News

Wallis City Council met twice last week for a budget workshop Aug. 23 and a special meeting Aug. 25 to approve the proposed budget. The budget saw minimal changes including the addition of a line item for a city manager that was not accompanied by an amount designated for the wage.

Although the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) had record of nine fewer active cases of COVID-19 to start this week in Austin County compared to the previous week, two more fatalities were reported to bring the total to 41.

Monday, there were an estimated 152 active cases according to DSHS and since the pandemic began, there are 2,249 total confirmed cases and an estimated 2,561 cases have been declared recovered.

September marks the start of dove season for almost 300,000 Texas hunters per year. After Winter Storm Uri hit the state in February, many hunters are wondering how the snowfall and below-freezing temperatures may have affected dove populations. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists report that hunters can expect a good dove season, especially in the South Zone.

Two of Texas’ Most Wanted are back in custody following arrests. Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offender Leonard Dee Taylor was arrested July 23 in Houston, and Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive Dakevian Beniot Scroggins was arrested July 24 in Tyler. A Crime Stoppers reward of $3,000 will be paid to a tipster for providing information leading to Taylor’s arrest.

Brenham-based Graham Masonic Lodge No. 20 has gifted a fourth endowed scholarship to the Blinn College Foundation.

Robert Duhon joined the Sealy Police Department and was sworn into his position as patrol officer by city secretary Brooke Knoll Aug. 23 in the city council chambers at Sealy City Hall. Duhon, originally from Orange, served eight years in the air force before he joined the Sealy Police Department. COLE MCNANNA

The Blinn College District Board of Trustees adopted a resolution to set a 2021 tax rate of $0.0513 per $100 valuation at its regular meeting Tuesday, Aug. 17.

The 2021 Austin County Fair is around the corner and we want your creativity to SHINE! We are extremely excited to plan our return to a traditional fair (October 7-17) which will include H.E Exhibits. The H.E.