal district attorney for Jackson County for nearly ten years. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and Texas District & County Attorneys Association and a member and fellow of the College of the State Bar of Texas. She is a former member and former president of the Jackson County Bar Association and former member of the American Bar Association. Additionally, she is a member of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and a former board member and advocate trainer for CASA. Guenther received a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Oklahoma State University and a Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law.

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    Jackson County Law enforcement has welcomed new faces in the last month with the addition of a Department of Public Safety office in the County Courthouse. Four troopers joined the area, including Sergeant Garrett Ritter, formerly of North Texas.
    Ritter, a 12-year veteran of DPS, was recently promoted to sergeant and moved to Jackson County to fill a newly-approved slot. 
    “I joined DPS in 2005, and this past June I promoted to sergeant,” he said, “It took some time getting here, finding a house and all that.”
    Placement for sergeants is competitive, particularly the newly-promoted, who almost always wind up near the Texas/Mexico border, and Ritter feels fortunate to have won the spot in Jackson County. 
    The office has space for four troopers plus Ritter, with three currently-filled spots. Also in the office are Drew Alexander, Justin Nixon, and Luke Garza.