Citizen
Citizen
Editor’s Note: This article about Columbus resident and entrepreneur Jerry Mikeska, written by Bob Lowe, was originally published in the Jan. 2, 2019 edition of The Citizen. Mikeska, nicknamed “Barbecue King of the Southwest,” passed away last week at the age of 96. The Citizen is rerunning Lowe’s feature story in Mikeska’s memory. MIkeska’s obituary can be found on page A2 of this issue of The Citizen.
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Local hair salons, barber shops and nail salons were given the green light to reopen Friday, May 8 following COVID-19 precautionary closures. The businesses reopened with safety guidelines in place including at least six feet of social distancing between operating work stations and stylists and customers wearing masks. Tanning salons may also reopen under the same limitation. Swimming pools may also open, subject to other specific limitations.
Local law enforcement officers raise the Thin Blue Line flag at Columbus City Hall for National Police Week, observed May 10 - 16. Pictured in blue shirt: Columbus Police Chief Skip Edman; back row, from left: CPD Sgt. Jose Lara, CPD Officer Brandon Wilson, CPD Detective Rusty Moulder and CPD Corporal Robert Blair.
Summertime is normally a busy time for little league baseball parents and athletes, and local leagues remain hopeful that will hold true this season.
Editor’s Note: This article about Columbus resident and entrepreneur Jerry Mikeska, written by Bob Lowe, was originally published in the Jan. 2, 2019 edition of The Citizen. Mikeska, nicknamed “Barbecue King of the Southwest,” passed away last week at the age of 96. The Citizen is rerunning Lowe’s feature story in Mikeska’s memory. MIkeska’s obituary can be found on page A2 of this issue of The Citizen.
Columbus High School will host their commencement ceremony Thursday, May 21 at 8:30 p.m. The ceremony will be live streamed on the Columbus High School - Columbus ISD Facebook page. School academic and awards banquets will be conducted virtually and posted on the school’s Facebook page.
The Colorado County Citizen will be closed Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. Any ads or news items will need to be submitted by noon Thursday, May 21. For additional information, please call (979) 732-2304.
Following the Monday, Apr. 20 and May 11 Columbus ISD school meetings when several residents asked for more information on the proposed softball field construction, Columbus ISD school board had a special meeting May 14 to offer more information on the project.
Congratulations to the following Columbus Cardinal Varsity baseball players who were named to the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) Academic All-State team. The team was announced Thursday May, 14. Senior Hunter Kohleffel was named to the Elite team, and senior Chase Coleman was named to second team.
As a 75-year-old resident of Columbus, I am extremely concerned to see a lot of our residents not wearing masks and sanitizing their hands against this COVID-19 virus. I would hate to lose some of our residents and maybe my friends for such a simple reason. As a caring person, I ask, please try harder to sanitize your hands and wear those masks while in stores shopping, and practice 6-foot distancing. I would not have written this letter if I didn’t care about your health or mine.
Ending my junior year sitting on my living room couch is rather disappointing, but I can only imagine how terrible and disappointing it must be for our senior class to graduate from high school without the traditional celebrations. Now I usually write with optimism and try to help you see the world as a glass half full, but I also understand that not everything is rainbows and sunshine, and the Class of 2020 is sure to agree.
Jerry Mikeska, 96, passed away peacefully May 12 in Austin. He was born in Taylor, June 5, 1923 to John and Frances Valis Mikeska. Jerry grew up working on his family’s farm, and got his first job at the age of 14 working in a meat market. At age 19, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp to serve in World War II. Jerry was a mess sergeant in the 417th Night Fighter Squadron, which flew the P-61 Black Widow. Jerry received two Bronze Stars. Following the war, he opened a meat market in Georgetown, and after two years, moved to Bastrop where he bought a new meat market. In Bastrop he met and married Arlyne Linenberger, and in 1955 they had their first child, Gregory. Soon after in 1956, Jerry bought a meat market in Columbus and his daughter, Marcy, was born a few years later. In the back of the market he also sold barbecue and sausage, serving it on butcher paper with crackers and bread. Jerry’s meat market ultimately evolved into a well-known barbecue restaurant and catering business, earning him the name “Barbecue King of the Southwest.” He had many loyal employees over the years and many affectionately called him “Boss.” He especially enjoyed visiting with customers, saying “Thank you for stopping with us,” and handing out dollar coins to the children.
Anton Halfmann, Jr., 84 of Frelsburg, died May 16 in Columbus.
